6 simple ideas for sustainably decluttering your home

We have all decluttered our spaces before, but eco-friendly decluttering takes a little more consideration. Use these six simple ideas for sustainably removing clutter in your home.

It happens to everyone- you’re fine with how your home looks and feels until, one day, you realize that your living space has way too much stuff that makes it crowded. When this happens, it’s time to get rid of all the extra things you have but never actually use or need.

Whether you see decluttering as part of downsizing your cleaning efforts or simply simplifying your life, getting rid of all extra things is a big job. When you also want to do things in a sustainable way, there’s added stress and effort. But, it doesn’t have to be this way!

This article explores six simple ideas to declutter your home sustainably.

Prevent clutter in the first place

While this is a no-brainer, it’s absolutely worth mentioning: the less clutter you gather, the easier your life will be when you decide that you want to live a simpler life with less stuff around.

These days, we all bring so much clutter home every day, from bills to plastic grocery bags, clothes we know we’ll never wear, and so many others. And, more often than not, we keep all these things for future use. Yet, the problem is that those things never actually get used again but only crowd our spaces for no purpose at all.

So, the most sustainable way to declutter your home is to avoid gathering clutter in the first place. Yes, it is possible!

For example, opt-in for electronic billing, use reusable bags when shopping, and, most importantly, don’t shop for things you’ll never use, be it clothes, home decorations, or furniture.

Donate the things you can’t use yourself

Donating is a great way to get rid of all the extra stuff you have. Helping your items find a new owner benefits everyone: you, your home, and the person who receives your stuff. Donating old clothes and shoes, furniture, towels, household appliances, and toys is a great way to give these items a second life instead of sending them to the landfill.

Knowing that your former household belongings are going to a worthy cause also makes clutter clearing more fun and exciting for you. You’ll help other people while also freeing your space of things you no longer need or use.

What can you donate? Pretty much everything, from books to gadgets, clothes, shoes, furniture, and even tools. However, make sure that you only donate things that are clean and in good condition.

Repurpose items to give them extended use

If you’re a fan of DIY ideas, this one is for you.

These days, repurposing household items is really a norm. If you care about the environment, want to save money, or simply you’re not ready yet to say “goodbye” to a particular item, repurposing your possessions is the best solution you have.

Nearly everything can get a new life and purpose if you get a little creative about it. Your old furniture looks old? Clean it and repaint it! Do your old bowls and baskets no longer fit your kitchen? Transform them into an organizational system where you can keep them! Have some old clothes you no longer wear? Repurpose them into new pieces or transform them into cloths for garage or cleaning projects! No longer want to keep old books? Use the pages to create a wall decoration!

See? There are plenty of ideas on how to repurpose even the most basic items you have around your home. If you’re into crafting things and getting creative with tools, you’ll have a great time giving your old stuff a fresh look and purpose.

Sell your extra stuff

We all have things that are in excellent condition, but have never really used them. Maybe you’ve received some of these items as gifts, or perhaps you’ve bought them only to realize that you don’t really like/ need/ use them. An excellent option to get rid of these things is to sell them. Plus, you’ll also earn some extra money.

Organize a garage sale and invite your friends and neighbours to take a look at what you’re selling. Many of your items will likely find a new owner who actually needs them. Think about it: it’s a win-win situation for everybody!

Collaborate with a rubbish collector

So, you’ve donated or sold your good stuff, repurposed old items you knew would make an excellent redesign piece. Now, you’re likely wondering what to do about the other clutter in your home that you can’t sell, donate, or repurpose. Throw it away? Yes, but make sure to choose a sustainable alternative for that.

As the waste management experts from JS Removals explain, “Using expert rubbish removal services doesn’t just help you get rid of clutter. It also prevents waste from ending up in the landfill, allowing it to be recycled into new products.”

Packing, transporting and getting rid of all the rubbish you collect as you declutter your home is a time-consuming and annoying task that you shouldn’t worry about. Rubbish collectors will do all the hard work for you.

Make decluttering a regular habit

Last but not least, you should make decluttering your space a regular habit. Regularly getting rid of the extra items in your home will help you keep your space cleaner and more organized. Plus, next time you decide you want fewer items around you, you’ll spend significantly less time cleaning your home from clutter.

So, how do you make decluttering a habit? Well, simply continue decluttering your home whenever you feel like it is too crowded with unnecessary items. These strategies can help: