• Boxes are a helpful tool for decluttering your home.shipping line of boxes-cartons image by Michael Brown from Fotolia.com
  
  Clutter gets out of control in your home. One item quickly multiples into many. Eventually, it seems that every surface is over-run and there is no space available for your home to function efficiently. Clutter not only steals your space, it also destroys your ability to enjoy your home.
  
  

Three Boxes

• Employ three boxes in your quest for clearing clutter. Label one box "donate," another "trash" and the third "keep." Room-by-room, go through your house and fill the boxes. Be very discriminating and generous. Aim for filling the "donate" box to the brim. Be realistic on what items you consider to be trash. The single sock, cup with the broken handle and last year's phone book are not items to keep. Distribute the "donate" box to the desired recipient immediately to avoid the temptation of changing your mind. Find homes for all items you keep.
  
  

One Area at a Time

• Choose one area of your home to declutter. Trying to do too much at one time is a sure-fire route to failure. Pick an area such as the dining room table or the bench in the entrance way that has become a catchall for the family's gloves, hats and books. When one area is decluttered, move on to the next. This way you see continuous improvement. Do daily clutter checks to maintain the clutter-free area.
  
  

Storage Areas

• Identify all the storage areas in your house, such as: closets, pantries, desks, cabinets, drawers and toy boxes. Gather enough empty boxes and place one in front of each storage area. Utilizing an additional box or laundry basket, go through the house stopping at each clutter-filled surface. Deposit all items that do not belong on the surface into the basket. Make the rounds of your storage areas, dropping the items that belong in each area into the boxes in front.
  
  

Get One, Ditch One

• Establish a one-in, one-out habit. When you buy a new magazine, throw an old one out or recycle it. Keep a box for this purpose in a corner of your utility room or inside the garage door. If you plan to go shopping for a new blouse, check your closet first and select a blouse to give or throw away. Never buy the kids a new toy without first selecting an old toy to give away. This is also a good opportunity to teach the kids about charity.
  
  

Borrow or Rent

• Don't buy an item if you can borrow or rent it. This applies to items such as: tools, carpet cleaning machines, books and videos. Many items you only use occasionally--no need to buy something you use sporadically and then need to find storage for the rest of the year.
  
  

Co-op Ownership

• Organize a group of friends or neighbors to form a co-op ownership of infrequently used items. Agree to take turns purchasing items such as chain saws, fertilizer spreaders, pool care equipment, garden tools and pressure washers. Each person in the group is free to use any item purchased for this endeavor as long as they are actively contributing. The group can also go together to purchase more expensive items for all to use. This cuts down on the storage space each person needs for equipment.