Ask Yourself
“If I had 20 minutes to evacuate my home and could take only what fits in my car, what would I take?”
Most things can be easily replaced. Once you realize this, it’s easier to lighten your load.
Clear the clutter, clear your mind, be happy!
Often, the biggest obstacle to a goal is ourselves.
Get your brain in gear and ask, “What could I be doing differently to obtain the results I want?”
If you want a cleaner, happier home, stop wishing you had a magic wand; become the magic wand.
Where to start? You don’t have to stop everything to get organized; you just have to start. Start somewhere right now.
Start with the most visible. Tackle the stuff on the floor and countertops, for example. Then work your way inside cabinets and drawers. Seeing clear and obvious results will boost your confidence.
Start with something small. Choose a purse or glove compartment or junk drawer. Empty it completely. Sort into four categories: keep, toss, relocate, or donate/sell.
Start with one thing. Do one thing that will make your life easier. For instance, if you are always searching for your keys, put a hook or basket by the door for them.
When you feel overwhelmed by cleaning or organizing chores, pick a specific task and set a timer for 15 minutes. Work uninterrupted until the timer goes off. Take a short break and then begin again or start another task.
Every time you cross a cleaning or organizing chore off your “to do” list, reward yourself by doing something on your “can’t wait to do” list!
“If I had 20 minutes to evacuate my home and could take only what fits in my car, what would I take?”
Most things can be easily replaced. Once you realize this, it’s easier to lighten your load.
Look at decluttering as an opportunity to share your abundance. There are people who could really use the stuff you aren’t using.
Clutter serves no purpose; it just takes up valuable space in your home and creates unnecessary stress and extra work. Clutter is what you end up with when you have more stuff than you need.
Breaking big projects into mini-projects to complete over several sessions makes it much easier to accomplish your larger goal. For example, to declutter your closet:
If I acquire as much as a stone, it owns me because I will have to dust it.
— Henry David Thoreau
Schedule time to play “dress-up.” Try on everything you own. If it fits and makes you feel fabulous, hang it back up. It’s a keeper. Donate or sell anything that doesn’t make the cut. Invite a friend to help you make decisions, then do the same for her.
Sort clothing into piles —A, B, and C.
Go back through the B pile and put items into either the A or C pile.
Get rid of the C pile.
“Take five”
every night to pick up
and put away items,
fluff pillows,
and generally tidy up.
Be happy with what you have. It is more than enough.
Change your surroundings and you can change your life. You might find that letting go of clutter is the start of a new you!
It’s very nice of you to keep things that rightly belong to your grown children, but if they really wanted that stuff, they would come and get it. Set a time limit and let them know that you will donate everything after the deadline — and mean it!
If you are reluctant to let go of some things, box them up, write the date on the box, and store it out of the way. If you need something, you can find it. If you have not needed to retrieve anything in that box after one year, you obviously can live without it. Donate the box to charity.
If you are finding it difficult to let go of an item from your past, such as an old prom gown or children’s artwork, taking a photograph of the item for memory’s sake may make it easier to let go.
Donate to a single charity that will accept everything and let them find recipients for you. Goodwill and the Salvation Army are good places to begin.
Post any item you are willing to give away at www.freecycle.org, a community-based recycling resource. If someone wants it, they will contact you via e-mail and you can arrange to put it on the front porch or at the end of the driveway where they can pick it up on a set day.
Decluttering your home is rewarding in and of itself, but you can add some incentive. Decide in advance on a reward for completing each major decluttering project.
Flowers: Buy yourself flowers for clearing off the dining room or kitchen table.
Massage: Treat yourself to a massage after cleaning out the garage or basement.
More books: Use the money you earn from selling used books to buy yourself some new books — or even an e-reader.
New clothes: Take gently used clothing to a consignment store and buy yourself one new outfit.
An evening out: Reorganize a closet, then go out and enjoy dinner or a movie with a friend.
Perhaps you ended up with all of your parents’ belongings when they died and you’re overwhelmed with too much stuff, as well as guilt about not wanting it. What would your parents want for you? Would they be happy knowing that you are unhappy?
