Where to start?

**Ashley01** · 02-23-2011, 01:18 PM

I look at all these organizing decluttering simple living blogs and think I want that!! But where/how do I start. I really want to hire someone to come to it but I should be able to myself right? I live in an apartment, 2 bedrooms and another small room off the kitchen for toys. Then livingroom, dining room, kitchen, bathroom. It's a good size apartment but there's absolutely no storage space. No place fot Christmas decorations, for towels in the bathroom, no linen closet. There are two closets one on dds room and one in mine. I have 6 daycare children that are here durning the week and 3 of them have playpens. I have one set up all the time in my room. One on the toy room and the other folded up in the hallway. I have no space at all for them!! I need encouragement, a kick in the butt?? I need something lol how did you start? From 7-8 I'm chasing kids so I'm thinking I'll start with room 1 which will be my bedroom and spend at least 15 mins a night doing it. Does anyone have any tips for the play pens, or all the toys. Or anything at all!! Thank you!!

**moasmom** · 02-23-2011, 01:51 PM

Start small. Seriously. Start with your messiest drawer or cabinet. Don't even tackle a whole closet at first. The smaller the baby steps, the more you will actually accomplish. Good luck, you can do it!

Make 3 piles: throw away, give away/sell, keep. Then put the "keepers" away in a way that makes sense to you (everyone's "organized" is different). Repeat.

Kara

**Contrary Housewife** · 02-23-2011, 10:30 PM

Some of the basic steps for me were:

Have a 'clutter buddy' who is decluttering too. Support each other by talking about your progress and helping each other clean the garage (if you have one).

Get used to the idea of getting rid of old stuff you don't want, need or use. Often the hardest part is letting go.

Put a trash can in each room. This makes it much easier to get rid of clutter that would pile up because you can't be bothered to sort it and take it to the trashcan. If you have a bit of paper or trash, the garbage is at hand. I have a recycle bin right next to my front door, junk mail doesn't make it past that point.

Invest in storage solutions. This can be anything from new closet shelves to hooks for bath towels to stackable bins for vegetables.

**mndtrp** · 02-23-2011, 11:27 PM

Toys are easy. Get some cardboard boxes, put the toys in the boxes.

I don't know much about playpens, but can the two that are broken down be stored in the one left up each night? If not, use the empty playpens as storage for whatever the kids use each day.

As someone else said, keep / donate / toss. If it's easier, combine keep and donate for now, although it's better to go through things once and only once.

Utilize vertical space. Stack boxes in your closet. Get dressers. Put toys in the bottom drawers, other items in the top drawers.

Look into a storage unit. I had a large closet sized one that cost $15 a month. However, most of the items in the unit were being kept for a future house, since it would have cost me more to rebuy everything once I did get a house.

Take a long, hard look at what you own. Start with what looks easiest. Maybe the bathrooms, or kitchen.

**forHISglory** · 02-23-2011, 11:53 PM

Think "up". Consider all sorts of shelves. I would suggest taking a walk through a container type of store and just get ideas of what is available. You might be able to make some of your own containers to save money. Or look on-line at web sites that advertise storage solutions. Then use their ideas.

Here is something I did years ago when I had little space and little money:

I got some cardboard boxes that reams of paper come in. Schools and offices often have these to give away. The lids of these boxes slip on and off, instead of having a top that you have fold in. Then I bought some cheap spray paint and painted the boxes. This added not only a visual appeal, but also strengthened the cardboard. Next I built a simple shelving unit with odds and ends boards and bricks. I put the boxes on the shelves and used a sharpie to label the contents of each box. This made the organization very easy, and the boxes lasted for a very long time. In fact, we still use some of those boxes!!

**mauimagic** · 02-24-2011, 12:14 AM

some great advice already - the most important to me being to start small and be successful with the little things.

I laughed at the idea of spray painting paper boxes. When I drove across country to come to Hawaii in my friends VW bug, I painted one of those boxes just using a paint brush - bright red - for my cooking supplies (I camped out the whole way) - I am still using that box - the paint makes it really strong!!

