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Writer's pictureThe Pensive Mama

De-Cluttering and Organizing Tips From a Recovering Clutter Bug


the pensive mama, blog, website, clutter, organizing, cleaning, tips, hacks

I have always been a "collector." I like pretty things, "useless" things and when I have these pretty things, I like to show them off. I'm also lazy. In addition, I am also an "out-of-sight-out-of-mind" person - I feel I need my things to be out in the open so that I don't forget they're there.


Since I was very young, I have always put my pretty things out on display, whether they were purchased from the dollar store or held sentimental value. I also like to have my things accessible - easy to get to, easy to put away. When I was 15, I got my first job at a dollar store - I bought so many things that could "help" me stay organized, too many things, and all that did was contribute to the amount of clutter ("organized" clutter) I had on display.


Picturing that, I'm sure you can imagine what my childhood bedrooms looked like. What I hadn't understood back then, however, was that not only did clutter (even organized clutter) make my environment feel messy, it also added to anxiety - too many things to look at it, too much keeping me stimulated.


As I got older and moved out on my own (and married a man who is so completely on the other side of the spectrum that he didn't even have photos of his family), I slowly began figuring out how to properly organize my clutter in order to display them, have them easily accessible, but still in sight so I didn't forget them. It's taken me the better part of a decade to figure all this out, but throughout the years, I've learned to tone it down to where I am now *almost* a minimalist when it comes to decor.


But clutter isn't just about having stuff, it's about the every day things that come through the house like homework, mail, toys, clothing, groceries...the list goes on. For this, I have implemented systems (and I'm still a work in progress) that make these things easier to organize. I am by no means perfect; my laziness does come into play quite a bit, but that's something I'm working on. It's like losing weight: you know what you have to do, but doing it isn't always appealing. That being said, I strive to make my home accessible, which makes it easier to clean, easier to maintain, and much more enjoyable to live in.


Saying all that, you'd probably be surprised when I tell you that I own my own cleaning company. Again, that is something that I have slowly learned throughout the years on how to do and how to do efficiently so it takes minimal effort in the least amount of time. Up until now, my business has been pretty successful - I have happy clients who trust and appreciate the work that I do, and when I have a client come to me and say, "We're not the most organized family," I can totally relate, and I always feel the itch to help - even if it's "for free." So, after hearing this from my 4th client recently, I came up with this list that will teach you step-by-step, room-by-room on how to not only de-clutter your home, but create some organization so that you'll never have to do a mass de-cluttering again.


I can't tell you how long it'll take you (it really depends on how much stuff you have, but what I can tell you is that you need to do it all in one fell swoop. Meaning, you need to dedicate and entire weekend, an entire week, or 10 consecutive days to this. If you stop, even for a day, you could lose motivation, and depending on where you stop, your home could be worse than it was when you started. So pick a few days and start planning!


Tools You Will Need:

  • Boxes: The amount of boxes you will need depends on the amount of stuff you have. You need enough boxes to basically empty out an entire room (almost as if you're moving) - I generally say 2-3 large to extra large moving boxes is safe

  • A box of large garbage bags

  • A box of recycling bags (those see-through ones)

  • Post-it notes

  • Sharpie

  • One small box or storage bin for each room of your home (example, if you have a kitchen, living room, 3 bedrooms, a dining room, and a basement toy room, you will need 7 extra bins).

  • A little bit of money (you will most likely need to purchase more storage bins)

  • Pen and paper

  • Music and/or favourite movie/TV show

  • Coffee and/or wine

  • And, if possible, it's always best to employ one of your closest friends to help you - having someone who is not emotionally attached to your stuff and can keep you objective is tantamount to this project. Print out the questions listed below and give it to your friend - he or she can ask you the questions when you get really stuck.

Now To Begin


BUT WAIT! Before you start - I need to say a few words that you must remember throughout this process.

1. DO NOT leave a room half-way through filling the boxes - fill the boxes and then leave. When you come back in the room, it will be like a breath of fresh air. If you leave and come back in the middle of it, all you'll see is a disaster area.

