Guest Post - DeJunk Your Household

De-Junk Your Household

So you're finally deciding to take stock of your household objects and see just what you need to keep around and what to get rid of? This can be a quite daunting task, but don't fret! By using a few simple tips you can make the process of evaluating your household objects and deciding what to do with them quick and painless.

The first step is to take an inventory of what you've actually got. Go through your house (yes, even the boxes stacked in the corner of your basement) and make a note of every item you find that you could conceivably get rid of. If the idea of living without the item even crosses your mind, write it down; you will make the final decisions later.

Once you've got your list, it's time for the hard part. Go down the list and take a good hard look at each entry. How old is the item, and how often has it been used? If it's something that you haven't even thought about for five years, you're looking at a great opportunity to simplify your life by getting rid of it. If the object has significant sentimental value and you can't even bear to imagine losing it, go ahead and keep it around. Be careful not to use this excuse lightly, though.

If the item in question is something that is only used occasionally such as seasonal decorations or clothing, consider placing it in storage. This way you remove it as clutter from your household while still having full access to it when the appropriate time comes.

Now that you've got a trimmed down list of what you're considering getting rid of, it's time to decide just what to do with all of it. For items such as old clothing, bedding and toys, donating to a local or national charity is always an attractive option; the items will be put to good use, and you can usually write the donation off on your taxes. Items that have retained value such as furniture and electronics, do some research to find out a fair price and put it up for sale. There's no better feeling than reducing clutter and earning money while doing it! And if it's truly trash, just throw it out; you won't miss it.

With these simple tips, it's easy to reduce clutter in your house and simplify your life. You may even make a few extra bucks, to boot!

Casey Haslem is a writer and paints in her spare time. She writes often about storage and organization. If you’re in need of help with storage, contact Sam Dimas self storage units or Brooklyn Extra Space Storage.