The Simple Life: Decluttering Tips

Once you have rid your home of unused items you will realize how much easier life can be. It's easier to decide what to wear in the morning when you don't have to sort through poorly fitting, unloved clothing. Your kids' toys will be better loved when they're not buried under junk. You'll be able to find things you need faster, and your home will be easier to clean and more beautiful. In this article you will find decluttering tips to help you take control of the clutter in your home, as well as reminders to declutter some things you may have forgetton about.

Remember: less stuff equals less stress.

Don't let guilt talk you into keeping something. You will feel much less guilty without it sitting around reminding you about how you don't use it.

This is hard for a cheapskate like me, but if you are ready to get rid of something just let it go. You could sell it, but will you? And will it be worth the effort if you do? Go ahead and donate your unused items. You will feel better about having it out of your home.

If you have kids, you know how fast the number of toys they have can get out of control. Try lining up all like toys - all the stuffed animals for example - and letting your child pick his or her top five or three favorites. Chances are your child only plays with those ones anyway.

Clothes are one of the hardest things to keep decluttered. Get rid of anything more than one size different than the size you are wearing right now.

Any stained clothing items or those with holes should go directly into the trash; if you haven't fixed it yet, what makes you think you ever will?

Get rid of anything item of clothing that doesn't make you feel great when you wear it.

Start hanging clothes on one side of the closet after you wash them. After a few months, you'll notice that everything on the other side hasn't been worn. You'll be surprised at how few of your clothes you actually wear.

Every item in your home should serve a purpose whether it be decorative, useful or meaningful. Otherwise it is junk. Especially consider the purpose of an item if it is a knickknack. Your grandmother's beautiful Lenox vase, which you put fresh flowers in every other month is a useful, decorative and meaningful item. A ceramic elephant that clashes with your d�cor and was given to you by a random former coworker is junk. Get rid of it.

Don't let more clutter in

Toss or recycle junk mail before it even gets set down on the counter. You can sign up online to receive less junk mail on websites such as catalogchoice.com.

Talk to relatives who have a habit of giving you knickknacks. Just say "no", and if the problem persists, don't feel guilty about donating their gifts.

Are your kids constantly receiving toys as gifts even though that's the last thing they need? Request donations to their college funds. You'll still get plenty of toys, but at least you will have tried.

Throw out old, cracked, or expired makeup, and expired medication.

Use up half-used bottles of shampoo and only open one at a time.

Keep counters clear and sink clean - wash dishes or load immediately into the dishwashers.

Take everything off your shelves and add a little at a time starting with your favorite things. Less is more.

Remember how good it feels to start fresh

Get rid of expired food and check condiments in the fridge too.

Donate nonperishables you aren't going to use.

Purge your files. Use labels and folders to organize things that must be kept - tax information, owner's manuals, vital record and insurance information, etc.

Donate any holiday decorations you didn't put up last year.

Throw away single socks and those with holes (or put them with your rags for dusting with).

Declutter your purse. Throw away old receipts and gum wrappers, and reconsider the bulky extra items you are carrying around all day.