Are you frustrated that you can not maintain a clutter-free home? Decluttering is not a one and done process. In order to maintain a clutter free home you have to continually work at. Today, we are talking about how to keep your home decluttered with 8 Tips for Maintaining a Clutter-Free Home.
Tips for Maintaining a Clutter-Free Home
It would be great if we could declutter one time and the results lasted forever! But, as we all know, it is easy for clutter to accumulate again and again. You really have to stay on top of clutter all the time. There are some best practices for maintaining a clutter-free home.
1. One in One Out Rule
One simple tip for maintaining a clutter-free home, is to have a one in one out rule. Every time you buy something new, receive a gift or a hand-me down, you get rid of one thing in your home. This is a really good idea when it comes to clothing or home decor.
Sometimes we forget that we can accumulate clutter from the gifts and hand-me downs we receive from others! Sometimes those things are the hardest items to part with because we feel bad about getting rid of them! It is time to let go of that guilt! We can be thankful for the gifts we are given but we can also let go of those items if they do not serve us.
2. Be Mindful of What You Bring in the Home
The biggest habit for maintaining a clutter-free home is to buy less stuff! First, be really mindful about what you purchase and bring into the home. Every Target run can lead to more stuff that needs a permanent spot in your home. Each time you consider a purchase for your home ask these questions:
- Are there several spots I could put this item? Think about the longevity of the item you are considering. Does it have multiple functions?
- Do I have something similar at home already? Before you buy another cute top or pair of jeans, think about whether you have something in your closet that is similar? Decide on how many tops, jeans, shoes, etc you really need to own.
- Do I LOVE this item? If you are not sure, then consider not buying the item and see if you are still thinking about it a few days later. Before you make an online purchase, leave it in your cart for a few days and see if you still really want it.
This best practice will help you evaluate whether the purchase is really necessary as it means you have to get rid of something.
3. Maintain a Donation Bin
Always have a donation bin going in your home. Make it a weekly practice to look around your home and throw a few things into this bin. Be sure to take it to the donation center on a monthly basis (or the clutter continues to stay in your home).
4. Clear Off Counters Daily
One of the biggest sources of clutter in most homes is on the kitchen counters! It is easy to accumulate a week’s worth of mail, school and work papers in no time.
The reason that kitchen counters get so cluttered is that we delay making decisions on what to do with papers and mail. One of the best habits to adopt if you want a clutter-free home, is to go through the incoming mail and papers as soon as it comes into the home.
5. Go to Bed with a Tidy Home
At the end of the day, the last thing we want to do is to clean up our home! But, it is a great feeling to wake up each morning with a clean home. When you start the day organized, you are more likely to be productive and you also feel less frazzled! If you consistently clean up your home every single day, you can maintain a clutter-free home!
It can be overwhelming to clean up everyone’s messes, so be sure to get the kids involved. It is important for kids to learn to take care of their own possessions and to learn to clean up after themselves.
You can make it fun and easy to clean up at the end of the day. After dinner, set a timer for 15 minutes and ask everyone to clean up as much as they can in that time. Most likely, your whole home will be tidied up when everyone pitches in!
6. Tackle One Declutter Project Each Month
Even if you participated in the Clear the Clutter Challenge, you will find that clutter builds up in your home over the course of the year. So, in order to maintain all the hard work you did at the beginning of the year, schedule one decluttering project a month. Write it down in your calendar at the beginning of the month and then schedule in some time to work on the project.
7. Participate in a Declutter Challenge.
Each year, mark your calendar the second week of January when we start the Clear the Clutter Challenge. The beginning of the year is a great time to purge and clean your home. Make it a part of your yearly routine to do a big declutter of the entire home.
If you are short on time, consider this Two Week Declutter Challenge!
8. Get Your Your Family on Board
The last step to maintaining a clutter free home is to get your family on board! If you have other people in your home, they are bringing in clutter too. You can work as hard as you can on maintaining a clutter free home, but if your family is not on board, it will be very challenging. You can talk with your family about the benefits of a clutter free home.
More than likely, they will see the benefits of less clutter when they realize it takes less time to clean up the house! Or maybe your family sees the reward if they are able to sell some of their items and make some money. Find out what motivates your family and help them see the positives of a clean and decluttered home!
Organization Services
Are you looking for more help with decluttering and organizing your home?
Organization Services Available:
- Virtual Organization Coaching For people who want accountability and support to declutter their own homes.
- In Person Home Organization For the Greater Cleveland, Ohio area
- You can also grab the Ultimate Declutter Guide and get detailed step-by-step instructions for decluttering every room of your home! This is a self-paced program.
My Story
As a busy mom with three kids, I learned very quickly that I needed to stay organized if I wanted to have a calm and peaceful home. Over the last 15 years, I have discovered home management strategies that have simplified my life. Through my own experiences along with helping others, I know what an impact an organized and clutter free home can make on our lives. With a background in Individual and Group Counseling, I focus on understanding each client’s needs and goals. I treat each client as an individual and make sure that each solution is right for them and their family. I truly know that a less cluttered home will lead to a less cluttered life. By investing in your home, you are investing in your life!
Love the idea of maintaining a donation bin- going to start that now- thanks for the tips Jaclyn!
There are some places in my house that just gather the clutter. I wish I could stop that from happening!
I hear you! It helps to sometimes set a timer for 15 minutes and tackle one area!