Clutter strikes many unsuspecting households with its stealth and persistence. Good, clean houses fall victim to clutter’s slow, almost imperceptible build up, until they’re left wincing under its weight. But how can clutter get out of control without you noticing? The answer is in your daily habits. Do you buy gadgets you don’t need? Do you keep clothes you haven’t worn in years? Do you toss mail on the coffee table to deal with it later? These self-destructive habits often slip by unnoticed as part of a daily routine, until clutter becomes a real problem. You may not even notice you missed in a bill in that pile of mail until your electricity gets turned off.
Don’t let clutter keep you in the dark! Fighting clutter is as easy as making small changes to your daily habits and changing the way you think about possessions. When you’re suited up for the challenge, combat clutter with these handy battle tips:
- Just because it’s a bargain doesn’t mean you should buy it. Bargains have lured many frugal shoppers into buying something they don’t really need. Those unneeded items, in turn, chip away at wallets and become fodder at ugly sweater parties. So how can you separate the “nice to haves” from the “need to haves” in the heat of the moment? To determine an item’s value to you, forget about that red-tag sale and ask yourself, “Will I regret not buying this today, tomorrow, or a month from now?” Better yet, put that regret to the test by walking past the deal and going home. If you’re still pining for that kitty sweater in a day or two, go back and buy it—but first ask yourself where you’ll store it!
- Just because it’s nostalgic doesn’t mean you should keep it. Certain objects will always have a special place in your heart and home: the pressed rose your husband gave you on your first date, your grandmother’s wedding band, your child’s first drawing. Other items you might have kept for nostalgic reasons, but how many times have you actually worn that tattered Nirvana T-shirt in the last year or ten? And would you even know what to do with those taco plates Aunt Bessie gave you for your wedding? With all of these physical memories taking up space in your home, it may be time to realize that emotions are not inherently tied to possessions. Happy memories live on in your head and heart, so ask yourself how important it is to keep all those physical reminders. You can always take pictures of nostalgic objects to make a special memory book. It puts reminders of all your treasures in one place, plus it takes up a lot less room!
- If you don’t need it, donate it. You’ve probably heard it before, but it’s a good rule of thumb to prevent clutter: If you haven’t used it in a year, toss it. This is especially true of clothes, which frequently go in and out of fashion (and size). If it’s tough for you to part with your possessions, think about giving them to someone who could really use them. If you’re done having kids, see if a pregnant friend would like your maternity clothes and baby items. There are also charities, such as Goodwill and The Salvation Army, which give you a one-stop-drop for all your donation items. Regularly going through your closets and drawers will help keep clutter at bay.
- Combat clutter with a “clean routine.” To keep a clean house, don’t wait for the mood to strike. Chances are, it will strike less often than you intended—or only during spring cleaning. Instead, choose a time when you regularly feel motivated, such as right after work or first thing Saturday morning, and make that your “clean routine.” Every day/week at that time, tackle your house’s clutter and make sure all your surfaces (such as tabletops and counters) are clean. To make this job even easier, you can create a clutter zone for items like mail, bills, report cards, party invitations, and appointment reminders. Stacking letter trays and magazine holders are fantastic for organizing paperwork, making it easy to sort through clutter during your clean routine!
Ready to hop on the organization bandwagon? Neatnix is here to help with more than just tips to keep your space looking great. From closet organizers to cosmetics organizers to jewelry organizers, we have an organization and storage solution for every room of the house. And what’s better—for the month of August, we’re offering amazing back-to-school savings on everything in the store! To get started on your clean routine, check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for a special promotional code.
