A year of decluttering - 30 minutes.

Okay, it's a beautiful weekend.  If you're not organizing your garage or running your garage sale you want to be outside don't you?  This week's challenge of decluttering leaves you with

1. Three 5 minute jobs.
2. Three 10 minute jobs.
3. Three 30 minute jobs.  

You can do this.

Use 5 minutes to

1. Start donation container.  
2. Pick up one room.
3. Bring in stuff from the car.

Use 10 minutes to

1. Clean out your email.
2. Organize your junk drawer.
3. Organize your wallet.

Use 30 minutes to

1. Clean out your medicine cabinet.
2. Clean out your refrigerator.
3. Organize a dresser drawer.

A year of de-cluttering - Storage Unit

Thank you to Lisa: Lisa is a guest blogger on the subjects of home improvement, home organization, and organizing storage units. She works in the storage industry and is currently working on organization projects that involve storage units in Tallahassee and storage units in McAllen. 

How to Keep a Storage Unit Organized

Self storage is not the ultimate solution to de-cluttering your home. However, it can be useful in certain circumstances that require you to temporarily store things away from your home. If you do decide to rent a self storage unit, keeping it organized is essential. Here are a few of the things you can do to keep your storage unit tidy and organized:

Source: rentittoday.com via Matthew on Pinterest

Be Selective About What You Store

Your storage unit should absolutely not be where you store all of the things that don’t fit in your home. So, before something goes in your unit, take some time to assess whether or not you can give it away or find a place for it in your home. Things like broken appliances and electronics that you only have a slight intention of fixing should generally not go in your storage unit. Likewise, small household accessories and decorations that are out of season or out of style usually belong at Goodwill, rather than your storage unit. Remember that the fewer things you store, the less effort you’ll need to put forth organizing your unit.

Visit Your Unit Once a Month

Remember that self storage, in most cases, should just be a temporary solution. So, it’s generally a good idea to visit your storage unit once a month and figure out whether you want to remove certain items and either give them away or take them back into your home. Additionally, each time you visit your unit, you should spend some time organizing it by making sure that similar items are grouped together in boxes and that large furniture is pushed to the sides of the unit. Don't forget to label absolutely every box!

Make Sure You Can Access Everything

You should leave a good amount of space in the center of your unit to make access to your belongings easier. So, push things to the side and don’t just pile things up from the back of the unit to the front of the unit. If you don’t have space for a center aisle, it may be time to consider what you can get rid of to make space or you may want to consider renting a larger unit that will be easier for you to keep organized.

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The tips above are some of the most critical things you’ll need to do to keep your storage unit organized. Remember that proper organization of your storage unit and home will make it a lot easier to achieve a comprehensive de-cluttering of your life. 

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Author’s Bio:

This week's de-clutter assignment: 

Organize your storage unit!  Remove what hasn't been touched since you first started using the unit.  Get rid of as much stuff as possible!  Make sure all your boxes are labeled and everything is easily accessible. 

Kid's stuff! -A Year of Decluttering

I found such an incredible article today I had to share it with you immediately!

Small kids can't read. Older kids are in a hurry to clean up so they don't read.  These are reasons why it's so much better to make labels with photos of what tubs and baskets contain for our little ones. 

Jen at I Heart Organizing went over the top fabulous with how she did it.  Click the link to read her entire post about it.

This type of basket makes it possible to mount this frame on it.  Actually framing the label makes it look super pretty. 

Most of us don't have a team helping us pull off something like this.  We don't have the time to buy frames, stain them, and screw them into the baskets we spend more time shopping for.  We're not organized enough to get it done.  I am in no way bashing this post.  I ADORE this idea.  I think it's so useful and ideal. 

My point is you can do part of what she did.  You can quickly look online for images of the toys you are containing, print off that image on cardstock or whatever and have it laminated at Office Depot.  Or you could make these labels smaller than this and use clear packing tape to adhere to your container.  You could outline the paper with a black sharpie to make a scrapbooky kind of "frame".  You can layer the printed image onto pretty scrapbook paper before taping it to the container. 

