We all have a little clutter in our homes. It’s the price we pay for living in a society that wants us to buy, buy, buy.
But if you’re looking to reduce the amount of waste you produce, decluttering can be an important part of your sustainability strategy especially when it comes to reducing plastic use.
If you think about how much plastic goes into producing your new clothes and gadgets (and then think about how long those items will last), you’ll see why this is such an important part of reducing waste!
In this post, I’ll share with you some tips on how to reduce clutter without creating more waste or sacrificing comfort in exchange for sustainability.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Sustainable living can extend to every aspect of your life, including the way you organize and declutter your living space. |
| Decluttering can be done in a way that is eco-friendly and sustainable by donating, recycling, and repurposing items. |
| Sustainably decluttering can help reduce waste, keep items out of landfills, and minimize your carbon footprint. |
| Being more conscious of your impact on the environment while decluttering can include reducing new purchases and choosing items made from sustainable materials. |
| Envisioning a decluttered and organized space can be a motivating factor to help you get started on your decluttering journey. |
Give To Charity
There are loads of ways to get rid of your unwanted items without adding to the landfill. Consider donating them to a charity that will use them as they were intended, or give them away on sites like Craigslist, Freecycle and Facebook Marketplace.
Here’s a quick list of places where you can donate your stuff:
- Clothes: Goodwill, Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul Society (Australia) and many more
- Appliances: Secondhand stores such as Decentrecycle and Op Shops (Australia)
- Books: Libraries, schools, hospitals or local charities
Minimalism Meets Sustainability: How to Declutter and Live Green Living a sustainable lifestyle goes beyond decluttering and minimizing possessions. Check out our article on minimalism meets sustainability to learn how to make sustainable choices in every aspect of your life.
Donate Clothes And Appliances To Charity
- Donate clothes and appliances to charity
If you have clothes that are in good condition but don’t fit into your wardrobe anymore, consider donating them to a thrift store.
This allows someone else to get some use out of them while also reducing the amount of waste produced by the clothing industry.
And if you’re not ready to part with something completely yet, consider selling it at a consignment shop that way you can still make some money off your old stuff and do zero waste!
- Donate goods to homeless shelters or animal shelters
Who doesn’t love puppies? If there’s a local animal shelter near you (or even if not), they often need donations on behalf of their furry friends.
The same goes for homeless shelters! It will be hard not opening up an Amazon Prime account after seeing all the cute animals waiting for homes but please try your best because these places need help too!
Share Your Old Books
If you have old books that you don’t want, there are many places you can donate them. Some of the best options to consider include your local library, a school, a nursing home, a community center, church or other religious organization, homeless shelter and animal shelter.
Eco-Friendly Organizing: How to Declutter and Live Sustainably Decluttering doesn’t have to be wasteful. You can live a sustainable lifestyle while still keeping your living space organized. Check out our article on eco-friendly organizing to learn how to reduce waste and live sustainably while decluttering.
Get Rid Of Unwanted Flowers
If you have an unwanted flower bouquet, there are plenty of ways to use it. You can:
Donate them to a local nursing home or hospital. Your local hospital might be able to use them for patients who need cheering up. Hospitals often have volunteers who will happily take your flowers and put them around the hospital for everyone to enjoy.
Give them away as gifts! These can make beautiful gifts for friends and family members on birthdays, anniversaries, or any other occasion where you want to give someone something special. You might also want to consider giving some away if they don’t fit into your home decor anymore—this gives someone else the opportunity to enjoy what you could no longer use yourself!
Use them in composting projects around the house (like making potting soil). This is one of the best ways that I’ve found so far!
It gives me an excuse every year when we start growing our own vegetables again after winter has passed us by once more – one way we save money each year by cutting down costs like buying fertilizer (which contains chemicals harmful for humans)
Instead opting towards using materials found within ourselves such as kitchen scraps instead which is much safer than buying commercial products made specifically designed only purposeful purposes while costing less money overall because nothing goes wasted.
