Let’s be honest – everyone has a little bit of unwanted junk piling up in the corners of their home. Considering all the broken furniture and procrastinated DIY projects, most of us probably have more than a little.
While most household clutter is relatively harmless, it doesn’t take long for things to escalate beyond our control. When the clutter starts to feel like it’s ruling your life (or at least your mental state), it’s time to take your home back.
Discount Dumpster has helped hundreds of families declutter their homes (and their lives). We understand a thing or two about dumpsters and how beneficial they can be to any home decluttering project.
Not to mention, decluttering your home has several benefits:
· Less to clean. There’s no denying that cleaning is a chore. However, cleaning becomes significantly easier (and you save time!) when your home is organized.
· Less stress. A cluttered space can be an overwhelming (and sometimes nauseating) place to come home to. Studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between messiness and negative well-being. Therefore, decluttering your space will alleviate some stress and elevate your mood.
· Less debt piling up. When you’re conscious of the clutter, you’ll spend less on material possessions. Inevitably, this means your bank account remains fuller and your credit card statement lowered.
· More time and energy. With a clean home and less debt, you’ll have ample time to focus your energy on things that you’re passionate about (like your friends, career, family, and hobbies).
Ready to start decluttering with a dumpster? Not sure how to get started? As professional dumpologists, we’re going to explain exactly how to declutter your home. Keep reading to create your organized, chaos-free sanctuary.
Have you decided it’s time to declutter your space? Wondering what comes next? While decluttering can feel like an overwhelming process, following a plan makes it easier. Be patient with yourself and follow these steps to get rid of junk:
This first step should go without saying, yet its important to set up your dumpster rentals ahead of time. Most dumpster rental companies have specific rental periods, which can be flexible if needed. Logistics can be tight for some haulers, and certain sizes for decluttering projects are popular to rent.
Make sure you understand the dumpster size you will need to get started. From there, company reps can give you price breakdowns and list the disposal conditions. This is important, as not anything can be thrown away in a rental dumpster.
Make sure you get a firm grasp of the rules the company sets out when renting a dumpster. Some rules may seem arbitrary, yet they are crucial to preventing customers from incurring costly fees or rental difficulties.
Before you do anything, you need to make a decluttering plan. Why? Well, when you set specific goals, your project becomes digestible. Additionally, sticking to a timeline prevents roadblocks (no matter how much clutter there is to sort through).
First, select your “clutter hot spots” (AKA the rooms you wish to declutter the most). Then, designate a certain time of day or week to start working on them. We recommend starting with one room or area at a time (the family room, living room, laundry room, closet, medicine cabinet, etc.), and going from there.
If you don’t have much clutter, you might be able to organize your home in a weekend. However, if you’re overwhelmed by what’s ahead, don’t pressure yourself to do it all at once. It can be helpful to set realistic deadlines for each room or area. And know that it’s okay to declutter for as little as five minutes a day, filling just one trash bag at a time.
Note: The exact time it takes you to declutter your home will depend on the scale of your project and your lifestyle. That being said, conquering one room per weekend is a realistic goal for most people.
As you begin decluttering your closets, storage spaces, and rooms, you will need to put the items into a storage system. There are plenty of organizational systems to choose from, or you can create one of your own.
If you need help getting started, we recommend designating one container for each of the following:
· Keep. Fill this container with items you’d like to keep (although they may have crept out of their designated storage spaces). A word of advice: keep only the items you have used in the past year.
· Fix. This container is reserved for broken items that you’d like to keep (but need to fix first).
· Recycle. This is for any recyclable items that you would like to get rid of.
· Trash. These are broken or unwanted items that a) cannot be recycled and b) cannot be donated.
· Donation. Finally, your donation bin should be filled with unwanted items that are still in good condition and can be given to charities or nonprofits. Make sure to donate any duplicate items and/or items that you’re saving “just in case” (but probably won’t use anytime soon).
Now, it’s time to hit the ground running. Once you’ve decided where the decluttering starts and how long it’ll take, you’re ready to begin. Pick one section of the room (if you’re in the kitchen, start with the pots and pans, for example) and sort your clutter into its designated container (see above step). Keep going until all the clutter is sorted.
Once you have sorted your clutter and decided which items are worth keeping and which items are trash, its time to put that dumpster you rented to good use! The scale of your trash disposal can affect the size of dumpster you need for you decluttering efforts. For most residential junk removal, there are a set of standard sizes that will be well suited for household trash.
The easiest way to rid your home of unwanted junk, debris, and household waste is to rent a roll-off dumpster container. Here at Discount Dumpster, our containers have helped thousands of homeowners with their decluttering projects. Thanks to our variety of container sizes, we can accommodate many different projects and budgets.