Just make it as simple as you need.  While this is SUPERB, it's better to do your own simple version within your time constraints than to not label at all.

Now, your focus this week is sorting and de-cluttering your kids' toys.  Ask your little one to find their top 5 favorite toys. Assign a value to these top 5 favorites, like a 10.  For all toys have your kid assign a value based on a 1 to 10 scale.  This will help you and them figure out what toys have to leave the house.  Create a goal of a set number of toys to leave (20?).  Let your kids choose the 20 that are leaving.  They need this sense of control because it's hard enough for them to let go.  Give your kid some kind of reward for each item over the numbered goal he gets rid of.  He needs positive feedback. 

Now, label these containers!  It doesn't have to be a perfect label.  I love to use chalkboard labels with a chalk pen.  Draw a photo instead of writing words if you can.  If your child can read and you only have time to write, then do it.   

Done is better than perfect!  

A year of de-cluttering - your car

Your car.

It's your home on wheels.  You probably spend more time in it than you'd like.

Open all the doors and windows and take a good look.  Who's the biggest mess maker?

Grab your family and arm them with small trash bags and begin.

Get everything out of your car and trunk.  Sort what you're finding into piles as you clean it out.

Clean the interior from top to bottom.  Clean the dash, the windows, the doors, especially the door handles, the steering wheel, everything.  Vacuum the seats and floor and don't forget to shake out the floor mats.

Hang litter bags from the head rests.  This one has an attached lid, is roomy, and is leakproof!

No-Leak Litterbag $17 CleverContainer.com/holly

You can hang a plastic bag from a car hook if you're not worried about leaks.

Set of two Car Hooks $12 CleverContainer.com/holly

I use the car hooks for a small diaper bag:

Don't forget to include a trash receptacle for the driver!  If your trash is always small, say straw paper, maybe all you need is a Car Pocket. You can store your sunglasses or phone in the front and your little pieces of trash in the other pocket.

Car Pocket $9 CleverContainer.com/holly

Store kids toys, games, and snacks in a behind-the-seat organizer.

Backseat Entertainment $24 CleverContainer.com/holly

Store the following in the glove compartment: owner's manual, maps, vehicle registration information, auto club information, accident report form, notepad, pen, flashlight, list of emergency contact names and numbers, tire gauge, paper napkins and any other frequently needed or essential items.

Simply restock your car with what you need, nothing more.

This Cargo Tote fits great in my van's cargo area.  I like that is has velcro on the bottom so it doesn't slide around.  

Cargo Tote $29 http://cleverContainer.com/holly

 A friend of mine doesn't have a cargo area so she uses one of these Cargo Pockets and loves it.  

Cargo Pockets $24 http://cleverContainer.com/holly

In the front seat area I personally use a product called The Swing Away.  It holds a lot of my stuff but if someone joins me as a passenger I just swing it to hang on the back on the seat.

Swing Away $25 http://cleverContainer.com/holly

If you'd rather use our sun visor more efficiently consider using a GripIt made for your sun visor.

GripIt Sun Visor $30 http://cleverContainer.com/holly

Tackle your car again every season.  Everyone who uses the vehicle needs to help since everyone contributed to the mess.  Enjoy your clutter-free ride!

12 months of de-cluttering - in the bathroom

Our bathrooms are small rooms but they sure do work hard.  And I've never met a person who actually likes cleaning and maintaining this space.  So let's get busy de-cluttering and making this room work better with less stuff. We're not hanging on to stuff we don't use. We're not hanging onto stuff we used a few times and didn't like.  We're not hanging on to stuff that is expired.  We're only keeping what we use and we're gaining a fresh start every morning.

Clear everything off the counter tops.  Look through what's been taking up prime real estate and only replace the items you use daily.  If a product has gathered dust, there's no question about it, you need to toss it. 

Toss old cosmetics.  It doesn't matter if it's barely been used.  Get rid of it.

Toss outdated medication. Google how to safely dispose of these items.  Toss last year's sunscreen. For insurance that your sunscreen will actually work you need a new bottle every year.  This stuff does expire.

Toss moldy or damaged items.  Toss empty bottles.  Look through the shower stall and take out duplicate products.  You only need one cleanser at a time.  Either restock your closet with the duplicates or toss them.

