How To Declutter (Almost) Instantly

I’m pretty sure that in my Grandmother’s day there was rarely any worry about clutter. Today, though, I have to sort through my belongings every month to make some more space. We all tend to have more stuff these days. Fortunately, for every problem there is a solution. Don’t worry, if you have run out of room for next season’s fashions, I may just have some ideas to help you cope.

Go Digital – Books, CDs and DVDs all take up a lot of space. You’ve got VHS tapes blocking up your loft? Don’t panic. Just about every title you can think of is now available to stream. Companies like Netflix and Amazon offer films and TV series on demand. Spotify and iTunes can provide all your music. Every book you own is probably available on Kindle now too. Grab yourself a gorgeous Kindle case and immerse yourself in books that take up no room.

Vacuum Pack

If you want to declutter your bedroom and clear out your closet then vacuum packing could be the way to go. Anything from duvets, bedding sets and jumpers, to bikinis, tank tops and cammies can be packed away at the end of the season. Suck the air out of the bag with your regular vacuum cleaner, our Oreck Vacuum came with some of those bags, so we’ve been equipped ever since. Suddenly you’ve shrunk everything down to fit in a much smaller space until the next time you need it.

Swap Shop

Many communities regularly have swap shop meetings. This is particularly popular among parents. You can take all the baby things you don’t need anymore, and swap it for something in a toddler size. Swap your unwanted kitchen gadgets for a TV, or your TV for a telephone. You’ll be amazed what you can get, but remember you’re trying to declutter!

Rent a Storage Unit

If it really breaks your heart to let go of your old things, then why not pack them up and store them out of your own home? Storage units are easy to rent, and they are great for hiding away all the things you just don’t have space for any more. Eventually, you may realize you can live without it all anyway. Then it’s one simple move to the local charity shop.

Storage units are also excellent long-term partners for decluttering and can be very helpful in places where space is in short supply like Cornwall, Bristol, and Southampton. You can set aside items you don’t use every day or bulky pieces. For example, Southampton is a port city, so you might want to set aside fishing gear, water sports equipment, or sailing supplies.

You can add unused furniture, old clothes, and sentimental items in your storage in Southampton as well. Storage units are very flexible. So, no matter what your decluttering philosophy may be, they can help you keep your house neat and tidy.

The Line Up

Clear out a room for a day. Now put everything in it that you haven’t used in 18 months. Your lineup could include clothing, TVs, furniture, bathroom products, photo frames or even crockery. For those items you genuinely think could be useful, store them in a box and see what happens in the next 18 months. For everything else, it’s time to go.

Don’t Buy It

If you are a bit of a hoarder, it might be time to address your spending habits. If lots of your possessions were bought on a whim rather than out of need, think about how much money you could save by changing your shopping routines. Work to lists, and within a budget. That way, you can reduce your clutter and save some money for something like a holiday.

I love shopping. I love my stuff. I hate the mess. It would be nice to live to the rule where I’m only buying to replace something I’m getting rid of. It might be just a bit too hard, though, especially when the sales are on!