It’s the beginning of a new decade! The most motivated among us have already kicked their resolutions into high gear, but if you’re anything like us, you might still be staring at the wreckage from the “holiday tornado” that’s torn through your home. Decluttering your living space might seem overwhelming, but it’s a great way to start the new year feeling ten pounds lighter. Here are a few tips on how to click your ruby red heels, tackle that tornado, and get back to Kansas!
Clothing
One of the most significant issues households deal with is a surplus of clothes. The average American family spends $1,700 on clothes annually, while also throwing away 65 pounds of clothing per year. Nicole Anzia has some good advice when it comes to decluttering your home. She says to organize first and buy second. Before cashing in on those new year sales, go through all the major areas cloths pile up—closets, dressers, under your bed, etc. By getting rid of anything that doesn’t fit, hasn’t been worn in over 6+ months, or has gone out of style, you’ll free up plenty of space.
Cleaning out your closet and dresser can be a daunting task, so Nicole says to remember that Rome took more than a day to build. Tackle what may seem like a mountain in smaller chunks, and finish these little tasks to completion. Once you’ve got your donation bags packed in your car, now you can begin to store seasonal clothing—like you and your dog’s matching Halloween costumes—and anything else that isn’t currently in use. Clear, stackable boxes are great and come in all sizes. Some easily slide under your bed, while others can pile up in your closet without overtaking the area, or making it crowded again.
Household Items
“The average U.S. household has 300,000 things, from paper clips to ironing boards. U.S. children makeup 3.7% of children on the planet but have 47% of all toys and children’s books,” Says the LA Times. Of course, it’s easy to be emotionally invested in some family keepsakes, but many people are shocked by how many items they’ve kept that hold little emotional, practical, or aesthetic value. This new year might be a great excuse to finally go through those long-ignored closets. The biggest junk collecting culprits tend to be children’s playrooms, Harry Potter closets (under the stairs), and laundry room closets. Pulling out the unnecessary clutter will free up loads of space for those important keepsakes you can’t part with.
Once you have an idea of all the items you’d like to store, there are multiple ways to keep them. Try to avoid buying containers before having a sense of precisely what you need to avoid adding to the clutter.
If there are items that are seasonable or not frequently used, storing those is ideal. By using a heavy-duty plastic container you can stack multiple bins in a closet and still see what’s in each one. Avoiding having to pull out each container and guess which one has the item you’re looking for.
However, for things like toys, DVD’s, books, etc., numerous options are more aesthetically pleasing (such as canvas or wicker baskets). Even new shelving units or cases can add an updated touch while providing practical use.
Using this same method for your “pick up/drop off” area of the home will help keep one of the most hectic parts of the day a little more organized. This area is an excellent place to put mail, shoes, coats, purses, and whatever else you may need before leaving the house or coming home. Not only will this keep the rest of the house tidy, but having one place where these things will always be will allow for less stressful mornings.
You can apply these storage tips to your kitchen, laundry room, and mudroom areas for anything from cleaning supplies, rags, towels, and even Tupperware!
Were you able to organize your home, but don’t have the time or energy to clean it? Don’t worry, Kathleen’s Cleaning Service has got you covered! Call and schedule an appointment today and start the new year off on a clean slate!