Minimimize Monday ~ To Pitch it or Store it, Dealing with Clutter

Over time, clutter can quickly take over a household when it is not cleared out on a regular basis. Unfortunately, one of the most difficult things about dealing with clutter is knowing which items should be thrown out or kept. Many people cling to their belongings out of sentimentality or the fear that they may need them again. However, these items often just sit around taking up space, making the person who owns them feel guilty. Therefore, it is important to have a plan when clearing out clutter so that a person can begin to get rid of items that they no longer need and begin to feel the freedom of a clutter-free home.

Sort Items

When beginning to clear out clutter, it is important to start by sorting through the items in a particular area. Most items will fall into the categories of things to toss, donate or store. In order to make it clear which category an item belongs to, some people find it helpful to label boxes or bags with the category that items can be placed in during the cleaning process. Paper is one type of clutter that most people tend to accumulate. This can usually be filed or thrown away. Additionally, broken items can be placed in a specific area with a deadline for when they will be fixed. If they are not fixed by the deadline, then they should be tossed.

Storing Items

One of the hardest things for people to decide is whether or not they should keep an item in storage. Generally, if an item will be used in the upcoming year, then it is a good candidate to be placed in a storage building. Self storage in Toronto or in whichever city you live can be used to store seasonal clothing, holiday items and large pieces of furniture that are only used a few times a year. Additionally, many people find that placing sentimental items in storage is a great way to get it out of the house without feeling guilty about throwing it away.

Clutter Maintenance

Once the clutter has been cleared,  it is important to make a plan to stop it from building up again. Some people find it helpful to create a filing system for paper. Additionally, areas of the home that tend to accumulate clutter should be cleaned on a regular basis so that items do not have a chance to build up. Some people also find it helpful to make it a point to get rid of an item every time a new item is brought into the home.

Dealing with clutter helps to open up a home and make it comfortable for a person to live in again. Because it can be difficult to know how to get started when dealing with clutter, a person should create a plan for organizing items according to whether they should be tossed, stored or donated. Then, these items can be cleared out of the home so that a person can enjoy the peace of a clutter-free space.

So tell me, how do you deal with clutter?

Want to see how I have been dealing with clutter in my home? Check out some of my previous Minimize Monday posts.