How to Declutter the Eco-Friendly Way

Everything feels great until one day you find yourself surrounded by tons of stuff - this happens to everyone! As we keep buying the things we need (and those we do not necessarily need), our personal landfills become bigger and bigger. The most reasonable thing would be to declutter. But, how can one declutter when that means creating junk and wasting stuff? We have to be considerate to our planet and think green if we want to keep living on it! Luckily, there is a way! Anybody can learn how to be eco-friendly. This article will teach you how to declutter the eco-friendly way and keep your home organized.

Repurpose Items

Decluttering your home means getting rid of items entirely. But eco-friendly decluttering means repurposing what you can and extending its usage. For instance, if you have an old shirt you do not wear anymore, make a cleaning cloth out of it. That way, you will remove it from your closet and use it for something else. Or, if you have a lot of packing materials from your move, like boxes and bins, recycle them for your storage in the garage, basement, attic, pantry, etc. Doing this helps not only the planet but also your wallet. Just think about it - how much money do you need for new cleaning cloths? How much money do you need for new baskets and bins? A lot! Or, nothing - if you reuse what you have, you will save a lot of money.

If you reuse it properly, your trash can become your treasure.

Donate What You Cannot Use

If you want to declutter the eco-friendly way but you simply do not know what to do with the stuff in your attic, for example, try to find somebody who does. Choose the perfect timing to clean and declutter your attic first. Sort out the items you have in there. If you cannot use something, put it aside. Make piles of similar items - sports, clothing, shoes, holiday decorations, tools, etc. Once you have a clear picture of what you want to donate, call your friends, family members, neighbors, and colleagues, and ask them whether they need or want some of your items. If they do, fantastic! But, if they do not - wait. Do not let them hit the bin just yet. You can give the remaining items to a charity or anyone else in need. Be creative and resourceful - reusing and donating is the smart thing to do!

Or Sell 

Selling is still a lot better than throwing things away. This way, the item will have a new owner who will use it and hopefully reuse it someday. Thus, if you have stuff that you never use anymore or things that you have never used before, consider selling them. You have a couple of options for that. The first is the easier one - selling your items online. This is a great way to get rid of unwanted items and earn money. Depending on what you are selling, you may even get more money than you initially paid for it. The second option is organizing a yard/garage sale. This option, unlike the first one, requires some time and effort. So, be prepared to do some research. 

Selling your items is a great strategy to declutter the eco-friendly way.

Fix What is Broken, Do Not Replace It 

We all have our basements and garages full of toasters, mixers, washing machines, and other appliances and gadgets. This is because we all prefer to just buy what we need, instead of fixing what we already have. But why? Isn't it much easier (and cheaper) to fix the thing that needs to be fixed? The best part is that you can learn how to be a handyman online these days. You can find instructions online - so the next time you find yourself spending too much of your free time googling how to make sweet brie charcuterie boards or how to make your hair grow faster, try to google how to repair that appliance that has been broken for quite some time. Once you repair something, you will feel empowered! Of course, do not worry if you cannot mend something - take it to the handyman instead. 

With a few simple tools, you can repair almost anything in your home.

Next Time - Think Before You Buy 

There is nothing wrong with being a minimalist. This approach to life saves time, energy, money, and the environment. Additionally, a minimalist mindset can help you declutter the eco-friendly way. The world today is focused on consumerism, but we are the ones who can stop that. We just have to slow down with the excessive buying and find a way to reuse the things we already have. Of course, doing this is not easy, and it cannot happen overnight. So, start small. Start by buying fewer clothing pieces. Then, move on to household knick-knacks. Do this until you reach the point where you only have the items you really need around you. After that, you can focus on having less plastic in your kitchen or recycling, composting, wasting less energy, etc.