How to Finally Eliminate Clutter and Keep Your Home Organized

There are many secrets to organizing and decluttering. There is no wrong or right way to do it either. The problem is the internet makes it look so easy to organize and declutter a home. There are millions of pins on Pinterest claiming that if you just use the right products, try these dollar store hacks or follow this 30 day decluttering plan that your home will instantly be clean and organized.

Sadly, that is not the case for most people who struggle with clutter. When you are truly overwhelmed with clutter, there is no magic cure for it. Most people cannot declutter and organize a whole home or even a room in 30 days, unless you don’t work, have no other responsibilities and you don’t have kids. There are 4 Reasons Why You Can’t Keep Your Home Organized and Decluttered. Once you understand these reasons, you will finally be able to eliminate clutter and keep your home organized.

Home Organization and Decluttering Is Hard

Let’s just say it. Home organization and decluttering is hard! Have you ever read the suggestion to purge a drawer or cabinet a day in 10 minutes or less? Of course you have. For many people who are somewhat organized this is an easy way to tackle decluttering. This doesn’t work for people who struggle with disorganization for two main reasons.

1. The size of the mess in the space you want to clean. If the spot you want to organize is stuffed full of items, it is going to take more than 10 minutes to fix it.
2. The items contained in that space. If the items are belongings that you are unable to make a clear decision about due to sentimental attachments or other reasons, you may not be able to do a quick cleanup.

It Takes Time To Acquire Stuff and It Takes Time to Clean It

Your house did not become cluttered or disorganized overnight. Unfortunately, there is no clutter house elf running around wreaking havoc in your home that you can blame for this. When you are decluttering and organizing your home, you need to realize that it took time to accumulate your stuff and it will take time to clean and organize it. Don’t feel bad if you can only manage to declutter and organize a little bit at a time. A step in the right direction is better than no step at all. 

The Mess Will Get Worse Before It Gets Better

Many years ago when I still lived with my parents, my dad would come into my room when I was in the middle of an organization project, shake his head and laugh at the mess I had made. The reason I had such a mess was that I usually pulled all the items out of the space and sorted them before putting them back or finding a new home for them. No one tells you that in order to get organized you usually have to make a bigger mess first. Making a mess while organizing helps you see everything that you have so that you can get it where it needs to go. If you need more help knowing how to sort your clutter click here. If you need help purging your children’s clothing click here.

You Have to Break Your Old Habits

If you decluttered and organized a spot in your home, but it keeps getting messy again, then you have to figure out why. Usually it’s because you cleaned and organized the spot, but you haven’t broken the habits that caused the clutter in the first place. After you have fixed a clutter spot, take the time to ask yourself the following 3 questions.

1. Does this area become cluttered because I am tired and always dump stuff there? Is so, make yourself stop and take 5 minutes to put things away, you will be glad you did. For 5 simple ways to conquer daily clutter click here.
2. Does this area become cluttered because other people in my home put stuff that doesn’t belong there? If so, then work on training your family not to do that. Find them spot to put items and gently remind to put those items there. It will take time, but they will eventually get the hang of it.
3. Does the area become cluttered because you don’t have a designated home for items that always end up in that spot? Take some time and decide where those items belong. If you need help with this, check out my post on How Organized People Keep Their Homes Clutter Free

If you answered yes to any of those questions you have to reevaluate what you are doing and find a way to stop the flow of clutter to that spot. Slowly implement the suggested fixes and you will soon see a huge improvement.

For help dealing with daily mail clutter click here.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by it all, read my 10 Strategies That Will Help You Overcome Overwhelm.