{"id":5880,"date":"2020-06-24T07:39:44","date_gmt":"2020-06-24T14:39:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/?p=5880"},"modified":"2024-01-29T17:41:52","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T00:41:52","slug":"how-to-get-rid-of-things","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-things\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get Rid of Things: The Ultimate Guide to Decluttering Your Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Marie Kondo, one of the most prolific organizers<\/a> of our time, might just have the best advice for how to get rid of things:<\/p>\n

“Can you truthfully say that you treasure something buried so deeply in a closet or drawer that you have forgotten its existence? If things had feelings, they would certainly not be happy. Free them from the prison to which you have relegated them. Help them leave that deserted isle to which you have exiled them.”<\/p>\n

Kondo has a point. Most of us have too many belongings — so many that some of them inevitably live in the back of a drawer or on a garage shelf<\/a> where we hardly remember we have them, let alone use them on a regular basis.<\/p>\n

But despite Kondo’s often rosy view of decluttering, it’s not an easy process for many people. In fact, the LA Times<\/i> found<\/a> that the average American home contains around 300,000 items. And according to the Wall Street Journal<\/i><\/a>, Americans spend $1.2 trillion each year on nonessential goods — meaning things they don’t need.<\/p>\n

\"Lost<\/p>\n

Still, there are real benefits to reducing the clutter. A 2012 study of 3,000 adults found that we lose or misplace up to nine items every day — or 198,743 in an average lifetime, resulting in 3,680 hours or 153 days spent searching for things we misplaced. Cutting down on clutter not only saves money on things you would otherwise buy, but it saves time — a decluttered house will make it easier to find things you’re looking for<\/a>, and will be faster to clean and organize.<\/p>\n

If you’re ready to start on your own decluttering journey, this is the ultimate guide you need. From tips for making a game plan and strategies for room-by-room declutters, to tips from organizational experts, this is everything you need to remove nonessential belongings from your space. Ready to learn how to get rid of things? Let’s get started.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Tips to Start Decluttering<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Decluttering Secrets for Small Spaces<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Room-by-Room Decluttering Checklist + Printables<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Decluttering Inspiration from Experts<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    How to Get Rid of Things: Tips to Start Decluttering<\/h2>\n

    The best decluttering jobs begin with a plan. That is to say, rather than just jumping in and starting to get rid of things, you’ll benefit from laying some groundwork first. These steps should help.
    \n<\/span><\/p>\n

    Start with Your Mindset<\/h3>\n

    Before even beginning ask yourself this question: Why do you want to learn how to get rid of things in the first place? Examine your motivations for decluttering. It might help to write them down somewhere (even if it’s just in a note on your phone) so you can refer back to them when you need a little extra motivation.<\/p>\n

    As you’re preparing your mindset for decluttering, also think about what might block you from finishing the job. Being prepared for your challenges will help you face them later.<\/p>\n

    And remember — if you’re even thinking about decluttering, it means this simple fact is true in your life: You have more than enough things. When it gets difficult to part with items, try to remember that truth.
    \n<\/span><\/p>\n

    Think About Your End Goal<\/h3>\n

    Not everyone wants the same results from decluttering. Before you start, it’s a good strategy to think about your end goal.<\/p>\n

    Once you know what you want to accomplish in the long run, break your end goal into smaller goals you can achieve along the way. Give yourself plenty of time for the job, and set reasonable expectations for what you can get done at once depending on how much time and energy you have to put toward decluttering.
    \n<\/span><\/p>\n

    The 80\/20 Rule<\/h3>\n

    There’s a rule about clothes called the 80\/20 rule. What it says is that most people tend to spend 80 percent of their time wearing only 20 percent of what’s in their closet.<\/p>\n

    We think this rule also applies pretty well to other belongings. If you’re ever feeling overwhelmed by getting rid of a lot of things, remind yourself that 80 percent of the time, you only use about 20 percent of the things you own.
    \n<\/span><\/p>\n

    Decide What to Do With Unwanted Items<\/h3>\n

    \"Decide<\/p>\n

    It’s a good idea before<\/i> you get started to have a game plan in place for what you’ll do with items you decide to get rid of.<\/p>\n

    For this, you’ll want to consider what resources are available in your area. Is it possible to recycle different materials and large items? Do you have a way to transport donated items to a drop-off location?<\/p>\n

    And, of course, you won’t do the exact same thing with every item you decide to part with. So organization experts recommend creating a sorting system. Designate different areas for items you plan to:<\/p>\n