#Decluttering is the first step in any plan to get #organized in the new year. “It’s important to let go of what you no longer need or want,” says Better Homes & Gardens. “It’s silly to create space for something that doesn’t belong anywhere, so don’t be afraid to #toss or #donate the items that no longer serve a purpose in your home.” Start with a small area and get rid of the easy stuff first — expired food and medicine, ill-fitting clothing and #tchotchkes that don’t fit your #decorating aesthetic. Schedule #decluttering sessions on your calendar; even just a half-hour of targeted decision-making done regularly will get you more #organized in no time. Happy New Year! #NewYearNewlyOrganized
Tag: storage bins
A 10-Minute Decluttering Strategy for 2025
With only hours left in 2024, you may be contemplating how to make the new year more productive in a number of ways. If one of your #resolutions is to become more #organized and none of the usual methods have helped so far, maybe it’s time to try a new strategy. Nourishing Minimalism suggests taking just 10 minutes a day to #declutter a space. Once you have #trash bags, #donation boxes and #storage bins in place, it’s a “psychologically manageable” strategy that allows consistent #decluttering efforts to build into real results. Set a timer and get started; in a few weeks, you’ll have a more streamlined space. #NewYearNewlyOrganized
It’s Time to Clean and Organize the Garage
Meant to hold an automobile and (maybe) a few tools or outdoor items, the #garage tends to attract all kinds of #stuff. Out of sight and mostly out of mind, the garage can quickly become a dumping ground for old #clothing, #boxes of memorabilia, extra furniture, sporting goods and tons of other items that don’t immediately find a place elsewhere.
The change of seasons is a great time to clean out the garage and #organize the things that make the most sense to house there — including your car. But before you start to #purge and #clean, “think about how your garage can best serve you and sketch out a plan to achieve an end result you’re happy with,” says Martha Stewart.
Examine your garage #storage needs. Maybe you have a lot of sporting goods — bicycles, watercraft or camping gear, for example. Perhaps you’re an avid gardener and need a dry space to store shovels, rakes, the lawnmower and other equipment. And of course, anything to do with a motor vehicle and its maintenance should have a space here, too.
Once you have a plan, pick a mild day and empty the garage out. Dust the rafters, sweep and vacuum, and wipe down the flat surfaces. Eliminate common nuisances such as spider webs and wasps’ nests. Sweep and mop the floors with a soapy solution or something stronger if you want to get rid of engine oil stains.
Then, wipe down whatever you decide to keep in the garage and return it to a dedicated #space. “Now is the time to create additional storage solutions,” Martha Stewart notes, by installing overhead racks and shelves for boxes and bins, pegboard #organizers for tools, hooks for bikes and kayaks, and a bench for gardening equipment.
Anything that prefers climate-controlled storage such as paper goods and fabric items should probably find a home indoors in a (dry) basement or closet. And anything you no longer need or want that doesn’t fit into your newly #organized garage can go to ClothingDonations.org by arranging a #free #donation #pickup at your convenience.
A clean and organized garage might be a place where you’ll want to spend more time when the weather permits. You may even be able to park your car there!
Edit Your Wardrobe With the Change of Seasons
Making the transition from #summer to #fall #clothing is simple. While it might take a couple of hours and some decision-making, it can pay off in terms of #closet space and time saved. First, do an edit of your clothing, sorting everything into keep, store, #donate and repair piles. Dedicate prime #closet space to the cold-weather #garments you know you’ll wear and fill in any blanks in your #wardrobe with a few new items. Then, contact ClothingDonations.org. for a #donation #pickup. “Ditching items that no longer serve you is not just about creating space,” says Simply Spaced. “When you purge the old, you make space for the new — whether it’s new career aspirations, a new relationship or simply a new season.” #ClothingSwap
Make Space by Storing Summer Clothing
Sorting out your #summer #clothing for #storage can free up valuable #space early in the #fall. Just empty out your #closets and drawers, and ask yourself whether those summery outfits still fit, if you’ll wear it again, and if you wish to keep, #donate it or trash it. Then, organize anything you want to keep for next summer into types of clothing and hide them away in bins to revisit when the weather gets warm again. “Swapping out clothes allows for extra closet and drawer space,” says A Bowl Full of Lemons. “It alleviates cramped spaces and #clutter. It’s also a great way to inventory what you have and what you need.” #ClothingSwap