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Ever look around your home and simply just shake your head?
What you see can end up overwhelming you at some point and time.
That is because you ended up with too many possessions, possessions which in some instances are too hard to part with.
In the event you find yourself in that situation, it may be time for some major cleaning out, yes, cleaning out.
Although it can prove difficult to do, it is typically in your best interests in the long run.
So, is it time to do away with some of that clutter?
Where to Begin?
In many cases, it can be difficult to know where to start in removing some or most of the clutter around your home.
For some, the sentimental aspect of certain items will kick in. In other instances (especially if you have children), the little ones (even if they are not so little these days) will beg you to hold on to this or that. Lastly, you might feel like some of your possessions are worth keeping, hoping one day that they could all add up to an earlier retirement when you sell them.
No matter what situation you find yourself in, it is possible to retake control of your residence.
Among the ways to go about this:
- Planning – Start the process with a good plan. Yes, you probably hate this aspect of removing the clutter, but just about everything begins with a well-planned idea. Go through each room (including the garage) and see what can and can’t be given away or sold. Speaking of the garage, are you using that portion of your home strictly to store one or more vehicles or simply for storage? In many instances, people will combine the two, though it certainly can become more challenging to get around the garage with boxes stacked from head to toe on each side of you. If you have more than one vehicle, yet one of those vehicles is essentially taking up space, you could opt for the idea of car storage. Yes, storing one of your vehicles, especially if it is a classic car and/or one that rarely makes its way out of the garage, can give you additional space. That added space can be the difference between really liking your garage and simply tolerating it. Again, it all starts with a plan;
- Compromising – Remember earlier talking about how hard the kids can be when it comes to throwing stuff out? Yes, that may be the trickiest issue you end up dealing with. So as not to start World War III in the house, sit down as a family and discuss the matter rationally. If you’re not planning on having any additional children, there really is no reason for all those maternity clothes and all those baby toys (especially if your children are now in their early teens) to be sitting in boxes in the garage. Point out to your child or children that they would be best served giving the items to charity or close friends or other family members planning on having children;
- Doing – Finally, if you’re the only sane individual in the home when it comes to cleaning out, then you might have to put your foot down and just do it. In many instances, your husband and/or children will tell you not to worry about the clutter, saying you are simply overreacting to all that stuff sitting around. If that is the case, tell them they’d better go through the stuff soon, simply stating there is no guarantee all of it will be there one day when they come home. Yes, it may seem a tad harsh, but you want some peace and quiet around the home one would assume. You also would not mind having a little extra space in the garage or the attic etc. In the end, your family will likely thank you for taking the lead on such an important project.
From that added car just sitting in the garage taking up space, to all those clothes, tools, even toys no longer being used by your children, there are many opportunities to remove yourself of the clutter.
Now, are you ready to get started?