Create A Family Giggle Log  
In 2013, coincidentally, the same year that I started Clean & Clutter Free, Family Fun Magazine published our family’s idea to create what we call a "Family Giggle Log" (August Issue).  It was so mind blowing, and a tad bit unsettling that we could to go to Walmart and find our family’s photo in the latest Family Fun magazine.  

If you have young ones, I want to past this idea along to you. I know these years are busy, but it is during these all too fleeting years, starting around age 2 or 3 that our little charmers say and do things that capture our hearts and make us smile and laugh. I would give anything to live just one day with my children at age 3 again.  Nature’s ingenious way of ensuring that we don’t leave our troublesome, tantrum throwing toddlers on someone else’s doorstep, is that they are adorably sweet and funny all the while messing up a whole house faster than a tornado can roll through it.  It is during these years that our young ones see things with fresh eyes and ears, so innocent and genuine.  They never sugar coat the truth before it comes out of their mouths so what we hear is often interesting and  sometimes embarrassing.  This stage does not last long though, by about age 5 or 6, it starts to dissolve as their more mature intellect begins to develop. 
 
When our girls were young, my husband and I got into the habit of jotting down things that our girls would say that would make us laugh.  We correctly predicted that neither of us would have a keen enough memory to remember every funny or sweet thing they did or said, so we managed to form a habit of getting something down on paper when these moments occurred.  We had a notebook that we called our “Family Giggle Log”.  The entries were messy and short because we did not have a lot of time, but thanks to this little notebook, we captured memories that would have been long forgotten.  Now that our girls are well into their teenage years, they still enjoy our occasional recaps of the past as much as we do.  As predicted, out not only did I forget half the things my girls did when they were young but I can’t even keep straight which one did the things I do remember!  For this reason, I am ever grateful for the memories that we did catch before they slipped through our fingers like sand.   The following are a few of our favorite inserts from our Family Giggle Log hopefully they will make you smile too:  
 
Maddie –
“Mommy what is an earthquake?”  Me – “That is when the earth shakes around for a little while.”
Maddie - “Do you go upside down?”

Dad was at the park with the girls, and Maddie was hanging from the monkey bars...
Dad - "Be careful Maddie"
​Maddie -  “Dad!  You’re bothering my attitude!”

Cassie –
“Mommy, Why do women where bras?”
Me – “Oh just to give some extra support.” (I know this was a lame explanation but I couldn’t think of a better answer at the time).
Cassie - “Is it because bras help make men’s love you more?”
 
Cassie shared a story she wrote at school with  her dad....
Dad – Wow, good job, you really like to learn don’t you? 
Cassie – “Actually, I just like to impress people”.
 
Emily –
"Mommy,  if I throw my booger into the fire will it explode?”
 
“If I put on a whole bunch of clothes, to you think I could live inside the refrigerator?"

And one more from Emily because she was extra inquisitive...
“If everyone in the world blew on my finger at the same time would it fall off?” 
 
I have already managed to copy many of Maddie’s Giggle Log entries into a scrapbook that I created for her when she graduated, and I plan to do the same for the younger two when I get around to making their scrapbooks...hopefully before they graduate.  For me, capturing our young children’s special moments in photos and in written form, through journaling, letters and stories, holds greater power to take our family back to this precious time than other kinds physical keepsakes, so I limit keeping larger keepsakes like art work and projects.  Words and photos take up much less room in our home and I just take photos of the rest.

Having lived through raising my own children, the best advice I can give to young parents is this;  The most special memories made are the ones that they hold in their hearts as the years go by. For us, surprisingly they were not the times that we went to Chuckie Cheeses, instead it was the times that we did seemingly silly things together like having a picnic in the basement on a cold winter day that they seem to remember and cherish the most.  So while it is good to try to capture some your child's memories when you can, ideally through photos, videos and written words, don't get so caught up in taking photos and such, that you miss out on being fully present during those precious moments as they rapidly roll by.



