Are you feeling overwhelmed with clutter? Well a new year is the perfect time to take control. Clearing away clutter can be quite easy and painless; you just need to follow a few simple steps. Take a peek below at 7 steps for clearing out clutter in the New Year. When you give these tips a try, you can enjoy a cleaner, clutter free space!
1. Create a sorting station.
Begin by creating a sorting station. This will be where you can sort your clutter as you gather it. Label three boxes as follows : KEEP, TOSS, DONATE. Each item should be able to get filed into one of the boxes.
2. Start gathering your clutter.
Go around the house with a laundry basket or bin and start collecting clutter. Clean off shelves, end tables, counters, and more. You may wish to tackle this job one room at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed. Once your basket is full, head to the sorting station as mentioned above.
3. Start filing your clutter.
Now, sort your clutter by placing the items into one of the baskets. You can either keep, toss, or donate the items. Each item must fall into one of the categories.
4. Figure out a tie breaker.
You may need a tie breaker if you are having a hard time deciding which basket an item should go into . For example you may have sweater, and while you don’t wear it often, you aren’t quite sure if you should donate it first. Have a tie breaker ready for such instances. For example, you can break the tie by asking yourself, “If I saw this on a clothing rack today, would I buy it?” If the answer is no, donate it. If the answer is yes, find room for it in the keep bin.
5. Liquidate your gatherings.
Once your clutter is filed into one of the three baskets, it is time to liquidate them. Take donations immediately over to a thrift store. Take all trash out to the curb. Take your keep pile and begin finding a home for each and every item.
6. Re-evaluate.
Once you have emptied your files, re-evaluate your space to see if there is more you can add to one of them. You may find more items worth donating or tossing if you sort through each room again.
7. Prevent future clutter.
Go on a buying freeze for a week or as much as month so you avoid bringing new clutter into the home. Take all trash out as you create it and continue to comb through closets for donations as you can.
Clearing away clutter can be easy when you give these tips a try! With these tips you can get a cleaner, more organized space in the new year that your whole family can enjoy.
Want even more organizational tips? Check out our interview with Dorothy Breininger from A&E’s Emmy-nominated weekly series, Hoarders ~ “DorothytheOrganizer” Shares Her Top Ten Organizational Tips.
Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says
January 8, 2015 at 3:16 amWe got a dumpster in October and filled that thing. The sad thing is, you can’t even tell. We need about 3 more.
Sarah Bailey says
January 8, 2015 at 7:05 amI need to follow this tips – I seem to pick up so much clutter across the year, it is awful! x
Rena McDaniel says
January 8, 2015 at 7:08 amThese are such great tips! I have been wanting to get this done but feel so overwhelmed that I haven’t even started yet. Now I have a great start to getting what I want done.
Jaime says
January 8, 2015 at 7:44 amI went through baby clothes last week. My mom helped me. I sorted a keep and toss piles, and then went through the keep pile a second time, and tossed more. (I actually donated and sold them. Didn’t just throw them away.)
Krystal says
January 8, 2015 at 8:54 amBoy, did I need this article. I’m no clutter bug by any means, but I have quite a bit of stuff that I need to purge this year.
Liz Mays says
January 8, 2015 at 10:08 amOh no! I didn’t want to think about this quite yet. I have so much clutter to clear up… I’ll take your advice!
Lesley says
January 8, 2015 at 1:11 pmI am a year round declutterer! Not even sure that is a word but it is my title. I can’t stand clutter, I can’t focus in it so I have to remove it all the time. My husband is always like, “have you seen my ….”
Mama to 5 BLessings says
January 8, 2015 at 6:38 pmWe are in the process of doing this now – with 5 kids we have way too much stuff either tossing or donating and what we keep will be organized!
Annie says
January 8, 2015 at 7:27 pmI like that tie breaker analogy! I have a hard time parting with clothes that I barely wear, but like.
Mariana says
January 8, 2015 at 7:31 pmThis is exactly what I’m doing at the moment… going through a bunch of toys, books, and clothes to see what we can get rid of. I like the idea of a tie breaker!
Lois Alter Mark says
January 8, 2015 at 7:36 pmGreat tips and just what I needed to read now. Love the idea of the tie breaker.
Our Family World says
January 8, 2015 at 10:15 pmIt kind of just happens, it’s always too late before you realize how bad the clutter gets; thanks for these amazing tips!
celebbabylaundry says
January 8, 2015 at 10:16 pmI am quite the clean freak, I can’t stand a little bit of clutter; these are some really great tips!
Alice Chase says
January 8, 2015 at 11:54 pmI still have a ton of decluttering to do. Not to mention clearing out the garage. Great tips!
Kay Adeola says
January 9, 2015 at 2:22 amGreat tips I really need to declutter but it is the starting that is the hardest
Lisa Ladrido says
January 9, 2015 at 8:04 amI need to do this so bad! We just moved into a new house and still have all our stuff at the old place. It is overwhelming but using your tips one step at a time we will get it done!
April says
January 9, 2015 at 11:01 amThe sorting station is what’s next in my garage. My husband did a lovely job of straigtening it up, only for me to realize at least half of it can either be tossed, given away or sold. Guess I know what I’ll be doing in the coming weeks.
