Clutter.
It happens to the best of us.
We buy things we don’t need (hey, maybe it was a great deal). People leave things at our house. They give us gifts we don’t need. Random items sometimes just…appear.
When it comes to Spring Cleaning it doesn’t matter why we have clutter; we just need to acknowledge that we have it. Most importantly, we need to do something about it!
So, today we’re going to take 30 minutes (or less if we work fast) to reduce clutter. Here’s how:
1. Get a box, bag, or laundry basket.
2. Set a timer for 30 minutes.
3. Enter each room of your home (including closets) and choose 3 items from that room you don’t need.
Why 3? It’s small enough that the task seems feasible. But, it’s large enough to make a dent in the mess…plus, it may even spur you on to get rid of 30…or 300 things that are cluttering up your home!
If you’re hesitant about getting rid of an item, ask your self the following questions:
- Do I love the item?
- Does it add value (look great, complete a look, provide a needed solution)?
- If I need it again, can I borrow it from someone else?
- Can someone else get better use out of it?
4. Put everything in the container and immediately take it to the trunk of your car.
5. Drop it off the next time you drive by the donation center.
Sounds easy enough in theory, right? But, can you do it? That is the real question! Let me know in the comments!
iDreamOfClean
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I know what you mean! I do this every few months in my closet as well as lil man’s. The problem I have is with step #4. I have tons of bags of old clothes in the floor of my closet waiting to be picked up and donated! But I always forget to get them into my car. FAIL!
Stopping by from Tackle it Tuesday…
I am a stuff-hater. But yet, somehow, we STILL. manage to collect lots of it around here. I’m ready to go on another rampage. This post is great. Reminds me of Flylady.net, which I used to frequent. The timer is the key!
Hi! I love your articles – I wonder if you might offer me some advice.
My husband likes to collect paper. Receipts, statements, church programs, sentimental papers – you name it! They seem to be everywhere. His night stand in our bedroom contains receipts, church booklets, checkbooks, (perhaps his diploma or birth certificate), calculator, mints, shoelaces, and more. In addition, our coffee tables and side tables for the living room have drawers, of which he has stowed tax documents, landscaping estimates, investment documents, etc.
I worry about bringing more “drawered” items in to our home as they get filled with misc. I have fallen in to the rut myself, a little bit :( I am not sure how to help him find approproiate homes for these items? I did buy a photo-box that he can keep under the bed to throw in receipts, but I don’t think he’s using it.
Can you offer a suggestion? Thanks so much :)
Well, I can say that I’m naturally very much like him! It’s a real problem sometimes…ha!
Do you have a filing cabinet? Until I had a very large filing cabinet I didn’t really feel like anything had a home. It can take a loooong time to get it organized, but if you start with one drawer, clean it out and file, shred, trash everything in there, it’s a great place to start.
As far as receipts, there are a few options. 1. Not sure what it’s called….but a stick thingy that you place every single receipt on helps. Or, you could scan them all. There’s even some online storage places (shoeboxed.com) where you mail in the receipts and they scan and organize them all.
Anything that’s extremely valuable like a birth certificate, passport, etc. should probably go somewhere more secure like a lock box at the bank or a safe. His diploma could maybe go on the wall to show it off :)
I’m still working on all of this myself so I’m certainly not an expert. Hopefully some of the suggestions will help though!
I also forgot to mention…. we have an office filing cabinet as well – which he has kept some financial documents and college information ( he graduated 6 years ago). I have allowed him 3 large plastic bins in our storage room for his excess papers he needs to keep or sentimental items – so I’m not trying to remove his stuff completely! I just don’t know how to properly streamline the items in the drawers :( Help!
I’m working on some office organization posts. They just seem to be more difficult than the rest since all of our offices are different. But, they’ll be coming soon!!!
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