Corral the bath toys with a mesh bag or toy basket to keep them out of the way. Throw out any that have become moldy.  Rubber duckies easily get mold built up inside.  They need a specific home.

Don't forget the back of your toilet.  Throw out what you don't use.  Recycle old reading materials.

Clear off shelves just like you did the counter tops. 

Donate your unused excess to homeless shelters, Women's shelters, etc.  Toss items that have been opened and used. 

Now that you know what you have in stock, don't buy more!  It doesn't matter how good of a deal it is if it's taking up a bunch of space. 

If it didn't take long to de-clutter and you want to move on to organizing this space better, here are some recommendations.

Look for extra storage behind the door and stock a Clever Pocket.

Under-the sink cabinets can often be a waste of space.  Install a pull-out drawer to maximize space and accessibility.  Or use a tuff tote. 

 I like to use these clear cabinet cubbies.  They store a lot and are easy to see the contents. And did I mention they are a super durable product?

For a bathroom that is used by multiple people go the extra mile to label shelves, drawers and containers.  This helps when putting items away and everyone will know the system.

Use the wall behind the toilet to install shelves.  Store extra toilet paper here. 

Keep extra towels and wash cloths rolled up in an attractive way near the shower.  Use a tuff tote or something like this jumbo tote.

Place drawer organizers into drawers to help manage accessories, cosmetics, medicine etc.  I like this expandable drawer organizer.

Install a basic hook above eye level to hang your outfit while you shower.  My husband also stores his belts this way since he gets dressed in the bathroom every day.

Use a vanity spinner on your counter top and inside closets to easily see and grab what you need.

A year of de-cluttering

It's catch up week!

Start projects in the series you were afraid of.

Finish projects you didn't.

Donate your goods that haven't left the house yet!

Go go go!

12 months of decluttering - Kids closets

Having your kid help you set up his closet will save everyone time and headache!  Setting up a system tailored to her also sets up a system for your child to put away and receive her clothing on her own!  Set aside two hours for this project.

In this post you'll find

1. Steps to de-cluttering and setting up the closet. 
2. Supply ideas. 
3. A look at my girls' closets.

Set up
1. Put a sheet on the ground to keep the clothes clean as you sort, or use a made bed for your sorting area.
2. Have one trash bag for trash and one for donation.  Have a box or tub handy for clothes you will be handing down to a younger sibling.  If you plan to consign your clothes in the near future, designate a box for that.  You'll also need a spot for the keepers.


Clear out the closet
1. Start on the floor, move to the top, then to the hanging clothes.

Ask your kid
1. Facilitate the decision making by asking her/him, "Do you wear this?"
2. No's go into the Donate, Hand Down, or Consign pile if they're in good condition.  If you wouldn't buy it in its condition then trash it.
3. Her answer is "no" but she wants to keep it for memory's sake = Goes in her memory box.  
4. Yeses go in the keep pile.  She can't decide?  Ask, "When was the last time you wore this?"  More than a year = Donate, Hand Down, or Consign.
5. If it's been less than a year and it's in season = keep.

Get it out
1. Get the donations and consignment piles ready to go out the door.
2. Call the consignment store you plan to take your clothes to.  Ask what they are taking now and find out their hours of operation.  Sort accordingly.  Put those into a bin, separate from off-season weather clothing.  Give away your clothes that are not in the right season because holding onto them for longer doesn't solve your space problem.
3. Get the donations and consignment items into your car and plan when you will deliver them.  Put it in your calendar.
4. Move the hand-me-downs into the younger sibling's room.  These can be dealt with as you repeat this process in their bedroom closet.

Put it away
1. Next you'll put the keepers back into the closet or dresser.  Ask your child how he would like to find his clothes.  Does she like them folded or hanging?
2. As your child helps put clothing away, ask her:  "Do you like to arrange your clothes by color or style?"  Depending on the answer ask even more questions to get your child thinking and taking ownership over how they want to find what they are looking for.  This is their system, not yours!  Going with their system means more independence for both of you.  You are teaching your child an awesome skill!  So ask questions and back off.
3. If she has accessories like belts, hats, or tights, ask your child where she wants those kept.  Hooks that hang at their level can be key here!