Written By Laura Coufal
Clean & Clutter Free Professional Organizing Services

I actually have become an organized person out of necessity, due to my ADHD and the fact that I have a low tolerance for juggling tasks and remembering things. I get flustered easily, and my short attention span makes me forgetful and flighty. I need to keep things really simple for myself in order to keep all my ducks in a row, lest I forget a duck. When I was in college and living with several roommates they found it quite amusing to tease me about the fact that I could not leave our dorm room without returning at least once to grab whatever I forgot. My car keys, purse, books, sometimes I had to return twice...it was embarrassing.

I learned early on that everything in my life needs to have a permanent home in order for me to keep track of things. Though my home is not perfectly organized all of the time, we can keep it looking fairly presentable without much effort simply because we have less stuff and everything has a home.  In addition to having a home for everything, like items are stored together.  That’s pretty much it, it is a simple system; Less stuff, everything has a place, like items together.  Since everyone in my family knows where everything belongs, things are usually put back when we are done using them.  Nobody does this perfectly either, and as you might guess, some family members are better at it than others. But we have established the habit of doing it most of the time, which goes a long way in maintaining order overall.

I like to get things done with the least amount of effort possible, so when complicated tasks are presented to me, my mind automatically starts figuring out how to simplify the job at hand.  This comes in handy when getting things done. I'm always looking for ways to consolidate errands, or save a step when cleaning. I much prefer simple organizational systems to complicated ones because they are easier to maintain and use. When it comes to my schedule, I keep that as simple as possible too.  This may mean having to say no when I am asked to take on too much, but it is important that I do this for the sake of my sanity since I get overwhelmed so easily.  I limit my involvement to the things that are most important to me, keeping my priorities in check, like family time.

I don’t spend a lot of energy fussing over and making sure everything is in perfect order at home. I do make a strong effort to frequently get rid of things that we are no longer using, and this is really the biggest secret to staying on top of keeping order in our house. Being organized has less to do with trying to achieve perfection, and more to do with keeping things simple, lightening the load, and establishing and sticking to helpful habits and routines. We should always ask ourselves the same question when we are overwhelmed with household tasks, with staying organized or with adding things to our calendar; How can I make this easier for myself so that I can minimize my stress and feel more peaceful at  home? 

Written By Laura Coufal
Clean & Clutter Free Professional Organizing Services
 

​Back when my kids were still in grade school, we were hustling through our morning routine, when my daughter Emily came running to me. She announced that she could not find her school uniform jumper. I calmly ensured her that it was hanging in the laundry room, clean and ready to be put on. “It’s not there Mom!”She barked back.  I was confident that it was there so I told her to look again, sure that she would find it.  But of course, she didn’t find it, so with a sigh; I trudged into to the laundry room to retrieve it myself.  When I got there, I could not find it either, and I could feel anxiety and frustration boiling up inside me.  Now I was the one going into crisis mode.  We had to leave for school in 10 minutes; and it was going to be 95 degrees that day so wearing her hot pants were out of the question.

I knew for sure that it was hanging there yesterday…yet it had vanished mysteriously.  I ran around the house frantically looking for the jumper.  After 10 minutes of frenzied searching, my older daughter Maddie, was the one who happened to take notice of what my youngest one was wearing, Cassie, who was 6 had gotten dressed and was indeed ready to go, but her school jumper, which was supposed to go to her knees, nearly reached her ankles.  The mystery had been solved, and I laughed at myself for being so busy panicking that I hadn’t even noticed her. Jumpers were quickly traded and we piled into the car, arriving to school without a minute to spare.

