10, 20, & 30 Minute Decluttering Projects

Mark your calendar for Monday, Nov 22^nd. It's National Declutter Day, a day to remove some of the "stuff" from your home. Here are a few organizing project ideas, depending on how much time you have for this venture.

10 Minutes:

Quick decluttering: Walk through your home carrying a large garbage bag. Put in the bag any belongings that you don't use or love. Donate or toss the full bag.

Organize a utensil drawer. Use a drawer organizer to separate utensils by use. Donate gadgets and utensils that aren't used. Store utensils that are used only at the holidays with holiday decorations, leaving more space for what you need.

Decrease your junk mail by removing your name from mailing lists. Include all forms of your name. Within three months, there will be a reduction in junk mail. Write to:

Mail Preference Service
Attn: Preference Service Manager
Direct Marketing Association
PO Box 3079
Grand Central Station, NY

20 Minutes:

Clear out the junk drawer. Get rid of anything that has been sitting there, unused, for more than a year. Put back only what you use in the kitchen. Put away items that belong in other areas of the home.

Eliminate some paper. Recycle catalogs, magazines, newspapers.

30 Minutes:

Select the 2 to 3 most packed shelves in the linen closet. Pull out items, sorting into categories. Determine how many towels & sheet sets you need. Eliminate the excess. Could sheet sets be stored in the bedroom where they are used? Fold and return needed items to the shelves.

Grab a donation bag and head to a clothing closets & dressers. Toss in any clothing/shoes that you haven't worn and you don't feel comfortable in.

Take a little time to do some decluttering then stand back and enjoy the order you've created!