For September’s 12 Months to a Healthier You Challenge, we’re focusing on clearing out clutter. I committed to spend 30 minutes to an hour every week de-cluttering at my house.
I decided to tackle the office. First up, I shredded this pile of papers that had been waiting by the shredder to shred.
After doing the shredding, I realized that the shredder desperately needed to be cleaned out.
So, I proceeded to try to dump it out into a bag… and promptly made a mess in the process. By the time the mess was cleaned up and I’d vacuumed the floor, my 30 minutes were up!
Did you do any de-cluttering this past week? If so, how’d it go for you?
Sarah says
Here’s how we (mostly) solved the same problem with our shredder: we line ours with a paper grocery bag that’s folded down about an inch or so at the top. When the bag appears full, you can push it down until it’s *really* full. Eventually, pull the bag out, uncuff it, staple, and toss it in the recycling without everything falling out or blowing all over the place.
Crystal Paine says
THIS. IS. BRILLIANT. Thank you for saving me much mess and headache in the months and years to come!
Jenny says
Shredding is one of those things I do in 5 minute increments while I’m waiting for other things (a Crystal tip I learned long ago!) but generally in the morning in the few minutes before everything is ready to GET OUT THE DOOR! I keep a plastic tub by the shredder and sort mail there (garbage, shred, take action, magazine pile are the 4 options I give mail) so it builds up over a few weeks but if I do it 5 minutes a few times/wk (unscheduled) then I find it never grows too big or needs major overhaul.
Emptying the shredder… still havent found the right way to “fix” that problem. That room always has bits of shredded paper EVERYWHERE.
Lety says
Getting a late start this month, but I’m committing to tackling two small areas a week. This week I have paper clutter and linen cabinet on my list 🙂
Is it just me? Or do others feel like you can breathe better when even just a bit of clutter is done away with? 🙂
Tina says
I attacked my shred pile today too. Mine is significantly bigger than yours due to finding a stack that my husband told me he shredded last week (he put it in the ottoman in front of the couch.. GRRR!!). Mine looked kind of like yours with all the mess I made. Thank goodness for the ShopVac we got last year on Black Friday! 🙂
Lety says
Love Black Friday! It’s the only time we are able to replace an electronic item when needed. Can’t believe it’s right around the corner!
WTG on getting rid of paper clutter! 🙂
Hannah says
This week I:
Cleared off my printer that always has a stack of papers rendering it useless.
Cleared off the coffee table that had accumulated WAY too much stuff from unfinished projects.
Took a HUGE basket of clothing and several baby items to the consignment store. Got less store credit than I would have liked but $75 store credit is more than I would have gotten at goodwill AND she actually has great prices on very cute clothing my kids will need to replace the outgrown items.
Sorted another giant pile of clothes to go to consignment or donation.
Convinced my 11 yr old son to declutter and organize his room which now looks AMAZING. He also volunteered to shred the need-to-shred pile from the printer and coffee table. 🙂
Cleared off and cleaned one shelf in the fridge that desperately needed it.
Mucked out and cleaned the corner of my laundry room that also desperately needed it.
Whew…and SO much more left to do with a15, 13, 11, 10, 9, 4 & 1 yr old in the house!
Crystal Paine says
Way to go!!!
Lety says
Wow! Very impressive! Great job 🙂
Grace says
I managed to clean out some old crafting supplies in the basement; some went to a ministry thrift shop and some directly into the trash. I also gave up a set of queen-sized bed sheets that I loved because they no longer fit our bed with the two-inch mattress pad I got at Costco. There was also a small box filled with travel and coffee mugs that went to the aforementioned thrift shop. I still have a lot of “stuff” to liberate from the house, but I am chipping away at it bit by bit.
Julie Huffman says
I cleaned out the linen closet, re-organizing the shelves and getting rid of sheets that had worn out. I also had time to go through my kitchen drawers, vacuuming the crumbs out of the dividers.
Next stop, bathroom drawers!
Lana says
I cleaned out the wall cabinet in the former kids bathroom. I had to get hubby to help with the top shelf but we were surprised to find retainers, no idea whose, and makeup that belonged to our now 31 year old daughter. Like, wow, I had no idea that stuff was up there as I cannot see or reach that shelf. It is always good to know that an area is clean even if I cannot check for myself.
Cheryl says
I’m working on closets this month-I tackled my almost 12 year old daughters closet and 3 bags of “stuff” went away! Yeah! Then after school she helped with under her bed “stuff” and now everything is neat.(goodbye 30 year old barbies with haircuts!) Hope to work on the master closet and sons closet still this month.
Victoria says
Stuck to decluttering our master bedroom while listening to one short podcast a day 5 days a week. Got rid of another box of stuff from the room we remodeled and half way through another box and kept the other areas I decluttered last week free of clutter.
Becky Hawker says
I was browsing your website and ran across your “12 Months to a Healthier You” challenge. I was wondering if you were going to do it again in 2015? I would love to participate if you do.
Crystal Paine says
We’ll see! I’m just focusing on getting through 2014 right now, but am starting to think about possible ideas for 2015, so that’s for the suggestion!