I’m not a very good homemaker. I always prioritize spending quality time with my kids over decluttering and organizing. Always. I place a lot of value on making memories and keeping them. However, this month I am starting a fall organizing and fall cleaning project.
It’s one of the main reasons I started this blog.
However, my lack of organization doesn’t exactly make for a harmonious home when you factor in a husband and a son that need a clean slate in order to think.
In an effort to get my home back in order, I made it a daily goal for the past week of donating at least a bag of items to Goodwill a day. That’s right, a whole garbage bag….every day.
I always decluttered and cleaned a specific way. I start at the living areas and work my way to the “back”–which in this case would be the closets. Sometimes I never even get to the closets and cupboards.
This time around (I say this time because even though I HATE to declutter and clean, I always seem to be doing it!) I am starting from my storage areas and moving outwards. I have to admit that my living room is pretty tidy which means I am not so stressed about starting in closets.
My thought process is this: If the storage areas are decluttered and neat then when I get to the main areas and come across items I need to keep, I will now have somewhere to store them. Tweet
I am also documenting my progress to show other crafting clutterbugs that it is possible to functionally organize when you aren’t very interested in organization.
So here goes the first installment of my new series:
The Horrible Housewife: Organizing the Linen Closet
First I emptied out this mess.
I set aside all the old towels and the bedding that I didn’t even know existed and haven’t used. These filled FOUR industrial garbage bags. FOUR. This tiny closet isn’t as tiny as I thought.
Then I removed the shelves and relined them in a new contact paper.
I then went through all of the linens and towels and trashed the hole-y, bleach spotted, and torn towels. I decided to keep the beige and the white towels.
Much of the old bedding hadn’t been used in over a year so they were bagged for Goodwill.
Because the closet it so deep, it is easy to shove items in it thus creating chaos. So I decided to use containers to contain only the towels we were keeping. I used a basket to hold the wash cloths and hand towels. I was amazed at how much storage space was emptied just by cleaning out this one closet.
I placed the linens I decided to keep in a storage bin. The swimming towels were also put in a bin since it is nearing the end of pool season. (It is Florida, after all, and it is 90 degrees today.)
This also left me room to store toilet paper!
What do you think? Do you start with the closets when you declutter or am I crazy?
And read the next post in the series! The Horrible Housewife: Basic Supplies and Duties
If you enjoyed this post, you might be interested in my homemade DIY toilet wet wipes recipe!
Beth says
Looks like you did a great job! I am trying to declutter and it is difficult. If you get 4 bags in one day, do you still have to get another one the next day? Or are you aiming to average 7 a week?
Beth recently posted…Fetching!
Herchel says
I am aiming to average 7 a week but we have years of stuff in this house that I am getting rid of! I keep thinking of how much easier it will be to paint and remove the wallpaper without having to work around clutter 🙂
Monica says
I think I need to sign up! I’m pretty sure I can donate one bag a day too!
Monica
Great post – pinned!
Monica recently posted…25 Delicious Fall Recipes You can Make with Kids & $2,000 Giveaway
Herchel says
Join me! We can cheer each other on.
Heather says
Hello! Stopping by from the click and chat link up party to check out your page! Hope you’ll check mine out as well! Love this idea! I don’t even have a linen closet and had to buy a cabinet from Target to put in my hallway for linens…it’s weird that a house doesn’t have a linen closet, right? But I love these ideas and might try something similar in my laundry room instead! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Susen @ Dabbling Momma says
You did a great job! The closet looks nice and organized!
Susen @ Dabbling Momma recently posted…What’s Missing Game? (Halloween style!)
Herchel says
Thank you susen! Now I am tackling my closet… Which is much larger and much worse!
Echo says
I needed this. I don’t want to need this, but I do. My bathroom closet is a mess. Literally.
Echo recently posted…Miss Humblebee’s Academy!
Karen says
I start in the kitchen and work in a circle. Anything that is out of place gets put on the dining room table as I go through each room. When I am done, I tackle and dispose of the pile.
Karen recently posted…H&M Giveaway
Herchel says
That’s a great idea. Once everything has a place then I will do something similar to maintain
Amanda @ The Anti Mom Blog says
great idea starting with closets and donating a bag a day. i try to stay organized but it only lasts about a day at the most! if i could afford it i’d pay someone to come in and organize my entire house!! love the idea of containers to help keep everything organized..will be trying that!
Amanda @ The Anti Mom Blog recently posted…4 Easy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dessert Recipes
Herchel says
I am so scared that an organizer would have me get rid of something that I don’t want to lose so I am doing it the old fashioned way 🙂
TiaMaria says
This is a great idea! We just have a tiny apartment, but that means the clutter is just that much more noticeable. I’m going to invest in some totes and such this week to help make sense of the chaos that is our one big closet. Thanks for the inspiration!
TiaMaria recently posted…It’s Monday And I’m Grateful
Rachelle Paige says
I am inspired. I always start with the closet. That seems to be where all the excess ends up.