When we talk about home-related stuff, there are some terms that we need to define. We also need some clarification on some of the definitions. Some of the terms seem to be used to mean the same thing but they’re not always interchangeable. I believe clarifying the definitions of these terms will help us not to get overwhelmed. It will help when coming up with a plan for what we’re working on and help us move toward our goals. Hopefully, this series on household management will bring some clarity to our to-do list when it comes to our home tasks. We’ll start with the term “declutter”.
Declutter
verb | de-clut-ter
to remove clutter from a room, an area, etc.
(Note: the first known use was in 1950; Source: “Declutter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/declutter. Accessed 8 Jul. 2023.)
to remove mess or clutter from (a place);
to organize and prioritize (one’s commitments, material possessions, etc.)
(Source: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/declutter)
remove unneeded things from a messy or overcrowded area
remove unneeded files from a computer or another electronic device
To declutter is to tidy up a mess, especially by getting rid of objects. You might declutter your bedroom by donating your old clothes and recycling those magazines you never read. Clutter was originally a verb, used in the 1500s to mean “collect in heaps” or “form clots.” Declutter is a much younger word, dating from the mid-20th century. When you clean and organize a space, removing extra stuff that you really don’t need, you declutter. This can mean pulling out all your sweaters and giving the ones you never wear to your younger sibling, or disassembling your collection of cat memorabilia and only keeping your three favorite objects. (Source: “Declutte r.” Vocabulary.com Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/declutter. Accessed 08 Jul. 2023.)
Clarification
There is one instance of “declutter” meaning organize in the above definitions, but that’s not usually the case for what most decluttering experts consider decluttering. I oftentimes see “unclutter” used to mean the same thing but they are also slightly different. When “uncluttering,” many people start to clean, organize, and tidy. The goal of decluttering is to get the stuff out. That can sometimes mean removing it from a room to another room, but it usually means getting it out of the house or building.
Related: (We’ll add to this as we go, so link may not be live yet.)
Declutter | Clean | Organize | Unclutter | Tidy | what else do you suggest?