NBR- Tips on home purging?

lorist202 · September 2014

OK, so since DD was born in May, (and even before that), I have felt that our home is uncomfortably stuffed to the gills. Not sure if it's my hormones, my fear over the lost income now that I'm working p/t, the fact that going out to just buy new stuff is a logistical impossibility, or just a bump in the road of parenthood, but I'm literally losing my mind over all of the "stuff" we have acquired. I can't seem to part with any of it.

Clothes: I'm in that weird post partum stage where I don't yet fit into my own clothes....stage I hope... DD has a tiny bedroom so it's never neat, always with something hidden behind furniture, etc. Toys: I can keep them mostly downstairs in family room, but the seasonal/ summer stuff needs to be stored and it feels overwhelming. I feel like I want to empty my whole house and start over! I have an attic with room to spare, and a basement that is completely stuffed.

Share with me your favorite tips/ rules/ philosophies etc. on keeping your home clutter free!

groovygrl · September 2014

I'm not really an organization freak but I am pretty good about throwing out stuff we aren't using...I purge my closet about twice a year and also get rid of the kids' clothes as soon as they grow out of them- I have several friends I always pass on to and then the rest goes to charity or goodwill. I also get rid of books and toys that they've outgrown several times a year (all this is assuming you're not having more kids of course, but even if so there might be things you realized you didnt' really need or that got banged up) and at Xmas I have my kids go through all their books & toys and choose a huge box and bag of stuff to leave out for santa to take to other kids who don't have many books/toys. I keep minimal super special books and toys that are in good shape for the future (eg the thomas trains, certain books they loved that are not totally beat up, some of DD's princess dolls will get kept etc) and only certain special event/occasion clothes (I kept more of the baby holiday type stuff but now don't really keep much of that as they get older).

We got a super sturdy & deep wood shelving unit built in some unfinished space in our basement to hold plastic bins of the seasonal/holiday stuff and I also keep the reserved special toys there. I have a box of holiday/seasonal books that I go to just before a holiday, dig out the books for that holiday & then put them back in there when the holiday is over (or donate the books if they've outgrown them).

Our kids' bedrooms are toy free with the exception of some drawing stuff for DD and stuffed things and DS keeps some small things in his room that will fit in his nightstand drawers. Otherwise they don't get to keep toys in their room. We do have a basement & a playroom so the toys are relegated to those areas, which helps a lot.
Maybe invest in some large plastic bins for your attic and assign a bin to each thing- like special clothes, special toys, etc and only fill it as much as 1 bin will hold, or whatever.

When we were last moving, I knew it was coming about 6 months ahead, so at the start of the summer that year I wrote a schedule of what project I would do each week, keeping it small and easy to do within and hour or two- e.g. clean out the pantry, clean out the coat closet, go through X section of the garage/playroom,e tc. It was much less overwhelming that way and I was super organized & ready to show the house when the time came.

GL!

lexusolsen · September 2014

I go through one area at a time. I have three piles, keep, trash, and give away. I usually go through the keep pile a second time. I find that I'm less sentimental the second time.

lexusolsen · September 2014

Oh and the giveaway bag goes right into the car to be dropped off in the next day or two.

HobbityBarb · September 2014

Loving this thread - I am so bad at organising the house and it definitely needs doing!

rodiesmum · September 2014

Great thread!

I go through our closet twice a year and find items to keep or donate.

Toys are likewise purged as well as other stuff

Ref gets cleaned up weekly

Tink112011 · September 2014

Because I'm really bad at organizing clutter, it is my mission in life to avoid clutter.

The best rule to have is that if one new thing comes into the house, one old thing must exit the house. Ex: Get a coffee mug as a gift, get rid of an old coffee mug. Buy your LO a toy, have him pick out an old toy to donate. But a new dress, donate an old one. Etc.

Never buy more hangers for your closets! If you don't have enough hangers, it means you need to get rid of stuff.

For me, the biggest challenge are the rooms that are not lived in daily. It's too easy to throw stuff into the spare bedroom closet or into the basement. Those areas get out of hand in our house and I need to dedicate some time to sorting and purging.

sweetsunnyc · September 2014

I feel like I have become the queen of organization in the last few years even though it does not come naturally to me

This is mainly due to the size of my family and the size of my home. When I originally purchased the house, it was a perfect size for me and DD- 1300 sf right on a park. Then I remarried and H moved in with me as it was a better situation. Then my SD decided that she wanted to live with us full time and then we had DD3. Talk about packed to the gills. We are not moving anytime soon, so we work with the space- luckily great storage.

1) Children's clothes and toys- consign if you have a good store around you. This is a great way to make some money as well or build credit at the store. I am a huge fan of consignment shops and we shop at them often- they can be hit or miss, but luckily we have a nice one by us. They only take clothes that are in really good condition, so I keep a bin that can be consigned and a bin that goes to good will. I do this every 5 months or so.

2) Shop in your home- when I am feeling like I need a revamp, I just move decorations around and find that I am happy with that. I get money being tight, so when I need an update, I purchase something small like new throw pillows or a great candle.

3) Clean out your closet and consign your things as well. If you haven't worn it in a year, you won't. Again, a great way to make money or build some credit so you can have a mini shopping spree for free when you are ready to buy new things.

4) Have a garage sale! I know that they are a lot of work, but it is a great way to get everything cleaned out and make cash. I am always looking for ways to do both. Good luck!

[Deleted User] · September 2014

I purge my closet when I change it for the season. If I didn't wear it that year, it gets tossed.

I also Freecycle. I have found that I am more willing to get rid of something if I am not throwing it away but giving it a new home.

What about a yard sale? You don't make a ton but it's a little extra cash and motivation to purge.

justjinny · September 2014

After having a small house for years I've learned to not keep things around that you don't use. I love to cook, but don't need a ton of kitchen gadgets. So if you have a huge crock pot that only gets used once a year, is it worth the space? I only buy things for the house if I've spent months or sometimes years saying that I really need it to get a task done.

We've made a habit of doing a house purge after each Christmas. New stuff/gifts come in and old stuff goes out at that time. Toys, decorations, clothes... everything gets a sort through the week after Christmas and is taken to Goodwill or passed on if friends or family want it.

I keep a box in my hall closet for odds and ends items that I don't want and can either re-gift (if new) or take to Goodwill every few months. Anything and everything goes in there - from toys & books to shirts that I don't like anymore or old dishes or what not. Every so often my sisters and I will do a clothes swap of items we're tired of then whatever's left over goes to Goodwill.

I also keep a small box (diaper boxes work great!) in my closet and in DS's closet for clothes that don't fit. Each time a box gets full, it gets labeled with what size/season is in there and put away in the attic. Being in the last trimester of this pregnancy, I've boxed up nearly all of my normal clothes and have them stored in the attic. I'm planning to bring the boxes back out of storage afterwards and slowly swapping my maternity clothes for whatever I can fit into. I will not keep anything in my closet or dressers that I don't feel comfortable wearing. It just takes up space, is depressing to look at and wastes time when you're trying to decide what to wear in the morning.

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