Working from home has become the norm since the pandemic hit. Because of this, the work-life balance can begin to blur. When these lines begin to blur, some things may begin to fall by the wayside.
A cluttered house may soon become your reality if you’re not careful. While you may think staying at home would provide you with more time to tidy your home, you may form poor habits. You have a lot on your plate and your home can quickly get out of hand.
Do not fret though, we’re here to help. Our guide will show you what to look out for. Read on to learn more.
You’re Unsure What’s Clutter and What’s Not
If you’re unsure of what you would define as clutter, that’s only going to lead to a mess in your home. To create a neat and tidy home, set clear guidelines for yourself and your family members.
Even if something is valuable to you, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a useful thing to keep around. When you pick up the item ask yourself, “Do I find it useful right now?”, “Will I feel guilty tossing it in the bin or donating it?”.
You’re Unsure How to Let Things Go
There is an art of lettings things go. Some items may conjure up memories or have nostalgia to them. This can quickly get out of hand if you hold on too tightly to the past.
The good news is you can still keep cherished moments without having a cluttered house. The trick is to be prepared for any emotions that may come up during the process of decluttering. We recommend setting a specific time and date to do this.
Take your time—no need to feel rushed or overwhelmed. Set a limit for the number of items displayed in your home.
You Buy Things You Don’t Need
Before you bring something new into your home, pause for a moment. Think to yourself, “Do I need this or will it only add to the clutter?”.
It may be tempting to stockpile up when on bargains with hopes of taking up hobbies. Maybe some tools have caught your eye. Fast forward a few months in your mind, will you still be into these hobbies?
You should have immediate use for the item. For hobbies, just get the bare minimum first or rent the items before you know it’ll stick for the long haul.
You Compare Your Clutter With Other People’s Clutter
When you visit someone and their home has some clutter, you may automatically compare homes. You may think, if my friend has clutter then mine may not be so bad.
You need to find what motivates you to remove your clutter.
You’re Unsure What Tweaks Control Clutter
Removing clutter from your home may not always be 100% necessary. You can control the causes of clutter with certain “clutter busters”. Things like trays, baskets, bins, hooks, etc. can help to keep the clutter at bay.
Think of it as a way to stay organized as well. Group things so that they’ll be easier to find the next they’re in need. For example, store all remotes in one bin, mail in another, and toiletries in another.
You’re Unsure How Long to Keep Things
When you’re unsure of how long to keep things, a cluttered house will be the result. This can happen when you hold onto clothing that is old and outdated, with items you cherish memories or financial documents.
One solution to this would be to hand down some of these items. For financial documents, you could scan them into your computer and go paperless.
Not Making Time to Declutter
If days, weeks, or months have gone by without removing clutter from your home, it’s no wonder your home looks the way it does. You need to be disciplined and consistently declutter regularly.
Slowly over time, you will begin to see the results. You could even make it into a fun game.
Have a garage sale to earn from your unnecessary items. You’ll be amazed at how much you can make in a short time.
Kids and Pets
If you have kids or pets, it can be difficult to keep a neat and tidy home. Your kids will leave their toys all around the house and it can quickly get out of hand. You can take that as a valuable teaching lesson for them.
Be sure to praise and reward them for putting away their belongings.
Pets will leave a mess too. Toys, food, and water bowls take up room and things will be tough to keep tidy.
Set aside these things or have a dedicated room to keep them. Better yet, you could keep a lot of these things in the garage or outside.
A Cluttered House Is an Unhappy Home
If you look around your home, you’ll be surprised at how much you don’t use. A cluttered house will contribute to your mental health. You will feel so much better when everything is in its rightful place.
It can be easy to become overwhelmed with all the stuff you’ve accumulated over the years. The good news is you don’t have to go at it alone.
Our team at Detail Cleanings will create a neat and tidy home in no time. Get an instant quote and book online today!