oes your house need a little revamp? Are you tired of pushing off cleaning day and desperately want to face the task once and for all? Then you’ve come to the right place!
We all know how tiring decluttering your house can be. The hours set aside to perform these tasks of throwing out old used items or rearranging bits and pieces of your room to fit your current needs. These tasks take time, and sometimes you don’t always have it. Setting aside some much-needed time, even a full day, can work wonders on completing the task.
Something as simple as putting on a playlist or a podcast to listen to make time go faster will make the whole process more enjoyable. It’s a simple way to not feel like you’re wasting a day away doing something you wish you weren’t. If you are not easily distracted by the findings in each of the rooms or by the songs you listen to while cleaning, then this is a perfect solution to add a little fun to your not-so-fun day.
Decluttering can be a hassle, so follow these few tips and simple steps to guide you:
- Figure out what day and time frame you’ll declutter your space.
- Know in advance which rooms to start and end with.
- Follow this guide of simple tips and tricks to add to your routine.
- Learn about the benefits of a clean and tidy home.
Planning a Course of Action
If you plan on decluttering your house in one day, you must first decide how much time you’re going to dedicate to each room. Depending on the size, this answer will vary, but knowing this is crucial for staying on task.
Knowing that these tips for cleaning your house are different for someone who lives in a house compared to someone who lives in an apartment complex will help you determine how much of this article you might need to follow. The amount of space each room has, as well as the amount of open space or furniture taking up the room, will ultimately determine how long you spend cleaning that day.
Now let’s say that you have a reasonably clean house, but it’s the annual cleaning day. So, there’s a considerable amount of decluttering that needs to be done, such as sweeping, dusting, folding and putting laundry away, and overall revamping the space. This will most likely take a couple of hours or more, depending on the size of the house and the amount of work.
Keep in mind it’s easy to get distracted while decluttering a single room, let alone an entire house or apartment. Because it’s such a big space, items can accumulate over a short amount of time. Whether you place an item down and forget about it for a few weeks or haven’t cleaned it in a month or two, whatever the time may be, knowing how to stay on task will help you to declutter faster.
Once you have a chosen day, set aside the entire day from the moment you wake up and get ready, to whenever you’ve accomplished your goal. It’s not recommended that you set a specific time frame for yourself, because you never know if one room is going to need more attention than another. It could take a few short hours or from dusk to dawn. Keeping this in mind will help you to keep a positive mindset in case you spend an extra hour cleaning than expected. With an open mind and positive attitude, there isn't much you can’t accomplish, even if it is the task of giving your house a much-needed thorough cleaning!
Assess Your Needs and Wants
It can be really challenging to give away items that were once very valuable to you whether it was one of your favorite knick-knacks from your childhood that is broken beyond repair or an old favorite perfume bottle. It’s easy to get sentimental about certain items, but going into cleaning day with the right state of mind will make this process easier.
Knowing the difference between an item that has value and can be used by someone else, and something that is trash is very important in the cleaning process. If you find an item that you can’t get use out of anymore, then chances are someone else can’t either. If it’s broken into a few pieces or falling apart entirely, it is most likely trash, so dispose of it.
It’s essential to keep in mind that you can’t keep everything, and what might have once been very useful in your daily life, may have completely changed. Don’t underestimate the value of an item that you don’t want or have room for anymore. Even if you can’t find the space or can’t seem to get use out of it, there is someone out there who would use it. Thinking of the people less fortunate than you who could benefit by your giving away a particular item can act as motivation. Looking at the decision-making process through this lens is a simple, but easy way to determine what is a want and what is a need.
It can be hard parting with items that you once cherished, but the fresh new look that comes with a clean house makes it all worthwhile.
Simple Tips and Tricks to Declutter Your House in a Day
If you plan on decluttering your whole house in one day, then it’s important to know that you have to take much-needed breaks. You won’t work your best if you’re low on energy or motivation. Taking time away from the task, even if it’s only for a few minutes will work wonders. Whether you make yourself something to eat or even take your mind away from cleaning to sing and dance to the music you put on in the background to fill the silence, it’s something. Grab your decluttering partner and belt out a song or two.
It’s important to remember to take moments to rest and dance along to whatever song may be playing on the radio in the background. You can easily get overwhelmed, especially if you have more things to declutter than you initially thought. If you take a look around your room and see that you haven’t made as much progress as you thought you had, you may feel yourself starting to feel overwhelmed and that’s okay. It’s bound to happen.
Once you’ve successfully taken much-needed downtime, it’s time to get back to work. Once you’ve chosen a room, follow these steps to ensure that you’re on the right track.
Make sure you have one box or bag dedicated to:
- Donations
- Throw Away
- Keep
Having a box for items that you’re keeping will help differentiate your keep-sakes from the garbage. Use the garbage bags for junk that you have no intention of using again or isn’t in good condition to keep. Depending on the condition of a reusable item or toy, there could be another bag set aside for donation. Having a place for each item you pull from the room will make the process that much easier. Order during the process of cleaning ensures cleanliness when the task is complete.
Starting small is your best bet to work up your stamina and keep yourself focused, ensuring that you won’t be overwhelmed easily with large tasks. You’ll need to start small and work your way up to big tasks. Once you’ve chosen a room, start with small items such as a desk drawer. This is when one of the most crucial parts of the process comes in: knowing when to throw away and when to keep an item. Unpack the drawer and dispose of unwanted things. Keep things that you could use in your everyday life. If you find yourself not being able to come up with a reason to keep said item, it immediately gets put in the donation pile.
The same thing can be said for any items found in the closet and under the bed or couch. Depending on which room you start with, it will be easier to distinguish which are keepsakes and which are garbage. For instance, cleaning out your kitchen will most likely take less than half of the time compared to a larger space such as a bedroom.
The room you choose to start with will differ from person to person, but having an idea of which room comes first and which areas to work on first, smallest to largest, saves a lot of time and thought during the decluttering process.
Benefits of a Clean and Tidy Home
Having a cluttered home not only makes you feel and look unorganized but can be very frustrating. The build-up of mess can be very stressful and having no choice but to stare at the mess day-by-day will wear on you. It can be stressful to be looking for an item and having no luck in finding it. So, setting time aside to declutter and make your home more organized will be worth it once you realize how much the look of your home can change your mindset.
You want to feel comfortable in your own space. When your home is cluttered, it can have a direct correlation to a cluttered mind. So by cleaning your home you are relieving yourself of these stressors and making an environment that you feel proud and excited about coming home to.
All because you made the choice to get to work and declutter your home you can find lost treasures, feel safe knowing you are living in a cleaner and healthier environment, and have a sense of accomplishment knowing you did something that will make life easier going forward.
