Declutter Tips: More Space. Less Waste

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I am a recovering pack-rat. Not to be confused with hoarding - That can be from serious emotional issues that requires outside intervention. No, pack-rats just like to keep more than we should "just in case" we need it, or we "don't want to waste it".

photo credit: Eve

We look for organizing and declutter tips with good intentions, but we're just too busy...or procrastinate too often, until clearing our clutter becomes a seemingly overwhelming task.

Part of living a frugal lifestyle is living without clutter. Clutter bogs you down physically and mentally. Everything seems to go more smoothly when you aren't surrounded by mess and chaos.

Yet figuring out how to declutter your home can be one of the most challenging things in day to day living, especially when you have an active family and other responsibilities outside the home.

I've pretty much come to the conclusion that some of us are born 'Neatniks', and some of us.....well...we need to make a more conscious effort to keep the clutter in our lives under control.

I've put together this list of declutter tips because these are the things that are working for my family...and yes...it's a family effort so make sure to involve the kids.

FFM's Best Declutter Tips

1. Figure out where the clutter is coming from: Is your clutter made up of junk mail and newspapers? Toys? Old clothes? Knick-knacks or all of the above? You can't avoid new clutter if you aren't aware of what is causing the clutter in the first place.

Once you determine the main sources of clutter, you can minimize how much of it comes in.

2. Throw out junk mail as soon as it arrives: Don't put it down for later. Throw it out as soon as you see it's junk. Get a bin or filing system for mail that you must keep. Just make sure to keep your system simple or else you won't keep up with it. One of the declutter tips you can do right now.
3. Don't touch anything more than once: Lots of us say we're clearing clutter but all we end up doing is making new stacks and moving them from one side of the room to the other. Decide you're only going to touch everything once...or twice at the most. Everything has three choices "Put Away", "Throw Away" or "Give Away".

"Put Aways"... go in a separate box and when the box gets full you need to stop and put all that stuff where it belongs.

photo credit: Goldberg

"Throw Aways"... go in a trash bag. When that bag gets full tie it up and immediately take it out to the trash bin.

"Give Aways"... go in a box or bag. When that's full, seal it up and label it with its next destination. If at all possible take it out to your car and deliver it that same day.

The point of these declutter tips is to get the stuff your family no longer needs out of your home. You want to clear the clutter, not rearrange it. (Which is what I used to do.)

4. Don't get overwhelmed by trying to do it all at once: Start decluttering in small chunks of time. Set your kitchen timer if you have one. Pick a shelf and give yourself 20 minutes to clear it off. Try 15 minutes to clear the dining room table. 30 minutes for the hall closet. Once you complete these smaller tasks and see that it can be done, you can move on to the bigger jobs.
5. Be methodical: If you have a whole room to declutter, start at one corner of the room and work your way around completing small sections before moving to the next. If you jump around the room doing a little here and a little there, you'll tire quickly and after 30 minutes you probably won't see much improvement.
6. Pick a day to go through your kids toys with them: Explain that there won't be space for anything new if they don't get rid of some of the old toys. Doing this with them may take a little more time, and there may be a struggle or two, but it teaches them how to sort and clear their own clutter. I also find my kids are much more cooperative about decluttering their rooms if I'm coaching them through the process and helping them make those choices.
A Toy Box can be a Space, and Sanity Saver in your home. (Hover over the toy boxes for more info)




My son loves his toy box because it's "cool". I love it because it's the fastest way to put away all those toys and instantly declutter his room.

7. Re-evaluate your kitchen gadgets (and all your other gadgets): Do you have lots of gadgets in your kitchen that seemed like a good idea at the time but now just take up precious space, and add to the clutter? Do you ever use the egg cutter? If not, get rid of it. Did you know that one good toaster/convection oven does everything that a slice toaster, microwave and conventional oven do all in one appliance?

We tossed our toaster and microwave and replaced them with a very family-friendly toaster oven. That's right....this fun-frugal-mom does NOT OWN A MICROWAVE...We've never missed it. -It was awful for reheating anything that wasn't liquid. Plus, I LOVE the extra counter space!

A Toaster oven can bake, broil, defrost, dehydrate...and toast using less energy and putting off less heat than your conventional oven. (And your food won't get rubbery. Hover for more info)
Follow this link >> to see more Toaster Ovens.
8. Only keep what has real "value": One of the more difficult declutter tips. Sentimental value is important, but don't confuse it with a fleeting moment of pleasant memories. If you find something while you're decluttering that you feel warm and fuzzy about, ask yourself it if has real monetary value, or...if it's something you want to put on display, or pass on to your kids.

If none of those apply, but you still feel tempted to keep it; Don't. Chances are good you'll forget about it and it will continue to be just clutter.

Declutter Tips to Stay Clutter Free

9. Sort clothes twice a year: We do this at the beginning of spring (spring cleaning), and at the end of the summer. In spring we pull out summer clothes, and wash and put away clothes that will still fit for next school year. We get rid of anything that's too small or too worn. I also make note of what will need to be replaced before school starts again the next fall. At the end of the summer we dispose of summer clothes that probably won't fit by the time summer comes again. We also start purchasing new items for the coming school year.

   Once you're dealing with just clothes that fit, and are in good condition, it's easier to spot the outgrown, soiled or torn items as they happen. Get rid of that stuff as soon as you come across it in the laundry.

   photo credit: Nutmeg

10. Use the two or three minutes.. that it takes to boil water for tea, brew a pot of coffee, or fry an egg; to sweep the kitchen floor, load the dishwasher, clear off the counter, or take out the trash.
11. Out with the old. In with the new. When you bring something new into your house find something old to toss out. It's even better if you find two things to toss for every one new thing. We purchase lots of summer reading books at the end of each school year, so before we start reading all those new books we collect the old ones to be donated or passed down to younger readers in the family.
12. Use transparent storage bins: Being able to see what's in a storage bin makes it easier to find what you need and less likely that you'll forget what you stored away. Use these same declutter tips for your holiday and seasonal items after each use.
13. Keep a donation box: Place an empty box or laundry basket at the bottom of a closet or someplace out of the way. Whenever you come across something your family can no longer use, but is still in good shape just toss it in the donation box. When it's full put it in your car and take a ride to the Goodwill drop.
14. Make it fun with music: An exercise tip that has now become one my best declutter tips. Pick your declutter project and do it to some of your favorite tunes. Just like with exercise, upbeat music will help you declutter a little faster and for a little longer than without it. Plus, it turns a chore into something fun.

As you use these declutter tips in your home you'll be surprised at all the things you find that you forgot you had. I've saved quite a bit of money finding things I already had, that I thought I had to go out and buy....again.

These declutter tips will help you remove the chaos and clutter from your environment. That in turn helps clear your mind and calm your household. A clutter free, comfortable home is a place where your fun frugal family can thrive.