Guest Blogger: 10 Ways to Remove Summer Clutter

Guest Blog #117, Entry #581, July 8, 2011

How many of you have recently realized that summer clutter is no different than winter clutter? From recreational equipment in the garage piling up, to seasonal clothes for the kids that no longer fit, it’s time to start thinking about getting rid of it! Home storage and organization needs to become priority.

Closet organizers aren’t just for clothing!

Today, my Guest Blogger gives tips to get organized this summer and remove the clutter!

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With July 4^th having come and gone, we have sadly passed the halfway point of summer. As with most families, summer is a busy time and many home projects get put on the backburner in favor of enjoying the weather and other social activities. However, in order to not get too bogged down before fall, my family has started our annual summer clean-up to remove what we do not need. A clean and clear space will help give you clean and clear mind, right?

I’d like to share some of the tricks we have been using this summer and others that we have used in the past that can help eliminate the clutter that often builds up in a home. With a little extra work, some of these tips can earn you money too, so make sure you set aside items with value you are parting with!

1.)

We started our clutter removal this summer in our closets. We go through our closet once a month to try to get rid of any clothes and shoes that we simply do not wear or want anymore. If you are having trouble, ask another family member or friend you see often to go through your closet and pick out the items they have not seen you wear in a while. This will give you an idea of which clothes do not suit your style anymore.

Determine what clothes need to stay and what needs to go

2.)

Next, we all go through our drawers and shelves and remove any gizmo, toy, gadget, and item that is unneeded. For younger children this can be hard, but as you grow you realize you can get by on much less. Check your bathrooms too and clear out any old product, like expired contact solution or cough syrup.

3.)

If you are having troubles parting ways with certain clothes or objects, this idea should help. Take a box with a lid or black trash bag and fill it with the questionable items. Set a time limit, like three months, six months, or whatever you are comfortable with, and if you do not have to go into the box or bag, throw it away or donate it without looking inside. This way, you will know that you truly do not need the items inside.

4.)

You have invested money in many things over the years, like electronics, clothes, children’s books, DVDs, furniture, appliances, and toys.  Instead of putting unwanted items in the garbage, you can make money selling them! I have discovered, as with many others, that Craigslist is a great way to sell your unneeded items. It is very simple to use and has a low learning curve. You can price items to sell quickly or to get a decent return. You might think that no one wants your old TV or couch, but you would be surprised. Hey, if it earns you twenty dollars for a little bit of work, it is worth it. I have found that putting my cell phone number for the contact information is faster and easier than communicating over email. Try bundling items too, like a bunch of baby clothes, little girl toys, or a set of related movies or books. This is a great task for someone without a summer job!

5.)

This summer we have also started clearing out our pantry. If you are like my family, you have built up quite the collection of sale-priced food. First, check the dates on items and toss the ones that are very expired. Canned and jarred foods often last longer than their expiration dates, so do not be too hasty in throwing these away. To help clear out what has been stockpiled, try making recipes that involve a few of the ingredients you have more than enough of. Additionally, my family has a lot of canned soup, so we try to eat two cans every week to free up space. If all else fails, food shelves will gladly accept your nonperishable food items.

Pantry items should be considered too!

6.)

On a similar note, valuables and collectibles can be sold on eBay. This site is a little more complicated than Craigslist but for certain items you can get much higher return. My family has sold old Batman, Power Ranger, and Christmas collectibles on Ebay and found a great return on some of the items. Make sure to do your research to price the item correctly.

7.)

Another place that can build up a lot of clutter is the kitchen cabinets. Having 59 mismatched drinking glasses is obviously too many and it is safe to say that some of these can either be tossed or donated. Just keep the ones that you like to use and are in good shape.

8.)

In the house, paper tends to be the source of the most clutter. Throw away old magazines, catalogs, newspapers, ads, mail, and other papers you have lying around. Chances are if you have not read them by now, you probably never will. The art department at your child’s school is a great place to donate old magazines that could be used for class projects.

Organizing papers and office items can make your home livable again.

9.)

Consolidate, consolidate, and consolidate some more. Sometimes two of the same products end up being open at the same time. Try combining these products into one. For example, for some reason we had two open bottles of Windex, so we poured one into the other bottle. You can also do this with drawers too and put all similar items in one location.

10.)

Lastly, do not hide clutter. Try to not have a junk box or drawer as this will only contribute to the messiness and create a headache in the future. Eventually, you will need to go through it. Also, try and use things you are going to throw away to help get rid of other things. For example, grocery bags and old boxes can be used to throw away trash and old t-shirts can be used as cleaning rags before they are tossed.

Special thanks to Liz (perspicacious.org), QuintanaRoo, and splorp for their pictures.

August Drilling works for CliqStudios.com, an online site for kitchen cabinets, and loves social media, entertainment, and an organized life.

For more home organization ideas on Stagetecture, click here.