You don’t realize how much clutter can accumulate in the span of a year! We have lived in our house for almost four and a half years now, and I try to make a habit of going through our closets and cupboards semi-annually. But with two little ones, many hidden spaces have become dumping grounds for forgotten and no longer used household items.
Today, I went through every closet, drawer, cupboard and the pantry. It took about two hours, but I managed to organize and sort through almost everything while Nova napped, and Jaiden colored, ate lunch, and played on his own. So, what tips do I have to stay organized when you have limited time?
Tip #1: Find an organization system that works for your home.
For our pantry, I picked up some organizing trays and sorted the food into different categories: baking supplies, kids food and snacks, cooking liquids (olive oil, etc.), snacks, tea, and miscellaneous. This will help us stay organized weekly, even after a grocery shop, because everything has it’s place. As well, it will be easier for me to see what is needed for the week ahead.
Tip #2: Sort your items into piles (i.e. old, new, hardly used)
Next, I went through our linen closet. The amount of blankets, old sheets, and random assortment of undesirable items was a bit overwhelming. I sorted our towels, and went through all of the blankets and sheets, dividing them into three piles: old, new, and hardly used. I sorted accordingly and put them into baskets to help organize the space. I then went through our miscellaneous items and divided them into two piles: keep, and throw out. The ones I did keep, I found a new drawer for in the kitchen and organized.
Tip #3: Check the dates and labels on products.
Next, I tackled our bathroom cupboards. The first thing I noticed was a lot of duplicate products because many were tucked in behind others and simply forgotten. I went through the labels and dates of the products and threw out the old and unusable. By getting rid of the clutter, I was able to organize the items into categories to help stay organized going forward.
Tip #4: Even if a space looks clean, there is probably dirt and grime beneath. Take all items out and wipe down the space semi-annually.
The kitchen cupboards were fairly organized and clean because I went through them in December. However, the cupboards above the stove and fridge desperately needed to be wiped down. I took all items out and cleaned the space, before putting everything back.
Tip #5: Sort through your closet annually (or every season if you have kids). Make piles to donate, sell, or give to someone you know.
Every season, I go through the kids closets to see what they have outgrown and what is needed (if anything). In the fall, I went through our primary closet and dresser. I managed to fill six bags full with clothes to donate! It cleared up a lot of space and refreshed the look of our closet.
Tip #6: If you forgot you had an item, you probably don’t need it!
Finally, I organized our shoes and coat closet by our entranceway. There were many shoes that were worn, torn and some that I had forgotten we had! We have two shoe racks (one in the garage for our frequently worn shoes, and one in our closet for newer/rarely used shoes). As for the coats, there weren’t any that needed to be rehomed.
The organization took some time, but it feels good to declutter and clean a space. Hopefully these places remain clutter free – but who am I kidding, when you have kids, it sometimes feels like an impossible task.