Top Ten Tips to De-Clutter
Beneath the Sink and other Dark Places
1. As with any de-clutter project be sure to keep the following in mind before you begin: Calendar the time to do the work. For each hour you spend to de-clutter, you need another hour to reintegrate the things you plan to keep. Clear the area around the de-clutter project so there's room to stage/sort the items coming out of the space. Have a list handy of donation places where you can bring stuff after you complete the de-clutter project.
2. Under the kitchen sink: remove everything. That's right, everything. Sort and group similar items. Toss out empty cans and bottles of cleaning solutions. Decide what will live beneath the sink. Pare down cleaning rags/sponges and put the remaining in a plastic bucket or bag. Consider purchasing a Busser'sTray. Products you use all the time are placed toward the front of the tray. Use a magic marker and write the date of purchase on the bottom of cans and bottles. Dish detergent tip: I like having dish detergent on the sink near my sponge. I also like to pump the liquid soap onto the sponge rather than pick up a bottle and pour onto the sponge. I buy economy-size detergent and recycle a much smaller pump container (similar to hand-soap bottles).
3. Beneath the bathroom sink: Remove everything. Sort and group similar items. Discard empty or near-empty bottles, jars, and boxes (or combine similar products). Give yourself permission to toss out worn-down bars of soap, used-up exfoliation sponges, old brushes, combs, hair rollers, hair-growth products... everything that is no longer a part of your regular bathroom routine. Bulk items such as toilet paper and tissues can be tucked away in another closet. Leave in the bathroom only spare parts (a couple of extra rolls of paper or an extra box of tissues). Remember: make-up expires after about a year. To contain the stuff you want to return beneath the sink consider purchasing a bathroom caddy or similar. For a large space use two - one for personal products, the other for cleaning products. For smaller spaces you may want to a container the size of a shoe box.
4. Scary junk drawers: Lay an old sheet or towel onto a flat surface like a floor or table and dump the contents of the drawer onto the material. You will probably see a lot that you can toss so have a good sized trash bag handy. It is amazing what you will find; a lot is usually stuffed into junk drawers. As you clear, decide the drawer's new use (not junk!). I'm not a Target spokesperson but at most stores, in the aisle next to the large storage bins, is an aisle filled with an array of drawer organizers in an array of shapes and sizes similar to these in a variety of materials. Remember to measure width, depth, length of the drawers for a good fit. And you can always return what you don't use.
5. Car trunk: Empty the contents of the trunk onto the driveway or carport area. Begin sorting the items from the trunk. You'll find stuff that belongs back in the house, or that you've been meaning to return to the library or your neighbor, or should probably go directly into the trash. Sometimes we need to keep items in our car trunk. For my organizing work, the trunk of my car contains gloves, masks, boxes of plastic trash bags, and several other items. To keep everything neat I use these handy car-trunk organizers.
6. More on the car: While you are at it, you may as well open the glove compartment and all the car doors. Remove everything in your car that doesn't belong. Start sorting. You may want to consider a small trash container for the floor or backseat and this cool device for things that you need to keep in your car, tucked away but within easy reach.
7. Under the bed: When's the last time you looked there? Pull everything out and sort. If used wisely the area beneath the bed is great for storage. Purchase a couple of 74-quart binsor this bag for shoes, blankets, pillows, sheets, bulky sweaters, etc.
8. Coat closet: Many homes and apartments have a small closet near the front door. This closet is usually jammed with coats, umbrellas, boots, suitcases, cloth grocery bags, old phones, and a lot of other things. At the risk of sounding like an old tape, take everything out of the closet. Decide how many umbrellas you really need. Remove all the empty hangers. Sort the items from the closet. If you have coats and other bulky clothes you no longer wear, consider a run to a donation center. Old electronics equipment can be brought to an e-waste drop site. For items that need to stay in the closet but don't belong on a hanger you may want to use this handy closet organizer.
9. Hard to reach cupboards: A lot of homes and apartments contain storage spaces that are high-up or hard to reach for other reasons. Chances are when you moved in you tossed stuff into these areas and can no longer remember what's in there. I encourage you to get a step-ladder and clear the space. Remove everything and donate what you don't need. Consider the space as a true storage area for infrequently used items that you will absolutely use at least once per year. Label the inside door of the cupboard to help you remember what you stored.
10. That area on the patio or in the yard where you keep gardening supplies: These spaces attract a lot of dirt and crawly things. Have a trash can or barrel on-hand when you are ready to de-clutter and organize the space. Toss broken pots, hand tools and those plastic containers that held the flowers and plants you put into the ground or a bigger pot. Check expiration dates of the spray bottles used to kill insects or get rid of leaf mold. Toss out gardening gloves with holes or no mate. Consider a garden tool organizer to keep your stuff contained.
