Making Room for the New: A Guide to Effective Junk Removal

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Are you surrounded by clutter and struggling to find space in your home or office? If so, it may be time to consider a thorough junk removal project. Effective junk removal can not only create more space and improve organization, but it can also positively impact your mental health and overall well-being. This guide will provide tips and strategies for effective junk removal to help you make room for the new.

The Benefits of Effective Junk Removal

Before diving into the nitty-gritty of junk removal, it's important to understand the benefits of a clutter-free space. Here are just a few reasons why effective junk removal is essential:

• Creates more space in your home or office: Clutter can take up valuable real estate in your living or workspace, making it difficult to move around or find the things you need.

• Reduces clutter and makes it easier to find what you need: When you remove unnecessary items, you're left with only the things that matter most to you. This can make it easier to stay organized and find what you need quickly.

• Improves overall cleanliness and hygiene: A clutter-free space is easier to clean and maintain, leading to improved hygiene and a healthier living or working environment.

• Helps you let go of old items that no longer serve a purpose: Holding onto items that no longer serve a purpose can be mentally and emotionally draining. By letting go of these items, you can create space for new things and experiences.

• Can potentially generate some extra cash through selling or donating items: Some items may still have value to others, and selling or donating them can be a great way to generate some extra cash or do some good for others.

Planning Your Junk Removal Project

Before diving into the sorting and organizing process, it's important to take some time to plan your junk removal project. This can help ensure that you're prepared for the task and have a clear vision of what you hope to accomplish.

Start by assessing your space and identifying problem areas. This may include closets, basements, attics, or any other area that tends to accumulate clutter. Decide what items you want to keep and what you want to get rid of, and create a timeline and plan for removing items. This may involve setting aside a specific day or weekend for the project or breaking it into smaller, manageable chunks.

Consider the services of a professional junk removal company, especially if you have many items to dispose of. Professional junk removal companies can provide the manpower and expertise to make the process efficient and stress-free.

Sorting and Organizing Your Junk

Once you've identified the items you want to eliminate, it's time to sort and organize them. Start by categorizing items by type or function, such as clothes, electronics, or books. Decide how to dispose of each item, whether recycling, donating, selling, or throwing it away. Label items and keep them organized for easy removal.

When sorting and organizing your junk, it's important to stay focused and avoid getting sidetracked by sentimentality or attachment to items. Try to approach the process objectively and ask yourself if each item serves a purpose in your life. Remember, the goal is to create a clutter-free space that promotes clarity and focus.

Disposing of Your Junk

Proper disposal is an essential component of effective junk removal. For items that can be recycled, be sure to follow your local recycling guidelines. Consider eco-friendly options such as donating items to charity or repurposing them creatively. For hazardous or heavy items such as appliances or furniture, follow safety guidelines to avoid injury or damage to your property.

It's also important to note that donating items to charity can be a great way to give back to your community while reducing waste. Many charitable organizations accept various items, including clothes, furniture, electronics, etc. Not only can you feel good about giving back, but you may also get a tax deduction for your donation.

If you have a large volume of items to dispose of or are dealing with hazardous waste, hiring a professional junk removal company may be best. These companies have the experience and equipment to safely and efficiently remove items from your property and dispose of them properly.

Maintaining a Clutter-Free Space

Once your junk removal project is complete, it's important to maintain a clutter-free space. This may involve establishing new habits, such as regularly decluttering and organizing your space. Consider implementing a "one in, one out" policy for new items, which involves removing an old item every time you bring a new one into your space.

Another effective strategy is to prioritize functionality over aesthetics. Focus on items that serve a purpose in your life rather than items that simply look nice or bring back sentimental memories. By staying organized and focusing on what truly matters, you can create a space that promotes clarity, focus, and peace of mind.

Conclusion

Effective junk removal can be a transformative experience, creating more space and promoting clarity in your life. By following these tips and strategies, you can make room for the new and start living your best life. Remember to plan your project, stay focused and objective when sorting and organizing, dispose of items properly, and take steps to maintain a clutter-free space. With a little effort and dedication, you can achieve a clutter-free life and reap the benefits of a clear and focused mind.

Decluttering tasks you must do if you want to sell your home

Decluttering your home is something you should do every so often. That is the best way to ensure you live in a healthy and comfortable environment. However, when you decide to put your home on the market and organize several open-house events, your home must look amazing. After all, that is the way to sell it quickly and for the best possible price. But, where does one start when it comes to selling a house or an apartment? Well, the first step is always decluttering. Once you declutter, cleaning and staging your home for sale will be much easier. Thus, today, we will teach you about all the decluttering tasks you must do if you want to sell your home. 

