See how I put 30 days or less? Ya, that’s totally wishful thinking, but hey a girl can dream right?
I’m sure through no fault of my own {ha!}, my house has gone to heck in a hand basket. Practically every cupboard, drawer, closet, etc. has a bunch of crap thrown in it from the last time I deep cleaned my house. The funny thing is that last time I cleaned out everything, I seriously convinced myself that I would never let it get chaotic again. Don’t you just hate it when you have to eat your own words?
January is my month though, people! I am committed to clearing out the clutter. I am getting a new lease on life. AND, I think I have a totally different outlook than I did last time. I’ve realized that you can only be so organized when you have too much stuff.
Eventually, maintaining all of that stuff is just to big of a task. SO, I’m clearing crappity crap out. I’m actually kind of excited to see how much of the junk that I’ve shoved into drawers will end up in the garage sale pile {or the trash}. I’ve been saving stuff for a rainy day–and since practically everyday is rainy here, and I still haven’t used it {ha!}, it’s got to go.
Clear spaces, clear mind. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to go? Anyhow, this month, I’m letting you in on my dirty little secrets–you basically get to virtually go through my drawers, closets and cupboards. Each day, I’ll pick one area of my house to clean, de-clutter, and reorganize. Yesterday I cleaned out the built in cupboards in the family room {and found a couple of little gems in the process}.
Anyone else planning on getting organized this month? C’mon. Let’s get clean together. 😉
~Mavis
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Kathy says
I’m doing the same thing this year, starting with my desk. That’s the first thing I notice when I walk in my apartment and it seems like the catch-all. Good luck to you Mavis.
mary says
Good luck to all of us in this endeavor!!
Kimberly says
Definitely something that needs to happen here. The house isn’t messy but there is still too much stuff that isn’t being used that could go to someone else and make my life more organized. I’m also planning to put up a lot more from the garden this year so I should probably make some space in the pantry 😀
Rochelle says
I am so glad you led with this one! Count me in!
Rochelle says
PS. Your pictures really inspired me. I have an absolute terrible time remembering what I’ve decided to do so I’m going to take a before picture of my day’s area, and use that for my wallpaper on my phone. I’ll replace the before picture with the after picture when I’m done. Then repeat again the next day.
Should help me remember and keep me motivated.
Catherine says
I did the same “I will declutter & maintain for eternity” thing last year…and yeah…that didn’t work out. I am planning on clearing out the extra, too. It’s impossible to stay organized when there is just SO much.
Good luck & looking forward to watching your progress (and using it to stay motivated around here!).
Evonne says
LOVE the Mother’s day card – how cute!
Linda says
I would love to own your black candle holder collection… I’ll pay shipping , I’m in California ??? Yes?
Rosaleen says
Yup, plenty of saved things here, too. I want to sew up/repurpose some of the extra clothes into baby clothing for relatives and needy people. I’ve already made a dozen newborn fitted t-shirt diapers for a niece. I have found a lot of free patterns on-line for diapers, clothing, household items, even DIY washable dusters for those wand-things.
A garage sale might not work for us. We tried once and had few lookers, but who could blame people not wanting to stop? FreeCycle or a community thrift shop is a better option for me to give extra items away. I suppose I could also try Craig’s List if I want to sell items.
Erica says
I’m with you. My kids and I have too much stuff. And there is more now that xmas is over. Some stuff has to go.
Marcia @Frugal Healthy Simple says
Yes! except I’m giving myself the year. Someone put me on to Home storage solutions 101: declutter your home in 15 minutes a day calendar. So, I’m going to do that.
Karly says
My rule is that unless it’s a seasonal item, very useful or very sentimental, it has to be in rotation in the last 6 months to stick around. I love giving things away that are just collecting dust, especially when someone else could really use it! My husband the pack rat doesn’t seem to mind a bit…
Susan says
I’m in, too! ALL closets, cupboards and garage need a complete purging. I need more than January. I’ll give myself the YEAR! 🙂 Slow and easy.
Lauren says
I cleaned the kitchen cabinets out last week, gave the husband some chipped, lid less, never used dishes to thow away. Yesterday I found them in the shed!
Kathy says
There is something about the new year that makes me feel this way EVERY year. And daggone it, I start out strong but the finish lacks oomph. Maybe your posts will motivate me!
Marie says
Ok-what’s the decision on the card? Toss or treasure?
Linda says
I am going to get the upstairs loft cleaned in two days. My daughter will need her bed/bath area ready as she will arrive in 5 days.
What can I use to get ugly water stains off the glass surround? I have tried so many things and it still has water spots. I want to
get all the spots off and then rain-ex the surround. When we moved in to the cabin they were bad and I still can’t find anything
that works. Help>>>>
Madam Chow says
Try Lime-Away, which you can get at Home Depot, Lowes, WalMart, etc.
As for cleaning, I think it is time I tackled my basement, which will take at LEAST a full 30 days!
Jules says
YES! Since I didn’t win my dream give-away last year in which you come and clean my house 🙂 I started in on it this morning! I cleared off a kitchen counter that regularly collects every piece of paper in the house! I am making the spare room into an office where all paper and pencils and stuff will end up. My next step is the next counter and cupboard. I even have a plan! for the rest of the house.
Anne F. says
I’m stoked…I agree that I need to do more than merely organize all my stuff. I’ve go to let some of it go. Otherwise I’m just organizing deck chairs on the Titanic.
Lucky for me, there’s a Goodwill truck a mile away in one direction, and a church thrift shop a mile away in the other.
Good luck, everyone!
Heidi says
I’m in! I started on my kids’ closets and now mine is going to be next.