Once the crisis had past, the whole event turned out to be quite amusing. Though, big picture, this was not a large issue, it still managed to derail our morning.  This is a perfect example of how one little mishap can turn a normal calm morning sour and stress levels can escalate in a heartbeat. We thought we had everything planned and ready to go, but still, unexpected chaos found its way into our home that morning.  If you are a parent, you know exactly what I mean, craziness can happen without warning.  It seems that these occasional crisis’s are simply part of family life and while we can’t avoid these roller coaster moments entirely, having helpful organizational routines in place for staying on top of things can go a long way to help us feel more in control when the unexpected does occur.  Routines give us a sense of security and predictability that bring us comfort.  They also help us to get more done and forget less.

Planning Sessions for Moms
One especially useful routine for minimizing family chaos, is scheduling a 20-30 minute planning session for yourself at the beginning of each week.  You can greatly reduce the day to day stress of managing a busy family and feel more in control by doing this one thing. I do mine on Mondays, but they can be done anytime that works best for you. If we dive into each week without taking the time to plan ahead, everything comes at us without warning and we feel like we are simply managing one crisis after another.
 
Use a weekly planning session to examine your calendar and make sure that you are prepared for each of the week’s upcoming activities and appointments. Add things like errands, household chores, meetings and phone calls to ensure that they will get done. This will help you to catch things that may have been overlooked, like two conflicting appointments or the fact that your daughter has her first soccer practice this week and still needs soccer cleats. Make a to-do list for any other tasks that need to get done as well.  You can also use this time to plan out your family’s meals for the week and make a quick grocery list for the items you need to pick up from the store.  By doing this, you should only need to visit the grocery store once a week, which will save you time. This planning session can also be used to make out a weekly chore chart for your kids and pay any bills that are due. 

If you can include a planning session in your weekly routine and stick with it, you will feel more prepared and in control on a daily basis. You will also get more done. More importantly, you will reduce the potential for any unexpected chaos that may be looming ahead.  Instill a little much needed peace into your family’s busy week and add weekly planning sessions to your calendar. 

Written By Laura Coufal
Clean & Clutter Free Professional Organizing Services

Mental health is partly controlled by our genetics and partly by our environment. While counseling can help you manage stress and anxiety, you can also take measures at home to keep things cool and calm so you have a place of respite from whatever ails you.
 
Here are a few tips to help you keep a clean house and create a calming space.
 
Cut the clutter. If your decorating style can best be described as “junk drawer chic,” you might want to reconsider the amount of stuff you keep in your home. As the Huffington Post explains, clutter can actually ruin your life. Not only can it increase your stress levels, but having a cluttered house can wreck your diet and make your home anything but a safe haven. Spend an afternoon purging your countertops and cabinets of things you really don’t need, and only keep those items you can’t live without.
 
Simplify your cleaning routine. After the clutter is under control, keep things clean by streamlining chores. Dust, mop, and vacuum all rooms at the same time to avoid having to get your cleaning tools in and out of the utility closet. And don’t forget neglected areas, such as the walls and baseboards, behind the appliances, and inside the kitchen cabinets. Angie’s List also suggests dusting the ceiling fan and above the kitchen cabinets, which will reduce allergens in the air.
 
Insist on assistance. If you live in a home with more than one person, more than one person should handle the cooking, cleaning, and home maintenance. Assign specific chores to each member of your household. Even something as simple as having your kids put the dishes away or fold the laundry will help keep your home clean and free up valuable time for you to focus your attention on self-care. Your family—or roommates—will no doubt offer up excuses as to why they can’t help out. Be ready with a counter argument and available to offer instructions on how to get things done. And remember, teaching your children how to care for a household puts them in greater position to manage their own homes as young adults.
 
Learn to love lists. The human brain is hardwired to like lists. Not only do lists help you keep track of what you have—and haven’t—done, keeping a list of daily, weekly, and monthly household chores can help you remain focused. Creating lists helps bring order to the chaos, and that can lower your stress levels. Keep separate lists for each room in the home and make sure they are visible. Another benefit of listmaking is that it gives you a mental boost when you see tasks being marked off.
 