Out of season 
1. If you have high shelves your child can't reach, use them for sheets, out-of-season clothing, or bins that you can easily pull down.

Stand back.  Admire your work together.  Make sure he can reach what he needs.  Review where everything is with your child.

Container suggestions:

If your kid likes to wear jewelry, this jewelry file will keep it visible, organized and contained.  It's two-sided, hangs on a clothing bar and swivels.

Using an over-the-door pocket system can help keep accessories of all kinds visible, organized, and contained.  

Use a simple scarf holder to also store tights!  What a great idea for the dancer!

Use curved shelf dividers to help keep items organized.

Use a container at the bottom of the closet for shoes if that's what works best for your kid.

If you have to store next season's clothes in the closet consider using compression vacuum bags!

A look into my kids' closets

 These shelves would be worthless without these dividers!  Labels help on the edges are easy visual reminders of what goes where.

 Dresses - her fave, are at easy reach.

 My husband's childhood snake (he made it with his DAD!) serves well for shrugs and such.

 We choose my five year old's clothes the night before and hang them here outside of her closet with her chosen pair of shoes, undies, socks...whatever she needs to be fully clothed.

 A simple shoe box works for her.

In my one year old's closet I have these fantastic tubs labeled, "Next" and "Outgrown".  It's a huge help to have a home for these two categories.  Once they are full I can do what I need with them!

12 months of decluttering

It's beautiful weather here in NWA.  You don't want to work another day inside do you?  How perfect that your next de-clutter challenge is your yard!

Gather children's toys or games and store them all in one place.  Your garage or storage shed is best but we don't all have those...or they need to be de-cluttered first don't they?  Next week maybe?

Grab a wagon or wheel barrow and walk your yard.  Fill it with trash and anything that doesn't belong.  Pick up anything you wouldn't want to mow over.  Put this stuff where it belongs.

Next inspect your garden pots.  If you have not planted anything in them yet and you left them out all winter put them away in a garage or all in one spot.

Take a good look at the tired and old swing set and the scary looking trampoline.  Are they safe?  Are they used?  If not, disassemble them and call your trash company or city and ask for the proper way to dispose of these.

Clean any good and usable furniture.

Clean off your patio or deck.  Use a power washer on these and your house if you can get your hands on one.  You'll be surprised how awesomely new everything will look!

Clean out your flower and garden beds so they are ready for planting!

Make a list of the projects you see that needs done: edging, planting this there and that here, mulching, trimming, etc.

Don't you dare forget to wear your sunscreen!

12 months of de-cluttering - in the pantry

Janet and I help clients relocate to the NWArkansas area. We always help them unpack the kitchen because this room takes the most time. I often end up in the pantry and I like to organize it by zones.  Some possible zone categories might be: Impromptu Entertaining, Baking Supplies, Easy Weeknight Meals, General Food Storage, Lunch on the run, Quick Breakfasts, Tools and Appliances.   I find most families need a zone for grains, pastas, and paper goods too.

When organizing your own pantry you need to identify food and cooking categories that suit your lifestyle. Then designate an area for each. It's a good idea to label the zones so that everyone who uses the pantry can't say they didn't put it away because they didn't know where it goes!

My zones are canned goods, oils, vinegars - on one shelf.

Baking supplies on another shelf.  

Coffee bar and cookbooks on one shelf.

Tea, cereal, and containers dividing my children's lunch supplies and snacks on one shelf.

Crock pots and ice cream maker on one shelf.

Bread maker, extra convenience snacks, and dried beans on the top shelf because I don't need to access this stuff often.

The first thing you need to do before organizing into zones is to actually clean out your space.  Take everything out of our pantry. Try to group like items together. Throw out obvious trash and expired food.  Donate food that is not expired but what you are obviously not going to eat.  Donate your excess.  Be honest about what you actually use.  Don't worry about how much it cost and be glad to provide a meal to someone without an income.  Search for a local food pantry online.  If you contact just about any church they can also hook you up.

