Entries Tagged 'Decluttering' ↓

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You can get rid of clutter quickly in your home by following these easy steps:

First, choose an area that you would like to declutter.  My example today will be under your bathroom sink. 

• Bring into the bathroom:  a garbage can, a recyle bin and a donation box.
• Pull everything out from under your sink. 
• Place items of the same type together:  Body wash with body wash, shampoo with shampoo, lotion with lotion, etc.
• When you have items that are the  same type together, you will get the true picture of what you have on hand.

Next:

• Throw away any products that are obviously old, outdated, expired, don’t smell right or you just don’t like.
• If you can, rinse out the plastic bottles and recycle them.
• If you find that you have duplicate items, only keep them if you are sure you will use them.  If not, pass them on to someone you know or place them in the charity box.
• If you have half-used products of the same brand and fragrance, combine them into one container if possible to save space.  Recently I discovered I could do that with 2 half bags of cotton balls.

Finally:

• Store the items of the same type together so you can easily see how much you have on hand.  This will keep you from buying more at the store next time you are there.  You will remember that you already have plenty!

Stick with your project and get rid of clutter quickly and easily so you know what you have on hand!

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Here are a few easy tips on how to declutter your kid’s closets so everyone can find what they need and get out the door on time in the morning!  Sounds great doesn’t it?

Declutter tip # 1  Only keep the current size your child is wearing within easy reach.  Use storage bins with lids to store the future sizes.  Be sure to label the outside with child’s name and clothing sizes for easy retrieval.

Declutter tip # 2   Keep clothing at child’s level so they can reach in and pick out their own clothing.

Declutter tip # 3  Keep a box at the bottom of the closet to toss in outgrown clothing for donation or for other siblings.   

Declutter tip # 4  Make sure toy sets are stored together in labeled baskets or bins.  If there are too many toys to fit in the closet, box some up and store elsewhere.  Every few months rotate toys by bringing them out and boxing up the others.  Kids will be thrilled to see them again!

How to declutter kid’s closets is easy with these simple steps!

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Sometimes people find it a lot easier to part with belongings when they feel like items are going to a “good home.”  When it comes to letting things go in my own home, I usually don’t have a lot of emotional ties to basic items like clothing, old toys or household items.  But some people do.  Sometimes people will even attach feeling to the items, as in the items have their own feelings. 

No matter where you lie on the issue, you may find it easier to let items go by having them go directly to a person.  Freecycle may be an excellent option to help you part with belongings.  Freecycle is an online site made up of a grassroots movement of people giving and getting stuff for free in their own towns.  The goal is to reuse and keep good stuff out of landfills.

Declutter, give your belongings a “good home,”  make someone’s day when they get a treasure for free and help the environment all at the same time!  All in a good day’s work!

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Yesterday I came home from running a bunch of errands and started to feel stressed when I had groceries to put away, various things that needed to be put away in several rooms, paperwork to look at that had been brought home from school and lots to do in my office.   I had already worked during the day and had kids that needed to get cleaned up and ready for bed. 

What’s a girl to do?  How do I organize my home when I am feeling overwhelmed?  I’ll start with the good news-since everything in my house has a place where it belongs, it’s easy to restore order.  But I’ll tell you how I do it.

Step # 1:  Turn on some good, loud music.

Step # 2:  Then I choose a room downstairs in our main living area to start in.  I remove everything from the room that doesn’t belong there.  If it does belong, I put it in its correct “home.”  If it belongs upstairs, I just set it at the bottom of the steps to go up later. 

Step # 3:  After the visible clutter or items have been removed,  I can then move on to deeper cleaning such as vacuuming and sweeping. 

Step # 4:  Bring the items on the stairs to the rooms they belong in upstairs and put them away. 

Step # 5:  Decide if I have the energy to do the same routine upstairs or call it good for the day!

To organize my home, I break it down into manageable pieces-you can too!

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Here’s a great declutter plan-don’t even bring it home!  Don’t let it in the door!  Run from that “great” sale and don’t look back!

Be very, very choosy about what new items you bring into your home.  Know why you want it, how you are going to use it and where you are going to put it.  If you are replacing an item that is broken or one you don’t like, be sure to part with it when you bring home the new one.

Here are a few ways new items can find a way into our homes:

• You receive gifts.
• You can’t pass up a “good deal.”
• You inherit belongings.
• Garage sales pull you in like a magnet.
• Family or friends store their belongings at your house.
• Family or friends give you things they don’t want anymore.

It’s so easy to get overwhelmed with belongings so part with items on a regular basis and if you don’t need or even really want an item some wants to give you:  “Just say no!”

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I have created a list to help you kick off whatever decluttering project you have on your mind, your counter or your floor!  Here’s how you can get started:

1.  Choose an area of your home that has gotten cluttered-today is the day to tackle it!
2.  Decide how long you are willing to work on that area-let’s say 15 minutes this time around.
3.  Set a timer for 15 minutes-do as much as you can during that time!
4.  Use this declutter list so you can make quick decisions easily.

Declutter list so you know what to part with quickly:

Garbage:  old wrappers, receipts that don’t need to be saved, broken items, items with missing pieces.

Recycle:  mail inserts, junk mail, old magazines, old newspapers, empty pop cans, paper you no longer need.

Donate:  belongings you no longer use, toys & games your kids don’t play with, outgrown or unworn clothing, items that you really just don’t like anymore-or maybe you never did!

When I work with clients, they often find that what they had in heaps or piles really wasn’t that important and they are able make decisions easily on what to part with.  Use this declutter list, tackle one area at a time and see results quickly!

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How do you get organized when you are moving to a new home?  If possible, start before ever leaving your old home.  The time to part with things that you no longer use is before you even pack up.  I have made several moves between Washington and Texas and I learned that I did not want to move anything that I wasn’t going to use anymore.  Why take up the space in the boxes?  Why not lighten the load on the moving truck? 

When you’ve gotten your belongings down to what you really know you will use, it makes it that much easier to unpack at the new home.  You know that what you are putting in closets, on shelves and in cupboards is what you really want in your home. 

As you unpack, be sure to place things closest to where you will be using them.  If you get all of your drinks from the refrigerator, don’t put your drinking glasses next to the sink, put them next to the refrigerator!  If you like to bake a lot, put all your baking supplies together so they are close at hand when a craving for brownies strikes!

New home organization is easy when you declutter and lighten your load before you go!

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How could you possibly declutter in one day?  With realistic expectations that’s how!  The first step is to determine how long you feel like you can work that day.  Any amount of time is fine-there are no rules.  Even just a few minutes will make a difference!  If you feel like you would like to tackle a larger project, I find that when I work with clients we get a lot done in three hours.  Working four and five hours is really awesome but some people tend to get tired.  Sometimes it’s physical work and sometimes it’s tiring because it’s mental work.  Take your own energy levels into account. 

Once you choose a time frame, it’s time to choose an area to work in.  Make the most of your time by staying in the area you are working in.  Avoid leaving the area by bringing in labeled bags or boxes to place unwanted items in.  You may have garbage, recyle, donation, shred-it really depends on what your project is. 

Next-work, work, work!  Don’t get sidetracked, don’t get distracted, just power through and declutter by making decisions on what to keep and what to part with.   Your goal to declutter in one day is to make a big impact on your clutter by letting go of items that you no longer need, use or love. 

Choose an area to declutter in one day, make a big impact and remember, tomorrow is a new day!

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