Simple Ways to Declutter Your Life

We all know how easy it is to clutter up your desk with papers and books, your kitchen counters with cups and food boxes, your credit card bill with needless expenditures, or the basement with useless storage items. It is not just your home that can get cluttered, but your health, your workplace and your finances as well. The good news is that taking time to declutter your crowded environment will open up needed space that will help you feel lighter and to think more clearly.

Related: How Clutter Affects You

According to Amara Willey, certified Professional Organizer, this does not have to be done in one day or one week, but by taking small steps it can all eventually get done. Willey suggests that you begin in a space you wish to organize, set aside half an hour of time and go through only that small area. Don’t get distracted and wander off because the stuff or your thoughts are taking you somewhere else. Stay the course and little by little you will eliminate all the clutter. The following suggestions will help you to get started and the results will be well worth the effort.

HOME

Take one room at a time, even a small corner of one room and organize, discard and clean that area before moving on to the next.
Discard any bathroom products that have not been used within the past 2 months.
Safely dispose of any toxic house cleaning products from under the kitchen sink.
Take one kitchen drawer at a time and dispose of anything you have not used in the past 6 months.
Organize the foods in your cabinets according to grains, beans, nuts/seeds, cereals, sweeteners, etc. This way everything is easily on hand when you go looking.
Recycle empty glass jars that have no lids and all plastic containers, plastic cooking implements and aluminum pots and pans.
Clean trash, empty food containers and plastic water bottles from your car. Wash the outside, vacuum the inside and wash the windows.

Next: The Workplace

1 of 4

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Lisa S.

7:02AM PDT on May 2, 2012

Great article, I always feel so much better after a de clutter, everything in life seems so much easier http://www.adsere.com/blog/2012/03/how-to-spring-clean-your-house/

send a green star

Patricia H.

5:43AM PDT on Apr 27, 2012

thanks for sharing

Veronique L.

10:19AM PST on Mar 7, 2012

:-))

New G.

11:18PM PST on Jan 1, 2012

Thank you for the ideas.

christina t.

9:53AM PST on Dec 27, 2011

I think we need an article on "how to stay uncluttered". I read these declutter articles and I go declutter. Somehow I always find myself back where I started but with other things.
I will try to remain uncluttered, promise this time I will do it, honest!

Robert H.

10:15PM PST on Nov 26, 2011

What helpful suggestions!

Teresa B.

8:15AM PDT on Sep 30, 2011

Clutter is the vein of my life and a strain on my relationship, I shall now go and sort 30 minutes a day. Thank You.

Tamara A.

4:05PM PDT on Mar 17, 2011

My head hurts no more!

Pat M.

4:48AM PST on Feb 14, 2011

Losing clutter is like cutting fat from my soul