What if you decided to keep the items you love — the ones associated with happy memories — and sell the rest at an estate sale or auction? Then you could donate the proceeds to a favorite charity in their names.
How is clutter affecting the quality of my life? Is it taking a toll on my self-esteem or relationships?
For quick, noticeable results, start the clutter-clearing process by removing the biggest items first and then working your way down to smaller things.
Progress is the path to your goal. Sometimes that path is like a highway that you travel at top speed. Other times, it’s more like a scenic byway. Go where it leads you. Rest when you need to.
How much time do you waste every day looking for your car keys or phone, unpaid bills, checkbook, or whatever? Find a home for these things and never, ever put them down except where they belong.
My mantra: Don’t just put it down, put it away.
Have you always had so much clutter?
Or was there an event that tipped the scales in the direction of more clutter? If you have led a relatively uncluttered life in the past, then you are capable of doing so again.
What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while.
— Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project
Get a little help from your friends. Pair up with a friend who also wants a cleaner home. Set weekly goals and hold each other accountable for accomplishing various tasks throughout the week.
Or commit to helping each other with big projects like cleaning the garage and basement. It’s more fun than going it alone.
Think your home cleaner.
That which we resist persists.
If you feel overwhelmed by clutter and an endless list of household chores that never seem to be finished, consider that your feelings may arise from resistance.
Think about why you are resisting. Be willing to “open into” the process of cleaning. Continuing not to do anything about the clutter will only increase your sense of being overwhelmed.
“What is the one thing I really need to do that I am avoiding?”
Take a big breath and start working.
What are you doing that contributes to the clutter and mess in your life? Pick your single worst disorganizing habit and work on changing that behavior over the next month. For example, if you often come home with new purchases but can’t figure out where to put them, don’t buy anything else until you find a home for those items.
Or if your shoes, keys, purse, coat, and other items wind up in a pile by the door when you come home, make it easier to hang or stash all that stuff neatly but still nearby.
Make today the day you declare your freedom from clutter.
Use the time you spend waiting to do one quick chore.
Have a headset? Catch up with family and friends on the phone while you clean. Do your least favorite job (like cleaning the bathroom) or spend some time dusting or sweeping while you chat.
Do the hardest job or the one you dislike most first. Then do whole-house chores like dusting and vacuuming, going from one end of the house to the other. Finish with mopping the kitchen floor.
Post a picture or two on your fridge or by your desk that portrays how you would like your dream home to look.
What better way to spend a rainy day than catching up on some old television programs — and doing some organizing! Just pull a drawer out of its cabinet and bring it into the family room. Empty the drawer and sort the contents while you watch. Toss the junk. Set aside items to donate or sell. Put back the rest. Repeat until the sun comes out!
Our experiences are driven by our beliefs. If you believe that nothing you do will make a difference, that will be your experience.
A clean home doesn’t happen by itself. Regular upkeep is the key.
Start each day with a “clean home” habit like making the bed or doing a quick pick-up before leaving for work so you can return to a fresh-feeling home.
Consider hiring a professional, even if it’s just to help you get started.
Check with the National Association of Professional Organizers at www.napo.net to find an organizer who will show you how to get organized and stay organized.
After you have your household clutter under control, hire a maid service once or twice a month to help keep you on track.
A professional window washer can do the job faster and better than you can — and you won’t have to worry about falling off the ladder!
Regular cleaning by a professional carpet cleaner will help your carpets last longer, making it well worth the reasonable cost.
Start acting more organized and you will become more organized.
Clutter is physical proof of abundance. Take a look around. If you have clutter, you’re richer than you think.
Organize a swap party. Bring things you no longer want or need and exchange them for things you do want or need. It’s a fun, free, and eco-friendly way to get “new” clothing, furnishings, books, and more without spending a dime. Donate anything that is left over.
“What do I stand to gain by having a cleaner, happier home?”
The way to get what you want is to take action. Now.
Don’t overwhelm yourself by thinking about all the work you have to do. Focus more on what you have accomplished rather than what remains undone.