Stop back here - daily or even more often - whatever works for you - and let us know what you're working on and how you're doing!!

**forHISglory** · 02-24-2011, 12:53 AM

MM: We have brush painted those boxes, too! Great way to use up bits and pieces of left over paint. For a really sturdy box, use a glossy paint that seems to resist water.

**Ashley01** · 02-24-2011, 07:03 AM

Thank you all so much!! I started with my dresser that had pilesn of clothes on it my tv and a bunch of odds and ends it's all put away! I also clean out all my drawers and closet, I now have a garbage bag full of clothes for a friends daughter, a basket to go to goodwill, a basket of dds stuff thats made it into my room and a bag of stuff to go back to my mom! I also cleaned off my make up stand and threw out anything old or empty! I feel like it's going to take awhile but doing small jobs here and there will get it done the right way and keep me motivated! I think my shelf that runs the length of my bedroom is next!!

**wjcalderon** · 02-24-2011, 09:01 AM

Do the playpens fold up easily? If so, go to Home Depot, Walmart, or a hardware store and get some large hooks to hang them on the walls. Maybe they would even fit behind a door this way??

For awhile in my sewing room, I had one of those large, heavy plastic utility shelves for supplies. To dress it up a little and hide the clutter, I installed cheap curtain rods to the top front (yes, you can screw them into plastic if it's not the hard, brittle plastic). Then I used flat sheets, cut to the right length for a curtain.

**heartofmine** · 02-24-2011, 10:46 AM

Way to go Ashley. A great start. Just keep it to one room until you have it completely cleaned before moving on to the next so you don't overwhelm yourself. Totes or sturdy boxes like others have mentioned (that can be stacked) to put things in you need to keep are wonderful. If you want to make them pretty you can paint them, use leftover wall paper or border to pretty them up. I love to do that to shoe boxes for smaller items. Toss or donate anything you don't need.

You said you have day care children so one thing I would suggest is not have large toys or toys that are really small with a lot of pieces because the big toys take up a lot of space and the little pieces are just a lot of clutter and hassle to keep up with. I'd toss or donate those things. Other toys...box up half of them and store away. Then in a month or 2 switch the stored with the ones you have out so the kids think they have all new toys to play with. Donate those toys that are not being played with at all.

Clothes...donate or toss any that no longer fit your child. For your clothes...keep out only those you wear now. Toss those that are ratty. Donate those you know you don't want. Box up those your are iffy about. In 6 months look back through them and then donate or keep.

Good luck. I'm cheering you on. I've been decluttering too getting ready for a move later this year when we get our house built. I don't want to have to move all this junk so its good motivation. LOL

**pollypurebred39** · 02-24-2011, 10:52 AM

I agree with the up. A lot of storage space is wasted by not going up. Those pop together shelves where you add on are great, and inexpensive at Lowse. They sell them as one unit, but if you buy three, you can have two really tall, sturdy shelves. The shelves are wide and hold a lot of weight. They could go in the toy room banking a wall.

Using painted cardboard boxes on those shelves to hold the toys would be ideal for a small budget. The play pens could even be folded up and stored on those shelves when not in use.

They only other storage tip that I can think of right now is those over the door shoe racks with pockets. Pockets like a shirt pocket, not a sideways pocket. I have one hanging on my door, it has clear plastic pockets. Instead of a junk drawer, I have a junk door! You can hang these on every door. The bathroom could have one for shampoo, soap, shaving cream, cotton balls, q-tips, etc. You're bedroom could have one for your make-up, jewelery, odds and ends. You could have one for all your home office stuff. My youngest had a shoe rack for shoes/hats/scarfs/mittens on one side of his door, and one for his treasures on the other side of his door.

Right now my oldest has a dollar store wreath hanger to hang his coat on one side of his door, along side of a dry erase board to communicate with each other. The other side of his door has the dollar store wreath hangers for his bath towel, bath robe. I am considering attaching a large wire basket to the bottom half of the door for his stuff that floats around here.

