By Mary Frederick

We take great pride in our homes. We spend a lot of time keeping it clean and ensure that the areas that people see are neat and tidy.

However clutter happens even in the most organized house.

Whether it’s in a specific room of the home or an area where you tend to accumulate the items you don’t really use much, clutter happens to the best of us.

So how do you work to declutter your home?

What’s the most effective way to get rid of the clutter that tends to accumulate, and how can we work to avoid it from ever occurring again?

Go Room by Room

Look at even the rooms which you feel are the most organized, and look for any piles or areas of concern.

This can come in the form of clothes on the ground in a child’s room or a seemingly small pile of mail on a den table. Even the smallest pile or most insignificant detail can quickly turn to clutter.

Take the initiative to focus not only on the areas that are currently cluttered, but those that can turn into clutter at some point in time as well.

This is where you need to be reactive in removing the clutter that exists AND be proactive in recognizing the areas that can turn into clutter as well.

Take the time to look over each room in your home. Focus in on the areas that need the most immediate attention.

Take the Time to Purge Items

Put aside clothes that don’t fit, toys that the kids don’t play with, or gifts that you’ve received and will never use. Toss out old newspapers, old magazines, or items you’ve held onto that hold absolutely no value whatsoever.

The purging phase is a very important aspect of getting rid of clutter in your home.

This is where you can quickly pinpoint the root cause of the problem. More importantly, you can eliminate the actual source of it as well.

Though you may have a difficult time with this stage at first, you will love the results after you get rid of these items and clear up some space.

Get to Organizing

Once you’ve purged the items you don’t need or use, it’s time to organize the ones that you do. Whatever you’re holding onto should have its own place.

This doesn’t just apply to the rooms that are seen every day or by guests. This also applies to the linen closet, bedroom closets, pantry, laundry room, garage, and of course basement.

Just because the room isn’t a commonly viewed area doesn’t mean that you should allow it to accumulate clutter.

Purchase whatever organization tools you need to keep every single room of your house organized and tidy. Then be diligent about using these organization tools each and every day moving forward.

Get the Whole Family in on the Act—On a Regular Basis

This is also something that should happen on a regular basis. If the family has a designated day or time each week where they go through their laundry, mail, or piles, then the potential for “decluttering” in the future is not as high.

Teach the kids early on the importance of staying organized, and by all means get them involved in the declutter efforts. Be diligent and as a family do your parts to keep the house free and clear of clutter in the future.

Declutter Your Home: Related Articles

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