Decluttering your home can be a cathartic experience, but it can also generate a lot of waste. However, with sustainable decluttering techniques, you can minimize waste and even repurpose items to give them new life. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to declutter while minimizing waste and offer tips on repurposing and upcycling items to make them useful again. Today I’ll address: Sustainable Decluttering: How to Minimize Waste & Repurpose Items.
Welcome to the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series! We will be starting in the kitchen this month. I’ll be providing some decluttering tips to keep you on task. Each day is dedicated to spending only 30 minutes decluttering your specific daily task. We will be working 5 days a week, so you can take 2 days to enjoy time with your loved ones.
Ignore the dates within this post. Each year we do the declutter series, so the dates won’t coincide from year to year. If you wish to subscribe and join us as we Declutter a Room in 30 minutes a Day, leave a comment below. You can also find the video below if you prefer video to reading. Today, we are decluttering in the kitchen.
5 Tips for Sustainable Decluttering: How to Minimize Waste and Repurpose Items
- Plan ahead
Before you begin decluttering, it’s important to have a plan in place to minimize waste. Take an inventory of what you’re getting rid of and consider how you can dispose of it in a sustainable way. For example, you might separate items into categories such as recycle, donate, sell, and trash. By planning ahead, you can ensure that you’re disposing of items in an environmentally friendly way.
- Repurpose items
Instead of throwing items away, consider repurposing them. For example, old t-shirts can be cut up and made into cleaning rags, or jars can be used as storage containers. Get creative with how you use items and think outside the box. This is not only an environmentally friendly way to declutter but can also save you money in the long run.
- Upcycle items
Upcycling is the process of taking an item that would otherwise be thrown away and transforming it into something new and useful. For example, an old wooden pallet can be turned into a DIY coffee table or a lamp. Look for inspiration online or get creative with your own ideas. Upcycling not only keeps items out of the landfill but also gives them a new life and purpose.
Upcycling is similar to repurposing, but it involves transforming an item into something of higher value or quality. For example, you can upcycle an old wooden pallet into a trendy coffee table or turn an old ladder into a bookshelf. Upcycling not only reduces waste but also creates unique and functional pieces for your home.
- Donate or sell items
Items that are still in good condition can be donated or sold. Consider donating clothes, toys, and other household items to a local thrift store or charity. This is a great way to keep items out of the landfill and give them a new life with someone else. Donate items to local charities or organizations that accept donations, or sell them at a garage sale or online marketplace.
- Recycle responsibly
For items that can’t be repurposed, upcycled, or donated, be sure to recycle them responsibly. Research local recycling centers and make sure you understand what can and cannot be recycled in your area. Some items may require special disposal, such as electronic devices or hazardous materials.
Decluttering can be a sustainable and rewarding process when you adopt sustainable decluttering practices. By assessing your belongings, donating or selling items, repurposing and upcycling, and recycling responsibly, you can declutter while minimizing waste. Remember to take the time to assess your belongings and consider repurposing or upcycling before getting rid of items. With these tips, you can create a more sustainable and functional home while decluttering.
Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can find that here.
I hope you were able to join us yesterday for the kickoff. If not, just jump in and join us wherever you are in this process!
You can get your printable Daily Housekeeping Routine and Deep Cleaning Your House Schedule here. This 15 page printable kit is delivered digitally to your email for you to print and personalize. What Does a Deep Clean Include? It includes a daily schedule, calendar pages, and deep cleaning checklists for every room and area of your home. Below is a sample page of what you’ll get in my printable set designed to help you create your personal Housekeeping Schedule Printable.
Struggling with the daily housekeeping chores and wondering: What Housework Should Be Done Daily? Grab my free ebook to walk you through the process. What Does a Deep Clean Include? One of my best Deep Cleaning Home Tips is to use a House Cleaning Planner. Check out my ebook on this topic, entitled Make Over Your Homemaking. Use this link to get it at a discounted price. Better yet… get it FREE when you subscribe to my site. Also, you can find my room by room Declutter Guide at the end of this post designed to help you learn Sustainable Decluttering: How to Minimize Waste and Repurpose Items.
Maybe your house is clean but cluttered. If so, you need to know a few Declutter Tips and Ideas before you start using the Step By Step Decluttering plan I use. Does a Cluttered House Cause Stress? You Bet! Let’s look at a reputable, mental health site to answer that question and see exactly How Clutter Affects You. Then you can learn Why and How To Start to Purge Your Entire Home.They have given us 8 ways mess leads to stress and exactly How Clutter Affects You. According to Psychology Today:
How Clutter Affects You: Clutter can play a significant role in how we feel about our homes, our workplaces, and ourselves. Can a Messy House Affect Your Mood? You bet! How Does Clutter Affect Your Life? Messy homes and work spaces leave us feeling anxious, helpless, and overwhelmed. Yet, rarely is clutter recognized as a significant source of stress in our lives. (source) But, unnecessary stress is one aspect of How Clutter Affects You.
