How to Get Rid of Clutter and Unwanted Items in Your House

How to Get Rid of Clutter and Unwanted Items in Your House

Removing unwanted items from your house can be an arduous task. It can also provide massive stress relief and promote many different positive changes in your life. Some of the changes are issues you don’t realize until you understand the need to clear clutter. There are a lot of individuals who aren’t sure how to declutter their homes and dispose of items like furniture and appliances for a clutter-free home. This is the ultimate guide to help any individual get rid of clutter. Knowing how to get rid of clutter will free up more than just space.

4 Steps to Get Everything Sorted out

There are tell-tale signs that clutter is starting to become a problem. Day-to-day activities, over time, will begin to become more challenging to complete. For example, if you are beginning to misplace your items constantly. These items usually include belongings. Are you always looking for your car keys or your cell phone? Are you looking for the TV remote control every time you sit down and try to get your evening show in? Before you leave the house, you might find yourself perpetually looking for your wallet? Here is the easiest formula for decluttering and the benefits of cleaner living.

1: Decide Which Items Should Go

When you have a lot of things to get rid of, you have to take note of what you need. What is relevant in your life? Many individuals keep stuff because sometimes it takes a little bit of planning and effort to get rid of something. The next thing they tell themselves is they might use it one day. This becomes a dangerous pitfall, and that is how you end up with a house full of clutter. If you're getting rid of clutter in your home, it's best to eliminate this way of thinking from the equation.

2: Determine How Important It Really Is

This concept borrows from eliminating that pitfall way of thinking. Knowing how to get rid of clutter in your house starts by determining how important something is becoming much easier for someone who has difficulty predetermining the item’s value. Whether it is valuable financially, spiritually, or has sentimental value, it is acceptable to hang onto. If the article doesn’t check any of these boxes, it is a safe bet to consider it clutter and remove it from your home. Determine the TRUE value of whatever you are considering, and don’t negotiate with yourself. Avoid pitfall thinking and learn to let go sometimes.

3: Separate Your Items From Small to Heavy

If you have determined which items to remove from your house and your life, they will not all be the same size. Create an inventory list or an itemized list and separate them into small and heavy categories. This will help create a plan on how to get rid of junk in your house. This causes a greater sense of organization towards the project and makes the process that much smoother. Frequently you can remove bulk items together or conglomerate a lot more minor things and remove them in one go.

4: Determine How to Dispose of Your Unwanted Items

This is why you create an itemized list and organize them into heavy and minor categories. There will be different methods of disposal at your choice. Once you have everything categorized, it is easier to determine the best way to get rid of clutter, appliances, old furniture, and various items creating waste in your home. Sometimes furniture removal can be pricey and this will help organize how to make it more cost-effective as well. If you have a lot to throw away or live in town, this can be particularly helpful. It will help alleviate a lot of stress.

18 Tips: How to Get Rid of Clutter in Your Home Effectively

For those of you who struggle constantly with the concept of eliminating clutter from your house, here is the section you need to know. We have compiled a list of tips to help you get rid of stuff around your home. We have a list of 18+ creative decluttering tips to teach you how to get rid of clutter fast. You can learn where to start if something needs to be thrown away or donated:

1: Start With The Most Messy Corners

There are a lot of cluttered areas and corners in general that feel bigger than they are. A lot of the time, the task can seem daunting because it is just something you are willing to do for one reason or another. You might have even put it off for a while and don’t want to return to the area—whatever the reason, attempt to tackle these first. When the mentally challenging issues are completed, it makes the rest of the projects seem less daunting.

2: Create a Cleaning Checklist

Setting up a roadmap or a guide to cleaning while removing junk from your house also makes the project run much more efficiently. Getting rid of old appliances and furniture should be a part of this checklist. This isn’t always easy, so it needs to be itemized because creating a cleaning checklist and doing it properly is difficult with large bulk items around the house. To get rid of clutter and keep a clean space to live in, big and small items need to be removed, and a cleaning checklist needs to be put into motion.

