If you've got the urge to get some stuff out of the house, start with this list of items you can say goodbye to right now with no impunity.
If you've got the urge to get some stuff out of the house, start with this list of items you can say goodbye to right now with no impunity.
If you've got the urge to get some stuff out of the house, start with this list of items you can say goodbye to right now with no impunity.
If you were planning to take to Pinterest to find the best spring cleaning tricks, there's no need — we've done that part for you!
Stuff. Everywhere I turn, there’s stuff. There’s stuff to snack on, sip on, stew on, think over, trip over, put away, give away, throw away, sell, delete, archive, upload, back up. Welcome to the great purge everyone. My week of less. My week of saying goodbye to junk and clutter. It weighs on me – all this clutter. It makes me feel like I’m not in control and I hate the feeling of not being in control. It’s like there’s somebody else choosing how I feel or spend my time, and I’m just a player in the game trying to keep up. Guess what. I can never keep up. That’s why I’m decluttering. Because in my head, less junk means less variables to control. Fewer things to control means easier management of my life. Now that I’ve spent every waking hour obsessing over junk/clutter/stuff/things this week, I’ve concluded that there are a few life cleaning lessons worth sharing. Lesson 1: Attack from all angles (but only if you have the willpower) We forget sometimes how much the body, mind and space impact each other. Exercise, for example, has an enormous impact on how our brains function, and even a short amount of moderate to intense activity (10–20 minutes) before sitting down to work is an extremely, if not the most, effective way to improve productivity, creativity, focus and general mental performance. It made me wonder – if I took a 360 degree approach to clutter clearing and addressed not just the environmental junk, but the junk I put into my body and the junk that runs through my mind (meditation), would I see accelerated results? Would I feel totally different? To be clear, I will always recommend focusing on one activity or goal at a time, especially when embarking on something new and unfamiliar. But since I’ve already suffered through beginning meditation and an elimination diet, and because for months I’ve been maintaining versions of these habits, they don’t require much effort or willpower on my part. I want to do them. And while it’s too early to draw any conclusions, especially since I’m still riding on a wave of motivation, I’m enjoying the satisfaction of sticking to the protocol without much struggle. The point is, if you have the endurance, go for it and give every part of yourself the opportunity to grow. Lesson 2: Get the Small, Early Win Now, back to clutter clearing. My starting point was not pretty. It was downright bad, actually. As in I found an ID card from when I studied abroad in 2001 bad. It was a chest full of wires bad. Containers filled with random parts scattered around the house bad. And few dozen non-matching pieces of tupperware bad. To say the project was intimidating would be an understatement. I just had to dive in. A quick Google search will return a number of different clutter clearing philosophies. Some recommend working in small chunks, where every day, you throw out 10 things, or work hard for 15 minutes and that’s it. Others believe in setting aside a day or weekend to tackle the project all at …
Decluttering your home is a rejuvenating experience that can bring clarity and joy to your life. Over the next few weeks, challenge yourself to let go of items that no longer serve a purpose, don't bring you happiness, or simply clutter your space. This journey is about rediscovering the beauty of simplicity and making room
If you've got the urge to get some stuff out of the house, start with this list of items you can say goodbye to right now with no impunity.
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If you've got the urge to get some stuff out of the house, start with this list of items you can say goodbye to right now with no impunity.
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Tired of the excess stuff in your house? Read on to learn how to purge your house of junk you no longer want or need. You'll also learn how to keep it clutter-free when you're done! Get the free decluttering checklist to help you get started. #declutter #purge #junk
In honor of spring I have teamed up with a bunch of other hot mamas for a spring cleaning checklist. Click around and hopefully it will inspire you to purge, re-purpose or reorganize items in your home. I know easier said than done right? Be sure to enter the spring cleaning giveaway at the end! 1. Makeup :: toss source 2. Clothing :: donate I am just as guilty as the next person for holding onto a pair of "skinny" jeans - and I don't mean in the fashion sense. The truth is even if one day you can fit into those skinny jeans again, you won't want too. Why? Because you're going to want to go buy all new stuff! Donate any ill fitting clothes or clothing you haven't worn in over a year. 3. Expired Spices :: toss Spices are something we often buy and forget about. It's not until I pick up the onion powder that I notice it now resembles rock candy. Spices do have expirations so check yours and chuck what's out of date. 4. Books :: donate I love reading books and I am not talking on my Kindle. While my bookshelves do hold some beloved favorites I find the ones I won't reread or loan out to a friend are better off at our local library. Many libraries have a donation drop box outside that you can donate to any time of day! 5. Pet toys :: toss/donate The pet industry rakes in billions of dollars a year for good reason - we adore our family pets. If you're anything like me I purchase Finn toys all the time. Ones that he would often never play with. They have sat in a basket in our living room for years. Throw out any that are broken (ripped up, squeakers don't work) and donate any that are in good condition to a local animal shelter. Of course keep their favorites! 