The Hallway

When it comes to selling homes, the first impression is all that counts (well, almost all). So, if you want to leave the best possible first impression, make sure your hallway is clean and organized. The hallway is the first place all the potential buyers will see, and if it's cluttered, messy, and dirty, they will not like it. Thus, start decluttering it as soon as possible.

First, sort through everything - coats, jackets, accessories, shoes, paperwork, kid's and pet's stuff, etc. Leave only the items you wear every day and get rid of everything else. Of course, 'getting rid of' does not mean 'throwing away' - it means 'putting someplace else' or even 'donating' or 'selling.' Moreover, if possible, try to maximize the storage space in the hallway. Install good quality coat and shoe storage, under-the-stairs storage, hangers, etc. This will be a big plus when selling a home - all buyers appreciate a well-organized storage space!

The Living Room

The living room must always look welcoming and as comfortable as possible. Potential buyers must be able to envision themselves living there. So, the first and the most obvious way to declutter your living room is to get rid of excess furniture. If you have already found your new Connecticut home and are ready to move out yourself, let local professionals deal with this. Having fewer furniture pieces will instantly make your living room more organized, and of course, more spacious.

Then, try to depersonalize the living room! Many people think that this is an unnecessary step, but trust us, real estate agents swear by this. By depersonalizing the home's main rooms, such as the living room, you tell buyers that this home is ready for them; you encourage them to envision themselves living there. So, to do this, consider repainting the wall in a  neutral color, have the carpets professionally cleaned, remove all your personal items such as family photos, memorabilia, travel souvenirs, etc. 

The Kitchen and Dining Room 

The kitchen and dining room must also look their best when selling a home. After all, these two areas (and the bathroom) are the ones that will either make or break your sale. No buyer wants to invest a ton of time, energy, and money in upgrading these rooms. However, if you invest just a bit of your time, energy, and cash on decluttering the kitchen and dining room, you will not only be able to sell your home quickly and easily but also increase its value by up to 10%. 

When it comes to decluttering the dining room, we advise you to remove everything but the table and chairs. Make this room as spacious and as breathable as possible. Then, move onto the kitchen. It would be a good idea to have a couple of moving boxes by your side when decluttering this room. Put all the crockery, pots, pans, mugs, appliances, etc., that you plan on relocating anyway into these boxes. Be sure the work surfaces are entirely clutter-free and clean (including the horizontal and vertical ones, too - remove the magnets, the drawings, the paperwork, etc.). And, if possible, try to tidy up the drawers and cabinets as much as you can - yes, the buyers will peak. 

The Bedrooms - Master and Kid's Rooms

As previously mentioned, if you have already found your new Connecticut home, you should go ahead and move out as many pieces of furniture and other personal household knick-knacks as you can. Your tiktokmoving.com movers can help you do this! But, if you still cannot move out, at least try to make these two rooms as presentable as possible. Of course, you cannot take out your personal items from there, but you can make them all organized and well-presented.

Keep all the clothing items nicely stacked and hung in the closet and wardrobe. And keep the accessories and other things inside some of those organizational boxes and bins. Of course, you already know that you should keep your beds made and other surfaces like nightstands, makeup tables, shelves, etc., clean. When it comes to your children's room, unfortunately, there is nothing you can do. Your kids will always play with the toys and books, and their rooms will always be chaotic. But, that is okay! A messy room equals happy kids.

The Bathroom – a Home to many Decluttering Tasks You Must Do if You Want to Sell Your Home

Ideally, you should present your bathroom as adequately taken care of over the years and as a place of relaxation. So, yes, this toom too must be decluttered. First, remove any unnecessary items you have in there - empty (or expired) toiletries, old rags, towels, and bathrobes you do not use anymore, old bathing sponges and loofahs, etc. Try to organize the shelves and drawers as much as you can too. All the potential buyers will open them to check how much space they offer. 

And, once you have finished decluttering the bathroom, we strongly advise you to stage it properly. If you do not know how to do that, do some browsing and find out DIY organization hacks for your bathroom. A couple of nicely folded towels, a scented candle, and a few new bathroom decorations can completely change the look of your bathroom and thus increase its value! 

The Bottom Line

As you can see, there are many decluttering tasks you must do if you want to sell your home. What you need to remember is that decluttering will not only help you sell faster but it will also ensure you move out more easily. In addition, having fewer items to transfer to your new home will make your relocation costs lower. So there are many benefits of decluttering and you should never neglect doing it.

