How to Clean Out Your Closet

I cleaned out my closet the other day. Sometimes, especially when there's a change in the season, or we have a change in our weight (or when both things happen at the same time) we need to go through and sort out what is in our closet. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to do it:

1. Set aside a couple of hours where you can focus on the task at hand.
2. Get some good music that is upbeat and makes you feel good. It also helps you keep up the pace.
3. Start with any shelves you have, and remove all the clothes and put them on your bed.
4. Go through each item. The way to figure out what to do with that item is to determine a) If you've worn it in the last month, and you still like it, keep it. b) If you have not worn it in the last month, try it on. Do you still like the way it looks? Does it fit? Is it in good shape? If so, keep it. If it is not appropriate for the season (ex: white coloured capris in fall) put it away for now. Anything that doesn't fit the criteria of fitting well, or looking good in it donate it or give it away.
5. When you have put away your "keepers", move to the rack(s). Start at the left hand side. Repeat step 4 until all the clothes have been touched.
6. Get your bag/s of clothes to donate and feel good about decluttering and realize that you've accomplished a task that was most likely long-overdue.


IDEAS:
-- As you are going through your items, you can try on things together. You can mix and match and discover new ideas for outfits that you most likely wouldn't have thought of.
-- Make a list of things that you need to purchase/replace as you go.
-- You can organize your clothes by colour, type, and style (casual vs. dressy).  You'll be able to find things faster.
-- If you are in the process of losing weight, try on clothes that you have been saving for that ideal weight. It's encouraging when you find out that some of the clothes fit, or you are at the point where you could start wearing them (but still snug). This is very encouraging!
-- To help keep the closet neat, after you purchase something new, take something out of your closet to give away/donate. When you get something new, get rid of something old.  (This works for books, too!)
-- Hang your clothes with the hangers reversed.  As you use each item, put the clothes back and turn the hanger around.  After a month or two, check to see what clothes haven't been worn, and make a decision to keep or toss them.

Good luck with cleaning out your closet!

~ Angela Gentile

Find the Time and Organize Your Life

One of my interests is "organizing".  I pride myself in being able to sort, file, label, store, pack and pile my things.  I have found that if I have a clutter-free, organized home, car, or work-space, I feel more at peace.  If you can learn the skill of organizing, you will potentially have some more time on your hands to do other things that interest you and that are important to you.  I recently borrowed a book from the library, called "Organize Your Life: free yourself from clutter and find more personal time" (2007) by Ronnie Eisenberg with Kate Kelly.  This book was a fun, fast read, and I came away with two new ideas that have made me think differently with how I keep my life organized. 

The first idea that I have adopted and I love - is that on my cell phone (Blackberry), I have an application called, "Tasks".  What I do now, is anything that I know is coming up or anything that I don't want to forget about, I put on my "tasks list".  For example, I have to buy some birthday and anniversary cards, so I have put this on my task list.  I also have bigger projects on this list, for example, "sell my son's bedroom furniture".  I love having all these "to do" items in one spot, and the authors state that it's good to have either a written list on paper or in a notebook, or a list on your personal electronic device. 

The second idea that I have come away with has to do with bigger jobs.  I have a couple of rooms in my house where "things" are piling up, and I have been putting off sorting through because I know it's going to be a big, time-consuming job.  The authors point out that most people put these things off because they usually don't have a big block of time to do it, so it doesn't get done.  Their solution, which is a good one, is they say to break the job down into smaller parts, then do a little at a time.  They even suggest making a list of all the small steps, so that you have step-by-step instructions of how you will manage this bigger job.  I have started sorting some of those things already, and I am confident that in time, I will have it all done.

"Organize your life" is a good book that goes through the various areas in our lives - especially with regards to home and work.  Paper management is a biggie.  I would recommend this book for anyone that is feeling overwhelmed with all the clutter and time-robbing time-wasters in their life. 

