Office Closets

What is the best method for decluttering your home?

We are moving in a few months and I want to get rid of every unnecessary thing! I also plan to have one garage sale. Any suggestions? I just don't even know where to start or how!

Public Comments

1. I hate cleaning the house because we have sooo much stuff. Honestly I don't even know where some of the things came from. What I find helpful though is to just pick a room and start from there. Just do one room at a time.
2. Don't price your items too high. Remember, people who go to garage sales are looking for a deal, not junk. Be prepared to sell your stuff cheap. I was surprised at how much I had to sell at .50 or a dollar. I had a new knee board that was never used and paid $88.00 for, I never sold it until I marked it as $5.00.
3. First bit of info I would give you is....NEVER get rid of anything without first getting it okeyed by your wife!!!! 2) Go thru each room. Anything you haven't worn or used in the past year is a good bet to get rid of. 3) Before anything goes into the yard sale, make sure it's not something of great value, like grandma's silver or china. 4) Also you need to put realistic prices on things. Most of this stuff cost you a bundle, so why sell it for a buck. Give it to a friend or relative before you do that. 5) Did you stash any cash or insurance policies or car pink slip in a shoe box, or under the mattress? Look everywhere for important stuff and set it aside BEFORE you look for yard sale stuff.
4. Pick a room and start with it. Take a box and garbage bag in. Go through the room and toss anything that doesn't fit, is too worn to wear, is broken or missing parts, that you won't read again, that you really never liked much anyway, that you never used much, that has been outdated like your old 8 track player. Real rubbish in the bag, sellable stuff in the box, charity giveaways in another box. Move on to next room, etc.
5. Get some boxes & label them for each room (ie kitchen, LR, bath, etc) & also one for trash, charity, garage sale, etc. As you clean out each room decide which box the objects should go in. Take more care in packing the "keep" items as you pack them. Start packing "keep" items that you may not need everyday, so that you pack a little each day, so as not to have a lot to pack on moving day. Rule of thumb: If you ahven;t used it in a year, then get rid of it.
6. Have a friend help you !! you WILL toss more because they are there!! I have a tiny condo and I have crap I don't know were came from !! She helped me toss lots of stuff that I probably would have tried to keep. Good luck !!!