Clutter can easily become overwhelming in our lives. What do you do with all the boxes of old toys in the attic? Or the crates of grandma's family photos in the basement? Or even the seemingly ever-present clutter in the kitchen, bathrooms, or bedrooms of your home?
When that overwhelming feeling comes, we often want to find an easy solution with the best ways to learn how to declutter. Read on to discover questions to ask yourself about the clutter in your household, decluttering methods, and even free digitization services for any clutter you might need to keep record of.
What Should You Get Rid of First?
One of the best things to get rid of first when decluttering may seem pretty simple—garbage. When we start to declutter, we often don’t realize how much actual garbage we have lying around.
Once we get rid of garbage, recyclable items can be next. Starting small and removing 50 percent of the clutter is also a great way to begin. When we start with one small area, it’s easier to tackle other small areas that will eventually lead to bigger spaces.
Keep It or Toss It?
Deciding when to throw something away can be difficult. Did we spend a lot of money on the item? Does it have sentimental value? Was it a gift, or do we have happy memories attached to it? Listed below are a few questions you can ask yourself to see if you really need to keep something.
- Is it something I love? Often with gifts or other similar items, we keep them out of guilt. If you don't love it, you don't need to keep it!
- Does it have sentimental value? We often put sentimental things in boxes and never actually see or use them. Consider displaying the item in a creative way in your home or taking a picture of the item so you can store it digitally and view it in a more accessible manner.
- Do I have more than one? For example, we often keep multiple mixing spoons or pans unnecessarily. It’s OK to have less!
- Would I buy it again? If you wouldn’t, then it’s probably OK to get rid of it.
- Would I want to pack it up and move with it? If you wouldn’t, you probably don’t need to keep it now.
- Is this a just-in-case item? Just-in-case items are usually easily replaced. You can even try using the 20-20 method described below. If you find you need it again, you can replace it without much effort.
- Do I actually use it? It's OK to look at things through a time limit. If you haven’t used an item in a year—or even in the last 90 days—you most likely won’t need it. This question might not apply to photos or seasonal items, but it works for most everyday items.
Toss It or Donate It?
When we get rid of something, we don’t have to throw it away. You've maybe heard the saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” This saying is true for clutter as well! Consider donating your items—someone else might be able to use what is taking up space for you.
Try the 20-20 Method
There is no exact right answer on how to declutter, but many tips and tricks have success, including the popular 20-20 method.
When deciding whether to get rid of something, ask if you can replace it for $20 and whether it takes less than 20 minutes to replace. It seems a simple and an easy question to ask when decluttering!
Every once in a while, this approach might not work, but some who have tried it say it is 99 percent foolproof. We tend to tell ourselves we will keep our items just in case, but the 20-20 method lets us off that hook.
How Do I Know if an Item Has Genealogical Value?
Knowing when to get rid of family history items can be a bit trickier. Concrete answers don't always come easily in response to the earlier questions. However, even family history items can easily become clutter if you don’t figure out what is worth keeping and how to make space for the things you keep.
Listed below are some good questions to ask when looking at how to declutter from a genealogical perspective:
- Is it irreplaceable?
- Who will inherit it when I die?
- Would a digital version be just as useful?
- Is it worth a lot of money?
- Does it have great sentimental value?
Declutter with Digitization
It can feel difficult to throw away old photos, journals, documents, and other similar memorabilia. However, digitizing them is often the best bet. If you digitize and label these items, they can still be priceless treasures.
If you don't have easy access to a scanner of your own, you can try your local FamilySearch center. Some FamilySearch centers have scanners available for the public to use for free. These centers are great family history resources, and the volunteers at each center can help guide you through the process!
What About Newspapers?
Saving old newspapers can be tricky because the ink can be messy, and their odd size can be burdensome to keep. You can try scanning newspapers that you have saved, but you can also check valuable resources such as Newspapers.com or the Library of Congress to see if that information has already been digitized.
After Digitization
One of the best things you can do once your photos, documents, and other treasures are digitized is to share them to FamilySearch Memories, which is available online and as a mobile app. There, you can tag any relevant people and provide a concise description of the photo. You can even add a story to the photo in your own voice!
Rotate Through Sentimental Items
Some sentimental items may be too difficult to part with. Try displaying them in a prominent place in your home or even rotate through a few every months. Sharing some of those sentimental items with other family members may be a good approach. In this case, you're not getting rid of them but are sharing those memories with others.
Declutter So Someone Else Doesn’t Have To
The reality is, after we die, our family members are often left wondering what to do with our things. You may even find yourself sorting through a deceased family member's belongings. This process becomes much easier if we have learned how to declutter our own belongings and keep items in good condition.
Younger generations might not always find the value we do in old documents and photos. Keeping these items tidied up and clearly labeled will help our children or grandchildren understand the value of these memories.
It’s also wise to digitize documents such as marriage certificates, birth certificates, death certificates, war records, and church records. If you choose to keep the originals as well, it's best to organize them in a paper safe file so the documents won't fade and deteriorate.
Organize Your Clutter
Sometimes the way to declutter is simply to organize the clutter, especially when it comes to genealogy clutter. Create a system that works well for you, and continue to ask questions to keep yourself organized. Enjoy your decluttering journey so you can work on the things that matter most to you!
Related Articles
At FamilySearch, we care about connecting you with your family, and we provide fun discovery experiences and family history services for free. Why? Because we cherish families and believe that connecting generations can improve our lives now and forever. We are a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. To learn more about our beliefs, click here.
