Tag: trash

Be the Genius Behind the Garage Sale

Posted on by Jordank

Now that you’ve celebrated #America’s #250th birthday, it’s time to get serious with your summer #organizing and #decluttering and finally get rid of some of the extra #stuff that’s just getting in the way of living your best life — and make a little extra cash while you’re at it.

That’s right: It’s time for a #garage or #yard sale. There’s no better way to recoup some of the #money you’ve spent on #clothing that doesn’t fit, disused #housewares and appliances, and forgotten sporting goods than to throw open the garage door and slap a price tag on them.

The good news? Lots of people are out enjoying warm weather and looking for good deals. The bad news? It does take some effort — and thought — to host a good garage sale. Elevate yours to a must-shop by observing a few genius ideas.

First, #cull through your merchandise. Anything with flaws — clothes with holes, chipped dishes, inflatables that don’t hold air — should be fixed or thrown away. Don’t waste your time pricing anything that’s not in usable condition; toss it or put it in a “FREE” box.

Next, #curate the items you sell. Put knickknacks together in one place, kitchen stuff in another and tools in another. Sort clothing by gender, age, color and season and media by category. If you have furniture or other large items for sale, put them on the parkway for easy pickup or make a flyer with pictures.

Price all items fairly. Your trash may be someone else’s treasure, but your goal is to reduce the volume of your stuff and make a few bucks, not to gouge people for your castoffs. What would you pay if you wanted whatever it is?

Finally, advertise. You don’t have to spend money on a classified ad — do those still exist? But do make large, colorful, easy-to-read signs with directional arrows and include the times, dates and address.

“Put them up early on the day before your sale so people see them coming home from work,” says Instructables. “The more people come to your sale, the better you will do, so do what it takes to get them there.”

Hosting a garage sale isn’t rocket science, but paying attention to a few details goes a long way. And to make the #purge complete, you can #donate any leftovers to ClothingDonations.org by scheduling a #pickup after your sale. Happy #decluttering!

Are You a Decluttering Lion or Lamb?

Posted on by Jordank

With its rapid temperature fluctuations and blustery winds, it’s often said that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. This begs the #spring-cleaning question: When it comes to #decluttering, which one are you?

#Decluttering lions roar into a room and make snap decisions. They’re prepared to sort things into #keep, #trash and #donate piles fast, and have labeled bins, boxes and bags at the ready. They’re fed up with #clutter and perhaps preparing for a deadline or an imminent life change.

“Aggressive decluttering isn’t gentle editing; it’s decisive, time-boxed and real about what your home can hold,” says The Scarlet Society. “You’ll move fast, make smart calls and stop saving for a ‘someday’ that never comes.”

Aggressive #declutterers often follow if/then rules: The 20/20 rule, for instance, says that if you can replace an item in less than 20 minutes for less than $20, then get rid of it. If you can replace a rarely used memorabilia item with its memory (a photo), it’s time to say goodbye.

You might take as little as 48 hours as a decluttering lion, spending a few hours on each specific area of the home and paring things down to the essential, often-used #stuff. Then, you can bundle the rejects for #sale or #donation and contact ClothingDonations.org for a #free #donation #pickup.

If you’re more of a lamb when it comes to #decluttering, you will aim for slow and steady progress instead of a frantic purge. You might target one drawer instead of a whole room, taking just 30 minutes to #sort things out. The next day, you can move on to #organize another spot.

Gentle #declutterers often get overwhelmed by the task. To prevent decision fatigue, Simple Clean Living suggests keeping a “Not Sure” box close to catch things that may have true practical or sentimental value. “You can revisit it days, weeks or months from now, when your nervous system is more settled.”

You can let go of #clutter without the rush if you do it in manageable moments. The key is to make it a regular, ongoing practice to ensure progress. With time and regular effort, lambs can create calmer #spaces for themselves.

Lion or lamb, ClothingDonations.org is here to accept your #donations of lightly used clothing, media and household items. Let us take care of the things that no longer serve your lifestyle or fit your space!

Bring the Outside in for the Holidays

Posted on by Jordank

You can #decorate for the #holidays elegantly and #inexpensively by foraging, says HGTV. Fallen branches, leaves and evergreen boughs are easy to come by, especially if you’re doing a little bit of fall pruning. Take a spirited forest walk and not only will you get some fresh air, you’re likely to find fragrant pine cones and greens suitable for the mantel, dining room table or porch railing — maybe even a log for the fireplace. Amaryllis and holly cuttings offer more ways to bring the outdoors in for a designer-approved #Christmas home. #HolidayDecorations

Make Room for the Holidays

Posted on by Jordank

Is your space so #cluttered that you don’t know where to put the #Christmas tree? Prepare your home for the season by #dcluttering before you start #decorating, The Spruce says. Start by clearing out the stray children’s toys, and ask kids to pick a few things they no longer want to #donate or #trash. Do the same for your #holiday #decorations by getting rid of anything no longer fits your decorating scheme. And do a quick tour of the tchotchkes #cluttering your display surfaces — can they be stored for the holidays in favor of more seasonal items? You might find something that can be #donated or regifted. #HolidayDecorations

Holiday Decorations Don’t Last Forever

Posted on by Jordank

If you’re anything like the folks at the Organizing Blog, you might have a stash of vintage #Christmas ornaments you’ve collected over the decades. These fragile little gems — some of them family heirlooms — adorn your tree year after year, but they weren’t made to last forever. Pack and unpack them carefully, continually #decluttering and eliminating the ones you are no longer fond of. And remember, you can only use so much Superglue; accidents happen, and those jagged edges and frayed wires could present a #holiday hazard. #Upcycle when you can, says DIYnCrafts, but be prepared to say goodbye when necessary. #HolidayDecorations