How Clutter Affects You Mentally can help provide the motivation you need to know How to Clear Clutter and Get Organized. Why does mess lead to so much stress? (source)Getting rid of all of that stress can be one of the best declutter motivation tips you need for some instant Declutter Inspiration.
- Clutter bombards our minds with excessive stimuli (visual, olfactory, tactile), causing our senses to work overtime on stimuli that aren’t necessary or important. (source)
- Clutter distracts us by drawing our attention away from what our focus should be on. (source)
- Clutter makes it more difficult to relax, both physically and mentally.(source)
- Clutter constantly signals to our brains that our work is never done.(source)
- Clutter makes us anxious because we’re never sure what it’s going to take to get through to the bottom of the pile. (source)
- Clutter creates feelings of guilt (“I should be more organized”) and embarrassment, especially when others unexpectedly drop by our homes or work spaces. (source)
- Clutter inhibits creativity and productivity by invading the open spaces that allow most people to think, brainstorm, and problem solve.(source)
- Clutter frustrates us by preventing us from locating what we need quickly (e.g. files and paperwork lost in the “pile” or keys swallowed up by the clutter). (source) So, experiencing constant frustration is another aspect to How Clutter Affects You.
Overwhelmed by a Messy House? It can really affect you negatively. How Do You Deal With a Cluttered Mess? One way is to have a plan, set aside a specific time, and learn the steps to declutter your home. What Cleaning Should Be Done Daily? I have a room by room specific Printable House Cleaning Checklist linked above. Also, you can find my room by room Declutter Guide at the end of this post.
For a clean, simplistic look, one of the best Deep Cleaning Home Tips is to declutter a room before cleaning and then use an Easy House Cleaning Schedule to maintain it. Declutter Checklists can help you learn How to begin to Purge Your Entire Home.
How Does Clutter Affect Your Life? As you can already see, there are at least 8 ways we become negatively affected by clutter. Also, I though it might be thought provoking to look at some statistics on clutter to learn more about How Clutter Affects You.
- US consumers buy 40% of the world’s toys, but bear only 3% of the world’s children.
- Most people wear 20% of their clothing 80% of the time. (source )
- 9.4% of U.S. households rent a storage unit. (source)
- People do not look at 80% of the papers and information they keep.(source)
- The average American house is double the size it was in the 1950s–and getting bigger. (source.)
- The U.S. Department of Energy reports that one-quarter of people with two-car garages have so much stuff in there that they can’t park a car. (https://www.becomingminimalist.com/the-statistics-of-clutter/)
- According to the National Soap and Detergent Association, getting rid of clutter would eliminate 40 percent of housework in the average home.(https://www.becomingminimalist.com/the-statistics-of-clutter/) Wouldn’t eliminating a lot of housework provide some declutter inspiration? Read on for more Decluttering Ideas For Your Home.
Today, we’ll lay out the solutions for the steps to declutter using my tips on Why and How to Declutter a House. Plus, we’ll look at a few ways to answer the concern of How Clutter Affects You and what you can do about it.
Sustainable Decluttering: How to Minimize Waste and Repurpose Items. A few guidelines to keep you on task:
1.Only spend time on your specific daily task.
2.Do not get side-tracked or distracted.
3.Work within a time of day that you have the most energy and stamina.
4.Avoid thinking too long about whether to keep or discard an item. Recruit help if you are stuck in the decision process.
5.Avoid cleaning during your declutter. Getting rid of the clutter is your priority. Cleaning can be accomplished later.
Your task today for August 13th is to: Declutter your pantry and top of refrigerator.
Just a quick recap if you missed yesterday’s task, August 12th. We decluttered the refrigerator and freezer.
Yuck! Food dishes from last week’s leftovers, sauces without lids, expired food… You get the idea.
I put everything into the proper category and grouped similar items together. I even had time to wipe down the interior and exterior. While I do not suggest cleaning during the declutter, you can certainly do so if you finish it all within the 30 minute window. I was able to wipe down my shelves and do a quick shine up of the stainless steel doors, as time allowed.
Side note: I have a blog post on the best stainless steel cleaner. If you are interested, check it out HERE.
Decluttering tips: Your task today for August 13th is to: Declutter your pantry and top of refrigerator.
Struggling to decide if an item is clutter? Use these questions below to help you determine whether to keep or toss any item.
