DH and I talked today about how we desperately need to declutter. On the surface our main living areas look pretty clean and nice. I am good about cleaning the house and even enjoy it. However....you open any drawer, cabinet, closet, spare bedroom etc. and it is a nightmare!!! We just have stuff everywhere. My problem is that I am disorganized by nature. Papers are probably the hardest thing for me. They clutter and pile. So we talked about how we need to start cleaning some things out and getting organized. He's got the garage and basement. I am starting with toys. Should I set them aside for spring consignment or just give them to Goodwill? Any suggestions for you organized folks on how to get started? I usually think about it, look at it, get overwhelmed and then shut the door where I can't see the mess anymore.

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check out FlyLady.net: Your personal online coach to help you gain control of your house and home... there is a lot of good information on decluttering.. as well as routines for your self & home.

In a nutshell, she says that when you are in the decluttering mood to do a "27 fling boogie." You look around and find 27 things to toss or donate. She recomends to just bless others with your excess rather than keep it for a yard sale.

I declutter like this twice a year, all the hidden cluttered spots. Dh is in charge of the office because he has a neurotic way of organizing that drives me nuts and keeps the garage in order.
Start small, do one drawer a day, one cupboard a day and then one closet a day. It only takes about 30 min to declutter a closet, it seems like a large task, but it's not. Have a bag for trash and a bag to donate (honestly, unless it's useful clothes/household/toys, most of my stuff goes in the trash). I've gotten to the point where I barely get rid of anything, just reorganize. I've gotten rid of so much in the past 2 years!
I need to do this in January, start the year right. I do it again in the summer. The key is to not take on too much...by starting small and doing one at a time, you'll be done in a month (and that's not having to do it everyday!).

That's what I was going to say!

I agree 100%! I use to be a disaster when it came to organizing and the flylady changed my life. Seriously. Do what she tells you to do every day. Don't do more (you'll get overwhelmed). Just follow her instructions and 15 minutes a day, a few months from now you will be living a whole different life and loving it. You may suddenly find you have A LOT more time on your hands too! It's amazing how much time and energy clutter takes from us.

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I'll agree with the suggestions for the FlyLady. Just start; that's the best advice. Sometimes, watching something like "Clean Sweep" can inspire you too. If you will put the things in the consignment sale, you can try that, but it helps me to get rid of the clutter faster! I prefer to donate the good stuff. If there's just too much, I would say either junk or donate at this point.

I'm constantly decluttering/organizing. For me, it just works for me to work in small bits...even if it's just one drawer somewhere, it's progress IMO! I'm not interested in selling anything though, we just donate to charities.

I LOVE having garage sales! I also like putting myself in the consignment sale! I guess as a SAHM I do feel good working a bit to bring in some cash! The problem though is that after the fact I tend to keep stuff till the next sale! This time I decided enough was enough and took some of my bigger things to a kids consignment store here which pays you up front! The rest went to Goodwill! You might look into a consignment store - ours is Children's Orchard, but I've heard of others too!

As for the organizing of the toys... you could probably do it one of 2 ways! Either go thru a little at a time - taking out so many toys at a time (as suggested) or clean sweep it - which is my personal favorite - just pull it all out, sort it putting like items together, and then put back what you have room for! For example, we have a ball tub... whatever balls can fit in that tub and still slide into the shelf we keep - anything else is gone! Good luck!

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Stay at home mom to my 3 boys... ages 5, 3 & 1!

I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13