For a home decluttering project, you will most likely need the following:
Our 10-yard dumpster is the smallest container we offer. Therefore, it is ideal for spring cleaning, decluttering, or DIY home improvements. If you are cleaning out individual rooms or closets, then this container will do the trick. It will hold up to 10 cubic yards of waste, and it is 6 feet wide by 12 feet long by 4 feet tall. This equates to approximately 4 pick-up truck loads of waste.
Our 15-yard dumpster can be used for medium to large decluttering projects. It measures 16 feet long by 8 feet wide by 4 feet tall, and it can fit within most residential driveways. We recommend this container size if you are decluttering your entire basement, attic, or main floor. It can hold about 6 full pick-up loads of waste.
Renting a 20-yard dumpster for a decluttering project is rare. However, people will do so when they are decluttering their entire home or apartment. A standard 20-yard dumpster measures 20 feet long by 8 feet wide by 4 feet tall. It can hold 20 cubic yards of waste, which is about 120 33-gallon trash bags.
Unsure which dumpster size best suits your project? Give our team a call. Our expert waste managers will assess your debris needs and help you determine the right container for you. Then, we’ll offer you a low, flat quote that includes all additional taxes, costs, and fees.
Once you’ve successfully sorted the clutter into its proper container, it’s time to organize the items you wish to keep. To make things easier on you, here are some home organizing ideas and tips for a clutter-free space:
To prevent the clutter from piling up again, you need to make sure that every single item has a home (even if it’s simply tucked into a drawer). Use drawer dividers and storage solutions to maximize your space. Boxes, trays, and baskets are all great for stacking items in closets or storing them underneath the bed.
Note: If you have items that don’t fit in designated storage space, you might want to reconsider what stays and what goes.
A great organizational hack is to store items in your furniture! You can stow paper clutter inside desk drawers, throw blankets inside an ottoman or coffee table, and hide winter clothes underneath the bed. With the right containers, you’ll be surprised how much you can hide within your existing furniture. Additionally, you can rest assured that those items will mostly (if not completely) camouflage.
When we say " everything", we mean everything. Sure, label-making might seem time-consuming, but it’ll be worth it in the end. Labeling your baskets, boxes, and drawers allows you to see what’s inside of them (even when they aren’t see-through). Therefore, you won’t waste time rummaging through bins to find X, Y, or Z.
Ready to declutter your closet, kitchen, garage, attic, or home office? Here are some decluttering tips to help you along the way:
Most of us are guilty of holding on to things “just in case” we’ll need them later. While this might seem like a money-saving strategy, it comes at the expense of breathable, organized space. Trust us, the time and space required to store such items (and remembering where you put them if/when you need them) aren’t worth the extra dollars.
When deciding whether to keep an item, ask yourself ‘Have I used this in the last 90 days or will I use it in the 90 days to come?’ If the answer to both is no, then you’re better off donating, gifting, or tossing said item.
We know that buying bins, baskets, and storage containers are some of the best parts of decluttering. However, we recommend waiting to purchase them until after you’ve decluttered. Why? Well, if you bite the bullet, you risk purchasing containers for items you no longer have.
Let’s be honest – how many of us come home and dump whatever it is we’re carrying (keys, wallet, phone, etc.) on our side tables and flat surfaces? (Guilty.) However, as convenient as this habit is, it’ll make your home feel very cluttered very quickly. Instead, invest in hooks, catch-all trays, and under-bench storage to give these miscellaneous items a home.
If you’re running low on floor space, why not stow vertically? Installing wall shelves and/or bookshelves is an easy way to create storage that doesn’t litter the floor. Additionally, stocking your shelves with books, jars, baskets, and pictures creates a cozy focal point.
When you’re embarking on a decluttering campaign, don’t forget you’ll need a way to dispose of debris at the end. A roll-off dumpster rental is ideal for hauling unwanted junk, old carpets, broken furniture, and household waste. Therefore, it’s the perfect solution to your decluttering needs.
When you get your Discount Dumpster quote, rest assured that everything is included. Give us a call today to talk about your upcoming decluttering project!
Table of Contents Why Build a Privacy Fence? Top 7 Privacy Fence Ideas 1. Wooden Fence 2. Metal Fencing 3. Bamboo Fence 4. Vinyl Fence 5. Chain-Link Fencing 6. Brick or Concrete Fence 7. Natural Fence Privacy Fences Add Utility and Value In the poem “Mending Wall” Robert Frost wrote, “Good fences make good neighbors”. […]
Table of Contents How Does Bidding Work? How to Successfully Bid a Roofing Project 1. Thoroughly Assess the Roof 2. Understand the Scope of the Job 3. Take Good Measurements 4. Determine Materials Costs 5. Calculate Labor Expenses 6. Add in the Extras 7. Agree On a Clear Timeline 8. Watch Out for Overhead Costs […]