Every week day in May, I’m challenging my readers to try to find at least 7 things to get rid of. These can be big or small things, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you actually throw them out, sell them, donate them, recycle them, or find someone else who can use them. Think you’re up for the challenge?
Just when I think I can’t find anything more, I keep finding stuff!
- 1 vase
- 1 plastic container
- 1 plastic tube
- 2 pairs of beauty gloves that are really worn
- 2 kids’ books
How did your clutter-busting go today? Link up your blog post and/or Instagram pictures below. Or, leave a comment telling us how many things you got rid of. Let’s clear our homes of clutter so we can be more productive and efficient!
cheranne says
I have not been able to post everyday but I am trying to keep up with the 7 items per day. i know I will be extending this well into June until I have de-cluttered to my own satisfaction. it is just going a little slower for me.
So far this week I have gotten rid of:
2 Outside benches (broken- trash), 10 CD’s (donate), 1 pair boys slippers (donate), Some health and beauty items (donate), 3 old sponges (trash), a nice big pile of receipts(I hang on to them forever), and some baby clothes that I shared with family. I also boxed up some other clothes my son has outgrown to give to my nephew. I also got rid of a kids cardboard play house that has since outlived its usefulness. 🙂
Money Saving Enthusiast says
I didn’t expect to post again so soon. I came across some old cds over the weekend. I hit what I call the declutter JACKPOT. I was able to get my house cleaner, faster. It’s nice to feel as though you are ahead of the game.
Maybe I can take up a hobby like you once I can spend less time working on the cluttered areas of my home. Loving this challenge as always. I hope I can scrapbook again. Photos are one of my biggest sources of clutter. I have to come up with a plan for that.
Melissa says
After a few days of not getting rid of too much, I really got to it over the long weekend. I went through 6 boxes of holiday decorations and got rid of enough that now it all fits in 4 boxes. I shredded old papers and found a folder of my highschool report cards neatly filed away in the back of the file cabinet! lol. Those are all gone now, though they were fun to read over before dumping them.
FMR says
The clutter buster movement spread to my daughter. She is home from college for the summer and has realized she has TOO MUCH STUFF. Today she gave up 5 purses, numerous empty jars, 4 empty boxes and……17 pairs of ballet flats and pointe shoes!
She had saved almost every pair she ever had and today realized they are useless as well as stinky. She did decide to save the first pair of Pointe shoes she ever wore, and of course, the 2 or 3 pair that she still uses.
Anna @ Frugal For You says
That is awesome! I certainly hope to encourage my children to de-clutter often. But frankly, they are the ones who inspire me! Stuff does not have a hold on them like it does me.
TJs Sweet Home says
You inspired me to hop on the bandwagon (again/: ) with my clutter corralling efforts! ~TJ
Carrie says
*I have eliminated at least 20 more socks! I refuse to buy any new ones until school clothing shopping.
*cleaned out some junk from the hall linen closet.
*found broken toys under the deck and trashed them.
*turned in a bunch of washclothes into cleaning rags. I didn’t eliminate, but repurposed.
Although this isn’t really physical clutter, I have also been looking at my personal life to see what is cluttering my life. I have also eliminated:
*tv for the summer (I’m so glad I did this. I may not turn it back on in the fall.)
*school volunteer commitment. I’ve done this for 11 years and am burnt out and need a break. I will still help out, but not be in charge.
*work volunteer commitement. Again, I’m burnt out and need a break. I will still help out as needed, but not be in charge.
Crystal says
I love how you’re eliminating personal clutter, too!
Kimberlee says
Well, we sold the desk I cleared out last weekend over Memorial Day Weekend – at least it is now off of our front porch!
Today I cleaned out the kids games and found 3 to donate and I also found about 4 unused picture frames to donate, 2 sets of placemats, a candle holder and a pair of shoes. I have a donation place coming tomorrow to pick things up so I wanted to do some more de-cluttering. I already had a whole bag full of linens to donate after going through the linen closet over the weekend.
