Stop and take a look around you- is there clutter that is weighing you down both at home and at work? Are you not sure where you should start when it comes to removing all of that clutter? Visit Declutter Fast to learn more about clutter and the negative effects it has on your life. Following are some tips that will help you clear the clutter and simplify your life.

• Work on your desk

If you find that you’re having difficulty finding papers or office supplies when you need them or you’re unable to work at your desk- clean it up. Get rid of old papers/notes, magazines, junk mail, etc. from your workspace. Purchase desk organizers to corral those office supplies and get rid of anything that is broken or any dead plants that are in your office or on your desk.

• Clear out closet

Everyone has trouble with closets- they’re always full of junk. Start by getting rid of clothes that are damaged, stained, or don’t fit anymore. Then, get rid of anything you don’t want or need anymore. Finally, consider the things that you don’t really wear anymore and things that are outdated. Get rid of everything you can. You might want to consider the 333 Challenge. Pick 33 pieces of clothing and wear those for the next 30 days. This will help you scale way down on your wardrobe.

• Go through junk drawers

You know that drawer that everyone is afraid to open because no one is sure exactly what’s in it? Clean it out! Start by pulling out things that are easily identifiable. If you know you will use them again, set them aside. If not, toss them. Next, get rid of things that are not usable (damaged, outdated, broken, etc.). Third, if you have any duplicates or anything you just don’t need, put it in the donate pile.

• Take time to sort files

Gather loose files that are floating around your office or around your home. Go through them. If they are still active, file them. On the other hand, if they’re no longer relevant/active, archive them. If you have any duplicates, or if the files are expired, you should shred and recycle them. If possible, consolidate some files so that you can save some space and clean up your system.

• Tackle clutter one room at a time

If you’re not sure what is clutter, think of it this way: something that doesn’t belong in a particular room or doesn’t give it some sort of value. In addition, it could be something that makes you cringe when you see it. Look at the various rooms in your home and think about what doesn’t belong and what you can do about it. Figure out what you need to process/take care of. Common clutter includes old magazines, receipts, junk/unopened mail, etc.

• Revamp your daily routines

Take a closer look at your daily routine- is it cluttered? Is there an easier way to do something than the way you’re doing it? Perhaps there’s an easier way to go to work than the way you travel. Take time to clear up that pile of junk at the foot of the bed that you keep tripping over every day. Think about the small things you could do to make life easier.

• Clean/Organize your computer

When it comes to computers, clutter can take a variety of forms. Try to clear out or organize the files on your desktop, clean out the recycle bin/trash, defragment your drive, and uninstall things that you don’t use. Then, get a cleansing wipe and wipe down the screen and keyboard to get rid of germs/dirt.

• Reconsider your commitments

One way to clutter up your schedule is to over-promise your time to others. If there’s something that you really can’t commit to, then putting it on your calendar anyway is how to create chaos in your life. Be more careful in the future of how you schedule your time and energy to your loved ones- and even to your co-workers. After all, a chaotic mind isn’t healthy for anyone.

• Clear your car out

Your vehicle is a really busy place. You’re constantly going in and out of it- you leave things behind and over time, things pile up. Get a trash bag and a box and start cleaning things out. make sure to think about the glove compartment, both consoles, backseat, and trunk. Get rid of the clutter. If it’s trash, throw it out. If it’s something you want to keep, put it in the box to bring inside- but make sure that you take the time to deal with it, don’t let it clutter your home or office.

Clutter can cause chaos in your life- both at home and at work. If you’re not sure where to start, check out Declutter Fast to find out about the negativity it can bring. These tips will go a long way to get the clutter cleared out and your life in a better state.

Guess what? There is absolutely no reason that you should be surrounded by things you don’t need, don’t like, or just don’t work. Visit Declutter Fast to learn more about how to declutter your environment and your life. Following are some steps to help you get started in this process.

The Rules

The rules are pretty simple:

• Every single thing you own should hold some value- whether it’s something you love, brings beauty to your life, or is functional.
• Everything should have a place of its own- and, when not in use, should be in that place.
• Avoid being overwhelmed by doing one thing at a time.

Getting Your Kitchen in Order

The kitchen should be the place that you prepare food, not the place that you store things. The point in this room is to remove the things that you are not using and group items together, storing them in the best possible place.

Getting the Pile of Mail in Order

If you’re not able to finish it, don’t bother getting started with sorting it. If you don’t already have one, get a container to put mail in when you bring it in the house if you don’t have the time to sort it right away. Then, when you’re ready, take the mail container and sit down with it.

• Pull out and set aside all of the sales papers- you can either clip the coupons or toss them out later.
• If you are getting catalogs you don’t want, pull the mailing labels off and set them aside to deal with later on.
• Sort the rest of the mail: bills, personal, etc.

Getting the Closet in Order

Just about everyone has their “someday” clothes. The problem with this is, that “someday” is never really going to come. Here’s what to do with those.

