First things first: why should you declutter? Well, as Rachel from Green and Tidy puts it: \u201cSave time and money, improve your mental and physical health, cut your carbon footprint and simplify your life. What\u2019s not to love about decluttering?\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n Sounds like a good enough reason to us. Let\u2019s get started…<\/p>\n Time is the biggest obstacle to your decluttering efforts. You\u2019re too busy. You\u2019re too tired. It\u2019ll take too long. These are just excuses, of course: everyone has time. They just have to make it.<\/p>\n \u201cSet aside the time \u201d\u201c all very well saying you\u2019ll do it, but book some time with yourself to get stuck in or it will never happen!\u201d\u009d writes Amanda. \u201cSet a timer and work in blocks until it\u2019s finished.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n As well as setting aside time for decluttering, Rachel suggests scheduling time to do the jobs that your decluttering throws up, including \u201crepairing, returning, auctioning.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n Decluttering isn\u2019t a one-off task either. Amanda suggests making decluttering \u201ca habit – don\u2019t let old ways creep back in. \u00a0Make the effort to maintain your newly organised space.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n We\u2019ve said it many times before but tackling all your clutter at once is a bad idea<\/em>. Our experts agree, and have offered up some extra tips too!<\/p>\n \u201d\u02dcTackle it in bite-sized chunks. Perhaps a couple of hours at time.\u2019 writes Rachel, \u201d\u02dcFocus on one small area and deal with everything in it, one item at a time, before moving on. Take on a small area in those two hours. If you finish early, you can always do another bit.\u2019<\/p>\n Vicky agrees: \u201d\u02dcFocus on one tiny area a day \u201d\u201c a drawer, a cupboard, under the bed. Once you\u2019ve done one small section, stop yourself doing another. It is far better to start, work, complete than it is to start, feel overwhelmed and stop unfinished.\u2019<\/p>\n Storage is just a pretty way of housing stuff you don\u2019t need. That\u2019s why Sarah recommends that you \u201d\u02dcDeclutter BEFORE buying storage.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201d\u02dcYou don\u2019t know what you\u2019ll need until decluttering is complete, and you may surprise yourself (hopefully) as to the amount of space you end up with,\u2019 Vicky writes.<\/p>\n \u201d\u02dcRemember, it\u2019s not just our belongings that create clutter, but furniture too\u2019, she continues. \u201d\u02dcOur tendencies are to fill any space we have, so if you have excess drawers and cabinets, your subconscious may be telling you to fill them! Stop the clutter in its tracks!\u2019<\/p>\n Moving your clutter is only half the battle: you need to find a new home for it too. Luckily, our experts have a few suggestions…<\/p>\n \u201d\u02dc<\/strong>The satisfaction you feel when clutter leaves your house is huge\u2019, Vicky writes. \u201d\u02dcThe irritation you feel when you trip over boxes of junk in the hall for a week is almost as powerful. Before you start, check when your local charity shop and tip are open and don\u2019t forget to stock up on rubbish bags.\u2019<\/p>\n You can also use your clutter for good, as Vicky explains: \u201d\u02dcDonating items to charity shops allows you to tap into the joy the next owner will feel. The items you are passing on were used and loved by you and will be again useful to and cherished by someone else. Focusing on this positive aspect makes it much easier to let go of items you do not use.\u2019<\/p>\n Both Amanda and Sarah suggest sorting your clutter by category, with Amanda suggesting that you \u201d\u02dcgather all the CDs in your home and sort them together\u2019 and Sarah suggesting categories such as: \u201d\u02dcbin, recycle, charity shop, sell or give away\u2019.<\/p>\n The practice of asking whether you truly love the stuff you own became mainstream in 2015 thanks to Marie Kondo\u2019s bestseller The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up<\/em>. Our experts think it\u2019s a good idea too!<\/p>\n \u201d\u02dcBe honest with yourself,\u2019 writes Sarah. \u201d\u02dcDo you love it? Do you use it?\u2019<\/p>\n Amanda agrees: \u201d\u02dcNeed it, use it, love it? \u201d\u201c If the answer is \u201d\u02dcno\u2019, consider removing it from your space.\u2019<\/p>\n Vicky has an extra piece of important advice too: \u201d\u02dc<\/strong>When it comes to photographs or sentimental items, you should gather them all in a neat area and leave them until the end of a day to deal with. Start reminiscing and it will slow your progress down. Think of it as a reward for a hard day\u2019s work.\u2019<\/p>\n And finally, after a long day\u2019s decluttering…<\/p>\n \u201d\u02dcPat yourself on the back for everything you achieve,\u2019 writes Rachel. \u201d\u02dcBefore and after photos are great for seeing your results.\u2019<\/p>\n You can find loads more decluttering tips on each of our experts\u2019 websites, the links to which you\u2019ll find above. Don\u2019t forget to check out our own decluttering section for regular tips either!<\/p>\n Get cash for your CDs, DVDs, Games and Electronics with musicMagpie. It\u2019s FREE, easy and fast because we pay on the same day we receive your items! Just click below to get started.<\/p>\n![\"Rachel](\"http:\/\/192.168.3.178\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/updated-rachel-pic.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nRachel Papworth, Green and Tidy<\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nAmanda Manson, Orderly Office and Home<\/a><\/span><\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nVicky Silverthorn, You Need A Vicky<\/a><\/span><\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nSarah Bickers, Free Your Space<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n
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\nMake time <\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nDeclutter one step at a time<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nDon\u2019t buy storage prematurely<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nDecide what to do with your clutter<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nQuestion everything <\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nCongratulate yourself<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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