Planning on getting rid of a large, old entertainment center by this coming weekend after I start working on getting everything out of it, cd’s, dvd’s, kids video games, etc. Will have more to get rid of next week I am sure. We are downsizing in that room to a smaller TV and just a stand for it not a big wood entertainment center. I will also be getting rid of the old TV that is in there now.
Shelly says
Today I found more paper clutter stuffed in with my son’s toys. I guess I should really watch what he does when I ask him to clean up the living room. He had been shoving all of the papers he had been playing with under the bench and behind his toys instead of putting them into the recycling. I will now be more careful with instructing him on recycling the papers.
Stephanie S. says
Last Thursday I started a massive cleaning out in my house. I began with my utility room, and I gathered four bags of garbage and four bags for Goodwill. Yesterday I braved my bedroom closet and came out with SEVEN bags of garbage and three bags for Goodwill. I didn’t realize I had collected so much junk over the years. Some of the papers I found dated back to the early 1980’s! I’m exhausted, but it feels so good getting things organized. I’m tackling my kids rooms next. That should be interesting. LOL
Susan says
Crystal — your clutter-busting posts are my very favorite ones! Thanks for the inspiration, Susan
Crystal says
I’m so glad you’re enjoying them!
Carla says
This evening I do not have to look far. I will be donating lots of hangers and some candles. The candles are kind of hard to part with, but they have been in my cupboard for so long and not used, so I will get rid of several. Not too many days left and I am still finding things.
Amy says
Still plugging away. I could find seven things daily for a year, we have so many little things we do not really need.
I love these challenges. I can’t wait to see what you have planned for June. Hard to believe June 1 is just a few days away.
Victoria says
Oh little bear! I loved curling up with the kids when they were small and watching little bear cartoons. Such fond memories of cuddling adorable chubby toddler cheeks arm and legs.
Kristi says
I thought the same thing! We loved the “Little Bear” books and cartoons.
Pamela says
We have been straight out purging for the past two weekends. Between Craigslist and a local selling group on Facebook, we have netted $700!!! Totally pays for an upcoming trip to SLC, Utah!! WOOT WOOT!!
Jessica says
May 28:
toss/recycle: scraps from junk drawer and from my “mom” bag
give away: 4 pairs of kids scissors and some other office type supplies, for kindergarten teacher
donate: 13 2-piece pj sets (why did my daughter have so many???), 5 girls longsleeve shirts, 2 womens longsleeve shirts, pair of girl’s shoes
contribute: party supplies from my “stash” for a picnic
sold: bag of books for $14
LeahB says
I found a bunch of boxes of Jello and instant pudding that expired SEVEN years ago. Tossed them out & ended up with enough space to move my rice cooker from the countertop to a cabinet. 🙂
Crystal says
😉
Lisa says
I saw you’ve been posting what things you got rid of… but I’ve been wondering what you do with them. Are you throwing them all out? Are you donating them? Where are you sending them?
Crystal says
We’re donating them — most are going to Goodwill, unless they are better fit for the trash or recycling bin. 🙂
Sandy says
I flunked today. I was going through my storage closet and found more of my mother’s china. I washed it and placed it back into the cabinets. I did get rid of a box and the paper the china was wrapped in. Does that count?
Pamela says
We’ve done straight out purging for the past two weekends. Between Craigslist and a local selling group on Facebook, we have netted $700!!!! Totally paying for an upcoming trip to SLC Utah.
Crystal says
Woohoo!
Marie says
I have emptied 28 sterlite 66quart bins of clothing!!! I am having another garage sale tomorrow and Thurs. Plus, posted on our multiple club page. Hoping to double what I made last week!!! I am loving gaining ground in our basement! Next I will be going through all my dishes and weeding out my Pampered Chef and Rachael Ray items that rarely get used. I love them but realize I’m not using them as much. then it will be on to downsizing my health and Beauty stockpile and making a donation to a charity around here. I am just realizing how much excess I have.
Crystal says
Woohoo! So excited for your progress!