Don’t forget the outdoors. You don’t want to relax inside all year, so it’s a good idea to focus on the exterior of your home as well. There are a few simple tricks to make sure your outdoor spaces remain maintained season to season. Start by clearing debris out of the yard at least once a week. Once leaves begin to fall, rake them onto tarps for mulching or composting instead of allowing them to pile up and mold throughout the winter. Bob Vila offers more tips on simple outdoor maintenance tasks. Don’t forget to set up a cozy spot with a hammock or lounge chair where you can relax and enjoy the outdoors.
 
Once you have your cleaning routine down, consider changing your spaces to best accommodate your interests. For instance, if you like to read, carve out a corner of a room where you can cozy up with a good book, or rearrange your kitchen to free up counter space for baking. Whatever you decide, make it something just for you, and keep it neat and tidy.

Guest Blog Written By Alice Robertson
alice@tidyhome.info

DEAR YOUNGER ME....
A warning to young families from an empty nester:

​DO NOT PUT OF UNTIL TOMORROW, WHAT CAN BE DONE TODAY:
​Earlier this year, I spent several days in the basement of a client, wanting to get her home ready for a future move. We were about two days in, with seemingly a long road ahead, when she sighed heavily and called out her warning to me. “Whatever you do” she said, “Do not wait forever to go through your stuff and get rid of it like I did!” Her large storage room was packed with the all of the beloved and not so beloved things of yesteryear.  Her three adult children had moved out years ago.  We had sorted piles of kids keepsakes, stuff to donate, stuff to give to her children, stuff to sell and stuff to keep.  She told me that if she only could have known when she was younger what a burden all of her stuff would become, she would have none a better job of dealing with it then rather than letting it build up. 

AVOID STOCKING UP ON BARGINS:
“Better yet”, she said, “If I would have known better, I would not have collected half this stuff in the first place.” She pinpointed one of her downfalls to be stocking up on sale items that she couldn’t pass up because they were bargains.  She loved to entertain, and in her head, she wanted to be ready for future parties and celebrations.  She also wanted to be ready to decorate for upcoming holidays.  As it turned out, many of those “great deals” ended up being a waste of money because she never got around to actually using the supplies. 
 
THE LONGER YOU WAIT, THE BIGGER THE BURDEN:
Of course this wasn’t the only thing taking up space in her storage room, it simply added to the ever growing pile. She had accumulated a mountain of stuff that fell into the ambiguous category of “No longer treasures, but not yet trash”. Including old furniture, home décor and framed photos that no longer merited a place upstairs. As the years went by, her storage room became a graveyard of things forgotten from yesterday. I reassured her that her situation was not at all uncommon, many families struggle with the same issue, especially if they have lived in the same home for many years. I commended her for making the decision to deal with it now.  She easily could have put it off for another 10 or 20 years. Because this job is a physically and emotionally demanding one, it’s best not to wait until we are 90 to tackle our storage room buildup.  I also reminded her that some people leave the job undone forever, placing a giant burden on their adult children.

DECIDE TO DECIDE:
My client does make a very good point though and young families can benefit from not shrugging off her warning. Much of the stuff we store in our storage rooms ultimately represents indecision, and it is tempting to put off all of those difficult decisions until tomorrow.  My client suggests that you “Make it your goal to thoroughly go through your clutter well before the last child leaves home”. “Deal with clutter when you see that it is starting to build up.” she says. 

LIMIT KIDS KEEPSAKES:
What I have learned from years of organizing is that adult children want only a manageable amount of childhood memories, not a museum of their past.  A couple of keepsake boxes and handful of photo albums per child is sufficient. You would be surprised at how many of my clients are holding on to multiple boxes of keepsakes that their children don’t even want.
 
