How to declutter your home in 2022

We have been stuck in our homes more than ever, using it as an office, a school, a place to relax and play. The result? A whole load of clutter slowly closes in on you and the family. At the start of 2022, when we are still advised to work from home, we should start to clear a way through the objects in our way.

Here we look at some of the best hints and tips for decluttering your home and making room for the life you want to lead.

Take small steps

While it might be emotionally cathartic to whizz through your home in one go, it will be easier and more productive if you start small. Knowing that you have to declutter and leaving it in the corner of your mind as something you need to do won’t work. You will likely be reading an article in a year asking how to declutter your home in 2023.

Consequently, the best way forward is to start with a five minute declutter every day. Choose an area, sort through some of your stuff, and then move on. Alternatively, work at a rate of one item a day or one bin bag at a time. Choose a way that makes the job feel possible to you and get into a habit of doing it every day. One great tip is to set a reminder on your smart speaker to prompt you to do it at a set time in the day. 

Do it for charity

Doing something because it needs to be done is hard, and we can come up with a million reasons why it can wait until tomorrow. Yet, when one of those bags comes through the door from a charity, you can use this to motivate you to act. The small crying child or the hurt animal needs you to act, and you will do it for them, as you are a good person. External motivation is more often a powerful influence than our internal voices.

A good place to start your decluttering for charity is in the wardrobe. Think, when was the last time I wore this? And if you remember a time three years ago, this item should probably go to the charity.

Another way to trigger that motivation is by taking up a challenge. So, try the 12-12-12 challenge. You and your family each have to find 12 objects to recycle, 12 to donate and 12 that need to be returned to the rightful owner. Offer a prize to the person who does this most efficiently and effectively… you will be surprised how quickly your home becomes decluttered!

View your home as though you are visiting it for the first time

The problem might not be your levels of motivation. The issue might be that you don’t know what clutter is and your life. Everything in your home might feel like it has a role and history, and each thing is precious.

Here, you will have to separate yourself from the place in front of you. Taking away that subjective point of view is hard, but when you can do it, you will find it much easier to say, “I don’t need this anymore; it is just cluttering up my life.”

So, look around your home as though seeing it for the first time. Choose someone you just met and make up a story of inviting them into your house. What would they see? You will soon start to see the places in your home that need your attention. 

Learn about the Japanese of decluttering and organizing

In the KonMari method, Marie Kondo offers a powerful mindset to tidying. There are two pieces of advice from this method that are a good place to start. First, declutter by category, not location. In other words, start with books, move on papers, work through your clothes. In this method, you leave the sentimental items until last. Then, hold them in your hands as you sort through these items. Does this item spark joy in you? If yes, keep it; if not, discard it. 

This method is so helpful because it recognizes that our home is an extension of who we are. Therefore, decluttering is more than just tidying up; it explores what is important to you now. 

Start your declutter now

These are all powerful approaches to decluttering. Really, if you listen carefully, the problem is one of procrastination. Therefore, if you are reading this article, you are likely putting off this job you already know you need to get done. The answer? Do it now.

How to Organize Your New Home Right Away

Moving into a new home comes with a lot of excitement. In addition, you now have the opportunity to make your house look exactly how you have always dreamed. Not to mention that now is the perfect time to free yourself from clutter and start being more organized. Still, a big question arises. How to organize your new home right away, the correct way? Well, we have a bunch of tips and tricks that we can share that will help you do just that. So follow the steps that we suggest to get the best results. You will have a more functional and better organized new home in no time. 

Plan each step 

Most people believe that you can organize your new home right away, throughout the weekend. Unfortunately, this process can take a week or more. Moreover, if you have kids, you should add a couple of days to your estimated time of unpacking and organizing. It isn't easy to care for them while still doing everything else. Also, if you want to speed up the process a bit, you could ask for some extra help. You could, for example, ask your family to help you with watching the kids or hire a babysitter. That way, you won't be distracted as you plan each step of the unpacking and organizing process.

First things first, clean the house.

A new and empty house is much easier to clean. There is no furniture, so all your floors and walls are accessible. Also, you don’t have any drapes or blinds on your windows, so they are easier to clean. Therefore, take advantage of this opportunity and clean the house spotless. Wipe the walls with damp cloths, swipe and mop the floors, and wash the windows. In addition, follow the advice of the experts from cleancutmoving.com and clean your rugs and furniture as the movers bring them in. That way, when you finish relocating, your home will be well organized as well as clean. Isn’t that the perfect combination?

