Unpackage Things

I couldn't tell why the ping pong paddles kept falling out of their storage basket and ending up on the floor.  When I looked closely, I saw three ping pong ball boxes taking up the space.  Two were empty.  I threw away the empty boxes and dumped the loose balls into the basket.  Now everything fits fine.

Sometimes we just need to ditch the packaging of our possessions to free up space.

Bookshelves

Sometimes having our bookshelves full makes us appear intelligent.  As my book supply dwindles, I wonder if visitors think I spend my free time watching TV since they don't see evidence of continued learning through reading.  My desire to be clutter free and more of a minimalist quickly overcomes that silly paranoia.  I read constantly, but use ebooks or library books which take up no physical space.

Just because I have bookshelves doesn't mean they need to be full.  As I whittle away at our home library, I forecast being able to sell a bookcase, freeing up even more space.  

Reference Books vs. the Internet

Today a couple gardening books went into our donation bin.  Even with reading through and enjoying them one last time,  I realized their information can be found in articles on the Internet.

My college textbooks are long gone.  If you having any taking up space, I would recommend either donating or trashing them.  If they are science-related, they're most likely obsolete now anyway.  It's difficult to let them go when you scraped in college to purchase them at exorbitant prices, but if you read them for classes, perhaps you can comfort yourself that you got your money's worth.  Again, most information can be gleaned from the Internet or electronic books.

Are there any old reference books that haven't been referenced in years cluttering up a closet, bookshelf, or basement?  A feeling a freedom comes when you declutter.

Like Things Together

As you are organizing, consider putting like things together.  For instance, in the kitchen, have everything you need for baking in one area.  All your medications (or each person's) can be in a small bin.  Batteries can be stored together in a bin.  Pens can be put in cups or in a correspondence drawer in a container.  Loose change should have a mug or box.

The upside of this method is that you don't overbuy and can easily find what you need when you need it.  Begin moving like things together as you go through drawers and cabinets.

Canning Supplies

I never realized how much space my canning jars, lids, cheesecloth, water bath pot and all those related supplies took up.  Yesterday, I began pulling them out of an out-of-the-way cupboard.

To me, living off the land and living simply has a wonderful appeal.  I used to want to grow my own vegetables, but with a shaded lot, that's proven impossible.  I used to strive to can peaches every year.  That hasn't happened in ten years.  Now I have extra time in the summers, but don't have the same drive for canning that I used to.  It might be time to let go of all the supplies that take up two storage cupboards of space.

Well-meaning projects are difficult to give away.  I do know someone who recently planted an orchard and wants to can the fruit.  It will make me feel better giving them to her (if she wants them), knowing she's fulfilling her dream of living off the land.

Slaves to Photos

There is a panic that sets in when we sort through old photos.  "I can't throw this one away!  It shows that funny expression Grandpa always made even though the photographer cut off the top half of his head."  With digital scanning of photos, you can scan it and then toss the picture copy.  However, do we HAVE to save every photo?

I went through a box the other evening of old photos and negatives.  We are truly spoiled now with digital photography.  No longer do we have to hold onto mediocre photos.  With digital, you keep shooting and then only keep the good ones.  We didn't have that luxury years ago, plus we usually ordered free doubles of prints.  I threw away a 3-inch stack of photos.  They just aren't good quality, and really, how many copies of the same scene do we need to preserve a memory?  I don't want to be a slave to the past.  I respect it and want to commemorate my family's outings, but a few better photos in the scrapbook are better than tons of poor quality views.

Negatives and slides can also be scanned with an adaptor (if you feel the need to hold onto those) and then there will be no more holding onto those archaic packets.

If you are REALLY behind on scrapbooking photos, I would suggest you be very selective in which you keep.  Two or three per event will suffice.  Sometimes the journaling of what happened is better than twelve photos.  Pare down your collection and breathe a little easier.  We don't need to be slaves to photos.

Needs vs. Wants

The 2nd grade curriculum in our school emphasizes needs versus wants.  I'm not sure why the state feels that economic concept is crucial for seven year olds, but right now our teachers go with it.

Some of our clutter stems from collecting too many wants.  People really don't need much.  Think about how little you have when you are camping or staying in a hotel.  As you approach a drawer, cabinet, or corner of your basement today, look at the contents and ask yourself if they are needs or wants.  Perhaps you don't want some of them anymore.

I would also argue that the needs, or perceived needs, are what delay decision making on decluttering.  Yesterday's post on "what ifs" becomes "what if I need this later?"  In today's society, most of us don't live in the bush, miles from the nearest supply.  It is relatively easy to replace things if a need arises, even by borrowing!  Beware of future needs preventing you from freeing up space in your home.

