|
Clearing Closet Clutter
Without Going Crazy
Organizing a closet is one of the
most satisfying clean-up projects you can tackle.
But without a little planning, its sheer enormity
can leave you with more chaos than before you
started. Try these tips to clear the clutter,
leaving you with only the things you really use.
• Pick one closet to start. Make sure you
have space in that room to spread everything out. (A
bed works great for this.) You’ll be taking out
every (yes, EVERY) item in that closet. For each
item, ask whether you’ve used it/worn it in the past
year. If not, seriously consider getting rid of it.
Knowing that we wear only about 20 percent of our
clothes 80 percent of the time will help you let go.
Try to touch things only once while going through
this process — make a decision then and there,
rather than putting items aside to “decide later.”
• Items that you are removing can go in one of
four boxes: a trash box (for stuff headed
straight to the dump), a repairs box (for items that
need repairing), a recycling box (for things that
can be recycled, sold or given away), and a transit
box (for things that belong in another area of the
home). If you have trouble parting with some items,
put them in a box, label the box with a date six
months from now, and store it out of sight. If you
haven't gone into the box by the time the date rolls
around, toss or donate it without opening it.
• The hard part is now complete! Now comes
the fun of rearranging, organizing, and storing the
remaining items.
© 2006 Articles on Demand™ |
