Methods to Declutter

One Drawer, One Room at a Time

• Make the commitment to purge clutter from your life one space at a time. Once you start a project, complete it. If time is short, clean out a drawer. If you have a few hours a day, work on a room. Most people are overwhelmed when trying to remove clutter from their home. Working a little at a time will keep anxiety at bay. It is important to stay focused on the task at hand. If you come across an item that belongs in another room, set it aside in a labeled bin for that room. Don't attempt to put it away and risk becoming distracted in that area. Once you have finished your current task, you can move to another space.

What to Keep

• Keep only items that are useful to your life. If you can't wear an item, if it is out-of-style or torn, let it go. Donate clean clothing in good shape and toss the rest. Don't bring in anything new without letting go of an item. The same goes for electronics, small appliances and furniture. Keep only items that are working and functional. If you have a bread machine, and haven't baked bread in five years, free up counter and cupboard space by giving it to someone who will put it to use. Take a photo of items that don't serve your life, but are sentimental. A scrapbook will take up less space than Aunt Helen's pineapple lamps, and help you to live less stressful life.

Paper Pushing

• Paper is a huge source of clutter. Minimize paper clutter by stopping it at the door. Keep a trash bin near your mailbox and toss junk mail immediately. Make it a habit of opening mail daily, with a trash bin nearby. File credit statements in a folder labeled with dates to remind you when each is due. If you pay bills electronically, contact your creditors, sign up for electronic statements. If you prefer receiving paper statements, you only need to keep the current month, unless you have a dispute.

  For children's school papers, create an album that you can maintain with them. At the end of the year, go back and let your artist chose the best ones to keep.

In the Kitchen

• Check the labels on food items and discard old and dried foods. Canned food in rusted containers are a health hazard. A thick, white film over frozen meat is freezer burn; the meat will be tough once cooked so discard it. If you are unsure of how old something is, toss it; it is better to be safe than sorry. Always know how fresh your food is by labeling. As you put groceries away, label each item with the date of purchase. Once a month, take time to go through cupboards, the refrigerator and freezer to discard old items, or cook ones that are getting older.

Clean Something Everyday

• To get and maintain a clutter-free life, you must do something everyday. Take 15 minutes each day to straighten a drawer, put shoes away and open mail. Take the time to sort laundry and wash a load. Assign each family member a 15-minute task. For children make it a game to see who can put toys away the fastest. Take the time to look through statements and pay upcoming bills. This time will be less than the time it will take to find your keys in a sea of clutter.