Declutter Like a Mother: 10 Mom-Approved Tips, Hacks, and Tactics to Declutter Fast

10 Mom-Approved Tips, Hacks, and Tactics to Declutter Fast

Are you looking for ways to declutter fast?

With the kids running around like whirlwinds, it's likely they leave a trail of destruction in their wake. Despite your best efforts, by the end of the week, a toy army has taken over your home. And with our increasingly busy lifestyles, you might not have the time to clean out your home from top to bottom.

Don't worry, we're here to help! Read on for these 10 mom-approved decluttering tips for all those busy moms on the go.

1. Don't Wait For the "Right Time" to Start

We're all guilty of trying to psych ourselves up and find the "right time" to get started. But for the busy mom on the go, there is no right time!

Future you will thank past you for getting into to gear and getting it done. If you keep putting it off, trust us, toy mountain will only get harder to climb.

2. Set Your Decluttering Goals

A great way to learn to declutter fast is to set goals. When you have a goal you want to reach, it's motivation to push yourself. It also helps you stick to a clear plan without distraction:

• How often you want to declutter
• How much you want to get rid of
• When you want each room done by

A great way to set your goals is to use the SMART system. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This method puts goals in reach and helps keep the motivation going.

3. Take Time to Visualize the End Result

Go around the house and take a moment to visualize each room and how you want them to look. What are your essential furniture pieces and are you happy with where they are? What doesn't belong here?

Think of what items are on your floor. It should be only furniture and rugs. And are your surfaces clear? By doing this, you'll picture what the room should look like. You know what needs to stay and know which items need to go.

4. Get Your Supplies in Order

With a plan in place, it'll save you time when you get started to have all your supplies in order. Having what you need will make the job faster and more efficient. Things you'll need:

• Timer
• Boxes or tubs for your item sorting system
• Markers
• Post-It Notes
• Moving Labels
• Shelf liners
• Cleaning gloves
• Step-stool
• Cleaning cloth
• Trash bags

With everything nearby when you need it, you'll be able to get into a decluttering rhythm.

5. Clear a Start Zone

Start by picking an area in your first room and clearing it. This is your "no-clutter" area. It can be a kitchen table, a counter, or even a patch of floor in the middle of the room. And keep it clutter-free!

Wherever you're starting, the rule is you don't put anything in this area unless you're using it right now. Each day expand this area outwards until you've done everything on your list.

By starting with small areas and going room-to-room, you'll see progress faster. Mentally, this will help you keep up the momentum to carry on and be more rewarding.

6. Chuck Out the Trash

Here's where the item sorting starts to come in. In each area, start by tossing obvious junk into your trash bag. Broken items, packaging, expired arts and crafts supplies, that sort of thing. Any paperwork you don't need, shred it and toss it out too.

This will immediately reduce the amount of stuff you need to go through. The messy nature of trash can put off decision making and make it harder to tidy everything else. A clean, tidy space = a tidy mind.

7. Find a Home for Every Item

One of the easiest, quickest ways to declutter your home is to give every item a home. No items should be moving around from surface to surface.

Little items like keys should have a bowl on the hallway table or a hanging hook. Jewelry and makeup should live in boxes on your dressing table or on the shelf, neat and packed away.

You don't have to be super-organized. Have a toy basket you can throw all toys into at the end of the day to get them tidied away.

8. Do a 10-Minute Tidy Each Night

Get into the habit of doing a 10-minute tidy each night. No matter the time, or how tired you feel, or how busy the day was try to keep on top of this.

Go around and put the kid's stuff back in their homes and clear your surfaces. After a few days, with every item having a specific place, this will be like an auto-pilot function.

You don't have to think or put much effort in at all. It's great if you're worn out from chasing the kids all day or you've had a hard time at work.

9. NO Indecision

A lot of guides will tell you to have a maybe pile for items you're not sure about. It's controversial, but you should ditch this. This maybe pile is redundant; you're only putting off a decision for later, not eliminating it.

It's a timewaster. It'll also be less taxing to make the tough choices gradually as you go through decluttering. Hold each item and make the decision then and there whether to keep it or donate it.

10. Ask if You Love the Item

For those items you're struggling with, ask yourself if it has meaning to you. Do you love it? And are you actually using it? If the answers are no, then it's time to get rid of it.

The only exception would be family heirlooms and sentimental items. For these, you should store them safely and securely somewhere out of the way.

By getting rid of the items you don't use and don't think about, you'll make a huge dent in your clutter. In fact, these are the items that make up most of our clutter issues.

How to Declutter Fast Made Easy

So there you have it! If you follow these 10 tips you'll be sure to declutter fast, even at your busiest.

Organization is the key, so make a plan, visualize your end result and get what you need ready before you start. Set aside places for items and be ruthless in what you keep. Once you've done the hard part, it'll be fast and easy to keep on top of.

If you're looking for help removing your unwanted junk, contact us today. At College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving, we can help with all your junk removal needs.