We are all doing our best to change our habits when performing a house clearance. We are now proud to announce our commitment to becoming more environmentally conscious. After all, we have only one planet, and we have to save it for future generations. From switching to energy-saving appliances to composting, every action that we take, no matter how small we think it is, can result in a positive change.
Waste is one of the biggest problems people face globally. Growing landfills are well on the way to become the biggest producers of greenhouse gasses. Plastic and its by-products contaminated rivers and oceans. Fortunately, the ways we dispose of unwanted things are changing. From selecting trash into categories to donating and upcycling, most of the households in the UK are diligently taking part in making the world a better place.
A house clearance is never an easy task. However, with little planning and knowledge, you can make the entire process eco-friendly and stress-free.
Upcycling vs. Recycling
Turning old things into new without breaking them into raw materials is called upcycling. On the other hand, recycling is breaking up products into raw materials from which, later, you can make completely new products. Both things have different advantages for the environment. Upcycling usually requires less effort to repurpose or reuse something. Recycling, however, requires more time and energy.
So when you determine if something should be upcycled or recycled, the first step is to see if it has the potential for a second life. If the thing is damaged beyond repair, you should consider recycling; if not, you can upcycle it. You would be surprised to discover the amount of perfectly usable things that end up in a landfill each year.
Categorize items
If you have to go through an entire house, don’t try to do everything at once. Instead, go room by room and divide each room into sections. Keep a spreadsheet and post-it notes in four different colours ready so that you can categorize everything quickly. Mark each section or an object that you go through with a post-it note and put it in your spreadsheet. Use pink for items that should be recycled, blue for things that should be upcycled, yellow for items that should be donated or sold, and green for the items you want to keep.
Once you finish with a room, start with removing and packing things immediately. This way, you’ll efficiently organize the items by category and make space in case you need to move around some bulky objects.
KonMari Your Way Out of the Clutter
You have probably heard of Marie Kondo, a Japanese organizing consultant, and her book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.” Her method of organizing is known as the KonMari method and consists of gathering together all of one’s belongings, one category at a time, and then keeping only those things that “spark joy.”
Go through the items you decided to keep and try out Marie Kondo’s method. There are great chances that you took some of the things that you don’t really need. This will help you declutter your living space and find a better purpose for the things you don’t need.
House clearance can be rather time-consuming, and sometimes it can feel like there is no ending in sight. However, with a bit of planning and coordinating, no task cannot be done. If you need any assistance or advice regarding house clearance, feel free to contact us at Manor House Clearance.