I’m going to go room by room this year to share my tips and strategy for specific decluttering. Lets get right into it!
Newsletter Topic of the Month
We are on an annual declutter this month. Last month we got through the kitchen, February is BATHROOMS.
A quick recap:
I know a lot of decluttering experts like a daily calendar, do a little every day, just see what is on the list! However, I understand that life doesn’t allow for 15 minutes EVERY day, so my method is a little simpler.
Each month of the year in 2024 will focus on a room or space in the home. The goal is to spend 15 minutes a day, where you can, and more when you have time or can schedule time (which I highly recommend! A Larger block of time can help you move literal mountains!) I also love the idea of teamwork, get a declutter partner. You take turns at each other’s homes, in blocks of time getting things decluttered. It also makes it more fun.
The goal is to go through each room, top to bottom, side to side, and touch EVERYTHING.
For links to my favorite bins and organizers, check my resources page!
This process can also allow you to do some deep cleaning along the way.
Label things as you go. When spaces are labeled, people are much more likely to put it back where it belongs.
I’ll focus on what’s in each space, because everyone’s home will vary in size and design, so you can work at your own pace.
If you get ahead during a month, you can choose to move to the next space or take a break.
First, set up a space for your donation box (or garage sale or whatever you want to do, any sale items need to be boxed up for later). I have a large laundry basket in a closet, that’s the go away bin. When full, it goes away!! If you do Buy Nothing have a bin for that, then you can post once a week and save time. If you have things to give of return, have a box or bin for that too. The key is making sure you are emptying those bins or containers regularly, like weekly and getting rid of the stuff or boxing it up for a sale.
BATHROOMS
Even if you have a few bathrooms, they are small and you “should” be able to work through several in a month. Start with the cabinets, drawer by drawer and under sink, next the linens (if really full, you can do one shelf a day). Look at wall décor, stuff piled on the back of the toilet. The tub or shower and all the products that land in there with a inch of shampoo in each of the 8 bottles.
This is a good time to really scrub any glass doors or tile floor, wash the shower curtain and liner and wipe down the shower rod. All the things that don’t always get enough attention.
Have a topic idea? Area of struggle? A fun tip? Send it in and I may make it the topic of the month. Email me at hello@judygranleegates.com
Join in the conversation at Facebook group – Declutter and Resize – Bigger Living Smaller Space
Product(s) of the Month:
Label Makers! That’s right. A place for everything and everything in its place starts with a label maker. I kid you not….do a test for yourself. When things are labeled, stuff actually gets put back where it belongs. I cannot stress this enough, and they are just super handy. I love my label makers, and yes, I have a few.
This is my VERY favorite. Tons of options and setting, fonts, sizes and double lines! This is the workhorse of label makers.
The pricey part about a label maker can be the tape. No fear, I have found a label tape that is off brand that works great. One Brother cartridge is $25!!!! This 4 pack is 14.99, so that is a game changer.
If you want a label maker but need on that is more budget friendly, try this one. Gets the job done at a budget friendly price.
This is a great middle ground…does more than the basic but not all that the fancy one does!
I promise a label maker will help. It may not help “everyone”, but most folks will see the label and think!
News & Upcoming Events
Maria Grove of Bliss this Home is an organizer extraordinaire! And she had me on her podcast, we had a lot of fun talking about resizing vs downsizing!
