New Year is the right time for a clear out. A new year symbolises a fresh start, no matter what it is you have on your resolutions list. This year, one of your New Year’s Resolutions could be to declutter the home, making room for new things or simply going more minimalist. But how can you do it properly and effectively, without burning out? Here are some tips for an effective New Year clear out:

1. Know your personal limits

Don’t try to bite off more than you can chew. If the job is too big, then make sure you bring help in. If you don’t have anyone to ask for help, then tackle one room at a time. Don’t attempt to do the whole house all in one day, because you could burn yourself out. Take a break in between, perhaps using one day to clear out and taking the next day off, for example. You could even go one step further by scheduling in a room for a specific day. Make the job easy for yourself.

2. Have the right equipment on hand before you start

It’s important that you have the right equipment on hand before commencing with your declutter. This will help to save time in the long run as you won’t have to stop what you’re doing to go and get the vacuum cleaner or a roll of bin bags. Some of the things you might need to ensure an effective New Year clear out are as follows:

Strong bin bags
Cardboard boxes
Rubber gloves
A multi-purpose cleaner
A vacuum cleaner (make sure it isn’t full)
A clean cloth
A duster

3. Think about where you want your clutter to go next

This is an important factor when decluttering your home. You don’t want to throw everything away to end up in landfill, because this is bad for the environment, not to mention being incredibly wasteful. Something that a lot of people do when clearing out their home is hire a domestic skip.

Willshee’s have a wide range of waste management solutions, including different sized domestic skips to meet your every need and budget. Willshee’s are proud to recycle up to 100% of the waste we collect, with as little as possible being sent to landfill and only when absolutely necessary. The materials we’re pleased to be able to process and recycle include the following:

Cardboard
Paper
Metals
Wood
Hardcore/concrete
Plastics
Plasterboard
Soils
Green waste
Residual waste
Textiles

Other things you can do is donate what you don’t want, that’s in good condition, to a charity shop. Charity shops are also able to take textile rags. They use a third party, who will pay the charity, to take them away as the rags can be used in other ways that’ll benefit them and their company. When choosing what to keep, what to throw away and what to donate, you should ask yourself the following questions:

How long has it been since I’ve worn or used this?
Do I have more than one of these things?
Does this item still work or work as well as it could do?
Do I still like this item?

4. Take regular breaks & keep hydrated

It can be so easy to get caught up in decluttering the house than you might forget to do the simplest of things, like eat lunch or have a glass of water to keep hydrated. Losing track of time can mean you skipping meals and not drinking enough, especially if the job is considerable and may take a few days. Planning is key when it comes to decluttering your home, even down to meal planning and deciding when to take breaks. Schedule them in and set a timer on your phone so you don’t forget.

5. Admit when you need help

Sometimes, a job can be too big, especially if you’re sorting through the house of a loved one who has passed away. When it seems a bit too overwhelming, don’t hesitate to bring in some help. As well as halving the load, it’ll also help to make decisions about what to keep, what to donate and what to throw away. Make things easier, quicker and more efficient by admitting you need some help. A problem shared is a problem halved.

6. Do your best not to get distracted

It can be easy to stumble across things like old school reports, photographs, a good book or some diaries from decades ago, but as tempting as it is to sit down and look through it all, you mustn’t if you want to get the job done. Maybe take a glance at it and recall some happy memories, but after that, you should put them away or get rid of what you don’t want and then move onto the next thing.

Also, don’t get comfortable when decluttering. It can be easy to slump back into your sofa and go through a few boxes, but chances are, you’ll get comfortable and stay there. When decluttering, either stay standing up or kneel down, making sure you have something that’ll protect your knees from the floor.

7. Put things back in an organised way

Once you’ve completed your New Year clear out, then it’s time to put things back in a way that’s organised and easy to find and access. Make sure everything you have has a place and that it’s put back there once it’s been used. Part of executing this successfully is having the right storage solutions available. When shopping for storage, ask yourself:

Do my belongings need to be visible?
Is the location ideal for the type of product it is (is it dry and clean?)
Do I need to label boxes that aren’t transparent?
Will this storage solution fit into where I need it to go?
Will this storage solution be able to house everything I need?
Will I need more than one storage solution?
Do I need my storage solutions to be different sizes?
Will my storage solutions fit through the loft hatch or wardrobe doors?

8. Clean the area once you’ve finished the clear out

Once you’ve finished clearing out the area, make sure you clean it before putting things back there. Whether you do a bit of vacuuming or go for a deep clean, putting things back in a place that’s clean and dust-free will enhance the organised feel and help you keep on top of things in the future. It’s also more hygienic.

Willshee’s has a number of waste management solutions available to suit every project and budget. From domestic skips to commercial grab hire and everything in between, we’ll have a solution that’ll seamlessly meet your needs every single time. We always aim to recycle 100% of the waste we collect, giving you complete peace of mind that your waste will be handled responsibly, in an eco-friendly manner and in compliance with laws and regulations. For more information, get in touch with a member of our professional team today – we’re always pleased to hear from you.

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