How To Get Rid of Clutter in Your Home

Clutter can easily start to appear in your home, regardless of its size. As it increases, it becomes more difficult to completely get rid of. The clutter may be concentrated in a few areas, or spread throughout the home. Here are some tips on how to get of clutter in various parts of your home...

PAPERS: Piles of paper can quickly accumulate around your home, including bank statements, check stubs, receipts, and bills. It is best to put all such papers into an organized filing cabinet as soon as possible, with the exception of bills that need to be paid and checks for deposit. A used filing cabinet can be purchased for under fifty dollars; alternatively, a box with a removable top can be used.

KITCHEN: If you use an automatic dishwasher, remove the dishes from it as soon as they are finished drying. Then you can store dishes and utensils in it as they become dirty, eliminating clutter on your counter and sink. Be sure to periodically search your cupboards, refrigerator, and freezer for food you should get rid of because it is expired, heavily freezer-burned, or otherwise unwanted.

DESK: Home office desks often become buried in clutter. Get a single notebook for writing notes, rather than a pile of separate pieces of paper. Only use "sticky notes" for important reminders, and get rid of them as soon as they become irrelevant. An under-desk keyboard drawer or a printer stand can help free up computer desk space. Consider using a bulletin board for holding your important notes and bills.

TRASH: It can be tempting to leave clutter like food wrappers and used paper cups around your home if the nearest trash receptacle is distant. Putting small trash containers in each room will help mitigate this type of clutter; some department and dollar stores sell these for only a few dollars each. For easier removal, shopping bags can be used to collect the trash in waste baskets. An added benefit of using a wood stove for heat is that paper and cardboard trash can be burned in it.

PREVENTION: Preventing clutter before it appears is another way to get rid of it. Techniques for reducing mail include using automatic bill-paying, requesting catalogs to unsubscribe your address, and having your pay directly deposited. Taking notes on a computer or electronic organizer reduces the quantity of paper as well. Buying larger quantities of food which are not individually packaged (per serving) can decrease the amount of trash.

WIRES: Power, audio, and data wires for electronics, telephones, appliances, lamps, and other equipment can increase your home's level of clutter. Avoid using extension cords which are unnecessarily long, try to locate devices closer to their outlets, and consider buying surge protectors or power strips which plug directly into the wall outlet (no cord).

There are probably other types of clutter in your home which you should simply get rid of (sell, donate, discard, recycle, etc) instead of re-organizing. These include items like broken alarm clocks, advertisements received in the mail, books you'll never read again, and pens which have run out of ink.