If you follow along on Instagram, then you know that for the month of January I did a 31 Day Purge. It was small areas of our home, once a day, for the whole month. And it was easy and rewarding to have to only do a small space each day and it only took a few minutes. It was a fun challenge that can be done at any time and not just for the month of January. (post contains affiliate links, see disclosure)
Of course, everyone’s list is going to be a little different depending on your needs and how your home is organized. For example, our laundry room contains four drawers that get cluttered pretty quickly. So, organizing the laundry room is on my list. But in your home, those junk drawers might be in the kitchen, the office, or somewhere else. However, the organization tips for each space can apply anywhere.
31 DAY PURGE
HOLIDAY DECOR
- lay it all out
- decided what to donate
- organize remaining by season or holiday
- pack up the items your keeping and store away until next season
CLOSET
- take ALL the clothing out of the closet and lay it out
- remove items you haven’t worn in the last six months (in season)
- keep only the items that fit, are good quality, and are your absolute favorite
DRAWERS
- remove any t-shirts, tank tops, socks, intimates, etc that you haven’t worn in the last six weeks
- keep the items that are good quality
- remember these items can easily be replaced when needed
SHOES
- if you haven’t worn them in the last 6 months, get rid of them
- only keep the ones for special occasions and the ones you wear daily/weekly basis
MAKE-UP
- toss expired items
- only keep the basics and items you wear on a daily basis
- organize by face, eyes, and lips
BATHROOM CABINETS
- toss old or expired items
- keep only the necessities
- make a list of times that need to be restocked
- organize by groups
LINENS
- pull everything out
- donate what you don’t use
- organize sheet sets together
- use space-saving bags for larger items
- use containers to store smaller items like extra pillowcases or keepsakes
TV STORAGE/CORDS
- remove broken or unused items
- use ties to keep cords wrapped up
- organize by item ( chargers, extension cords, HDMI, etc)
LAUNDRY ROOM / JUNK DRAWERS / ETC
- remove items you haven’t used in the last 6 weeks
- if it can be replaced for less than $15, get rid of it
- don’t keep anything you think you might use
ENTRY / DROP ZONES
- take everything out
- remove items that don’t belong
- use smaller bins or baskets to keep keys, sunglasses, etc organized
TOOLBOX / CRAFT SUPPLIES
- take everything out
- toss items that are broken or have missing pieces
- use Ziploc bags to keep smaller items together
DECOR STORAGE
- remove any seasonal pieces that need to be put away
- donate or sell unused items
- organize by season or groups of similar items
TOYS
- pull it all out
- donate items still in good condition
- toss broken toys
PANTRY
- pull it all out
- toss expired items
- organize by frequent use or tasks (baking, packing lunches, etc)
KITCHEN DRAWERS
- remove any broken or duplicate items
- organize each drawer by use (baking, flatware, cooking, serving, etc)
UPPER KITCHEN CABINETS
- remove any broken or duplicate items
- toss anything you haven’t used in the last 6 months
- organize most frequently used items towards the front
LOWER KITCHEN CABINETS
- remove any unused or broken items
- organize by group or task (pots, pans, baking, small appliances, etc)
- save the Tupperware for a separate day
TUPPERWARE
- remove any pieces with missing lids, cracks, stains, etc
- keep lids and containers together so you don’t lose them
- use the same brand or collection to make stacking and storing easier
MEDICINE
- toss expired items
- organize by group (cold medicine, allergies, etc)
CLEANING SUPPLIES
- organize by group (upholstery, room refreshers, kitchen, etc)
- restock missing items
- toss unwanted packaging
FRIDGE
- toss expired items
- clean off shelves and drawers
- make a list of items that need to be restocked
FREEZER
- toss expired items
- clean off shelves and drawers
- use plastic containers and toss boxed packaging that takes up too much space
- make a list of items that need to be restocked
OFFICE AREA
- toss the junk mail
- organize paperwork
- empty the paper shredder
STORAGE CLOSETS
- pull everything out
- create piles for keep, donate, and toss
- use shelves and clear boxes to keep everything contained
PHONE
- delete photos you don’t need or upload them to free up space
- delete apps you don’t use
- organize apps by groups, productivity, or colors
- delete emails you don’t need
- delete all the junk mail
- unsubscribe from the retail stores and sales emails
COMPUTER
- move files you don’t need to the trash
- organize remaining files into folders
- find a pretty desktop background
WALLET
- toss receipts and paper clutter
- go digital with rewards cards
- make it a priority to keep it organized
PURSE
- take it all out
- toss the trash and receipts
- use a purse organizer to keep everything in its place
- make it a priority to keep it clean
JEWELRY
- take it all out
- donate or sell what you no longer wear
- organize by type – rings, bracelets, etc
CAR
- toss the wrappers, bottles, trash, etc
- remove anything that doesn’t belong
- vacuum and wipe down the cup holders
CONCLUSION
Remember with all these items including shoes, clothing, etc. you can sell them online and make some pretty good money. But, if there is anything else or if stuff doesn’t sell, donate it to local organizations or shelters. Animal shelters always need extra blankets.
Don’t forget the digital clutter! To clarify that is phones, computers, email, etc that need to be cleaned out and organized periodically. It’s insane how quickly an email inbox can get full in one day. Then, unsubscribe to those annoying emails, so you don’t have to keep deleting them. After that, upload your photos to cloud storage or computer file to keep your phone clear.
It’s amazing how after my huge 10 days to an organized home challenge I did a few years ago, we still had so much stuff collected. Above all, having an organized home is something that needs to be a daily commitment, not just once a year or every few months. So, make it a priority to keep your home and life clutter-free!
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