8 Decluttering Secrets for an Organized Home

Declutter – the word would spike terror in someone like me!

Although I would love to keep my place decorated to the nines, I just can’t. I am sure there are many out there in the same dilemma as me. According to National Soap and Detergent Association, getting rid of clutter will eliminate 40% of housework in an average home.

Moreover, a study by Cornwell University says that stress caused by clutter can trigger avoidance and coping strategies. These include incessantly consuming junk, over-sleeping, or binge-watching Netflix. This is not the kind of life you deserve.

Whether we like it or not, a kitchen counter stacked with dirty dishes or a basket loaded with unfolded laundry can be as distracting as a toddler throwing tantrums. If you are done with this life and want to flip the scenario, this blog is a must-read. 

Here are some decluttering secrets you might find helpful in creating a clutter-free living space:

1. Start small

No matter how much you have to organize, it is essential to start with baby steps. A weekend-long organizing project when you have a family and a timetable and a life all at the same time is never a good idea. 

So, start small. Invest in hooks, under-bench storage, and catch-all trays. This is to make sure the smallest of items, like keys, have a place. Small wins are colossal in a decluttering game.

2. Toss away the “one in, one out” rule

Many minimalists stick by the one in, one out rule. It regulates that you have to declutter something of the exact nature every time you bring something new. 

It sounds cool in theory. But honestly, it encourages mindless guilt-free purchasing. You will supposedly declutter something when you get home. It would be apt to term it the bandaid approach. You may end up with a clean space, but it doesn’t teach you how to live with less. Seeking assistance from a clutter-busting service may be your next best shot.

Instead, practice on the “zero in, one out” rule if you really want to declutter your house.

3. Look at your home as a guest

This is one of the most potent tips you could ever find.

Imagine you are a guest staying at someone’s place. We tend to keep things where we found them in neat order. Plus, we don’t pile stuff on the floor when looking for something particular. You carefully rummage through stuff to find what you are looking for and don’t create a mess.

This simple tip can help to keep your home tidy.

4. Be smart with storage

Take a long, hard look at the number of bins or containers you use to keep stuff. If you feel about buying more containers or bins, the problem is not about the storage space. Instead, it is about the number of things you have.

Slim down the things you have in the existing baskets and boxes before hitting stores to buy new containers.

Then, reassess your storage needs. Buy more storage boxes and ensure that everything stays in its place. Incoming mail should remain in the basket on the countertop. Similarly, the TV remote will never get lost if there is a holder to keep it.

5. Always clean when you are done

Call this a room reset.

If you begin following this tip, you will be surprised at how much time it saves. For instance, before you hit the sack, try to keep extra things at their places. This will only take a few minutes if you are trying to move towards minimalist living. 

A few minutes invested every day to keep the space tidy will give you a surprisingly vast amount of extra time. For further efficiency, you can hire a junk removal service like the Super Bee Disposal to handle the task for you.

6. Create a cleaning kit

No one can argue against the benefits of a clean home. Take some time to collect the cleaning supplies you usually use. Store them in a central location of your home for instant access. You can keep them in your linen closet, basement, or a lower cabinet in your kitchen. Find a large basket or a tote to keep all the cleaning supplies.

When you put them all in one place, the number of cleaning materials you have will surprise you. On the contrary, cleaning supplies all over the house doesn’t give you the proper insight into all the things you have. Consequently, people end up buying more than their requirements.

7. Follow the “30 Day” rule

The 30-day rule could be a blessing in disguise for those who religiously follow it. It implies not buying any oversized or expensive item within 30 days. If you still need it after that, go for it. The whole point of this rule is to give yourself some room to breathe. Impulse buying could lead to a budget disaster, not to mention the clutter in homes.

While you are on the 30-day break, you can question yourself if you actually need this big-ticket item. Does it make sense? Can you live without it?

8. Don’t keep broken stuff

Who does that! Right?

Well, you might not know, but you may be keeping broken, stained, or torn items. We tell ourselves that we will fix it and throw it in our closet. Over time, a pile of clothes rises on it, and it goes out of our minds. That pending fixture never comes. And we end up with unnecessary clutter in our houses.

If you need it and have a solid determination to fix it someday, you better store it in a box. Add this errand to your to-do list. Or the next time you go out shopping, find a replacement and let go of the broken items.

Parting Thoughts

Decluttering is a chore. It takes time and adequate planning to keep your place prim and proper. Experts recommend that you keep all distractions at bay when you are on a mission to remove clutter from your home or workplace.

