February Decluttering Challenge!

[Bernadine]

We’ll be following The Home Edit’s challenge. I’ll update the OP every day with the new challenge.

www.thehomeedit.com/the-fresh-start-february-challenge-week-1/

Day 1 - Check Expiration Dates

No need to take everything out. Just grab a trash bag and start checking dates. Keep track of the expired items that should be replaced or never bought again. If you have bulk items in canisters, make sure to write the expiration date on the back, either with a label maker or a washable chalk marker, because no one likes a stale pasta night.

Day 2 - Tackle a Drawer

Not two. Just one. We always say, “If you can manage a drawer, you can do so much more.” And it’s so true! Drawers are a manageable project that will give you a bite-sized win without feeling overwhelmed. Use individual inserts in various sizes to contain your categories, testing multiple configurations to come up with the smartest solution for the space.

Day 3 - Master the File Fold

File folding is so calming—it’s basically a cheap form of therapy. This technique turns stacks of clothing or linens upright so you can quickly identify what you have, and helps maximize drawer space when you really need it.

Step 1: Lay the shirt flat in front of you, with the front of the shirt facing down.

Step 2: Fold in the right sleeve

Step 3: Fold both sleeves to the middle of the shirt. Fold the sides of the shirt slightly, it should never go past where the hem (aka the neckline stitching) begins on either side

Step 4: Fold the shirt in half from the bottom hem

You’re done! The trick to knowing whether you folded it correctly is if the shirt stands up by itself with the folded side up. If your shirts need a little extra support, feel free to add some expandable dividers into your drawer.

Day 4 - Edit Your Inbox

Start by purging anything you no longer need and unsubscribing to any newsletter or promotional content that is clogging up your inbox. Then set up folders for your general categories (Work, Family, Travel, Etc.) and use filters so emails go straight to the inbox they belong in. From there, you can also prioritize these emails into categories that signal action such as Reply or Waiting For Reply so you don’t miss anything.

Day 5 - Try a Turntable

If there’s one thing we know to be true, it’s that we *love* a turntable. They work practically anywhere in the home and can be the perfect solution for even the trickiest of spaces! Think about something that is giving you trouble. Maybe it’s the fact that you can never access the cooking oils properly in your pantry. Maybe it’s that awkward corner in your bathroom cabinet where things get lost in the mix. Try a turntable and see what happens!

Day 6 - Tame the Cords

Every device seems to come with extra cables, adapters, and accessories. Chances are, you probably don’t need all of them, BUT IF YOU DO…wrap a cord tie around each individual cord, add a label to identify what they go, and store them in a designated drawer or bin.

Day 7 - Swap Your Hangers

Wire and plastic hangers are the worst. Sorry if that offends anybody, but it’s true. If you’re looking for the easiest way to update your closet and maximize hanging room, invest in matching velvet or wooden hangers.

Day 8 - Designate a Dropspot

If you enter and exit your home on a regular basis, you need a drop spot. It’s exactly what the name suggests…a spot where you can drop things. Your keys, your bag, your shoes, your mail, your kid’s school paperwork you need to sign. It can be as simple as a tray on an entryway table with some hooks on the wall.

Day 9 - Clean Up Your Camera Roll

The best part about these digital projects is that you can accomplish them from literally anywhere. You don’t even need WiFi for this one! The process for organizing digitally is the same as organizing a physical space. Start by deleting anything you don’t need. For us, that usually means screenshots and the thousands of blurry selfies our kids take when they *borrow* our phones. Then sort the remaining photos in categorized folders on your phone so you can access them easily.

[Nonny]

Thanks, I think the daily reminders will help. I know there are a few things hidden in the back of my pantry that need to go.

But I'm going to confess from the outset that I'm going to be skipping days 3, 5, 6, and 7.

Day 3 because I just can't be bothered to fold my PJs that way. Days 5 and 7 because I hate lazy susans and wood hangars. Day 6 because I am already ridiculous about bundling my cords. My H isn't allowed to touch his own computer setup anymore because I went in and rewired everything. LOL!

[Bernadine]

Feb 1, 2022 15:20:10 GMT -5 Nonny said:

Thanks, I think the daily reminders will help. I know there are a few things hidden in the back of my pantry that need to go.

But I'm going to confess from the outset that I'm going to be skipping days 3, 5, 6, and 7.

Day 3 because I just can't be bothered to fold my PJs that way. Days 5 and 7 because I hate lazy susans and wood hangars. Day 6 because I am already ridiculous about bundling my cords. My H isn't allowed to touch his own computer setup anymore because I went in and rewired everything. LOL!

Yeah, I just went through and read the rest of the week, lol. I’m going to tweak some of those!

