By Nico Strydom

Before you know it, you have a house full of items that only take up space, attract dust and make everything look untidy.

Perhaps you are a hoarder who cannot stand throwing anything away or easily attach sentimental value to stuff. Or it could be that your home has become progressively fuller because nothing is disposed of and is simply thrust into a cupboard or drawer.

Not only do unused items in a home take up limited space, but also make it difficult to tidy up, to find things you are looking for, and it can also lead to a general feeling of stress in a space that should be welcoming and relaxing.

Derubbling a house can be overwhelming and even intimidating and experts say that a daily 10-minute derubbling session is sometimes better than taking on an almost impossible task every six months.

Cleanipedia suggests that you tackle your study, bedroom, sitting room, bathroom and kitchen and that small changes will quickly make a big difference and possibly inspire you to tackle the whole house.

Start with the stationery drawer in the study. See what pens are still usable and throw away the rest. Remove old cash slips, tear up old mail and throw all other rubbish in the trash can. Then use small containers or boxes to keep everything together.

Clothes hangers are a big problem in the bedroom. See which clothes hangers you do not use or have to be replaced and throw out the rest. Hangers are available for hanging a few pairs of trousers or other items such as belts, ties and scarves.

Where there are children, the sitting room often resembles a war zone with a lot of toys lying around. See what toys are not needed or are not played with anymore and give it away or store some of the toys that are no longer played with but could come in handy again in a later stage.

There are often a lot of empty toothpaste tubes, old ail files and expired medicines in bathroom cabinets. One of the reasons why people often hesitate to clean out these cabinets is because they feel bad to throw away full unused items and feel that they might well be used some time or other. Many items, however, display an expiry date, so throw them out to clear space for the items you do use regularly.

In the kitchen small plastic containers are usually the culprits. They are mostly simply stored in a big drawer or corner cupboards and it is almost always a problem finding the correct lid for the right container. Therefore, take time to check everything and throw away the containers and lids. See  which containers do not have lids and try to find another use for the container, such as organising other small items.

Source

Cleanipedia: https://www.cleanipedia.com/za/home.html