Decluttering is a task that many of us put off. This can lead to more clutter building up over time. Getting rid of unwanted stuff is something you should ideally do every few months, however there are a few times when it can be particularly worthwhile. Below are just some of the best times to purge your unwanted belongings and declutter your home.
At the start of the year
The holiday season is a prime time for accumulating clutter. This is particularly the case if you have young kids, who are likely to have lots of new toys. Some people wait until Spring to do a ‘Spring clean’, which may involve cleaning and decluttering the entire home. However, there’s no reason that you can’t declutter in January or February. Take the time to get rid of old belongings you don’t need to make room for new gifts. If you have older kids with lots of stuff, you may be able to give them a trash bag and ask them to try and fill it up (this could be stuff to throw away, donate or sell). With younger kids, you will likely have to sift through their stuff.
When moving to a new home
Moving home is another great opportunity to get rid of stuff. You’re going to have to sort through all your stuff while packing anyway, so you may as well use the chance to get rid of things. Decluttering could save you money on your move – the less stuff you take to your new home, the lower your moving company quote is likely to be. When it comes to interstate moving, this could be particularly important, as you ideally don’t want to be making lots of journeys. Try to declutter and pack a few weeks in advance. You can also rent a dumpster to simplify the cleanup process. This gives you time to put items up for sale or hire a mover if you need it.
When redecorating/renovating a room
Everything in a room will likely have to be moved when redecorating or renovating, so you may as well take the opportunity to get rid of unwanted stuff in that room. For example, when renovating a kitchen, it could be a good time to donate all those canned foods you’re not going to use and get rid of all those excess mugs. Even if you’re adding more storage space to a room during a renovation, it’s still worth getting rid of clutter – you can then use this storage space for extra stuff that you actually need and want.
Before the arrival of a child/new pet
When you have kids, you’re likely to accumulate huge amounts of stuff ranging from baby clothes to toys to accessories. All this stuff needs to go somewhere – if your home is already cluttered, it could be necessary to throw out your unwanted belongings before the baby arrives. Similarly, pets can take up a lot of space when it comes to food and equipment. If you’re getting a puppy, you should take the time to declutter your home first, not just to make space for dog beds and dog bowls, but to also get rid of any items that could be a chewing danger.
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