My four-box method is a cinch for decluttering your home – don’t let a common mistake cloud your judgment
A HOUSING expert has shared her top techniques for spring decluttering.
A cleaning hack helps cleaners avoid a common mistake that leads to "decluttering fatigue."
Sofia Vyshnevska, a home expert and co-founder of NewHomesMate, shared her five tips for hassle-free spring cleaning.
To keep track of the styles in her closet that get the most mileage, she relies on her reverse hanger trick.
"Turn all your closet hangers backward at the start of spring and only turn back those you wear," she explained.
"Once summer nears, go through your clothing and donate or sell any items that are still facing backward.
"This will effortlessly streamline your wardrobe and stop you from holding on to items that will inevitably gather dust. If you’ve gone months without picking it out, chances are [you] never will."
Similarly, her four-box method helps her identify items that she no longer uses.
"Sort everything you own into four boxes: keep, donate/sell, trash, and relocate," she advised.
"Make quick decisions and don’t let sentimental value cloud your judgment and you’ll have a clutter-free home in no time."
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For items that are harder to let go, Vyshnevska shared a method that helps her determine whether they were still worth her time.
"Whenever you find an item you no longer love, but feel you should hold on to, place it in an empty box and, once full, put it away out of sight," she said.
"Give it a few weeks, then go back and sort through them again.
"You’ll likely realize that you didn’t miss these items and letting them go isn’t so hard after all."
Vyshnevska explained that when it comes to tidying up a particularly messy area, like a pantry or closet, she starts with visible areas to motivate herself.
"If you start with the most visible areas first, you’ll constantly be reminded of the difference it makes, which will provide the motivation you need to get the job done," she explained.
Make quick decisions and don’t let sentimental value cloud your judgment and you’ll have a clutter-free home in no time.
Sofia Vyshnevska
To avoid "decluttering fatigue," the expert splits up her space into zones, tackling them one by one.
The technique helps her stay on track and get through her home in a matter of days.
"Start by removing debris and organizing your patio furniture to get your outside space ready for the warmer weather," she said.
"Tomorrow, get to work on the kitchen—clear the countertops, tidy your cabinets and clean out the refrigerator.
"Next week? Tackle the storage spaces, organize your electronics, and scrub your upholstery.
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"Then on to your bedrooms, where you need to declutter your nightstand, change your bedding, and switch out your winter wardrobe.
"You could try to do it all at once but chances are you’ll never make it through the clutter."
