{"id":16823,"date":"2025-07-10T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movinghelpblog.uhaul.net\/?p=16823"},"modified":"2025-07-10T09:02:40","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T16:02:40","slug":"declutter-your-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.movinghelp.com\/move\/declutter-your-home\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Declutter Your Home and What Comes Next"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When clutter takes over your home, it can feel overwhelming to decide where to begin. Even after you\u2019ve determined what belongings to keep, what do you do with the unwanted items? The Moving Help\u00ae Marketplace<\/a> has a simple, step-by-step guide for how to declutter your home, where to send unwanted items, and how to prevent clutter from returning. Keep reading to take charge of your clutter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Declutter Your Home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Decluttering your home can feel overwhelming. Empower yourself to take control of your mess by following a structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the four steps below, you\u2019ll:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Set goals and make a plan<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    1. Prioritize where to start <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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      1. Establish the 4 boxes technique to sort your belongings<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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        1. Allow your space to get messier before it gets cleaner<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Step 1: Set Goals and Make a Plan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          It can be tempting to start decluttering your home immediately. To make the most of the process, however, start by setting goals and making a plan. Ask yourself the questions below to establish reasonable expectations and hold yourself accountable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Why Do You Want to Declutter Your Home?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

          You might want to downsize your belongings to make space in your home. Maybe your motives are emotional because your clutter makes you feel overwhelmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Knowing your \u201cwhy\u201d will give you a sense of purpose and direction as you declutter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          How Will You Measure Success?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

          It’s easy to get carried away with decluttering or, on the flip side, to believe you have made more progress than you truly have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          To avoid this, design metrics for success. For example, \u201cI will be satisfied when I remove five boxes of clutter from the garage<\/a>,\u201d or \u201cI will have successfully decluttered my home when I can walk into the playroom without feeling overwhelmed by toys.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          What Is Your Timeline?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

          The decluttering process can feel inherently stressful. To prevent yourself from taking on additional pressure, set realistic expectations based on your lifestyle and schedule constraints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          To hold yourself accountable, set multiple small deadlines for different areas you want to declutter leading up to your final decluttering deadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          How Will You Hold Yourself Accountable?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

          Create systems to stay on track. Write your goals in a visible place for a daily reminder or share your goals with friends and family<\/a> who can check on your progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          If you\u2019re the only person in your household who doesn\u2019t like clutter, it can be easy to make excuses and fail to meet your goals. To avoid these setbacks, arrange an event for which your area needs to be decluttered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          For example, invite your friends to a dinner party in three weeks, by which your kitchen pantry must be decluttered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Step 2: Prioritize Where to Start<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
          \n
          \n
          \"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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          Begin With Places Where You Can Make a Significant Dent<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

          For example, don\u2019t revisit a recently decluttered box when you initiate your decluttering process. You won’t get rid of more than a couple of items. Meanwhile, you\u2019ll have drained your energy and given yourself a false sense of accomplishment from checking the task off your to-do list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          To Minimize Distractions, Skip the Sentimental Items<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

          Decluttering old mementos can be fun and important, but taking a detour down memory lane can cause you to easily lose sight of your end destination. You\u2019ll waste time and lose motivation that you need for the more grueling decluttering tasks on your list.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

          <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          The beginning of the decluttering process should be focused and to the point. Once you’ve made sufficient progress in your timeline, there might be an opportunity to have fun and get distracted while decluttering \u2014 but not at the start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          When the time comes to decluttering your sentimental items, set a timer and break down the work into manageable pieces \u2014 smaller than you think seems necessary. This decreases the chances of an incomplete mess that creates more clutter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Most importantly, allow yourself to enjoy the process and become a little distracted. At this point, it\u2019s appropriate to reward yourself for the challenging decluttering work you\u2019ve accomplished thus far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          To Declutter Your Home and Your Mind, Tackle Frustrating Areas First<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

          If you\u2019re overwhelmed by the mess and don\u2019t know where to start, consider the frequent pain points in your home. Start somewhere that you can already envision a list of items you want to remove. This ensures steady, manageable progress that can boost your morale when it comes to decluttering your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Step 3: Establish the 4 Boxes Technique to Sort Your Belongings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          Before diving into decluttering your home, make a plan for organizing your items. A common sorting system is the four boxes technique, where each item falls into one of four categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          1. Keep<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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            1. Sell<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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              1. Donate<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                1. Trash\/Recycle<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                  For the four boxes technique to work, you must clearly define each category. In doing so, consider your personal constraints. For example, what makes something worth selling instead of donating?  Consider the effort and cost of listing and shipping items for online sale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Once you know what type of item falls into each category, keep a cheat sheet handy with category definitions and examples. Writing out your strategy will help you follow a consistent formula for decluttering across all spaces, which is important for staying on track with your goals from Step 1<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  To prevent mix-ups, color code your cheat sheet and boxes for easy distinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Step 4: Allow Your Space to Get Messier Before It Gets Cleaner<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                  To effectively declutter, start by assessing how much you own. It\u2019s easy to grow complacent about your mess when it\u2019s contained in its natural habitat. To confront your clutter, dump your belongings into one pile on the floor, bed, or table. You’ll gain a new perspective about how much you own and how much you want to clear out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Where to Send Unwanted Items After Decluttering Your Home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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                  You have four choices on where to send your items after decluttering:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    \n
                  1. Keep<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                      \n
                    1. Sell<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                        \n
                      1. Donate<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                          \n
                        1. Trash\/recycle<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                          We’ll explore all four options below.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

                          \n
                          \"Two<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

                          <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                          Keep<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                          As you\u2019ll learn at the end of the article<\/a>, the final phase of decluttering your home is developing organizational systems for your belongings. Success in that final phase relies on thoughtful organization throughout the entire decluttering process. Use subcategories to keep track of the items that you put in the \u201cKeep\u201d box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                          For example, put belongings like birth certificates, health records, and passports in an \u201cimportant files\u201d folder within the \u201cKeep\u201d box. For items you wish to keep that belong elsewhere in the house, create a “To Relocate” box.  After you\u2019ve entirely finished decluttering your home, walk a lap around your house with this box and deliver each item to its proper place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                          Sell<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                          Online Selling Platforms<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

                          Pros<\/strong>: As the seller, you can set your own prices, unlike when selling at a brick-and-mortar resale store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                          Cons<\/strong>: You\u2019re often responsible for shipping <\/a>and packaging. Temporary clutter may accumulate while waiting for a listing to sell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                          Platforms:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n