Importance Of An Annual Clean-up Of Your House, Garage, Garden & Working Space

Did you know that a clean and organised living and working space can have a positive impact on your mental and physical health? Studies have shown that an organised living space can reduce stress levels and boost productivity.

One integral part of cleaning is the de-cluttering process.

De-cluttering has become a popular trend in Australia, with many people embracing a minimalistic lifestyle. Dr Alice Boyes, author of the Anxiety Toolkit and The Healthy Mind Toolkit, explains that de-cluttering is  not only about having an orderly home, or place of work, but it also provides a sense of control that people crave during times of change. Studies have found that physical clutter can negatively affect our mental health and wellbeing, leading to stress, anxiety and decreased life satisfaction. On the other hand, organising our space can benefit our mental health and processing capabilities by requiring our brain to plan, order, sequence, make decisions, overcome anxiety about decisions and overcome procrastination.

Dr Boyes says the physical activity of de-cluttering an also be energising for your brain. It encouages your thoughts to wander while you focus on the mundane task at hand, creating "ideal conditions for lightbulb moments and leaps of insight".

Aside from the mental and physical benefits of de-cluttering, it can also remove health hazards. Dust mites are a significant allergen for many people and can live on clothing, especially when its tucked away in dark cupboards or drawers, according to the Allergy Unit at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Mould can also cause issues for people with asthma, allergies, other breathing conditions and weakened immune systems, and can often be found in cluttered storage areas.

When gettting rid of clutter, it is essential to consider the environmental impact of disposal. Before heading to the charity shop with your boxes of unwanted goods, check that everything is in decent condition. Australian op shops, often run by charities, are sending over 60,000 tonnes of unwanted items to landfill each year.

It is also important to strike a balance and not go overboard with de-clutterring or feel guilty if your home is messy, as some eidence suggests that a certain amount of mess can encourage creativity. To get started with de-cluttering, consider these helpful tips:

• Get rid of the things you havent used in a year
• Avoid holding onto possessions out of guilt
• If you're feeling overwhelmed, try designating 10 minutes a day to your de-cluttering project
• De-clutter by category
• Take everything out of a draw/cupboard first before beginning to sort through it

If we ignore the concept of de-cluttering and keep accumulating unusable items, it creates not only a visual mess but can also lead to physical and mental health discomfort (as explored above), safety hazards, and increased maintenance costs. This is why an annual clean-up is crutial for keeping your living space clean and organised.

De-cluttering your house

A clean and organised house can improve the flow of energy within the household, promote better relationships and positively impact the mental health of the residents. Other benefits include:

• Reduces the risk of rodents or insects being attracted to the property
• Makes it easier to locate things when you need them
• Removes the embaressment or stress felt when inviting guests over
• Reduces allergens in the air, ultimately improving residents' ability to breathe (especially those with allergies)

De-cluttering your garage

A clutterred garage can be a huge safety hazard, and potentiall become a grade-A breeding ground for creepy-crawlies. Keeping your garage clean and organised can help prevent these situations. Other benefits include:

• Creates a safer environment for you and your family
• Reduces the risk of damage to your car and other possessions stored close-by
• Increases the lifespan of your tools and equipment
• Saves time and money by making it easier to find what you need, without having to replace items because you cannot find them or they are damaged from the clutter

De-cluttering your outdoor areas

In Australia, we value our outdoor areas as much as we value our indoor areas, as it can provide another place of relaxation, reflection, connection with nature and a place where we can entertain guests. Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, summarises it by saying "the environment that we live in is a reflection of our inner state. A clean and organised space not only fosters clarity and peace of mind, but also cultivates a sense of harmony and balance within ourselves." This quote can be applied to both our homes as well as our garden areas.

A well-maintained garden can increase the value of your property significantly, and improve your own quality of life. Other benefits of regular garden maintenance include:

• Reduction of pests and diseases ruining your plants
• Increase in curb appeal of your property

Waste Disposal After Your Decluttering is Complete

Now that you've completed de-cluttering and sorting through your home, garage and garden, you might have ended up with a pile of waste which you are keen to dispose of ASAP. You will have a couple of options.

One of the most commonly used options is to hire a skip bin. Skip bins come in a variety of sizes, starting at 2 cubic metres which is considered a mini-skip, to the largest bin which is a 31 cubic metre bin, most commonly used for demolition jobs or deceased estate projects. To check various sizes of bins, click here.

If you do not have enough waste to fill a skip bin but you own a trailer, you can load up your trailer with the waste and take it to a waste transfer station for easy disposal. The downside of this method, is that you are paying with travel time and fuel to dispose of your waste, and will likely spend time waiting in queues depending to which waste transfer station you visit.

One option to consider, is a combination of the two options above, which we highly recommend to all customers. It is most beneficial to many customers de-cluttering their home, to hire a skip bin for the bulk of the waste (general household items), and fill a trailer with the items that cannot be combined in a general waste bin (ie. soil) to take to a waste transfer station. This prevents the waste being contaminated or incorrectly mixed, therefore saving you paying increased costs for your waste disposal.

We, at Need a Skip Now, are very excited to announce that we no longer JUST offer skip bins for hire, as we have also opened our waste transfer station to our customers. If you are needing to dispose of waste from your trailer, our Clayton South facility offers no queues, exceptional customer service and speedy results (with all customers being in and out of the yard in under 10 minutes). More information about our waste transfer station and where it is located can be found by calling our friendly team on 1300 605 624 or clicking the link here to visit our website.

To quote French writer and philosopher, Voltaire, "no problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking". With a little planning and organisation, cleaning up your living, working and outdoor spaces can be stress-free and enjoyable. So, create a plan, gather your supplies, and start de-cluttering!

For more information on the services we offer, click here to be redirected to our website. We also have many other blog posts that explore different waste disposal topics including:

• Benefits of Using Skip Bins for Moving
• How to Save Money by Hiring a Bigger Skip Bin
• The Top 10 Benefits of Hiring a Skip Bin in Melbourne During Summer

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Youtube to stay up to date with everything waste related, and check out our postcast "Talking Trash" on Spotify for more tips and tricks!