2024 Organizing & Decluttering Thread

Ugh, I just came across a large gray tub filled with skin and beauty products from when I moved in 2020. So much money down the drain. 😭

Trying desperately to channel my inner Marie Kondo and tell myself those items served their purpose when I purchased them.

I’m sorry, that hurts, I’ve been there. But you’re right, they did serve their purpose. Plus, the money is already spent, if they’re open they’re expired, and keeping them now just adds to your mental load. 

   Amazing, congratulations!

The first ones have full 360° round shelves that are totally inset into the cabinet base. The door is set at an angle in the corner and the shelf can be in any position for the door to close. I’m pretty sure these cabinets are deeper.

With the second kind the shelves are only 3/4 of the pie and it has to be turned with the pie cutout at the front so the cabinet door (which is hinged in the middle) can fold in to close. When the door is closed the corner is a 90° angle. Because the two shelves aren’t full circles there is less shelf space to store stuff.

I got my spring/summer clothes out since I needed some for vacation next week. That made me think about all of the clothes in my wardrobe that I didn't wear this winter. I will likely donate some now but I am tempted to hang onto others to see if I think I will wear them next year. But then I have to store them and take the effort to get them out again in the fall...I am curious what others use as their guideline for what to keep and what to get rid of. I still like most of them but my lifestyle is much more casual now and I just didn't wear sweaters or cardigans nearly as often as I used to.

I think this last winter really wasn’t normal for us so I wouldn’t use that as a gauge for what to keep and what to purge. I don’t think I wore any of my zip front hoodies for even a whole day this winter which is so unusual. I typically I live in them all winter long but this winter was so unseasonably warm that I was mostly comfortable in just long sleeve t-shirts. I can see getting rid of things because your lifestyle changed and they’re just not needed anymore though.

For me, if it really doesn’t fit right or feel comfortable, it’s easier to let those things go. If it’s stained or ratty looking, it’s also pretty easy to move those things along. I have a harder time with things that are comfortable but still sort of presentable, or things that *almost* fit but are new.

I went through my winter clothes and have a garbage bag to donate. I also went through my summer clothes bins enough to find things to take on the trip. Hopefully this will get me in gear to lose some weight before summer. Ugh. I’m not ready to wear shorts yet but it will be 85 degrees in Florida next week. I am going to take some long pants as well but don’t want to be sweltering. We are sharing suitcases so I’m trying not to overpack.

Also, I know that the goal is to get to a more reasonable amount of clothing, and I still have a lot. But has anyone put organizers in your closet and if so, did it help quite a bit with organization, making things more visible, etc? We have a smallish walk-in closet. There is one bar/shelf that goes around the three sides and then underneath I have some other plastic drawers and shelves that give additional storage, but it's not ideal. Our shoes are on shoe racks on the shelf to make better use of that space. I feel like there has to be a better solution that wouldn't cost a fortune.

I love the Elfa system from The Container Store and started using it when I was 19. You know, 10 years ago   It’s now in almost every closet in our home and the garage. It is costly, though they do have good sales, but at least one of the home improvement stores has their own version now. I bring up TCS because they have pre-designed options and a tool to help you customize one. The custom one is towards the bottom of the page. So you could look there for ideas and to do a quick build-out to see how that might look in your space, and then purchase from the home improvement store. Make sure you know what options will be available for you from them so you don’t put together a design an aren’t able to recreate it. Create an account and it will save your designs This is the link to the Classic Elfa, which is epoxy covered wiring. There is also one for Design Elfa, or something like that, that includes solid shelving. If you do decide to get an actual Elfa system, they have people in store that’ll help you design it if you’d like, you just need to bring in measurements and clothing/accessories counts. I’d also be happy to help. 

Another thing to consider is what else you store in your closet and do you want to keep it in there? Luggage, travel items, maybe momentos, etc. Oh, we have a big drawer we use for dirty clothes. We know when it reaches a certain point that it’s time to run a load. 