Chrystal @ Nevermore Lane says
January 9, 2015 at 12:02 pmI am a very simple person. I don’t really buy stuff and things. I tend to get rid of things when they’ve worn out their use in one way or another. My husband on the other hand whats to buy multiple stuffs and things. I have tried so many times over the years to start tossing stuff. We had 2 barns knocked down and they brought dumpsters in. I had a lot of stuff cleared out. But, you go in the new barn and the basement and it doesn’t look like I ever cleaned them out. I keep telling him if he keeps it up by the time he is 60 hes going to be on Hoarders.
Tough Cookie Mommy says
January 9, 2015 at 7:14 pmI’m currently in the process of clearing out and organizing. It’s a big job but so rewarding.
Paula Shuck says
January 9, 2015 at 7:46 pmSome great tips! Especially for the new year, always good to downsize and clean up for a fresh new start!
Anya@IW says
January 10, 2015 at 9:07 pmGreat tips and I think the new year is the perfect time. It occurs to me as much as I love Christmas decorations, I find I equally enjoy putting them away and seeing the space open up in my home.
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My closet is definitely my next clutter challenge.
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#7 is a hard one, but probably the best tip of all!
Donna Hufman Warrington says
January 12, 2015 at 7:43 pmWhat great advice, thank you very much…I know that when I put away my winter and fall clothes, if I end up not wearing something, I usually keep it for one more season….second time around, if I still don’t wear it, I donate it…usually GoodWill. Same goes with my Christmas decorations, they were pieces that I didn’t use and this is actually the third year, I’ve already started a bag and planning on going through clothes. I feel so good when I clean OUT.
Deana says
January 12, 2015 at 11:47 pmI have got to try this! LOL
kathy downey says
January 13, 2015 at 7:27 amThanks for sharing these tips,if I could onlt follow these it would make my life easier
Trish F says
January 13, 2015 at 8:56 amOverwhelmed is an understatement. I’ve been ill most of all last year and my house is a mess. Besides the clutter even the important things are a mess, like all of my medical bills. I really need a kick.
Robin Creager says
January 13, 2015 at 9:17 amGreat tips! Now if I can only KEEP it all organized and uncluttered I’ll be doing good.
Amy P says
January 13, 2015 at 9:38 amThank you for posting this. I *so* need to de-clutter!
Coline T. says
January 13, 2015 at 9:48 amReally useful tips, thank you 🙂
nikki robak says
January 13, 2015 at 12:29 pmsome great tips I am just cleaning out my place now and I can put these to good use
loriag says
January 13, 2015 at 1:19 pmGrowing up in clutter was no fun, so now I try to keep mine to a minimum.
Carolyn Massey says
January 13, 2015 at 1:56 pmThank goodness I am relatively clutter free. Learned my lesson when we moved from a house we were in for 18 years and never threw anything away. It took me forever to clean out closets, cabinets and garage. I didn’t think I’d ever get finished. Now a place for everything and everything in it’s place.
Soo says
January 13, 2015 at 2:11 pmThanks for the tips! I really need to clear stuff out this year.
Linda Seal says
January 13, 2015 at 3:29 pmGreat tips.
Fatima Luna says
January 13, 2015 at 4:47 pmThanks for sharing! These are great tips. I just went through all my daughters clothes now I have to go through mines.
Barbara Adams says
January 13, 2015 at 7:04 pmDue to circumstance beyond my control, I purchased no clothing in 2014. After a while, it really wasn’t a thing. I’m not really swayed by trends, have all the functional clothing I need…the point being…there are still clothes in my closet that I didn’t wear, so out they go!
ERICA WEAVER says
January 14, 2015 at 8:31 amLUCKLY I DONT HAVE ALOT OF STUFF BUT THE REST OF FAMILY DOE AND ITS SUCH A TASK TO GET ORGANIZED IN OUR HECTIC LIFE I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT
tima says
January 14, 2015 at 11:07 amthis was very needed, and bookmarked, thanks
Lyndsey says
January 14, 2015 at 12:24 pmSuch great tips! Thanks!
Brittney Lopanec says
January 14, 2015 at 1:28 pmI’m going to try and follow these tips!! It’s so hard to get organized when you have no time to do it!!!
Sandra Watts says
January 14, 2015 at 9:11 pmI have too much clutter in my closets. I’ve got to do a lot of hauling. I recently lost 100lbs so I have a lot to get rid of.
Christina Graham says
January 14, 2015 at 10:54 pmThere is nothing I enjoy more then getting rid of clutter. These are some great tips. I just wish you could convince my husband to part with his junk!
Jeff Legg says
January 15, 2015 at 5:45 amGreat ideas! We all get trapped in the closet clutter, out of sight out of mind.
sheryl granholm says
January 15, 2015 at 6:02 amSuper helpful tips, thank you! 🙂
Alicia P says
January 15, 2015 at 7:37 amGreat tips! I actually try to work this way every time I clean, I just get distracted… As long as I can stop myself from looking at stuff instead of sorting it, I make progress lol 🙂
Jennifer Nielsen says
January 15, 2015 at 11:47 amThank you for the tips. We try to do a clean out every year and now it can be a more organized event.
April Morrison says
January 17, 2015 at 5:11 pmThese are good ideas. I am working on organizing this year.
karen hunter says
January 23, 2015 at 11:13 pmIf you make a habit of picking up behind yourself daily your house will never be a mess
Kristina Glidewell says
January 25, 2015 at 3:44 pmGreat tips!
Miranda Wood says
January 26, 2015 at 11:48 amGreat ideas. I really like the tie breaker one. Thank you.