How do you get rid of clutter?

Question

most of my problem is that I have a bunch of small children, and kids collect junk, I run out of places to put it.

Answer 1

As hard as it is, start by not bringing it in...that means thinking twice before you buy something, even deciding to wait until the next day to see if the impulse wears off.

Then it's all about organization. Have a bin for items to be donated, and don't be afraid to use it!

Keep things like instructions for your appliances and electronics all in one place, a small file box and file folders are great for sorting bills, receipts, stuff like that.

Throw garbage out immediately, and get big garbage bags and just do a big sweep at least four times a year - we do it with the changing of the season.

Most importantly, try not to form emotional attachments to things that you never use - it can cause a "pack rat" mentality and you'll never get rid of anything. Be honest with yourself. If your house was on fire, what would you absolutely HAVE to save? Get all those things together and get rid of as much of the rest as you can.

That's about all I can think of, hope this helps!

Answer 2

all the other answers are good, when my kids were little we put half of all the toys in attic or basement, only good toys not junk, and every few months we traded the stored for the one left out the kids were in their glory, we also had a rule any time they got new toys we had them pick an old toy to give to less fortunate children and gave them to salvation army or good will, purple heart. The key to organization is a place for everything and everything in its place, even if its bins or laundry baskets to store things make sure the kids know where to put everything not just throw it all in a pile together, have it sorted

Answer 3

One method if things are completely out of control is called the Mount Vesuvius Method. Just take everything and pack it in boxes (no sorting) and stack the boxes against the wall. Then, one box by one box open and sort -- give away, throw away, put away, sell. Once you finish that box, do what you decided to do with the items and then start the next box.

Another method for less cluttered is called the Mount Vernon Method which calls for going clockwise around the room, around the house cleaning out every nook and cranny as you go.

For more ideas, check out messies annonymous website and books by Sandra Felton.

Answer 4

I wait until he's asleep or away and I go through. Any junky toys (like McDonald's, etc) gets thrown away. Any toys that he just takes out and dumps on the floor but rarely plays with gets donated to Goodwill or the church. Any thing that as an adult, he would consider to be trash gets tossed.

I file his first writing, his first picture, etc.

Any books that are not read are either donated, tossed or packed away.

He's only allowed a few toys at a time. Everything else gets put away. If he loses interest in his toys, we switch them out and he gets very excited about his toys again.

I've found if you have everything out, they can't make up their mind what to play with and they don't play with much. I also look at things and think, "Would I buy/want that?" if the answers no, then I toss it. I think people who donate broken, nasty toys are sometimes too lazy to throw away the trash.

As he gets older, I ask him which of his older toys does he want to donate to kids who don't have toys. He gets very excited to donate his least played with toys.

Answer 5

make a deal with yourself and/or your kids: for everything new you bring home, you have to get rid of something you have. You may find you don't have so many little things laying around after a while. It works for us. I have 5 boys and they have to decide how bad they really want whatever it is vs. how bad they want to get rid of something they already have. We also go thru the house once a week and get rid of 10 things in every room (anything from soda cans to broken toys counts). it helps get in the habit of "getting rid of stuff".

Answer 6

OOH, THE TASK OF THE CLUTTER. THE ANSWER IS ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE..GET THE CHILDREN INVOLVED, MAKE IT FUN. THE REWARDS WILL BE GREAT. GET CONTAINERS AND HAVE THE CHILDREN PICK THEY'RE FAVORITES AND THE REST GIVE TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN GIVE TOYS, CLOTHES TO CHILDREN LESS FORTUNATE THAN YOURS, CHILDREN CAN BE VERY GIVING WHEN THE MOTIVATION IS RIGHT GOOD,ALSO THEY CAN GET INVOLVED IN A YARD SALE. THEN THEY WILL HAVE MONEY TO SAVE OR TO USE FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL. SHOE BOXES WORK FOR SMALL THINGS. THESE IDEAS WORK GREAT FOR US ADULTS ALSO, WE ARE THE ONES TO TEACH THEM TO ORGANIZE..CLOTHES ON RACKS SHOES IN CLOSETS..KEEPING DRAWERS STRAIGHTENED AND NEAT WITH WHAT BELONGS IN SPECIFIC PLACES. THE ONE THAT IS SO IMPORTANT IS LEARNING -A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING AND EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE. HOPE THIS HELPS! HAVE FUN!

Answer 7

I recommend giving each child a space for their toys such as a storage bin. After they each fill up the bin with the toys they "have to have" , get rid of the rest. My sister has 4 kids and we do this about once a year.

Answer 8

Big black garbage bags do the trick, have a throwing away, keep party, it can be fun. Just pile everything in the living room & go crazy, & once you get it all in the livingroom, now you have to finish what your doing.

Answer 9

Throw out everything you consider as clutter!!

Answer 10

If it is allowed where you live, have a garage/yard sale. I make about $400 a year selling absolute cr*p out of my house.