Take the following 5 steps to prevent storage room buildup:

1. Always have a donate box available for your family to drop things into and make sure everyone knows where it is kept at all times. Write DONATE on the side of the box for clarity.
2. Set up a twice yearly routine to go through your storage room and get rid of the things you are no longer using.  There is a constant influx of new stuff coming into our homes each year, make sure the same amount is going out.  
3. Force yourself to make those tough decisions now rather than later.  Be realistic, if an item has lost its shine or is not really useful anymore; be open to letting it go NOW. 
4. Only stock up on non perishable essentials like toilet paper and paper towels.  Avoid stocking up on things that, “you might use someday,” but have no immediate need for in the near future.
5. Limit keepsakes by going through them regularly. Be selective about what items you keep and take photos of the rest.  

By taking away a bit of wisdom from my client and becoming more vigilant of what you park in your storage room today, you can save yourself the pain of having to face an overwhelming mountain of clutter tomorrow. 

Written By Laura Coufal
Owner: Clean & Clutter Free
Consultant, Clutter Coach 

Next week, my daughter begins her second year of college, so in honor of this big event, I have reposted my tips and suggestions for organizing college dorm rooms from last year. 

PLAN AHEAD FOR FURNITURE AND DECOR
If you know ahead of time who you are going to be rooming with, talk with your future roommate in advance to avoid duplication of larger items such as furniture, television, microwave etc.  You could also discuss decorating, and come up with a style or theme together so that your décor doesn’t clash with what your roommate brings to the room.

SPACE PLAN
Measure the spaces in your dorm room and take photos to ensure that everything you are bringing will fit into the spaces available.  Try rearranging the existing furniture or stacking the beds to create more space.

ESTABLISH ZONES WITHIN YOUR COLLEGE DORM ROOM
If possible, create small areas for different activities such as studying, sleeping, entertainment and eating. Store everything that you need for each activity in their assigned zones. For example, for studying, create a place to store pens, pencils, highlighters, a comfy pillow, portable light, glasses, etc. so that you will have everything you need at your fingertips when it is time to study. 

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY INCH OF STORAGE SPACE
Bed risers and under the bed storage bins are a great way to utilize the space underneath your bed for extra storage space. Add storage cubicles to the bottom of your closet if you are short on shelf storage. Over the door pocket organizers, are great for extra closet and bathroom storage.

STORE IN-SEASON CLOTHING ONLY
Bring only your summer and fall clothes to school until cooler weather arrives.  Take your summer clothes home with you and bring back your winter clothing as the weather changes. You will free up much needed space in your closet if you only store the clothing suited for the current season.

MAKE USE OF HANDY ORGANAZING PRODUCTS
Stackable storage cubes are perfect for college dorm rooms because they not only to give you extra storage space, but can also double as night stands or end tables. 3M command hooks are handy for hanging purses, coats, robes etc., and they can be placed anywhere without causing damage to the wall. Inexpensive plastic portable drawer systems can be placed in your closet for extra drawer space. 

USE A CHECKLIST TO ENSURE THAT YOU DON'T FORGET ANYTHING
Visit the following website to print off a checklist of recommended necessities to bring along with you to your college dorm room: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/making-a-decision/off-to-college-checklist. Knowing what to bring will not only ensure that nothing essential is left behind, but will help you to avoid bringing items that you don’t need, that ultimately end up cluttering up your small space.  This list is exhaustive, so you won't need to bring everything on the list, think about what you really need and only bring what you will use.  You may also be able to share some of these items with your roommate which will save on space.

BONUS
For savings on technology that will help keep you organized and informed, follow the link below:
https://www.allconnect.com/blog/student-internet-deals-and-tech-discounts-for-fall/

Many people frantically spend hours each week moving items from one place to the next in the hopes that it will “help” them be more organized. Others will carefully clean one room only to find that in doing so they have cluttered another. Some will label boxes and meticulously find spots for their items to go. Few know what to prioritize when de-cluttering and organizing. Most people become frustrated and give up after several failed attempts. Their homes and workspaces remain busy, cluttered, disappointing. This can lead to many things, including unhappiness, increased stress, and loss of time searching. According to a study conducted by a Boston marketing firm, the average American burns 55 minutes a day looking for things they know they own but cannot find.
 
