Tuesday, March 22, 2011
De-clutter your home
It's that time of year again for some good old fashioned spring cleaning. Summer break feels like it's just around the corner and the kids will be home for warmer and longer days in no time. So, it's time to de-clutter now while you've got a bit of free time on your hands. Here are three simple tips to get started.
First, throw it in the trash! If no one else can use that thing, whatever it happens to be, just get rid of it. Recycle if possible, of course, but toss it and let it rot somewhere else, just no longer in your house. It feels so cathartic to toss those old unnecessary items into that brown or blue bin on the side-yard.
When my husband and I recently cleaned out our garage and laundry room, we threw away and recycled tons of items that we literally hadn't used in the last two years. Stuff from shoe boxes to paint containers disappeared and we now have more available space. In fact, our new red mini-van actually fits into the garage now! :)
Second, donate your junk! If you aren't using it anymore go ahead and bless it over to a friend or a co-worker. They might need that baby bouncer or those tropical seafood cookbooks you haven't used in the last decade. And if you have too much crap to dispense of individually, just call the AMVETS or the Salvation Army. Then you'll even get a tax write-off as well.
We placed a plethora of items out on our curb, from wooden chairs to clothes and an old television. About fifteen minutes later, a guy drove by and shoved it all into his van. We were glad he could use it or sell it for his own good. Honestly, it made it easier for us not to have to haul it all back into the garage later that night.
Third, reorganize your stuff! Sometimes you just can't part with those beloved parcels. But you could store them differently to minimize the chaos. Try rearranging stressful zones with shelves for books, bins for closet items, and boxes for keepsakes that only come out once or twice a year.
I shoved a bunch of Christmas items into storage bins to free up some space in the laundry room. Since they're sealed, I know they will be snug and safe until next Christmas. Now I have more space for cleaning supplies and beach towels. A few of my shelves even sit empty, which is a first.
You'll experience three main benefits by going through this process to de-clutter your home. First, you'll instantly feel more peaceful. I couldn't believe how much better I felt about my whole house just knowing I'd gotten rid of so much clutter in one day. Second, you'll help someone else out by donating and you'll assist the environment by recycling. Third, you'll open up more space to display some of the stuff you really care about and need.
Keeping it real. Share your thoughts about de-cluttering here. We'd love to hear from you.
First, throw it in the trash! If no one else can use that thing, whatever it happens to be, just get rid of it. Recycle if possible, of course, but toss it and let it rot somewhere else, just no longer in your house. It feels so cathartic to toss those old unnecessary items into that brown or blue bin on the side-yard.
When my husband and I recently cleaned out our garage and laundry room, we threw away and recycled tons of items that we literally hadn't used in the last two years. Stuff from shoe boxes to paint containers disappeared and we now have more available space. In fact, our new red mini-van actually fits into the garage now! :)
Second, donate your junk! If you aren't using it anymore go ahead and bless it over to a friend or a co-worker. They might need that baby bouncer or those tropical seafood cookbooks you haven't used in the last decade. And if you have too much crap to dispense of individually, just call the AMVETS or the Salvation Army. Then you'll even get a tax write-off as well.
We placed a plethora of items out on our curb, from wooden chairs to clothes and an old television. About fifteen minutes later, a guy drove by and shoved it all into his van. We were glad he could use it or sell it for his own good. Honestly, it made it easier for us not to have to haul it all back into the garage later that night.
Third, reorganize your stuff! Sometimes you just can't part with those beloved parcels. But you could store them differently to minimize the chaos. Try rearranging stressful zones with shelves for books, bins for closet items, and boxes for keepsakes that only come out once or twice a year.
I shoved a bunch of Christmas items into storage bins to free up some space in the laundry room. Since they're sealed, I know they will be snug and safe until next Christmas. Now I have more space for cleaning supplies and beach towels. A few of my shelves even sit empty, which is a first.
You'll experience three main benefits by going through this process to de-clutter your home. First, you'll instantly feel more peaceful. I couldn't believe how much better I felt about my whole house just knowing I'd gotten rid of so much clutter in one day. Second, you'll help someone else out by donating and you'll assist the environment by recycling. Third, you'll open up more space to display some of the stuff you really care about and need.
Keeping it real. Share your thoughts about de-cluttering here. We'd love to hear from you.
Labels: de-clutter, kids, parents, spring cleaning
