The Main Key Things

I've found that when I start a clean-out, it's important to jump in on days when I'm ready and revved up to declutter to my heart's content.

However, there's also some small - yet important - things to get straight before decluttering or organising within reach first; and I thought to write a post about it so everyone remembers this one well.

Donation Box is the most important thing to have nearby. It's gotta be big enough to hold the bagged-up clothes and small enough to not get in the way of your everyday life. And remember to label it so it doesn't get tossed out with your regular rubbish on bin day.

Rubbish Bags are the next thing you really need to be able to lay your hands on. Now, they don't have to be expensive, just useful. I use medium-sized purple rubbish liners from Coles which only cost me $2.50 for 100. So, that's a good thing. And the best thing is that I line the bins upstairs with them as well - because they're small enough for those liners. 

Plastic Boxes are great for when you want to store things away. I have quite a few of them around my house and have been quietly storing away things for when I move. So, when I do this, I also have a Sharpie to write on the box what is inside it; so when the day does come to move, we can see on the lid and on the side what's inside the box instead of opening it up.

Anti-Bacterial Wipes are great to have on hand for a few reasons. When you're decluttering, you're bound to come across areas where it's dusty and dirty; and giving those areas a quick wipe over with one of these is a fast way to clean up and keep the dust to a minimum - as well as your sneezing - until you get the vacuum to it as well. The second use for these is to clean your hands after a good hour or so of decluttering a dusty and dirty area of your house... these will clean your hands off until you get to wash them properly. And the best thing about these wipes is that they're not expensive - yep, you can buy the cheaper version of them anywhere and pay only half the price. 

Water And Food is another main key ingredient to keeping yourself focused on your few hours or whole day of decluttering. Make sure you are going to eat some great nutritious food - not fast food which will make you feel sluggish and thirsty. I find a nice home made meal always hits the spot and making sure you drink plenty of water will keep you from becoming dehydrated no matter what the weather; and it will help you take a breath and look around at what else you need to do as well. 

So, these are the main key things I find make that decluttering time around my place better and easier for me. How about you? Have you got any ideas which keep you focused? 

Rain

I find that when the weather turns against us, it's the best time to get in and do some serious cleaning. 

It's raining here in Queensland - and I mean it's really raining big! We're getting a few months' rain in 2 weeks; this mean big numbers on the rain gauges. But of course living in the sub-tropics, this isn't anything really. 

Over the past 7 years, I've seen some serious rain, and I've bought some great things to use when it does arrive - after all, I was brought up here in Brisbane, and we have had all kinds of weather, from huge heatwaves to sleet and almost snow to inch-thick ice on our windscreens. Yep, we've seen it all.

So, when Brisbane flooded way back in 2010-11, I went out and bought myself one of the most expensive clothes horses on the market from Howards Storage World. Believe me, I was happy I did that then and not now as the price of the thing has gone up! And what a great piece it is! I love it! I bought it for $125 (delivery included - so it was $109) and it's served me very well since then. 

However it's not just that which has helped me around the house during those dreadfully wet days. I've found that I do my best cleaning, vacuuming and decluttering when the weather is unfavourable outside. 

I know! That just sounds nutty, doesn't it? 

But it's true!

In the past few weeks, I've finally gotten my vinyl and cd collection indexed and sorted out the music I don't want in my collection too. I've also been able to just look at something and easily say: 'Nope, don't want that anymore.' Years ago, I used to hesitate in the worst possible way. Now, I've easily gone through a bag or two in half an hour and it's done! 

The rain also helps us vacuum the house better - yep, statistics are right on the button there! It's the lack of the dry weather outside which keeps the dust in our houses to a minimum... which is great if you're wanting to vacuum the house! So, the next time it's raining outside and you have the time to clean the house, get out the vacuum and run it over the carpets! Your nose will thank you later. 

Otherwise, here's your first Weekend Challenge:  Get a box and pull out everything from the drawer in your kitchen which has the toys/things you use in your cooking. Put them all in that box. Clean that drawer completely and properly, and then over the next month, only put back what you really use. Whatever's in that box by mid-November, you don't really need. Or if they are things you rarely use, put them into zip-lock bags and put them away so you can lay your hands on them at the right times.