C&G's Guide to Decluttering your Home

Tips & Advice

A good declutter doesn’t have to drag on and on. With a carefully laid plan and some elbow grease, you can overhaul your house in the space of a weekend with plenty of time left over for Sunday lunch. In the latest C&G blog, we’ve put together a guide to ensure your declutter runs smoothly and gives you the results you’re after!

Make a plan

Begin by writing a list of must-do areas, such as the laundry cupboard and home office, then make a schedule with realistic estimates, allowing time for rest breaks and unexpected delays. Finally, call in the backup! This can be in the form of good friends who owe you a favor or even your kids looking to get a few extra dollars of pocket money. The more the merrier when it comes to decluttering, and advice on what to keep and what to let go of will be extremely valuable.

Ask yourself these four magic questions

A good rule of thumb when decluttering is to ask yourself the below four questions which are designed to ascertain whether the item is still useful, or if it can be rehomed.

-       Do I use this?

-       How long has it been since I’ve used it?

-       Will I use it again?

-       Is it worth the space it takes up in my house?

Hot tip, if you haven’t used something in 12 months, it’s highly unlikely you will need or use it moving forward! If you’re a bit iffy about an item or two, keep them but make careful note of if you actually use them. In three months, you can re-asses.

Set a routine

Once you have completed your decluttering, it’s important to establish a routine that will keep your home organised and clutter free.

-       Practice the philosophy of always leaving a room cleaner than when you found it.

-       Remember to put things back into their allocated space once you’ve finished with them.

-       If you can, avoid buying anything new for the first few months post clean, as this will give you time to evaluate whether it’s something you truly need.

Turn trash into treasure

While you undertake your decluttering exercises, sort the unwanted items into these three categories: rubbish, donate and sell. The first two categories speak for themselves, but there are a few different ways you can approach the third.

-       Hold a garage sale one weekend! This doubles as a great way to get to know your neighbours and wider community.

-       Sell online through channels like Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace. These online platforms are super easy to navigate and have a far-reaching span, ensuring your goods will be picked up in no time.

Consider undertaking a trade as opposed to selling. You’re bound to feel good about the mutually beneficial arrangement!