Now, if you're the type who feels that clutter, disorderliness and messiness are your thing, there is a book written for you, too.  "A Perfect Mess: The Hidden Benefits of Disorder - How Crammed Closets, Cluttered Offices, and on-the-Fly Planning Make the World a Better Place" by Eric Abrahamson and David H. Freedman (2007).  Check out this book if organizing is not your thing.

Have a great day!

~Angela

Community Spirit - Treasures for All

Every May our neighbourhood has a community garage sale.  As it turns out, this year the weather was great, and we had many, many, many people out to look for treasures that were displayed on lawns, driveways and in garages.  The community was buzzing by 8:00 am, and the streets were absolutely congested with cars and people.  The folks that come to our community are from all over and they are eager to get that great deal.

My husband and I took a walk around the block at 9:00 am, and what we found was absolutely amazing.  To see the neighbours out, smiling, laughing, enjoying the sunshine and getting exercise was great.  It's nice to see that people can sell, recycle and reuse their unwanted items.  The main road into our community had cars parked bumper-to-bumper.  At one point, a vehicle had to back up all the way out of one of the streets because the cars were parked on both sides of the street and only one vehicle could pass.

People were everywhere.  There were trucks filled with furniture.  Wagons and boxes were filled with treasures.  I found two great books - for only $1.00!  It was a great day, and it was amazing to see so many garage-salers out.  I also spotted a sale where they were fundraising for a local charity.  There were all kinds of things for sale - toys, clothes, books, videos, CDs, tools, furniture, dishes, you name it!  There were homemade cookies, coffee, lemonade and iced tea for those hungry and thirsty "salers". 

If you have some items that are collecting in your garage or basement, consider selling them at a garage or yard sale.  It's lots of fun and gets you outside and gives you an opportunity to meet others.

~Angela

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

"Out with the Old, in with the New".

I finally sold my old bedroom furniture.  I had two old wooden antique-style dressers since I was a child.  One was a mirrored vanity with five drawers and a chair, and one was a chest of drawers, with a "secret drawer".  I put the ad on Kijiji (local, online, free want ads), and I received a lot of interest, especially on the vanity.  I think there is a special group of people out there who really enjoy antiques and the sentimentality that comes along with it. 

These dressers have been in my family for over 50 years.  My grandmother had them given to her, and she passed them along to my mom, who in turn passed them to me.  I had enjoyed these antiques that my grandfather so carefully maintained.  There was a handle missing on the large chest of drawers, and he told me that he had to put on a handle that was completely different, but that made it special to me.  Yes, I am sad that I have to part with these special pieces of furniture, but happy to have replaced them with something newer and bigger.  My husband and I can enjoy our new furniture for many years to come.

A woman, about 30 years old, came to our house this week to buy my old dressers.  She had a three and a half month old baby with her, her name was Emma.  When Sheri saw the furniture, she immediately fell in love with it.  Her face lit up and she smiled.  She said it was exactly what she was looking for, as she wanted to decorate her bedroom in the antique style.  She lives in the country.  I told her the story about the secret drawer and the missing handle.  I was so glad to sell this set to her, because I could see that she was so happy to take it.  I imagined one day, her little baby Emma  would inherit these heirlooms.  I am thankful that Sheri came along and it felt so right to pass my furniture on to someone who was going to look after it and treasure it.  Hopefully she will be able to keep it in her family for another 50 years.

Have a great memory-making day,

~Angela

Declutter and Donate at the Same Time

To keep order in my home, I like to remove as much clutter as possible.  As I find items I/we no longer need, I place them in a plastic bag in my front closet.  There are two companies that call us on a regular basis to see if we have any unwanted, reusable articles of clothing or household items.  I often have three or four bags that are ready to go by the time I get the call.  All I have to do then, is simply place the bags outside on my front doorstep, label them for donation, and away the clutter goes!  I feel good because I am helping in way of a donation and I also get rid of unwanted items in our home.

Another tip I have learned, is if I buy a new article of clothing, I have to get rid of one or two items that I no longer enjoy or wear. 

A decluttered home makes me happy.  It's the simplicity and order that I crave.  What makes you happy?

Cheers!
~Angela