One of best ways to get your house in order is to host a party or a holiday gathering. Don\u2019t run screaming just yet. If your house is a mess, you\u2019ll need some motivation to clean it up. By hosting an event, you\u2019ll have a date to work toward, and lots of motivation to pull things together.<\/p>\n
Finding Your Motivation to Start Decluttering<\/h3>\n
It’s easy to procrastinate, especially when it comes to decluttering your home.\u00a0 Try some of these tips to help you get going:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Watch a tv show while sorting items<\/li>\n
- Turn on some music while you work<\/li>\n
- Set a time limit: declutter for one hour.\u00a0 (Once you start, you may want to work a little longer.)<\/li>\n
- Tell a family member your plans for the day.\u00a0 You’ll be more likely to follow through, since they expect to see your progress.<\/li>\n
- Reward yourself with a cup of coffee or small treat once you’re finished.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Determining Where to Start<\/h3>\n
Sometimes, just the process of working through your spring or fall cleaning checklists is enough.\u00a0 Other times, it is a particular area,\u00a0like your kitchen,\u00a0that needs attention. Still not sure where to start?\u00a0 For more ideas, check out our special article:\u00a0\u00a0House a Mess? Where to Start<\/a><\/p>\n
Identifying the Problem Areas with our Printable Worksheet<\/h3>\n
You\u2019ll want to identify the problem areas, and work on a solution.\u00a0 What are\u00a0the top three areas that would make a huge impact if the clutter was removed?<\/p>\n
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- Is it a particular space that continues to amass trinkets and a hodgepodge of items<\/li>\n
- Is there\u00a0a particular room in your home?<\/li>\n
- What area troubles you the most?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Click on the link below to print our Decluttering Worksheet.\u00a0 Then write down your trouble spots, along with a few possible solutions.<\/p>\n
![\"Decluttering](\"https:\/\/runningahousehold.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Decluttering-Worksheet-207x300.jpg\")
<\/a>Decluttering Worksheet<\/a><\/p>\n- \n
- Do you have too much paper on the kitchen counter?\u00a0 Maybe the solution is to set up a mail basket or system for receipts.<\/li>\n
- Do your children have too many toys?\u00a0 Maybe it’s time to donate some, or set up a rotating toy system.\u00a0 (Check us out on Pinterest for more details.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Dealing With the Clutter<\/h3>\n
Whether it\u2019s a kitchen counter or a living room filled with clutter, follow these basic steps for decluttering: Step 1<\/strong>: Grab a trash bag. Step 2<\/strong>: Identify items that belong in another room.\u00a0 Group like items together:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Kid\u2019s Room<\/li>\n
- Bedroom<\/li>\n
- Entrance<\/li>\n
- Desk<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Be sure to toss items you don\u2019t need anymore. If someone else could use them, start a bag for donations. We’ve even included printable signs for you to use when decluttering: Donate, Put Away, Trash, Shred.\u00a0 Click on the link below to print.\u00a0 Then cut on the dotted lines to make your signs.<\/p>\n
![\"Decluttering](\"https:\/\/runningahousehold.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Decluttering-Signs-235x300.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nDecluttering Signs<\/a><\/p>\n
Step 3:<\/strong> Put the items away in the correct rooms.\u00a0 Toss the trash, and make a trip to your local donation center.<\/p>\n
Organizing the Remaining Items<\/h3>\n
Once you\u2019ve identified the problem areas, you\u2019ll want to develop solutions. Here are some articles we\u2019ve written on organizing particular areas of your home:<\/p>\n
\u00a0
![\"Mail](\"https:\/\/runningahousehold.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Mail-Box-150x150.png\")
