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What are the Different Types of Clutter Solutions?

K. Testa
K. Testa

There are various types of clutter solutions for the home. Different organizing strategies will work for different people, but professional organizers offer some basic hints that can help nearly everyone. People can have many types of clutter, from paperwork to knick-knack collections to stacks of books and movies. Each of these situations can be dealt with in its own way. Some clutter is simply thrown away, while other items can be re-purposed or otherwise stored out of sight. Regardless of which organizing strategies someone chooses, there are several benefits to decluttering one’s home. Eliminating unnecessary items can bring about peace of mind, as well as the feeling of having more space.

When considering clutter solutions, a logical starting point is to throw away junk. If something has no obvious purpose or is beyond repair, then there is no reason to keep it. Some people are handy and can fix broken items, but if the object will never be used again, then it is usually nothing more than clutter.

Woman standing behind a stack of books
Woman standing behind a stack of books

Some items, however, can be re-purposed. Reusing one item for something else can often save money and time. A common example is a sturdy decorative bag that can serve many functions. People often find themselves in need of a gift bag, for example. The re-purpose items that you do not wish to save can be sold, such as at a yard sale or thrift store, or donated. Your trash may be considered a treasure by someone else, but you must decide whether it is worth the time and effort to sell it as opposed to simply throwing it away.

Once trash has been discarded and other unnecessary items have been sold or donated, the next logical step could be to devise storage systems to organize what remains. For example, a filing system can deal with paperwork. Bills and important documents should be stored in a secure yet accessible location, for instance. Once an efficient and effective system is created, one can apply similar techniques to the other items that need to be stored.

There can be different clutter solutions for different areas of the home. For instance, many people have overflowing closets and want to pare down their clothing. In this case, it is helpful to first eliminate what does not need to be there, and then to store what remains in a practical manner. Clear plastic boxes with lids are a good option for storing shoes, for example, because they protect the shoes while allowing the owner to see what is inside each box for quick selection. Out-of-season clothing can be stored in another part of the house, if space allows.

Other parts of the home might require their own unique clutter solutions. Kitchens, for example, should be organized so that the items used most frequently are easily accessible. Storing beverage glasses in a cabinet next to the refrigerator, for instance, usually makes more sense than having to walk back and forth across the room. Another basic organizing strategy for the kitchen is to keep counters as empty as possible, and to eliminate the rarely used gadgets that only take up space.

There are even clutter solutions available to help contain jewelry and other small items. Retailers that sell organizing products often have various items available for different kinds of small clutter. Miniature boxes and large organizers with multiple compartments are just two ways of dealing with the miscellaneous items taking up space in drawers or on counters.

Discussion Comments

anon258027

Most of us keep storing the things which are not useable. And later on it becomes junk. We can donate those things which are not useable for us. You’ve heard the saying, “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” Well, it really can be in some situations.

SarahSon

After sorting through the items that you do not want, it is important to know what you are going to do with them. For the items that you do not throw away, have a specific place and purpose for them to go, and make sure you follow through with it.

It does no good to clear clutter from your home and then leave the bags or boxes in the garage until you decide what to do with them. If I can't get rid of them the same day, I will put them in my car so the next time I am out I will see them and drop them off where they need to go.

myharley

Living outside the city limits does not make it easy to have a garage sale. I have known people who have done quite well with this, but is also a lot of work. One of the best ways I have of getting rid of clutter is to donate my items to local charity organizations.

There are many different places locally to choose from who can use good clothing and household items. You can also get a receipt from them and take a tax deduction on the items you have donated. While this may not add up to much, it certainly gives you a reason to go through the clutter in your home, and donate it to somebody who could really use it.

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    • Woman standing behind a stack of books
      Woman standing behind a stack of books