No one wants to think that they could be featured on Hoarders, but it happens to the best of us. This is something I found out the hard way over the past weekend when I was packing up our house to move. Man, oh man, did we ever accumulate a lot of junk in the 7 years we’ve lived there.
Most of it should have been pitched in the garbage or given away years ago. I mean seriously, do I really need to hold on to the booger sucker they gave me at the hospital when my first daughter was born? I’ve bought like twenty since then and the girls can actually blow their own nose now and nobody wants that passed on. Right?
- Every 3 months, have all family members go through their closet and find 5 things to donate to the homeless shelter.
- When trying to decide whether or not to keep an item, ask yourself a few questions: Does it fit? Have I worn it in the last year? Could someone else get more use out of it than me?
- Keep all take-out menus in a designated area and don’t keep duplicates or menus for franchises that have gone out of business. What are you keeping it for? If they come back, I am sure they will provide new take-out menus.
- Fix popped off buttons, small tears and rips in clothing immediately or within 24 hours. I have enough laundry as it is. I don’t need to keep a pile that never gets fixed and no loner fit. I have so many things that had buttons pop off of the girls that I threw in a corner to be mended at a later date that I forgot about. I’m pretty sure that my 7-year-old can’t wear those super cute size four shorts anymore and neither can her sister, who is now five. Guess those go to the homeless shelter.
- Once a month, go through your junk drawer. I am not joking. Waiting 7 years to clean it out is ridiculous. It was like the Bermuda triangle in there. I think I even found one of my oldest daughter’s baby teeth and something else that looked like, what I can only guess is, a discarded newborn baby bellybutton. I am hoping not but I just can’t really be for sure. I am ashamed and have decided that from now on, junk drawers, coffee tables and nightstands should be gone through once a month. Do yourself a favor and do the same for your purse, but make it every week. I found Cheerios in mine. We’ve not eaten Cheerios in 4 years.
- Keep the car clean. Make sure the kids bring all papers, notes, backpacks, sports equipment, tutus, juice boxes, granola wrappers and any other thing they drag into your car into the house immediately. That way you can make sure that you see it, address it and make them put it away. Do I need to remind anyone of the missing sippy cup from 2009? It had only a drink of milk left in it but it was enough to permanently stink up my car. I drive a different vehicle and I swear I still smell it. It’s like a phantom stink.
These are just a few quick ways to keep your life organized and your sanity with children. What is your best organization tip for eliminating the clutter from your life?
Photo Source: BuzzFarmers
