It’s easy to accumulate a lot of stuff. This is especially true if you’ve lived in your current home for more than a couple of years. Of course, unless you are exceptionally aware and cautious of throwing unnecessary things away and avoiding build-up. However, the majority of people don’t have that kind of discipline. Many realize the problem only when they trip over something or don’t have any room left to keep the most common and random stuff, like keys, bills, or medicine. To help you and your house breathe again, we consider using self-storage to declutter your home to be the best option. The good news is your storage unit doesn’t have to cost a fortune. So, if you’d like to find out how to declutter with self-storage, read on.
Steps to take when using a self-storage unit to declutter your home
You’ve waited for so long to finally start this process. It’s completely normal if you want to finish everything in one weekend. However, it would be wise to give some thought to it and make a plan. With a decluttering checklist, you will be able to keep track of everything you are clearing and, therefore, gain a sense of control.
Experts recommend following the room-by-room strategy. So, don’t start decluttering a new room until you are finished with the first one.
Another great idea to follow during the decluttering process is to sort your stuff into categories. Here are the types we recommend:
- KEEP – You should clean and put aside all the things you want to keep to make sure they don’t mix with the stuff you are throwing away.
- THROW AWAY – You could designate a clean space in a room you are working on and immediately throw the stuff you won’t keep into that area.
- FIX/REPAIR – Additionally, you can set aside a box for things you love but cannot use because they might need fixing. By putting them in a ‘repair box,’ you will remember to mend them once you have the time.
- DONATE – You can donate any household items you no longer use. This way, you will be helping someone instead of just throwing things away. Include anything donation-worthy into the box and take it to a local charity.
- STORE – Finally, any items you don’t want to get rid of should go to self-storage. This could be anything, from furniture you might need someday to camping gear and winter clothes. Generally, self-storage is used for the things you will need at some point but don’t have enough room to keep in the house for now.
Now that you have a decluttering plan, here’s our room-by-room guide to help you run the process smoothly.
Start with the kitchen
The kitchen is the most challenging area to keep clear of clutter and mess. It would be good to start with decluttering more significant areas, like the pantry or cabinets you don’t use much. After finishing with those, start with the cabinets you use more often and work your way to the countertops. Of course, remember to sort everything into the categories we mentioned above.
To help you with decision-making, here are the things you can ask yourself.
- Is there food that’s still good but you know you won’t get around to eating? Put it in the donation box.
- Do you have expired products in your pantry and cabinets? Make sure you put these into the trash pile.
- Do you have any tableware, cookware, or china that you hold dear but never use? These should go to the self-storage unit.
Living room
The focal point of any house is usually the living room. So, it’s always a challenge to keep it tidy. This is another reason to tackle your living room and keep it neat, so you have somewhere nice to relax after a hard day at work.
When clearing your bookshelves, coffee table, and other cabinets, make sure you honestly answer the question: Have I used this in the last couple of months? If you answered with a ‘no,’ then make sure you sort those things into some of the five categories.
Bathroom
It’s so simple to forget what you have in your bathroom. When decluttering it, pay attention to getting rid of expired products first. Afterward, it should be reasonably simple to categorize other things. For example, all the extra bathrobes and towels could be put in a vacuum bag and into self-storage.
Bedroom
Make sure to move the books you finished reading and look for anything collecting dust because you haven’t used it. You could also declutter your drawers with clothes.
Closets
Finally, organizing a closet might sound like the most daunting task. However, most people feel great relief once they’ve done it. At this time of the year, it’s probably best to pack away your summer clothes, shoes, and accessories to a box going to self-storage.
Once you’ve cleaned the closet of summer things, it will be easier to sort the stuff that’s left. When it comes to clothing, the usual rule is – if you haven’t worn it in over six months, it’s probably time to donate it.
Miscellaneous
Seasonal items are perfect candidates for self-storage. These might be lying around your garage, closets, and hallways.
Sports equipment, holiday decorations, gardening equipment, old furniture, and collectibles are the perfect self-storage matches.
In conclusion
Unfortunately, not everyone is lucky enough to have a basement or attic for storing things they hold dear. However, this is where self-storage units come into play. Using self-storage to declutter your home will make you more productive and less stressed since you will have a mess-free home while keeping your belongings safe.