Don’t Let the Unavoidable Keep You Cluttered

Professional de-clutterers are full of well-meant advice about what we can and can’t keep, insisting we must strictly minimise our possessions. However, there are often very good reasons why some households are unavoidably burdened with more possessions than others. We take a look at those reasons – and check out what can be done to manage the bulk they create.

The ups and downs of weight

Not everyone’s weight remains constant. Many people have times where several kilos are gained, then lost again. This inevitably necessitates a wardrobe of clothes ranging over two or three different sizes. If this sounds like you, group your clothing according size, and sweep the items you are not currently using to the end of the hanger, or place them in a spare wardrobe. Pretending the weight change isn’t happening is a sure way to cause stress as you hunt among what is, essentially, clutter, for the pieces you wish you could fit.

Country mouse

Those who live in urban areas are able to ‘pop to the shops’ whenever they need an item for home maintenance. Those who live in the country, however, must look to their own supplies unless they want to drive the distance. However, it’s not an excuse for cluttering your workbench or storage shed. Instead of micromanaging all-purpose items in small jars and containers kept on open shelving, group home maintenance materials in large, labelled, lidded, see-through storage boxes. Devote one box to each maintenance ‘genre’, such as: ‘plumbing’, ‘painting’, ‘electrical’, and ‘doors & windows.’ By using broad terms, you’ll intuitively know what goes where, and be able to quickly file and find it.

Creative minds

While some people enjoy one or two hobbies, and stick to them, others like to have several interests on the go. If you’re a multi-hobbiest, it stands to reason your supplies and tools of trade will mount up – but you still need to manage them in an orderly fashion to avoid creating clutter. Unless you have the luxury of a room devoted to hobbies, always store your materials in large, see-through, containers (one for each hobby), and ensure sharp objects are sealed inside rigid containers within the larger one. Use lidded storage bins (they restrict how much you can keep without sorting out the dross!) that will fit under a bed or on the floor of a wardrobe. Always choose containers with small wheels on their base. This will allow you to easily slide the containers in and out of their hiding places. Note: no matter how tidy you are, avoid storing large, heavy containers, in towers – they pose a danger, especially as you grow older and lifting becomes less straightforward.

The seasonally challenged

Many Kiwis live in regions with seriously challenging climates, which means they must arm themselves with a range of clothing, footwear, and bedding to suit icy-cold winters and scorching summers. If this necessary bulk isn’t to create clutter, it’s important to be creative in the way you store it. Off-season clothing can be gathered up and stored in a spare wardrobe (be sure to place a tub of damp-rid in the space, with it) or in vacuum pack bags which reduce bulk and help keep out moisture. Protect soft-storage bags by popping them into rodent-proof tubs which can then be placed on shelves in the garage or in the attic (check out fold-away loft ladders to help with access, and leave it to the teens to do the climbing!). Seal off-season footwear inside plastic bags (accompanied by dessicants, to keep mildew at bay), and store in repurposed bookshelves in a spare room or the garage. When not in use, the most convenient way to store seasonal bedding bed covers, is by making it up on spare beds.

Grandchildren’s playthings

A house that welcomes children must include toys – but they are still one more set of items that can create clutter. There are two ways to manage the grandies playthings. The first is to join a toy library so toys can come and go, a few at a time as required. The second is to donate and purchase at op-shops. A whole box of children’s books and toys can be bought for just a few dollars. When your littlies have finished enjoying them, donate them back to the shop, and stock up on more!

Minimising isn’t always an option – but keeping your home clear of clutter, is!