{"id":13680,"date":"2022-01-05T20:00:46","date_gmt":"2022-01-05T20:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/?p=13680"},"modified":"2022-01-05T13:10:52","modified_gmt":"2022-01-05T13:10:52","slug":"new-year-decluttering-in-german","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/new-year-decluttering-in-german\/","title":{"rendered":"New Year Decluttering In German"},"content":{"rendered":"

Guten Tag und frohes neues Jahr<\/strong><\/em> (Hello and Happy New Year)! I don\u2019t know about you, but around this time of year I love having a good clear-out. Even if you don\u2019t subscribe to the \u2018Neues Jahr, neues ich\u2019<\/strong> (\u2018New Year, new me\u2019) sentiment, it\u2019s a good opportunity to take advantage of the \u2018fresh start\u2019 feeling and do some decluttering (entr\u00fcmpeln<\/strong>) and cleaning (putzen<\/strong>)! Today\u2019s post will give you some German vocabulary relating to this subject \u2013 so if you need a push to do any of your own, hopefully this post will help!<\/p>\n

New Year Decluttering In German<\/h3>\n
\"decluttering\"

Photo by Sarah Brown<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Firstly, there are a few German verbs you can use, depending on exactly what you\u2019re doing:<\/p>\n

To declutter: entr\u00fcmpeln
\nTo clear out: ausmisten
\nTo clean: putzen (or reinigen)
\nTo wash: waschen
\nTo tidy: aufr\u00e4umen
\nTo organise: organisieren
\nTo sort out: aussortieren
\nTo hoover: staubsaugen<\/p>\n

Here are a few example sentences using the above verbs:<\/p>\n

Ich werde meinen Kleiderschrank ausmisten<\/strong> \u2013 I will clear out my wardrobe<\/p>\n

Ich werde meinen Dachboden entr\u00fcmpeln<\/strong> \u2013 I will declutter my attic<\/p>\n

Ich werde meine K\u00fcche putzen<\/strong> \u2013 I will clean my kitchen<\/p>\n

Ich werde meine Handt\u00fccher waschen<\/strong> \u2013 I will wash my towels<\/p>\n

Ich werde mein Schlafzimmer aufr\u00e4umen<\/strong> \u2013 I will tidy up my bedroom<\/p>\n

Ich werde meine B\u00fccher organisieren<\/strong> \u2013 I will organise my books<\/p>\n

Ich werde meine Papiere aussortieren<\/strong> \u2013 I will sort out my papers\/documents<\/p>\n

Ich werde meinen Teppich saugen<\/strong> \u2013 I will hoover my carpet<\/p>\n

\"decluttering\"

Photo by CDC<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Those are the common verbs used to talk about the decluttering\/cleaning process. But what about the things<\/strong> you are decluttering or cleaning? What does the German language call \u2018clutter\u2019 or \u2018mess\u2019? Here are some words you might hear used:<\/p>\n

die Unordnung:<\/strong> clutter, mess
\ndas Durcheinander:<\/strong> clutter, mess
\nder Kram\/der Krimskrams<\/strong>: junk, bits and pieces, odds and ends
\nder Dreck\/der Schmutz:<\/strong> mess, dirt<\/p>\n

Something that helps me tackle the decluttering process is to only do one room at a time (or one area of a room, if the room is really big!). This helps me break it down into more manageable chunks. For example, if you were going to tackle your bedroom (das Schlafzimmer:<\/em><\/strong> bedroom), the checklist of areas to work through might be:<\/p>\n

die Klamotten<\/strong> – clothes
\ndie Bettw\u00e4sche<\/strong> – bedsheets
\nder Nachttisch<\/strong> \u2013 bedside table
\nder Boden\/der Teppich<\/strong> – floor\/carpet
\ndie Kommode<\/strong> \u2013 chest of drawers
\nder Kleiderschrank<\/strong> – wardrobe
\ndie Schminke<\/strong> – makeup
\ndie Papiere<\/strong> \u2013 papers<\/p>\n

Having a checklist (die Checkliste<\/strong>) is a great tip, as it not only gives you a focus, but ticking each one off motivates you to continue!<\/p>\n

\"decluttering\"

Photo by Backbone Visuals<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Now, let\u2019s finish with an exercise! Here are the above words again, with the verbs you learnt at the beginning of the post. Which verb do you think fits best to each noun? Note \u2013 most of them have more than one possible answer! Use your knowledge and creativity to pair them up!<\/p>\n

1. die Klamotten ———————– A. waschen
\n2. die Bettw\u00e4sche ———————- B. ausmisten
\n3. der Nachttisch ————————- C. entr\u00fcmpeln
\n4. der Boden\/der Teppich —————- D. organisieren
\n5. die Kommode ————————— E. putzen
\n6. der Kleiderschrank ———————– F. aufr\u00e4umen
\n7. die Schminke ———————– G. staubsaugen
\n8. die Papiere —————————– H. aussortieren<\/p>\n

\"decluttering\"

Photo by Katja Rooke<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Here are some possible answers:<\/p>\n

die Klamotten —- ausmisten (clear out clothes)
\ndie Bettw\u00e4sche —– waschen (wash bedsheets)
\nder Nachttisch —– putzen (clean bedside table)
\nder Boden\/der Teppich —- staubsaugen (hoover the floor\/carpet)
\ndie Kommode —– organisieren (organise chest of drawers)
\nder Kleiderschrank —- entr\u00fcmpeln (declutter wardrobe)
\ndie Schminke —— aussortieren (sort out makeup)
\ndie Papiere —– aufr\u00e4umen (tidy up papers)<\/p>\n

Are you a fan of entr\u00fcmpeln<\/strong> and\/or putzen<\/strong>? If so, let me know in the COMMENT BOX<\/strong> what areas of your home you\u2019re currently working through, and why!<\/p>\n

Bis bald (see you soon)
\nConstanze<\/p>\n

PS. If you liked this post, you might also like this one:\u00a0The German culture of cleanliness: Putzfimmel and Kehrwoche<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"decluttering\"

Guten Tag und frohes neues Jahr (Hello and Happy New Year)! I don\u2019t know about you, but around this time of year I love having a good clear-out. Even if you don\u2019t subscribe to the \u2018Neues Jahr, neues ich\u2019 (\u2018New Year, new me\u2019) sentiment, it\u2019s a good opportunity to take advantage of the \u2018fresh start\u2019…<\/p>\n

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