While clearing out clutter can be a time- and energy-consuming task, there are several benefits to cleaning out your home.

You can donate your unwanted items, which can help others and be tax deductible for you. Having a decluttered house can also reduce your stress level and give you more space for the things you actually use.

To help simplify this often-stressful project, you’ll want to make sure you have the right toolkit for the job. So if you’re dreaming of a clutter-free home, here are six things you’ll need to make it a reality:

Floor and Wall Protectors

The goal of decluttering is to clean up and make your home look better — not tear it up in the process.

So, before you start moving and rearranging things, make sure your floors and walls are protected. You can use rug runners or carpet mask on the floor and stairs. Place a doormat by the door you’ll be going in and out of to help keep dirt out, as well.

For walls, use cardboard or furniture pads to keep them safe. You can also put towels or blankets over the items you’re carrying to keep them from hitting and denting the walls.

Safety Gear

Just like you want to prevent damaging your house, you also want to keep yourself safe while decluttering.

No matter what items you’re moving, wear closed-toe shoes, pants and gloves. Also, avoid loose jewelry and clothes that could get caught on something.

If you’re working in a dusty area of your home, you can also use protective glasses and a disposable facemask, which will keep you from breathing in dust, pollen, fiberglass, cement and other small particles. For heavy lifting, put on a back brace for support — and bend at the knees!

Food and Drink

Whether it’s a humid, 100-degree day or brisk spring morning, you need to have snacks and drinks on hand.

It’s easy to get caught up in moving the clutter and forget to eat or drink periodically, which could cause you to get dehydrated or lightheaded. You can burn more than 600 calories an hour from carrying boxes. Snacks high in protein and carbs will give you the energy you need. Instead of reaching for a soda, drink water or another caffeine-free drink.

You should drink 8 ounces of water about 15 minutes before you start working on the clutter. Then, try to drink a cup of water about every 15 to 20 minutes while you’re working — more if you’re sweating heavily.

Dumpster Rental

And, of course, since you’ve decided it’s time to start cleaning, you’ll need to find something that can hold all of your unwanted clutter. No matter how much or how little you’re throwing out, a dumpster rental has you covered. You can put almost anything in the bin, unless it’s a hazardous material.

There are a variety of sizes to choose from, and you can have the operator place the dumpster near your front door or garage — or wherever is convenient.

A Way To Carry Everything

Once you have somewhere to take the clutter, you’ll need something to get it there.

You can put smaller items, like clothing, in trash bags. So, make sure to stock up on those. For heavier items like paper or old books, use cardboard boxes. If you have boxes you’re hoping to get rid of, that will take care of them, too.

Just remember to mix up heavier items with lighter ones, or the box (and your back) might break.

To move the items outside, you can use a hand truck with bungee cords. If you have furniture you want to throw out, you can put sliders under it to make the piece easier to move. You can also use moving straps, which can distribute the weight of items and help reduce back injuries.

Plan of Action

In addition to all of the items and gear you’ll need to tackle the clutter, you’ll also want to have a plan on how to attack it.

A cluttered home or garage can seem daunting at first and simply getting started might feel terribly overwhelming. Don’t scatter your efforts. Pick one room, break it up into sections and work through one section at a time. This will give you results you can actually see.

Author bio: Bin There Dump That is North America’s only residential-friendly dumpster rental service. We service homeowners all across the continent that are removing construction debris from a home remodel, cleaning up homes recovering from a natural disaster or clearing out a garage in a home de-clutter. Learn more at www.bintheredumpthat.com or www.bintheredumpthatusa.com.