3: Try the 12-12-12 Rule

This is something not a lot of individuals are aware of and is a fantastic guideline to go by. It is beneficial for the individual who isn’t sure of how to get rid of old stuff. The 12-12-12 rule is quite simple. Try and throw away 12 items. Choose 12 items to donate. The remaining 12 items that you cannot seem to categorize into these two sections can be put back in their place at a time to ensure progress. You can always go back to the problem. Also, when you donate, it gives you a sense that you aren’t wasting something.

4: Lower Your Emotions

An unexpected tip on how to get rid of clutter effectively is being able to control your emotions. When you are struggling with the decision to let go of something, sentimentality is usually the culprit. We all have sentimental belongings, and taking this out of the equation can be difficult, but if you can remove this barrier, there will be a lot to gain, mainly space and peace of mind.

5: Declutter Your House Room-By-Room

This is a slightly more straightforward method of action. If you're trying to get rid of junk in houses, tackle a single room in your home at a time. This minimizes the entire task and gives you a sense of accomplishment when you get one room done at a time. If you have to get rid of an old mattress or something equally significant, doing a room-by-room decluttering becomes much more manageable. It is also much easier to organize your operation when you have a cleaning list that pairs with the room-to-room method. If you need professional help, check out our decluttering services.

6: Utilize Storage Bins for Important Items

Storage bins are your friend! The best way to get rid of clutter and especially smaller items is through using boxes, storage bins, and heavy trash bags. They are an excellent method for collecting minor household goods or items you no longer need. If you box or bag these items up, you can even take them to donate at a furniture bank. They accept more than just furniture at these places. Not to mention they are redistributed to people who need them, which always makes it easier to get rid of your old things.

7: Get Rid of Heavy Appliance

Heavy appliances free up a lot of space. For example, when you are looking for ways on how to get rid of crap like an old fridge, there are many ways to do this. You can call your appliance dealer, or donate the fridge if it still works, a recycling center or scrap yard, or simply call us for a scrap metal pick up. You can do the same thing when you get rid of the old television, microwave, and stove. Your trash service can typically remove these items for you, and if they still work, Jiffy Junk suggests donating them to someone who might need them.

How to Dispose Unwanted Household Items?

If you're wondering how to get rid of things in your house, there are a few methods available to almost anybody. There are various shelters and support agencies that you can search through local directories. A simple phone call can help you determine what you can take to any shelter or support agency. Read more on appliance recycling here.

8: Select Which Furniture Should Go

Jiffy Junk uses the same method when removing old furniture. If you are unsure how to get rid of junk like furniture or how to get rid of furniture, think about the suggestions we used for appliance removal. Determine which old furniture you want to remove, whether a sofa, old cabinets, or even an end table, and check to see if it can be reused and donated. If you need to know how to dispose of used furniture and not donate it, call your trash service and see if they can remove it for you.

What to Do With Your Unwanted Furniture?

Not sure how to get rid of unwanted items in your home like furniture? There are furniture banks that will accept unwanted furniture as long as it is lightly used and can be redistributed. If it is in poor condition, call your local trash service and see if they can discard a large item. Most services will do one large item a month. Some will even pick up one large item a week.

9: Separate Smaller Unwanted Items Into A Single Container

Much like utilizing storage bins or boxes, separating your smaller-sized unwanted items into a single container is an effective method of getting rid of junk in your house. Add all your unwanted small items to a single unit and discard them for more straightforward disposal. This is an effective method of making the task go quicker, can save money on removal, and overall relieve stress during the whole ordeal.

10: Get Help From Some Friends

There are a lot of occasions where you might need an extra hand. We think it is okay to ask. So will most of your friends and family members. Don’t be shy to ask and bring the help of family members or some friends to help with the process. You can always show appreciation by providing a cookout, donating some of those furniture pieces or unwanted appliances their way. This does not have to feel like charity, and you can often turn this occasion into a fun day and stress less along the way.

11: Hire Professionals to Deal With All of the Heavy Junk

Sometimes you have a schedule and so do your friends and family. If you cannot pair those schedules and still need an extra hand, don’t be afraid to hire professionals to deal with the heavy lifting junk removal. We are experts for a reason and can help alleviate one of your most significant resources, and that is your time. Our pricing is competitive, and it can make the job much more manageable, especially when you have to get rid of old furniture and heavy appliances.

