Nothing compares to the peace of mind you feel after you declutter your home.
It’s a feeling of pride and hope and maybe a hint of worry as you wonder how you’re going to maintain a clutter-free home. This is where a sustainable decluttering practice comes in – a practice that you can stick to easily without a complete overhaul of your normal routines and one that has a positive ripple effect into other areas of your life.
These are the 7 practices that help me maintain a clutter-free home, cultivate an eco-friendly lifestyle and that helped me get rid of my storage unit for good!
Reduce before you declutter
You’ll find yourself in a never-ending cycle of overconsumption and battling clutter if you don’t first reduce what you bring into your life before starting your journey to a clutter-free space. Think twice before you buy something new and switch to sustainable alternatives:
- Refilling water bottles instead of using plastic
- Reusable silicone bags instead of disposable ones
- Going paperless whenever possible
- Reducing food waste by freezing large portions or only buying what you need for the week
You’ll naturally have less clutter when you make a habit of consuming less.
Donate
Whenever possible, donate your gently loved items to charities, online retailers or to garage sales. You can search online for a local donation pick-up, drop it off in a bin in a secure location or visit a Good Will or other donation drop off. Donating your items extends their lifespan and reduces waste and the demand on the environment.
Practice “one in one out”
For every new item that you bring into your home, you must declutter or donate an existing item. This will maintain balance in your home and prevent clutter from accumulating over time. This is a fun practice to do with children and their toys, especially in anticipation of new toys for Christmas and birthdays.
Invest in quality items
When you purchase something new, invest in quality and durable items. As a kid, my mom always bought me a few pieces of quality clothing instead of a bunch of fast fashion pieces that I would tear through before winter break. I didn’t know it then, but I had a capsule wardrobe as a child and those clothes lasted me all year.
To maintain the quality of your clothing, invest in suitable cleaning and maintenance practices like dry cleaning, sewing items that rip and following the care labels on every piece. Reduce the frequency of replacement and minimize waste.
Practice mindful consumption
Before making a purchase, ask yourself if the item aligns with your values and whether you truly need it. Sometimes I take this as far as to ask myself whether I need an item to remember the moment or if there is another way I can save it to my memory – like in photographs versus tchotchkes.
Avoid impulse buying and take the time to consider the long-term impact of your purchases on both your home and the environment.
Daily tidy
Clutter accumulates quickly.
Set aside time as part of your evening routine to tidy up the main areas of your home. It’s so overwhelming to stand in front of a pile of things to clean or to know you need to take an entire day to tackle the garage. Get ahead of the clutter by tidying up every day.
Shop secondhand
Thrift stores, vintage shops and online markets like ThredUp are secondhand treasures if you have the time and patience to sift through the items. Buying items already in existence reduces the demand for new products and lowers your environmental footprint. It might seem like a small thing to do in the grand scheme of your purchases, but every purchase counts for better or worse when it comes to being eco-friendly.
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