Oh, there's also over the door laundry bags which could hold laundry or any number of things, such as stuffed animals. A coat rack hung on the wall could be used for coats, or in the bathroom for towels. Ikea has shoe racks that fold up flat and can be hung on the wall. They do not have to hold shoes. In the kitchen or even the bath those three tiered, wired mesh, hanging baskets could hold any number of things.

Shoe Cabinets - Shoe storage in a choice of styles - IKEA

Oh, and another storage tip that works really well is those travel bags/or wardrobe bags. I hang in the closet and it's perfect for storing rolls of wrapping paper, ribbons, tape, etc.

**krbshappy71** · 02-24-2011, 11:02 AM

If your kiddos have Quiet Time with blankies and a tv show, grab a stack of papers, lay 2 children on the sofa with their blankies, sit in front of the sofa with a box of papers to sort in front of you. Have 3 folders "File....Toss....Act On" and sort quietly.

The children will enjoy having you close (possibly nod off) and you will be able to sort through the papers without feeling like you should be bustling around doing other things. Being in the room with them should help them stay in place compared to when you are bustling around cleaning and hoping they stay focused on the show.

If you have a couple children that might not lay down, you can ask them to sit on the floor next to you with "their" folder (whichever one you give them) and when you look at a paper, decide its "File" you hand it to that child. They will have to stay in place, they will feel like they are helping, and they will be quiet so the other ones on the sofa can rest.

I'm not saying do this all day with tv as a babysitter of course, just as a way to tackle something while still having some quiet time for yourself and them.

**Spirit Deer** · 02-24-2011, 12:24 PM

I would be very cautious about shelving if little kids are going to be around it. Tall shelves should be securely anchored to the wall so they cannot tip.

I love brick and board shelves but wouldn't use those where small kids could possibly pull them down. They're very heavy and would surely cause serious injury.

Love the idea of the hanging door pockets and also the wreath hangers for jackets.

It sounds like you're off to a great start. Just keep doing what you're doing and you'll get there *she says with envy.*

**Ashley01** · 02-24-2011, 12:52 PM

The playpens found up pretty easy but Id have to fold/unfold them everyday.. I like the idea of keeping toys in the one in the toy room tho! I think im going to start taking down the one in my bedroom for more space. I cleaned out a basket of papers, cut coupons, got rid off all expired, sorted out my tax papers and have it all organized now while the kids napped! I have 3 shelves in my closet in my bedroom but I went in and looked and there's a ton of space above it so im going to get my brother to put shelves above them! Then the blankets can come off the tubs on the floor! Im also doing little things to keep the place clean, making my bed once I get up, clearing everything off the table when were done using it.

I'm finding it the hardest to get rid of somethings my mom gave me wall hangings, small frames, little kink nacks. I mean I don't really like them i don't like having them out but she bought them for me... I feel bad getting rid of it. What would you do?

**krbshappy71** · 02-24-2011, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by Ashley01

The playpens found up pretty easy but Id have to fold/unfold them everyday.. I like the idea of keeping toys in the one in the toy room tho! I think im going to start taking down the one in my bedroom for more space. I cleaned out a basket of papers, cut coupons, got rid off all expired, sorted out my tax papers and have it all organized now while the kids napped! I have 3 shelves in my closet in my bedroom but I went in and looked and there's a ton of space above it so im going to get my brother to put shelves above them! Then the blankets can come off the tubs on the floor! Im also doing little things to keep the place clean, making my bed once I get up, clearing everything off the table when were done using it.

I'm finding it the hardest to get rid of somethings my mom gave me wall hangings, small frames, little kink nacks. I mean I don't really like them i don't like having them out but she bought them for me... I feel bad getting rid of it. What would you do?

For things that wont break your heart to get rid of, other than the fact they are from her, I would suggest taking a picture of them. Pictures take less space and the memory is still there of the gift. It still honors the gift without having to create a spot for it in the house. Then donate to a local charity to sell, her gift just helped someone else.