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    101 Ways to Clean Out the Clutter
    101 Ways to Clean Out the Clutter
    101 Ways to Clean Out the Clutter
    Ebook133 pages1 hour

    101 Ways to Clean Out the Clutter

    By Emilie Barnes

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    About this ebook

    Home management expert and bestselling author Emilie Barnes comes to the aid of every clutter keeper with 101 simple ideas to rid rooms of piles, stacks, and disarray. Readers will rediscover space and peace in their home as they

    • stop making excuses for the useless items they keep
    • eliminate junk mail before it junks up a drawer
    • take back control over "stuff" and taste freedom
    • subtract an item before adding an item
    • reap the rewards of prioritizing time and space

    Better than a how-to show, this resource gives readers a little encouragement and lots of tips to transform clutter to cleaner at home, a friend's house, church, or the office.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarvest House Publishers
    Release dateMar 1, 2008
    ISBN9780736935302
    101 Ways to Clean Out the Clutter
    Author

    Emilie Barnes

    Emilie Barnes (1938 – 2016 ) was the bestselling author of more than 80 books, including 101 Ways to Clean Out the Clutter, Five Minutes in the Bible for Women, and 15 Minutes Alone with God. Sales of her books have surpassed 6 million copies worldwide. She and her husband, Bob (1933 – 2022), founded the More Hours in My Day time-management seminars. Emilie’s heart was always to help others in practical ways as they managed their busy homes and lives, but even more, her beautiful spirit made a connection with readers that was both lovely and timeless. Her words remain as inspiring today as when they were first published.

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      Book preview

      101 Ways to Clean Out the Clutter - Emilie Barnes

      Barnes

      1

      Why All That Clutter?

      What is it about your lifestyle that causes you to be surrounded with clutter? Search your self, your habits, your routines, your methods, and even your philosophy about stuff to see what might lead to all that clutter.

      I find that organized people have a calmness and serenity about them that disorganized people don’t possess. Are you harried or distracted throughout much of your day? Does this unbalanced state of mind make your home and maybe even your work setting off kilter?

      Pick an upcoming day to be extra aware of what triggers that sense of chaos or unrest. Is it a lack of communication, focus, or a schedule that does it? Consider how a different response to each trigger could shift you toward a more peaceful lifestyle.

      2

      No More Piles

      Make sure everything has a designated place. One of my mottoes is, Don’t put it down, put it away. Another is, Don’t pile it, file it. If there is no place for stuff to go, it’s going to be piled. Make it a goal to prevent those piles.

      I know it isn’t easy to do this at first, but soon you’ll become hardwired to sift through mail, reports, statements, work, take-out menus, and whatever else is gathering on the counters and in the corners of your home. Either it is important enough to have a specific place or it’s perfectly suited for the trash bin!

      If going through papers, magazines, or bills initially feels overwhelming, choose a pile to take care of each day. Spend only five minutes sorting so you’ll make quick decisions.

      3

      Remove the Unused

      Get rid of all items you don’t use. That means all clothes, furniture, bowls, cups, saucers, old records, old CDs, old videos, and so forth. It seems harmless to keep something around just in case, but unused items take up valuable space. They also demand a significant portion of your time and attention when you handle, dust, wash, fold, and store them.

      If you struggle to eliminate a shirt you haven’t worn in three years, think how good it will feel to give it to a friend, a neighbor, a church, or a worthwhile organization.

      Have you spent several rounds of should I give this away questioning on one particular item (or several)? That should be your cue to finally move it out the door. You’ll feel lighter after you make these choices. Once you clear away a few items and experience the pleasure of uncluttering your life, you’ll want to go back to the closets, the drawers, the corners, and the nooks to clear out even more.

      4

      Tools of the Trade

      To be orderly you need proper tools: bins, hooks, racks, containers, file cabinets, file folders, and maybe a lazy Susan. Evaluate what you have on hand that can serve as a good paper holder, book shelf, or clothes hanger.

      When organization is done right and suits your personal style, it will lead to simpler living. Give yourself the benefit of the ideal tool. Once you have a system in place that works, you won’t have to keep deciding what to do with the piles.

      Make a list of the tools you have and those you would like to purchase. Keep this with you so you can select the right materials when you are shopping—whether at garage sales, the Goodwill, or the local market.

      5

      It’s a Family Matter

      Involve the whole family. Learn to delegate jobs and responsibilities to other members of the family. Work with the children to de-clutter their bedrooms and bath. Dad can also be a big help, especially when you begin to clear out all the unused stuff in the garage.

      Set a date for a cleaning bonanza and purchase all the cleaning supplies in advance. As a surprise for your family cleaning day, purchase a fun organizational tool for each family member—one that suits their individual personality. Or plan a relay cleaning day. Designate several projects that need to be done and assign a person to each task. Set a timer for 30 minutes and start working. When the buzzer sounds, each family member rotates to a different chore station. This plan keeps the energy high and nobody becomes bored.

      Allow your family members to choose the background music for the work day and promise them pizza when everything is done. You could also reward the hard workers with a movie night and a walk-through tour to see how the rooms look with their makeover.

      6

      Labels Are Helpful

      Use lots of labels and signs. If containers, bins, drawers, and shelves aren’t labeled, the family won’t be able to spot where things go. Use color coding to help identify items belonging to various members of the family; red bins for Christine, blue for Chad, and yellow for

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