| Donation Options | Description |
|---|---|
| Random Acts of Flowers | A nonprofit organization that repurposes donated flowers and delivers them to individuals in healthcare facilities. Currently in multiple states in the US. |
| Petal Share | A nonprofit organization that repurposes donated flowers and delivers them to patients in hospitals and hospice care. Currently serving the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. |
| BloomAgainBklyn | A nonprofit organization that repurposes donated flowers and delivers them to senior centers, veterans homes, and hospitals. Currently serving the New York City area. |
| The Flower Power Fund | A nonprofit organization that repurposes donated flowers and delivers them to hospice patients, nursing homes, and hospitals. Based in the UK. |
| Love in a Vase | An online directory that connects individuals and florists looking to donate their unsold flower arrangements with local charities and non-profits that can use them. Available in multiple locations in the US. |
If you have an unwanted flower bouquet, consider donating it to a local nursing home or hospital. Nonprofit organizations like Random Acts of Flowers, Petal Share, BloomAgainBklyn, The Flower Power Fund, or Love in a Vase accept flower donations and deliver them to patients in healthcare facilities. By donating your flowers, you can bring smiles to those who could use some cheer.
Store Plastic Bags In A Recycling Tub
In addition to storing your plastic bags in a recycling tub, you can also store other types of plastic containers (like bottles) and other types of materials that might be used for recycling.
By doing this, you’re making it easier for yourself to remember to take everything to your local recycling center.
The Sustainable Decluttering Guide: How to Organize Your Home and Reduce Waste Decluttering can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Check out our sustainable decluttering guide for tips on how to organize your home and reduce waste sustainably.
Shop Secondhand
Secondhand stores are a great way to get high-quality items at low prices. You can find everything from clothing and furniture, to appliances and electronic devices. When you shop secondhand, you’re helping the planet by reducing waste while supporting local businesses.
Be sure to read labels on all items before purchasing them. Many secondhand clothes come from countries like China where there is a significant amount of pesticide use in their manufacturing process which will not show up on labels since it’s illegal to do so in these countries.
Take A Break From Fast Fashion
As you declutter, it’s important to take a break from fast fashion. Fast fashion is cheap clothing that’s made from low-quality materials and breaks down quickly.
It also comes with a hidden environmental cost: toxic chemicals used in the production of cheap clothes are often dumped into waterways or landfills when they’re worn out.
While there’s nothing wrong with buying new clothes, if you’re looking for an environmentally friendly lifestyle change, consider switching over to sustainable brands like Patagonia and Everlane (which are both great for men too!).
Decluttering for the Environment: Tips for a Sustainable Home Decluttering can be good for you and the environment. Check out our article on decluttering for the environment for tips on how to declutter and organize your home in an eco-friendly way.
Create A Swap Space With Friends
Invite friends to your swap space. If you’re planning a swap with friends, get a room and make it clear that the purpose of this room is for items to be donated and swapped. Make sure everyone present is aware of what items are up for grabs.
Set up tables or shelves for easy access to everything in your swap space. You may want to create sections for different kinds of items: clothes, books, toys, etc., depending on what type of things people bring in their donations.
Organize the tables or shelves so that they’re easy to navigate through if there’s more than one person working together at once (which will likely happen).
Keep track of what items you’ve donated by writing them down on paper or using some sort of digital app so that other people know which items have been claimed by someone else before they decide whether or not they want them too!
| Product | Description |
|---|---|
| Ikea Kallax | A versatile shelving unit that can be used to organize items for a swap. Available in various sizes and colors. |
| Brother P-touch Label Maker | A label maker that can be used to label items and ensure everything stays organized during the swap. Various models available. |
| Scotch Heavy Duty Shipping Tape | A strong and durable tape that can be used to label and secure boxes during the swap. |
| Rubbermaid Roughneck Tote | A sturdy tote that can be used to transport items to and from the swap space. Available in various sizes. |
| OXO Good Grips POP Container | A clear and stackable container that can be used to organize small items for the swap. Available in various sizes and shapes. |
Create a swap space with friends with the help of organizational tools like the Ikea Kallax shelving unit, Brother P-touch Label Maker, Scotch Heavy Duty Shipping Tape, Rubbermaid Roughneck Tote, or OXO Good Grips POP Container.
Organizing your swap space with friends with these helpful tools can make the swapping process more efficient and enjoyable for everyone.
Donate Old Towels And Linens To Animal Shelters
Animal shelters need towels and linens to clean up after animals. They may also use them as bedding for the animals, especially if they are small and need something soft to lay on.
This would be a great way to declutter your home while helping out an animal shelter that could use the supplies.
Even if you don’t want your towels and linens anymore, there is no harm in donating them if they’re not in good condition because many organizations will accept them just so that they can reuse the material!