Plus, make it an ongoing endeavor. This way, you won’t have to skip your work or friends’ hangout for a mission clean sweep.

We hope this all makes perfect sense. Let us all get to work! 

Guest Post - Free Yourself From Clutter | A Simple Guide To Get You Started

Free Yourself From Clutter | A Simple Guide To Get You Started

We’ve all got a junk drawer at home. You know the one. It’s the drawer in your kitchen that accumulates just about everything. Scissors, toothpicks, three different kinds of tape, a lighter, some rubber bands, a knife cutter, a few random jelly beans for some reason, and a receipt from three years ago, among other things.

Some people don’t limit it to their junk drawer, though, and the clutter that’s in the junk drawer takes over their entire house. Every drawer is a “junk” drawer. Closets are jam-packed, and the doors won’t shut. You can’t eat at the dining room table because it’s full of mail and other...stuff. There’s not a single surface in the house that isn’t covered.

If this sounds familiar, you probably live in a cluttered home. Clutter is simply anything you don’t like, don’t use, or don’t really need. In feng shui philosophy, it’s believed free-flowing energy creates health, wealth and love. If you have clutter in your house, you probably feel the opposite of those feelings. Clutter typically produces feelings of stress, anxiety, and recklessness.

But don’t worry; if your house is cluttered, it’s not too late to fix it. The thought of getting rid of all the clutter can be very overwhelming, but it can be done. In the article below, we will talk about clutter, and how to finally get rid of it.

The Signs Your House Is Cluttered

First things first; we need to find out if your house really is cluttered. Below is a list of 10 things that are telltale signs that you have a cluttered home. If you read anything off of this list and think, “This is me!” you probably live in a cluttered home.

• Your medicine cabinet is full of expired medicine

• You’re embarrassed to have guests over

• You have a drawer full of chords that you’re sure you need, you just don’t know why

• You find something you forgot you own every time you clean

• You have posters and artwork on the floors and tables, not your walls.

• There are clothes in your closet with the tags on them

• You have a stack of cards and letters several years old

• To you, cleaning is just putting things into the correct pile

• You can’t even throw away your junk mail

• You have the same shirt in ten different colors

If any of these struck a chord with you, your house is probably cluttered. Some of the things listed above might not seem like a huge deal, but they are often a symptom of a much larger problem.

Where Does Clutter Come From?

So you’ve accepted that you have a problem with clutter. The first step to getting rid of your clutter is to understand where clutter comes from. All clutter stems from indecision. You have ten colors of the same shirt because you couldn’t decide which color you liked best. You haven’t hung your artwork yet because you can’t decide where you want it.

You have stuff just laying around your house because you can’t decide what to do with it, and there is clutter in your life because you haven’t taken control and decided what’s important to you. When you fail to make decisions, you end up with clutter. It’s as simple as that.

Once you start making these decisions, then the clutter starts clearing up without you really trying. When you decide that shirt looks best in blue, you don’t need the other nine. When you decide that picture you bought looks fantastic over the mantle, it’s no longer taking up space on your dining room table.

If everything in your home has a place, and you put it where it belongs, and you get rid of everything that you don’t have a space for, clutter wouldn’t exist.

Why You Should Declutter

Admitting to the problem isn’t enough. If your house is cluttered, you need to fix it. Some people tend to justify their clutter, and say things like, “I know where everything is,” or, “If I didn’t need everything here I would’ve already gotten rid of it.” Those are just excuses, and the clutter really needs to go.

When you finally declutter your home, you will instantly start noticing how things are different. First, you’ll feel an instant wave of relief. All that stress you had because of the clutter will be gone. There’s science that backs this claim too. There’s a link between high cortisol, which is a stress hormone, and people who own homes with a high density of household objects. So, the more stuff you have, the more stress you experience. Remove the stuff, remove the stress.

You won’t feel as tired anymore. That’s right, the reason you’re always so tired could be directly related to the clutter in your home. A study done by the Princeton University Neuroscience Institute found that people with cluttered homes experience exhaustion as a result of expanding mental energy on stress that’s caused by your messy environment. Also, it’s harder to focus when your house is cluttered, so you have to try harder and spend more energy doing everyday tasks.

You won’t be putting yourself in constant danger anymore, either. How many times have you tripped over something in the floor, or knocked something off of a shelf above you because it was so cluttered? Every time you walk through or do any chores in your cluttered home, you’re putting yourself in physical danger. No one needs to sprain their ankle or get a concussion because they can’t figure out what to do with all their stuff.

