I have to admit, this Clearing Closet Clutter series is partly for you and partly for me. I hate to declutter! There, I said it. Decluttering involves decision after decision and that can be mentally exhausting for an indecisive person like myself.
Should I keep it? Should I donate it or throw it away? Would someone else want it? What if I need it someday? Should I take it to consignment? Could someone I know use this? Should I save it for them? Would it offend them if I offered it to them???
We make these decisions for ever item we find. Tiring to say the least! What adds to the fatigue is that we usually set aside an entire day (good old spring cleaning) for this task. As a result of these decisions made in rapid secession and with the hours spent on end organizing and tossing it’s no wonder we get burnt out. OR we may even anticipate this agonizing event and continue to procrastinate until clothes fall on our head each time we open the closet door…not that that has ever happened to me! ha.
The result? More clutter. More and more clutter. And, whether you recognize it or not clutter = stress. It’s true, I don’t always like to admit it but I know it’s true. For me closet clutter is the HARDEST clutter to get under control. Any other area is manageable but with the closet it’s so simple to shut the door and put it out of site and out of mind. So here I am, open and honest with you, ready to start a three week series on Clearing Closet Clutter. I’ll be sharing inspiration from others along with pictures of my own short comings as well as personal triumphs.
Since this is the first part of the series we’ll start with an easy task!
My first idea is to leave a bag or box in the bottom of your closet where you can toss items you want to get rid of. As you are scanning the closet for something to wear and you find an old sweater two sizes too small, drop it in the box. An old tie from the 70’s that you’ll never wear again? Drop it in. You get the idea. {My family also keeps a box in the garage for old electronics, appliances, books, etc.} Whenever your box is full you can have a yard sale to earn a little extra money or drop it off at a local charity. If you decide to donate and you have kids don’t pass up the opportunity to take your kids with you to let them see charity in action.
Check back tomorrow (and the next day, and the next day, etc.) for another segment of Clearing Closet Clutter…
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Day 2 – Divide & Conquer Closet Clutter
Day 3 – Simple Closet Clearing Idea
Day 4 – Space Bags to Save Closet Space
Day 5 – Hangers 101
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I definitely need to do this. Several of my closets are full of clutter!
I would love to tackle my closets, they are overrunning. I will keep checking back, I would like to see how you do.
I’m one of those who gets overwhelmed with large projects, but your idea to keep a box in the closet bottom? Brilliant! I could do that!
love that idea of the box in the closet, ashley. i have a bag in several spots in the house for goodwill. sigh.
My closet recently collapsed, for the second time – so this post is great for me. I will keep coming back to see what you have done!
That’s a really good idea! I might do a plastic tub rather than a box, since they’re sturdier and boxes seems to fall apart on me when I’m doing these type of projects, LOL! I was complaining about this very topic last night. When it comes to my own stuff, I’m pretty ruthless in getting rid, but I’m still sorting out my mom’s personal effects (10 years after she passed) and I find that really overwhelming. I feel like I should save stuff for other family, or sell on eBay (A lot of it is antique-y), and it’s just SO MUCH to think about and takes up a really unreasonable amount of space. UGH!
I keep a box in my closet- it definitely helps! I need to go through my closet to pack away my non-maternity clothes so I think I’m going to declutter while I’m at it.
I need to get to my closets and my whole house! Clutter follows me around.
It’s like you wrote this article for me — we have so much clutter that I need to figure out how to deal with.
I’m HORRIBLE at clearing out my closet! I actually just got rid of a bunch when we moved.
I use to be the biggest pack rat thinking I had to save everything, that it would eventually have a purpose. Now I try to give away and get rid of everything we don’t need or use. I have a small house and we have to declutter to make room for more!