What's up with the weather? Yes, it is really snowing today, May 24th! To celebrate I'm listening to Christmas Carols! (Hey, I'll use any excuse to listen to Christmas music) It's hard to believe that this coming weekend is Memorial Day ~ the unofficial kick-off to summer.
We were watching a show last night at my dad's house on t.v. called "Hoarders" made me want to go home and clean my house from top to bottom, so that might be my plans for this weekend (they are having a "Hoarders" marathon on t.v. - that will help inspire me) It is amazing to me how one person can have so much stuff. According to the Mayo Clinic here is the definition of hoarding: Hoarding is the excessive collection of items, along with the inability to discard them. Hoarding often creates such cramped living conditions that homes may be filled to capacity, with only narrow pathways winding through stacks of clutter. Ok, I'm not that bad but I know I didn't have all this stuff when I moved into my house almost 9 years ago. I think it is time to get rid of some of my junk.
Here are tips on de-cluttering from:
http://www.ehow.com/Organizing a house full or even a room full of clutter can be a daunting task. Without a simple and foolproof system as a guide, its nearly impossible to make any headway. This Six Box Toss should prove to be the last system you'll ever need.
Instructions
Things You'll Need:
Five cardboard boxes
Magic Marker
Garbage can
Step 1
Label your boxes in this manner: 1.Donate 2.Sell 3.Return 4.Repair 5.Keep 6. Unsure. The last container you'll need is your garbage can. Line the boxes and trash can somewhere where they're all accessible.
Step 2
Use the donate box for toys going to your niece, clothes going to a thrift store or books going to the senior center. It's sometimes easier to part with things if you know that they're going to be used and enjoyed somewhere else.
Step 3
Put things in the 'Sell' box if you are prone to sell only. This is for garage sale items, things to go to a consignment shop or an online auction site. This is just another box of clutter if you don't actually use it for sale. Mark this box with a
date three months ahead and if these items aren't sold, they need to go to a good charity instead.
Step 4
Use the 'Return' box for borrowed items, library books, or items that belong to neighbors, friends and family. If you have bought things that need to be returned, toss those in here, too.
Step 5
Put items in the 'Repair' box only if you absolutely know they'll be repaired. Keeping things that may have some use in them is a trap for clutterbugs so the rule of thumb is this: If something just needs a little 'fixing' to be good as new for someone but that someone is not you, the item needs to be thrown or given away. If you've already replaced something, get rid of the old one. If you know of no one or no way to repair something, get rid of that, too.
Step 6
Put things in the 'Keep' box only if you are sure that the item is really of use or value to you. Otherwise, it goes out. Use the 'Unsure' box as a last resort. If something seems to defy all the other boxes and you don't want to let it go without thought, put it in here. Mark the box with a date six months away. If you haven't used the item in six months, toss it or give it away.
Step 7
Use your garbage can for everything you don't really need or want. This should be the first place you consider
