Category — My Favorite Tips

The following tip is for your closet.  If you frequently read many of those “10 best clutter control tips for you closet” columns then you’ve heard this one over and over but it’s seriously one of the best de-cluttering rules and I use it frequently.  

If you haven’t worn an item in a year then get rid of it!

Apply this rule to clothes, shoes, accessories, any item that you wear.  You’ll really start to examine your shopping habits when you go through this exercise. You’ll be mad at yourself for the money wasted but it’s such a good lesson learned.  Little by little you’ll be a smarter shopper, purchasing items that work for your everyday life, fit you well, and suit your personal style.  

Some additional questions I run through my head when purging from my closet are:

• Is the fit good now or do I need to lose weight to feel comfortable wearing it. Gone!
• Would I take this item with me on vacation.  (Love this test, you usually take your favorite, most versatile items on a trip.  If you don’t like it enough to take on a trip then consider getting rid of it). 
• Do I have at least 2 or 3 other items I can pair with this item.  How often do you have that one weird colored shirt that you bought on sale at Loehmann’s, fits fine but you have absolutely nothing to wear it with…bye!

The following tip is something I just started to do and it’s been really effective. Just like the keyring holder, it’s such a simple idea (AND leads to a lot of decluttering).

Keep an empty box or bag available at all times in your house for donation items.

Usually when I decide to donate items I spend a bunch of time gathering up a lot of stuff around the house I don’t use regularly and decide whether to ebay, donate it, or start using it.

Now, when I see something in the house I really don’t need anymore and it’s in good shape, I just put it right in the box or bag and when it’s full I take it to the Goodwill. I just happen to have a Goodwill I can walk to which is SO handy but for the rest of you I suggest locating the nearest or most convenient location of a Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc and make that the one donation spot you always go. When your box or bag is full put it in the car and drop it off when you’re “out and about.”

photo credit

I’m going to share one of my favorite simplicity tips that I learned from Real Simple magazine years ago and still follow today.

Buy all white towels for kitchen and bath

It’s such a simple idea but I love it! The article mentioned how hotels always stick to white towels because it makes washing so much easier and they can bleach them so they always look good. Real Simple made the suggestion to do this at home to cut back on laundry washing. You can wash everything together and use a little eco-friendly, non-chlorine bleach to keep it all bright.