Tips for Basic Decluttering

 Take the following quiz to find out if there’s too much clutter in your home. If you answer yes to more of the questions than you answer no then you need to continue reading this helpful information on how to become clutter free.

* Are the majority of the clothes in your closet out of date or no longer fit?
* Are there piles of dirty clothes laying on the floor?
* Have you been loosing important documents and paperwork?
* Are the counter-tops filled with magazines and mail?
* Have you been having a difficult time with finding simple items such as scissors or scotch tape?
* Do you have toys and paper sitting all over the floor that should be placed somewhere else?

Most of us need to change bad habits in order to begin staying more organized instead of running out to purchase baskets and totes. Use the following tips to begin changing your current ways.

* The key is to stay focused. Getting rid of items you don’t need and organizing your things is whats involved in decluterring a home.
* Remember to remain patient and stay on track since it can take a number of months to become completely organized.
 * Make a list of the areas in your house and the rooms that need the most attention. Write down all of the problems you want to tackle in each room and area.

Start by going through all of your things. Make a plan for how you will go about tackling each room.

You will need at least 3 large size boxes for each room you’ll be working in. One of the boxes is to be used for items you want to throw out, one for those things you want to keep and one for items you can’t decide on just yet. You can write on each box with a black marker the category for each such as to donate, trash and unsure. If you come across a number of items that need to be repaired you can have a separate box for these.

Now you need to start sorting your things. Use a timer and set it for 15 minutes for each area or room you work on. Start at the entrance to the room or in one corner and follow the clutter clockwise. Then move to the next area or room of the house.

Remember to go through your medicine cabinet and toss out expired items. Throw out old newspapers magazines and catalogs. Go through your pantry and cabinets and toss out stale items and those that have expired.

If you haven’t worn a piece of clothing or used an item in the last 12 months odds are you won’t not be using it so get rid of it.