<\/a>Too much mail? Tips for staying on top of your mail<\/a><\/p>\n![\"How](\"https:\/\/runningahousehold.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Receipt-Bin-Completed-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nHow to Organize and Store Your Receipts<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"Hand](\"https:\/\/runningahousehold.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Hand-Me-Down-Clothes-2-150x107.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nHow to Organize \u201cHand Me Down\u201d Clothes<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"Shoes](\"https:\/\/runningahousehold.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/Shoes-5-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a> How to Organize the Shoes in Your Entryway<\/a><\/p>\nBe sure to check our “Toolbox”\u00a0at the top of the page. We have lots of articles, checklists, and ideas for organizing and maintaining your home.<\/p>\n
Knowing the Tips for Success<\/h3>\n
There are just a few keys to successfully decluttering your home:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Clear a little bit of clutter\u00a0everyday. The clutter didn\u2019t happen overnight.\u00a0 It won’t go away\u00a0overnight.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"Clutter\"](\"https:\/\/runningahousehold.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Clutter-300x231.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n- \n
- Donate, donate, donate. You can also have a tag sale, but if it never comes to fruition, all you have done is made a pile of clutter someplace else in your house.<\/li>\n
- Try to make one organizational improvement every day, no matter how large or small.\u00a0 One day, you might build a shoe rack.\u00a0 Another day, you might set up a basket\u00a0to hold all of\u00a0your remote controls.\u00a0 Once these systems are in place, they will keep the clutter under control.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Involving Family Members<\/h3>\n
Be sure to involve the people who are most impacted.\u00a0 Can you guess when I run into the most trouble?\u00a0 When I reorganize and move something, only to hear a question such as \u201cWhere are my socks?”\u00a0or “Where did you put my garlic and pepper crackers?”\u00a0 Do you see what I mean?\u00a0 You can\u2019t work independently on these projects.\u00a0 It’s important to ask family members their opinion.\u00a0 Or at the very least, give them a tour of the newly organized areas.\u00a0 Labeling is also a huge help.\u00a0 Here are a few success stories:<\/p>\n
Issue 1<\/strong>: My husband was always asking for a new bar of soap.<\/p>\n
Solution:<\/strong> While Spring Cleaning the bathroom, I added a clean, plastic bin labeled: soap, razors, and toothbrushes.<\/p>\n
Success Story:<\/strong> He was looking for a bar of soap. He went right to the top shelf and helped himself!<\/p>\n
![\"Bath](\"https:\/\/runningahousehold.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Bath-Travel-Sizes-Soap-Toothbrushes-Storage-300x153.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nSimple Tips for Cleaning and Organizing Your Bathroom<\/a><\/p>\n
Issue 2:<\/strong> My husband was always digging through the refrigerator looking for his chicken sausages.<\/p>\n
Solution:<\/strong>\u00a0 I bought a small white bin at Walmart. I put all of his packages of chicken sausages in the bin, and back in the refrigerator.<\/p>\n
Success Story:<\/strong> He was looking for the chicken sausages, and was tickled pink to have his own bin.<\/p>\n
![\"Large](\"https:\/\/runningahousehold.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Large-White-Basket-with-Handle.png\")
<\/a> Issue 3:<\/strong> My son could never find the books he wanted to read.<\/p>\nSolution:<\/strong> We worked together to sort his books by topic.<\/p>\n
Success Story:<\/strong> He was looking for a book, and found it easily with the new system.<\/p>\n
![\"Books](\"https:\/\/runningahousehold.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Books-thickest-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a> Read more about how we did organized his books: Organizing children\u2019s books<\/a><\/p>\nAdded benefits:<\/strong> The leftover chicken sausages and the books tend to be put back in the right spot. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n
Here are some additional articles you may find helpful:<\/p>\n
How to Keep Track of Your Charitable Contributions<\/a><\/p>\n
Getting Organized with a Label Maker<\/a><\/p>\n
Spring Cleaning Checklists: Room by Room<\/a><\/p>\n
- Clear a little bit of clutter\u00a0everyday. The clutter didn\u2019t happen overnight.\u00a0 It won’t go away\u00a0overnight.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n