Photo courtesy of Fresh-Spaces.uk.co
You Ask, We Answer: How Can I De-Clutter for Spring?
Warm weather is here! With the fresh start of the spring season, many Connecticut homeowners are getting ready for spring cleaning and the deep sense of accomplishment it inevitably brings—and that includes us at Calcagni Real Estate. But after a year spent at home (all…the…time…), many of us are discovering the need to declutter before we deep clean. If you’re looking around your house feeling a little overwhelmed at where to start, you’re not alone. Keep reading for easy-to-overcome tips and tricks that will leave you feeling accomplished and clutter-free in no time.
The “Grab 1 Bag” Method
According to Donna Smallin Kuper of unclutter.com, approaching your decluttering with a method in mind makes it much easier to accomplish what you set out to do without the feelings of overwhelm that often find us closing the door on a cluttered space and resolving to do it “tomorrow.”
This first method Kuper recommends is probably one you’ve employed before: Simply grab one garbage bag and move your way around the house, filling it with items that haven’t yet made it to the trash (or recycling), but should. This is a great way to do a “sweep” —a generalized first step toward decluttering. Once you clear your home of items that you really no longer need, you can start to see other items in your home that may be taking up precious space or creating low-level stress in your day-to-day existence.
The “Fill 4 Bags” Method
Once you’ve done your initial home sweep, it’s time to get slightly more targeted in your decluttering method. The “Fill 4 Bags” approach has you reaching for 4 bags (or boxes) of equal size. Label them as follows: Charity, Trash, Relocated, Keep. Start in one room and deposit items accordingly. Take the bags with you as you move from room to room, and put away the “relocated” items where they belong as you go. You may be pleasantly surprised as to how much cleaner your home looks by the time you get to your last room!
Make It a 12-12-12 Day
Kuper admits that the title of this method may sound daunting, but it’s easier than you think to employ. For this highly effective decluttering method, you’re going to throw out 12 items, donate 12 items and return 12 items to wherever they belong in your house. That’s 36 items in one decluttering session—removed or repurposed in your home!
Need proof of how effective this method is? Take a pic of a high traffic room—like the living room or another room where your family tends to gather—before you begin, and one after. Note the difference, then pat yourself on the back for your good work.
1 Item in 1 Day
This decluttering method can actually be used throughout the year to keep your home clutter-free. By throwing out (or donating) 1 item every day over the course of the year, you’ll have substantially less clutter in the span of a month—and just imagine how good you’ll feel after a year! Plus, throwing out a single item every day doesn’t feel like work. While we love the above methods for pre-spring cleaning effectiveness, the “1 item in 1 day” method can help keep the clutter to a bare minimum on an ongoing basis.
Lastly, we really like the idea of never leaving a room empty handed. If you’re getting up from the living room couch, try to notice if there’s anything that can be thrown out, recycled, or even brought to the dishwasher. Mindfulness around clutter will help you keep it to a bare minimum, all year long.
Happy de-cluttering!
