6 Rules to Help You Reduce ClutterHome » Clutter Control » Rules to Help Reduce Clutter
By Mary Frederick Even the most organized individual tends to accumulate clutter at one time or another. We’re all guilty of holding onto things “just in case” or finding other more important things to do than to go through our piles. Nobody really likes to accumulate clutter, but it happens faster than you realize. There are however some very simple rules to help you reduce clutter. These rules ensure that it never gets out of control again. If you’ve ever struggled with clutter or if you simply want to do your part in reducing it, then the following rules can be quite helpful. When in doubt, throw it out.It sounds quite simplistic in nature, and that’s because it is. We all have a tendency of holding onto something that we feel we may have use for at a later date. We’ve all pushed around a pile or objects because we thought that they would come in handy at some point in our lives. However if you want to do your part to reduce or even avoid clutter, get rid of these items. If you’re not sure if you will ever use them or if you have any hesitation in figuring out how something will be utilized, get rid of it! That’s a surefire way to reduce clutter or prevent it from ever happening! Find a place for everythingThough this can take some work up front and initially, it can really pay off later on.Go with the philosophy that organization experts follow—and that is that everything should have a place. Clutter tends to happen when you throw items into a pile or don’t have a steadfast place for them. Assign a place in your house for every item, no matter how seemingly small. If the magazines go into a magazine rack, and the mile goes into an organizer that is readily accessed, then you’re heading in the right direction. Every single item that comes into your home should have a designated spot to reduce the likelihood of clutter ever accumulating. Keep up with the clutter before it overtakes you.If you stay on top of the very items that tend to create clutter, then it will never turn into an issue.If you know that your weak point is piles of mail, then go through it when it comes in. If you tend to throw aside papers from school or work that may be needed at a later time, then be diligent in reviewing them as they come to you. If you keep up with the elements that tend to cause clutter, then they can’t ever overtake you. Don’t save things to do or go through for later.If you have to stop and think about when you might use something or have the time to go through it, get rid of it.If you hold onto things for “later”, the reality is that you will never get to them. Handle things in the present and if the thought of a later use comes to mind, then you likely don’t need it anyhow. Get the whole family involved in the “decluttering initiative”.If you are dedicated to reducing clutter, but the rest of the family isn’t, then you won’t gain any ground. Get every single member of the household in on the “decluttering initiative”. Not only does this ensure that clutter doesn’t become an issue in your house, but it can help to teach children good habits early on. If you don’t use it, then lose it.If you can look at an item and have trouble remembering the last time you used it, then it’s time to get rid of it.This is a really easy rule and it works every time. So if you’re holding onto clothes that haven’t fit you in years, get rid of them. If you have art supplies for that painting hobby that you are going to get into at some point, toss them. If the items aren’t useful to you now or haven’t been in quite some time, then it’s time to get rid of them once and for all. That’s how we work to reduce clutter, or even avoid it! « Return to Clutter Control Tips from Rules to Help You Reduce Clutter Related ArticlesOrganize ClutterTips for finding time to organize clutter – don’t let clutter take control of your life. Get Rid of Clutter Stop Clutter Problems
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