How to Declutter Books

Benefits of Decluttering

You might notice the effects of clutter on your health, but you will likely realize them once you have decluttered. Clutter has many negative effects on your mental and physical well-being. Does this sound hard to believe? Allow us to explain.

Let’s begin with the risk of physical injury. Having books and knickknacks scrambled around the home and shelves increases the risk of tripping or having something fall on you. There is also the fire hazard. Books are flammable and clutter can obstruct your escape route in the case of a fire. Finally, there is the dust. Books collect dust and, unless you are regularly cleaning, your air quality is taking a hit.

There is also the psychology side of this. Studies have shown that women who saw their home as cluttered experienced higher levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. Clutter can also affect your memory as it leads to sensory overload. Finally, there is the isolation factor. People are less likely to invite friends over when the house is a mess.

For your health’s sake, let’s start decluttering those bookshelves. Where should we begin?

Sort the Books

This is potentially going to be a slow process, but it is worth the time. Begin by going through each book and sorting them into two piles: keep or dispose. Have a cloth with you to wipe down any dust as you sort the book. If you are having a hard time putting any book in the "dispose" section, then consider these:

• Worn and torn books that can be easily replaced
• Books you did not enjoy reading
• Textbooks that you have not opened since finishing the course
• Book that you have put off reading for over a year

Disposing of the Books

We are not suggesting that you throw books in the trash. Our recommendations would be to sell, donate, or recycle. If the books are in great shape, then advertise them on a marketplace. If you don’t need the money, then consider donating the books to local libraries, schools, retirement homes, or daycares. If the books are in poor shape and paperback, then consider recycling them.

Need Help? The Junk Tycoons Are Here

Junk removal is a time-consuming and tedious process. If you would like to leave this work to the professionals, then call The Junk Tycoons. We are happy to help you declutter!