13 Simple Ways To Declutter Your Home

 

Do you ever feel like you want to get rid of all the stuff around you so that you can live a lighter, less messy life? We're not talking full-on minimalism. It's more about clearing out some of the things you are holding onto that you simply no longer need.

Run through this list. It will help you to get organised and take back control of your home. With just a few quick wins, you will start to feel the benefits of a less cluttered sock drawer or a more organised bathroom cabinet and you will be on your way towards a simpler lifestyle. Sounds like a win-win to us.

So, are you ready to embrace a simpler lifestyle, focusing on relationships and experiences rather than things? Less is definitely more.

 

 

1.  Clothes

If you haven’t worn that dress that’s hanging at the back of your wardrobe for the past few years (you know the one we’re talking about!) chances are you won’t wear it again. Give it to a friend or donate it to one of the many upcycling or charity shops on the island. There are also a lot of ways to make money from good quality second hand clothes, with fashion apps such as Depop offering a marketplace for vintage and preloved clothes.

 

2.  Unwanted Food

If you have tins or jars of food in your cupboard that are still in date, or unopened packets of lentils and dried beans staples that you bought on a whim but you know you will never use, why not share with the OLIO Guernsey community. Download the app and let someone else make use of your unwanted foodstuff - they’ll even come pick it up!

And don't get us started on herbs and spices. Remember that jar of dried oregano you bought years ago for a recipe you may or may not have cooked up? Best before 2012? Yup. It’s time to let it go.

 

3.  Medicines and Supplements

It’s good to be prepared for common health problems, but don’t hold onto medicine if it’s out of date or prescription medication you no longer use. Take it to the pharmacy, the staff there can dispose of it safely. This also applies to the out of date supplements lurking at the back of your cupboard and the powders, shakes and teas you bought on impulse and used once! Be honest with yourself, and clear it out if it's not useful to you.

 

4.  Make Up & Cosmetics

There are so many reasons to clear out your makeup bag from time to time. Mascara clogs up, foundations dry out, trends come and go, your skin changes over time, and the makeup you were using in your 20’s might not be what you’d choose today. You know the stuff we're talking about. Let it go! Also, all of this stuff has an expiry date - it's on the packet. Pay attention to it! Oh, and that collection of old make up brushes...

 

 

5.  Storage Containers

There's no doubt that they are useful when you need to store something in them, but they take up a lot of space sitting in your cupboard when they are empty. Keep the ones you need, but don’t hold on to broken tupperware, endless biscuit tins or random lids where the matching tub is long gone.

 

6.  CDs and DVDs

We all have them but ask yourself, with so many streaming options for music and movies, will you ever use them again? Do you even have a CD player or DVD player at home? If not, why are you holding on to them?

 

7.  Toiletries

Bath and body lotions are such a popular gift, but sometimes they get put away at Christmas and forgotten about. Dig them out from the back of the bathroom cupboard and use them up.

 

8.  Cables and Electricals

Charging cables for the Blackberry you no longer own, USB cables for your old iPhone, connectors for games consoles that are broken or long gone. If you don’t know what it’s for, it’s of no use to you. Get rid.

The same goes for all of those small electrical goods you bought on a whim but will never use. From juicers to cupcake makers, even asparagus steamers, avocado storage, egg slicers... If you haven't used it over the past few years, you know you won't turn it on again. Donate it - someone else just might use it.

 

9.  Coins

Does anyone use good old fashioned cash anymore? If you do, you probably use notes and the change sits in your purse, pocket or is thrown into a jar at home. So what to do with your coin stash? Why not donate to a local charity? There are collection tins dotted all around the island.

 

10.  Unused Gifts

It happens. You are given something that is just not you. But even though you don’t love that scarf/bag/picture frame, it might be just perfect for someone else. Don’t hold on to it, drop it into a local charity shop. Or re-gift to someone who will love it. As the saying goes, one man’s loss is another man’s gain. 

 

11.  Books and Papers

Chances are you’ve never even tried the recipes in that cookbook your mother gave you ten years ago. And you know you're more likely to turn to Google these days rather than look things up in a book. Maybe you have a few favourites, but do you really need that many reference books in your life? And we all know there's a drawer in every household that is stuffed full of old receipts, instruction manuals, coupons and vouchers. If they are no longer relevant or in date, it's time to recycle.

 

12.  Bedlinen and Towels

Have a look through your cupboards and we gaurantee you'll find mismatched pillow cases and sheets, alongside duvet covers that have been washed one too many times. They probably don't even fit your bed anymore! Guaranteed that you'll also find scruffy old towels that you never use. Time to let them go.

 

13.   Mugs, Glasses and Plates

If it’s chipped, get rid of it. You can recycle glass, old plates and crockery at the Recycling Centre... and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Take a look at their list of recyclable household items. There is so much you can dispose of responsibly at the Longue Hougue recycling centre, from batteries to bicycles.