Why Most People Make Mistakes
What is the reason so many of us are incapable of finding effective methods to organize our spaces? Why is it some people have the perfect set up, void of any clutter, and others appear to be close to hoarding? Why do so many find themselves confused and incapable of knowing where to begin when cleaning? The reason is simple. Most people are not able to clean and maintain organization simply because they never formed the habit of doing so.

What You Need to Do
Here’s a little known fact: Harris Interactive reports that 23% of adults say they pay bills late (and incur fees) because they lose them. As we read that statement, we begin to understand the importance of remaining clutter-free! Can you imagine the amount of money that could be saved if those late bills were visibly in sight, or placed in a reliable location?
The solution is obvious, we need to form a habit of organizing, and staying organized! This means effective strategies must be implemented.

Establish A Pattern
Consistency is key in establishing an organized, efficient home. Set up a time every week where you will clean/de-clutter your home. If you are a relatively clean person, perhaps you only need to spend 30-60 minutes each week cleaning. The National Soap and Detergent Association believes getting rid of clutter would eliminate 40 percent of the housework in the average home. If you have a lot of clutter and misplaced items, perhaps you should set aside more time, multiple times a week, until you reach a point where everything has a place and you are simply focusing on the weekly tasks.

Establish A System
Having a system in place is critical to an organized home. Everything needs a place, whether it’s in the trash, on the shelf, on a desk or in a box. Doing so helps:

1. Save time and,
2. Reduce stress

If you don’t have an effective system in place, and are looking for some inspiration, check out some before and after pics on Pinterest! 
 
Don’t Put It Off
Organizing isn’t a once a year event. It truly is a lifetime habit. The benefits that come from an organized home are increased happiness and decreased stress. By applying consistency in your life, you will find the results you want.
Every now and then we may be tempted to simply leave the task for a later date. We may try to convince ourselves that the house is “clean enough” and that we have other priorities that take precedence. When we do so, we are simply forming another habit. And unlike the habit of cleaning and organizing, this one is much easier to obtain and hold onto.

Be Ruthlessly Diligent!
Be diligent in your efforts. You deserve a clutter-free home, an organized desk, a clean environment. Don’t settle for anything less! Do yourself, your family, and your friends all a favor: be diligent, stay organized, and clean! You don’t know the wonders it will do to your life!

 Written By Matthew Adams
 Classic Garage Solutions

I often find myself helping others either with preparing for a move, or with unpacking and organizing once they have moved into their new home.  But in late February, I moved myself, and was surprised at how much I learned since this time it was my own stuff that I was dealing with. 

We See What We Are and Aren’t Really Using
Our move has made me think of Ryan Nicodemus of The Minimalists. When Ryan first made the decision to downsize and join his friend Josh in the quest to live life significantly lighter and more simply, he packed every single thing he owned into boxes as if he were getting ready to move.  Then, he only unpacked belongings as he needed them.  After 6 weeks, he got rid of everything that was still in boxes.  When we move, we are essentially forced to do the same thing. Packing everything we own into boxes has the power to help us see what we are and aren’t really using.  In Ryan’s case, he had so much stuff that he realized he only really used about 20 percent of what he had. 

