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Okay, the closets are done. And I must say, they look fabulous. I have so much more room now! I’m tempted to go buy new clothes, my old ones look so lonely now. But I won’t. The point is to clear out, now clear out and refill.

The next part of my de-cluttering weekend is to tackle the rest of the house. Now, it sounds like a big job when I lump the entire house in one unit, but I’m going to do it in phases. The first phase will a quick once-over, going through each room with a trash bag and seeing what can just be tossed away and what needs to be put away (books back in the bookcase, shoes in the closets, etc.)

The next phase is to go through and see what things I have that I don’t need or want anymore. A lot of things in our homes are special to us. Antique furniture handed down from Grandma, a vase given to you for your wedding. Other things might not have a special meaning, but we just really like them. Like the picture frames that perfectly accent your living room, or the rug that you bought at a flea market and always get compliments on. All of this stuff is what stays.

The rest, however, is stuff that we bought or were given and have found room for, but maybe we don’t necessarily like. Take a look around and I’m sure there are knick-knacks and home accessories, even small pieces of furniture, that are just taking up space without any real function (or sentimental attachment). Box all this stuff up and give it to Goodwill, where it can be adopted by someone who really does like it.

The third phase is to beneath the surface, the stuff that’s hidden away. We’ve tackled the closets, but what about the cupboards, the drawers, all the places that aren’t in plain sight? Sort through the DVDs in your entertainment unit, clean out the junk from the kitchen drawer, clear out the old notebooks in the kids’ desks. It’s stuff that may not be out for everyone to see, but still causes clutter, it’s just hidden.

This will be one of the biggest parts of my de-cluttering. I’ve given myself a day for the second and third phases each, which hopefully is a generous estimate of how long it will take me. I realize that I might no be able to get rid of absolutely every bit of clutter in my house this weekend, but I will be off to a great start. And I can always pick up where I left off next weekend.

Hopefully you’re making progress in your clutter-busting. It’s hard work, but it’s worth, so don’t give up!

Amy

Maybe your closet is neatly kept, but has so much stuff crammed in you can barely shut the doors. Maybe your clothes are in a heap on the closet floor, covering your shoes and making it impossible to get ready for work quickly. Maybe the top shelf of old comforters, boxes, purses and general crap have slowly been gathering dust for the past year.

Unless you’re a total neat freak (in which case you can stop reading now), your closets are most likely a problem area in your home. The first part in my de-cluttering marathon is tackling the closets, getting rid of all the old clothes and accessories and things my family and I don’t need anymore.

The first step: Have a critical eye. I will not be emotional about this. I will not say “Oh, but I love this” about outfits I haven’t worn in years. I will not protest that one day they will be back in style. And I will not hold out hope that all those jeans that are five years old will someday fit me again. I will be ruthless. If it’s not a vital part of my regular wardrobe rotation, then it’s gone.

Next step: Organize. For some, this might mean going out and buying a bunch of new shelves or fancy containers for everything. For me, it means simply putting everything in its place. Shoes lined in the shoe rack, not just tossed about. Belts and purses hung on the door. Sweatshirts folded neatly and put on the top rack. Instead of just cramming stuff in wherever it will fit, I’m going to designate specific areas for specific items.

And finally: See what’s left. Do I have anything in my closest that could best be stored somewhere else? I’m not talking about moving clutter to another spot, since all of my closets are getting cleared out. I’m talking about utilizing each closet in the best way possible. Why do I have towels in my bedroom closet when they could easily go under the bathroom sink or in the hall linen closet? Why is extra detergent in the linen closet and not the laundry room? Once all my closets have space, I can put things in their rightful places, no longer having to cram in stuff wherever there’s extra room.

So there’s my game plan for my closet de-cluttering. Simple, no-fuss, just get in and get the clutter out. Easier said than done, I know, but I am determined. By this time tomorrow, I will have clean and de-cluttered closets!

Good luck with your own closet adventure,

Amy