How To Declutter Your Home

How To Declutter Your Home | Sheilas’ Wheels

Sometimes it’s too easy to get caught up in everyday life that one day you realise that your home is not as tidy as you thought, it’s time to declutter.

Wondering where to put all that ‘stuff’ that’s accumulated in your home?

 

Who else looks around their home every now and then, wondering where on earth the mountains of stuff have come from? And more importantly where are they going to live? With children this becomes even more of a point of contention and our Sheilas’ often feel like their houses are substitute toy showrooms!

With that in mind, we’ve taken a look at how you can improve your home by de-cluttering and maximising your storage.

 

1: The Golden Rule

As hard as it may be, the general rule of thumb is, if you haven’t used something for the last 6 months (or 12 months if you’re a real hoarder), let it go. Yes, there might be a time when you get back into your beloved pair of jeans but you can always treat yourself to a new pair as a reward!

 

2: Generate some cash

Either for yourself or by donating items to charity. There are many social media groups and websites set up for selling preloved items, it’s easy to make a few quid as an added benefit from decluttering your home. Alternatively donate items to charity and get a feel good buzz in the process. Set yourself a challenge to see how many bags you can fill – our Sheilas’ aim for at least 1 per room.

 

3: Find a home for everything

Often clutter starts as a build up of new things, post and filing that doesn’t have a home yet. Get yourself organised with a filing system for important paper work, a section for things that need actioning and shred or recycle anything else straightaway. Or better still go digital and opt for paperless bills.

When you or the kids receive new things, decide where the ‘home’ is for that item. If you’ve run out of storage space, think first about decluttering something else before adding more storage. We’ve found a one in one out rule for toys can work wonders in preventing toymagedon in your home.

 

4: Keep special memories special

We all have things with a sentimental value to them. Birthday cards, tickets from a special event, children’s drawings to name a few. Overtime these can build up as a pile in draws or on surfaces. Instead have a box for your special memories that is easily accessible so you can put things away as soon as you’ve finished with them.

If you have children who are little Picassos and want to treasure their artwork for years to come, pop their creations in an art display folder or use one of the online scanning services to turn them into a digital keepsake book.

5: Bring in help

Ask a friend to help you. Those with less emotional attachment can be more ruthless and keep you on your toes when it comes to deciding if you really need to keep that bottle opener with the wonky arm or your sequin boob tube from 2002. If you feel you need professional help, there are loads of paid for services who will come and declutter your home for you.

 

6: Don’t forget your food cupboards

We’ve all been there – you see a gastronomic delight on pinterest – you head to the supermarket and buy all of the ingredients and have a lovely afternoon making your meal. Then you head back into the day to day routine and never quite get around to making it again. While the pots of spices and exotic ingredients are now well past their sell by date at the back of your cupboard.

So, don’t forget to declutter your cupboards too. Go through packets, bottles and jars – throw away any that are out of date. Donate any gadgets that you no longer use and tidy all of your utensils, pots and pans so that you can easily find what you are looking for.

7: Be methodical

It’s all too easy to waste time wandering around from room to room when you’re decluttering. Instead, take on one room at a time. Be strict with yourself, have a bag for charity or items you want to sell, a bag for items which need to be taken elsewhere in the house and a bin bag.

Work from top to bottom repeating the mantra less is more.

And don’t forget to check that you have the right level of contents insurance for all of the stuff you’ve decided to keep. Including specifying any individual items worth £1,500 or more and any bikes worth £500 or more.

 

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