Unpack each room at a time

When you try to organize your home right away, you might feel the need to unpack everything at once. Or, you start unpacking one room and realize that you didn’t start from the room you should have. As a result, as previously mentioned, you must plan each step of the unpacking process. Make a list with the order in which you want to unpack the rooms. Then, when you start unpacking, try to stay focused on the room you are in and don’t get distracted by boxes of the other rooms. Always finish one room before getting to the next one. If you succeed, you will have a great sense of accomplishment. Not to mention that the whole unpacking and organizing process will take less time. 

Declutter as you unpack

When you start unpacking the boxes, sort the items inside. If you had to pack in a rush, you most probably didn’t sort your things, so there might be items that you should throw away. As a result, make a box or pile of things you do not need and can donate, as well as a pile of things you should throw away. And, as you are unpacking, if you come upon something you used in your old home, you can keep it. If you didn’t use it in a while, you should throw it or donate it if it’s in good condition. 

But, if you have enough time to organize the packing process before the move, you can declutter while packing. Sort your belongings before putting them into the boxes, and label each box accordingly. Also, it would be best if you packed your things room by room to make the unpacking easier. 

Unpacking and organizing the kitchen

The kitchen is one of the rooms you will most likely need to use quickly. Therefore, it should be one of the first rooms you should unpack. Of course, if you have kids, their bedroom or nursery should be the priority. But, when you start unpacking the kitchen, bring in all the boxes containing kitchen items. Divide the kitchen into sections, such as the cooking, cleaning, and consumables areas, and put the boxes in those sections. For instance, close to the cooking area, you will need to store the pans, pots, and other items for cooking. Close to the cleaning area, which should be around the sink, you should place the dish detergent, sponges, and cloths. Continue in this manner with the remaining areas, and you will have a well-organized and efficient kitchen in no time.

Next on the list are bedrooms and bathrooms.

You will want your new home to be functional as soon as possible. As a result, you should now focus on the other rooms that you will need. Those are the bedrooms and the bathrooms. Begin by unpacking the children's bedrooms to provide them with a safe place in their new home. A move can be stressful for kids, so the sooner you can get them to settle in, the better. Furthermore, you can ask them to join in on organizing their room. That way, they will know from the beginning where is the right place for every item and how to keep their room tidy. 

Then, unpack and organize your bedroom, starting with closets and drawers. That way, you can move clothes and other items out of the way and determine if you need more storage space. If you need more storage, try using the space under the bed as a temporary solution. Just don’t make it permanent, or you will never be able to organize your new home better than the previous one.

When you finish with the bedrooms, it's time to do the bathrooms. If you have to share a bathroom with other family members, put separators in the drawers. That way, you will all know which items are whose and where to find them. Or, you can make labeled baskets for each member of the family. You can also place labeled hooks on the back of the door for towels and robes and labeled containers for toilet paper or cosmetics. 

Organizing the common rooms

After you organize the main rooms in the house, you can take care of the common areas. You can organize living rooms, recreation rooms, and other such rooms faster if you involve the whole family. After all, you will all use those spaces, so everyone should have a say in arranging them. Moreover, each family member can organize their spot as they feel that it will be comfortable. Furthermore, everyone will be responsible for their corner, which must be kept tidy and organized.

Conclusion

Unpacking and organizing your new home after a move doesn't have to be a stressful process. The only thing you need is a plan. And if you want to organize your new home right away, remember that there are some steps that you should follow. 

Metadata Description: Learn how to organize your new home right away and find some helpful steps that you should follow. 

Tips For Organizing Your Walk In Wardrobe

With people having unpredictable times in recent years, it is completely natural to feel a little unorganized. Well, this year is all about personal development and getting our lives back on track. If you are wondering where to start, then why not check your bedroom as this is the place where you come mostly to relax and sleep. Having a walk-in wardrobe is fantastic, but when you have so many clothes, shoes and accessories that clog it up, it can make it impossible to find anything that you actually want. In the article, we will go through some simple ways in which you can organize your walk-in wardrobe to start your year right.  

What You Need To Organize Your Wardrobe:

If you are going to organize your wardrobe, you are not going to be wanting to do it again anytime soon, so you will want to do it correctly the first time. Due to this, we will need the following bits of equipment so that you can measure the space to plan properly.