However, and this is a big however, I highly recommend you finish decluttering your closet, or at least get very close, before you invest any money in a closet system. Especially since your circumstances have changed and you dress more casually. Because right now, you don’t know how much linear hanging space you need, how many shoes/purses to store, how many clothes to go in drawers, etc. I hang everything that isn’t my inside the house clothes, so I’m down to 3 drawers. 4 if you count lingerie stored out of the closet in my nightstand. And I use 3’ to 4’ of linear space at best guess. That is very different than what it would have been before I finished decluttering, but after I had done so numerous times already. But DH, even after doing an excellent job decluttering, has 10 or 12 drawers and a foot or more of hanging space than I do. We have an entire units’ worth of empty drawers now and would design the closet differently. Fortunately, we didn’t buy much to customize this closet because we already had so much so we didn’t waste any money. But that might not be the case with an entirely new system for you. 

Our smaller luggage is stored on the top shelf, about 5 or 6 feet, and we have 7 feet or so of travel items. We used to travel at least once a month and that is so helpful! I’d also recommend a valet bar or empty hanging space for you to use while you’re deciding what to pack so it’s out of the way. And counter or solid space for the same since you guys will likely be traveling so much for the next 4 years while your son plays ball.

KITCHEN AND PANTRY
Kitchen Closets: Empty them! Pull everything out. Use trash bags, boxes, etc to sort and redistribute your items. Remember-places would love donations of kitchen items. If you have not used something in a few months, chances are you just will not use it so donate it. Kill the clutter!
Kitchen Cabinets: Tackle one by one if the job seems overwhelming. Start above counters, on one side of the room and work in one direction & when done, tackle cabinets below the counter. Save the under-sink area for last, for me it was the hardest.
Get Rid Of:
Old, currently unused cleaners
Cans & Bottles of food over 6 months old unless there is a later expiration date.
Old cracker/cookie boxes probably stale
Pans & pots that you don’t use, have duplicates of, are in horrible shape, etc.
Extra serving dishes (store them elsewhere unless you have lots of room) until needed. Donate if you have not used them in the past six months.
Check any open boxes for bugs.
Don’t forget to wipe down empty shelves, re-line (if necessary).
If you store medicines in the cabinets, check expiration dates. Verify prescription items with your pharmacist. Throw out medicines that “didn’t work”, expired or tasted so horrible you won’t use them, etc.
Don’t forget to empty drawers, clean inside, then replace items. Get rid of duplicate items (utensils) if you can.
Clean all appliances inside and out (refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, microwave, toaster oven, coffee maker–use vinegar once through, followed by several rounds of water– stove vent, etc.)
Sink: Use a toothbrush to get rid of gritty dirt at faucet. Clean drains, disposal, etc Use favorite cleaner to make “shine”.
Pantry: Use same method as for the cabinets. don’t forget to wipe down while empty. Try to combine duplicate boxes of things to throw out that which you haven’t and probably won’t use.
When this is done, you will probably want to dust any appropriate items, vacuum from ceiling to floor, including vents/ a/c ducts, clean any windows, and sweep & wash the kitchen floor (I always do that last!) As far as I’m concerned this is probably one of the hardest rooms in the house. If you have tile on your counters or table, this is a good time to spray them down and clean and reseal the grout.
Be ruthless! Go through every drawer, cabinet, counter. Did you take time to do all that work and sell yourself short? Did your Mama tell you a job worth doing is worth doing well??? Well go ahead an “git”: make that kitchen shine. Go through the spices and the cookbooks again. I know there are things you still really need to do

Dh went through a few flashlights he had. Some had corrosive old batteries in them. He tossed a couple of them. I shredded a bunch of paper. Cardboard has been put in the blue re-cycling bin. Sold a couple of items in Facebook Marketplace (tucking that money aside). Went through some things.

Daily declutter task from My Simpler Life Declutter Calendar:

Take a walk in nature.

I mean I would, but that’s outside.

Doing little bits of the paperwork that's hanging over my head. Paid two bills. Did the budget.



I was wondering if anyone else here reads r/UnfuckYourHabitat & r/ufyh on Reddit. Also r/declutter, and even r/hoarding .

They sometimes give me a little push of motivation.