Just do what you can do today. Take it one room at a time! And if that’s too much, take it one shelf or one drawer at a time.
Once an item enters your possession, you are not obligated to hang on to it forever. Give yourself permission to let go and enjoy the sense of liberation that results.
Minimize future mess. Make a conscious decision to stop adding to existing piles. Then start going through those piles one by one until they are gone.
The next time you hear yourself complaining about not having time to clean up your home, stop. All we have is time. How we choose to use it is up to us.
Align books with the outer edge of shelves to avoid dust buildup on those edges and make dusting a snap.
Instead of blaming yourself for allowing too much stuff to remain in your home, forgive yourself and move on.
The unused stuff that’s just taking up valuable space in your home might be stuff that someone, somewhere, could really use. Go on a scavenger hunt for “treasures” that you don’t need. Pack those items up and take them to a donation center.
Even easier, go to Donation Town at www.donationtown.org to find a local charity that will pick it up!
Think of decluttering as a gift you give yourself.
If at first you don’t succeed, just pick up where you left off.
Keep cleaning supplies and tools where you use them, such as a toilet brush in every bathroom, paper towels under the kitchen sink and in the laundry room, or a second vacuum cleaner on the second floor. The time you save by quickly accomplishing a cleaning task is worth the minor initial cost of doubling up on some things.
Simplify your life with organized systems for handling routine tasks like filing bills to be paid and reminding yourself to pay them on time.
Pay attention to your feelings as you begin the process of clearing clutter. Mindful attention and acceptance are empowering.
If you keep putting off a particular chore because you hate it, try timing it. It may not take as long as you think, and once you realize that, it will be easier to make yourself to do it next time. Or trade a chore you dislike with another household member’s least favorite chore.
The easiest way to clean your microwave is with steam heat. Place 2 cups of water into a microwave-safe container (add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract or lemon wedges to the water for a fresh scent). Microwave on high for 5 minutes. The steam will soften cooked-on gunk. Wipe with a paper towel for a quick clean.
To repel fingerprints, smudges, and water marks, clean your stainless steel appliances with a furniture polish containing orange oil.
Stock a caddy with cleaning supplies to tote from room to room, rather than making trips back and forth to your storage closet. Here is a list of basics for attacking all the everyday cleaning challenges:
Words are powerful things, especially the words we use when we talk to ourselves. If you catch yourself thinking, “I’m such a slob,” immediately negate that thought with “I’m getting better at keeping a clean house.”
There’s no time like the present to get started!
Establish minimum, non-negotiable standards for your home and family, such as a clean kitchen, organized laundry room, and tidy bedrooms. Whip those areas into shape and then tackle other areas like the bathroom and living room.
Try to enjoy the process of clearing clutter. Disliking it doesn’t make it any easier.
Never leave a room without improving its appearance.
Avoid comparing yourself to others. Just try to make a little progress each day.
As you pare down your belongings, give thanks for all that has enabled you to have such abundance in your life.
Use the time you spend waiting to do one quick chore.
How often do I buy something on impulse only to discover that I really don’t like or need it?
If you “shop ’til you drop,” clutter is the price you pay. On the other hand, if you think twice before buying things, you may find yourself in a better financial position with less debt and more savings.
Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.
— Henry Ford
If clean laundry tends to pile up before you manage to fold or hang it, here are a few suggestions:
If you’re overwhelmed by a huge pile of dirty laundry, treat yourself to a “wash and fold” Laundromat service to catch up. Then start building a new habit of doing more frequent loads at home — daily if needed.
Experts recommend vacuuming once for each person each week. So for a family of four, vacuum four times a week to prevent dirt from becoming ground in and to extend the life of your carpets.
You can get away with vacuuming just the high-traffic areas regularly, and vacuuming the rest when you have the energy and time. My recommendation: Clean at least one entire carpet once a week.
Place a decorative bowl or basket on dresser tops or nightstands to collect loose change, pocket items, and everyday jewelry.
Cut yourself some slack. Your home doesn’t have to pass the white-glove test. If you’re happy, that’s all that counts.
One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.
