Where To Start
Starting is the hardest part of removing the clutter, or any cleaning mission. Feeling overwhelmed about where to start can stop this project before it even starts. Regardless of the size of your project, do not consider starting unless you are mentally prepared to reach your goal for that day. If you are the type to be overwhelmed easily by these types of projects, start with the smallest, neatest area. Once you determine that de-cluttering a small area is not difficult, it will be much easier to move on to the next space. If you are the type that wants to hit the ground running, start with the messiest area that needs the most help. Once you start making headway in that area, the rest will just flow naturally.

Have Your Tools Handy
All that you need for your de-cluttering project is just a few contractor bags (these are great-they are much larger and sturdier than traditional garbage bags), empty boxes,  laundry baskets, and some basic cleaning supplies. Keep your contractor bags available for items you intend to throw away. The empty boxes should be used for items you wish to donate or sell (if you are intending to sell some items but not all, keep one box for items to sell and one box for items to donate). The laundry baskets will be used for items that you intend to keep.

Ready To Begin
Start by pulling out the items in that space that do not belong in that space, whether it be items to keep, donate or sell, or to be thrown away. Place each of those items in their appropriate bag, box, or basket. For now, do not worry about where you are going to put the items you plan to keep-just put them aside for now. When determining what to do with your “clutter”, ask yourself these questions: Do I love this? Have I used it in the last year? Do I have two? Am I sentimentally attached? Do I feel sad and guilty when I look at it? If it is an item that you do not use, and it does not make you feel positive or sentimental, pass it on to someone who would enjoy it, or, toss it if you feel it cannot be used by someone else.

Try to avoid the distraction of going down memory lane. In some areas, you might find old photo albums, or other items of sentiment that will try to pull you out of your focus. Put all of these items in your basket of items to keep. Your reward for completing this project will be that you can take all the time you want to be nostalgic now that you know where these items are.

Once your contractor bag begins to get full (or almost too heavy to carry), bring it right out to your trash receptacle, and start a new one. When your box of items to donate or sell gets full, move it to a clear area in your apartment, and start a new one. When your basket of items to keep gets full, separate the items by the room that they belong in, and place them on the floor in that room-you will not want to start finding the exact places for these items in other rooms as you need to de-clutter those rooms first.

If you are the type to get burned out easily, allow yourself short breaks throughout this project. Set a timer to remind yourself when you are due for a break. Just make sure that you set a timer to end your breaks so that you can get back to work. If you are the type that easily loses motivation, avoid frequent breaks.

Getting Back In Order
Once you have removed items from each room that do not belong in that room, it is time to get your home back in order. Each room should now have neat piles of items that need to be put back in place. After removing the unnecessary items from each room, you should have plenty of room to put back the items that do belong there. Before putting anything back into a closet, on a shelf, or in a drawer, make sure that space is clean and free of dust. Find a great place in each room for each item to go. Remember that those items now have a new home in that spot, so unless you intend to completely re-do the layout of your home, always put the items back in their proper place when you are done using them.

Keeping Up
Now that you have spent several hours (or days, or weeks) de-cluttering your home, do you really want to fall back to where you started? Keeping up on your less-cluttered home will make for a more enjoyable living space. Develop organization systems that will keep your apartment less cluttered. For example, if you have a habit of tossing your mail down on your kitchen table each time you come home, get a nice basket to leave there so that when you do toss your mail on the kitchen table, it is in a neat and organized fashion.

Spend just 15 minutes a day keeping your apartment free of excess clutter. In these 15 minutes, remove your mail from the basket on the kitchen table and put it where it belongs, remove your shows from the entrance way, clear your countertops and desks and put everything where it belongs. If you make a daily effort to reduce clutter, you will find yourself being much more efficient in your home, will enjoy your home more, and will have more time to enjoy other aspects of your life.