Cleaning out a room is a daunting task, and can make tackling the entire house seem impossible. Whether moving or conducting a spring clean, decluttering and purging your home of junk can be tedious, but rewarding.
Most of us tend to add items to our home instead of removing them, and even the smallest items will add up. You likely don’t know how many possessions you actually own until you conduct a full-house cleanout.
If you’re unsure where to start, we’re here to help. Find out how to clean out a house full of junk in 9 steps.
How Do I Clear My House of Junk?
Make a Plan
Cleaning out your house is very demanding, and going in blind is an easy way to extinguish all motivation. Before you start, create a plan with a realistic timeline. Consider your schedule and how much help you’ll have. This process can take days, if not weeks, depending on the resources available to you.
Get your Motivations Clear
Ask yourself several questions to understand why you’re conducting the cleanout and your goals. Do you have a deadline? Do you need one? You might need to complete the cleaning in time for a family visit, or maybe you’ve been putting it off so long that giving yourself a hard deadline will ensure you finish the job.
Are you decluttering because your house feels stuffy? Are you moving? Jot down why you want to clean out your home so you’re reminded of why following through is important. These goals provide guidance and help you prioritize certain tasks and rooms.
Go Slow and Steady
Account for downtime and emotional moments. You’re bound to run into several sentimental items while cleaning out your home. These items will send you down memory lane, and there’s no telling how much time will pass before you’re ready to get back to work.
Think about whom you can ask for help. If you have extra hands, assign them tasks and ensure they understand how they’re helping you. You don’t want someone getting rid of your favorite mug because they thought it was junk.
Consider Logistics
Account for the size of your home, your budget, and what supplies you’ll need. If you need to move several items out of your home, ensure you have the right transportation. You may need to rent a truck or ask a friend for help.
List every task you need done and create a timeline for each room. A thorough plan will help you stay focused and get back on track after a break.
Take Out the Trash
Garbage can make your home feel cluttered. Do a quick pass through each room and gather everything that needs to be thrown out—think empty water bottles, broken objects, untouched items, etc.
Taking out the trash gives you a better idea of how much clutter you have, helps you get started, and gives you motivation.
Gather All the Items in a Room
Start in one room. You may want to tackle the room with the highest priority first, or target a smaller room, such as the bathroom, to build up steam. Take all the items from the drawers and cabinets and throw them in bins separated by category. For example, throw all your utensils in one bin and baking tools in another.
You don’t have to worry about deciding what to keep, but you should get an idea of what you have too much of.
Clean the Room
With most items removed from the room, now is the perfect chance to clean. Dust all surfaces, wipe every nook and cranny, and vacuum the floor. Allow the room to air dry while you focus on decluttering.
Sort Your Items
Now for the hard part. Letting go of your belongings can be difficult, but it’s necessary to relieve stress and reduce stuffiness. Go through your bins and assign each item to one of three piles: “keep,” “sell,” and “donate.”
Only hold on to essential items. If you haven’t used something in the last six months, let it go. Many items will hold sentimental value, and it’s okay to dwell on them for a moment, but don’t let yourself hold onto things that no longer serve a purpose simply because of sentimentality.
If you have too many of one type of item, keep the ones you need and get rid of the rest. Consider selling anything with minimal use and donating moderately worn items.
Don’t be afraid to take breaks throughout this step. Decluttering can be overwhelming, and trying to power through a slump can be counterproductive.
Need Help with Junk Removal in the Bay Area, CA?
Nixxit Junk Removal can help with your junk removal needs in the Bay Area.
- Full-Service Junk Removal and Sorting
- We Do the Heavy Lifting and Loading
- Locally Owned and Operated
- Donation and Recycling
- Same Day Appointments Available!
Donate Your Items
Bag the items you plan on donating and get them out of the house as soon as possible. Depending on how many bags you have, you may need to take multiple trips to the donation center to dispose of everything, but the sooner they’re out of your house, the quicker your home will start to look better.
Consider Nixxit to handle your unwanted items. Our team can take any number of items and haul them for you. We use a list of charities, nonprofit organizations, schools, and more to find the ideal home for every item.
Sell Your Items
Selling your like-new items can earn you some money back. Post your items on an online marketplace like eBay or Poshmark. Take pictures, add essential details, and be honest about their condition.
Alternatively, you can post on Facebook Marketplace, advertising all the items you want to sell. This way, people get an idea of what you’re selling and can inquire about specific items. This method saves time from posting each item individually, and you’ll sell them sooner.
If you prefer to host a yard sale, store your items in some boxes and set them in your garage. Remember you’re not trying to make your money back. Trying to squeeze every penny out of your items will make you less likely to let go of them. Sell them for a fraction of the price and relieve the stress, or donate anything that won’t sell.
Organize Your Items
The hard part is done, but the most important part comes next. Now that your house is clear of junk, it’s essential that you don’t allow clutter to make its way back in. Create an organizational system that works for your lifestyle.
Group like-minded items together. Utilize drawers and cabinets so that most items are hidden but easy to access. Make a rule where if something enters your home, a similar item must exit.
Don’t overcomplicate your system. Items should be out of sight, but having items too hidden is counterproductive. If you have to open a box inside a drawer every time you need a pen, you’ll be less likely to put it back, as it’s too tedious to get it out.
Get Professional Help
Consider hiring professional help if you’re short on time or need an extra set of hands. Professionals can work efficiently and alleviate some of the burden from your shoulders. Maybe you need a professional organizer who will help you create a sustainable system, or you may need a junk removal company to take care of all the items you’re letting go.
3 Tips to Quickly & Efficiently Empty a House
- Prioritize key areas: Target high-traffic areas and rooms, such as the living room, kitchen, and bathrooms. Guests commonly see these areas, so cleaning them makes a good impression. You’ll be able to focus on low-traffic zones later.
- Hire a junk removal company: Junk removal vendors such as Nixxit can help clear your home out more efficiently. Large-scale cleanouts like this can produce more junk than you may think. Nixxit can take your unwanted items and deal with them for you.
- Hire a professional cleaner: If you’re on a time crunch and need results fast, consider hiring a professional cleaner to handle the dirty work.
Maintaining a Clean Home After Decluttering
Having a clean home feels great, and you should be proud of yourself for making it this far. However, the work doesn’t end there. Maintaining your home clean is a constant effort, but doing so will ensure a large-scale cleanout won’t be needed for a long time.
Implement habits that promote an organized environment. Tidy up your areas, wash your dishes after eating, and throw dirty clothes in a hamper. Conduct a small-scale cleanout every so often to prevent too much clutter from gathering.
Once you’re done using them, put items back where they should be. Hang up your keys, bag, and coat instead of tossing them on a nearby surface. Being slightly lenient invites more carelessness, and eventually, clutter arises again.
Store seasonal items in your garage or storage unit when not needed. These items can take up valuable space when they’re only used at certain times of the year.
Need Help Cleaning Out Junk in the Bay Area? We Can Help!
Conducting a cleanout can be overwhelming, but with a thorough plan and dedicated focus, you can transform your home into a more peaceful place. These cleanouts typically produce a lot of junk, so having a junk removal plan is essential.
Nixxit can help remove your junk from your property. We offer cleanout and pickup services to take the load off your hands and relieve some stress. We donate everything we can and sustainably dispose of the rest. Schedule an appointment today or contact us to learn about our property cleanouts.
