Seniors often find themselves giving up the huge family home in exchange for a cozier, smaller home or condo. The trouble far too often the size of the home changes but the amount of "stuff" does not. If this sounds like you, you will love these tips on how to declutter while not parting with the things you treasure.
The best way to get started is to simply pick one room. Generally speaking the first room you choose should be the one that has the most unpacked boxes or largest amount of clutter sitting around. Invest in some Rubbermaid containers for storage, some stacking storage bins for smaller items, and you will also need four large boxes or containers for sorting.
Kids Bookshelf With Storage Bins
One will be for things you are going to keep, the second will be for things you are going to find a new home for, the third will be for things you are going to give family members, and finally the fourth will be for things that are ready to be thrown out. Worn items, broken items, and items that have outlasted their usefulness should be discarded.
You might want to get busy cleaning a room, but the truth is until you get all the clutter out of the room you will simply be wasting your time, which is why the first thing you need to do is take on the daunting task of sorting. Do not worry it is not as bad as it seems at first glance. The hardest part is just getting started.
If there are unpacked boxes left just grab one and get busy. When you are sorting keep this in mind. If it still lives in a box and has for some time then there is a good chance you do not use the item, which means you should not be keeping it. Take a good hard look and be honest. Why are you keeping it?
If you were hanging onto items thinking you would share them with family members later, why not divvy them up now. Let family decide what they want and then give the rest to charity. If items are broken now would be a good time to get rid of them.
Items that you deem must keep can be stored in well marked containers. Perhaps you love to fish. Why not store all your fishing gear together in a Rubbermaid container marked as such. Or maybe your knitting supplies are all rammed in a box. Those stackable storage units work great for sorting things. Many of them are even on wheels, making them easy to move around.
Once everything is sorted, you can begin to do your cleaning. Now is a great time to wipe everything down before placing the keeper items in their new homes. Some of the items you decide to keep might belong on walls or shelving. For example, pictures can be hung or books can be placed on a bookshelf.
Downsizing is the perfect time to clean out the clutter and bring a new level of organization to your life. Use these how to tips to get you started. Your smaller home will not feel nearly as small once you declutter.