Is your home overwhelmed by clutter? If it is and you have no clue where to start to get your house clean, follow these step-by-step ideas for what to do to declutter.
Analysis paralysis is a real thing. And, it can certainly happen when you think about organizing a messy house.
Now, I’m talking about when you are surrounded by a real mess. The type of disorganization that happens when you let clutter take over. “Piles of laundry everywhere, stuff on the floor, you can’t see your countertops anymore, what is that smell and where is it coming from?” kind of mess.
Questions start to flood your mind. Where do I start? How do I start? What do I need? Can I really do this?
What actually ends up happening is nothing. You’re so overwhelmed by clutter and what to do with it that you do nothing.
So, the situation inevitably gets worse because you leave it alone and try to ignore it a bit longer.
You feel hopeless, ashamed and maybe even despair.
But you can totally do this! Follow these steps that I’m about to share and go slowly. This is not going to happen overnight because the clutter didn’t accumulate overnight. Be patient but persistent and you’ll see this through.
What To Do When You’re Overwhelmed By Clutter?
Change Your Mindset
Before you get started, you need to shift your mindset. A lot of people hold on to clutter because they think that it’s wasteful to get rid of things they paid good money for.
But, if you don’t use it or even know you have it because it’s buried under a ton of things, that’s just as wasteful. Don’t worry about the possibility of needing an item someday either. You can always borrow, rent or buy another one if that time comes.
Another common feeling you might struggle with is guilt. Guilt caused at the mere thought of letting go of sentimental items. Maybe you received a gift or inherited an item but you don’t like it and never actually use it.
Isn’t it better to give that to someone who really appreciates it? Someone who needs it a whole lot more than you?
There are plenty of other reasons for clutter but a change of mindset is really important in order to start decluttering your home.
Create A Donation Area
Now, that you’re ready to entertain the thought of letting things go, I want you to set up a donation area. This can be as simple as a box by the front door.
As you find things you no longer want or need, put them in the box. The next time you leave the house, put the box in the car and take it straight to the nearest thrift shop, charity, family member or friend. Just don’t leave it in your home.
After the initial clean-up, leave that box close to the front door so that you can fill it up as you find items you don’t want. This consistent purging will help you to keep your home clean and tidy.
Start Small
When you’re really overwhelmed by clutter, one good way to break out of the paralysis is to start small. Pick one spot in your home that’s very visible—maybe an area that drives you crazy e.g. the kitchen counters or the entryway—and focus on that.
Don’t start with closets or other places that you don’t readily see. You want to be able to look around and feel like you’ve made progress no matter how small. It’s a start and whatever you do, you need to be proud of it. This will motivate you to keep cleaning and organizing.
Keep It Simple
Now, that you’ve picked a spot to clean, get a trash bag and a box. First, grab any trash that you can see and put it in the bag. Old newspapers, takeout boxes, expired coupons, whatever you find that’s garbage, dump it. After you’ve finished, take a look around. Isn’t that better already?
Next, grab the box and place anything that you know already has a home in there e.g. laundry, books you want to keep. Continue until the box is full, then take the items in the box to their homes and put them away. Don’t worry about organizing the place where you’re storing the items yet. Just find a spot and stash them.
Rinse and repeat. Go back to the one area you’re cleaning up, fill up that box and put away items until all that’s left are things that don’t already have homes.
Designate a Spot For Homeless Possessions
Pick up each item that’s left and think about the best place to put it. Where are you most likely to go looking for that item? Then, take it there immediately. Keep going until you have designated homes for everything.
The place that you were cleaning up should be empty when you’ve completed this step. You should now be able to see a clear open area. Congratulations!
You’re not quite done yet, though. That’s just one spot in your house. Repeat all these steps until your home is completely clear of clutter. Don’t be discouraged. Remember, it might take a while before you get it all done but just look at the progress you’ve already made!
Change Your Habits
Perhaps the most important step of all is to change your habits. Get into the habit of putting things away immediately. After you’ve finished eating, take the plate to the kitchen and place it in the dishwasher or wash it manually. Do not leave it where you were sitting or in the sink.
As soon as you’ve finished laundry, put all the clothes away. When you change your clothes, put the clothing in the laundry hamper. Do not let mounds of laundry accumulate. Do not drop clothes on the floor. You MUST change your habits in order to maintain a clean house.
Create a cleaning routine and stick to it. Let your family know what rules they need to follow and enforce them. Use this printable cleaning schedule as a guide.
Click here to download the Cleaning Schedule printable for just $3.
When you’re completely overwhelmed by clutter, it’s hard to know where to begin. Hopefully, these steps will help you to do the hardest thing which is to just get started.
Please comment below and let me know if you find these suggestions helpful.
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