The clothes that don’t fit: keep some of the smaller clothes that you think you might want to get back into. If the clothes are too big, don’t hold on to them.

The clothes that are “trendy”: don’t hold on to something “just in case” it comes back into style- chances are, it won’t.

The “special occasion” clothes: the rule stating “if it hasn’t been worn in a year, it’s time to donate it” is a great rule of thumb with these outfits.

Getting the “New Things That I Haven’t Used” in Order

Think about it: how often have you bought something just because it’s on sale. It’s not something you really needed and it really wasn’t that good of a deal. Following are three questions you should ask before making any purchase:

• Where do I plan to keep this? A great question- especially when you are reducing the clutter.
• What will I do with it? If it is something that you really need or will serve a purpose in your life, great. If not, put it back.
• What will I be replacing? If there’s something that you have that is broken or needs to be updated, go ahead and purchase it- but get rid of the old when you get home.

Getting the Basement/Garage in Order

This one is tough for most people. Where should you start? The best place to start is the place that you want to deal with the least- that dark, scary area. Get rid of anything that can’t be salvaged. For example, if you had a flood and many things got waterlogged, throw it out- it can’t be saved.

Once you’ve taken out the trash, start categorizing items that are similar. This will help you to see anything you have too much of and anything that is broken. Then, go through one “pile” at a time and get rid of what you want to and save what you want to. Be sure to create a catalog of what you have to avoid buying duplicates again.

Anything that is left should be placed in clear, plastic storage containers. Sure, you can easily slap some labels on boxes. However, the best thing to do is to be able to see it without having to open it.

Once you have learned all about decluttering at Declutter Fast and you’ve accomplished the decluttering project, you will have less junk and what is left will be organized. Of course, one thing to keep in mind is that being organized is not about getting rid of all your stuff but about living your life the way you want to. There are so many things that you can’t control, but you will be able to bring order to your life and home.

You have a toddler that’s basically a tipsy tornado. It seems that everywhere he goes, a pile of debris results. Sure, curiosity is great and he’s learning as he explores. However, there is the problem that you have something else to clean up after he’s gotten into something. You can learn more on keeping your house clean by checking out Declutter Fast.

Of course, by taking the time and effort to develop the following habits, you’ll find that you have a cleaner house and you’ll be saving yourself tons of work.

1.  Make up your bed when you get out of it in the mornings. Since the bed takes up the majority of the space in the room, making it will make it look so much cleaner and less cluttered.

2.  When you get up in the mornings, throw a load of laundry in the washer. Then, after breakfast, throw them in the dryer. Try to do at least one load of laundry each day- but don’t overdo it, you don’t want to get behind on the folding part.

3.  After washing your hands or brushing your teeth, dry out the sink. This helps to keep it look nice and removes the water spots.

4.  Before breakfast, empty the dishwasher. This way, the dirty breakfast dishes can go straight into the dishwasher, so that you don’t have dirty dishes piling up in the sink or on the counter.

5.  Take off your shoes when you enter your home. After all, shoes track in all kinds of gunk and junk. So, when you take off your shoes as you come in, you won’t have to clean the floors nearly as often.

6.  Just before dinner, take a few minutes to tidy up the living areas. If they’re old enough, let the kids help.

7.  Take a bath/shower right after dinner. When you have a regular routine, it helps to prepare you for bed. A warm bath/shower will relax your muscles. After the bath, start getting ready for bed. If you have children, have one parent give baths to the kids while the other one does dishes- swap out so neither is stuck doing the same thing over and over.

8.  Once the kids are in bed, get ready for the next day. Get lunches prepared/packed and do any necessary prep for breakfast and dinner. Lay out clothes for the next day. Set up the coffee maker to brew automatically. Take a look at the schedule for the next day and gather everything you need.

9.  Purchase things with less packaging. If you do buy something with packaging, unpack it and get rid of the package. The less packages you are purchasing, the fewer things you will have in your trash or recycle bins.

10.  Consider visiting a local farmer’s market, signing up for a CSA, or getting a grocery delivery service. A CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture group will allow you to get a box of produce- typically from a local farmer- for a low price. In some cases, you may even be able to get them to deliver it to your home. Many times, they also will bring you locally made bread and pastries, as well as cheese, poultry, meat, and eggs. You’ll find that it’s a decent amount of food- and bonus, you don’t have to drag the kids to the grocery store and hear them whine!

11.  Spend an hour each week “blessing” your home. This is a new way to look at cleaning your home. When you spin it in a positive light, it motivates you to clean even when you’re not really feeling it.

12.  As much as possible- purge! Every single day, you should ask yourself one question: “What can I get rid of today?” Then, place at least one item in a box to donate or the trash to throw out. If you have a donation box, decorate it with smiley faces and tell yourself and your family that anything that goes in that box will make someone else happy.

When you’re looking at clutter everywhere, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. However, once you get that clutter under control, it’s much easier to keep things clean- especially if you keep these tips in mind. Consider checking out Declutter Fast to learn more about the decluttering process and how it can change your life.