Time To Declutter

Decluttering your house is one of those things that is easier said than done. The clutter in your home could have accumulated over years and years of indecision. It can be incredibly overwhelming, and the process of cleaning up the clutter is often more stressful than just living in the clutter. But because of what we’ve talked about above, the payoff is worth it. Living in a clutter-free home will significantly improve your quality of life, making the stress of decluttering worth it.

But, where do you start? You can’t just grab a trash bag a box and go nuts. You need to have a plan. The absolute first thing you have to do before you can accomplish anything is believing it’s possible.

For some of you reading this, your house has probably been cluttered for so long that you’ve given up hope of ever being clutter free. If that’s you, then the first step for you is to really believe that you can do this. Your home can be clutter free. You will never get rid of the clutter in your home if you don’t remove the clutter from your mind and allow yourself to believe it’s possible.

The “Hurricane List”

When you’re ready to start, a first thing to do is to decide what you would replace if you lost everything. If a tornado or a hurricane came through and just destroyed everything you own, what would be the first few things you replaced?

Don’t do this sitting in your home. Go to a friends house a coffee shop, or the library; somewhere where you can’t see any of the stuff sitting in your house. Just sit down and make a list of everything that would be on your list to replace immediately. Don’t worry about model numbers or brand names either. If your TV is the first thing you'd replace, just write TV. Once that is done, you can go back to your house and start cleaning, armed with a list of the things that are truly important to you.

Short, Focused Bursts

Once you’re ready to clean, it is best to work in short, focused bursts. It took a long time to accumulate the stuff, so it’ll take a long time to organize it and get rid of it. Don’t expect to complete a marathon session and get it all done in one day. Make a plan that targets specific areas you’re going to declutter, clean up, and organize over an extended period of time. Then stick to that plan, so you don’t get overwhelmed.

Something that works for a lot of people is picking one room, and then working on it in 30-minute bursts. Declutter for 30 minutes, and then rest for 30 minutes. The point of this is to avoid the emotions and stress that come along with decluttering a room that hasn’t been touched in years. When you start, set a 30-minute timer, and drop whatever it is you’re doing when it goes off and walk away. Leave the space completely and allow yourself to detach for 30 minutes before you come back. Then rinse and repeat.

Utility Over Sentiment

Anyone that has decluttered their house before will tell you the absolute hardest thing to do was get rid of sentimental items. It’s very easy to get attached to things. Maybe you’ve had them since you were a kid, they have a special meaning to you, or because they represent the hard work that went into buying them. That’s completely normal; everyone has things that are sentimental to them. When you’re trying to declutter, though, you need to be able to separate yourself from those feelings.

The best way to do that is to ask yourself these questions:

What Does This Do For Me That Nothing Else Does?

Think about the utility of the item you have. Why is it unique? What does it do? Can it do more than one thing?

Do I Own Anything Else That Can Replace This?

This is the point where you line up all of your staplers and decide which one is best. Because really, who needs eight staplers? Pick the stapler that does the best job, and that holds the most value to you. The other seven aren’t necessary.

Does This Have Sentimental Meaning To Me?

When you’re deciding which appliances or electronics to keep, those first two questions are pretty easy to answer. However, when you start looking at things like old photos and knick-knacks, utility doesn’t really apply. Sentimental value is important; we’re not here to downplay what something means to you. Just try not to get overwhelmed by how much everything makes you feel versus what it does for you and how much space it takes.

You can apply those three questions to everything you own. Give yourself the appropriate time to review everything instead of deciding a room or closet is fine just the way it is. It probably isn’t. Even if it seems okay to you, that box in your office full of old papers needs to be shredded. You’ll be much happier when they’re gone and they’re not crowding you at your desk.

Take A Deep Breath And Go

This won’t be easy. This is going to take time. You aren’t on an episode of hoarders, so there isn’t going to be a fleet of dump trucks and a team of movers and psychologists that show up to help you out.

But you can do this on your own or with the help of a select few loved ones. Start out by making your plan. Take it room by room and day by day. Work in thirty-minute bursts and don’t overextend yourself and get overwhelmed.

Once you’re done, you are going to thank yourself for working so hard to get everything cleaned up. You deserve all the advantages of living in a clutter-free home.

Republished, original text here.

Author Bio: Anna Kucirkova works as a copywriter for over 4 years. She speaks 3 languages, loves traveling and has a passion for kids and writing. While she has been to many places in Europe and South East Asia, she still wants to explore the rest of the world.