5 Common Decluttering Mistakes and How To Fix Them

by John Griffith
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Cleaning, organizing and getting rid of stuff aren’t some of the most fun activities, but they are essential to keeping your home feel nice, cozy and tidy. We understand that decluttering can often feel overwhelming and hard. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. Common mistakes can sometimes make the process much harder than it should be. But you can easily make it go along smoother and quicker as long as you know what you are doing. That’s why today we are going to show you some common decluttering mistakes you should avoid and how to fix them.

Cleaning, organizing and getting rid of stuff aren’t some of the most fun activities

common decluttering mistakes woman holding a box in between clutter

Common Decluttering Mistakes

We know how frustrating decluttering can be. There is a ton of stuff you don’t know where to put or what to do with, a ton of stuff you don’t want to get rid of and a ton of stuff you thought you’d already tossed. We’ve all been there. However, we can’t let those negative emotions win, or you’ll fall into a cycle of letting clutter get too far and being too overwhelmed to do it. Here are some things to avoid when starting to declutter.

There is a ton of stuff you don’t know where to put or what to do with

room with a lot of clutter

#No Goal

This truly is one of the most common decluttering mistakes you can make – starting without a goal in mind. Getting sucked right in the midst of decluttering might seem the right way and the most productive, it’s actually quite the opposite. This will leave you feeling overwhelmed and have you wondering is it even worth it. In order to avoid this, you’ll need a game plan. Nothing elaborate. Just ask yourself what you want to achieve with this decluttering, which room requires the most decluttering? Focus on one space at a time and one item at a time. Don’t start decluttering old toys and suddenly go to rearrange the kitchen drawers.

You’ll need a game plan for decluttering 

keep donate trash boxes

#Organizing Before Decluttering

Another mistake people often make is to start organizing before they’ve finished decluttering. While these two things often go hand in hand, it’s good to keep in mind that they are not the same thing. There is such a thing as organized clutter. You need to first declutter and get rid of everything you don’t need and then start to organize the rest.

Another common mistake is to start organizing before you’ve finished decluttering

woman organizing clothes in boxes

#Being Too Sentimental

It’s really hard to not get sentimental when you are decluttering. Whether it reminds you of a memory or it’s an old childhood toy, we’ve all got things we wouldn’t like to part with and that’s more than fine. Decluttering doesn’t mean you have to get rid of everything you love. But keeping on to everything just because it reminds you of some things isn’t the way to go. Don’t forget that your home is not a museum and memories live in your mind, and not in objects. Try to limit yourself when decluttering to one box of things you can’t bear to part with.

Decluttering doesn’t mean you have to get rid of everything you love

two stuffed teddy bears

#Keeping Things Just In Case

We are all guilty of this. But it’s finally time to stop keeping things just in case. While you may not want to feel guilty for throwing something away and then needing it “someday”, it’s more likely than not that you will never use this item. So, try to think rationally. Will you ever use this item? Have you used this item in the last half month or the last year? If the answer is no, then toss it out.

It’s finally time to stop keeping things just in case

decluttering mistakes stack of papers and files

#Decluttering Other People’s Belongings

Decluttering for other people, including your own children, is a big no-no. While it may be stressful to live with other people’s clutter, especially if they are especially if they are messy. However, it’s better to not touch people’s things without permission. While something may look like clutter to you, it may hold sentimental value to its owner. Make sure to involve the person whose stuff you want to declutter, including children.

Decluttering for other people, including your own children, is a big no-no

decluttering mistakes wooden children toys

These were some common decluttering mistakes that you may be making and how to fix them. We hope you found this article useful. Now you can enjoy e clutter-free, tidy space without spending too much time on it.

These were some common decluttering mistakes

woman stepping on boxes

Sources: 

John Griffith

John Griffith is a young, passionate journalist. Writing has been John’s hobby ever since he was a boy. He has worked in some of the UK’s most successful news portals over the course of his professional career but found his forever home at Archzine.