BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Organization #1 Organization tip

I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed this article. Recently we have been decluttering, partially because of a mold problem that we were having in our basement. We threw away so much junk, some of it was stuff still in boxes from when we moved almost 4 years ago. It was very liberating and we went through every room in the house and ruthlessly threw things away. There was only one thing I was looking for later that we threw away but right now I can't remember what it was so it couldn't have been too important. I made a few piles for the kids and some of it was stuff from when they were still at home. I told them take it home or I am chunking it!

I will be looking forward to more tips. I have changed the way I shop and think twice before I buy things (nonessentials) and ask myself if I really need this!

There is nothing that feels better than to get rid of all the stuff you have accumulated. Your life just feels decluttered when you do this. You can focus on what's more important when you don't have all this garbage in the background. That goes for mental garbage as well. I was never good at keeping anything organized, but one day I decided that come hell or high water, I would have a beautiful organized house. My house was never dirty, just cluttered, which other people thought of as dirty. Now that I got organized, donated items to goodwill, and keep only items I use on a frequent basis, everyone thinks my home is spotless. Haven't really change a thing, just organized and got rid of clutter.

Hi Nancy,
That sounds so good. I am afraid ,i can be a friend of clutter. I find it so hard to throw things out. In case.... you know the one? It sometimes feels the things are actually a part of me. Yet when I do get a 'fit' on a sort it all out I feel so much better. I will have to gear up for one...!

What I do is take pictures of things I think I'll really miss and then I can hang those on my cork board or use them as backgrounds. So I can still enjoy the beauty of the item without it cluttering up things.

Think about the real dollar value of something. If you have a clean home and REALLY need the thing again, you can probably get the $5 or whatever to get a new better working one Especially if you donate things to charity and get a tax write off, consider the value of that as your "fund" for rebuying something if you really need to. And in the meantime the object will be actively used and treasured by someone who needs it instead of rotting unused in your basement

I'm so not in to the whole ebay, yard sale stuff so I joined a freecycle yahoo list in my area. When ever I come across something that hasn't been used in 2, 5 or 10 years I list it and it is usually gone within a few days freeing up useful space for something else.

It takes practice getting rid of stuff. But once you start it feels good knowing that someone else is actually using it and that you have this extra space.

Right exactly. I remind myself that it's far better for the thing to be loved and in use than abandoned in a corner.

I am the worst pack rat. Everything I have or accumulated has some kind of "sentimental" value and I quoted that word because I believe it is crutch or an excuse not to get rid of anything.

That is my whole problem and as Moe said, it takes practice to throw things away. Hopefully, I will be able to start practicing it soon.

Vance - try the photo technique. That way you document it and have a record of what it meant to you in the past - but now you pass it along to someone else to use and love today In a way if you cherish something it's a shame to have it unused! If it's a cherished sweater, imagine some person having it become their absolute favorite thing that they wear daily and are so thrilled to have ...

I am packing for our move in less than two weeks now. Everything that I have not needed for a few years I am getting rid of it. I am taking it to the Salvation Army. Some things, like craft supplies, I will donate to my grandson's school for art projects.

The "charity pile" in the corner of our bedroom (mostly clothes and small items) is growing. Very soon, our home will be at least 40lbs lighter. I'm actually pretty excited about that. More decluttering to come!