2. If you find you're getting grumpy or overwhelmed, take a deep breath, go get a glass of water or something to eat (but make sure you come back!).

3. And most important - TRUST THE PROCESS. Remember that saying: "It will get worse before it gets better." At some points throughout this process, you will be surrounded by garbage, clutter, random stuff and it's going to stress you out - but have no fear! If you follow what I am laying out here, in order, until the end - you will feel a thousand times better! So take a deep breath and keep on truckin'.


Step #1: Plan It Out


Determine whether or not you need to do your entire home or just a room or two. For the sake of this article, let's say you're doing the entire house.


Get a piece of paper and a pen and list your rooms in the order of your choosing - personally, I always like to start with the room that needs the most work, but for some this can be a little overwhelming. For those who have a lot of things and who get overwhelmed with having to part with "things," I would start with the room that needs the less amount of work.


Make your list and stick to it. This is the order in which you will travel through your home.


Step #2: Box It Up


If you're afraid of losing motivation, this step will hopefully stop you from losing it. It's also the most satisfying part of the entire thing (except of course the final result), and will make you feel so much better!


Grab a few of your large boxes and get started. Go into each room and, quite literally, throw things into the box.


Note: If you're going to do the kitchen, this article may help, but I will write another article dedicated solely to the kitchen as this can be a very complicated, time-consuming, and overwhelming job.


Some rooms you may be doing:


Bedrooms:

  • For the bedroom, you will also need a laundry basket

  • First, go into the closet and take out everything that doesn't have a home - if it's not in a bin/box, throw it in the box (assuming it's old clothes or storage - if it's bins or boxes of toys, dump them in the box!) If you find clothes that aren't hung up or folded, or if you're not sure whether they are clean or dirty, throw them in the laundry basket.

  • Go through the rest of the room and put everything on the floor in the box - don't look at it, just chuck it in! Remember to put clothes in the laundry basket. Empty any bins or boxes of stuff into your box - you need to quite literally empty everything or you'll only have a half-organized room when you're done .

  • Clear the tops of your wardrobes, dressers and desks into this box. If you have a special jewelry box you know will be going back on the top of your dresser, leave it on the dresser, but otherwise throw everything into the box.

  • For this step, you should get a second smaller box and dump all the contents of your nightstand(s) into that box (if your nightstand isn't filled with clothes, we all know it's just full of crap you don't know what to do with!)

  • If you have a bookshelf, empty it - all of it. Don't worry about your books, they will be fine!

  • Whatever other furniture you have that holds things out in the open for all the world to see, clear it and put it in the box.

  • If you want to take it one step further, you can even take everything off the walls and place them against a wall where there is no chance of them getting damage.

When you're done this, all your furniture surfaces should be empty, the floor should be bare - all you'll be left with is your dresser, night stand, bed, bookshelf, and floor lighting.


A note about clothes: If they're not lying on the floor, you don't need to empty drawers and closets. When you're finished the organization part, you can always take everything out of their drawers to re-fold, but this doesn't need to be a part of the de-cluttering (unless you want it to be!)


Toy Room:

This one is easy - put it all in a box! ALL OF IT! Loose Lego, lose Barbie shoes, large toys, small toys, random crayons, everything! Empty those shelves and clear your carpet!


Bathrooms:

Empty your drawers and cabinets into a box. If you have a lot of clutter on your counters, chuck it in too - just leave out your toothbrush and tooth paste (yes, make-up goes in the box, as well!)


Storage Rooms:

This is a two step process. You will also need a large, empty area outside of your storage room for this.


First, put everything that is lose into a your box - doesn't matter what it is - if it's lose it goes in your box (unless it's breakable like dishes or small appliances - in that case, just take those out of the storage room all-together and place them in an area of the basement where they are safe but together).


Now take out all the boxes and bins and pile them up against a wall. You can worry about these later, but you need your storage room completely empty (except for shelving or storage furniture - but these need to be emptied - even the drawers!) If you have small furniture, take them out and place them in a corner together.


