Houses can become cluttered very quickly especially if there are a lot of people in the household. Families grow and change and so does what they actually use inside the house. If you really think about it you might have a whole lot of junk hiding away in the shed, cupboard or even in the ceiling! Not only does this take up valuable space (particularly in a small home) but it is also a nightmare to keep track of for your contents insurance.

Not only is your home insurance hard to keep a handle on if you have too much clutter but it can also affect your quality of life. Clutter can take up entire rooms in your house so imagine the extra living space you can have if you have a clear out. Cleaning house is a big task but it can also give you a chance to redecorate your home.

Deciding What to Keep

So, how can you and your family decide what to keep in your home? A great idea is to give family members a notebook or some stickers and make a list of what they want to keep and what needs to go. The first household items you need to examine are things you really need to keep. The next thing you should do is get into the shed or any storage space and start by pulling everything out.

Because you can end up packing storage cupboards almost to breaking point you will have to remove everything to see what you need to get rid of. You should especially look through clothes and linen for anything you don't need or is worn out. Most people end up with way too many clothes in their cupboards after years of clothes shopping.

Going Through Your Belongings

Going through your belongings might be hard but remember: if in doubt chuck it out! This will help you stop hoarding things and clear out your cupboards and household so that you have more room. Children must also go through their clothes and toys as there are always things they would have grown out of and they will want room for new ones come Christmas!

Getting Rid of the Clutter

Now that you have sorted through all of your clutter and stored goods it is time to get rid of it. The easiest way to get rid of it is probably the trash or council pick up day. However, it is a much better (and nicer) idea to donate any usable goods and furnishings to charity. If you think you can get some money for it then put it on an online auction site and you might even make some money. Another way to do this is to hold a garage sale with your friends or on your own if you have enough to sell.

Avoiding Future Clutter

Give yourself a limit in the future as to how much you are going to bring into the house. A great way to do this is to take some photos after you finish cleaning out your home and then have a look a few months or even a year later! It is also a good idea to remember how much work it was to clean up in the first place so you won't want to have to do it regularly.