12: Have an Action Plan Ready to Go

If you are having a hard time getting rid of clutter, create a plan. Creating and executing that plan in a step-by-step process is a fantastic way of eliminating stress during the process. Start by establishing how much cleaning needs to be done. Making a list of how many items to dispose of is an excellent way to help yourself prepare for the job. This will give you a general idea of how much work needs to be put into the project.

13: Don't Forget to Clean Your Garage

Getting rid of clutter is about taking action, not just within your home, but your home's exterior regions such as your garage. It's no secret that many garages have become a sort of catch-all for things we think we may need one day. In fact, you may store dangerous objects that could cause various accidents, such as fires and leaks. By organizing the garage and removing the clutter, you might just find yourself reaping the additional benefit of being able to park your car there!

Where Can I Sell My Unwanted Items?

There are a number of good sources. eBay, Poshmark, and Facebook marketplaces are the best sources. There is also a service similar to Craigslist but safer called 5Miles. OfferUp and LetGo are also free and available but do not have the same amount of traffic as the major contenders do. Nevertheless, these options are worth checking into.

14: Moderate Your Expectation

After looking at the project as a whole, remember to keep your expectations at a reasonable level. Creating unrealistic expectations can be challenging to avoid, but try to eliminate this way of thinking. One of the most significant objectives of getting rid of household items from your life is to remove the unneeded stress that goes along with this issue. If you are creating a deadline that you cannot meet or stressing about every little detail, it defeats the project’s purpose. It is good to set achievable goals and not reach too high. You can always go back to something like this.

15: Scan Old Photos and Paperwork

One of the best modern-era tips for getting rid of clutter is thanks to technology. Digital albums and external hard drives provide us with the means to get rid of the bulk paperwork and photos that are important to us, but take up far too much space. Papers and photos can be recycled after archiving them. If you're keeping a mountain of docs, consider multiple backup options, including a cloud drive.

16: Yard Sale

If you're looking for some true motivation, a yard sale is the go-to option for getting rid of clutter while making some quick cash. With this option, you won't have to worry about hauling away multiple carloads of stuff to your donation center. Plus, it could be the inspiration you need to remove things that no longer serve a purpose in your life. Anything that got left behind can be included on your next yard waste removal project.

17: Try Keeping a Donation Box

A great way to ensure items that are in good condition don't wind up in a landfill is by keeping a donation box in your home. Once the box is full, you can bring it to your local charity. However, this option isn't for everyone. In some cases, getting rid of clutter means your space is crammed enough already. If you wish to donate but don't have enough space, there are over the door storage bag options that just might work for you!

Who Will Pick up Furniture for Donation?

There is an abundance of charities that will pick up furniture for donations. Green drop, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, and Goodwill are some of the major charities that can usually be found in all major locations. They do an excellent job of making the pick-up drop-off process easy. Pick Up Place and Furniture Bank are also good choices. They provide quality service as well and have quite a few locations.

18: Use Vertical Storage

For those who wish to make their homes feel less cluttered or live in a small space, vertical storage is the most convenient solution. Who says space constraints have to be challenging? Tackle the space and get rid of clutter by maximizing your space with vertical storage options such as free standing shelves, risers, and storage beds. With vertical storage, you can also utilize your wall space. On that note, we'll be here in case you need a storage unit cleanout.

Extra Steps for Preparation

We at Jiffy Junk always like being thorough. We know every case is different, even if the project is the same and you’re getting rid of furniture or something previously mentioned; here, we have compiled and created an additional list of 6 crafty tips for getting rid of clutter, just in case we missed something that didn’t cover your exact situation. We want to cover all bases and think it is essential to mention the finer points to conclude our guide.

Get Your Broom and Vacuum Cleaners Ready

First and foremost, from experience, we know that there will be a lot of sweeping and vacuuming when going through this process. Whenever dealing with a project of this magnitude, there will be a lot of dust and dirt that gets kicked out, and it is best to keep these tools ready at arm’s length. This really speeds up the process of cleaning clutter. With a project of this length, anything to save time is beneficial.

