Simple: 30 Ways to Declutter Your Life (3 page)

Declutter Tip #7: If you don't wear it, you don't need it.

Whether it's your underwear drawer or your closet, you probably have some things that you haven't worn in awhile.

For me, it was the extra-long size 5 skirt that I wore as a high school student. Why did I hang onto this piece of clothing after 10 years and two babies? Well, because I paid $50 for it, of course! And besides, someday I'll fit into it again...right?

After staring at this skirt for weeks, putting it in my "get rid of bag" and pulling it back out again, I finally realized something.

I am not 16 anymore.

While I would definitely wear the skirt again someday (my style hasn't really changed much, to be honest) it's far too small for me right now and I'm probably not going to lose the weight to wear it anytime soon. Instead of hanging onto an item that I
might
wear
someday
, why not give it to someone who can definitely wear it now?

Not only will giving away this item free up my closet space, but it will also bring joy to someone else who could really use it.

Now, I'm not suggesting that you give away all of your unworn, unused clothing items. What I am suggesting is that you ask yourself if you'll honestly wear something again within the next year. If you won't, it might be time to consider getting rid of the piece of clothing. If something doesn't fit, doesn't go with anything else that you own, or is worn out, consider cleaning out that portion of your closet or dresser. You'll clear up space, decrease the amount of "stuff" that gathers dust in your room, and be able to rest assured knowing that someone else is genuinely enjoying the clothing.

When it comes to cleaning out clothing, you have a lot of options. You don't have to just donate your stuff, but you can. Homeless shelters and women's shelters both frequently accept donations. Just make sure that you call ahead to ensure that the shelter you have in mind is currently accepting the type of donation that you're offering. Thrift stores also accept donations on a regular basis.

If you'd rather get some cash for your clothes, that's fine, too. There's nothing wrong about wanting to make some money off of your old clothing. If your clothing is in gently used condition, you can sell it on eBay, list it on Craig's List, or even ditch it on local For Sale sites on Facebook. You could also hold a garage sale, check out local consignment shops, or even join a clothing swap in your area. Your options are virtually endless.

You may find that you have a hard time giving up some of your favorite pieces of clothing. If you absolutely cannot part with something, but you truly don't have the space to keep it around, consider taking a picture of the item. Another option would be to cut out a piece of each item and turn it into a quilt or pillow sham. (Warning: only do this if you know that you'll actually finish the project! Never start something that you don't have the time to finish. You'll just end up with more clutter.)

Declutter Tip #8: Count your shoes. If you're in the double digits, it might be time to downsize.

How many shoes do you have?

Red shoes, brown shoes, black shoes, green shoes.

More importantly, how many shoes do you
need
?

Chances are that you have your everyday shoes. Then you have your dress-up shoes. Maybe you have your church shoes, your work shoes, and your swimming pool shoes. What next? Your winter boots. Your rain boots. Your just-in-case-I-wear-something-pink pumps.

Before you know it, your closet is probably overflowing with shoes.

Please don't throw this book against the wall. You're reading it on your phone or Kindle, and I'd be pretty sad if you asked me to replace it for you. I'm just a writer; I can't afford it. I promise that I'm not telling you to ditch your shoes simply to make your life more difficult. I'm a girl, too, after all. I've got my favorite boots, I've got the shoes I haven't worn in ten years, and I've got the just-in-case-I-go-to-a-funeral-shoes.

But you know what?

It's a lot more stressful to try to organize 25 pairs of shoes than it is to simply downsize the number of shoes in your closet.

Now, if shoes are your weakness and you're willing to buy shelves for them, keep them organized, and regularly maintain them, good for you.

For the rest of us, it might be time to ask whether or not you really need to be saving a 10-year-old pair of tennis shoes that you replaced last year. You know, you bought the new running shoes but saved the old ones "just in case" you need them. Trust me: you won't.

If you have shoes that you haven't worn in more than a year, shoes that you don't like, or shoes that don't match any of your current clothes, consider donating the excess ones.

If you absolutely cannot get rid of your shoe collection, consider organizing them as neatly as possible. A bookshelf can double as a fantastic shoe shelf. Colorful baskets on a shelf can also be a great way to keep your shoes together and in good shape. If your goal is to declutter, though, consider parting with your oldest shoes, the ones you don't really like
that much
, or the shoes that are damaged and well-worn.

Just remember that if you miss your shoes after you've gotten rid of them, you can always buy more.

Declutter Tip #9: How many blankets do you really need?

I love blankets.

I acquired my admiration for quilts and snuggly wraps from my mother. She keeps two comforters on her bed, a quilt at the foot of the bed, and two shelves in her closet full of blankets.

There's just one problem: I don't
need
10 blankets.

I need two.

