Is there a certain "system" for getting rid of clutter? A donation box is a great way to developing a system to get rid of clutter. Getting rid of clutter is the first step towards having an organized home....
Getting rid of clutter is the first step towards having an organized home. Having a certain system for accomplishing that will make the task easier. This method may vary from home to home based on different variables, including your lifestyle. Lorie Marrero, who is the owner of "LivingOrder", a professional organization company that creates organizing solutions for homes and businesses, says, "Just having a home for everything is the key to getting rid of clutter. And then having a routine, like making sure the counter is clear before you go to bed every night. Whatever works for you (because) there is usually some tolerance level for clutter that most people have. Some people can't go to bed at night without straightening up, which is ideal."
Even if you do not fit into that "ideal" Lorie offers this tip that everyone can work into their own personal de-cluttering system: "We recommend that every home have a donation box, which is something most people really don't think about. They go into their closet and see something they want to donate, but they don't pull it out and put it somewhere. Then it never gets donated. If you have a designated place in your house where everyone knows that donations are supposed to go, you'll see it and you'll notice when it gets full. Then you just put the box in your car and take it to your favorite charity. That is one way to move things out."
In order to get everyone in the household to implement this, you can mention that it's akin to making some of the money back that was spent on the clothing in the first place. As Lorie explains, "It's really worth your time to itemize your donations...if you have some things to give away." She recommends purchasing "a book and software program called 'It's Deductible' that you can find at www.itsdeductable.com. Basically, it's the 'blue book' for household items - the fair market value for all your shirts, kids' toys and things like that." Lori states that "most people grossly underestimate the items that they are donating. For example, they arbitrarily say something is $50 and sometimes they are really wrong. For instance, a women's designer suit, like Liz Claiborne, can be $140 in resale market value if it's in fair condition."
Another hint in developing a certain system for getting rid of clutter is to have a personal area for each member of the household, placed close to the front door. Hang a hook for coats, bags and purses and have a basket labeled for each person. Then each individual has somewhere to throw their keys and other odds and ends in. This can also be a way to separate the mail as it arrives. (Just make sure to also have a trash can handy for junk mail.) This way everyone is responsible for their own items and you just might never hear the words "Mom, have you seen my...?" again.
The most important thing to remember is that just "de-cluttering" a home isn't enough. You have to figure out ways of keeping it that way.
