It’s Spring! Time to Reduce Waste and Declutter

by Jane Wilson

Declutter your surfaces

Visual clutter is something that significantly contributes to stress, even if you’re not actively thinking about it. Look around the room. Are your shelves filled to the brim with books you’re not reading, decorative items you’ve bought on sale long ago, and other pieces that are just sitting there collecting dust? You may not notice them, but trust us, they might be what’s preventing you from relaxing in your own home. 

So, what can you do about this? Well, you can start by decluttering every visible surface in the house. Think shelves, the tops of drawers, tables, bookcases, etc. There’s no need to wait for spring cleaning time to arrive, either - you can start whenever you want!

If the whole thing seems overwhelming, start small. Pick a single shelf, then another, until you feel ready to tackle larger areas. Eventually, you’ll notice you’ve dealt with it all. If you want to go all out, you can take care of your drawers, too. 

When deciding whether to keep an item or not, think about this - do you use it at all? Is it pleasant to look at? Does it need to be where it is? If the answer is no, then it may be time to toss it, recycle it, or give it away. 

Go easy on the shopping sprees

Let’s face it - we’re all guilty of impulse purchasing. You see something’s on sale, or you find a trinket you feel like you just have to own, and without thinking twice, you buy it. But what do you do with it afterwards? 

There is no sense in buying something technically useless, especially if you’re just going to throw it on a shelf or in a cramped closet, never to be seen again. So, think before you buy. You can use the same questions from the previous section to decide whether or not an item is worth your money. 

The best part is, you can be critical with everything you purchase. Decorative items, clothes, books, and not to mention food! Sure, you can treat yourself from time to time, but only buying necessities will save you money, prevent your fridge from filling up with rotting food, and most importantly, significantly reduce the clutter inside your home.

Only keep essential sentimental items

Pretty much every house has an abundance of memorabilia and sentimental objects. Yes, we know it’s difficult to detach yourself from them, but at a certain point, all they’re doing is taking up space. 

Your year six notebook might be full of old drawings and memories, but when’s the last time you actually opened it? Those concert tickets from The Big Day Out in 1995 that you pinned to your corkboard? It might be time to take them down. And, trust us, you don’t need to hold on to all of your birthday cards.

If you do decide to keep important photos, tickets and notes, you could create a scrapbook to look through once in a while and put away afterwards. Another option is to digitise all of that stuff and keep it in a memory folder on your computer. 

When it comes to items such as old jewellery, souvenirs, unwanted gifts, and other unused items, you have a few options. You can check to see if any of them are recyclable. If not, you can either gift them to someone else, take them to a charity shop, or sell them. 

Say goodbye to plastic bags

We hope we can all agree that plastic bags are the enemy. People are increasingly looking for ways to replace plastic in their day to day lives with a more eco-friendly alternative. The easiest way to start is by getting rid of your plastic bags. Bring your own reusable ones to the shop, instead! 

There are many options to choose from - cloth tote bags, shopping nets, paper bags, even a cardboard box will do. We know it might be hard to remember to bring your own bags to the store every time, so keeping a spare one in your purse, backpack or car, or keeping a bunch of them by the door, can ensure you won’t forget them.

Store your food the smart way

Another great way to reduce waste, and keep your ingredients fresh for longer, is to use reusable containers. Airtight jars or boxes are perfect for storing baking ingredients and loose food, such as flour, sugar, spices, rice, beans, and all sorts of other consumables that can go stale fast. Oh, and imagine how pretty your kitchen will look when all of your containers match. Just make sure to label them! You wouldn’t want to add a bunch of baking soda to your food instead of salt. 

Start composting

Most people don’t think twice before throwing out their food scraps. However, there is a far better use for them, and that is turning them into compost. There are many ways to handle and reduce your food waste, but composting is becoming increasingly popular, especially among gardening enthusiasts. It’s a fantastic way to return your food scraps to the earth and boost your plants’ health by giving them extra nutrients. 

You can place your compost bin in the kitchen, on your balcony or in your garden, wherever you have a bit of extra space. Just make sure to do your research on what kind of food can be composted and which products to avoid. 

Bring your broken items back to life

Just as with leftover food, you might be throwing away your broken items without considering if and how they can be “revived”. A lot of things you might think are beyond saving can actually be repaired pretty quickly, and you won’t have to spend your money on new ones. 

Instead of opting for the cheapest option and replacing it once it inevitably breaks, why not buy a higher quality item and simply repair it? That way, it will last you for a long time, and it will reduce the amount of waste you produce. 

But what if you can’t repair the object in question? In this case, think about whether you can repurpose it somehow. A broken mirror could become a picture frame. A damaged suitcase could become a unique pet bed. Old tires can easily be turned into garden furniture. A little imagination goes a long way. 

Turn these tips into a habit

Once you declutter your home and throw out all your plastic bags, it’s crucial that you turn it into a new way of life. Minimalistic and sustainable living is not a one-off job; it requires consistency and commitment. 

Research shows that it takes about two months to turn something into a solid habit, so stick to it and don’t give up. It may be difficult not to reach for the Batman figurine or the fancy new desk lamp at first, but try and remember our three questions from the start of this article before you decide to purchase it. 

Sustainability is not a one size fits all. It takes time and some trial and error; you need to find out what works for you and what doesn’t, create your own plan and system, and stick to it as best as you can. Remember, we all make mistakes, so don’t judge yourself too harshly if you forget to bring your own bag to the shop or throw a banana peel in the rubbish instead of the compost bin once in a while.

Jane Wilson is a mum, a blogger and a marketing executive from Melbourne. She represents the local branch of Fantasic Cleaners and also runs a small blog called Modern Housewives.

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