These books to help you clear clutter are not needed by minimalists, and likely not needed by most everyday people. But as we know from those hoarding programs, there are many people who live in a sea of clutter. Not only is this stressful, wasteful and a fire hazard – but people who live with heaps of clutter, tend to also have cluttered minds and procrastinate.
Clearing clutter isn’t about getting rid of things you love, nor about getting obsessed with living in a minimalist house. But if you feel overwhelm because you’ve accumulated too much stuff over the years, then these books can help. Also see where to recycle absolutely everything.
Some books contain tips on home furnishings and decor. For beauty/cleaning recipes, avoid essential oils for pregnancy/nursing and near pets/children. If you live with animals, see toxic houseplants to avoid. and candle safety tips.
- The Clutter Remedy (recycled paper) is a guide by a former therapist who works with individuals and businesses to create spaces that look and feel their best. Not a ‘throw things out’ book, this create surroundings, in alignment with who you are.
- Making Space, Clutter Free describes 7 emotional clutter blocks that stand between you and true transformation: a positive outlook, healthy relationships and financial freedom.
- A Year to Clear shows you how to unplug, detach and create more space and serenity, in 52 gently weekly steps. Each lesson builds on the next, to develop your clearing muscles, and grow new habits to last a lifetime.
- Less Stuff takes you through every room in the house and gives you details on how to hone into become zero waste on each one. It’s a guide to finding your ‘enough’, and learning how to to let go of unwanted possessions (without guilt). Visit Lindsay’s blog.
- The Holistic Guide to Decluttering is a guide to clean out all areas of your life: home, calendar and mind, to find lasting change. Focusing on one area alone is unlikely to bring peace that our soul desires. The answer comes by exploring your attachment to things (healing this can heal the rest of your life, and not be lost in a sea of consumerism for the rest of your life). Includes success stories and beautiful photos.
Help for Inherited Clutter
- Let It Go is by Peter Walsh, who recently downsized his childhood home and had to divide his late parents’ possessions among his family. He realised that making these decisions on mementos and heirlooms creates strong emotions, and can be overwhelming. His book turns it instead into a grieving process to help you let go of bad emotions, and keep the good ones.
- Clutter: An Untidy History looks at why the western world is so full of clutter. Sparked by a painful 2-year process of clearing out her mother’s house in the wake of a physical and emotional collapse, the author connects the dots from the Industrial Revolution to today’s consumerism, in an age where Amazon can deliver anything.
- Inheriting Clutter tackles the difficult subject of letting items go that you no longer need. This is not offensive to parents who have passed on, you can keep good memories and a few precious heirlooms. With tips on how to clear a family home in 30 days (Buddhists say it’s best to wait 30 days before letting things go, for souls to move peacefully on: same goes for pets: water bowls, beds etc).
