The “golden rule” when it comes to getting rid of clutter is take out as much as you bring in. While it’s not really possible to do so precisely, it’s a good goal to shoot for. After Christmas is the perfect time to work on this strategy. It’s also a great time to teach it to your kids, and they will thank you later.
Even if you organized and purged ahead of time, there are probably some things you can still part with. Around here, there are many. While it may take a little more effort to convince the kiddos, it is still do-able. That Happy Meal toy has nothin’ on the new Game Boy that was under the tree. Sometimes, a trade off like that is the best way to get started.
The same is true of clothes as well. Replace old items with new ones that were received for Christmas and either find another use for the fabric they’re made of, hand them down to the next sibling if needed, or donate them (if another sibling gets them, remove that number of old items from his or her wardrobe if possible).
Sometimes, it’s not possible, especially if you’ve recently purged. For example, you may be in the process of rebuilding a wardrobe for your child. My youngest is between sizes and it’s very hard to find things that fit. I have already rid her drawers of all the items that are too small. Every item she has at the moment are things that fit, so I won’t be purging as I purchase with her stuff for a while.
I may just move onto another area and do extra purging there. I noticed that a few of our older towels and quite worn, and I think they will soon be cut up and moved to the ragbag.
If you’re picking up new Christmas decorations or ornaments at the after Christmas sales, get rid of some of the old stuff when you bring home new ones. The more we make taking stuff out and we bring stuff in into a habit, the fewer items will have around to become clutter that we have to deal with later.
Organize your Thoughts to Organize your Home
Kid’s Clutter: Making Room for Birthday or Holiday Gifts
Top Five Tips for Keeping Clutter in Check
More Tips to Limit Clutter
Clean up the Hall or Entryway in Style
Use Kitchen Cabinet Doors to get more Organized