uals who could use them or donate them to a local charity. 4. Trash. These are unwanted or unused items that are too damaged to be donated or sold immediately. Please recycle if possible. 5. Store. If you really can’t decide what to do, box it up and put a date on it. Look at it again in six months. Store in an attic, extra closet, garage, or offsite storage facility to keep it out of the way. Now it’s time to start cleaning. As parents and pet owners, we know how grueling this part can be. One parent should not get stuck with tackling the home’s accumulated mess. Make it easier by giving each family member a different task. Younger children might not be able to help much in this department, but they can do simple daily chores like making their bed, putting toys away, and wiping up their own spills. Setting expectations as soon as it is developmentally appropriate can help ease any arguing later Hopefully these tips can help you to tackle your situation and improve your family’s overall wellbeing. Deep cleaning can’t be done without first decluttering. The more that you have, the more challenging it can be. To avoid getting overwhelmed, choose one room or one task at a time instead of trying to tackle everything at once. Keep your goal in mind: to simplify your environment by clearing out items that you no longer need or that no longer bring you joy and to clean up the areas where things tend to get messy and disorganized. Try this popular sorting method that most experts suggest: 1. Keep. These are items that you continue to need and use, and that bring joy to your life. 2. Sell. These are items that you want to try and sell online or at a yard sale. 3. Donate. Your trash could be someone else’s treasure. Give these items to individ108 HAWAII PARENT March/April 2024 If no one in the family has used an item for over 6 months, then it probably isn’t a necessity. “Choose one room or one task at a time instead of trying to tackle everything at once.”
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