How to Purge and Declutter

When and How to Clean Out and Re-organize Your Home

For many people, letting go can be difficult. We LOVE our stuff! But for as much as we love our things, they can also zap our energy. Things are supposed to make us happier and simplify our lives so that we have more time to DO things. Like spending more time with our families and friends. Anyhow, things are meant to help us to live a more productive and peaceful existence. Too often, our things bring us down rather than lift us up, and that’s when we need to purge and declutter.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you feel drained looking for one thing or another?
• Do you spend more time in search of stuff than addressing the task at hand?
• Does your home make you feel more anxious or more settled?
• Do you know where everything is and does every item have its place?

How you responded to the above will help indicate what level of decluttering you need to do. So, what is clutter anyhow? Clutter is anything that you keep that isn’t adding value to your home or your life. When it comes to clutter, less IS more.

If you feel like your life is getting a little out of control, then perhaps it’s time to declutter. To begin the process, you need to be mentally prepared to let things go. This is called purging. I like to declutter by room. Find the room that in your opinion is the biggest offender of junk collection. Once I have identified the room to attack, I organize items in two ways. One, by type (electronics, paper, other) and then by need (Keep, donate, dispose).

Once you have said clutter grouped, you will want to create a sorting system. Find 3 larger-sized Fabric Cubes like these by mDesign, and mark them “KEEP,” “DONATE,” and “DISPOSE.” They are great because they serve a dual purpose. First, you can use them to sort items, then once sorted, you can re-use them to store items, either in cubbies or on shelves.

When disposing of items, it is important to know how to dispose of them. For instance, you may want to find out how to dispose of electronics, batteries, paint, or hazardous material. Most alkaline batteries manufactured since 1996 are made of relatively non-hazardous materials and can be tossed directly into the trash, but I recommend that you check with your local waste company to be sure of the proper protocol in your community.

Be generous when it comes to donating items. Take pride in knowing that your things are going to a better place. Do not hold back! Believe me, you will so much better, both in your environment and about giving back. Did you know that you can also post things to social media free marketplaces? This is just another great way to rid yourself of those things you no longer need.

After purging all those items that no longer bring you joy or add value to your life, you’re ready to take the next step…putting back those items that you deemed important enough to keep. My mantra is, “if you want it, keep it, but it must have a home in which to live.” If something is without a home, then either give it a home or get rid of it. Give this a try: walk around your house and identify things lying about. Ask yourself, ‘where do you belong?’ If you don’t know, either create a specific space for it or toss it.

Even after you have gone through the above process of purging, as you begin to put things away in their homes, you may notice more items that have little purpose in your life so you may not want to take the time to find them a home. If that’s the case, toss it. I seriously doubt that you’ll miss it.

What I am about to feature below are my suggestions for the top 3 area offenders in need of small-item organization. These things tend to pile up and create a cluttered environment, those little things that lay around in drawers or on dresser tops. Below are my top picks storage ideas for harnessing the small stuff and finding them a place to call their own:

The Entryway - Use mail and key racks

One of my favs is this leather organizer. It comes in gray and brown and adds amazing warmth to an entryway. It holds everything from leashes to keys, mail, and cell phones. If it’s small and has nowhere to go, this handy holder can handle it. Perfect for mudroom entry places		For something less obvious, try this handy mail and key holder. It comes in five colors and blends nicely into your existing décor.		If you like something more decorative yet simple, this metal wall mount key holder and mail basket is the just the “key.” It comes in several finishes and has a lovely, simple vine design. It is the perfect place to throw your cell phone or keys when you walk through the door.

Dressers - Use drawer organizers

If you’re into a more fashionable inside drawer, you’ll love these 6-section drawer organizers. They hold everything small including paper clips, sticky notes, and pushpins. Use them on your dresser to hold cellphones, keys, rings, and other do-dads.		These soft storage drawer organizers fit perfectly in deep drawers. They hold everything from office supplies to hosiery. And they fold flat when you want to store them away.		A lazy Susan is a must because it allows for easy access to what you need inside. Try them for bathroom storage, craft room, home office, or anywhere you need extra storage. Their deep sides allow you to store bottles and other taller items.

Desk and Countertops - Use desktop drawers and tiered dividers

The two-drawer divided Desk Organizer is amazing! I have three of them lined up next to each other that create a personalized organization system. Heavy-duty, they hold pencils, mail, tape, scissors, calculator, and so much more in these super handy caddies.		These three-drawer stackable desk organizers are great for storing all things miniature. They can be used vertically or horizontally as the drawers inside can be completely removed and flipped. Stack them side by side or one atop the other. Make a whole wall of them! They are perfect for those small spaces or where there may be limited storage space.		And finally, there is the lidded, divided box. Also stackable and space-saving, these cuties are amazing in every room of your home. Fill it with those loose batteries floating at the bottom of your junk drawer or use it in the bathroom to control makeup and hair ties, holds craft supplies, or use it as a jewelry organizer. It’s even great in the garage!

You are going to love what these few items can do for your mental health. Each one has its own unique purpose and will provide you with the peace of mind knowing that you will be able to find what you are looking for. There are no more excuses. You can finally do it!

How do you stay organized? We’d love to hear your story!
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