Decluttering Hacks to Boost Brain Power

Sloppily folded sheets can quickly clutter up the linen closet, especially when you have a lot of them. To keep things in order, simply tuck the sheet set (full, fitted, and pillowcase) inside one of the pillowcases for that set. Voilà!
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Decluttering is something of a sensation these days.

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In a study conducted by the Princeton University Neuroscience Institute, researchers found that clutter distracts, drains, and causes irritability. Alternatively, decluttering can actually boost well-being. If a clutter-free -- or at least less cluttered -- home could spell more mental energy, more clarity, and more happiness, what more reasons do you need to kick off your next clean sweep?

Reverse hanger trick

If you find it hard to let go of clothing even when you never wear it, the reverse hanger trick is a game changer. It works like this: Take all of your garments on hangers and put them in backward, so that the open end of each hanger now faces you. Set a calendar reminder for six months from now. Then go back to your regular routine: Every time you wear a piece and go to put it back, make sure the hanger faces the usual way (the opening facing away from you).

Once six months are up, you'll know exactly what you haven't touched -- and can get rid of.

Bed sheet bundle

File this classic Martha Stewart hack under "why didn't I think of that?" Sloppily folded sheets can quickly clutter up the linen closet, especially when you have a lot of them. To keep things in order, simply tuck the sheet set (full, fitted, and pillowcase) inside one of the pillowcases for that set. Voilà! It's always easy to find the set you're looking for, and you won't lose any pillowcases.

The Kondo Method

Japanese tidying expert Marie Kondo's best-seller has turned her into something of a celebrity with home experts and bloggers everywhere. Her simple, strict motto boils down to this: If you don't absolutely love an item, it shouldn't be in your home. But Kondo's best-known and most useful trick is the KonMari Folding Method, which involves storing folded garments -- socks, undies, tees -- upright and vertical in a drawer, rather than laying them flat.

The final product of a Kondo-fied drawer resembles a file full of standing folders. Trust us, it's way easier to keep drawers in order this way, because you never have to go digging around to find a particular item.

For the complete list of decluttering hacks see the full story on Trulia's blog.

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