4-box method: the surefire way to tidy up your home and your life

Tidying up wardrobes and drawers can become a source of stress, but there is a fallible way to select the items to keep or throw away or give as a gift: the 4-box method.

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How many times have you experienced the need to put your life in order? Many, far too many. Perhaps the best way to do this is to start from the environment in which we live, that is our home, which is often filled with useless and bulky objects. 

Many people wait for spring to dedicate themselves to decluttering (getting rid of the superfluous to make room) and tidying up their wardrobes, drawers and closets, but for some this operation becomes a source of stress and confusion. In reality, there is an infallible method to make room in the house and choose wisely which objects to keep and which to give up: the 4-box method.

Read also: Decluttering: how to get rid of the superfluous to live better

The questions to ask yourself to make order

Before putting the 4 boxes method into practice, it is essential to ask yourself a series of questions about the objects you intend to get rid of. Here are some that can help you shed some light: 

• Does this object come in handy or have I never used it?
• Is this object in really bad condition and therefore to be thrown away?
• Can this object be transformed into something else?
• Can this object be useful to another person (who may not be able to afford to buy it)?

Read also: The 7 questions that help get rid of useless objects

How the 4 box method works 

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The 4-box method can be used for both clothes and accessories and other items you have around the house. Before starting to work, you need to get four large boxes (for example those for packing). Now you just have to go and divide the objects in question inside the 4 boxes:

• BOX 1: objects that can still prove useful to us
• BOX 2: items in good condition that can be put up for sale online 
• BOX 3: items to trade with other people or give to friends or associations that deal with assistance to people in need 
• BOX 4: recyclable packaging (for example cardboard or plastic) that can be destined for separate collection

Thanks to this simple method, it will be much easier to decide which items to keep and which to give away. In this way, you will gain valuable space in your closets and drawers, as well as taking an important step to finally start tidying up your life. 

Read also:

• Konmari method: how to tidy up the house (and your life)
• The Japanese 5S method to quickly tidy up your home
• Spring cleaning: 10 tips for deep cleaning without too much effort
• Tidy wardrobe: ideas and tips for making space in the wardrobe (PHOTO)