Are you a little bit of a pack rat? Not to be confused with hoarding, we’re referring to those who rarely throws things away out of the idea that “one day” they may need it. For example, is your kitchen drawers full of old take out menus? Closet stuffed with clothes you haven’t worn in over a year? Is there a stack of old DVD’s piled around your TV that you know you’re not going to watch again? If so, then it might be time to put a day aside to take the time to look around your home and determine if you have things you don’t need and thin out those non-essentials for good. Trust us, you’re going to find it exhilarating when you do! All that purging and organizing will eventually lead to a more organized and functional home for you to enjoy.
How do I start?
When we begin the journey to declutter, organize, and tidy our home, we always think the same thing: “I have too much, I don’t know where to start!” The key is to not try to declutter your whole house in one day. We like the ambition, but you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed quickly. Instead, start small. Start your journey by organizing a small area first, like your desk or junk drawer. Approach it one day at a time, one drawer at a time. Once you’re in the decluttering flow of things, transition into tidying and organizing one room at a time.
Declutter Rules
According to 31 Days to Declutter Your Home, there are 8 purging and declutter rules to keep in mind that will help you get the most out of your purge.
- One-year rule
If you haven’t worn it/used it/looked at it in a year, get it out of your house.
- Broken beyond repair
It’s broken, it’s busted, it’s a goner. Get it gone.
- Not even yours
This is the worst type of clutter – you don’t even own it! Give it back to the person who does.
- Guilt
Life gets busy, and you shouldn’t put more pressure on yourself by feeling responsible for things. They are just things, and don’t get you any closer to your goals.
- “Just in case”
Think about your items you keep for this reason. Have any of those events come up when you actually needed them? Maybe, but it doesn’t matter right now.
- Publications
Magazines and newspapers are old; the information contained in them is likely outdated. All of this information is easily found on the web.
- Done
There are items we are just done with, but haven’t gotten around to getting rid of them. Now is that time!
- Simply the best
Only put back into your closets and cupboards the best of what you own or things that you simply cannot part with.
How do I decide what stays and what goes?
How many times have you thought to yourself, “I’ll use it one day” or “it is worth something”? Before you know it, every room becomes storage for something. That mentality will keep you from purging things that really should go. If you won’t use it in the near future or can’t sell it, then it’s most likely not worth keeping. Rather, consider donating or just calling it what it is, trash. To determine what stays and what needs to go, here are three questions you can ask yourself:
- Does this compliment my life?
- When was the last time I used this?
- Do I truly need this?
The answers to these questions can help your clutter impulses and allow you to clear out the space and move on.
Recycle Used Electronics
You may return your used electronics for recycling to the following retailers:
- Best Buy stores accept items such as electronics and batteries for recycling.
- Staples office supply stores take electronics, batteries and printer ink/toner cartridges for recycling.
- London Drugs stores collect small electronics and other items for recycling.
You may also recycle your old phones to telecommunication providers such as Bell or Telus. Apple Canada and Sony Canada also take back their own products for recycling. For more information on electronics recycling near you, you may visit https://www.recyclemyelectronics.ca/
Need some inspiration? Here’s 30 things you can get rid of right now!
- Expired coupons
- Broken, old, unused electronics
- Take-out menus, utensils, sauce packets
- DVDs you know you will never watch
- Expired medications
- Expired spices and pantry items
- Power cords for devices you no longer use
- Extra wrapping paper, ribbons and bows
- Perfumes and colognes you no longer wear
- Expired makeup
- Greeting cards
- Socks without a match
- Books you never read and/or have not referenced in 3+ years
- Old receipts for items you can no longer return or exchange
- Chipped plates, mugs or cups
- Clothes you haven’t worn in over a year, have outgrown, or are torn and/or stained
- Memorabilia
- Tupperware containers without the lids
- CDs
- Board games with missing pieces
- Furniture manuals
- Broken holiday decorations
- Duplicate cooking utensils
- Old calendars
- Old prescription glasses or sunglasses
- Old wallets
- Touristy knick knacks
- Gifts you don’t like but are still holding onto
- Worn out or dirty shoes you no longer wear
- Things that don’t even belong to you! (return back to the owner)
Let the decluttering begin!