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4 Simple Ways to Declutter Your Home

A Minimalistic Approach to a Clutter-free Home

By Lilly CharlesPublished 6 years ago 2 min read
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Before you even head towards that overfilled wardrobe or that Tetris stacked mug cupboard, you have to ask yourself a very important question:

The 90/90 Rule

Introduced originally by The Minimalists, this is a simple yet effective way to keep the clutter from piling up.

Review each item that you own.

Have you used it in the last 90 days? Do you plan on using it in the next 90 days? If the answer is no, dispose of the item in a responsible way. If the answer is yes, it can stay.

Ninety days not long enough? You can extend the timeframe to suit you.

An item a day keeps the clutter away.

Every day remove one unnecessary, unloved object from your home. From odd socks to unused appliances. This method is aimed at someone who works full-time, has very little free time, or is feeling overwhelmed.

There is no set amount of days. It’s until you feel satisfied with how your home looks and feels.

Hold a packing party.

No, not that kind of party, I’m afraid. Invite close friends and family round to help encourage the decluttering process. Play some music, grab the nibbles, and get packing!

Go room to room packing away all your belongings and covering furniture. It’s a perfect opportunity to explain to others how you're feeling and why you want to organise your home.

Once everything has been securely packaged and the “party” is over, begin to unpack things as you need them. After a few months, anything that’s left in boxes, dispose of.

Feeling slightly overwhelmed? Try having a packing party for a single room to ease into it.

More information about holding a packing party can be found at The Minimalists.

Paper be gone.

Folders filled to bursting with important documents? Old bills stacked in an unorganised heap? There is a simple solution to this problem.

Download a scanner! If you have a smartphone, I’ve left some suggestions for FREE scanner apps down below. Don’t panic if you don’t, you can buy some relatively inexpensive scanners from Amazon (or have a look on Gumtree or eBay for a preloved alternative).

You don’t have to have endless pieces of paper cluttering up your home, getting torn, dirty, and crumpled. Using a scanner removes the risk of damage and loss of important information.

Taking a photo is not the same as scanning! Photos can be blurred, you have to contend with folds, discolouration, imperfections on the paper and getting the perfect angle. Scanning removes all of the above problems. It rectifies fold lines, colour corrects, zooms in on the document automatically to create a crisp, clean look.

Save to a computer, phone or hard drive for easy, organised access.

You can scan anything from cards, handwritten letters to your favourite book covers.

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About the Creator

Lilly Charles

I am a minimalist and a mum trying to spread positivity, awareness and motivation to others around me.

“Love people and use things, as the opposite never works”.

A quote from “the minimalists”.

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