Decluttering your home doesn’t have to mean bags upon bags of garbage. In fact, the majority of your excessive belongings can likely be recycled or donated. Keep reading to learn more about eco-friendly decluttering.

Start Small

Doing a house-wide declutter can feel overwhelming. Not knowing where to start is a common reason people procrastinate. If the thought of a “big clean” makes you want to give up, consider starting small. Select one area in your home to get started. Maybe this is a small room, surface, or even drawer. Closets are often home to excessive, semi-used items; because of this, a closet might be a great place to get started. Instead of simply throwing everything away, create three sorting piles — keep, donate, and garbage/recycle. Making one area in your home sparkle can provide the needed motivation to tackle bigger jobs.

Recycle the Big Stuff

Not all large household items need to go to the landfill. Furniture, bedding, electronics, and appliances can generally be donated or recycled. Choose one or two large household items you want to get rid of. Next, consider your options for redistributing. If you have an extra sofa in reasonably good condition, you could try selling it on Kijiji or Craigslist. Don’t want the hassle of selling? The majority of classified websites have a “free” section. Simply upload a photo, add a description, and let the responses roll in.

For non-functioning or old electronics, contact your local recycling centre. Many recycling centers will accept electronics free of charge. If your electronics are still working, consider your options for trade-ins. Some electronic stores like Best Buy offer Trade In & Trade Up programs to encourage recycling. Still have a few leftovers? Consider second-hand stores in your area that accept used bedding, furniture, and appliances. If you have no clue what to do with a particular item, do some online research. Websites like Recycle Now are dedicated to offering lucrative upcycling and recycling ideas.

Go Digital

While it would be great to simply get rid of clutter, there are undoubtedly documents, financial statement, and photos you may want to keep. These items can accumulate rapidly, leaving you with towers of papers and boxes of unorganized photos. However, minimizing your paper-based clutter might be easier than you think. With rapid advances in electronic data storage, it is easier than ever to store, organize, and access documents. There are a number of options available for electronic storage, with Dropbox and Google Drive being among the most popular. Simply make an account, scan your documents, upload, and store. If you do not have a scanner, consider downloading a scanner app to your phone.

Green Cleaning

Cleaning is a great way to finish your decluttering process. Seeing that you just decluttered you home the eco-friendly way, why not clean using eco-friendly products? When selecting your products for green cleaning there are a few things to consider. To start, just because a product says “all natural” doesn’t necessarily mean it is. Reading the ingredients is the best way to tell if the product is truly eco-friendly. Try to avoid products with harsh ammonia or chlorine bleach. Instead, opt for products with ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oil extracts. If you want to ensure your cleaning products are eco-friendly, consider making a few at home. Water, lemon, essential oil, and baking soda make for a highly effective DIY cleaner that will leave your home smelling naturally fresh. 

Now that you have some tips for eco-friendly decluttering and cleaning, it’s time to get started. Start small and go from there — you’ll be amazing what small steps can lead to.

Author: Alice Robertson

Photo Credit: Pixabay