The term home means different things to different people. For some folks, a home is a place to keep belongings, sleep or share with others. For some is a personal delight and sanctuary. How individuals keep their home varies from person to person. Some folks are super tidy, while some have homes that are one step away from being a pig pen.
Whether you are neat or messy, I am sure there have been periods you wish you could find effective ways to declutter, clean, or organize with some efficacy.
Remember that this blog is not about turning anyone into a neat freak or activating your dormant obsessive-compulsive tendencies. This blog is about basic tips and suggestions to assist you in making some improvements in your home.
We have a day-by-day decluttering plan that will allow you to do something every day until it becomes a natural routine. Some of you, who are overachievers, may do a few extra things in one day, and that is perfectly ok as long as you don’t overdo and then burn out. The key to this plan is to develop a home organizational system that will allow you to create a home that is free from clutter based on your personal needs.
In your decluttering process, you will remove items from your home you no longer need, want, or use. Here are some steps: but feel free to add more:
- Select a day– decide which day you wish to devote to your decluttering plan.
- The purging planning– Get a notebook and write your task plans in terms of A. Tasks 2. Supplies required 3. Starting space or room 4. Designate a place to discard unwanted items (a bag, box, or trash can) 5. Decide where to store things.
- Cleaning Budget – create a budget for cleaning and storage supplies. Keep it simple and affordable. You need mostly trash bags and storage bins to organize the things you do keep.
- Document the event – Take pre and post-photos.
- Trash day schedule– Be sure to keep track of trash day to help you get rid of stuff immediately and avoid new piles.
- Focus on one room at a time– Get big bags you can comfortably carry, and select one run to start. Start in the far corner and work your way around the room until it’s clear. Take your time, but commit to at less two full bags at a time.
- Donation days – find out about the local places that take donations and plan on delivering things you don’t want to throw away but need to get rid of
- Declutter the Bathroom –Throw out all the old stuff you barely use. Throw out old towels, floor mats, pieces of soap, etc.
- Super clean the bathroom- Once you clear your bathroom of old or broken items, super clean your bathroom from wall to floor. Sweep the floor thoroughly. Once the bathroom floor is swept, begin to wipe the tile walls, and scrub the toilet, sink, and shower/tub. After everything is scrubbed clean, mop your floors.
- Kitchen area part 1– begin decluttering your refrigerator of all old food that has been hiding in the back of your freezer and refrigerator. Clearing the kitchen can take all day, so be patient with yourself.
- Kitchen area part 2 – begin decluttering your food pantry or cabinets with old food products that have expiration dates.
- Kitchen area part 3 – Open your cabinets/drawers and review dishes, cups, utensils, and cooking pot collection; decide what you need and donate the rest.
- Go to another spot– Grab some bags and begin to sort items for donation or garbage.
- Go to your bedroom – take everything that is not bedding off. Remove the dirty bedding and place it in the laundry. Meantime make your bed, but do not put anything on it.
In order for the above process to work, make sure to do the following:
- Make sure to empty the trash immediately.
- Make sure to arrange pick or delivery for your donation.
- If you have a broken item you like, ask yourself if you have the skills to repair it; if not, donate it
- If you have duplicates of something, keep only one or two of the same item.
- If something is dirty and broken, toss it, you deserve nice-looking things.
- Remember, things are only valuable when they are in one piece and not broken.
- You can do a little each day; as long as you don’t stop or add more to the pile, you will eventually stop.
In summary, decluttering takes time and personal commitment, which means no one can decide when it’s time but you.
Copyright © 2023 R. Castro
Holistic Coaching 