Quick Tips to Get Rid of Clutter
Today, my friend and fellow organizer, Pierrette Ashcroft is the guest blogger. She was featured on the live Washington DC television news show “News Channel 8”. Read her thoughts on Clutter and simple ways to get rid of it. Thanks, Pierrette.
Clutter is often caused by indecision. You’ll determine an item’s fate later, right? Things pile up over time and quickly result in a clutter-filled space. Make a Decision.
Go through your home with an eye to remove things you don’t need or use – the results will free up valuable space.
Recycle magazines that are older than 3 months. If you haven’t read them in that amount of time you are not going to read them in the next 3.
Throw away the things that you meant to trash – especially anything that is broken. This is a no-brainer.
Give away gifts that you received but don’t like – someone will appreciate them.
Trash anything that has expired – check your pantry, refrigerator, and medicine cabinet.
Donate clothing that doesn’t fit or you haven’t worn in a year. Make room in your closet for what you wear now.
Purge the contents of the mystery box that you have not opened in a year or more. Anything that sat in an unopened box for that long wasn’t missed or needed.
Pass along things that you bought because they were on sale and you thought you would use them but haven’t.
In the future, stop the clutter from building up in the first place. When you are shopping ask yourself, “where am I going to put this?” If you don’t have an answer don’t buy it.
Pierrette Ashcroft
The founder of Smart Productivity Solutions has more than 20 years of business experience organizing events and providing innovative solutions in homes and offices. She is committed to continuing her education and training to best serve her client’s organizing and productivity needs.
As one of the inaugural classes to receive credentials as a Certified Professional Organizer, CPO®, Pierrette earned a top distinction in the organizing industry.
In 2010 she completed her training to become a Certified Productivity Coach. Through her Productivity Boot Camp, she is able to increase the productivity of busy professionals. Pierrette will clear your piles of paper, overloaded inbox, and cluttered life so you can be more effective in your business and career.
To learn more, call or write for free telephone consultation at: 202.537.9705 or [email protected]. Or visit our Web site.
Subscribe by email
Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.
Janet Schiesl
Janet has been organizing since 2005. She is a Certified Professional Organizer and the owner of Basic Organization.
She loves using her background as a space planner to challenge her clients to look at their space differently. She leads the team in large projects and works one-on-one with clients to help the process move quickly and comfortably. Call her crazy, but she loves to work with paper, to purge what is not needed and to create filing systems that work for each individual client.
Janet is a Past Board Member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals and a Past President of the Washington DC Chapter of NAPO were she has been named Organizer of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.
Janet Schiesl
Janet has been organizing since 2005. She is a Certified Professional Organizer and the owner of Basic Organization.
She loves using her background as a space planner to challenge her clients to look at their space differently. She leads the team in large projects and works one-on-one with clients to help the process move quickly and comfortably. Call her crazy, but she loves to work with paper, to purge what is not needed and to create filing systems that work for each individual client.
Janet is a Past Board Member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals and a Past President of the Washington DC Chapter of NAPO were she has been named Organizer of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.
I love the suggestion to give away gifts you have received, but don’t like. That can be a tough one. We feel guilty when we have received a gift. But it really is ok to let it go! I tell clients that no one wants to make you feel guilty every time you look at something they gave you! Their goal was more likely to do something helpful and kind, so if it isn’t working out for you, see if you can move it along into the hands of someone who will be happy to have it!
I agree that this is a hard one. I always feel like I need to keep the gift for at least a little while – though I haven’t defined the length of time that’s appropriate, or what the point of keeping it is, if I know I’m never going to use it.
I like both of your thoughts. Why do people feel guilty if they don’t like a gift someone has given them. I’m sure the gift-giver didn’t want you to feel bad. I may keep something for a short time to see if I’ll find a use for the gift, but I’m pretty quick to let things go.
Great tips! I recycle my month-old magazines from the powder room to the other bathroom. If I haven’t read it by the second month, I recycle it. It gives me enough time to check out the magazines. Thanks for sharing.
Funny. I just had a comment on facebook from someone who has kept magazines for a very long time. I like that you have a system for how long to keep them before they hit the recycling bin.