Between the, “Bag a Week,” “Downsizing Pros & Cons,” and, “Junk Drawer” threads, I thought it might be fun to share any organizing ideas or hacks you use that you find helpful.
Could be anything from how you group things together in cabinets, to storage containers/organizers, to space-saving tips, to repackaging v not repackaging, to replenishing systems for cleaning supplies or food or TP, to digital organization, to how you maximize space, etc.
Not every idea will work for everyone, but I thought it might be fun to share.
Here’s something small I do that keeps clutter down, reduces waste and saves money … I buy bulk spices to refill the bottles on my spice rack. It’s cheap, and the spices are fresher.
I’m also addicted to drawer and closet “organizers” but I usually make my own by repurposing pretty boxes, wooden crates, etc… I have wooden crates (that came with something else) in my pantry to organize all my baking ingredients. It’s easier to pull out the crate that has the sugars, flours, baking powder, soda, and vanilla then going back and forth to the pantry for every item. Looks better when I open the door too
This thread is going to be dangerous for me as I LOVE organizing!
Also, I was an early adopter of Marie Kondo and am proud to say that my drawers are still in great shape and my closet is soooo sparse. I love it that way. Dh said to me a few weeks ago when I was cleaning out my closet, “Didn’t you do that a few months ago?” I had but now felt ready to get rid of more stuff that I held on to for sentimental reasons. I am like a reverse hoarder.
I’m planning to sell our house soon. Back in October, I began clearing out. I was sooooo daunted at first. It seemed like nothing was ever going to look different, but finally I can see the back walls of the garage again.
I asked friends for advice about how they cleared stuff out.
Here were their top tips, which I have found helpful.
Set an alarm for the same time every day. It’s an audible reminder to get rid of something, or to plan how something will be disposed of. Set it for whatever time works for you. Mine is 8:30 am, because that’s the time before my day gets busy. Even if I don’t physically move an item, the alarm reminds me to consider what/how I’m going to clear out stuff.
Start with the least used room where you will be undisturbed, and get rid of EVERYTHING that isn’t serving a purpose. Recycle, give away, or throw out as much as possible. This is a good way to start because it’s manageable. In my house, this was our attic guest room, where all the old books had migrated, as well as Halloween costumes and old clothes, plus an old trundle bed. Now, ALL those things are gone. The room now has four pieces of furniture, a rug, and a few lamps.
Clear out the garage. You will then have room to at least get stuff out of the house. This might require some help. Get a neighborhood kid to give you a hand if necessary. In our case, we hired a dumpster. It was worth it, because we could spend a couple of weeks getting rid of stuff as and when we had time. It meant we didn’t have to rush and spend a lot of valuable time going to and from the local dump. In the process, I was able to give away a lot of stuff as well as put things aside that can be sold.
I guess a part of “organization” is also reducing ownership of things - which I’m all for (but H isn’t).
But also keep in mind how you organize the things you DO have and ARE keeping.
I recently cleaned and reorganized our linen closet which doubles as extra toiletries. After I tossed a bunch of stuff, I used small-medium bins to organize by type of toiletries. Toothpaste/flossers/brushes in one bin. Soaps liquid or bar in another bin. Cold meds in a bin. First aid items in a bin. Then I put the cold meds and first aid items towards the back of the closet because we need those less frequently.
But, but, but, but… You now have small bottles AND bulk containers. I get it, but the extra inventory is causing my CDO* to flare.
I am anal beyond description, long before Martha and Marie came on the scene. It bugs me that I could have funded my retirement long ago if I had just gone public with my eccentricities.
*Like OCD but in alphabetical order, as it should be.
My biggest problem is having a hard time parting with stuff because we “may need it”. Or stuff that isn’t quite good enough to give to charity, but hate to throw in the trash.
For example, was trying to go through games in the basement that we haven’t played for a while, but could be fun. Keep, donate, throw away? Toys? What about future (hopefully!!) grandkids or other family kids that may enjoy them. For example, our neighbors came over and I pulled out the brio trains and he loved them enough that he got some for the holidays. That is an easy keep (so expensive to buy!).
I am also trying to clear out the front part of my unfinished attic to make a much needed walk-in closet.
Each time I get rid of more stuff, but can be overwhelming.
My method of moving: One room at a time, least used to kitchen. Touch everything ONCE and put that one thing either:
In a garbage bag
In a donation box/bag
In a packing box and leave all those boxes against one wall in that room labelled for where they go in the new place (movers love this)
Be brutal.
I always make DH do the basement/shop/garage/his office. Last move, he did four dump runs, and we held three garage sales which paid for all our moving supplies and then some.
I haven’t read all the replies, but I’m just popping back in to say that I am more interested in looking for efficient ways to organize the items that I have chosen to keep. I am pretty good about purging/decluttering on a regular basis.
I mean, it’s fine if that is where this thread drifts to, but I was hoping for more of what @abasket referred to - organizing the things I do have and am keeping. I have already reduced my ownership of things.
But, I know how these threads meander, and I do love that! My needs are primarily about small space organization. I just don’t have a ton of storage so I am looking for efficiency with that constraint.
I think there is a world of difference getting rid of a game of Clue (that costs $10 to replace) that you MIGHT want to play sometime and a entire Brio set ($$$$$). Keep the Brio set.
I tell myself that we have oodles of games to play! Getting rid of a few we still have lots of choices! And if I give that game to Goodwill, that Clue game may end up being one of only a couple of games another less fortunate family has to play - and they can buy it for a buck and get enjoyment out of it. Don’t live by the “mights”.
Oh, to clarify … I don’t get bulk containers. I go to Sprouts or Central Market and get little baggies of spices for next to nothing and then pour those in the jars.
In shedding stuff, I’ve become more organized about what I’ve kept. So I guess that’s how I connect it.
Things I’ve organized while clearing out, random:
*Good books I’ll read again
*Trinkets I care about
*Thigns that get occasional use but aren’t easy or cheap to replace (a tent…)
*Things that should be donated.
*All the winter clothes being swapped with the summer clothes to guest room closet (not tons of closet space in our house.)
*Things I can sell on fb marketplace or similar.
*We got a large shelving rack for the cellar and bins for pet food, travel guides, tools, work out gear, winter sports gear, etc…
*consolidated several boxes into one box by getting rid of stuff.
*Grouping bathroom cupboard items by use. Realized small storage containers would be helpful for that.
Re toys, we shed a lot years back, but I kept a few select ones for any stray little kids. A bucket of duplo, Thomas the tank train set, Mr. Potato Head. Then each kid decided to keep their favorite Playmobil for the future. Luckily we don’t have a lot of toys now. Too many board games still.
It’s so interesting. I guess, for me, these things go hand in hand. I can’t organize a space that is overflowing so shedding myself of things is absolutely part of my organizing.
Well…I’m doing my closet this weekend. I will empty the entire closet out, clean and vacuum. Only things I really use will go back in…the rest will be donated if in good shape. I’ll toss anything that is marginal.
I won’t keep things I haven’t used either…those will be donated.
One of the Instagram people I follow is doing a purge/organize in January. This reminds me of a staple of organizing which is good organizing physical tools like bins, storage pieces, wall storage, etc. - maybe people could share if you have purchased an item like this that has really helped you organize!