— A. A. Milne
According to a study by the American Cleaning Institute, eliminating excess clutter would reduce the amount of housework in the average home by 40 percent.
Take advantage of being in a cleaning mood and go at it like a speed demon!
The hardest part of cleaning and organizing a basement, an attic, or a garage is getting started. Schedule a family cleanup day. Or set aside 30 to 60 minutes each week — more if you can — for this project until it’s done.
Set up some boxes and sort things into categories such as these:
Keepers: Anything you or a family member have used within the past year or that you truly love
Donations: Unspoiled things that someone else might use
Sale Items: Things you can sell at a yard sale or consignment shop or online
Trash: Anything worn-out or broken and not worth fixing
In addition to many cleaning supplies, hazardous waste items include:
Check with your local household hazardous waste collection program to find out how to properly dispose of these items. Some communities offer an annual collection service.
Every Sunday night, pick one project or area to be the focus of your cleaning efforts in the coming week.
When you weigh the pain of letting go against the pleasure of living a happier life, the choice becomes clear.
What you need: A big pile of unsorted photos, some shoe boxes or brown-paper grocery bags cut down to about 6 to 8 inches, and a wide felt-tip marker
Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it’s not all mixed up.
— Christopher Robin (A.A. Milne)
“Is it more important to me to keep this item or to have the space it occupies? What if I were moving? Would it be worth packing and unpacking it?”
That’s the stuff that’s really important to you. Everything else you could live without if you had to.
It’s surprising how grubby the laundry area can become. Once a month or so, clean the surfaces of the washing machine and dryer with my go-to mixture of 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water.
Don’t forget to clean the fabric softener and bleach dispensers too. Holding them over a sink, pour a little of the vinegar/water solution into them and give them a scrub with an old toothbrush before rinsing.
To make family members more aware of their clutter trails, start tagging belongings that have been left lying around (those colorful sticky flags designed for paperwork work well). Children may enjoy helping you tag, and you can assign them different colors if you want. Just seeing the tags pile up may make them more aware of putting things away.
Resolve to surround yourself only with things you find useful or beautiful. Let go of the rest.
Use the time you spend waiting to do one quick chore.
The hard part of decluttering is having to make decision after decision about what to keep and what to toss. One way to make it easier is to create umbrella rules that you can apply to all items. “If you don’t love it or use it, lose it” is an example of an umbrella rule. “If you have duplicates of something, keep just one” is another.
Many people find it helpful to add a time limit. For example, if you haven’t used something in more than a year, then it’s probably time to get rid of it.
In five minutes, you can pick up and put away five things.
Tackle a pile of papers. Start by flipping over the pile. Because the papers on the bottom are older, many are outdated, making it an easy decision to toss them. One by one, make a decision to either file it, act on it (for example, pay a bill), or toss it.
“Does this belong here?”
Before you set something down, be it your keys, a pile of mail, or the broom and dustpan you’ve just used, think about finding it the next time you need it.
Have a backlog of magazines or newspapers to read?
Catch up in one minute by recycling all but the most recent issue or two, and vow to keep up with your reading from here on out. When new issues arrive, recycle the oldest ones.
When decluttering, sort items into two main categories: what to keep and what to toss. Then sort the keepers by putting “like” with “like.” For example, put batteries with batteries, pens with pens, lipsticks with lipsticks. Use whatever organizing “products” you have on hand, such as plastic ziplock bags. Then return the items to their home.
According to an eBay study, the average American has thousands of dollars’ worth of unused items that could be sold or donated to a charitable organization for the tax write-off. On the next few pages are some tried-and-true places to sell stuff.
Recognize that you are not the same person you were 10 years ago. Your interests, tastes, and styles have changed. Make a decision to keep only those things that are meaningful to you at this point in your life. That goes for gifts you’ve received, too.
Remember that the most important things in life . . . are not things.
Your time is valuable. It takes a lot of time and energy to plan and hold a successful garage sale. Consider donating all that stuff instead and taking a tax deduction.
Avoid washing windows on a sunny day. If they dry too quickly, they are likely to streak.