11 Ways to Declutter Your Mail
Why does our mail and paper clutter control our lives so much? Even though they are just pieces of paper, they make a large impact when piled high in our homes. Learn the best ways to declutter your mail for good!
If you are sick of being defeated by your mail pile it is time you fight back! You should not have to stress about your mail, think about your mail, and look at your mail pile on a daily basis.
To finally beat the mail problem in your home it is going to take two steps.
One- Find an organizing solution that works for you.
Two- Create a force of habit to use the new system.
People often have the misconception that if something is simply organized that it will magically stay that way. If it were that easy than no one would have disorganized homes!
No, it is not that easy, but luckily it also is not as hard as you think to keep something organized! All it takes is a little effort and little habit change.
Check out these 11 ways to declutter your mail that might just be the game changer you’ve been needing!
(This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Some of the amazing following photos are not my own, click on them to head straight to the source!)
01 | HAVE A TRASHCAN NEAR BY
Having a trashcan dedicated for your mail or near your mail will help you get in the habit of throwing/recycling trash you do not need immediately.
02 | PICK THE RIGHT SPOT
Mail does deserve it’s own spot in your home. If you have been trying to stuff it on top of the microwave, shove it in a desk drawer, or place on the kitchen table, you know that this has not been working for you.
So instead find a new designated spot for your mail so you can create an organizing system. Preferably a place where you would naturally drop things off the second you walk in the door.
03 | USE VERTICAL SPACE
If you do not have a space on a table for a mail area then opt for a wall space. Command centers are all the rage right now, where you display all of your calendars, photos, to-do lists, and the dreaded mail right there on the wall.
04 | TAKE ACTION AND FILE AWAY
You need to create two different filing systems for your incoming mail.
One- Taken action- something you know you need to do something about.
Two- File away- something you need to keep but you don’t need to do anything about it.
Once you have established these two filing systems, sorting through your mail will be so much easier. Use magazine holders, stack-able trays, or hand file racks to help you create these two places for your mail.
05 | DISCARD ENVELOPES ASAP
Once we open mail sometimes we keep it inside the envelope, and then store the envelope with the piece of mail.
There is no need to keep these envelopes. Bills typically come with a envelope with the address already attached where it needs to go. When you keep the opened envelopes all it does is cause chunky clutter to be piled in between your mail.
06 | HAVE YOUR PAPER FILING SYSTEM READY TO GO
Filing mail away would be an easier task if we had where we file the mail organized.
Declutter your mail to get started. Discard anything that you can find online and that is easily replaceable.
Especially bills that you pay online, do you really need the paper statements anymore? If not then opt for paperless billing on that companies website.
Depending on how much paper clutter you have maybe you need a filing cabinet. If you can get by with something smaller there are boxes and bins designed to hold file folders.
To organize your papers go buy some file folders. You can simplify and use all one color or you can color code your files, whatever works for you.
Make sure to finally label each file folder, and keep this newly organized filing system close by to where you deal with your mail.
Ideas for file folder labels > Bank Statements | Car Insurance | Important Certificates | Loan Information | Kids Artwork | Citations | Medical Records |
Related Read
How to Use Binders to Organize Everything!
07 | PICK ONE DAY A WEEK TO FILE AWAY AND DEAL WITH MAIL
Remember when I was talking about habits. Well this is a new habit you are going to have to adopt if your want to conquer your mail pile. One day a week make sure you go through your take action pile and add them to your to-do list.
Also chose a day of the week to file your papers away in your newly organized filing system.
Consistency is key! The more you get used to doing it, the easier it will be to keep your mail and paper clutter organized.
08 | THINK ABOUT THE SMALL THINGS
Besides just mail, we also get a bunch of other little things that cause a lot of clutter. Find designated spots in your home for receipts, coupons, food ads, and magazines.
09 | MAKE YOUR OWN ORGANIZATIONAL SOLUTIONS
There are so many cute mail holders, galvanized bins, chalkboard labeled baskets, to help you declutter your mail.
Of course these things all cost money and if that is something you do not want to do just to get your mail organized there are so many super simple DIY options to create bins and trays that can help you get organized.
Go on Pinterest, google some DIY mail holders and you will be surprised what clever and inexpensive solutions people have come up with.
10 | UNSUBSCRIBE
Do you want to declutter your mail before it even arrives? If you are really sick of getting junk items, you can almost always go onto that companies website, find the help section at the very bottom of the site, and search for how to stop getting mail.
Most companies have an online form where you can request to stop receiving mail from them. If your that overloaded with mail it might be worth to do this once in a while to lighten the incoming load of clutter.
11 | ONE COMES IN ONE COMES OUT
Use this method when dealing with your mail. If your bringing in more coupons, then toss the old expired ones.
If your bringing in new magazines, recycle the old ones in it’s place. It is about rotation and balance in your home to keep things organized.
Keeping your mail organized might not be as hard as you thought! You are in control of your home and you can declutter your mail the some really clever ways.
Just remember that with a little bit of daily effort you can save yourself hours of headaches over staring at that crazy pile of papers every day.
Happy Decluttering!
