Do you constantly find yourself wishing for more storage space at home? Perhaps the problem is not a lack of room but an excess of stuff. It’s amazing how much clutter you can accumulate over time. By assessing which possessions you can farewell, you can make cleaning easier, become more organised, and reflect on your spending habits. Go forth and declutter with our guide to simplify your surroundings.

Don’t bite off more than you can chew

Begin your task by targeting one area at a time. Focusing on a single space will stop you from being overwhelmed and will keep your floors clear so your home is still liveable if you don’t declutter the whole place in a day.

Use it or lose it

When assessing your possessions, think back to the last time you used them. A general guideline is to discard items you haven’t used in the last year.

Understand why

Ask yourself why you’ve kept each item. Although you might feel guilty parting with an ill-suited gift from family or friends, wouldn’t it be better to give it to someone who will appreciate it? For poorly thought-out impulse buys, find them another home and be more mindful of your future shopping decisions.

All the fixin’s

For broken items, weigh up the time and cost required to fix them versus the cost of replacing them. If it’s an easy fix, then don’t procrastinate! Fix it up to get it back in action.

Go paperless

For paperwork like bills and receipts, keep a digital copy instead of a hard copy. There are plenty of apps that help you store digital versions of receipts. To reduce paper clutter in future, opt for digital communication with your service providers.

Toss old tech

Tech moves on quickly so old tech rarely becomes useful again. However, don’t chuck mobile phones out with the rest of your waste. Find your nearest drop-off point to dispose of phones and accessories safely. Find disposal services for other technology here.

Check expiry dates

Rid your pantry and freezer of expired food. Check the packaging on cosmetics for the symbol indicating their shelf life post-opening – old cosmetics harbour heaps of bacteria! Throw out expired medicine. For expired first aid kit supplies, donate them to charitable organizations like local animal shelters or organisations delivering medical aid to countries in need.

Minimise waste

• Look for ways to extend the life of old or broken items to reduce environmental impact.
• Sell it: One man’s trash is another’s treasure. Make a buck from your unwanted stuff by selling it in a garage sale, flea market, or online through eBay, Gumtree, or Facebook.
• Donate it: Donate items in good condition to charities.
• Pass it on: Check if friends and family have use for your unwanted items.
• Upcycle: Breathe new life into old items by repurposing them into something new.
• Recycle: Recycle the items you can to keep the materials out of landfill.