You’ve already done your initial SORT. The second part of the organizational process is to PURGE.
To purge is to free of something unwanted. The GOODBYE pile from your sort are all items to purge, however, you may need to go through your KEEP and RE-HOME piles with a more discriminating eye to better pare down the piles. Here are a few basic questions to help get through the process:
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Do I need this?
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Will I need this in a year?
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Have I used this in the last year?
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Do I really love it?
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Is there someone else who could use this more than me?
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Do I have more than I could reasonably use in the foreseeable future?
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Will I miss this if I don’t have it?
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If I purge this item and happen to need it, can I easily replace it with an equivalent?
In almost all cases, if you haven’t touched it in a year, it’s time to say GOODBYE. Magazines, catalogues and other periodicals more than three months old also need to make their way to recycling.
Closet
In this blog, I discuss the easiest way to purge your closet. First, remove any clothing items you know do not fit, are in need of repairs (such as a broken zipper or missing buttons), have stains or show wear (tatters, holes, pilling). Turn the hangers of your remaining articles backwards. As you wear each item, replace the item on a “normal” facing hanger. At the end of a season, six months, a year, whatever, evaluate those items remaining and purge, purge, PURGE!
Kitchen
For your kitchen, an easy way to mindlessly purge is to pull everything from the cabinets and drawers. Put the items on your formal dining room table or a card table or an old door set atop two saw horses or WHATEVER, just get it out of the kitchen. Obviously, this plan needs a certain amount of excess space to be effective. As you use each item, place it back in kitchen in its new, temporary home. This is also a great chance to wipe out cabinets and drawers, utilize some contact paper and scrub the cabinet/drawer fronts. I prefer Duck Brand Non-Adhesive Liner. It comes in a variety of colors, patterns and widths and is super easy to cut in straight lines.
At the end of the month, you will have a crystal clear picture of what you do and do not use and how many glasses, plates, etc. you actually need. At this point, you may wish to store seasonal items with related décor, like storing pie plates and cookie cutters with holiday storage.
The Rest
Last, check inside every drawer, cabinet, closet, and cranny. Make sure you’re not missing anything that needs to leave your home.
If you’re really unsure about purging certain items, put them in a well-labeled box and store it in the garage, basement or in a storage unit. If after three, six, nine or twelve months you don’t go into the box to get the item, consider purging.
As a result of all your effort, you have amassed an enormous GOODBYE pile, it’s time to decide how to say goodbye. Part 2 coming soon 🙂