Here are some tools you will need:

1. Shopping Bag: This will be to transport your clothes to the designating place such as the bin, charity or to keep. If you don't have any bags, then a box or bin will also do well. 

2. Tape Measure: This will be so that you can measure the inside of your wardrobe so that you know where all of the organizers will go and where they will fit. 

3. Full-Length Mirror: This is so that you can try things on before you throw them away. It is a good idea for it to be full length so that you can see the whole of yourself.  

4. Catch-all Basket: This is for anything you find spare in your wardrobe. Whether this is a rubber band, tissues, cash, papers etc. This will help save time as you can put all this in the basket to file away later. 

Empty and Clean Your Wardrobe

If you are one that will just shove clothes in the wardrobe, this may become a bit of a shock for you. But the first thing you will need to do is remove everything from your walk-in wardrobe, including hangers, baskets and anything on the shelves and floors. 

The reason why you need a clean and clear space is so that you can visualize where everything is going to go when it is all organized. This may be a place for your knitwear, somewhere for your hats or just a color coded wardrobe for your favorite items. It is completely up to you. Ensure that your shelves are clean and dust-free as well as your hanging rail. Hoover and mop the floor to ensure there is no dust, this includes the baskets, boxes and whatever else that belongs in the wardrobe. 

Purchase Closet Organizers

These sound like a farce, but trust us when we say they are going to help make your wardrobe that extra bit organized and beautiful. Ensure you measure your wardrobes so you can plan where everything is going to go. 

The material of your closet organists will depend on what you are filling them with. You could buy simple wicker baskets for your denim and knitwear, go with more fancy glass containers for special vintage jewellery or have specific racks for your shoes. 

When you have closet organizers, everyday life will be much easier!

Declutter Your Clothes, Shoes and Accessories

This is the fun part, rather than deciding what you're going to throw away, decide what you are going to keep instead. Have separate piles for what you are going to keep, stuff you are going to sell (must be good quality), stuff you are going to donate to charity and then finally stuff you are going to throw away. A helpful tip on deciding where items will go is to answer whether you love it, wear it or does it portray the image you want of yourself? 

Organize Your Clothes, Shoes and Accessories

For this part, you have some free reins as you can now organize the room to how you think it should go. Utilize all the space so you can fit in as much as you can without it looking unorganized and cluttered. You will find that the organizers will help you to find places for a range of different items such as underwear, accessories and even your jewellery. 

There are many different ways in which you can organize your walk in wardrobe as it is all down to personal preference. As long as you follow these steps, you will find that your clothes will fit nicely into your wardrobe that you can feel proud to own. 

5 Things To Consider Before Buying a Washing Machine

A washing machine can be a sizeable investment and should last you for years and years. As a result, you can’t afford to buy a model that doesn’t meet your needs. You’ll need to examine various criteria to find the right one. Here are five things to consider before buying a washing machine that can help you make your decision.

Which Type You Prefer

Washing machines are available in two main varieties: top-loading and front-loading. Many people prefer to invest in top-loading washing machines because they’re easy to maintain and care for.

You don’t have to switch clothing between tubs in a top-loading washing machine since it has a single tube for washing and rinsing. The device also controls when to take and stop the water during cycles.

You load a front-loading washing machine from the front side since its drum sits horizontally. It boasts sophisticated technology compared to a front-loading machine, but it comes at a premium and requires more maintenance.

Size of the Machine and Space

Take measurements of the available area in your residence where you will install the appliance, then compare them to the dimensions of washing machines in your price range. Washing machines come in assorted sizes, so you can pick one that fits your requirements.

Energy Efficiency

Washing machines require different amounts of energy depending on the type. Despite being easier to use, top-loading washers use more energy than front-loading washers. Therefore, a front-load washer may appeal to you if you want to lower your monthly energy bills. Keep in mind, however, that they have a higher initial investment.

Noise Level

Although washing machines are not the loudest appliances in the house, they produce a lot of noise. As a result, compare the noise levels of several washing machines and select one that performs the most quietly if this is a significant factor for you. You measure noise in decibels (dB), and the higher the dB, the louder the machine.

Machine Design

While this is mainly a matter of personal preference, there is no harm in selecting a visually appealing washer. Many washing machines are now available in various colors and finishes instead of the typical white.

When you apply the five things to consider when buying a washing machine for your purchase, you’re more likely to get the right appliance for your needs. You can thus feel much more confident about your choice.