BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Living Simply What is your best declutter tip?

I do something every time I pass thru a room and that way there is little to actually do other than vacuum and maybe dust (I say maybe because I frankly do not care one way or the other about dust, or the tops of things I cannot see, or the underneath sides, or the backs either for that matter)...when it is really time to "clean" as opposed to "decluttering" which I do not define as the same as "unloading"..

It may well be I am an existentialist housekeeper...if I cannot see it it does not exist! Sadly, I CAN see clutter.

I read in a book on organization once - never handle anything more than once-ie when you get the mail, sort it and put it where it belongs when you get it or shred it right then. Don't move piles around and go through them over and over.

Wheeled drawers, shelves, and tables... I have a small storage room and I have craft supplies, bird supplies, beer-making supplies etc each on wheels. I can easily move them around - pull them out to use, roll back to store. It also gives me a specific place for tidbits that get left around. I used to think my husband was overly AR when I met him because he would label drawers and ONLY those items were allowed in there. Well ... it works so now I guess we're both AR!

I need to figure out how to part with books/magazines. That's one area we can't seem to get under control.

wow - a whole crafts room! I am GREEN with envy! I like the idea of the rolly carts for each hobby area.

ohhh no ... it's so full of things on rollers there's NO room to work in there!! The carts just mean less clutter everywhere else!

Yeah, the roller carts are awesome. The hardest part is keeping THEM uncluttered.

I love this show "Neat". Here are their tips on clutter:

5 key questions to cut down on clutter

At least once a month, I clear out papers and "stuff" from my home based office. If I don't, the stuff takes up space in my mind and zaps my energy as being those things that "one day I will get around to." I simply set the time aside and do it.

In other areas of my home, I make it a habit to keep up on the organization of things. If I am putzing around in a room, say the kitchen, I may spend a few minutes cleaning a cabinet or drawer. By staying on top of things a little at a time, it doesn't become an overwhelming process.

Kathleen Gage

Every Sunday trash day my kids take a trash bag and do the 27 bogey fling. They go in their room sand find 27 things to throw out, trash, papers, broken toys, empty lotion bottles, etc.

I learned this from The FlyLady


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I'm curious as to the meaning of the number 27...it's personally one of my favorite numbers.

ooo! I love the Flylady! She has changed how I do everything!