Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

Decluttering the house is the process of sorting through and getting rid of unnecessary items in the home.
Experts recommend methods such as decluttering by category, then holding onto items for 30 days.
The KonMari method is a popular decluttering approach that encourages people to keep only the items that bring them joy.

Decluttering the house is the process of sorting through and setting aside items that are no longer needed. The primary goal is to create a more organized house by keeping only useful items.

Although it may seem like a simple task, some people still haven’t adopted efficient decluttering strategies, such as decluttering by category. Want to learn more? Read the following article!

A Guide to Decluttering a House

You can declutter the house in a series of stages. Several stages of efficient decluttering, considering your time and effort, include:

Determine Categories

If you have previously decluttered room by room, try organizing by item category instead. It is recommended because the brain generally prefers focusing on one thing at a time.

Start with the clothing category. Clothing is a good starting point because it typically does not require the complex decision-making involved with sentimental items, such as documents or keepsakes. For instance, gather all your hijabs from various locations into one area, then sort through them to decide which ones are still usable and which are no longer needed.

After clothing, move on to books, papers, kitchenware, bathroom supplies, hobby equipment, and, last, sentimental items.

If you still find it hard to decide what to keep, break items into more specific subcategories. For example, you could sort books into novels, encyclopedias, cookbooks, and so on.

Prepare a Special Box for Decluttering

Once you have identified items you no longer need, prepare a special box to hold them. A single box can accommodate items from various categories.

After you finish, store the boxes for 30 days. If, during that time, you don’t realize you’re missing any items in the boxes or need any of them, you can let them go.

Decide Which Items to Declutter

When selecting items to sort through, ask yourself: “Do I really want to let this go?”

This helps you think carefully and avoid future regret. If the answer is yes, let the item go with confidence and avoid wasting time second-guessing your decision.

When clearing items out of the house, some people worry that everything will simply end up wasted in a landfill.

However, you can minimize this impact by donating unwanted clothing to charity organizations or selling books through used-book platforms.

Declutter in Stages

House decluttering requires significant time and energy. To avoid feeling overwhelmed or spending excessive time on the task, start with a small area and proceed gradually, such as 10 minutes daily or one hour weekly.

If you have extra time, you could devote a full weekend session to decluttering larger categories. Besides the time and effort, decluttering is also closely related to decision-making skills.

A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2023) found that individuals who struggle with decision-making experience a greater negative impact from clutter compared to those who are more decisive.

Hence, tackling the process in stages is a strategy worth trying. It can make decision-making feel less burdensome since you aren’t addressing every category all at once.

Another highly efficient decluttering tip is to combine the process during cleaning. For example, when organizing a drawer, you can empty it out, clean the drawer, and then put back only the items you actually use.

Let Go Of Items You Think You “Had to Have”

Have you ever bought something because you felt you “had to have” it, even though you didn’t actually need it? If so, now is the time to let it go.

Also, avoid holding onto items simply because you think you might need them someday. As long as they remain unused, they take up valuable storage space in your house that could be used for more important items. So let go of those things and focus on what you actually need right now.

House Decluttering with the KonMari Method

KonMari is a house-tidying method known by Marie Kondo, a Japanese lifestyle consultant.

The KonMari method employs a unique principle to determine which items to keep: “Does this item spark joy?”. Individuals are encouraged to keep only items that bring them happiness.

In fact, the method is similar to previous stages, such as asking oneself questions and decluttering by category. However, Marie Kondo also introduces several fundamental rules:

Start with commitment: The KonMari method is not merely a quick tidying session but an opportunity to reorganize your entire life. It requires a commitment to its principles and the determination to dedicate the necessary time and energy.
Visualize your ideal lifestyle: Before you begin tidying, consider the kind of home you want and how you want to live in it. You might sketch this in a notebook or gather reference images from magazines.
Complete the discarding process first: The act of letting go helps you identify items that no longer serve a purpose in your life. Finish discarding first so you can clearly determine how many possessions you truly need to keep.

Fun Ways to Preserve the Earth with Indonesia Asri!

That concludes the house decluttering guide you can put into practice. Decluttering isn’t about reducing the number of items in your house, but it also supports efforts to preserve the Earth.

As mentioned, to declutter effectively, sell or donate items to help reduce environmental issues caused by waste accumulation.

So, make sure the items you part with are handled through sustainable processes.

Beyond decluttering your house, you can help preserve the Earth in many other ways, whether on your own or by joining a community like Indonesia Asri.

Indonesia Asri is a sustainability campaign committed to creating a greener, more beautiful Indonesia through various engaging and educational programs.

You can gain broader access to these programs by becoming a Warga Asri. You can also expand your network, meet experts from various fields, and even get exclusive merchandise.

Interested in joining? Sign up as a Warga Asri and start taking real actions that make a positive impact on the Earth.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Want to know more about decluttering your house? Here are some additional frequently asked questions on the subject:

1. What Are the Steps for Cleaning the House?

Prepare your cleaning tools and products, tidy up any clutter, work from the top down, and then sweep and mop the floors.

2. How Can I Reduce Items in the House?

Start by decluttering the smallest area, digitize your documents, and follow the “one in, one out” rule.

3. What Are Some Tips for Keeping the House Tidy?

Return items to their proper places after use, use furniture with hidden storage, and organize cables using dedicated organizers.

Find Out How to Declutter Your House Properly Here