How to Clean Your Home of Clutter: Step-by-Step Guide

Swedes naturally have a tendency toward minimalism. They have few possessions and no desire to hoard. Anyone who enjoys the Swedish home and simple, balanced life should learn how to get rid of excess. Let's start!

Nikki Brantmark is an Englishwoman who married a Swede and now lives in Malmö. She runs the blog My Scandinavian Home and writes books about Scandinavian interior design and lifestyle. 5 signs that your things have won

In your wardrobe, there are items you never use. You don't have such a wardrobe, but you'd like to have one. It takes more than 5 minutes to find the item you need. You feel uncomfortable when thinking about guests coming over: there will be too much to clean up. You have items that don't make you happy.

Decluttering step by step

Step 1. Make a list of actions and cross off tasks as you complete them.Step 2. Dedicate 10 minutes a day to decluttering. Don't try to do everything at once.Step 3. Sort items that are visible into three boxes: keep, give away, trash (you can add a fourth box labeled “unsure”).Step 4. Follow the rule: one item you buy — one you get rid of.Step 5. Collect a bag of unnecessary items each day.Step 6. Pay attention to "hot spots" where clutter tends to accumulate. Remove everything that doesn’t belong on display there. Store cosmetics in containers, papers in folders. If the container overflows, it’s time to throw something out.

Step 7. Take everything out of the closet. Remove five hangers and sort items from most to least needed. Those that didn’t get a hanger don’t belong in the closet.

Step 8. Start a box for mementos and souvenirs, and a folder with files for children's drawings.Step 9. Where clutter accumulates the most, place a large basket and throw everything in there. When the basket is full, sort items and put them in their proper places.Step 10. For papers, follow the “one-touch rule”: as soon as a document comes into your hands, either perform the required action (e.g., pay the bill) or store it where it belongs.

Don't stop at what you've already achieved

You’ll find many more secrets about organizing your home in Nikki Brantmark’s book “What is Lagom,” published by Mann, Ivanov and Ferber in 2018. Nikki tells about how Swedes choose furniture and lamps, what they do to reduce electricity consumption, and shares ways to set up a garden not only on a country plot but also on an urban balcony. You’ll find plenty of interesting things in this book!