Stacks of papers, an overflowing junk drawer and old magazines are just a few examples of the clutter that typically accrues in a home. The clutter usually starts innocently enough. Perhaps you intended to sort through the mess but put it off until it became overwhelming. Soon it took over your home, causing you stress and leaving you little room for the things you actually need. Getting rid of clutter frees space in your home and simplifies your life.
Step 1
Write a list of all the areas in the home that need de-cluttering. Cross off each area of the home once you get the clutter cleared and the room is organized.
Step 2
Sort all of the clutter into piles based on how often you use them. Donate or throw away items that you never use or that have no value. Place other items back where they belong.
Step 3
Designate every item in the home a specific storage location. Put the items in their own storage containers. For example, put shoes in a shoe rack by the entryway, put mail in a tray by the door, store keys on a key rack and new magazines in a basket by the couch.
Step 4
Add labels to storage containers, especially those in your children's rooms, so they are able to sort and put away their own clutter. Use pictures for younger kids who cannot read.
Step 5
Clean off the countertops and tables every evening before going to bed. Pick up in the living room and other main areas of the home each night to prevent accumulation of new clutter.
Step 6
Keep papers that need to be filed in a tray in one central location. File the papers once a week to keep the pile from getting out of control.
Step 7
Go through the mail every day to prevent it from piling up. This also prevents you from missing an important piece of mail. Designate a spot for bills that need to be paid, place mail you want to keep in the filing tray and throw away useless mail.
Tips and Warnings
- Involve the entire family in clearing out the clutter. Work together as a family or assign each person a different area of the home to de-clutter.
Things You'll Need
- Storage containers
- Labels
- Paper tray
Member Comments
kkilpatr August 4
Oh thank the Lord. My family needs help with this. We aren't hoarder but we are just so busy that things pill up and we forget to throw them away. When we do have time we are so tired we just want to crash on the couch. Hopefully this will help!
tiffjack August 4
Ditto! I'm sure it'll be way worse when we have kids someday. It'll be good to form these good habits now!
coaguirre August 4
I have to clean my closet and get rid of all unused clothes think im gonna give it away