Introduction

It can be quite stressful if your home is cluttered with things that you no longer need, and also make it harder to clean.

By having a clear out and owning fewer things, you’ll find:

• it is easier to move around the home
• cleaning and keeping your home tidy is more straightforward
• the extra space it creates may allow you to enjoy your home more - perhaps you’ll be able to start cooking in your kitchen again, or have room to take up a hobby.

Top tips for decluttering your home

Find the right time to start

Don’t try to declutter your home when you have other things weighing you down. Having some time set aside to make a good start and have some success will make you more enthusiastic to keep going.

Take it step by step

Don’t try to tackle every room at once. Break tasks into manageable chunks that you can cope with, such as organising a kitchen cupboard, or a bookcase.

Make piles

We recommend you create the following piles:

• Regular use - things you use every day that you need to have to hand
• Storage - things that you want to keep, but that you can store away, such as in the garage or loft
• Donate - things you no longer want but that could be of use to someone else. These could either by given to family or friends, or donated to a local charity. You can find a list of local charities
• Sell - you may be able to find a buyer for some of your unwanted items, such as on an online marketplace. However this could take time and it may not be worth storing these items in your home while you do this
• Recycle or dispose - place things that you no longer want and that would not be of use to anyone else in this pile. Some things can be recycled, even when they are broken. Find out more about recycling. When you are disposing of items:
  • make sure you put them in the correct household bin. Learn more about bins and collections
  • take larger items to your local tip - you’ll need to show proof that you are an East Riding resident. Find out more about recycling sites
  • book a bulky waste collection if you unable to transport the larger items yourself. Please note: there is a charge for this service. Read more about bulky waste collections.

Don’t be too quick to keep everything

When you have had things for a long time it is easy to get attached to them and find reasons to keep them. Ask yourself these questions:

• Have I used it in the last 6 months?
• Will I use it in the next 6 months?
• If I ever needed to use it again, could it be easily replaced?
• If I saw this in a shop today, would I buy it?
• Am I purely keeping this because of its potential money value rather than the joy it brings to me? Would the extra space be worth more?

Keep it going

You’re not going to be able to declutter overnight, but by making steady progress you’ll soon have a home that is more manageable and comfortable for you to maintain.

Hoarding

If you have an excessive amount of items in your home and you are experiencing distress at the thought of getting rid of any of them, you may be struggling with a hoarding disorder. The information on these websites may be useful to you.