10 Signs You Need To Declutter

October 2023

Author: Michael Molinaro / Publisher: Kenneth Godby

Whether you’ve been in your current residence for a few months, a few years or a few decades, the “stuff” seems to accumulate and multiply on its own. It’s probably safe to say you have too much stuff, right? While some things do belong with you in your home, a lot of that stuff is just taking up space.

So, how do you know if you have too much stuff?

It can be difficult to admit we’ve been holding onto things we simply don’t need. Because of this, we end up stockpiling items that get forgotten about. There is no better way to begin your decluttering project than by giving a call to your local Bin There Dump That location. Forget those bulky commercial dumpster rentals and construction dumpster rentals. A 30 cubic yard dumpster or 40 cubic yard dumpster is just too large for your residential project. And the trucks that bring them (triaxles) are heavier and more difficult to maneuver – especially if needing to navigate to the rear of your home where you may most need the bin. Our compact bins are designed to be residential friendly. Whether you’re looking for a dumpster rental in Akron, a dumpster rental in Elyria or a dumpster rental in Cleveland, Bin There Dump That is happy to assist. Below we’ll take a look at ten signs that say it’s time to purge your stuff, as well as some solutions to help you in the process. Once you’re finished, you’ll be left with an organized, less chaotic space.

1. Wanting to Buy More Storage Containers

It can be tempting to visit your local department store to purchase more large storage containers for your clutter. You’ve convinced yourself that the situation isn’t that bad because you’ve been able to organize your clutter into these stacks of tubs.

Unpack those storage containers and take inventory. You’ll find things you had forgotten were there, and clearly haven’t used in a while. Condense the clutter and you’ll find not only do you have plenty of containers already, you may even have too many!

2. Waiting to Fit Back into That Pair of Jeans

We all have one… A shirt, a pair of pants or a dress that we used to fit into but no longer do. We wait for the day when we try it on again and it fits like a glove. We fantasize about it while we eat our pizza and ice cream.

If you’ve got more than one of these items, it’s time to face the facts: For most of us, the day that we fit into those clothes again isn’t coming anytime soon. Save one piece of clothing as your “inspiration” piece, then purge your closet of everything you no longer wear, no longer like, and no longer fit into.

3. Misplacing Items

How many times have you searched the house for your headphones before going to the gym? Or perhaps you’ve torn apart every drawer in your house looking for those tiny screwdrivers to repair your glasses? Because of the clutter in our homes, it’s easy to place an item somewhere convenient at the time, then instantly forget where it is. It’s a slippery slope to filling your home with too much clutter.

If you find yourself misplacing things often, it may be time to declutter. Then, you can find permanent homes for the items that are necessary in your space.

4. Leaving Clothes on a Chair for Weeks

After getting home from a dinner party, you change out of your clothes and say to yourself “This shirt isn’t dirty… but I’m not folding it and putting it back in the dresser. I’ll just drape it on this chair in the bedroom.” That was over a week ago, and it’s still there.

If you habitually leave clothes around the house without missing them for days, or even weeks, you most likely have more clothes than you need. Try donating some clothes. You’ll have a tidier home, plus you can feel good about helping someone in need.

5. Extra Stuff You Simply Don’t Need

In the basement there is a stack of boxes. Some are marked “living room” and others are marked “kitchen.” These boxes have been there for over a year now, and you can’t even remember what’s in there anymore. A lot of us have boxes like this stored away somewhere in our home.

It can be overwhelming when faced with it, but try to think if you have any family members or friends who could use any of these things. If not, donation is always an option. You may even be able to take them to a thrift store. A good rule of thumb: If it’s been sitting in a box for more than 6 months and you haven’t used it, you probably don’t need it.

6. Junk Drawers: It’s All in a Name

I have a junk drawer in my kitchen, my parents have a junk drawer in theirs, and my grandparents had a junk drawer in theirs.

When you stop to think about it, it’s sort of a strange idea. Open that drawer and take inventory of those items. You may find that most of these things have homes elsewhere. That screwdriver belongs in the toolbox. That wine opener belongs with the kitchen utensils. Those thumb tacks can go on the bulletin board. Don’t have a bulletin board? Throw them away! All those user manuals you save each time you purchase a new appliance. You haven’t looked at them since you put them in there. Throw them away as well.

Take a good look at your junk drawer and you may be surprised to realize you don’t need one at all.

7. Getting Sentimental About Junk

When you inherit an item or are gifted an item from a loved one, it can be easy to feel sentimental about that object. If it’s something like a piece of furniture, or perhaps a collection of items that were dear to them, you take up valuable space in your home with things you feel like you can’t get rid of.

There is nothing wrong with holding onto small keepsakes and photographs, but you can’t keep everything. This may be the most difficult part of the decluttering process. Take your time. Remember, that stuff is just stuff. It’s the memories that come with them that are truly valuable.

8. Luggage Untouched for a Week

Upon returning from a recent trip, I set my luggage in the corner of my bedroom and had a wonderful night’s sleep. It was over a week before I finished unpacking. Simply stated, I had that suitcase filled with clothes and other general-use items that I didn’t feel like I missed at all.

If you come home from a holiday or camping trip and you don’t feel the need to unpack for a week it probably means you’ve got some clothing items to be donated or thrown away.

9. More Than One of Everything

It isn’t unusual to lose track of things from time to time, and the reason for that is the theme of this article – we have too much stuff.

When we forget where we put things and have trouble finding them, it’s easy to fall into the habit of replacing them. The next thing you know, you’ve got more than one of everything in the house, and all because there’s just so much stuff!

Save your money and take inventory of what you have. Give everything a dedicated home so you don’t have 7 screwdrivers and 3 measuring tapes scattered about the house.

10. Renting Storage for Your Clutter

While storage units are wonderful for oversized items like large equipment and vehicles, you shouldn’t be renting one to store your clutter.

It may seem like a good idea to put your extra stuff in a storage unit, but you will quickly forget what’s in there and you’ll find yourself running out to buy more stuff. If you’ve got so much clutter that you’re tempted to rent a storage unit for it, it’s time to purge.

Rent a Dumpster to Declutter Your Home

Decluttering is something everyone should do once or twice a year. Having a residential friendly dumpster at your home makes the process smooth and simple. Here at Bin There Dump That, all of our bins are compact and residential friendly. They are perfect for your cleanout project.

When it comes to renting a dumpster, and especially the help you’ll have in the rental process, you certainly get what you pay for. Instead of wondering if there are any free dumpster rentals near you, or wanting the cheapest dumpster rental near you, ask yourself what you want out of this experience. With Bin There Dump That, you can expect a free dumpster consultation with one of our friendly experts to aid in your bin rental. With their expertise, dumpster size charts and dumpster size calculator, they can provide your specific flat rate dumpster rental price.

Choose any of our four varied sizes to accommodate your needs. For smaller projects, we can offer the six (6) cubic yard dumpster or the ten (10) cubic yard dumpster. For larger projects, including large bulky furniture, choose our fifteen (15) cubic yard dumpster or our twenty (20) cubic yard dumpster. From sizes to service, we specialize in residential friendly, making us your best option for simple and friendly junk removal or waste management when looking to declutter.

Whether you are looking for a dumpster rental in Ellwood City, a dumpster rental in New Castle, or a dumpster rental in Pittsburgh in general, it is our pleasure to assist.