If you have time, you may enjoy watching this video on a family who thought through their needs versus wants and downsized in a creative way.  Today, try to get rid of some clutter with needs and wants decisions racing through your mind.

http://tinyhousetalk.com/family-of-4-living-in-700-sq-ft-apartment/

The "What Ifs"

I have extra time on my hands during the summer, so I've been trying to go through out-of-the-way cabinets and drawers to see if there is clutter residing in those places.  I came across a half full bottle of aloe cream for sunburns.  I'm embarrassed to tell how old this is.  It might still soothe sore skin, but it's worn out its welcome.  As is typical when we declutter, the "what ifs" started flitting through my thoughts.  "Well, that stuff can be pricey…should I get rid of it?"  "What if someone this summer needs sunburn relief?"  We can almost always rationalize why we should keep things by coming up with "what if" statements.  If I lived in a remote area, it might make more sense to keep it, but I can easily run to a store and get a fresh supply "if" someone gets a sunburn.

Beware of the "what if" statements when you are trying to make decisions on clutter.  Be logical and practical, and don't give into hoarding items that are past their prime.

Mat

I put a floor mat into the bin for Goodwill today.  It's still got life in it, but we found another.  One in, one out is a good rule for someone who wants to simplify.

Back to the Kitchen

Some of us watch TV to see real people shopping for houses.  It sounds like a strange thing to entertain us, but it sells!  Since it is potentially a boring subject, I'm sure the producers choose the house hunters carefully.  One should be a bit opinionated or spoiled and maybe a little demanding.  Sometimes BOTH adults are opinionated and then the fireworks come.  The realtors seem to be easy going, but also are convincing.

Some of the common threads I've observed in these shows is the kitchen comments as they tour various homes.
"Oh, there's not enough cupboard space."
"I really wanted stainless steel appliances."  (Can we say constant wiping of fingerprints?)
"This countertop isn't granite."

So, with that introduction, I want to discuss cupboard and counter space.  You can get by with fewer cabinets with some planning and organization.  The Container Store has multiple options to do more with the space you have.  Of course, you can always keep only what you really use in the kitchen.  Counter space is often lessened by knife racks, mug trees, or many appliances such as a coffee maker, toaster oven, blender, etc.  If you strive to keep nothing on your counters, you find you have ample space for baking or cooking.  I find that 95% of my baking or cooking prep is done on 3 feet of counter space which I keep clutter free.  Almost every kitchen has more than that.

Look around your kitchen.  How many items reside on the counters?  If you find yourself wishing for a bigger kitchen to have more work space, consider clearing off the counters for a week and see if it makes a difference.

One Thing Per Day

This blog's name is Simplify:  one per day.  What can you throw away or donate today?  I found a decorative flower pot that I'm putting in the give-away bin today.  Sometimes, one piece of clutter is all we have time for, but over time it will make a difference.

De-stuff Your Garage

Can you park two cars in your garage?  How about one?  I hate to be blunt, but really, a garage is for parking a vehicle so in the rain you can get to your car without getting wet; in the snow, you needn't shovel your car; if you are wearing shorts on a 95 degree day, you won't burn your bare legs.  It protects your car from pollen and bird droppings.   People know this, but continue to use their garages as storage units for stuff that won't fit elsewhere.

I came across a storage idea in a catalog.  It's basically a little outdoor tent where you can put your garage overflow "at the fraction of the cost of a shed.  Zip together two or more units to extend your storage space."  I'm not sure neighbors would appreciate a line of permanent tents in our back yard.  This invention just shows again that people have too much stuff in their garages.

How can I help you?  Here are some ideas:

1.  If you can afford it, get overhead storage racks.  If you just search "garage overhead storage," many options pop up.  Bins and boxes can organize smaller items and others can be hung as shown.

2.  Can you just rearrange items in the garage into a more compact area so as to fit a vehicle?

3.  What can you get rid of?  (My favorite option)  Have you ever used the folded ping pong table?  Let it go if not.  Are there child toys the kids don't use?  Donate them.  How many sets of cross country skis do you need based on how many people in your home actually ski?  Think long and hard about what you've stored for years.  It may be time to let someone who will actually use the items take them off your hands.

4.  For tools or workbenches, a suggestion from Organization Direct, a company in my area, was to declutter less messy shelves first to make space, then go to the messiest workspace and as you declutter there, you will have places to put items you need to keep.  Of course, if the workspace belongs to another family member, get his/her permission before decluttering the space.  It makes for a more amiable relationship.

5.  Remember, the goal is a neat garage with space to park your vehicles.  Keep that in mind as you declutter and have to make the decisions about what to keep and what to let go.

