The new year feels like a great time to look around your house to figure out how you can get better organized. Part of that organizing may require thinning out some of your possessions. As you declutter in the new year, consider how donations and downsizing can help you be more successful with your plan for decluttering.
Go Room by Room
It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you see a house full of “stuff” and wonder how you will ever deal with it all. Instead, take your plan to declutter in the new year from room to room, working in only one room at a time.
As you go through each room (and only that room), decide whether the furniture, knick-knacks, clothing, and other items should be given away, sold, or discarded. Use baskets or tubs labeled appropriately to physically place the items in, rather than simply taking a mental note of what you want to do with them. Once you’ve made it through the entire room, you’ll feel a great sense of relief and accomplishment and then you’ll be ready to take on the next room in the house.
Look for Duplicates
Do you have a closet full of reusable shopping bags or umbrellas? Is a kitchen drawer packed with piles of potholders, dish towels, and trivets? If you have been saving up multiples of certain items “just in case,” now is the time to do something more productive with them.
Having extras on hand makes sense for certain items, such as batteries and light bulbs, but for the most part you can probably donate or discard the duplicates of many items in your home and feel better for it! Be sure to check the entire contents of drawers, cabinets, and closets, as many duplicates may be hiding underneath the items that you do use regularly.
You may have stocked up on canned goods as well, but even those need to be decluttered. Check for expired items and discard those. Any food items that are still good, but that you have not and probably will not use, can be donated to a local food bank.
Donate to a Local or National Organization
As you declutter in the new year, decide what you don’t need, don’t want, and haven’t used in a while. If you have clothes or shoes that are in good condition but that you can’t or won’t wear again, pack them up in a clean box and consider donating them. Research local organizations that can use the items or seal the box and ship it off to a charity listed on verifiable websites, such as givebackbox.com.
For larger items, such as gently used furniture, ask your local organization if they’ll pick them. Another helpful site is donationtown.org, which list charities in your zip code that offer a pick-up service for your donated items.
Hold a House Unwarming Party
When you’re thinking about donations and downsizing, consider whether friends and family may want some of your household or clothing items. Instead of the traditional housewarming party held after you move, hold an “unwarming” party while you’re in the process of decluttering. Following guidelines to keep everyone safe, including wearing masks, invite friends and family not to bring gifts but to plan on taking items with them. Put all the furniture, clothes, and knick-knacks that you no longer want in one room and set out snacks for your guests to enjoy as they decide what they want.
As a virtual alternative, take photos of the items you no longer want and send them to family members or post them to a private social media group of friends. Tell them the first one to respond is welcome to come pick up the items they want. Set a timeframe for picking up and then donate unclaimed items to a charity.
Contact Fox Moving and Storage for Help with Your Next Move
As you declutter in the new year, your goal may be downsizing for an upcoming move. The professional movers at Fox Moving and Storage Charlotte can help you plan, pack, move, and unpack your treasured possessions so you can move to your new home stress free. We also offer a free quote so you can include it in your moving budget.
At Fox Moving and Storage Charlotte, we are your trusted, locally owned movers. We will help you take care of everything involved in your next move, so you won’t have to worry. Contact Fox Moving and Storage Charlotte today to learn! Simply give us a call today at 980-207-2998 and find out how we can help you.