If you have any additional rooms you will be doing, the process is the same - empty everything that is lose (whether it's inside a drawer or cabinet) and chuck it all into this box. The room should be completely empty, as if you're moving, save for large appliances and/or furniture.


Step #3: Sort


I'm not going to lie - this part is difficult, especial for people who get attached to their stuff. Just remember to constantly take deep breaths and remember to TRUST THE PROCESS!


Start in the room that is #1 on your list. You will need three large-ish areas that are empty. If you have to, move some furniture around to clear some space.


In your first area, grab your Post-It notes and mark one with "Give Away," one with"Keep" and another with "Sell." Place your Post-it notes on their own wall - make sure there is enough space between all your areas so that you don't accidentally mix them up once you're filling your piles (pretend you're 6 and don't want your food touching on your plate).


Then, grab one of your garbage bags and open'er up - sometimes it's best if you put the bag in an actual garbage can (like the one you use for garbage day) as it's easier to just toss things in without having to fight with the bag - and risk things falling out.


Now, take those small boxes or bins I listed and line them up beside each other against a wall. Write out each room on a Post-it and tack it to one box. This is for items you find in a specific room that belongs, or you would like to put, in another room. You will take these boxes with you when you switch rooms later on. Keep piling them up, but don't empty them until you've completed all the rooms.


And if you're really, very nervous about this whole thing, you can get yourself a medium-sized box (cannot be bigger than medium) and mark it with "Decide Later." But ONCE YOU FILL IT, YOU CANNOT PUT ANY MORE IN IT, so be careful of what you're putting in there.


Remember that box (or boxes) you filled up earlier? Grab one (if you have more than one box, push the other boxes to the side and try to forget about them - you're going to go through one box at a time). Turn on some music/TV, grab your wine or coffee, and take a seat somewhere comfortable.


Assessing Your Items



Now, reach in the box and pull out your first item and determine if you'll:

Keep It

Donate It

Sell It

Throw it out


If you're thinking about keeping it, ask yourself these questions:

  1. Have I used it in the last 2 months?

  2. How long have I had it for?

  3. Is it useful?

  4. Is it expensive?

  5. Does it have sentimental value?

  6. Do I love it?

There are a few reasonS why people hold on to things - they see potential use in it for a future project, they are afraid that if they throw it out they might need it later on, it holds some kind of nostalgia, or they just don't know what to do with it.


If the item you're holding has not been used in the last 2 months, you've had it for more than 6 months, and it's not an expensive item - THROW IT OUT. If you are keeping something for a potential project later on that you've been intending to do for over 6 months and it's not expensive, you can simply purchase it later when you're actually ready to start the project.


If it holds sentimental value, ask yourself WHY. Did you diseased grandmother keep it for you for decades and then gave it to you before she passed away, but really, it has no real meaning to you? Don't keep it. Don't drag something around you your entire life out of guilt. Put it in the give-away box and attach a note to it to ask your siblings, mother, aunts/uncles if they would like the item.


Don't keep something that "may be worth a lot of money some day" if you have no real intention of selling it. However, this would be a good opportunity to sell it if you think it would be worth money now. If you have a friend with you (or you could do this yourself but it will slow you down), take pictures of the item you're planning to sell before you put them in the box. This will avoid you having to go through the box again and second-guessing your decision.


If you really, truly love the item in your hand and know exactly where you're going to put it in your home, put it in the keep pile.


Now continue to do this with every item in the box. When the box is empty, you can use it to box one of your piles! Now grab the next box and keep going. Don't dwell on items - don't think about them too much. If you pick something up and your first instinct is to give it away or sell it, throw it in that pile immediately - don't over-analyze. Remember, your "decide later" box is available to you, as well.


I will also take this time to remind you to BREATH. If you have a lot of stuff in this room, it's very likely that each pile will begin to look like a mountain and there will literally be sh*t everywhere. Don't panic! Trust the process! Yes, there is a BIG mess. Yes, you have A LOT of stuff. NO, THE ROOM WON'T LOOK LIKE THIS FOREVER.


