Tired of dealing with clutter, but don’t know how to get rid of it once and for all, and most importantly, where to start? It’s simple: to make your house really clean, first of all, reduce the number of objects that surround you!
So that cleaning does not turn into an endless nightmare, it is enough to learn one rule. It sounds very simple: «One thing in the house — one thing out of the house.» Buying something new, you need to throw away something old.
Everyone has probably heard about this principle. Only a few follow it. For example, when buying new jeans, most people forget to say goodbye to clothes they no longer need. Instead, we simply replenish the wardrobe with the next item and multiply the amount of trash.
How to learn to keep order?
Diane Quintana, personal space expert and author of What’s Next? How to Organize Your Life” invites you to ask yourself three useful questions and shares his experience:
“One weekend I went to the mall to buy clothes for my granddaughter. On the way, I came across a shoe store with an advertisement in the window that was selling my favorite brand of shoes. I couldn’t resist the temptation to get it cheaper than usual. I stopped at the entrance and asked myself three questions:
- Do I need new shoes? (Let’s say you need it).
- What shoes will I change? (Sneakers, slippers and sandals).
- Am I sure I want to part with my old shoes? (Yes!).
So, I decided to replace three pairs of shoes and promised myself that I would first throw out the junk and only then put on a new one. Having dealt with my doubts, I entered the store and happily took up the fitting.
Do you want to control yourself? Then here are six more questions
Ask yourself before you make your next purchase.
- Do I need it?
- Will it replace the old thing?
- When will I get rid of it?
- Am I sure this is what I want?
- If it’s not a replacement, where will I keep it?
- Why do I need a new item?
First answer these questions and only then buy the item you like. After all, bringing new things into the house and forgetting to get rid of old ones means more and more rubbish. If you can’t answer, turn around and leave.
Remember that clutter is everything unnecessary, unloved and useless. Keep this in mind if you are serious about maintaining cleanliness. The rule «One thing in the house — one thing out of the house» applies not only to shoes and clothes, it can be applied to any household items.
Newspapers and magazines
If you pick up a magazine from the supermarket shelf or have a monthly subscription, give the floor to read it before a new issue appears. Thus, you will have approximately three weeks left. As soon as you read it, throw it away without regret. It’s the same with newspapers. The less waste paper accumulates, the more order.
Creams and other beauty products
Let’s say you saw an advertisement for a miracle cure that smooths out all wrinkles. I really want to try the new product, but you used half of your usual cream at most. In this case, the rule might sound like this: «I buy a new product only after I use the one that is.» The fewer tubes and jars, the more order.
Toys and baby supplies
It seems almost impossible to apply the rule «One thing in the house, one thing out of the house» to a child. It’s hard to even imagine how it is to take a book or a toy out of the children’s room every time a new one appears. Still, it’s important to set boundaries and take the time to sort through collections. What does it mean?
The shelf or basket with toys is full — remove everything that the child no longer plays with. There are not enough pieces in the puzzle — throw it away. The clothes have become small — take them out of the locker and save for the younger or give to those in need.
Teach your kids how to get rid of junk: Help them identify what they love and use regularly. This will make it easier for them to keep their room clean. It’s also a way of showing that it’s okay to let things go.
The more clearly defined the boundaries, the more order. All of the above does not necessarily guarantee that from now on your house will forever reign in perfect order. Insidious entropy can take you by surprise more than once. But still, it makes sense to learn to recognize its traces and allocate time for proper cleaning so as not to again become mired in chaos.
In the meantime, just start following the rule: «One thing in the house — one thing out of the house.» You’ll see, the mess just won’t stand a chance.