Smart Decluttering Tricks That Make Sure You Don't Miss A Thing

The benefits of decluttering are numerous. A less cluttered space is not only easier to clean but also makes it quicker to find what you need and keep track of what you have. That doesn't mean going from a cluttered space to a clear, organized one isn't sometimes overwhelming, though. Fortunately, a couple of clever tricks, like making a plan and decluttering a room clockwise, can keep you on track and help you avoid missing anything. Once the clutter is gone, you can adopt a new mindset that will help you maintain a clutter-free home forever.

The strategies that work best for decluttering your home often come down to personal preference, with steps like setting a timer and creating hard-and-fast rules about what to keep and what to toss working well for most people. Lesser-known hacks — like working through a room in a circular pattern or breaking tasks down into small sections –will ensure that whether you're decluttering, cleaning, or organizing, nothing goes unnoticed. It will also prevent you from jumping around from room to room or corner to corner.

Before you pull out your trash bags and donation bins, make a plan for which rooms you'd like to declutter first. Ideally, these will be the ones that are doable within the time you have set aside or that make the biggest impact on your day-to-day routine. With a plan in place, you can try the clockwise decluttering method, which is particularly helpful for anyone who regularly gets distracted when performing housework. For this method to work, go to the room you'll be tackling, choose a starting point, and move clockwise, finishing each area before moving on. You'll also want to round up a few of the must-have tools to make decluttering less overwhelming and easier to tackle, such as a trash bag to throw out garbage, a box or bin to place items you'd like to donate, and a separate box for items that don't belong in the room you're in. 

To make sure you don't skip out on any items, work in small, manageable sections. It's much easier to be thorough when you're decluttering one drawer or corner rather than an entire room. Another step you can take to make sure you don't miss anything is to pretend like you're moving. This strategy forces you to consider whether each item is worth taking to a new home or whether it's time to let it go. These small shifts make it easier to maintain clarity in every room, no matter how much you're tackling.