Week 4 Declutter Challenge

Week 4. We have hit the halfway point and majority of the house is done! Woohoo!!!

This week could be a light week. We are going to focus on the rest of the house; living room, dining room, upstairs loft, and laundry room.

Day 1 Laundry room (30 mins)

If you have cabinets or shelves organize them. Get rid of anything that you do not use. This is a great place for your house paints. Keeping them outside could ruin Temps below freezing and above 90*. The best place for paint is in a monitored space.

This is a great time to go through our mixed-matched socks. If you have deep cleaned each room it's time to throw away the socks with no match.

Day 2 Junk room or upstairs loft (30 minutes)

I think we all can get into a bad habit of putting things into a room to deal with them later. TODAY IS LATER! We need to tackle this room aggressively. This is the last room we will tackle this week so spend 30 mins a day until it's done.

Remember the rules for keeping:

Have/Will I use this in the next 6 months?

Why do I want to keep this? Is it guilt?

Would I rebuy it?

The goal for this room is to; 1) put things away in their correct spot 2) get rid of the things you no longer use 3) if it needs to stay in the room, make them functional.

NOTE: By the end of this week, the house should be done. So spend 30 mins a day in the areas you have left.

TIP: If you are using the donation/sell items in one of these rooms you can keep them there til we are finished with the garage.

Other rooms to tackle if needed.

Living room and Dining room (30 mins)

If the rooms are cluttered with stuff let's hit them in 3 stages.

1. Take a plastic bag and collect all the trash.

2. Collect items around the room. Sort them in piles of where they go.

3. Misc things. If you have something out that you have put off to put back … Do it!!

For example, I had a fireplace face plate to put back on.

Tips to make this process easier:

1. Each morning take 15 minutes to tidy up the rooms you have already done. Pick up clothes, put shoes and jackets away. Maybe do the dishes. Whatever wasn’t done the night before.

2. Use the dining room table to sort for each room so you only make one trip (or ask your kids to put them away).

3. If the task is overwhelming start small. I am going to tackle this section today

4. Everything needs its spot. When your house is organized you will find things easier.

5. If you need more time in a specific area, give yourself more time. Try to at least spend 30 minutes each day.

6. Don't give up! You will be glad you did this!

We 4 is finished! Remember to always take a break. If you don’t you will burn out and want to quit before you are finished. Slow and steady will win this race!