Spring
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What is ‘eco-friendly’ decluttering?
The concept of decluttering has its roots in the decades-old minimalist movement. The old adage “less is more” often comes to mind when decluttering comes up, and the idea is to encourage mindfulness when it comes to purchasing items and filling your space with things you may not want, need or even use regularly. Minimalism also encourages people to try and become sustainable consumers and reduce waste.
Doing a scheduled declutter of your living space can help with the physical appearance, and proponents of the practice contend that it helps with the spiritual self, with practitioners questioning their continued desire for new things in the first place.
While the positives of decluttering are almost endless, the environmental impact of people tossing out all of their old junk is hard to ignore. According to a 2018 report by Environment America, people toss out almost five pounds of trash per person every day, which amounts to almost 1,800 pounds of trash per person per year, with a lot of it ending up in our already overburdened landfills and waste sites.
But Irskens said that there are ways to declutter without filling up landfills. One way to get organized and declutter your home while being eco-friendly is to donate items to a local charity or organization to reuse so they don’t end up in a landfill. Some consumers shop at thrift stores for clothing and other items not only to save money but because reusing items is environmentally friendly.
“When you’re decluttering, you’re not necessarily thinking eco-friendly,” Irskens said. He said people can be more wary of what they toss out or what to keep by taking those items and repurposing or upcycling them within their space or taking them to other places where they can be reused.
“Sometimes it takes a different mindset to look into how things can be repurposed,” Irskens said.
If you’re having a hard time figuring out how an item can be repurposed, Irskens suggests moving that item to a different location in your home to get ideas. He also says it’s never a bad idea to utilize social media apps like Pinterest to get some inspiration.
“You can’t look at the same thing every day and expect creativity to happen,” said Irskens.
Why should I declutter?
A crowded and disorganized space – whether it’s your living room, kitchen, home office or even a closet – can be distracting. In some cases, it can have a negative impact on well-being and how a person views and understands the concept of “home,” according to a 2016 study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology.
The process of decluttering can also be energizing and create a sense of self-efficacy and even confidence, according to the study.
In addition to freeing up physical space in your home, Irskens said decluttering can free up space in the mind and improve overall mental clarity.
More importantly, Irskens said a cluttered living space can pose a safety hazard. Piles of items can become a haven for dust mites and be a physical hazard if there are things out in the open that people can trip over, he said.
How often a person should declutter can vary depending on how much stuff they have, but Irskens recommends at least four times a year. He also said it’s good to look around your home every few months and determine whether or not you’re buying items and putting them in random places just because you’re running out of space.
DIY furniture
Repurposing old things doesn’t have to apply to miscellaneous items strewn about your home.
You can make bookshelves, tables, and even bed frames out of easily accessible material, Irskens said. One of the most common repurposing he’s seen is people making bed frames out of old shipping pallets.
And instead of splurging on a brand-new couch just because your current one has some stains or tears, Irskens suggests doing a little bit of TLC and redoing the fabric, or even gutting it and creating a “sunken couch.”
Irskens said that these types of projects can require a little more creativity and effort and suggests drawing ideas from Pinterest, TikTok and other social media sites.
No matter what materials you use or what you end up building, DIY furniture is more eco-friendly and sustainable than buying new furniture.
Eco-friendly storage
There are also ways to be eco-friendly when it comes to storage containers, Irskens said, mainly by staying away from single-use plastics.
Two Men and a Truck recommends using refillable containers like mason jars to store soaps, cotton swabs, and other toiletries.