Do you own your things or do they own you?
That’s a fantastic question. Based on last weekend, I am leaning towards the latter.
So, last weekend we cleaned, organized and purging happened.
Now, none of this was easy for me. Organization is not something that comes naturally to me. You see, I am a bit of a hoarder. It runs in my family.
But, I taught myself to be organized. Here’s the thing: when you have order amongst your stuff, it is more peaceful. Why that is I have no idea.
The first step is to pick a room or space and then make a plan.
Let’s begin with the home office.
Many just close the doors on this space. Out of sight out of mind. Mail, especially the junk variety, will begin to grow out of control.
Some great tips when it comes to the home office:
- A decent shredder is your friend
- If a bill is older than 5 years, it meets the shredder
- Truth bit – we shredded a full street-side recycle bin worth of paper (yikes!)
The Linen Cabinet: We tend to stuff more into this space than it can handle. The new sheets and blankets become intermingled with the older ones.
No need to keep bedding you no longer use.
- Old sheet sets and blankets can be donated to a women’s shelter
The Master Bathroom: I’m astounded by the variety of items I typically find when I clean out our bathroom cabinets.
- Old, expired medicine should be discarded. Also, the bathroom is not the best location to store medicine due to the humidity fluctuations
- Empty or near empty shampoo bottles can be married/recycled
- Old towels can be donated to a local animal shelter or rescue group
The Storage Closet: If you are not sure where something belongs or actually is at the moment, it is probably here. I think we may have found ancient artifacts within ours when we went through it last weekend.
- Old decorative items that have not made an appearance in years can be donated to a local women’s shelter
- Most people donate clothing items but they need everything including lamps, storage boxes, candles as well as decorative knick knacks
- The easiest way to handle these spaces which are overgrown with clutter is to completely empty out the space and move the items you are going to keep back inside
- The leftover items are your clutter and ready to be removed
The Pantry: This will be an eye opening exercise if you have not done it in a while.
- I found some spices with 2013 expiration dates
- How many bottles of olive oil can one have? We had five…FIVE!
- The catch-all bin has everything from Panda Express soy sauce to Taco Bell mild sauce…and all in abundance.
Remember, you are the owner of your stuff. Not the other way around.
There are so many rooms we could cover in this post. I hope you were able to perhaps grab a bit of inspiration to tackle that looming purging project within your own home.
It’s the season of decluttering! Happy purging!
I did a big KonMari declutter a while ago and the change has been immense! The house feels so much lighter without all of the clutter x
Oh I bet that was liberating!
Oh my word! Always the bathroom stuff! I swear I don’t even throw away my old bottles of ointments and gels ?! I’ve helped one of my friends move a million times and she is like the biggest bathroom hoarder EVER! Her bathroom stuff alone could take a moving truck ?. I hope my house sells soon because that’s the motivation I need to purge more ?.
Hi Jen! Isn’t bathroom stuff the worst? At one point I found expired prescription meds that we actually moved across the country! Good luck with the sale of your home!
Jen this was just the inspo I needed to get started!! I’m organized in some places and not in others so I need to get my but in gear! Thanks for lighting a fire under me. Love your tips:))
You are so funny! I bet your house is perfectly in order! I definitely know you don’t let your mail stack up! xoxo
Wonderful blog and wonderful list. Just printed it, hope to get going on my decluttering!!!! Thank you
Thank you and I’m so glad you found it helpful! Best of luck on your decluttering project!
Amen – well put and extremely appreciated!
We re-did the pantry last year and I was, quite frankly, in shock. A year alter and it is still almost perfectly organized!
I re-did the master bath and guest bath and guest linen closet a half year ago and it is still perfect – I am staying on top of it!
I REALLY need to re-do my walk-in master bedroom closet – we each have our own and his is hands off and worse than mine – but oh well – and my basement has become dangerously close to being Hoarderville. Scary, truly scary down there.
Thanks for the inspiration!! Have a wonderful weekend!
Wow! Still perfect after all of those months! You are my idol!!! I hope you have a wonderful weekend too!
I needed to read this today more than ever!!
My husband and I r wanting to down size and move to a warmer climate,
It’s so difficult to let go but I know it has to b done!
I have found old bill of sales (new car receipts) from probably before u were born!!
Does that give u some idea of my problem?? ? ?
Thank u for the kick in the butt! Have a beautiful weekend.
Fondly,
Jacklyn Carney
Oh Jacklyn! You just made me laugh! I can be a bit of a hoarder too, so I totally understand. Also, I have grown children, so I’m guessing the receipts you found are not quite my age. Either way, I hope you put them straight into the trash or recycle bin!!!
Your first sentence was a real eye opener, and a good kick in the backside! Especially with so many worthy charities willing to accept clothing, linens etc still in good condition but not used. I am resolving to tackle a closet each week to sort and donate. Thanks for the motivation and thought provoking message.
I am so glad you found this motivating Jae! It always feels great to donate unused items. Good luck with your weekly projects and know that I’m doing the same! Thanks for stopping by!