Linda Gray - De-Cluttering

De-Cluttering

Tips for Busy Moms

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Introduction

De-clutter: The word 'clutter' comes from, I believe, a Latin word meaning to coagulate. There is no way you want to be coagulating up your world. But sometimes it seems impossible to keep a house tidy, especially if there are little peeps sharing the same space!

The way to do it is to get organized. Take it one step at a time. When we get overwhelmed with anything, we tend to fall into a place of stress - anxiety, panic, sheer lack of motivation. And the job won't get done.

So, start from the top. If you have an attic packed full of 'stuff' and you don't use the space for living, ignore it for now. Get the rest of the house in order, then you can start bringing things down and sorting them slowly. If the clutter in the attic isn't actually in your way or in your face, it can be postponed.

Things to have before you start:

**rubbish bags

**boxes/containers

**perhaps a cleaning cloth or two.

And most importantly

**A desire for tidiness!

If you really don't care if the place is cluttered, don't do it. But clutter is a very disempowering state to live in and most of us like to feel in charge of our own lives at home. These tips can be applied to work environments, home offices and workshops as well. Once you get in the swing of tidying you are rewarded with more creativity, productivity and a boatload of feel-good.

TIP:

Don't try and tackle it all at once. Be realistic. If the house hasn't been tidied for more than a couple of months, take it slowly. Decide on one room at a time. Then choose one particular category in each room ... all will be revealed...

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Kids Bedrooms

I t's incredible what children collect - some of it none too healthy. If your child has reached the age when parents are banned from their room, it's time to have a chat with them. But if you don't have to go in there, perhaps it may be best just to eliminate the room from your mental to-do list - for now.

Otherwise, start with the basics. Throw away the trash. Bits of paper, old cartons and anything that really is rubbish - throw it away.

Then methodically, sort out toys, clothes and other stuff - concentrating on one thing at a time.

Clothes

W hat doesn't fit anymore ? Is it to be passed on to a younger child in the family? Or donated to a friend? Or perhaps it's saleable or worth giving to charity.

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Create piles as you go along

Pile #1: that's staying in the room

Pile #2: for passing on to a younger sibling or friend

Pile #3: for charity and saleable items and

Pile #4: for the really wrecked clothes

Are there enough drawers and hanging space for the clothes that are staying? If not, make a mental note (or preferably write it down) that you need to build a cupboard or look for a new one.

However, when you've removed the clothes that have no business being there, you may well find that the overstuffed drawers aren't so overstuffed anymore.

Pile #1: Fold all the clothes and put them back into separate drawers / cupboards - sort into underwear, t-shirts and tops, school clothes, hanging items etc; and put them all away.

Pile #2: Take into the relevant sibling's bedroom or bag up ready to pass on to a friend.

Pile #3: Put all the items that can be donated to charity (or sold) into a bag or box and take it downstairs - don't hide it in the spare room or in the clutter cupboard. Take it out of the room and move it into a place where you will see it and remember to deal with it later.

Pile #4: Straight in the trash! OR..

Some pieces of cloth could be kept for needlecraft projects if that's your passion. Or perhaps, if you enjoy crafts with your children, a few colourful pieces of cloth could come in handy, or an old shirt may make a good painting smock?

When you sort through the rubbish pile, make sure you put the items you are keeping in the place they are to be kept - with your sewing gear or in the craft box for example. Do it straight away and throw out the rest. Don't keep that fourth pile hanging around.

I would like to point out here that I'm all for recycling but within reason. I recently helped someone de-clutter their home and found three big black bags full of old t-shirts, sheets etc; that had been collected for dusters. Dusters? These days dusters are not expensive and certainly don't wear out very quickly. Well, mine don't anyway.

Phew!

Now, you have to try and convince the little darlings to keep their clothes tidy.... maybe that's another book :-)

The occupants of the rooms you aren't allowed in may realize, with a little luck, that it's actually a lot nicer to have a tidy organized bedroom. If they ask for your help, give it immediately if you can. Teenagers can be very, er, changeable. What's acceptable this morning may not be tonight.

Toys and entertainment

I include entertainment because many children have a computer, a phone and other gadgets that tend to pile up. What happened to that phone that's way out-of-date? You may be able to sell it online or swap it for something else. Try and find a way of recycling old plastic gadgets to save or at least delay adding to the land fill problem.

One of the problems with kids toys is that as soon as you decide to throw a long-forgotten toy away, your child immediately decides it's his or her favourite toy ever and Googles the number for child-line.

If your child is likely to fall into this very frustrating category - and many do - it's time to get a little sneaky. Choose your moment well. When they are at school or preferably at a friend's house for a sleepover works best.