A Note On Toys: When you're doing the toy room, it's quite possible that you will stumble across smaller items that belong to specific toys. You'll also come across a lot of useless toys that your kids keep but have never played with (like McDonald's toys). Get a smaller box and place all the items you know belong to another toy in this box. If you find the other toy, put them together and decide to sell, give away or keep. If you don't find the toy it belongs to - throw it all out. It won't miraculously show up.


Also, in regards to toys like McDonald's toys, items you've been gifted in a loot bag or such similar toys, if you know you're going to do this, you can store them in a small bin (with a lid) to use for treasure hunts, future loot bags, or as special treats. But only if you know you're going to use them for that purpose - otherwise - THROW THEM OUT!


A Note On Bathroom Toiletries: I know it's tempting to keep around a half of bottle of moose you haven't used in 6 months "just in case" but don't do it. These items do have expiry dates, so if you haven't used it in 2 months, throw it out. However, you may keep one bottle of shampoo, one bottle of conditioner, and one bottle of your favourite hair product for emergencies (I always have one bottle of each in case I run out and don't realize it until I'm already in the shower).


When it comes to make-up, because I'm cheap, I have a hard time giving it away/throwing it out even when it's not my colour or I haven't used it in a long time. So instead, I have a small box that I store all my "extra" make-up (stuff I don't use on a daily basis) and keep it in my closet. I have surprised myself at the amount of times I have gone in the box to grab something on a special occasion. But please, make sure you look for expiry dates - mascara expires, and so does lip stick so there is no sense in keeping these things around.


Once you've completed your first room, leave all the piles and move on to your next room and do steps 2 and 3 again. Continue until you've completed all the room you set out to do. Again, for the kitchen, that will be later on.

Step #4: Re-group


OK! So now that all your boxes are empty and all your piles made, you just need to create a little bit of order in the chaos. Grab a box, if you have one big enough, or a see-through bag and fill them up!


All the things you're planning to keep should be piled in a box so that they don't get mixed up with anything. You can also take this time to go through the "keep" items to decide if you're planning on storing them (like baby clothes, old, sentimental toys, yearbooks and so on) and put all that in a separate box.


Remember those little boxes you've been travelling with? Now it's time to put them in the room they belong in and put them in their appropriate pile (seeing as how you're carrying them around, it's most likely you're intending to keep them so you can just put them in the "keep" pile).


Do this with every room. Once you're done, grab your bag(s) of garbage, your donations, and your items to sell and put them in your garage or outside - get them out of the way and avoid temptation to second-guess. Also, I would strongly suggest not giving them away on a "Buy Nothing" site as you need them out and gone without the risk of them potentially ending up back in your house. If you really want to give it to one of those groups, post a picture of the bag and call it a "Surprise Bag" - someone can come pick it up and get rid of whatever they don't want to use and so on.


Step #5: Organize!!


Storage bins have got to be one of the best inventions ever! Not only are some of them pretty darn cute, but they have such a valuable purpose in your life! I am obsessed with storage bins and, to be honest, it's the only thing I allow myself to "keep" even when they're not being use (I hide them in a closet in the craft room) because I know that eventually, I will need one for something or other.


Now, because I don't know what items you have in your home that you've decided to keep, I can't tell you how to organize your things, but I can give you some tips.


Grab your pen and paper and sit down (maybe even grab something to eat while you're at it!), and go through all the things that cause a daily struggle in your household like homework lying around, crafts/colouring stuff all over the place, games and toys everywhere, and ask yourself these questions:


Craft items (including play d'oh):

Where do we do most of our crafts?

Where are our craft items currently stored?

If I travel with the craft items (as in from one room to another) how likely am I to put it back in its home when I have supper on the stove, homework to help with, and bath time to prepare?


Board and Card Games:

How often do we play with these?

Where do we usually play with them?

Where are they currently stored?


Homework accessories:

Where do we usually do homework?

Where is it currently stored?

Do you want it more accessible or completely hidden?


Bills/Mail:

Do I really need to keep all my paper bills (can I access them online?)

Where are they currently stored?

Is the location in which they are stored somewhere other members of your family are likely to put away?


