Want to get your home organized, but don’t know where to start? Decluttering is your best first step.

I put together a list of ten easy items to help you get started. These are items that most people have in their home. If you don’t do a periodic edit of these items, you end up owning more than you need, use or have space for.

So let’s begin your decluttering scavenger hunt! Grab a couple boxes for donations and few garbage bags.

1. Vases-gather them from all the nooks where you tucked them away. Check the basement. Pull out your favorites to keep.  Carefully review the remaining vases. Ask yourself how many do I use at one time? Do I even like these? Will I use them? Donate or recycle the vases you no longer want. Store together in a cabinet the vases you are keeping.

2. Old paint cans-document paint wall, ceiling and trim color on paper or create digital file. Paint can be used for touch ups within six months, but then separates. Before discarding, open cans and let harden by adding kitty litter or powder purchased from Home Depot. Check your city and drop off locations. Stay on top of the exercise, do not wait until your decide to move.

3. Water bottles - Does it seem like your water bottles keep multiplying? A good rule is to keep 2 or 3 per family member. Donate the usable excess and recycle the remaining.

4. Reusable grocery bags - Pull together all the reusable bags from your house. Put several in each car, save five more and place those inside one bag to hang in a coat closet. Throw out the tattered bags. Donate the rest. Do this exercise every six months. Remember to place them back in your car after you unload your groceries.

5. Plastic grocery bags - Again pull together all plastic bags. Put ten bags inside one plastic bag and place with your reusable bags. Take the discards to Target or your grocery store to recycle. Do this exercise every six months.

6. Expired medicine (both prescription & over the counter) - Check dates on all medicine in your home. Check bathroom cabinets, bathroom drawers, travel cases and kitchen cabinets. Take expired medicine to local drugstore to dispose of properly. Do yearly.

7. Expired food/spices (or food you are not going to eat) - Check expiration dates on the food in your pantry, refrigerator and freezer. Discard any expired food. While checking expiration dates, ask yourself, will I or my family eat this food in the near future? If you answer “no” and it is not expired, pass it along to a friend, family member or food pantry. Do yearly.

8. Unused small kitchen appliances - (ex: ice cream maker, air popper, juicer, panini press, food saver, etc). Is your juicer just collecting dust instead of making juice? Does your air popper clutter your counter? Don’t hold on to them if you are not using them. Donate the small appliances that are clean and working. Someone else will enjoy them!

9. Unused electronics AND cords - Holding on to your I-phone 4? Have a bin filled with cords, but you don’t know what they charge? Recycle old phones, fax machines, TVs, VCRs, etc. and include the cords. Check your city for drop-off locations or see if they have a special day to drop-off. And moving forward, practice the one-in/one-out rule.

10. Tupperware/Food Storage Containers - Match up the tops with bottoms on your containers. Discard any leftover tops or bottoms. Designate a kitchen drawer to store the containers. Fill the drawer up. When the drawer is full, donate the remaining.

After you’ve decluttered these ten items, you will gain momentum to edit more in your home. Trust me!

Check back for more tips and tricks to help you get organized!  

Best Regards, 

Laura