Picture an ideal winter evening at home, and you’re probably thinking of a roaring fire, steaming cups of hot chocolate and a cozy blanket. You likely aren’t picturing an unorganized, messy house. However, 54% of Americans are overwhelmed by their clutter, and 78% don’t know what to do about it. Before you’re cooped up inside this winter, here are five easy ways to declutter and organize your home.
Take it room by room
You’re likely to become overwhelmed if you try to organize your home all at once, so take it one step (or room) at a time. For example, start with your bathroom. You’ll want to first go through your medicine cabinet and get rid of expired medication, cosmetics and the like. Next, move to any drawers and discard anything you don’t need. Lastly, repeat the process around your tub, shower and toilet. Apply the same methodology to your other rooms.
Use the box method
As you’re sorting through your belongings, some will be trash while others could be donated. Put a box near your front door or in the garage for those items. For example, you might discover clothing that no longer suits you, but it could easily be donated. Instead of tossing it in the corner of your closet, place it in the box. This way, you’re much more likely to transport it to the donation center.
Tackle your storage closet
Everyone wants spacious closets while hunting for a home. However, it doesn’t take long for those closets to become the “catch-all” for things we aren’t using. Tackle your storage closet by first taking everything out. You’ll repeat the process of deciding which items to keep and which to discard or donate. Next, look at the belongings you plan to keep. Decide if you need to purchase closet organization tools, such as drawers or hangers. Lastly, put everything back in a strategic way. Place items you use daily in easy-to-reach places.
Set a realistic timeline
The average American spends 2.5 days each year looking for lost items. Collectively, Americans spend $2.7 billion replacing lost items. Though you may feel pressured to get everything done as quickly as possible, try to let that go. Consider your schedule and choose a timeline that works for you to effectively organize your home. For example, you might want to tackle one room per weekend or take a few 15-minute cleaning sessions per week. Slow and steady wins the race.
Preserve your photos and paperwork
Most everyone has boxes of old photographs or important paperwork. To save space, scan old photos, and store them on your computer or a hard drive. You can do the same with paperwork, children’s artwork and certificates. Besides helping you organize your home, scanning has the double benefit of keeping your papers safe from accidentally being destroyed. If you no longer need the documents, they can be shredded.
Spend this winter in a home you love
When you are living in your dream home, cleaning becomes less of a chore and more a labor of love. Spend this winter in a home you’re happy to organize with the help of the home-buying experts at First Centennial Mortgage. Contact us to get started.