A clutter-free and organized home has obvious benefits but getting there can seem to be an overwhelming task. A couple of good pointers to get started is to focus on one room or area and to keep in mind that everything doesn’t have to get done in one day. Below are some tips for sorting and organizing all that “stuff” in your home.

First Things First

Before you start, find boxes or storage containers and label them with the following:

Put Away/Return for stuff that doesn’t belong in the space you’re decluttering. This includes family members’ items and things that belong somewhere else.

Keep for things you need or want, and which belong in the space you’re de-cluttering. If you use an item regularly, and you like it and it has a place in the space, then hold on to it. This category is also for stuff you can’t figure out what to do with quickly or don’t have a place for it right now.

Pass On for items to give to charity or sell at a garage sale — anything you don’t need but is too good to throw away.

Fix for items only really worth fixing. If you haven’t managed to get around to fixing the thing for a couple of years, don’t save it.

Trash/Recycle for obvious trash.

Tackling the “Stuff”

Next, empty the space. Take everything out of the space and give it a good cleaning. Don’t forget to pick up some spray cleaner, disinfecting wipes, and cleaning cloths from K&B True Value!

Challenge yourself to cut the amount of stuff you have by a third or half. Use the containers and categories you originally set up before starting. Try to touch each item only once and quickly decide about which box it belongs in. Trust your initial instincts and try not to second-guess your decision.

Ask yourself: When was the last time I used this? How often do I use it? If I didn’t have this anymore, what impact would it have on my life? How easily could I get another one if I needed it?

Put away your “Keep” items. If you are unsure of where an item belongs, instead of thinking “Where can I store this?” think “Where do I use this?” While you’re working through these boxes, note whether the items fit the function of the space you’re decluttering. K&B True Value has a large selection of storage bins in all shapes and sizes to fit your needs!

Deal with “Put Away/Return” items. These items belong somewhere else and are finding their way into the wrong space. Putting stuff away is a habit and there’s no time like today to get started.

Get rid of the “Trash or Pass On” items right away! Take the trash and recycling out of the house for the next pickup. Put those library books that need to be returned and donation items in the car now. Need some trash bags? We have a every size you need1

Decluttering doesn’t have to take long and you may find it easiest to work in short amounts of time. Once decrease the number of items you have to store and begin to establish a routine to put away items that come into the house, you’ll be well on your way to have an organized home!