Clean, declutter and eliminate

Cleaning and decluttering isn’t just for home sellers, it seems like everyone is doing it. There are a few methods of tidying up. Some folks like to get rid of one item each day.  Others like to reorganize their homes one area at a time.

People also declutter and reorganize by category, starting with clothing. They get rid of what they never wear and reorganize the rest. Then they move onto the kitchen. You get the picture.

There is “Sweedish death cleaning” which is about getting rid of your excess stuff so that no one has to deal with it after you die. (The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter by Margareta Magnusson)

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondō. It is about keeping what brings us joy and organizing it. I read the book last year and actually put some of it into practice in my own home. 

There are books and articles about minimalism too. The idea is that less can actually be more. There are many books about minimalism. I have made it my personal goal in life to have less. It isn’t easy either.

Tidying up and decluttering does make a difference. It is easier to relax in a home that is clean and where there isn’t a lot of clutter. Some people prefer to have less furniture too. Apparently, there are health benefits to furniture free living. A lack of furniture can also really open up a living space. 🙂

Whichever method you choose if you decide to declutter will probably work and even though a lot of people take on these tasks in January they can be done most anytime and over a long period of time if needed. I have a friend who started downsizing three years before we put her house on the market.

If it is all too overwhelming there are professionals that will come into your home and show you how to organize, declutter and clean.

This is the time of year when storage containers and bins go on sale. For some putting stuff in storage bins and getting it out of site is how they declutter.

The biggest challenge I have in my home is my home office. I work in it several hours a day and it gets messy.

I feel responsible for my own stuff and try to recycle, donate, gift or sell items that I no longer need. I just hate the idea of sending it to a landfill for future generations to deal with.

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