How to Clear Out and Organize Your Home

While the time for spring cleaning has passed, it's never a bad time to tidy up and get organized. With back to school on the way, and the holidays not too long after that, it's probably a good idea to start clearing out old things. Here are our tips to decluttering and reorganizing.

Take Stock of Each Room

Figure out how much stuff is in each room of your home. This seems straight forward, but really pay attention and take note of which rooms have the most things. Remember, there are probably items you didn't even know you had in every room of your home. Make a strategy of which rooms need to be tackled first and go in order. It'll go by even faster if you enlist the help of your kids and family. 

Go Through Everything!

This is one of the most daunting parts of the task, but it's well worth the effort. Go through each and every box, container, bookshelf, closet, etc. Throw away trash and start figuring out what items you really don't need anymore. If you forgot you had it, or there's a layer of dust that's accumulated since the last time you saw the item, chances are you don't need it. This part of things can take a few days, but don't give up!

As you start to make piles destined to be donated, task your kids with going through their own bedrooms and deciding what to keep and what to donate. Guide them through the process, especially if they're young and this is their first time decluttering. It's always good to encourage a ritual like this from a young age.

Take This Opportunity to Deep Clean

In the process of going through all of your things, use this as an opportunity to really deep clean. Dust, vacuum, and wipe everything down as you go. It'll likely be a while before you do this again, so eliminate dust, germs, and allergens now. 

Donate or Sell

Once you've figured out what items you don't need anymore, determine what you'd like to do with the items. You can contact certain non-profit organizations in your area that might be willing to pick up donations from your home, you can drive and donate items yourself at a local non-profit, or you can do something a little more lucrative with your more valuable items.

Websites like Decluttr or eBay are awesome for valuable items you don't want to keep anymore. Whether you have gently used electronics, video games, books, or collectibles, if you can make a quick buck selling these items online, do so. Decluttr is particularly easy, as they buy items they want from you right away with fast offers and they provide you with the means to ship the items.

Reorganize 

Finally, now that your home is clean and your house decluttered, if you've been itching for a shift in furniture layout or organization, make those changes now. With more space and less random stuff all over the place, moving around furniture or creating new methods of organization should be easier than ever.