Home Removal Services Blog

Do you want to get rid of stuff that is cluttering up your home, but you’re scared you might need it someday?

The top two questions I get as a professional organizer are:

“How do I figure out what to get rid of?”

“How do I know I won’t need that item again?”

The secret will be revealed in this article: knowing where to get started, what to get rid of, and what to keep.

What to Get Rid Of: Anything that is not meaningful or useful to you should be going out of your home. How do you know you won’t need that item again? You don’t! The only thing you know for sure is that you don’t need it right now. What you need to believe is this: you will always have the resources to get it again, just like the first time you got it. Believe in the marketplace. It is just as eager as you are to exchange things. If you do need that item in the future, you can easily find another one on Craigslist, eBay, or one of the other online free markets across the US.

Let’s say you get rid of an unused bookcase by selling it on Craigslist for $40 and that a year later you actually need a bookcase. Within a week or two you will be able to find one. Most of the time you will find one that suits your needs better than the old one. Plus, you got the benefit of having that $40 in your pocket for the past year.

What to Keep: Keep items that are either useful or meaningful. If you tend to love memorabilia, but cannot let go of it, try this simple three-step process.

1. Pick out the top 10 items you truly value and that mean the most to you.

2. Display your items to honor your memories. Frame a special t-shirt, hang unique items on the wall, or create a shadow box of meaningful jewelry, news clippings, etc.

3. Find a single, large bin or box (less than 15 gallon) for each family member. Pull out favorites and fill the bins. Bless another person by donating or selling the remaining items.

Where to Get Started: Prioritize all the areas you want organized and make a list. Begin with the area you use most often. In one area:

Start by removing stuff that is definitely recycling or garbage. You will, most likely, get distracted but only focus on garbage; don’t touch anything else. Here is a tip for focusing: play your favorite song and have all garbage removed by the time the song ends.

Next, have three large bins set out in the area you are working. Items to donate go in one bin, items to be sold in another bin, and items that belong in a different area go in the last bin. If necessary, more bins can be used. When you are done sorting, the bins should be removed from your working area.

You can only begin organizing after all items have been sorted. Only organize the items you are keeping. Reassess the space. What purpose would you like it to serve? What can you do to maximize the space? Can you use the walls to maximize space for displaying items by keeping them off the floor? Let the organizational process be guided by the answers to these questions.

If you want help maximizing your space, or if you get stopped on one of the steps for any reason, consider hiring a professional organizer. To find a qualified organizer in your area, check with the National Association of Professional Organizers (napo.net).

Heidi DeCoux is publisher of Life Made Simple e-Magazine, a professional organizer and creator of the Fast-Filing Method home office filing system. Heidi energizes her readers’ by simplifying their homes … schedules. For more info, free tips, and to receive her FREE Report: The Fast … Easy Way to Get Organized and Stay Organized Forever, visit ClearSimpleLiving.com

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