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Being confined to your home during the COVID-19 outbreak isn’t fun, but you can make the most of your time by being productive. Start with clearing out your clutter. Organization expert Ashley Gude provides a number of suggestions for individuals who are cleaning out and organizing their homes (or a loved one’s home).
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See the Positives of Decluttering
Removing clutter and organizing come with many benefits. Getting rid of old, broken, and dusty items from a home can mean an improvement in air quality and a reduction in allergy symptoms (and in the Ohio River Valley, any reduction in allergy symptoms is a good thing). Ashley says clients who clean out rarely-used basements that have been packed-to-the-gills for many years will sometimes find dead rodents or mold and mildew problems, which have contributed to allergy issues.
Getting rid of clutter and duplicate items also comes with huge mental and emotional benefits. “The psychological benefits are as good as any medicine on the market,” Ashley says. “It really reduces stress levels.” She tells her clients that everything in their homes takes up space in the house, as well as their energy and time because they have to find the items, use them, clean them, and maintain them. Decluttering helps people utilize their time and energy more efficiently, which can bring a real sense of relief.
Read Part 2 here.
BY CARRIE VITTITOE | PHOTOS BY MELISSA DONALD
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