[gerberdaisy]

Thanks for posting this, makes it easier to follow along! Luckily H and I went through the fridge and freezer last night. Makes it an easier start today

[aspentosh]

Bonus for a tiny kitchen and no pantry? This was super fast to do.

[bex1973]

Thanks for posting this! I'm hoping I'll be motivated to participate in some of them!!

[Deleted]

This is right up my Type A/Perfectionist alley.

[ellipses84]

I’ll join in! I may modify some days to deal with bigger priorities when I have time. I really need to purge and get organized!

[Bernadine]

I’m doing my junk drawer in the kitchen for day 2. It’s not terrible, but definitely needs some cleaning out.

[caddywompus]

Thanks for posting this. I’ll be doing my best to follow along.

[bex1973]

I'm going to tackle our kitchen junk drawer tonight! I feel like this could be an easy win for me!

[definitelyO]

I do agree with "just one drawer" - last week I took the time to organize my cards. I have a box with random greeting cards for all occasions just piled in. I threw out ones that I would never use and put the rest in categories. small task = 30 min = great feeling!

[Bernadine]

So, I’ve actually done the file fold with all of my tanks, and I have to say, I love it!

[atexan]

I converted to the file fold about 6 months ago for my t shirts and jammies. Never going back!

We are snowed in for the next couple days so I'm gonna tackle 1 and 2 and maybe skip ahead.

[Nonny]

I did "just one drawer" but it turned into five drawers and a small bathroom cabinet.

It's actually one of my favorite tasks in decluttering challenges because it motivates me to keep going and has such a nice, defined stopping point.

[Bernadine]

My work email is not terrible, so I should be able to clean that up pretty easily.

My personal email….is a nightmare. I’m not sure I’m up for that, lol.

[DarcyLongfellow]

I'm just seeing this, but I love it. I'm going to start now and follow along!

I'm totally skipping the decluttering my inbox for today, though. My gmail has almost 3,000 *unread* messages. And I've been using it since 2004, haven't moved anything out of the inbox since probably 2010, and have rarely deleted anything other than junk mail. That is way too big a task for day 1.

[Nonny]

Feb 4, 2022 13:20:01 GMT -5 DarcyLongfellow said:

I'm just seeing this, but I love it. I'm going to start now and follow along!

I'm totally skipping the decluttering my inbox for today, though. My gmail has almost 3,000 *unread* messages. And I've been using it since 2004, haven't moved anything out of the inbox since probably 2010, and have rarely deleted anything other than junk mail. That is way too big a task for day 1.

My main gmail only has 6 unread messages, but it also has 12,000+ messages I haven't deleted or otherwise dealt with, and that's not including my other 3 email accounts that I also used for various things.

So to make this more manageable for me, I'm settling for unsubscribing from a couple of ads that I don't need, and bulk deleting all the old Washington Post, Netflix, and HBO Max newsletters that I still want to get regularly, but that I don't need to keep past copies of. Reduces some digital clutter, but keeps me from falling down the rabbit hole of old correspondence and volunteer documents.

[lightbulbsun]

I recently went through my gmail and deleted over 100,000 emails. Then I realized that I had deleted some receipts for donations that I needed to do taxes. Oops.

[Bernadine]

I’m tweaking this- our tv cabinets are a mess, including some cords, so I’m going to clean that out.

[aspentosh]

I've been loosely following along. I've been doing file folds on all my clothes for a few years because I hate stacked stuff. We don't really have a junk drawer and I don't feel like ordering pretty organizers to make it look better, but I did go through our office supples drawer and got rid of pens and stuff that didn't work. My email inbox is a reflection of my Type A personality so it only has the emails in it that I need to deal with ASAP (less than 5 most of the time).

Cords are another story, especially with so many devices. Gotta get on that.

[Bernadine]

I actually did switch over to velvet hangers a few years ago, and I do prefer them.

[candreco]

Not following the challenge exactly, but I did purge makeup/skincare and jewelry yesterday. I got rid of so much old and unworn stuff, and have a good bit of each to put up on my buy nothing page.

Though I feel like for every area I check off on my decluttering list, I think of two more drawers/cabinets/closets that need to be added, sigh.

[Bernadine]

I have a drop spot for papers that needs to be cleaned up. I need to get some hooks in the mud room.

[lightbulbsun]

I cleaned out my night stand and threw out condoms that expired in 2017.

[Nonny]

Here is the link for this week's tasks: www.thehomeedit.com/the-fresh-start-february-challenge-day-8-14

I'm only going to be doing the under the sink and camera roll days. I'm over my icloud storage and my phone hasn't backed up in awhile, so this is a good one.

[Bernadine]

I’ve been dreading this one, lol, but I really need to!