If you and your kids do the majority of your crafting in the living room but it's all stored in the basement, you're setting yourself up for failure. Either plan to create an area in the basement where you and your kids can comfortably craft, or bring it all upstairs to the livingroom/dining room. Here are some ideas for stylish but functional items you can use to organize your craft items.


Some of the most popular organizational items are wicker baskets, fabric boxes, plastic bins, small to large mason jars, plastic drawer towers on wheels, bookcases, storage cubes, console tables, wall shelves.


Once you have determined what things you will move where, you can more easily assess your organization needs. Do you want your items to be accessible (like board games and toys - do you want you kids to easily grab a bin of toys or do you want them hidden away behind a door? These are things you need to consider as well. When it comes to things like papers (mail/bills), homework supplies, craft supplies, and office supplies it's generally best to have these somewhere hidden behind a cabinet, drawer or door as these have a tendency to get loose and still look messy.


Basically, though, the rules(s) of thumb when trying to determine your organizational system are:

  • Make it accessible - make sure you know it's there, it's easy to get to and it's easy to put away

  • Store the items in an area where you use them

  • Put like items together (pencil crayons with pencil crayons, homework stuff with homework stuff, glue with glue, and so forth)

  • Just because it's in a drawer or closet, on a shelf or bookcase doesn't mean it still doesn't need to be organized.

  • Label, label, label: If you have kids, it's best to label all the storage systems so they know where to return their items when they're done. Label the colouring pencil box, the crayon box, the glue box, the scissor box and so on.


Here is a personal example of what I am talking about:


My son is an only child and he struggles with keeping himself occupied - he gets bored easily and looks to me to fix his problems. I work from home, so having a child who is bored and begging for me to fix his problems quickly becomes frustrating. He's also in grade 1, which means he's just learning how to read and how to do math. For a long time, I had two bins - a "bored box" which had small, surprise items inside that he could use to entertain himself for a bit (he loves the "Invention Bag") and the other bin was a homework bin. The problem was, they were easily confused and excess craft stuff ended up in the homework bin and homework would go missing and we'd find it in the "Bored Box." Also, even though the "Bored Box" was somewhat organized, you still had to root through it to find anything interesting - it was rarely opened and rarely used.


So, one day I went out and I bought an adorable little cabinet and decided to organize it so it could hold both these things. I called it "Caelan's Corner" and he uses it all the time. Here are some ways I organized it and some items I used to do so. He uses it almost every day and he loves it!


My son is an out-of-sight-out-of-mind kinda kid, so I have to keep the important things visible. These are magazine holders; one is for all his learning books, and the second is for all his activity books

I used a utensil holder to organize all the colouring things and although we have a craft room where the majority of our crafting stuff live, these are simple items that can also keep him occupied if I'm in a pinch. Lego, one of our favourite board games, and another little box full of entertainment



And if you're really struggling with ideas on how to organize your things, PINTEREST is a GOD send. Search "Living Room Organization" or "Organization Hacks" and it'll give you all kinds of ideas for all kinds of different living spaces (generally, if you use a the DIY option or Dollar Store option, you can find hundreds of super inexpensive ideas you may even be able to do with stuff you already have at home!). The hacks are my favourite because it gives you ideas of ways to store things you would never even think of (like using a utensil holder for crayons and pencil crayons!).


Now make a list of what you need (be creative here - you don't necessarily need to go out and buy hundreds of dollars worth of furniture - the majority of what you need to organize your home can be found at the Dollar store or Walmart) and go out and purchase it.


When you get home is when all your hard work will be paid off! Organize, organize, organize! Put all your things in their new homes, close all the drawers and cupboards knowing everything inside is organized and functional, and enjoy your new, freshly organized home! You deserve it!


I know figuring out HOW to organize your things is probably the hardest part (especially if you don't have a mind for it - not a lot of people do), and I would do it for you if I knew what you needed and the layout of your home. What I can do is give you some links to some super creative ideas that can help in almost every room in the house.


Toy Room


Kids' Bedroom


Homework Corner


Art/Craft Corner



Have questions or comments? Leave them below!

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