Time to Declutter

Are you a collector? I like to think of myself as a collector of all things beautiful! When I have a hobby... I collect, an interest... I collect, something sentimental... I collect, a passion... I  collect. I have a hard time letting things go because, what if I might need it someday? It never fails that when I get rid of something I end up needing it or thinking to myself, "where in the world did I put that?"

Are you a pack rat like me? Or are you one of those people that can easily get rid of things? I have a sister that is constantly purging the items in her house. I envy her... well, a little bit. At least I am an organized pack rat!



Example of a hot spot in our school room - the art corner.

It is time to declutter. I do two major clean outs - one right before summer so I can have a garage sale and one right before Christmas - to make room for all the new stuff that will be filling our home. Whenever I feel the need to do a major clean out and declutter, I watch one of those hoarding shows for inspiration. I am not trying to degrade the people on those shows in any way. I realize that the people on those shows have serious conditions, traumas that have happened to them and some even have mental disabilities that cause them to end up like that. I just use the show as a way to remind myself how things could end up... and I ask myself some of the same questions that you might hear on the shows:

Have I used it or worn it in the last year?

Is it broken and fixable? How long has it been broken with the intent to fix it? Am I really going to fix it? Or is it unusable and needs to go in the trash?

Would someone else be able to use it if I am not currently using it?

Sentimental stuff...

Is it something that I can use or am I just storing it in a box? Do I have room to store it?

Does any one else care about this item? Or is it just something my kids will have to sort through when I am gone?

These are some great questions that can help you as you organize and declutter your home.

I have gotten so much better about what I save and what I get rid of. Especially since I have started my year long house decluttering system. I go through one room or area of my house a month and take time each week to go through the items in that room. I give myself a time limit, whether that is an afternoon or just 10 minutes, I dedicate that time to getting rid of items in that room. More on how I keep my entire house organized and save time doing it in a future blog.

One thing to remember is that getting rid of things and decluttering is a process. It didn't all just show up one day, it has accumulated over time. So diligently take time to go through and get rid of it.  Like an onion, peel back a layer at a time. Its easier and less painful that way!

I also try to help my kids to keep their clutter to a minimum. I want them to learn good habits now so that they will carry those habits into adulthood - well, at least I hope they do!

My kids have to do a daily 10 minute "hot spot" as part of their daily chores on their chore chart. A hot spot is a term used by The Fly Lady that means a spot that fills with clutter - a place where things tend to collect and need to be sorted and put away. (If you want ideas on how to clean and organize your home her blog has amazing  ideas and ways to clean - one step at a time. You can check out her blog here: http://flylady.net/ )  Going back to my kids, they have to do a daily hot spot.  Sometimes they get to choose the hot spot and sometimes I get to choose. But the fact is, if they are going through and decluttering daily, it will help them to keep those areas of their rooms clean.  Some of the hot spots in my kids rooms are: desk, top of dresser, knick knack shelf, bucket of toys, dresser drawer, one of their "hiding spots", under the bed, corner of the closet. I will have a future post on our chore chart and how it has simplified my kids day as well as my own.



Decluttering and reorganizing the craft supplies - a hot spot in our school room!

Another way I help my kids stay uncluttered is I have limits on what they can keep. Which means, if they get a new stuffed animal, they need to get rid of one in their room.  If they are getting a new toy, they need to get rid of one.  Its ok if they choose a broken one, as long as they are getting rid of something!

One last note; I mentioned at the beginning of this post that I do two major clean outs a year. The one at the beginning of summer is so I can have a garage sale. I have one strict rule for my kids and myself when it comes to items in the garage sale - once we have committed to getting rid of it, it can not go back in the house. I do not allow myself to shop at my own garage sale as I have witnessed so many of my friends doing in the past. I committed to get rid of it, therefore I donate whatever is left. Otherwise, it will just clutter the garage with stuff you hope to sell some day. Also, when you want to have a garage sale - decide if it is to make money or to get rid of "stuff." If it is truly to just get rid of clutter - price it to go at garage sale prices!! People are looking for a bargain. You will not get back what you paid for it, so just let it go and let someone else get a great deal on something they want or need. I am always looking for a great deal!

Now go and declutter something... even if you only take 10 minutes to clean a hot spot!! We need to make room for those Christmas gifts that are going to fill our homes soon!! Happy decluttering!