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The Salt Lake Tribune: How to cut clutter in your home

Bring order to your world with these simple solutions from Good Housekeeping.

WHAT REALLY CAUSES CLUTTER?

A onetime purge, or a binge on organizing supplies, won't cure an overflow of objects, says Lorie Marrero of clutterdiet.com. People need to break habits that lead to clutter. Any of these sound familiar?

Habit » Being afraid to let go of items ("I might need it later," "My kids might want this someday" or similar fears).

How to deal » "Ask yourself, 'What is the worst-case scenario if I get rid of this?' and play that scenario out to its end," says Marrero. "The answer is usually not that scary. In many cases, you can repurchase the item, if it's truly needed."

Habit » Not stepping up to tasks. "Family members walk right by something left out on the counter, but unless someone takes the initiative to make sure it gets cleared, it's highly unlikely to happen," she says.

How to deal » Assign clear responsibilities, communicate them and give consequences when they're not accomplished.

Habit » Procrastination. This is the worst of the bunch, says Marrero. "Delaying decisions about where to put things, or waiting to put them there, is the cause of all clutter."

How to deal » Being aware is the first step. "Then," Marrero says, "if you hear yourself say, 'I'll just put it here for now,' resist the urge."

HOW TO DECLUTTER

Different decluttering approaches work for different people and situations.

(To read the rest of the article, click the link below.)

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