In my own move, what shocked me the most is that our family does fairly good job of regularly donating and getting rid of things, but we still discovered that we have a lot of unused stuff.  I unpacked our essentials, giving priority to the kitchen, bedroom closets and bathrooms like usual, then within the first week, I eventually removed everything else that we use from their boxes and assigned homes to it all.  Once that was done I was relieved to be able to get back to our busy life.  But I have to admit that like so many other families, after a month in a half, I still don’t have all of my boxes unpacked. We still have a bunch of boxes sitting in our storage room that have been all too easy to ignore.  
​
Those Leftover Boxes are Full of Hard Decisions
Why haven’t I tackled those boxes? Because we haven’t missed what’s in them one bit.  I can’t help but see the irony here, this is the same exact stuff that my clients desperately call me to help them with.  But in their case these same kinds of boxes have sometimes been sitting in their storage areas for years after they have moved.  They often can’t even remember what’s in them.  The stuff they haven’t used hogs all the storage or garage space in their homes.  There is more than one reason that we avoid these boxes; for one, in addition to not missing what's in them, other tasks on our to-do lists take priority, or maybe there’s no place to store what’s in the boxes because closets and cabinets are already full.  But the biggest reason those boxes don’t go away is this; they hold all that stuff that is so hard to deal with. The boxes often represent indecision.  Every single item requires a decision to be made.  Are we are ready to let it go?  Or out of guilt, do we think we need to keep it? What if we might need it someday?  And finally, if we are ready to let it go of it, how do we get rid of it?  Should it be donated, discarded or sold?

It Does Not Pay To Put Those Hard Decisions Off
It’s tempting to move onto everything else on our busy to-do lists and put these hard decisions on the back burner. But I know all too well that that’s not a good idea. Just because we are not missing whatever is in those boxes, doesn’t mean they deserve to take up space in our homes for years and weigh heavy on our minds. If you have a couple of boxes like these in your home, they may not bother you much, but if you have a whole room filled with them, I suggest you don’t put off dealing with them any longer.  And if you are paying for a storage unit, or unable to use your garage for parking your car, the indecision is costing you money or robbing you of convenience.  Decide once and for all to do the hard work of making these decisions and get yourself past them. Because it doesn’t pay to put it off, they will just steal your space and peace of mind.
 
Let Go of Everything That Has Been Singled Out as Unused
If you are in the process of a move, commit to unpacking every box now rather than later.  Take a critical eye to what you allow to stay and be selective. If you have more stuff than you have storage space for, consider letting go of the things that you really don’t use. If in the rare chance you end up needing something that you got rid of down the road, it can usually be easily replaced. Keep in mind that you likely won’t miss 99% of what you let go of. If you decide to keep something, get it out of that box and use or display it.  In the end, it will feel so good to get the job done.
 
Our move has forced us to take a closer look at what we really have, and separate what we use from what we don’t. But, at this point we have to follow through and let go of everything that has been singled out as unused. This weekend I have forced myself to get into my storage room and get through those boxes. Now I have a large pile items ready to be donated. My storage room is finally clean, but it was challenging even for me, because I was the one making the tough decisions about our own stuff this time. I have listed the steps that I took to get though my storage room boxes.  Feel free to use these steps as a guide to get you through your own storage space..
 
5 Easy Steps For Getting Through Your Own Boxes:

1. Get a garbage bag for trash and a few empty boxes for sorting. Label one box “Donate,” label another “Recycle.” Other boxes you may want to label are “To Sell” or “Give To (Enter your child’s or other family member’s name here)” Also label a box “Keep” for general items that need to be stored in another room in the house.  Wait until you are done to find homes for all of these items so that you don't get distracted.
   
   
2. Begin pulling items out of boxes and just sort all like items together into piles or boxes.Make obvious decisions to donate or discard immediately but if a decision is hard just put the given item into a sorted pile. Label sort piles/boxes with a sticky note, examples are:  “Keepsakes”, “Christmas”, “Photos”, “Camping”  etc.
   
   
3. Designate a location for items to be donated in an empty corner of your storage room or garage.Hopefully by the time you are done, you will have a large pile of stuff ready for you to take to the nearest charity.To make donating even easier, just call your local Salvation Army and they will pick everything up for you free of charge.
   
   
4. Once everything has been sorted into piles, then it’s time to make the tougher decisions, but having all like items together should help make those decisions easier. Be very selective about what you decide to keep and remember, these are the things that are here in boxes because you haven’t missed them.             
5. Once you have figured out what you are keeping, you can then decide how best to store it all. Be sure to use containers to keep the sorted categories together. The last and final step is to celebrate and congratulate yourself for getting the job done once and for all!