Clean the shelves.  When else are you going to have the chance to clean every shelf in your pantry?!  

Look over what you are keeping and what you have been storing in your pantry.  Haven't used an appliance in 5 years or so?  Donate it or sell it.  Look for items you're storing in your pantry but could use a better home.  Sometimes things just get thrown in there, create a home for these lost items.  

Now turn your focus back to your pantry and zones.  What you use most needs to be at a level you can reach easily.  What you use least needs to be on the higher shelves.  

When putting items on your shelf, place them so you can read the labels easily.  This detail will save you a lot of time.  Consider stacking your breakfast cereals and baking mixes like the picture below.  You won't have to move anything to see what you have.

Bags of rice and dried beans as well as bags of pasta can be a disorganized mess but will be greatly helped with the use of clear tubs or baskets. The same goes for snacks. If your family eats a lot of dried fruit, use a clear tub to contain all the fruit within the snack zone. The same goes for breakfast bars that could easily get lost in the Breakfast zone.

If you can purchase stair step shelves or something similar for your pantry, this is a great way to organize your canned goods and spices. So many pantries have very deep shelves. Sure, you can store a lot in there but it's just so easy to become a huge mess and so easy to buy duplicates because you can not easily see what you have. 

If you have a swinging door on your pantry, place an over the door pocket system there. Use it for spice packets, jello boxes, cleaning supplies, baby cups and bottles.  

 Clever Pockets

I use a pocket system nailed to a bare wall in my pantry so no space is wasted.

Basically you are cleaning out your pantry and setting it back up in zones.  Go the extra mile and label where things go.  Get inspiration from one of my previous pinterest posts.  Don't strive for perfect, just make it the best usuable space you can for your family's needs.

The pantry is my favorite place to de-clutter and organize. Enjoy cleaning it out and enjoy your clutter-free zones!

A Year of De-cluttering - in the kitchen!

One of the top ten reasons people say they love becoming organized and living without clutter is they can find what they need when they need it.  Could this be any more true when you're standing in the kitchen, racing against the clock with kids at your heels while you're preparing a meal?

The key to an organized kitchen is to group like items together and create zones of function for ease of use.

To begin our project this week make sure you have plenty of receptacles for donate, recycle, and trash.  We will focus on the kitchen today, the pantry next week.

The first thing you can do is quickly look in every cabinet and drawer and take action on items you don't like, don't use, have never used, and get in the way.  Be ruthless!  Don't keep something because you or someone else paid good money for it.  Your ability to daily find what you need is more valuable!

Next step back and think.  Zone the kitchen mentally by pre-planning how the kitchen will function upon completion.  When Janet and I help transferees unpack their kitchen we ask them to visualize themselves working in this space and ask where they see themselves making coffee, grabbing for pans, towels etc.  Mentally, divide your kitchen into zones such as food prep, cooking, dish storage, kids dinnerware, utility, etc.

You already did an initial quick purge.  Now we need to spend more time in each drawer and cabinet sorting what you have.  Be realistic about how many coffee cups you use, how many cheese graters you need, etc.  Keep only the ones you like and use.

Take the time to make sure all pots and storage containers have corresponding lids.  Your older child can even help out with this one.  Pick the best of what you have and donate the rest.  Toss chipped bowls and rusted anything.  You don't need a bazillion rags.  Chances are you'll find a t-shirt with a hole in it next week, and a sock.  Wouldn't you rather have the space you need than hold onto trash?

After this purge you will now only be housing items you actually use and love.  Based on your pre-planned zones begin putting items away.

• Place heavier items in lower cabinets.
• Group glassware by size.  Instead of taller glasses in the back and shorter in the front, group them in columns.  So when you take one of the tall red glass, the next one behind it is the same.  
• Use the least desirable locations for seasonal items and seldom used items like platters for entertaining etc.
• Place items used frequently in the most convenient of places.  My dishes are above my food serving area and above my dishwasher.  
• Store your pan lids near your pans.

Again the key here is to store like items together and to create zones.  Keep that as your focus as you finish up your area.  

