Last updated : Wednesday, January 6, 2010

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5 Ways to Reduce Clutter in the 2010

The start of a new year is always a great time to step back and evaluate your life and goals. If you find yourself tripping over clutter as you take that step back, you may want to put getting organized and reducing clutter at the top of your list.

The most overwhelming part of creating order from chaos is always figuring out where to start.

Here are five ways you can start reducing clutter in 2010 today:

1. Evaluate the gifts you received over the holidays.
If you received gifts that are the wrong size or style or just something that you don't really want, consider your options. Don't keep the gift and let it add to the clutter in your home out of a sense of obligation. You can return or exchange it if you have a gift receipt or you can give it away or sell it. 

2. Do a clean sweep.
Take a trash bag or cardboard box and go from room to room, adding things that are just taking up space to the bag or box. If you don't use it, love it or find it beautiful, consider adding it to the bag. Don't spend a lot of time on this, though. Make quick decisions and move on if you're not ready to part with something yet. Try to fill up the whole bag or box in 15 to 30 minutes.

3. Choose ONE drawer or cabinet to clean out completely.
Now that you've done a clean sweep of your whole home, it's time to make some tougher decisions. Pick any drawer or cabinet in your home and empty it out completely. Look at the contents and ask yourself these questions: Does it work? Have I used it within the last six months? Am I keeping it because I want to or because I'm afraid to let it go? Stretch yourself and make tough decisions about what to keep and what to get rid of. Then put the keepers back and enjoy the clutter-free zone.

4. Clear off the horizontal surfaces in your home.
Having counters, tables and shelves covered with papers, books and miscellaneous doodads can make your whole home feel cluttered and less peaceful. Start with these areas and find a permanent home for everything taking up space. Use a file tray, basket or box to create one small temporary zone for items that you're just not sure what to do with, but make yourself find homes for everything before the temporary zone starts to overflow.

Check out these tools to help you consolidate!

5. Adopt a one-touch rule.
Putting things away the first time you touch them rather than just moving them around is a great way to eliminate clutter. It takes practice, but you'll spend a lot less time organizing, straightening and cleaning up once you commit to finding a home for everything right away rather than setting it down to deal with later.

Clutter robs you of time, space and energy. Invest just a few minutes each day to eliminate clutter for a more organized 2010!

Mandi Ehman is a wife and mother of four spunky little girls. She can be found blogging at Organizing Your Way, where she shares tips for organizing, simplifying and decluttering.

 

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