Decluttering before moving can save time and money on both ends. It also helps keep you motivated.
Work in blocks of an hour at a time, says Hansen. Spend the first 20 minutes looking for trash to throw away, then 15 minutes on decisions and cleaning up. The last 20 minutes should be spent bagging items to donate and putting things back where they belong.
Organize Your Items
Stacks of paper on entryway tables, kitchen sinks full of dishes, and closets overflowing with shoes are just some of the common issues that can cause a home to feel cluttered. The good news is that most of these problems can be solved by simply putting away or storing items, allowing space for what’s truly needed.
To do this, you’ll need to get organized. One of the best ways to do this is by establishing a system for organizing what you keep. This involves sorting items into categories, such as “keep,” “donate/sell,” and “trash,” and then assigning them to designated spaces. The goal is to have a place for everything and everything in its place, so that you can find what you need quickly.
While arranging your belongings, make sure that you use bins and containers that are easy to see and reach, and consider adding labels for each box or container. This is especially important when multiple family members will be using the same storage areas, as it will help prevent confusion.
Another helpful tool is to follow the 20/20 rule, which suggests that if you haven’t used an item in 20 seconds or more, it should be donated or sold. This will give you a sense of progress and help you to keep your momentum going.
Lastly, it’s important to remember that decluttering isn’t a one-day project. Instead, you should work on it in small, manageable chunks over time. This way, you can avoid feelings of overwhelm and actually accomplish the task at hand. In fact, experts recommend dedicating an hour long block to a decluttering task each week so that you can see real results over time.
Donate or Sell
A common reason for getting an off-site storage unit or locker is to make space in your house, and decluttering can be the way to do that. However, once you’ve cleaned out that space, what are you going to do with the items you no longer need? One option is to donate or sell them.
Pro: The feeling of giving back and helping someone else out is a great motivation for many people. Plus, it can be a quick way to clear out some clutter and not have to deal with it in your home anymore.
Con: The process of selling can be time-consuming and stressful. It can also take away from the focus of the decluttering project and feel like a separate task in itself. Plus, it’s not always possible to get what you think your items are worth or even sell them at all.
Regardless of whether you decide to sell or donate, it’s important to remember that the most important thing is just getting the stuff out of your life and away from you. That can be done in a variety of ways, and it may take some time to figure out what’s the best fit for you and your needs.
Recycle
Often, when we declutter, we throw away items that could be reused or recycled. This is a great way to reduce the amount of clutter that ends up in landfills, but it is also important to be careful about what you are throwing out so that you can make sure it is being disposed of properly.
When you are decluttering, you should sort your items into different piles based on whether they will be kept, donated, or thrown out/recycled. This will help you avoid having to go back through your clutter later on to find something to donate or sell, and it will also make the process more efficient.
For example, if you are decluttering mail and other paperwork, it is important to shred any documents that contain personal information, such as addresses, account numbers, or social security numbers. This will ensure that these materials do not end up in the wrong hands and can help to prevent identity theft. You can purchase a heavy-duty shredder or a light-duty one that sits on top of your wastebasket to shred your papers, making this an easy task while you declutter.
You should also consider recycling any e-waste that you are getting rid of when you declutter. Many communities have e-waste recycling programs that will take these items and recycle them into new, usable products.
Decluttering your home can be a difficult and time-consuming task, but it is a necessary step to achieving a clean, organized living space that promotes productivity and tranquility. By following these five tips, you can declutter your home in a safe and responsible manner that benefits both the environment and your wellbeing.
Relocate
If you have a lot of stuff in your storage space, you can make money off your clutter by selling or donating it. It’s worth the time and effort to do this because you’ll be able to reclaim your storage unit as well as trim the fat off of your belongings, save or make money, and have less clutter around the house, too. If you are moving, click here to make sure that you have a stress-free and less work to do on your storage service needs!
Whether you’re decluttering your storage unit or simply parting ways with old items, start by taking an immediate inventory of what’s there. This can help you identify large items that are easily recognizable and may require special handling. It’s also a good idea to survey entryways and hallways, as these are common areas to harbor clutter.
Next, separate everything into five distinct piles or boxes. You should have a keep box for things you’ll reorganize and bring home, a donate or sell box for items that are no longer useful to you, and a store box for possessions that will stay in your storage space. Finally, you’ll have a toss box for those things that can’t be used or are broken beyond repair.
It’s not always easy to trim the fat on your belongings, especially when it comes to your storage unit. That’s why Maija recommends scheduling one to three hours of dedicated decluttering time on a weekly basis to create a routine. You can even schedule a specific day of the week so that you’re committed to getting it done. Once you’ve scheduled your decluttering time, you can then take a deep breath and start to tackle the process of sorting through your belongings. Once you’ve gotten rid of the clutter, you can reclaim your storage unit and have the peace of mind knowing that you have the space you need in your home.
Store it
If your home or apartment just doesn’t have enough room for all of the items you love, a storage service can help. Whether you’re storing seasonal decorations, furniture you don’t want to get rid of, or mementos from your past, a storage space can help keep these items out of the way until you’re ready to use them again.
A storage service can also be useful if you have to hang onto papers and documents for record-keeping or tax purposes. It’s important to keep in mind that paper clutter is a common problem, and it doesn’t take long for it to pile up, especially if you haven’t sorted through it in a while. Using a storage service to store these papers in the short term can give you the breathing room to go through them at your own pace without worrying about them getting tossed out or destroyed.
When putting items into storage, make sure they are cleaned and dry before placing them in the unit. This prevents mold and other contaminants from growing in the boxes, which can ruin your belongings. It’s also important to clearly label each box with its contents so that you can easily find what you need in the future. Lastly, try to keep heavier items near the bottom of the unit so that they don’t crush lighter items underneath them. Also, make sure to leave an aisle between each row of boxes so that it’s easy to maneuver through the entire space. This will save you time and prevent potential injury by ensuring that everything is easy to access. Whether you’re dealing with a storage area in your home, at an off-site location, or an online shopping cart, decluttering is an ongoing process. However, by implementing a plan to get the most out of your storage space, you can reduce the amount of clutter in your life and give yourself the space you need to focus on what matters most.