Boxes, Boxes and More Boxes

Before starting to get rid of junk in the house, when you are creating your cleaning checklist and preparing a room-by-room plan, it is always a good thing to accumulate as many boxes as you can. If you run out of spare boxes, places like Home Depot and Menards sell cardboard boxes of various sizes. These actually have to be paid for, but it isn’t an expensive investment, and the amount of headache it can save you is well worth it. You will be happier to have a few leftovers instead of having to stop midway through the process.

Prepare Plenty of Trash Bags

Having plenty of trash bags on hand is conceptually the same as having an excess of boxes handy. Depending on what you are removing, it is sometimes more useful to have trash bags instead of boxes. This is usually the case when you have an excess of unwanted items in your home that will just be going to the dump. There will probably be a lot of garbage, and this is the most convenient method of removal. This is also very cost-effective and contractor bags can fit quite a lot of trash inside them.

Use Gloves

Using gloves when getting rid of clutter in your home is kind of a no-brainer. Always use some form of protective gear to safeguard yourself from excessive dirt and debris. Gloves are a great way to keep yourself from getting hurt from furniture and appliance removal. If you have any that are heavy duty and are removing these bulky items without the use of professionals, it can often make heavy lifting items easier if they have any kind of padding or grip. We recommend getting a pair of gloves that fit the job.

Take Your Pets and Kids Out of the Room

This is not only a safety precaution; it is a way of removing unwanted items from your house, a much quicker and more organized experience. Kids and pets tend to get in the way. Be sure to remove any children from the area as well as pets. Again, there tends to be a lot of dirt and debris, and this can also assure you don’t get anyone sick while removing clutter and cleaning up your home. If you are removing large items, it brings peace of mind that they won’t get hurt.

Sort Through All of Your Paper

This is an excellent added detail. Be sure not to skip over this step. While cleaning and removing unnecessary stuff from your house, there tends to be a lot of papers. Old mail, documents, newspapers, and old bills end up being found and usually thrown out. There is usually some important stuff that has been mismanaged over the years of accumulating this clutter, and creating an organized storage space for all your paperwork is the recommended method. We don’t want to see anything of importance thrown out, so be sure to go through the paperwork that gets drugged up.

The Benefits of Decluttering

Getting rid of clutter has a host of benefits. It is more than just being able to locate your belongings too quickly. Decluttering promotes a sense of accomplishment once you have it done and provides a cleaner living in relation to your health. Stress is minimized, and you find yourself more pointed and focused because of the lack of distractions. The benefits expound even further than this.

Improved Quality of Life

Clutter removal provides a general sense of cleanliness. There is also a lot more space for casual activities. This is a highly undervalued benefit of knowing how to get rid of clutter. You are utilizing the areas you have in your home. If you have children or a spouse, this is an added benefit. If you are alone, this is also convenient. This paves the way for fewer obstructions or no obstructions in your walking space. This is a highly undervalued benefit.

Safety

Not learning how to get rid of unwanted items in your home can lead to dangerous scenarios over time. Hallway obstructions, for instance, become a hazard, mainly if the space includes sharp or blunt objects. If clutter attracts pests or other kinds of animal infestations, this creates a whole new set of issues. Animal infestations and pests can carry sickness and disease, create hygienic problems, and can be fiscally expensive to treat appropriately. Additionally, pest control can be costly and time-consuming.

Easier Time Cleaning Your House

Learning how to get rid of stuff in your house can be difficult for some. Looking at it positively, in a positive manner, can help clear clutter from obstructed spaces on the floor. More importantly and more often, the issue is the closet. Clearing closet clutter is complex, but once it is accomplished, it makes cleaning your house easier overall. If you have to spend less time cleaning to achieve the same results, you can do more.

Embrace a Minimalist Mindset

Learning how to get rid of clutter in your home provides a new ideology as a whole. Less is more ideology is a powerful way of thinking. You learn to appreciate what you do have, and it minimizes that feeling that you need stuff you don’t need. You have more power over the temptation of consumerism. This is usually a United States-based issue. In fact, a lot of people overseas are seen as minimalists when compared to U.S. citizens.

Still Don't Know How to Get Rid of Clutter? Call Jiffy Junk

If the project gets out of control, call us for a quick and easy hoarding cleanout. Our experts at Jiffy Junk know how to get rid of junk responsibly, at a competitive rate.