Spring is upon us and with Spring comes cleaning and the first step is learning tips to decluttering your home.
If you are anything like me, you can’t save all the purging for Spring cleaning.
With 5-6 kids at any given time (we are foster parents), and children who grow like weeds, regular sorting and purging is essential.
Let me share some of the things I have learned to help motivate you.
I like to separate this process into three phases: clothing, toys/books and household items.
The steps can be repeated for each phase, with minor modifications.
The example below will be for clothing.
Table of Contents
Collect Unused Items
To begin this process go through each of your children’s drawers, pull out all the off-season items and items that are too small.
Do the same with your own clothing.
If you haven’t worn it all season, add it to the pile.
One way to keep track of this is to hang all of your clothes with the hangers backwards.
As you wear each item, return it to your closet with the hanger facing the right way, and you’ll easily be able to detect unworn items, as their hangars will still be backwards.
Don’t begin sorting until you have completed all the rooms.
I always try to be caught up on my laundry when I do this.
Set The Stage
Gather your supplies. You will likely need a few ‘save’ bins, some garbage bags, tape, scrap paper and a marker.
Make signs for ‘KEEP’, ‘TOSS’ and ‘DONATE’.
Being organized is one of the most important tips to decluttering your home.
I prefer to use a bin for the items I am keeping and bags or cardboard boxes for the other two.
Spread the signs out throughout the room. Be sure it is a room with good lighting so you can see any stains.
If you need help tossing any of your unwanted or worn items, you can use a rubbish removal service like 1300 Rubbish to help you get rid of anything you need to.
Sort!
Save: Items that are still in good condition and that are in style.
Also save items you have worn, or put on your child in the past 6 months.
This includes items your children have outgrown IF you have another child of the same gender in a smaller size.
For the most part, I do not recommend saving clothes indefinitely, for your cousin, friend, sister, etc.
If they have a child one size down and you can give them an item of clothing right away, save.
However, if they aren’t even pregnant yet and you are sorting 6-year-old’s clothing, take it from me: donate it.
Styles will change and likely storage space is at a premium.
For your own future children, save your favourites, but not everything. Toss: This one is fairly straightforward.
If it has stains, holes, piling or is out of current style, toss it.
If you wouldn’t want to buy it second-hand, assume no one else would either.
This includes items without mates (ie shoes and socks).
Tips To Decluttering Your Home = Donate
Anything that your child has outgrown and doesn’t fit into the ‘save’ or ‘toss’ piles.
Also donate clothing items that were gifts, but which you have not worn or put on your kids.
If it has been a whole season and it hasn’t seen sunlight, pass it on to someone who might enjoy it.
Not sure if you want to donate?
Put items in a box or area and if in a few weeks you do not go out of your way to get the items, then you are not using them and you should donate.
Value Village accepts donations and one great thing about donating is that you can take a look around when you are there!
Replace your outgrown clothing with some new items and donate at the same time.
Value Village is more than your favourite thrift store.
They also support nonprofit organizations like Canadian Diabetes Association and Developmental Disabilities Association, among others, in your community.
Remember to donate your reusable items to local nonprofits at Value Village!
In addition to supporting the nonprofit, you’ll also be helping planet Earth.
Check out this interesting article on HHow to Organize the Kids Room, 5 Steps to Cleaning like a Pro and New Home Cleaning Checklist
