DAY FIVE

De-Clutter Clothes

Yes, that is right...
We love clothes, we buy even when we really don't need
but we found it, gotta have it, drives us to stock piling it
all over our closets & also in bins at the bottom of our closets as well...

Now we are going to clean it out room for room
or child for child...

These methods can be used for every one in the family-

The bare essentials for spring/summer are:

4 shorts (add 2 more shorts for males)
4 Capri (for the females)
2 pair sandals (casual)
2 pair sandals (dress)
4 sleeveless tops
4 short sleeve tops
1 pair tennis shoes-sneakers
2-4 PJs sets
Unlimited Amount of under garments & socks & bathing suits
2 beach towels per person

The bare essentials for fall/winter:
(depending on where you live
You may have to add a thermos over stuffed snow suit
LOL I'll never own one here in the deep south)

4 jean pants
2 sweat outfits
(flip the jean VS sweat pants depending on your indoor/outdoor time)
2 dress &/or pants outfits
4-6 long sleeve cotton t-shirts
2 jackets (one casual, one dress up)
2 hats & scarves & gloves
endless amount of under garments & socks
1 pair non-slip boots
1 pair sneakers
2 pair fuzzy slippers (the funkier the better)

Once you have figured out what excatly you want to keep
the rest will be fine in a black garbage bag to be delivered to local church or donation group...
IF you can NOT use it or WON'T give it to someone who will

Another rule I stick to:
IF you didn't wear it in the last year
Give away-'Cause it's taken up space you NEED
for your GOOD NEW Clothes...

If it's for a child: IF he or she can NOT fit the clothes & or shoes
GIVE IT AWAY -Donate
someone will NEED it more
then the bottom of the drawer or closet it has been laying in...

That should keep you busy for some time...
IF you do not get it all done in one day
NO need to worry.
At least TRY to finish one per or one room per day!!

DAY THREE

Let's Clean That Kitchen

(ohh gess Need to take my own advise here-
So, let's do this together
My kitchen is measured at 10X10
I have only 5X5 to work with though
cabinets & counter take up the first half of 10
& my over sized refrigerator & freezer takes up the other half of 10))

WE will De-Clutter this space.
Get it back to what it is used for...
COOKING!!! EATING!!!

1st thing have your garbage can empty for we will fill it up.
Have a empty Box for storage & one for Donations

Start by throwing away JUNK
old dish rags, sponges, less then half empty never
gonna use dish liquid, old bottles with no use but
sitting under sink, empty boxes that once held garbage bags-
TRASH TRASH TRASH

Next up on counter:
Toss out old half opened food packs.
If it is more then 3 days old-half opened half eaten
Trash It!!

If you have a over stock if pots & pans
IF you KNOW you will never use them
DONATE!!
If you may use them Save Box!!
IF the pan or pot has major scrapes & cuts in the metal
TRASH it...this can get into your food & into your blood!!

Go through your cooking tools
How many large spoons do u need??
I say 4 of each with the variety in sizes
Spatula, ladle or large spoons, pitch forks, whisk, etc.
I try to keep the most used kitchen cooking tools at hand
My knives are in a Large Wooden made block
SAFE from children
I also keep a handy heavy duty scissors in kitchen as well.

If you are famous for having bowls with missing or not matching lids
Try to find them that match.
Once you have a matching set put to save box
Once kitchen is organized Place them together in a small plastic container
that will slide under your cabinets-remember handy storage Clean Area!
No matches THROW AWAY...cause if you don't use them now
they will just be in the way causing clutter in the long run.

On top of your counter
IF possible:
You can keep microwave, toaster oven, coffee pot,
chopping block & plate, toaster.
This all depends on the size of your kitchen.
IF you are like me & it's SMALL think of placing your toaster
& coffee pot when not in use on top of your freezer/refrigerator.

Which **gess I need to do here** should be clean at all times.
We keep a box of emergency medical supplies on top
In there I have Tylenol for all ages of people in my house
band-aids & antibiotic ointment, tweezers & nail clippers,
bendryl ointment & capsules.

I also keep flash lights & candles on top.
With a lighter or matches for use.
(u never know when your power will cut out
hurricane central here-always prepared!!)

Under your kitchen sink: you can store your cleaning products.
I prefer to have mines on the windows ledge...this way it's easy to find
& well, I'm to busy half the time to dig for what I need....

After a few small breaks 15 mins tops!
Take your time-don't over work yourself
in DE-cluttering...It's didn't take one hour
to get this way-it won't get cleaned that fast either!!
Well rested-OK-Back to work!!!

Grab your DONATION BOX
Your headed to the pantry
Hit all cabinets as well that store food
What you haven't used in over 3 months that is NOT expired
Donate....IF it is expired TRASH

If your shelves are deep & you always manage
to loose chip half open bags & what not
get yourself some small bins. This will help
you stay more managed & organized.

