Do You Need All That Stuff?

Is your home cluttered? If so, it’s probably causing you some problems. This spring, make an effort to clear out the mess that’s harming you and your family.

Physical risks of clutter
Items on the floor can cause slipping and tripping while items on tables and other surfaces can fall off and become tripping hazards.

Excess clutter creates hiding spots for vermin. Just because you don’t see spiders and cockroaches doesn’t mean they’re not there.

Too many items in your mechanical room is dangerous. It might seem like a convenient storage area but clutter can inhibit airflow to your furnace, increasing the risk of carbon monoxide production.

Decluttering has psychological benefits too.

You’ll be able to focus better. Fewer distractions in the form of a mess to clean up and things left undone. Each trinket takes up space in your mind as well as physical space in your home, distracting you from important tasks and creating stress.

You’ll save time because you’ll be able to find everything you need faster. Once everything has its place, you won’t waste time searching for important items.

Here are some tips to get it done:

Set aside a block of time. Depending on how much you have to sort through, it will take time.

Take one space at a time. This might mean a room or just one cupboard or closet. It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you survey your entire house so break it down into small chunks.

Sort into three piles: “Keep” (for things you use regularly), “Discard” (this includes items to donate or throw away) and “Unsure”. This last pile is to prevent you from wasting time with indecision. It keeps the momentum going so midnight doesn’t come and go with everything still strewn across the floor.

Pack your “Keep” items away in specific spots so you have easy access to them.

Deal with sentimental items separately. Put them in the “Unsure” pile to start with. Have a box or chest specifically for sentimentals and make sure that everything fits into this one box. As new items are added, discard something else.

Actually get rid of your “Discard” items. The whole point of this is to make space, remember?

Create a system for dealing with new items entering your home. Maintenance is the hardest part. Without a plan that you can easily follow to keep your home clear, more “stuff” will migrate into your empty spaces and pile up again.

If part of your decluttering means clearing out your mechanical room to keep you and your family safe, give us a call and we can help you figure it out!