Do you ever just want more stuff – any time – all the time – every day? Even if you could afford it all, where would you put it? Would you just keep buying homes and storage units to put all the stuff you continued to acquire? When would you ever get rid of some of the older stuff?
The definition of Decluttering is: getting rid of some of the older stuff. Here are simple instructions for quick Decluttering.
[You may have already seen my Organizing Lite post. And, you may be thinking what’s the difference between Organizing and Decluttering? Well, Decluttering is only one of the steps in an Organizing process. In fact, it is “Step 2: Purge.”]
Supplies Needed:
- Containers for sorting: bags, boxes, bins, etc.
- Container labels: donate, recycle, trash, keep (in this space), elsewhere (another room or belongs to someone else), storage (long-term)
- Sharpies
- Sticky Notes
How to Declutter:
- Start at the entrance to the room/space and work clockwise
- Pick up the first item next to you
- Make a decision about which container is appropriate for that item
- Place the item in its container (if the item is too large to place in a container, simply put a sticky note on the item with the appropriate label and place the item near the container if you can – or find a staging area for such items and place it there)
- Wash. Rinse. Repeat… until the room/space is decluttered (You may have to pause this session in mid-project. Regardless of when you pause, immediately…)
- Take out the Trash containers
- Take out the Recycle containers (or load your vehicle and deliver the items to be recycled)
- Load your vehicle with the Donate containers and deliver the items to be donated)
- Move the Storage containers to your long-term storage area (attic, basement, storage unit, etc.)
- Move the Elsewhere containers to wherever they belong (you may want to do another sort and re-containerize these items before you deliver them, e.g., garage, closet, Cousin Joe’s, etc.)
That’s all there is to Decluttering! Now, all you’re left with is the Keep containers. Refer back to that Organizing Lite post to see what needs to happen next. You can do this.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven… a time to keep and a time to throw away…” Ecclesiastes 3:1,6 (New International Version)
Hello, my name is Tina Bonifacio, and I am a Professional Organizer working with residential and commercial clients in the greater Savannah, Georgia area. For more information, visit https://organizedbytina.com. Thanks for stopping by. You are welcome back anytime.
This is a good plan. I will be using this method. I am in the middle of a big project.
I had a fire in my garage which is where I kept the things I want – like my Halloween and Christmas Decorations. In order to have new space I am cleaning out an old shop. It is a lot to confront. I have to do it is sections. I know starting at the entrance my sound way to simple but I can handle that. Thanks
Thanks, Sheila! So thankful no one was hurt in the garage fire. Sections… Baby Steps… great way to attack it. Sometimes the best ideas are very simple. Keep us posted on your progress.