“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”

Did you know that the average household in the UK has at least 56 unwanted items lying around? If you live in the same place for a long time, the line between trash and treasure can become blurred, and you may find yourself holding onto things you don’t need. Decluttering can give you a new perspective on your space, and you may even be able to make some money from things you no longer use or need. Of course, a major clear out can feel like a daunting task, but we have some tips to help you break the job down and make light work of it. Who knows? While you are clearing out the clutter, you might even find some hidden treasures you forgot you owned.

What Can Go in a Skip?

One of the easiest ways to manage a major clear out is to hire a skip. This not only gives you a convenient way to get rid of household waste as you declutter, but it can also be an incentive to get the job done to a deadline, knowing your skip has a collection date. One thing that you can do to get started is to sweep your house with the goal of rubbish removal. Go room by room and toss the things you can easily identify as trash.

• In the kitchen: Expired pantry items and spices, stained food storage containers and containers without lids, broken dishes, takeout menus and expired coupons, glasses and crockery that don’t match or are damaged, duplicate pots and pans that are unused.
• In living areas: Broken furniture and decorative items, irreparably stained textiles, dead plants, and old magazines, ornaments and art that no longer compliment the décor, blankets, cushions, CDs, DVDs and old pet toys.
• In the bedrooms: Paper clutter, broken hangers, worn out underwear and socks, broken jewellery, damaged or stained clothing, broken or marked shoes.
• In the bathrooms: Expired medicines, prescriptions, and makeup, dried out nail polish, partially used samples, packaging and boxes from toiletries, empty cleaning product containers.
• In kids’ rooms: Broken toys, puzzles and games with missing pieces, ratty stuffed toys, and used arts-and-crafts supplies.
• In the home office: Paper clutter, dried out or malfunctioning pens, markers, and highlighters, outdated cords, cables, chargers, and tech accessories, and manuals for items you no longer own
• Other things to toss: Outdated electronics, old greeting cards, and broken holiday decorations. Don’t forget to check the garden, garage, shed and car boot!

Decluttering Tips

• Have a plan. Where do you start? Many experts recommend decluttering large items first, getting rid of furniture and working your way down to smaller items. You could declutter clothes, then books, papers, miscellaneous items, and end
  with sentimental items. When you start with items that are large and easy to sort, you can see visible progress to motivate you to continue. Additionally, if you work on categories rather than by room, this can make it much simpler to make decisions about what to clear out and what to keep. There are many different methods for decluttering, so find a plan that works for you.
• Sort things into boxes. As you are preparing to declutter, grab five sturdy boxes and label them donate, gift, trash, recycle, sell. That way, as you work through each room, you will know exactly where everything belongs. In addition to your boxes, gather a pair of rubber gloves, spray cleaner, a cloth, and a vacuum cleaner, so that you can clean as you go.
• Employ the ‘one-year rule’. Are you keeping useful things to use “one day” or are you hoarding? Be honest with yourself about whether or not you have used/worn items in the last year – if the answer is no, get rid of it. Things that have been in your storage, wardrobe or loft for a year or more without being used are not doing you any good, but you may be able to give them to someone who could make use them.
• Consider sustainability. While you are decluttering, always have a mindset of sustainability. Recycle whatever you can and donate things when possible. Think creatively; for instance, if you have unopened samples of toiletries like shampoo
  and soap, donate them to a charity that serves the homeless. Recycle what you can and donate clothing that is in good condition, to keep as much as possible out of the landfill. There are even recycling facilities for used batteries and old makeup.
• Take breaks. Do not work for more than an hour or two at a time without taking a break. You do not want to get burned out and abandon the project, so go ahead and sit down to have a cup of tea or coffee before getting back to work.
• Don’t get stuck. It is easy to get distracted by sentimental items like photographs or greetings cards, but it is very important to keep going! That is why it’s best to leave those things to the end. Put them aside to give yourself time to sort through them at your leisure and ensure not to discard something important.
• Finish the job! Carry the rubbish out to the hired skip and take charity items all the way to the donation point. Sorting everything does benefit you if it ends up in your hallway or the boot of your car for months! Once you have cleared away the clutter, give your home a final clean and enjoy the space, light and storage space you forgot you had!

Hire a Skip to Make the Process Easier

One of the best ways to get rid of unwanted clutter is to hire a suitably sized skip so you can easily dispose of the trash while you are uncovering your treasure. Since 2017, WRC Skip Hire has been providing hassle-free waste management services, offering a wide selection of skip sizes for both home projects and building sites. Our fully insured and licensed skip hire is available to clients throughout Scotland, and we work hard to understand our clients demands so that we can meet their needs while providing a complete waste management solution in full compliance with Zero Waste Scotland regulations.

We are leaders in the recycling and waste sector, and we’re committed to remaining current with the latest solutions in technology, keeping up with the ongoing modifications and development of recycling and waste legislation. Additionally, as a local, family-owned business, we are dedicated to providing unmatched service delivery, going above and beyond for our customers to ensure their needs are met. For more information or to make an enquiry, call 0141 812 1587 or contact us here.