Give Something Away

This week we've had 7-11 Day with free slurpees, and from Facebook it appeared that if you dressed like a cow on 7-14, you could get a free meal at Chick Fil A restaurants.  The restaurants are giving things away, so let's stay with the program this week and give some clutter away!  I'm putting a travel mug with lid into the Goodwill box today.  (My friend pictured below probably doesn't read my blog.  Hope she doesn't mind that I hacked her photo from yesterday…)

Rearrange

A place for everything, and everything in its place is a great saying for staying organized and clutter free.  My challenge today is to rethink the places.  Perhaps where you've always kept something isn't the best spot for it.  You may need to walk further to grab it.  It may be behind things that always need to be moved.  Lorie Morrero, author of The Clutter Diet book and online program, suggests we organize items in zones.  For example:

Zone A:  items that are used daily or at least weekly should be closest to our work spaces with nothing in front of them.  We should be able to reach the blender easily if we make smoothies every day.  If less-used items have to be moved every time to get to the blender, you need to rearrange.

Zone B:  these are possessions that are used maybe once a month.  I have spices that I keep in a place out of the main rack that are used only occasionally.  It keeps my "Zone A" spices easier to find and grab.

Zone C:  this zone contains stuff that is used a couple of times per year.  This would include Christmas or other holiday decor, summer or winter clothing that can be stored in the off season, or party items.  These can have a designated spot that isn't in the center of your world.  Perhaps a closet in a guest room,  a corner of the basement, or the attic would be adequate storage areas for these seldom used items.

Zone D:  this zone is for items like your grandmother's pink depression glass creamer and sugar containers that are family heirlooms, but don't really match the rest of your home.  These can be packed away from the every day items, but you know where they are if you need to get them out for display or use.

As you move through your home or apartment, consider if you need to rearrange the places your stuff resides.

Awards

What do you do with awards, trophies, ribbons, plaques, and such?  If you have had children who are athletes, you collect many trophies (even if they never won a game…but that's another discussion).

Often, the person's name is engraved upon the trophy or award.  Can you just throw them away if your children leave home and just happen to leave the 25 trophies in their closets?   Realize that old awards become clutter eventually.

Here are some suggestions I found in my readings:
1.  Take photos of them if you don't already have one of the recipient receiving the award, then toss or donate
2.  Call around to trophy or award shops to see if they recycle them; I read about some places who do, removing the engraved plate and replacing it
3.  Sometimes community events or schools wish to give trophies and take donations
4.  Someone made a wall rack for hanging coats by using the upper halves of the trophies as the hooks. Seems like a lot of work to me, but if you are crafty, this might be an option.
5.  Ribbons can be used in crafts; they are expensive to buy new in bulk, so someone might want your old ribbons if you donate them to a thrift store!
6.  You can always take trophies to a place like Goodwill, probably removing the name plate, and people who want them can snatch them up.

Consider parting ways with the awards.  The memories can suffice and your home will have less clutter.

Wires

I collected random computer wires, wound them into smaller units, and put them all in a bag.  They were tangled under a desk and unused.  I must admit it….they've been there for a year and a half or longer unused since now we have a lap top and wireless Internet.  Why continue to keep all those cables?  They were pretty much out of sight, so it was easy to ignore the tangled mass under the desk.  Now they are gone and it looks much neater.

Desk Top

One of my teaching team members was a guy, sort of unusual in the elementary school.  I was in awe of his desk.  Every day after school, it hardly had anything on it, certainly no piles of papers strewn every which way like mine.  My goal was to be like him, though in the chaos of dealing with 26 kids, rarely was I successful.

Desks have a way of piling up, probably because paper resides in, around, and on desks.  Piles can be distracting, so having items neat and put away is beneficial even beyond decluttering.  A stacking bin for "to do" items is helpful to organize projects that have yet to be completed.  Keeping pens, pencils, notepads, stationery, envelopes in a certain drawer can put your supplies within reach.

Just like any other place in your home, a desk is a place where many decisions must be made.  Keep or throw?  File or shred?  You would think that with computers, we shouldn't have so many papers to deal with, but it doesn't always work that way.

Today, I am clearing off our home desk and making decisions about what is cluttering up the top, throwing away items not needed and filing others.

Organizing the Freezer

Your freezer contents may rotate in and out seamlessly.  Most of our freezers don't work that way.  We have it stuffed full of items unrecognizable because of ice or freezer burn.  Many of us have an additional chest or upright freezer which is also stuffed.

Some suggestions I've come across through the years:
1.  Organize the freezer foods into like groups:  vegetables, frozen dinners, pre-made meals, breads, meat portions.  This makes it easier to locate items and then use them in a timely way.

2.  Freeze meat into meal portions.  It's a hard lesson when you've frozen the on-sale six chicken breasts together and only need two for a meal.  They do not separate easily!!

3.  Label and date what you place in the freezer.  That way, you use the foods frozen earlier and don't allow them to languish until freezer burn sets in.

4.  Have a wipe off board near the freezer that lists what items currently reside there.  This makes meal planning easier and cuts down on waste.  Look over that list before you go shopping.

5.  If your family aren't leftover lovers, freeze the leftovers into individual lunches or for when only one person is home.

My challenge is for us to look through our freezers this week and simplify that space by tossing too old or unrecognizable items, sorting the food into categories, and making a list of contents to keep by the freezer.