Decluttering Tips for the New Year – 10 Top Tips | AD

Sometimes I find the new year, new me stuff a little tiresome, as I think you can quite often make a change at any point during the year if you want to. It doesn’t have to be a new year to start something new! Healthy eating, more exercise or simple some good self-care; if you need it, just do IT! And with the 2020 we have all had recently, I’m not sure many of us are in the mood to embark on another lifestyle plans!! Therefore, this post in a way is a bit of a contradiction, as I am planning some more clearing out and cleaning up in the new year. New year, new clean house maybe? We have been slowly decluttering since the autumn but Christmas has come! As much as I love the Christmas decorations being up, they clutter up the house, create dust and cleaning around them is pretty tough. Then we add in Christmas cards, new presents, general “Stuff” and all your pre-Christmas cleaning seems pretty pointless. So I thought I would share some decluttering tips for the new year!

 

Decluttering Tips for the New Year

I live with a huge hoarder, so sometimes it is a bit of a challenge to get him to sort things out and move on but now and then I can get the old ball and chain to have a good clear out. I just need to get him in the right sort of mood!

From my experience my best decluttering tips are:

Clothes – It can be so easy to look at clothes and think, I’ll wear it at some point. I’ll wear it when I lose weight but for me, if I haven’t worn something in a year, I consider donating to a charity shop or my friend who has a lot of my old clothes!  You have to have a little ruthlessness in you.

Vacuum pack clothes and shoes you are not using each season – I will clear out my winter wardrobe when the summer comes and vice-versa. This saves so much space in the wardrobe and it is easy to have everything together for a clear out when the new season comes. You can store these clothes under the bed or in the loft if you gave that space.

Consider investing in some decent storage. You may decide to invest in some decent shelving units. You may decide to get some extra storage for inside your wardrobe or for under your bed. You may decide to go with some external storage like Magenta Self Storage.  Just make sure everything that you place in this storage has been SORTED! It is very easy to just keep everything, as out of sight out of mind. Apply the same mentality as the clothes. If you don’t use it, consider donating or selling.

The Bathroom – I find the cupboards and the sides can get so cluttered with products. You lose track of what you have and end up buying more. You may have sets or products bought as Christmas presents that you have no intention of using. You may have very old make-up and products you have had for years. Make a list of what you use on a daily basis. What you NEED. For me it is often very few products. Look at what you have. If it’s old and full of germs, get rid! Consider donating excess products to a charitable cause, for people who need them. Do not buy any new things until everything has ran out. You may want to invest in some hanging baskets to store everything together too.

Soft Toys – If you have kids and they are anything like mine they have a tonne of soft toys! I invested in a shoe holder that I could hang over their bedroom door. It has little slots for each teddy and is perfect to keep them off the floor and on the sides. You can also get your kids to have a little clear out of them when putting them in their place.

Books – I really struggle to get my husband to sort through books and I must admit, I prefer to hold a real book, compared to a tablet.  BUT this can mean a lot books around the house that collect dust. Now, I read a book and usually donate unless I really loved it and feel I will read again. If you insist on keeping a lot, perhaps store in a unit under the or hidden shelf. This may help to keep the dust off them too.

Paperwork – Have a filing system for letters and paperwork, as paper everywhere drives me bonkers! I have actually tried to go paperless where I can but I have folders for certain important things (though I still tend to lose the most important document every time!). There are apps available to photograph and store your kid’s artwork, if you don’t want to keep everything. Make sure you regularly go through paper work, as it will pile up on the dining room table and become a huge job.

The Kitchen – This is usually the bane of my life and I know I need a good day to clean it out fully and sort it. Things like the fridge is an easy cleaning job but the cupboards can be something else!! I am quite ruthless and will throw away anything that is out of date, unless we can use it. Make a list of products that you have an excess of – pasta and rice can really build up in our house! Make sure you use it all before buying more. Look at all your utensils, plates, mugs and cutlery which can multiply over night. What are you using? Can you donate some? See what is out on the surfaces. Does it need to be? I often have a shuffle around and make space in a cupboard if I can, so the worktops are a lot clearer. I like the idea of a magnetic strip for knives instead of a holder, which takes up space.

Coats and Shoes – Try to only have the shoes and coats you use regularly in your storage area. We have a cupboard under the stairs and this can get so messy! I usually take my coats and jackets and either vacuum pack or hang up away upstairs. The same with my kids or we would have shoes every wear! Regularly sort out summer from winter shoes and those which are too small.

Keep on top of your clutter – This is the hardest part. You get a system in place but you lose it. Time,  crazy kids and being busy. It is easy to throw things into cupboards or not bother to fold things but make it a priority. I say to my husband so many times, if he just keep a little tidier, then the declutter wouldn’t be such a big job!! He doesn’t listen though!!

I can’t wait to get cracking with my sort out. For me having the time to do it is such a big factor and then keeping everything tidy! But I’m sure with a bit of roping my hubby in, we will get there. Hope my decluttering tips help.

Disclosure – this is a sponsored post.