1. Collect Random Clutter
-Grab a laundry basket and walk through main areas of the house (kitchen table, living room, dining room, stairway) collecting everything that is out where it does not belong. Don’t stop to put anything away along the way because it will only distract you. Keep filling the laundry basket. If you fill up one basket, grab another one.
-Take the laundry basket(s) to the living room and start emptying the contents into various piles. Make a pile of all the things that go to the bathroom, master bedroom, basement, kitchen, garage etc. Then you can put those things back into the basket in order of delivery and start
delivering them to each room. Do not get bogged down trying to put these items away exactly where they go. For example, if you start putting away some clothes in one child’s room, you will probably get sidetracked and start cleaning out the drawers. Just set the items in each room.
Designate a Donate Box for items that you are going to donate. Throw away trash – little toys with missing parts etc.
2. Clear the Kitchen Counter
This is usually an area that can cause some stress. I just had you gather all the things laying around in your house & deliver them to where they belong. However, the kitchen counter usually catches all the items that don’t really have a home. It collects things to return to people, return to stores, papers etc. You might not have time to organize all your papers but you can at least gather them together and look through them quickly. There are probably papers you can recycle, some you need to respond to and others you might need to file. Grab a post it note & binder clip to label your piles or if you have file folders, put the papers into the file folders & label. You can put this on your to do list as something to investigate later.
3. Pick up the Bathroom
If you have kids, there is a good chance your bathroom might be cluttered with toothpaste, hair bows, dirty clothes and bath toys. Go into the bathroom and put away everything that is laying out. While you are in there, note if any of the bath toys should be thrown away. If you have too
many hair bows, maybe donate a few or give them to a friend. Wipe down the bathroom counter and mirror, lay out fresh towels and you will feel much better about the state of your bathroom.
4. Tidy the Laundry Room
When you walked around your house to pick up all the things that were laying out on the floor, you probably did not go into the laundry room. This room seems to be a catchall for a lot of homes. The machines serve as counters for things to sit on. I recommend going into the laundry room and grabbing anything in there that does not belong. You can do the same delivery process as before. While in there, take inventory of the laundry supplies you use. If you note that you have several products you no longer use, put those in a box to donate to a local shelter.
5. Make a List
While you are doing your whirlwind decluttering, take note of things you might want to address later. Don’t get too bogged down with it, but just jot a few things down. This could help you plan for what you really want to focus on the next time you have a free hour. Put the donation box in your car & make a note to drop off donations.
Submitted by Springfield Moms reader and professional organizer Amy Peterson who is mother of three.