Once you have tossed out what is NOT used to either
donations or trash bag. Now hit that Refrigerator & Freezer.
Clean out OLD food. EXPIRED sauces & dressings.
Frost Bitten freezer foods are trashed too.
Old ice creams (lol not here-as if waste ice cream ya nuts)
Older then 6 months to esp a Year on foods in freezer.
Most things now have a expired date
Be wise it's there for a reason-


NOW you have made Much Progress...
Donate box to trunk, trash out on curb side,
& to save out in shed.

Now u can sit back relax with hot tea or
my favorite fresh sweet iced tea.

DAY TWO

One this day You will do something special for you & those who live with you.

Grab a black garbage bag Start at your front door
& work you way through your home.

The idea is to fill up your bag with 30 UN-NEED CLUTTER items.
AKA: JUNK
Don't go through the home & have ONLY 15 items...
BIG NO NO...You know you have 30 JUNK items there...
Toss out what you don't need.
Old magazines, loose scribbled on paper,
half empty never gonna use shampoo, half broken toys,
toys from Fast Food PLACES!! etc....

Once you have your JUNK...take it out to the trash.
DO NOT THINK TWICE...GRAB & THROW!!

POOOOF GONE!!!


Next step (after you take a good breather) Grab a box
Go through your home same way-
front door to back last bathroom
& LOAD up 30 Items YOU no longer use or want.

This is the DONATION stage.

Remember this...
No food that is perishable,
No undergarments,
Or Open personal Items!!!

IF you have two of the same things.
But, no use for the 2nd item
DONATE!!

Old picture frames with no pictures inside
DONATE!!

Old Mix Match bed sets (pillow cases, sheets, blankets)
Do Not donate Pillows themselves...That is a garbage thing!
For bed mites are not to be shared-Eww GROSS!!
DONATE!!

Silk flowers
Your Home is not a Cemetery (no pun in tented)
-DONATE!!

Posters that the children don't want
& is stuck in a closet
DONATE!!

Once you have managed to collect 30 items at LEAST
Close the box-secure it with masking tape
take it out to your trunk for donation to local drive or church.

Your Trash is some one else's Treasure!!!

DEEP BREATHE!! GETTING A DRINK of WATER!!

NOW grab a rubber maid tub.
We are going to go through your house just as before
30 items at least of things you want to keep
but, DO NOT need out & about.

Yes of course your home is your self expression
but, come'on-Cluttered down with your nick nacks
is not expression we like to send out to our children & family.

WE can do better!!
We'll pack it up & label it so we may find it again for later use.
& for god sakes-It's not Christmas Take down the lights...
Don't be lazy & keep them up all year long
cause well it's easier then up & down Up & down

Pack up what decorations are UN-Necessary for the season!!!

((**Option**))
If you have a collection of any sorts..
Mines is Disney's Nightmare Before Christmas,
anything Star Wars, & Witch Wizard Hats & sorts,
Any type of Coffee/Tea mugs,cups & Pots.

I had my handy husband make me shelves
we bought some cute L brackets
Up the shelves went on my walls of my office.
My collection items placed up for all to enjoy!!!
& yet opened up lots of space in my living room
where they lived before.

If you have collectibles or special treasures
that you don't have room for or is just taken up
much needed important room
Pack it Up...You can always come back for it later
when you do a redesign of your area.
**I do this once every 6 months to a year**
It's not gone forever...
Just stored away for the time being!!!!


Now don't you feel better!!
I do...De-Cluttered...
Ahhh what a great feeling!!

DAY ONE

GO CLEAN (sanitize) & SHINE UP YOUR SINKS

Use a good disinfectant, a rag, & good ol' fashion rubbin'

I LOVE the old Lysol comes in a brownish bottle!!

& also I used for a top shine Comet!!

Can't Go Wrong CLEAN!!

Remember HOT water is your Disinfected Friend!!!

After you do this; you will keep it shiny by drying it out after each time you use it and making sure when you go to bed that it is shining so it will make you smile in the morning. That shiny sink is a reflection of the love that you have for yourself.

It's all about establishing little habits that string together into simple routines to help your day run on automatic pilot.

Day By Day

Here I will list a Day By Day way to
De-clutter Your House & Life...
These are not 100% my own ideas.
I have searched the web & have come up with
a few from here & there & everywhere

Hopefully this steps will help you as well as
I am trying these every day.

I complain I need a bigger home.
& YES with 5 of us in 1800 sq ft It is a tight fit but,
I have clean down clothes, & extra un-used furnitures.
Now to do more...

Let's get started-
(these will be a day by day list.
DO NOT do 2 days of work in 1-
This is also CHEAP therapy...DAY BY DAY...

Read on....