Sure, spring is the ideal time to tackle the task of getting rid of unwanted items in your home (that’s why everyone is so big on spring cleaning). But why save all that fun for once a year? Setting aside time each season to tidy and toss ensures your home stays clutter-free year-round.
September is the perfect time to add this task to your to-do list. The weather is still nice enough for tackling the garage, shed, or even your car. Plus it’s a great opportunity to take a look at your summer clothes, sports equipment, and other items to see what you’ve actually used and what has been sitting in the closet since last summer (or—gasp!—even longer).
Here’s how to get started.
Break it down. There’s no need to declutter your whole home in a day or frantically try to tackle multiple rooms at once. Break the project down into manageable chunks by starting with just one room. Survey your space, keeping in mind what the room is used for and what items logically belong there.
Get the whole family involved. Who says decluttering is a one-person project? Have family members tackle their personal spaces (bedrooms, toy rooms, offices, shops, etc.) first. Ask them to identify items they no longer wear or use first, before you go into their rooms with your organization guns blazin’.
Create piles. Or, better yet, set up bins or baskets for corralling items. Designate one for each of these categories: save, toss, and donate. You may want to include a few more categories, such as recycle and sell, too. As you go through each space, place anything and everything you can in one of these piles.
Not sure what belongs in each?
SAVE
• Items that are regularly used by you or other members of your family
• Keepsakes, important collections, or any items with sentimental value
• Important paperwork such as bank statements and tax information. Learn what to hold onto
• Children’s clothing that could be saved for younger siblings
• Anything you’re certain you can repurpose or that you’ll need soon (be honest!)
SELL
• Quality clothing and furnishings that are in good condition
• Items you’re willing to put up on eBay
• Almost anything if you’re willing to host a garage sale
DONATE
• Items you and your family don’t use anymore, including old books, magazines, CDs, movies, and toys
• Used clothing your family members don’t wear or have outgrown (Salvation Army and Goodwill are always looking for donations)
• Cell phones, shoes, and sports equipment are only a few of the things that can be donated to great causes. Find out where to donate these and other items.
RECYCLE
• Items others might have a use for—post them on your local craigslist or freecycle site.
• Electronics, motor oil, you name it. Learn where here.
TOSS
I’ll plead with you one last time: before you throw anything away, consider whether you or someone you know might get some us out of it. If it’s broken, can it be fixed? Can parts of it be used for something else? If you have clothes that aren’t in good enough shape to sell or donate, there’s one more step before the garbage bin. Cut old t-shirts to use as cleaning rags or salvage scraps of fabric for quilting or other crafts. A few items you may want to throw away:
• Garbage
• Items that can’t be repaired
• Old cosmetics
• Toys that can’t be donated because they’re missing pieces or parts
• Random junk that you can’t even figure out what it’s for
Still want more info? Try these great clutter-busting tips or read up on ways to clear clutter.
Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All
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