Live Clutter FREE

Live Clutter FREE

New Year! Now that all the holiday decorations are put away (organized, I am sure), it is time to focus on household clutter. You made a resolution to be clutter free in the New Year, correct? Well, let’s achieve that goal with some simple steps for you and your family.

Take advantage of the vacant calendar in January now that all the holiday parties are behind you. If you have children and/or a significant other, include them on the goal planning to live clutter free in the New Year. Make your goals realistic so they can be met easily – you do not want to lose momentum. Choose one area at a time and focus on it until it is done. Pick a date that everyone is available since most likely, everybody has something in the space.

Is the basement stocked to the beams with stuff? Go thru everything and decide what is being kept, thrown out or donated to charity. Be firm with older children who want to keep all of their stuffed animals from when they were 5 keep a few for memories, but the rest need to exit the home. If your children or spouse witness you removing your stuff, it will be a bit easier for them to remove their things. Stick to the rule of “if you don’t use it, you don’t need it.” Although this is easy to preach, it is much harder to practice. It can be very difficult to let go of the comforts that we have gathered through the years. For instance, your great grandmother’s small chest of drawers that has been sitting in the basement for years and does not go with the décor of your home, use it for storage of holiday decorations, blankets, tools, etc. – use it for something!

When you have decided what is staying in the basement, now it is time to organize it. Take inventory of the items and determine what is the best storage – for example, clear labeled bins are fantastic for memorabilia. Also, utilize the walls for hooks for hanging up tools that are scattered….so much easier to find the hammer, screwdriver or pliers if they are hung on the wall. I am also a big fan of repurposing items you already have on hand to use as storage containers. Still have plastic Halloween candy buckets? Use them to hold rags, car cleaner products, or sponges.

To prevent clutter from returning, do not hold onto items that you do not use or plan to use. If you practice this, you will be living clutter free in every New Year!

Susan Parziale is a certified Professional Organizer. She is also a mother to 8 year old daughter with Autism. Visit www.susanparziale.com

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This post originally appeared on our January/February 2012 Magazine