In Search of a Clutter-Free Summer

Memorial Day — the unofficial start of summer— has come and gone. If you’re anything like us at The Organizing Blog, you probably used the long weekend to plant some flowers, take a bike ride, visit with friends and/or have a cookout. Fine pursuits!

But do you know what can make one’s enjoyment of those pursuits (and most others) even better? #Organization! A #clutter-free environment knows no season — and it can provide you with the #clarity you need to truly live in the moment.

Think about it: A cluttered space demands attention. Maybe you waste a lot of time looking for things among the stacks of papers, piles of laundry and dusty gewgaws. Or maybe wrangling all that #stuff leaves you with little down time.

Summer is a great time to get those things under control. With good weather and a few hours each week, you can conquer that #clutter — and enjoy all of the seasons to come.

Start with the #garage. Has that #space attracted a lot of stuff that doesn’t have a home elsewhere ? Go through it and ask yourself why you hide #junk there and if you’ll ever really need those things again. Weed out what you don’t have a use for and set it aside.

Along the way, fine-tune your storage of the things that do have a purpose — even if that purpose is occasional, such as holiday decorations. Sort “like” items into labeled bins and boxes that you can find and access easily without a lot of hunting. Shelve or stack them thoughtfully, and you’ll be creating new space!

Next, do the same for the basement. Organizing your below-ground space likely will have the added benefit of helping you keep cool while you work. Set aside the things for which you don’t have a purpose or can’t find a place, and put them in boxes and bags.

See that growing pile of #junk? Slap some price tags on those things and have a quick #garage or #yard #sale. Or click though to ClothingDonations.org to arrange a #free #donation #pickup. You’ll be #helping the nation’s #veterans and be ready to enjoy the rest of the summer #clutter-free!

Storage Solutions for a Spotless Garage

It’s easier to keep a garage clean when everything has its place. That’s why you should find storage solutions that work for you and the oddly-sized stuff that tends to get stored there, says Living Well Spending Less. Try stacking bins or pegboard for small tools, and use labeled jars for tiny items such as nails and screws. Hang long items such as rakes, ladders and shovels on the wall, and suspend bikes, canoes and kayaks overhead. Keep the things you use most often within easy reach, and you’ll find you put them back in the right places more often.

Garage Transformation

When it comes to home organizing, people tend to forget about their garage. When your garage is organized and clutter-free, it’s easier to find gardening tools, sports equipment and other needed items. Invest in shelving units to make sure that everything in your garage has a place. It’ll make your life easier and less stressful!