Top of Fridge BEFORE Photo:
The way I organize the top of my refrigerator is by using a large basket. I keep bug spray and a fly swatter up here. While my kids aren’t small anymore, I still like to keep chemicals out of reach, as we enjoy doing lots of hosting with our friends, many of whom have small children.
We keep a few odd items in there, one of which is my husband’s baseball mitt. He wants me to keep it handy so he can play ball with our twin boys. Although the kitchen is not the ideal place for it, he prefers it here.
Decluttering Tips: As you are decluttering and organizing your home, consider everyone else who you share your home with. Maybe your loved ones prefer things in certain places, too. If so, try to honor them by keeping it there…even if the location doesn’t make sense to you. You can always use a pretty basket or storage bin to house your items.
Top of Fridge AFTER photo:
I am short, so this is my view from below 😉
Pantry Declutter BEFORE photo:
Pantry Declutter AFTER photo:
Everything I decluttered from my pantry below:
As you are decluttering your pantry, get rid of obvious things like:
- expired food
- Foods you never eat
- Empty packages
Decluttering tips:
- Sort items by category as you place them back into your pantry.
- If you have three open containers of oatmeal, for example, consolidate them by pouring the contents into one container.
- Take note of any fresh foods you need to consume before expiration. Plan your menu around those items.
How do I organize and declutter my house? For more decluttering tips, read more below.
Bonus Tip: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Use a timer like the Fly lady recommends. You can check her out in the link at the bottom of this post. She suggests using a kitchen timer to speed you along as you clean and declutter. Brilliant!
You can use a kitchen timer or even your smart phone. This tip really does motivate you to move faster. It’s amazing how much you can do in just 10 minutes. Use my cleaning checklists as you clean, so you are sure to not waste time thinking about what to clean next.
Honestly, if you’re like me, you hold onto boxes of some of your more expensive purchases, such as a TV or computer, just in case you need to return them within the store’s return policy time. If so, make a note to discard these boxes routinely(once a month is fine), so they don’t pile up. If you live in an area that does recycling or “oversize item pick-up”, note the date of the regular pick-up and schedule your box declutter around that same time each month.
Need to deep clean? I have lists for you to guide you along.
My How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Bathroom list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Kids’ Rooms list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Living Room list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Bedroom list can be found here.
Also, to keep up the general housework, you may need to create a daily housekeeping schedule that suits your specific needs. To do so, I have created a helpful series you can read here.
Decluttering Tips:
Need to Declutter Every room? I have declutter checklists for every room and every space in your home to guide you along below.
Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can find that here.
How to Declutter the Guest Room or Your Kid’s Room checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Laundry Room and Patio checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Coat Closet/Hall Closet/Linen Closet checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Home Office checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Attic checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Garage checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Living Room checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Kitchen Checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Entry/Foyer/Mudroom checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Clothing checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Bedroom checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Bathroom checklist can be found here.
Happy Decluttering!
To Subscribe to this Declutter Series, drop me a comment below. Your email will be sent to me but will not be posted publicly. You’ll receive a daily declutter task via email for the daily task we are working on. You can unsubscribe at any time.
New to deemiddleton.com and don’t know where to start? I recommend going in this order:
Step 1: Check out this post on the 1st step you should take to get organized. Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can sign up here.
Step 2: Create a daily Housekeeping Schedule. You can use this series to start to set up your own schedule. You can also use this simplified weekly schedule.If you often ask: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Or, if you struggle to get organized and have tried and failed time and again, you can likely find out which of these 11 reasons cause you to fail to get organized.
Step 3: Get decluttering strategies here.…Sign up for the Declutter Series and get your entire home decluttered in just 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.”Declutter Your Home” checklists are provided in each email.
Step 4: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Use a timer and use the Deep Cleaning Checklists above. They will help you get your home sparkling after you’ve decluttered.
Interested in becoming a full-time blogger like me? Check out my blogging series. At the top of every page on my blog, you’ll find a drop down menu. Just select the BLOGGING category.
Check out the most popular posts on deemiddleton.com:
14 Things That Make Your Home Look Cluttered
How to Create a Daily Housekeeping Schedule
How to Clean House When You Are Completely Overwhelmed By Clutter
What is Preventing You From Getting Organized?
Also, check out a great post on decluttering over here from becomingminimalist.com. Joshua Becker has some great tips on decluttering and minimalism.
For further reading, check out the fly lady here. She has some great cleaning and decluttering ideas plus excellent organization tips to get you started.
Need some Inspiration to Declutter? Join us for the Year Long Through Declutter Series by subscribing by email below.
To Subscribe to this Declutter Series, drop me a comment below. Your email will be sent to me but will not be posted publicly. You’ll receive a daily declutter task via email for the daily task we are working on. You can unsubscribe at any time.
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