WFMW: Cutting the Clutter
My idea for Works-For-Me-Wednesday this week isn’t super original, but I can’t remember where I first got the idea, so I’m passing it along.
Ever reach a point where the stuff in your house seems to be closing in on you and the clutter is growing faster than your family (which, in my house, is lightning fast!)? Well, here’s what you do to PURGE:
- Every day for a week, walk around your house with two trash bags.
- The first one, fill with stuff to pass on to Goodwill or whoever your favorite local charity is.
- The second one, fill with junk / trash that’s not worth giving away, like broken toys, old magazines, etc. (Feel free to also toss this sort of stuff into recycling bins, of course.)
- By the end of one week, you’ll have 14 garbage bags less of “stuff” in your house.
- Continue on with this pattern until your space seems more breathable.
It may take two weeks or a month, whatever… - At the end of the appointed time, take your seven bags of donatable goods to drop off. Do not leave them in the garage. That will only cause you more trouble later.
Again, not earth shattering, but like me, simple and straight forward. Hope this helps. I’m off to do more purging.
For more great tips, visit the Rocks in My Dryer Blog.
October 21st, 2008 at 10:04 pm
What an approachable method! Thanks.
October 22nd, 2008 at 8:16 am
I used to have a boss that would say “I have an urge to purge.” No, he didn’t have an eating disorder, but wanted to keep paper clutter at the office to a minimum. Anyway, I’ve never forgotten that so I have an “urge to purge” my house every season. Getting rid of clutter just makes everything go smoother!
October 22nd, 2008 at 8:23 am
i’m getting rid of clutter as i unpack @ mr. right’s place (his mother packed most of the stuff, so i couldn’t do it then)
October 22nd, 2008 at 8:27 am
That is a very smart idea!
I will have to try that!
Thanks
-Coco
October 22nd, 2008 at 8:33 am
Great ideas, I hate clutter…..
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:50 am
One other option is to wait until the house is so full you can no longer enter, and then burn it down and start over. But your idea is probably more practical.
If you’re interested, I’m giving away free bakeware on my blog. Comment or link to me to enter the contest and win 4 Handmade Pottery Apple Bakers valued at $36. http://laneypottery.com/2008/10/21/win-pottery-apple-bakers/ Thanks!
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:50 am
I just stopped my little dusting project because I was getting a little upset with myself for having a whole shelf on my display bookshelf full of cash register receipts, gum wrappers, broken pieces to who knows what.
I have been filling up trash bags like crazy today - Your systems sounds a lot like FlyLady - which is what I’m talking about today.
Come by my place today to see how you can Cruise through the Holidays, in my WFMW.
Have a Great Day!
Kristin
October 22nd, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Great tips. I started de-cluttering today. That’s hard work. I am going to implement some of your tips. TFS
October 23rd, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Great ideal I will have to try this. Thanks
October 24th, 2008 at 6:50 am
Thanks, gal. I’m off to grab a bag. Something’s gotta give.
October 29th, 2008 at 6:08 am
It’s a whole lot easier to get my sis here and let her loose. She’s the most anti-clutter thing I’ve ever met. I didn’t inherit the gene.
Scares the hubby everytime tho as he never can find anything for months afterwards. Can you say creature of habit? One time he told her to “go for it! Just don’t move my peanut butter.” So the whole time she was visiting she’d buy a different brand of p’nut butter whenever we’d go somewhere. Just before she left she cut out giant arrows out of florescent paper and taped them to the peanut butter shelf all pointing to his precious peanut butter collection. He opened the cupboard that morning and was greeted by 15 jars and ten huge orange arrows. Laughed our heads off!