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Home / Home Insurance / Articles / Cut the clutter

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Cut the clutter: tips for a tidy home

Putting some order in your house can make you feel better! A clean and tidy home is welcoming and enjoyable to live in. Whether you have lots of space or just a little, the principle is the same: start by sorting and getting rid of anything you don’t use. Saying goodbye to clutter will then be a breeze!

Start with the kitchen
Your first stop is the pantry and the spice cupboard. Check the “best before” dates, even on canned goods. If you don’t see a date, ask yourself when you last used that food item or spice or how long ago you bought it. If you can’t remember, it should go straight into the garbage.

Any utensils, serving platters or appliances that you don’t use very often should be taken out of the kitchen. Put them in a box and label it so you’ll know what’s inside. Store the box in your basement or in a closet that you’ve designated to hold your overflow inventory.

Tips: Things that you use regularly should be kept handy. Everything else should be placed in a high location or at the back of deep cupboards. Install separators in drawers to prevent the contents from moving around and getting mixed up.

Continue in the living room
Give away all the CDs, DVDs, books and magazines that no longer interest you. Organize the ones you’re keeping: either in alphabetical order or by artist, subject, etc. If knick-knacks seem to have been reproducing in your home, it’s time to go through them one by one. Without discarding all your decorative items, keep those that currently match your home’s décor and store the others in a box. You could reuse them if you redecorate or you can give them away or make a few bucks by holding a garage sale.

Tips: Wicker baskets and storage ottomans are great options for the living room. Use them to put magazines, books and remote controls out of sight. Take advantage of nesting tables: they take up little space and are very handy when you have guests. Add a coffee table with drawers.

Take a look in the bedroom
Once you’ve rearranged your bedroom closet, you’ll almost feel like you’ve redone the entire room. Identify all the clothes that you haven’t worn for at least a year and donate them to a worthwhile charity. Do the same for your footwear. Use decorative boxes to put away scarves, belts, neckties and handbags. Anything that isn’t related to rest and relaxation should be removed from the bedroom.

Tip: Don’t forget there’s valuable storage space underneath the bed. It’s a convenient place for storage bins that can hold sheets, comforters and sweaters.

Finish with the bathroom
Safety first: all outdated medication should be brought to your pharmacy for safe disposal. Clean out the vanity drawers: the curling iron that hasn’t been used in ages and the razor that doesn’t even work have to go. Fold or carefully roll up the towels.

Tips: To avoid skin reactions from expired cosmetics, write the purchase dates of beauty products and makeup in a notebook or directly on the containers. If more than one person shares the same bathroom, give each person a small box for storing their toothbrush, hair brush, comb, deodorant, perfume, cologne and any other items for personal use.

Finally, take the opportunity to make a list of your personal property, you might be surprised by their total value! Make sure when your property insurance covers all of your belongings.

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