For most people, decluttering seems more of a chore than a therapeutic activity. Ever since Marie Kondo graced our screens, we have perceived decluttering hacks flooding through our Pinterest and Facebook feeds. All is pretty simple—just throw out anything that does not “spark joy” and keep those that continue to bring relevance to your life.
But if you are anything like some people, you have probably stood still in your messy room and figured it is just so hard. You realize that decluttering is not all rainbows and butterflies, and it takes time to do it.
But the good news is, there is a way to simplify the whole process. Here are some cleaning tips to help you get through decluttering daily.
Benefits of having a clutter-free space
Before we delve deeper into the tips, let us discuss what are the benefits of having a clutter-free home.
- Living in a clean, clutter-free space helps reduce stress and distraction
- Leads to better focus and concentration
- Reduces workload because you do not have to clean and declutter everything all at once
- Saves you a lot of time searching for lost and misplaced items
- Helps you saves money by not buying excessive items because you are now aware that these items will only contribute to the clutter at home
Make daily cleaning a routine
Since we want to make decluttering a habit, let’s begin by creating a certain routine. You can first spend a good 15 minutes decluttering your room. 15 minutes may seem a long time, but with so much practice, this time will seem like a short moment in no time.
For instance, you might be more motivated to work in the morning. So, after making your bed, you can start tidying things up around the room. On the other hand, if you feel more motivated in the evening, then spend 15 minutes decluttering before hitting the hay.
Cleaning activities can include any of the listed below:
- Making the bed
- Washing dishes
- Sorting out all items in their place
- Taking the trash out
- Folding laundry
Don’t allow things inside the house for the moment
When you are establishing a new decluttering habit, make sure to put a halt in bringing in new items to your home. That way, you are lessening the burden and stress.
Create house rules
If you want everyone in the house to engage in a new decluttering habit, then establishing house rules may be a great way to make decluttering a joined effort.
Motivating your kids to get used to decluttering early on will foster their sense of responsibility, as well as they will grow to become organized adults. You can do so by assigning small decluttering activities which they are expected to do on a daily basis.
For example, you can teach your kids the importance of a clean home. Say that a clean home makes a greater, stress-free environment for each and everyone. They can help in small ways, such as organizing their toys, making their bed in the morning, and sweeping the floors. When your kids realize the benefits of having a clutter-free home, they will automatically do actions to keep their living space tidy and orderly.
Here are some house rules that you can establish:
- Do not leave clothes on the floor
- Put everything back in place
- Put every waste they see on the floor immediately into the trash can
- Clean the room before going to sleep
Wash the dishes as soon as possible
Do people in your house have a habit of leaving the dishes and tending to them once they are all piled up? Now, that is one habit that you and the entire family needs to get out of their habits.
Nothing causes more eyesore than a cluttered kitchen. So, if possible, wash the dishes immediately every after meal or after cooking.
Get everything washed and dried immediately. That way, your sink would not look like an eyesore anymore. Also, it reduces the workload that you always have in the kitchen.
Keep an eye on flat surfaces
If there is one thing commonly found in households, it is that clutter accumulates faster on flat spaces. See it for yourself—head over to a cluttered room and observe where clutter happens. You will see at least one item out of its place which is placed on a table top or a furniture top.
Flat surfaces are great temptations, so keep an eye on them and organize those items that do not belong in there. Eliminate visual clutter to keep flat surfaces clean. And once you have done it, notice how the room will immediately light up.
Donate your clutter
How many pairs of jeans have you outgrown? How many toys sit still on the shelf? If things do not spark joy anymore, and you do not want them anywhere in your house anymore, then the best action to take is to donate them.
Not only it takes away the physical and mental clutter, you are actually helping those who are needy. Designate one donation box in your house and encourage everyone to put their old stuff in there. Encourage your kids to donate toys that they are not interested in anymore and let them know they are making other kids smile that way. Meanwhile, here is the link to our post about the 11 must-haves when looking for janitorial cleaning services.