Clearing the Clutter
Clearing out the clutter
Clutter is everywhere in modern life. Our cupboards are full to bursting, shelves groan under the weight of our possessions, and still the mess spreads across tabletops, into hallways and onto floors.
That's not surprising. As a nation, we own more than ever before, and all that stuff has to go somewhere. Happily, a few simple steps can rid your house of clutter, minimise the mess and leave you wondering where all the extra space has suddenly appeared from!
But not only will having a good clear out create space and make the house look tidier, it will make you feel great, too. Having a clean out is about taking control, getting rid of the stuff you no longer need, and leaving you with the things that really matter.
In other words, clearing the clutter really is worthwhile. Read on and we'll show you how easy it can be.
Know Your Clutter
So what is clutter? It's anything you no longer use or love, like the shoes you haven't thrown away because they cost so much, even though you haven't worn them since 1999. Or the pile of old magazines that you put aside because of an interesting article or easy recipe that - let's face it - you're never likely to read again. Or the drawer full of old yoghurt pots and margarine tubs that might come in handy one day, but probably won't.
Take a ruthless look around your house. If you haven't worn it, used it or opened it for more than a year, it could well be clutter. Once you've identified the problem, you've taken your first step to a clutter-free home.
Start Small
Clearing out a whole house can be a daunting prospect, especially if the mess has been building up for years. So start with a small, manageable area, like the porch, bathroom or shed. Or even just your sock drawer. Give yourself a time limit - say half an hour - put on your favourite CD, and go for it. Pick up each item and ask, "Do I really want this?".
When you've done one small area, choose another. But keep it to a manageable size and make sure you finish one before starting another. Keep the momentum up by doing a little bit every day.
Cupboard Love
Cupboards are great storage spaces, but too often they turn into a dumping ground for all the bits and bobs you can't quite bring yourself to discard.
We tend to fill our cupboards with clutter - because then it's out of sight and out of mind. A big step to a clutter-free house, in other words, is to attack the deepest, darkest corners of your cupboards, and get rid of anything you no longer use or no longer want.
That's easy with kitchen cupboards and bathroom cabinets. Out-of-date ingredients and out-of-fashion hair products clog up nooks and crannies. Those dried-up pots of nail varnish have to go. Ferret them out and throw them away.
If you haven't had a clear out for a while, you'll probably find quite a lot to throw away. Be ruthless. The old videos in the living room cupboard might have been with you for years, but will you ever watch them again? If the answer's no, out they go.
Letting Go
Of course, throwing things away can be easier said than done. The reason we accumulate so much clutter in the first place is because many of us find throwing things away difficult. We worry that the minute we throw something away, we'll need it. Or we feel guilty that we're wasting money by throwing useful things out.
If you're really not sure whether you'll use something again, give it a time limit to prove its worth. Attach a sticker to it with today's date and put it back in the cupboard or loft. If it hasn't been used six months later, chances are it never will be.
Many of us pile up items because they have 'sentimental value'. But if you have two almost identical holiday snaps of the same sandy beach, one of them can go. If you want to keep toys as mementoes of your child as a baby, choose one or two favourites and give the rest away.
When you're having a clear out, remember to recycle everything that can be.
Your Clutter - Their Treasure
Once you've finished clearing a room, get rid of the unwanted clutter quickly, before you have chance to change your mind. You can get over the feeling that you're wasting money by selling worthwhile items on eBay, or through the classified pages of the local paper.
It's even easier to give them to a charity shop. You won't make any money back, but at least you'll know that your clutter is being put to good use. And at the end of it all, you'll have a light, roomy and ordered home. Best of all, you'll know where everything is.
