Declutter House
Step 2: Sort Your Stuff Into Categories
When you are preparing to declutter house stuff, it helps to set up categories for your items so you'll know what to keep, what to get rid of, and where to get rid of it.
Set up a staging area:
As you are going through your stuff to declutter, designate an area in your home that you will use as your staging area for items:
To throw:
To donate:
To consign/sell:
To repair:
For yard sale:
This one is easy. Have a
good supply of garbage bags available for this
purpose. If something is clearly trash, or can not be reused or resold,
it is best to be thrown.
To donate:
You have plenty of options
when you want to donate.
If you have a specific charity you prefer, you can ask if they pick up items, and if not, where you can deliver them.
If you have a specific charity you prefer, you can ask if they pick up items, and if not, where you can deliver them.
To consign/sell:
You also have many options
if you choose to sell some of the items you
have decided to let go of as you declutter house areas.
Consignment, e-Bay (there are places that will sell your stuff on e-Bay if you are not excited about doing it yourself), the classifieds...there are lots of places to sell your things.
It may be worth consigning if you have furniture or higher priced items that you are ready to let go. Otherwise, consider simply donating your items.
Consignment, e-Bay (there are places that will sell your stuff on e-Bay if you are not excited about doing it yourself), the classifieds...there are lots of places to sell your things.
It may be worth consigning if you have furniture or higher priced items that you are ready to let go. Otherwise, consider simply donating your items.
To repair:
- Sewing/tailoring
- Shoe repairs, polishing, etc.
- Dry cleaning
- Other repairs
NOTE: It can help if you
make a list, as you are creating your repair
piles, of what needs to be done with each item (it will save you from
having to remember later).
For yard sale:
Unless you are planning a
yard sale the next weekend, it might be
better to choose another option.
I have seen people delay uncluttering for years, simply because they were not quite ready to have a yard sale. Or they didn't know what to do with clutter, so they avoided making the decision altogether.
The goal is to let the stuff go, not keep it with the hope of making a few hundred dollars from a yard sale that never happens.
I have seen people delay uncluttering for years, simply because they were not quite ready to have a yard sale. Or they didn't know what to do with clutter, so they avoided making the decision altogether.
The goal is to let the stuff go, not keep it with the hope of making a few hundred dollars from a yard sale that never happens.
Decide In Advance:
Decide in advance what to
do with your declutter house items you find once you have decided to
get rid of them:
Call places you plan to donate, consign, sell, etc. in advance, if possible. Some will pick up items for you, and some you will need to deliver.
If at all possible, take care of all of this stuff at the end of your day. The faster it is out of your home and out of your life, the faster you will feel the benefits of clearing your clutter. Your 'declutter house' process is not done until the stuff is gone...so make it easy on yourself and get rid of it right away.
Even better, you could ask your spouse or a friend to take things for you. Ask for help when you need it... it is a great way to pamper yourself.
Call places you plan to donate, consign, sell, etc. in advance, if possible. Some will pick up items for you, and some you will need to deliver.
If at all possible, take care of all of this stuff at the end of your day. The faster it is out of your home and out of your life, the faster you will feel the benefits of clearing your clutter. Your 'declutter house' process is not done until the stuff is gone...so make it easy on yourself and get rid of it right away.
Even better, you could ask your spouse or a friend to take things for you. Ask for help when you need it... it is a great way to pamper yourself.
~.~.~.~.~
When you're done with this step of clearing your clutter, move on to the next step: Step 3: “Weed” and “Thin” Your Stuff .
To get your free "Clear Your Clutter" audio series...
...as well
as my
e-newsletter "Creating
Space"...
| Please Subscribe Me |
