Master the Art of Tidiness With the Core 4 Decluttering Strategy

The art of decluttering is big news, with many Americans needing to clear years of hoarding. The theme is common in TV shows worldwide, but behind the entertainment, many need help to get on top of years of collected items.

A recent decluttering method, “Core 4,” aims to help individuals and families tackle their challenges. The system involves four straightforward stages: Clear Out, Categorize, Cut Out, and Contain.

This guide will offer tips and advice for those four core options. While some build an industry around decluttering, you’ll soon understand how to do it yourself.

One Step at a Time

The first phase in Core 4 is to clear out, but this doesn’t mean you should throw everything in the garbage. Instead, the method advises removing all items from cupboards, pantries, drawers, and other areas and putting them in the center of the room.

It can seem daunting, and many feel overwhelmed, so the best approach is to take things slowly. Work methodically and clear one storage unit before moving on to the next.

Room by Room

The Core 4 Method also recommends working on one room at a time. You only move on once that room is finished and looking exactly how you want it.

It’s a sensible approach, but there are exceptions to be aware of. If, for example, you are working on your office space and find a stray item in the kitchen, you should move it to its rightful place. It’s possible to be flexible while adhering to the logical advice of completing a room before moving on.

Be Prepared

At the categorizing stage, there are two options: keep or get rid. To ensure your items are in the right pile, arm yourself with pens, boxes, trash bags, and Post-it notes. Label everything clearly and ensure you don’t dispose of anything you want to keep.

Labelling also gives a feeling of finality. Once your stuff has gone into the pile to get rid of, you are less likely to decide to keep it later.

Be Quick to Decide

Quick decisions are critical to the cut-out stage of the Core 4 Formula. The recommendation is to decide whether an item stays or goes in three seconds. If the answer is yes, put the item in the pile to keep, but if the answer is no, get ready to dispose of it.

The system also states that if you can’t decide within those three seconds, the item stays for the time being. The idea is to avoid wasting time at this early phase of decluttering.

Who Else Appreciates Your Stuff?

Cutting out is the stage where we get rid of stuff, and there are three key questions to answer: Is the item worth selling? Should we donate it? Is it destined for the garbage? It is good to ask whether friends and family would appreciate your items if they were gifted.

While nobody wants to think of their passing, writing a will is essential to later life. Imagine compiling your wishes and asking whether anyone wants to inherit specific items. If the answer is no, it’s time to cut out.

Get It Collected

For items you decide to donate at the cut-out phase, it’s a good idea to let others come to you. Online sites such as Freecycle are an excellent option for listing more oversized items, and it’s up to the new owner to call and collect.

Similarly, some thrift stores specialize in collections like books or vinyl records. It is a great way to save time when applying the Core 4 method to other areas of the home.

Apply the 20/20/20 Rule

As you work through your clutter using the Core 4 system, you will need clarification on some items. Will you regret cutting it out later, having found a use for that product?

Many experts recommend applying the 20/20/20 rule in cases where there is doubt. As you wonder whether or not to dispose of the object, consider whether you can replace it for less than $20 within 20 minutes and 20 miles from your home. If the answer to all three questions is “yes,” the recommendation is to place the item in the cut-out pile.

Consider an Outsider’s Perspective

We spend so much time in our homes that we can be “blind” to some of the issues with our clutter. A good idea is to look at our living space from an outside perspective. Imagine you are seeing your house for the first time as a visitor, and note down your first impressions.

Leave your home for a couple of hours to help with this illusion. This tip can help with all four stages of the Core 4 method.

Keep It Clear

When you decide to keep a household item but have no immediate use for it, aim to store it in a plastic, see-through box. Pack it alongside similar products and label everything.

It’s all part of the containment process within Core 4. See-through boxes allow you to find anything quickly when you use them. Later, you can quickly identify items you have yet to use before deciding whether to cut them out.

When to Use Cardboard Boxes and Trash Bags

Plastic boxes are expensive, and you don’t want to make decluttering a cost-prohibitive exercise. Fortunately, household items can be categorized in other ways. Items that you wish to donate can be placed in cardboard boxes. You don’t need to see what’s inside them; just put them inside and move them on when you have time.

Many other items will be instantly identifiable as garbage. Old envelopes, receipts, and wrappers can go straight into the trash bag.

Wires and Cables

Most of us have a surplus of cables, USB leads, and other cords in our homes, and we have no idea what half of them are designed to fit. We suspect they may be helpful someday, so we are reluctant to throw them out, but they add unnecessary clutter.

Dealing with wires and cables can cover two of the Core 4 methods. Initially, we collect and contain all our loose wires by putting them in a box for six months. If we don’t use them, we cut them out at the end of those six months by taking them to the local recycling center.

Create Small Milestones

The biggest challenge to effective decluttering is feeling overwhelmed. If we’ve collected and hoarded over many years, it’s challenging to stay motivated when there is so much to sort.

The issue can affect all stages of the Core 4 system, but a good tip for much-needed motivation is to set small milestones. Even if you set yourself a challenge to fill a trash bag in an hour, it can offer a boost that will help you to keep moving forward.

Take Before and After Photos

Taking photos at all stages of the process can help with the four elements of Core 4. It can also help with those motivational issues that prevent some people from continuing to address their hoarding.

Another good tip is to take a photo once you’ve cleared a room and check in on it regularly. This will show you how your room will look after decluttering.

Revisit in a Year

Once you’ve decluttered your entire home, you will have space, but don’t be complacent. Many of us will be tempted to fill that space with new trinkets, and those who tend to hoard will find it challenging to break those habits.

A good idea is to carry out the Core 4 system once a year. Use it as part of your annual spring cleaning regime, and you will continue to keep on top of any build-up of unnecessary clutter.