The Eco-Friendly Decluttering Method: How to Organize and Reduce Your Carbon Footprint Decluttering doesn’t just clear space in your home, it can also reduce your carbon footprint. Check out our article on the eco-friendly decluttering method to learn how to declutter your home sustainably while reducing your impact on the environment.
Repurpose Your Clutter Into Art
- Old clothes can be turned into a quilt
- If you have an old book, use it to make a shadow box. This is where a piece of glass is placed in front of the book and items are placed behind it to create the illusion that they’re inside the book.
- Cut out images from old magazines and use them as part of a collage or mural.
- You can also use newspaper clippings to create mosaics!
Ditch Toxic Cleaning Products
As you declutter your home, it’s important to remove as much waste from your life as possible. That includes toxic cleaning products.
Instead of using conventional cleaners that contain harsh chemicals and fragrances, choose natural alternatives like vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice all of which are effective at eliminating dirt and grime without being harmful to the planet or people around you.
When it comes time for deep cleaning projects like scrubbing floors or walls or washing windows, consider using microfiber cloths instead of paper towels or rags that need to be thrown away after each use.
Microfiber cloths trap dirt in between their microscopic fibers so they’re able to absorb large amounts of liquid without leaking onto surfaces below them (and therefore wasting water).
Natural Cleaning Products Table
| Product Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Vinegar | An all-purpose cleaner that can be used to remove dirt and grime from surfaces. Can be used on floors, countertops, and windows. |
| Baking Soda | A non-toxic cleaner that can be used to scrub surfaces and remove tough stains. Can be used in the kitchen and bathroom. |
| Lemon Juice | A natural cleaner with antibacterial properties that can be used to remove stains and freshen up surfaces. Can be used on cutting boards, countertops, and sinks. |
| Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap | A natural and environmentally-friendly soap that can be used for cleaning, laundry, and personal hygiene. Available in various scents. |
| Seventh Generation Disinfecting Wipes | A plant-based disinfecting wipe that kills 99.9% of household germs. Suitable for surfaces that come into contact with food. |
| Method All-Purpose Cleaner | A plant-based all-purpose cleaner that is safe for use on multiple surfaces, including wood, tile, and countertops. Available in various scents. |
Use natural cleaning products like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice instead of harsh chemical cleaners. Consider using environmentally-friendly products like Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap, Seventh Generation Disinfecting Wipes, or Method All-Purpose Cleaner. This simple switch can be better for your health and the planet.
Conclusion
The best way to declutter your home is by finding ways to reduce waste. This can be as simple as buying secondhand furniture or getting rid of toxic cleaning products that are bad for the environment.
The more you buy and consume less, the less material goods you will have in your home and there’s nothing better than having less clutter around!
Further Reading
The Ethicalist: How to Declutter More Sustainably This Spring: Learn how to declutter your home in a sustainable way this spring and reduce your impact on the environment.
Product Care: 5 Eco-Friendly Decluttering Tips: Check out these 5 eco-friendly decluttering tips to reduce waste and live more sustainably.
Bio Friendly Planet: Tips for Conscious Decluttering: Read this article for tips on how to declutter your home, while being more conscious of your impact on the environment.
FAQs
How can I declutter my home sustainably?
You can declutter your home sustainably by donating or selling items that are still usable, recycling items that can be recycled, and properly disposing of items that cannot be recycled.
How can decluttering reduce waste and help the environment?
Decluttering can help reduce waste by keeping items out of landfills. By donating or recycling items, you are extending their useful life and preventing them from ending up in a landfill.
What are some eco-friendly decluttering tips?
Some eco-friendly decluttering tips include donating or selling items that are still usable, reducing new purchases, recycling items whenever possible, and repurposing items that may have multiple uses.
How can I be more conscious of my impact on the environment while decluttering?
Being more conscious of your impact on the environment while decluttering can include reducing new purchases, choosing items made from sustainable materials, and properly disposing of items that cannot be recycled.
How can I motivate myself to start decluttering?
Motivating yourself to start decluttering can include setting small goals, starting with one area at a time, and envisioning what you want your space to look like once it is decluttered.
Hi there! My name is Hellen James. I’m a professional decluttering expert who loves to help people get their homes in order. I’ve worked with people from all walks of life—from high school students to retirees and everything in between—to help them clear out clutter and make the most of their space so they can focus on what matters most to them.