Recently I mentioned this idea to help have a clutter free home to a couple of people and they had never heard of it. So I thought I’d share it here.
I do a major house cleaning in the spring and fall. That’s when I put up my off season clothes and change my bedroom up for the next season. So I go through most of my drawers and closets during that time.
Clutter Free Home Tip
But to keep up with the clutter in between those major cleaning times I do this little trick that I learned a few years ago. I think it was from Flylady.
“Every day I get rid of FIVE things.”
Some days it’s five big things like lamps, dishes, or furniture we don’t want anymore. Other days it’s small things like expired medications or last week’s newspaper. Throw away, give away, or sell. Anything as long as it gets out of my house!
Some things I take to the flea market. But that has to mean that they can’t come back into the house if they don’t sell!
Here are a few ideas of places to look to get you started:
- old makeup bathroom drawer
- almost empty spray bottles of cleaner under the sink
- anything with holes or frayed in the linen closet
- anything you haven’t worn in the last six months
- shoes
- extra holiday decorations
- stacks of magazines
- kitchen drawers
- pantry
- desk drawers
- toy box
- craft supplies you don’t use
- paint that has dried up
- the 100s of pens & pencils that you’ve collected
- storage shed
- wherever you stash all your goodies you buy at flea markets and thrift stores
Leave me a comment if you’ve tried this. Or if you have any other tricks for a clutter free home!
If you’re looking for more ideas to declutter your home, try these books:
More decluttering, cleaning, and home organizing ideas:
- 12 Things to Throw Away When You Clean Your Craft Room
- How to Make Cardboard Storage Boxes Pretty
- 5 Things I Learned from The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up
- How to Hide Cords from Charging Stations on Desk
- 6 Things to Clean in Your Craft Room with a Lint Roller
‘Til the next project,
Ann @ Duct Tape and Denim
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Arletta says
I’ll have to try this. We are in the early stages of planning a move to Texas. This will help get rid of a lot of “Junk” that I don’t want to pack and take with us. Thanks for sharing!
ducttapeanddenim says
Where are you moving? I’ll be in Texas in September!
Pam says
We’re doing that now and it’s working. Lots of trips to drop off goodies to the charity drives, etc. I don’t miss those items either. I also give pens, pencils, craft items etc to our neighborhood schools.
Arletta,I live in Texas. San Antonio. Welcome.
Melody says
I have a basket in my mud room and when I am cleaning I gather things I want to purge I put in the basket and once a month I take it to our local good will. I usually have way more than the basket will hold. Where does it all come from?
ducttapeanddenim says
I feel the same way, Melody!
Kim {Tidbits&Twine} says
I’ve never tried this but I’m going to start! We’re in the process of doing a major cleaning now but I don’t keep up with the clutter in between so this is a great suggestion. Thanks! 🙂
Kellie says
Love this post! one of my goals for 2016 is to de-clutter my home…I’m a stuffer…If you came into my home you would be impressed with my homemaking skills until you opened a closet or desk drawer 🙁 but I’m working on it!!!
ducttapeanddenim says
I feel like that, too, Kellie! My house usually looks great… but don’t open that closet!
Jennifer says
I really like your idea. Living with 2 hoarders ( son and husband) makes clutter-fighting a constant battle anyway but as I get older I find a sentimental tendency creeping up on me for saving “momentos” from everything. So: 5 a day Throwaway starting now!
ducttapeanddenim says
Good luck! Let me know how it goes.
Angela Current says
Such great advice! I had forgotten about Flylady… Haven’t heard that name in years. Thanks.
Carol says
Getting rid of stuff makes me so happy. Great ideas of some things that can get missed
M T Gordon says
I call Vietnam Vets Of America. Book a donation of 4 boxes. Then I have to fill those boxes. Every other month.