"Opened Box" by Michal Zacharzewski - http://www.sxc.hu/profile/mzacha

Having seen one too many over-cluttered homes I'm less inclined to keep extra stuff around.

That extra stuff can soon become a full closet, a garage space or a cram-packed "crafts" room.

Do any of you have tips for keeping clutter to a minimum?

Check out the suggestions by Zen Habits, in their article, "18 Five Minute Decluttering Tips".

I'm going to tackle one of them, the "Maybe Box".

In every spring cleaning you're left with the borderline tossables. These are the items that you can't see yourself throwing away just yet. They include those just-in-case items that you can't bring yourself to throw away. Here's what to do:

  • Place these items in a box.
  • Note the contents
  • Place the box in a secluded location.
  • Note the date on your calendar six months into the future.

When your six months are up revisit the box. Chances are you'll take a few items out or throw away the entire contents.

Do you have any additional decluttering tips? I'd love to hear them.

Before I go, take heart from this quote,

“Three Rules of Work:

Out of clutter find simplicity;

From discord find harmony;

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” 

Albert Einstein 

 
Posted by Chuck Willman, Arizona Realtor®, ABR, TRC on 04/05/2008 03:29 PM   Comments (4)    
Post is included in group: Almost Anything Goes

4 Comments on De-Clutter Tip: The "Maybe Box"

I like to ask myself, "Is this something I could replace, if down the road I find I can't live without it?"  The answer is usually yes, so I donate it or just toss it out.  I don't think I have ever missed anything so bad that I had to go buy it again!  Now when I want to buy something, I ask myself, "Can I live without it?" Most of the time it is another yes!

04/05/2008 03:42 PM by Amy Prouty, Prouty Home Staging, Brush Prairie, WA (Prouty Home Staging)

Amy- The more I live the more I realize how little I actually need.

04/06/2008 02:14 PM by Chuck Willman, Arizona Realtor®, ABR, TRC (Gentry Realty)

Great post...I have never been one to hold on to things...I hate cleaning it up so I would rather not have it but it is the paper clutter that drives me crazy. I read everything that I can find and have a hard time throwing out magazines, books, mail, etc...once I get that done I am ok!

04/16/2008 07:51 AM by Misty Thomas, Realtor Crosby, TX (Alliance Properties)

Misty- we're in the same boat! What I've begun doing is detaching individual articles from magazine to file away. Then I toss the rest. If the magazine has an online equivalent I'll bookmark that instead ... I keep a tidy searchable bookmark/folder system that serves me well. With regard to books I've been a member of audible for a few years. That way I have digital versions (audio books) that I can refer back to... so I'm able to listen to books on my way to the far flung locations.

Regarding bookshelf decluttering... Real Simple has a great article.

04/16/2008 11:45 AM by Chuck Willman, Arizona Realtor®, ABR, TRC (Gentry Realty)

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Real Estate Agent: Chuck Willman, Arizona Realtor®, ABR, TRC (Gentry Realty)
Chuck Willman, Arizona Realtor®, ABR, TRC
Phoenix, AZ
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