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How to Declutter Your Home & Life

The idea of living a simpler, less cluttered life is appealing to many. After all, there’s something about having less to clean, keep track of, and organize; all of which translates into less stress, more spare time, and even more money. But many homeowners quickly lose their steam for the minimalistic lifestyle when they look around their space and wonder “where do I even start?”

So, if decluttering and simplifying are on your to-do list, here are 5 tips to help you get started and stay on track so you can observe real progress – up close and personal.

1. Make a list. Create a list of areas in your home that could benefit from decluttering, starting with the simplest. Perhaps it’s the kitchen cabinets, or the garage, or maybe your closets. Plan to tackle that one area before moving on to the next.

2. Fill one trash bag. One of the easiest decluttering techniques is to simply grab a large trash bag and fill it. Whether it’s tossing stuff that’s broken or saying good-bye to things you’d like to donate, you’ll be surprised at good the act makes you feel.

3. Give away one item a day, or 7 per week. Think about the things you haven’t reached for in the past year, or those you have duplicates of. By giving away (or tossing) one item a day, you could transform you living space – and life – in just one year.

4. Try the closet hanger experiment. Not sure what’s expendable in your closet? Hang all your clothes in the reverse direction. After you wear something, hang it back up facing forward. After a few months, you’ll have a clear picture of which pieces no longer hold your interest.

5. Try the four-box method. Bring 4 boxes into an area or room you’d like to declutter and mark them as follows: keep, trash, donate, relocate. Place every item into one such box, including items in closets and dresser drawers. When finished, put back only those items from the “keep” box, find a new home for the “relocate” items, and plan to get rid of the rest.

How’s that for simplicity?  Well, it’s just as simple to keep your home heating and cooling systems in top working order, because all that takes is one quick call to Messmer Mechanical. With annual preventive maintenance, we can keep your HVAC systems in top working order while helping you reduce your heating and cooling costs. And that’s just a small part of what we do to help make your life more comfortable and convenient.