When my husband got out of the Air Force, our family went from living in a 3-bedroom townhouse with a garage and shed to a 2-bedroom, 4th floor apartment. Naturally, we got rid of a lot of things before we moved. Once our boxes arrived, we got rid of even more things. Then we got rid of some more.

After days of unpacking, though (I'm a former military wife. Yes, I said "days."), I realized something.

I really don't need all these blankets.

I had gotten rid of furniture, downsized my clothing collection, and even pared down from 12 bookshelves to 3.

But I hadn't gotten rid of any of my blankets.

After all, I love them.

Now, I'm not saying that you shouldn't be warm. Having blankets in your home is fantastic if you have guests who come to visit or if you want to curl up and watch a movie on the couch. You still don't need 10, though.

One of the most difficult parts of my bedroom to declutter was my blanket collection. After a lot of thinking, though, and a lot of contemplation, I decided to let some of them go.

If you're like me and you love your blankets, but you also realize that it's important to avoid having stacks of them throughout your house, it's time to let some go. What helped me the most was being able to give away blankets to other people. If you have a local shelter you can donate blankets to, I would encourage you to do it. If you don't, though, consider donating excess blankets to an outreach like
Voice of the Martyrs
. They'll send your blankets to Christians in need overseas.

Sometimes knowing that your blankets are going to a good cause can help you part with your collection.

Declutter Tip #10: Even stuffed animals have a shelf life.

Yes, this is a chapter for adults.

If you aren't a stuffed animal lover, don't skip ahead. This chapter also applies to dolls, trinkets, and collectibles that cover your dresser.

Each stuffed animal tells a story. If you've got a collection, chances are that each stuffed animal holds a special memory for you. Maybe the green teddy bear was a gift from a special boy when you were a teenager. Maybe the little pink bird was a gift from your grandmother. Maybe you bought the set of purple owls when you were on a vacation.

The question is now, where do you put them?

Is your bed covered in stuffed animals? Do you have a shelf completely devoted to them? Does your room look more like a fantastical forest than a bedroom?

It might be time to downsize.

Keep in mind that if you have allergies, especially dust allergies, getting rid of stuffed animals is going to help you significantly. Unless you're washing your stuffed animals in hot water on a regular basis, they're accumulating dust. This can cause sneezing, watery eyes, and even asthma flare-ups. The more that you can declutter your stuffed animal collection, the better off you're going to be.

Remember how we talked about donating blankets to people suffering overseas? You can donate stuffed animals to people suffering here. Contact your local police station to find out if they're currently accepting stuffed animals or dolls. In situations where children are removed from their parents' custody, police will give the children a stuffed animal to help ease their transition into foster care. While it doesn't completely remove their fear, having something special and comforting can be incredibly valuable. Even if you do decide to pare down your stuffed animal collection, you'll be able to do so knowing that you're helping a child in need.

You probably spend more time in your bathroom than you realize.

Each day you spend time bathing, using the toilet, fixing your hair, putting on makeup, and brushing your teeth. At minimum, most people spend an hour a day in their bathrooms, though some spend quite a bit more. If you love to take long bubble baths or you've got little kids at home, for example, you could spend a few hours a day in your bathroom.

Because of this, it's important that you take the time to downsize, declutter, and organize your bathroom. Even bathrooms can become dirty and cluttered with all sorts of things that you might need but that you can't seem to keep organized.

Your bathroom is also a room that your guests will undoubtedly see. If you've got nosy guests, even things in your cupboards and medicine cabinet are going to be up for peeks.

To me, the thought of someone going through my belongings is overwhelming and frustrating, but unfortunately, it happens.

I've noticed that it seems to be well-meaning relatives who go through my cabinets. I know that they aren't going through my things to be malicious or nosy, but it happens. Sometimes they're just curious to see how things look beneath the surface. Other times, guests might actually be looking for something that they're too embarrassed to simply ask you for (such as a feminine hygiene product or a pair of tweezers).

No matter what your bathroom looks like, remember that you shouldn't overlook this room. Just because it's a small room doesn't mean that you should neglect cleaning up or organizing your bathroom. If anything, you need to take
more
time to get things together since you have such a small space with so many things to keep handy.

Declutter Tip #11: You don't need eight hairbrushes.

We all have those favorite hairbrushes. Really, we do. Mine is a small purple travel hairbrush that I bought years ago for less than $5. I love it. It fits perfectly in my purse, gets my hair to look amazing, and is my favorite color.

I love that hairbrush.

But what happens to hairbrushes after awhile?

They break.

Even the best hairbrushes break.

Of course, we have no choice but to replace the hairbrush.

Unfortunately, a key part of "replacing" something is getting rid of the old thing. You do not need eight hairbrushes. If you have a regular hairbrush and a roller brush, that's all you need. Ditch the rest. You'll be amazed at how much more room you'll have in your drawers.