6. Nail Polish :: toss This one is in the same category as makeup (although shelf life is a little longer) here is a great guideline to follow if you should toss or keep. 7. Intimates :: toss If it has holes, is discolored or worse yet...stained. Toss! That's a given right? (cringe) 8. Old Electronics :: e-waste Once upon a time the Razor phone was the must have electronic item. If you still have it hanging out in a drawer let that bad boy go. Most Best Buy stores have free e-waste available for older model phones. Some will bring you in a little cash and some you can also donate to people in need. 9. Toys :: donate/toss Toys...they are a necessary and most certainly an evil. I mean have you ever stepped onto a lego in the middle of the night? TORTURE. If you have a toy that your child no longer plays with (and you don't plan on having any more children) donate it to those less fortunate. Anything broken - books & toys alike, toss. 10. Linens :: re-purpose/donate Old towels can be cut up and made into rags (great for having in the garage) or often you can donate to your local animal shelters. They use old towels and blankets to line animal cages to make the animals more comfortable while they wait for their forever home. Ask your local shelter or vet if they are in need. 11. Costume Jewelry :: donate/toss This is a hard one for me, especially as a mother to a daughter. If you go through your jewelry collection more likely than not there is a lot of stuff you're not wearing. If you haven't worn it in years it's time to go - it's the best way to make room for more! 12. Decorations :: donate/toss Every year I decorate our tree and every year I leave the same ornaments off of it. I need to take my own advice on this one! 13. Knick Knacks :: toss I hate the idea of junk drawers - and yes I totally have one - but their purpose is so wasteful. Likely if it's in a junk drawer it probably doesn't belong anywhere but the trash. Get rid of the miscellany and find proper homes for the stuff you want to keep. 14. Magazines :: recycle My husband likes to have magazines in the bathroom (read: total guy) but I think they just scream clutter. Pass them along to someone who would enjoy them after your finished or recycle them when you're done. 15. Gift Bags :: recycle Hands in the air if you save gift bags to reuse for gifts. I do but to be honest I hardly ever give gifts in bags! I really love wrapping a gift up and adding fun ribbon so all those "It's a girl" bags really ought to be "this is trash" bags. 16. Receipts :: recycle If the return period is up toss those little trash makers. A lot of retailers have an email receipt option choose this to eliminate them all together! 17. Travel Samples :: donate Many of us take home the toiletries when going on trips. Even if we take them, we often never use them. Local homeless shelters are a great place to donate these to! 18. Expired Medicine :: toss If you don't have a take back program available in your area the best way to dispose of expired medicine according to the FDA is to mix up the medicine in an unpalatable substance (dirt, kitty litter, coffee grounds), place into a plastic bag and dispose of it in your household trash. 19. Freezer Food :: toss While it's nice to have options in the freezer for dinner oftentimes those options get...old. Literally. So if you open up the fridge and see freezer burn on anything toss it out and call your local pizza joint. 20. Sentimental :: toss I saved this for last with good reason. It's really hard for us to part with things that are irreplaceable so tread with caution here. I am not suggesting you toss out of letters and photographs but perhaps you can sift through and get rid of some old birthday cards here and there. If photographs are your thing perhaps find a way to enjoy them easier than being in a box. Create photo albums or scan and store them on your computer. Be sure to check out all the other tips and tricks! Sara @ Running from the Law – Spring Cleaning with Toddlers Sarah @ Seeing All Sides - Garage Organization Meghan @ The Adventure Starts Here - Tips for Keeping an Organized and Semi-Clean House Jess @ Scott Family of Maine - Spring Cleaning Printables Liz @ Ellie & Addie - Spring Garden Prep Chrissy @ Simple Joys – Diaper Changing & Dresser Organization Leah @ Leah With Love – Spring Cleaning Schedule Stephanie @ Wife Mommy Me – De-clutter Your Home Printable Checklist Whitney @ Work It Mommy - Re-purposed Storage Solutions Emily @ Dear Owen - Organizing Kids Closets Jess @ Being Mrs. Beer - Essential Oils for Spring Vanessa @ Sunflower State of Mind - Spring Cleaning Hacks Laureen @ Chateau Deveau – Playroom & Toy Storage Jessica @ Secrets of a Stay At Home Mom - Organizing a Kids Craft Area Ashley @ Being Brickner - Cleaning Tips for Working Moms Karli @ September Farm - Spring Cleaning Checklist Printable a Rafflecopter giveaway
Join the Purge Party fun and celebrate a clutter-free life! This house organization system will give you lots of motivation to declutter, simplify, and tidy your bathrooms!