Every season I do a thorough cleaning of my entire house and get rid of clutter. I go through every room, closet, nook and cranny. It usually takes about a week but when I’m finished I only have things in my home that I need, use or absolutely love. If you are tired of walking by messy, untidy rooms day after day, the following steps will help you get rid of clutter and take control of your home.

Decide which items to keep. At first glance, keeping an item may appear to be the easiest route to take. But before you continue down that road, keep in mind that you are trying to get rid of clutter not merely reassign it to another location. It may help to look at your things as if you didn’t own them. If you were helping a friend get rid of clutter and get organized what would you suggest that they do with the item?

Determine usefulness. This may seem obvious but if you seldom or rarely use an item, think twice before holding onto it any longer. If something can easily be purchased again and you are not currently using it, sell or donate it. If an item is likely to appreciate, hold on to it or sell it now for quick cash. Family heirlooms, hand-made gifts, childhood memorabilia, etc. may possess little monetary value but may indeed be priceless. Keep them well-maintained and packed away in a safe place or on display for your guests to see.

Give each item a home. Once you decide what you are going to keep, figure out where it belongs. As you go through the rooms in your house or apartment, ask yourself, “Does this item work best here?” This will help you stay focused on your clutter control mission.

Sell unwanted items. What you view as clutter could be viewed as treasure to another. List your items online or hold a yard/garage sale. If it is cost effective, put an advertisement in the local paper. Pay the extra fees so that the ad can be viewed online. Don’t forget about word of mouth advertising. Tell your family and friends that you have items for sale. They can help get the word out and may even become your best customers.

Give to charity. If an item hasn’t sold after a predetermined amount of time consider donating it to a charitable organization. Research several national organizations or choose a local cause that’s dear to your heart.

Recycle. If the item is no longer needed and is in good condition, look into recycling. Gather bins to separate paper, plastic, etc. Identify an area where the items will be accepted and processed.

Toss items in disrepair. Avoid selling or donating items that have missing or broken pieces. If an item is in serious disrepair, tossing it is probably the best thing to do.