Inevitably you can't place something in its perfect spot because it's not a perfect world.  Find the next best spot.  And most people have a junk drawer.  Even I do.  It doesn't have to be a drawer of mess.  Here's my friend's:

Once you are finished I know you will be tired and overjoyed at the same time.  You should consider taking it a step further and labeling the shelves so everyone in the family knows where to retrieve and return.

Want more?  Clean out your fridge and freezer.  Toss food that is expired, including condiments.  

Enjoy finding what you need when you need it as you serve up your best Food Network meal!

12 months of de-cluttering.

I know last month was really hard for me on the de-cluttering home front.  I had a full schedule and I'd rather de-clutter STUFF than my emails and computer!  


In March and April  we are doing a bit of an organizer's version of a Spring Clean....a Spring Purge. 


If you want an easy task then this month get rid of 7 things every single day.  If you start today you will be 161 items lighter.  I promise you that is not hard.  I just went through the playroom yesterday and filled half a trashcan full of stuff that was so worthless I couldn't even donate it.  That's it.  If you want the "easy track" this month, that's your assignment.  Wanna include your family?  Have them get rid of 7 things a day and you'll create more room in your house in no time.  That's too much?  Make each people responsible for 1 item to donate/trash a day.  


What to get "hard core"?  Me too!  


This week we'll focus on our hall closets and linen closets.  One of the advantages of having less linens, coats, jackets, stuff in general is there is simply less to manage and time is actually gained!  Seriously, you sort of add minutes to your day when you have less to manage!


As you empty your linen closet donate your extra not-so-great linens and towels to your local animal shelter!     Donate your extras of anything you have.  So many people have a large stockpile of body washes and the like they wouldn't need to shop for two years but the reality is they are still buying them and their stockpile grows beyond what they can use.  Donate these items to a food pantry.  Or any kind of half-way house could use this kind of stuff.  Your extra "usable" linens could also be used by these types of shelters.  


Google online how to properly dispose of your expired medicines.  


Rotate your heavy coats, you won't likely need them here on out, make sure your spring jackets are easily accessible.  Put up those hats, gloves and scarves and get out the sidewalk chalk and bubbles.  I have an over the door pocket system in my front entry closet.  The winter stuff will be put up and replaced with these outdoor fun tools so they are easily accessible.  


Notice if you have too many hangers, suitcases and backpacks.  Donate your excess.  Store infrequently used suitcases in the attic or on a high shelf.  


Donate all the stuff you haven't used in so long you forgot about it!  The easiest way to donate might be to list your freebies on freecycle.org.  People will gladly come pick up your castoffs!


Don't go easy on yourself here.  Do this Spring Purge full-tilt.  Make a family project of de-cluttering your home to donate unneeded items to those less fortunate. This is a sure way to put things into perspective and realize that “things” only have value when they fulfill a real need. Donate items to Goodwill, to less fortunate friends, or to families from church that can use a little help.


Remember why it's important to get rid of this clutter!  

Set yourself free of the responsibilities of being a “consumer” and realize that you have the power to stop buying things! Buying less does a multitude for your mind and soul, including getting you a little closer towards having gratitude for what you already have, not focusing on what you don’t.

Products that can help you organize your linen and hall closets once you've decluttered:

Curved shelf dividers are perfect for towels and linens.  Add a label to the shelf so everyone in the family understand where to find things and where to put them back. CleverContainer.com/holly

A hanger hamper is perfect for storing some extra hangers.  This simple hamper can help you put a limit on the amount of extras you keep.  Once it's full, any other hangers must be donated. CleverContainer.com/holly

These shoe boxes can be used to store just about anything.  The front opens for easy retrieval.  Because they are square they fit well into all spaces.  Because they are clear you know what they contain.  They stack easily on top of each other.  CleverContainer.com/holly

Use your closet doors for storage with Clever Pockets found at CleverContainer.com/holly. 

Use a vanity spinner or two for small items you can't see well and which easily become a big mess.  CleverContainer.com/holly

You can use these Cabinet Cubbies for a variety of things in every closet.  I love that they are heavy duty clear plastic and that they have a handle.  Find them at CleverContainer.com/holly