Clutter Creep - The Silent Killer to your Decluttering Success
You’ve spent hours upon hours working on decluttering and organizing your home, yet it never feels done. What gives? When it comes down to it, the fact is that as much as you can put effort into getting things OUT of your home, you can’t completely prevent things from coming IN. Whether it’s necessary home items like toilet paper and cleaning supplies, new socks for the kids, or your Book of the Month Club order, there is a good chance you will have to take another look at this side of the coin as well.
In order to do that, let’s check out the many different ways that things enter our home:
Necessities. Groceries, cleaning supplies, and all the things that help us run our home. It’s hard to imagine paring down this list, but think again! For groceries, take an inventory before going to the grocery store. What items do you already have that you can use before buying new things? If you don’t already, sit down and write a simple meal plan, selecting a few tried & true recipes that will use up items that are taking up space in your pantry. Give yourself a reality check upon seeing something in your pantry that you haven’t used in a while (I’m looking at you spelt flour) and if you can’t remember the last time you used it, either decide to make an effort to or send it on it’s way.
For cleaning supplies, consider using products that are multipurpose. Instead of a special cleaner for every type of surface, there are many that can be used for near everything. Stocking up on paper towels at Costco requires a huge amount of space to store them at home while you could replace a lot of them by using rags that can be washed and reused. It really is easier than you think!
Auto-deliveries & Subscriptions. A common culprit in household clutter is the subscription box. It’s rare I see a single box at a client’s home. Usually it’s a waist high stack of mostly unopened boxes. It’s a case of biting off more than one can chew. Whether it be the ol’ Fab Fit Fun box of several years ago, the science/toy subscription boxes your children have been gifted, or the meal subscription boxes you had hoped would assist you in cleaner eating, they all come with a mountain of packaging, extra pieces, and a requirement for your precious time that isn’t always cashed in. Pause subscriptions while you use up the ones you have, or cancel them completely in exchange for more space in your home and less on your to-do list.
For subscribe and save type programs, make sure to review the order every month and revise as needed. Sometimes you can wait another month or two before those replacement toothbrush heads land on your doorstep. Take the few minutes each month to make sure you don’t get a shipment you don’t need.
School. Ahhh the endless flow of schoolwork, artwork and memos from the administration. 99% of this can be recycled once you’ve taken a look at it. Take the time to appreciate your son’s math worksheets and then let them go. Put the dates of the school musical on your calendar and then recycle the flyer. You know what to do. Try to make it a habit to see to this pile every day so it doesn’t add up.
Mail. Most of it is junk and you know it! Don’t even let it inside your house if you can help it. Our recycle bin is in the garage by the door to the house which is a great stop on the way in. Eliminate envelopes and anything that doesn’t require action before it goes in the dreaded mail pile. You’ll find it’s a lot smaller and less scary when you do so.
Hobbies. I speak from experience here when I say that hobbies can be a huge sticking point when it comes to clutter. First of all, many require tools or materials to have on hand in order to enjoy them. Second, the fruits of your labor don’t always have an immediate place to go when they are complete. And finally, hobbies change. I’m soooo guilty of this…from soap/candle/card making to scrapbooking to painting to sewing to baking. All of them require so. much. stuff. If you are enjoying a particular hobby right now, then by all means, keep the supplies that go with it. But be honest with yourself when you have moved on and let it go. If you are into a particular hobby that results in a lot of finished pieces, have a plan for them. Gift them to your friends over the holidays, bring baked goods to the office to share, or sell them at a local market. Share your talents with others while continuing to enjoy the things that make you happy.
Shopping. Let’s be real. There comes a time when you need new clothes. You may have a special event coming up, a change of size, or even just the desire to get some fresh pieces for the upcoming season. Whatever the reason, I suggest following the one in, one (or two!) out rule. Whenever you buy a piece of clothing, choose something that you’re no longer excited about and donate it. This way, your closet will never get out of control. Try to keep to the same category of clothing in order to keep a reasonable amount of everything you need. The same can apply to things like makeup, shoes, hobby items, home decor, etc. There are only so many decorative pillows that fit on your couch! When you need a refresh, get the old ones out of your house ASAP!
Gifts. Giving gifts is a way to express our love and appreciation for the people in our lives. So when it comes to accepting a gift that you may not have selected on your own, it feels uncomfortable to turn around and make the choice to get rid of it. The person selected it specifically for you, so you feel you need to hold onto it in order to reciprocate the feeling. You worry they will come to your house to ask where said item is. But really - has your Aunt Josie ever come to your house and asked where the rooster embellished frame is that she gave you? Probably not. When it comes down to it, the act of giving is about expressing a feeling of gratitude and/or love. The act of receiving is about acknowledging that expression and being grateful. The gift itself is just the vehicle. Accept the gift, write the thank you note, and then pass along that Christmas sweater to be used at someone’s next ugly sweater party. Spread the love.
Clutter is a huge problem in today’s economy and sometimes we feel like we are drowning in stuff. It’s coming in from all angles at all times. Sometimes you don’t even realize. you have more coming in than is going out. Do yourself a favor and pause when you make your next purchase. Where is this item going to go? Is it replacing something you already have? You have been working so hard on making space in your home, give yourself the gift of keeping it from backfilling as you are moving ahead!