If you have a lot of junk that has accumulated in your home over the years and have finally decided to take steps to remove it and clean things up, congratulations. Clearing years' worth of junk out of your home is a big undertaking, but it will be worth it in the end when your home looks cleaner and more spacious. Adhere to these dos and don'ts along the way to ensure the process goes smoothly.

Do: Get a larger dumpster than you think you need.

The larger dumpster may cost a few dollars more to rent, but it's better to have too much space than not enough. If the dumpster you rent ends up being too small, you may quit your cleanup endeavors part way through when it's full and you're tired, rather than go through the hassle of getting a second dumpster delivered. Experts recommend a 20-yard dumpster for large garage, attic and basement clean-outs. If you're cleaning out multiple levels of a big home, splurge for the 30-yard dumpster to be safe. If you reach out to a local junk removal and hauling company, they may be able to calculate dumpster sizes for you so you won't even have to worry about it.

Do: Work on one room at a time.

If you work on one room at a time, you'll feel a sense of accomplishment each time you finish a room. This will motivate you to keep going and clean out another room, and then another room... until you're completely done. If you just meander from room to room, you'll never get that feeling of completion and accomplishment along the way, and you might get discouraged before you finish. If you want a little more motivation, you can even reward yourself with a small prize, like lunch at your favorite restaurant or a TV break, after you finish cleaning out each room.

Don't: Invite too many people to help.

Many hands make light the work, but too many cooks spoil the broth. You need to find the right balance between having people there to help and having so many helpers that you start arguing or tripping over each other. In most cases, having 2 or 3 friends over to help you clean is sufficient. Choose your helpers wisely, too. You want people who are fast-working, good at working in teams and willing to listen to your instructions. You don't want helpers who are going to judge you for the amount of junk you've accumulated or who are going to persuade you to keep things you don't need.

Don't: Get too obsessed with deciding whether to donate or throw away items.

The main goal is for you to get rid of your junk. Keep that in mind. What happens to that junk afterwards -- whether it is thrown away or donated -- is of secondary importance. Don't let yourself get stressed out when deciding what to donate and what to throw away. Make a quick decision in a few seconds, and then move on. If something ends up in the donate pile that's not in the best shape, it's not the end of the world. And if something ends up thrown away that could have been used -- oh well. You'll have more energy left for actually clearing things out if you don't stress about these decisions.

Share