Getting in the Swing of Things for the School Year | Purging and Organizing Tips
With the summer winding down, more than likely you are wondering just how to get back in the groove for the upcoming school year.
You and the kiddos have probably contributed to a somewhat cluttered home during summer vacation. Maybe “somewhat cluttered'' is putting it lightly. Chances are the home has become a serious mess!
So I know what you’re thinking: “Household clutter isn’t a big deal!” Although it may seem harmless, a messy disorganized home affects us more than you’d think.
Feeling like you’re unable to manage the things around you can lead to serious stress. Getting the mess at home under control is actually one of the best self-care activities you can engage in.
With you and the kids running around trying to get ready for the school year, it’s easy to feel like life is out of control. Why add to that stress by keeping the clutter?
Take a deep breath and relax — Chrissy the #DentonRealtor is here to save the day!
Getting started on your decluttering project may seem overwhelming, so today, you’re going to get the very best tips on how to purge and organize your home. Let’s dive in!
How to Rid the House of Clutter
Purging your house of unwanted and unneeded items can be a scary prospect, so let’s look at the categories we can put these types of items in.
Donating items is great when you have stuff that you don’t need but that someone else could find useful. Clutter doesn’t always equal trash.
I’m sure you’ve got some old shoes or clothes lying around or taking up space in your closets. These items can easily be donated to charities close to you. However, charities have certain guidelines about what they will and won’t accept, so make sure you know that they are.
The Freecycle Network is also a great option. They are a non-profit movement that is helping people give away things to people who need them. Facebook also has resale groups you may want to check out.
Recycling will also help you purge your home, and you’ll feel like you’ve made the world a cleaner and better place by doing this. Paper, plastics, and glass can all be recycled. It’s super easy if you have a recycling bin as you’ll get curbside pickup for these items.
If your neighborhood doesn’t offer curbside pickup, you can take your items to a drop-off location for recycling.
Another option is a garage sale. This can also be a fun endeavor for the whole family! There may be certain dates and guidelines regarding garage sales in your neighborhood, so check with your homeowner’s association about this.
If you rent a dumpster, you’ll be able to discard any items that are left over and truly are trash at this point.
Organization — “Life After the Purge”
Now that you’ve dealt with your unwanted items, what is there left to do after “The Purge?” Drawers are one of the most important places to get started with organizing your home. Start by taking all of your items out of a drawer and figuring out how you can sort them out.
Get some small containers and dividers to place within the drawer. This way you can put like-items together. Perhaps you may want to label small containers so it makes it that much easier to find what you’re looking for at any given time.
Storage Bins are perfect for organizing things such as toys and seasonal items. Closets quickly become cluttered with these types of items, and who wants to step on a car toy while looking for a pair of pants?!
By getting toy chests or baskets, toys can easily be stored away. It will also teach children to put up their toys once playtime is over. Seasonal decorations, bedding, and even clothing can take up valuable space if they aren’t stored correctly.
You can use cloth or plastic bins to easily store such items under beds. If you want to get creative, you can use comforter bags to store items that are a bit bulkier into a small space.
Keeping your flat surfaces as clear as possible is another way to get your home organized and give you peace of mind when you are in any room of the house.
Depending on the size of surface you’re dealing with, give yourself a max number of items to be placed on these surfaces. Maybe a decoration and a picture or two should be the max for one surface, while a single lamp might better suit a smaller surface.
With these simple tips, you’ll have an organized home in no time! That way, once the craziness of the school year starts, you’ll be ready to face it without having all that clutter in the back of your mind.
Contact Chrissy Mallouf Today
Contact the #DentonRealtor today, and make sure to check out my YouTube videos for great tips and advice!
