Get Rid of Junk and Clean Up Your Home
Summer is the best time to consider cleaning out your house an getting rid of junk you don't need anymore. Since the weather is nice, hauling out items you no longer use is a cinch. Here are some great ideas for getting rid of junk and finding more space in your home for things you use often. You'll be amazed at how much more area you can find in your house just by hauling out items you don't need. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Start by cleaning up the attic. Tackle small areas one at a time in your attic to clean up your home and get rid of junk. Consider items you haven't used in a long time as those you don't need. Here is a great guideline to live by...if you haven't used or needed items in about 3 months, pitch them because you'll never use them. Saving junk because you think you may use it later is a big 'no, no'. Chances are, if you've packed away junk to save for a rainy day, that rainy day will never come. Pack items up in boxes from the attic and mark them according to room or groups of items. Set them aside to give away or sell.
2. Clean out your closets. Find clothes that you've been saving 'just in case I lose weight' or because 'I kind of like this and might wear it later'. You will not wear these items. And chances are, if you lose enough weight to wear old clothes again, you'll want new ones and the old clothing will seem outdated to you. Put clothes in boxes based on item or size. Set them aside to give away or sell. Hint: if you have to think about whether or not you'd wear certain items again for more than a few minutes...pack them up...you will not wear them, trust me.
3. Clean out your child(ren)'s bedroom(s). Find all the toys, clothes, and stuffed animals that your children don't play with anymore and get rid of them. Do this when they are not home or outside so that they don't complain that they'll still play with them. If your children have not played with or used these items in the last few months, chances are, they won't. Pack toys, clothes, and stuffed animals into boxes based on category. Set them aside to give away or sell. Hint: if you'd like to teach your child responsibility, you could have him help by choosing the toys, clothes, and stuffed animals he'll get rid of.
4. Plan to sell items in a garage sale if your up for having one. Garage sales are a great way to get rid of junk, clean up your house, and make some money. Set up items by category to make it easy for people to see what your selling. Make sure to mark prices clearly on all items and display them on tables. Keep asking prices fairly low, but reasonable for you and your buyers. Selling house junk in a garage sale can actually be fun for the whole family because children can pick the items they want to sell and you could offer them the money for such items. This helps to teach them money management and responsibility. Any left over junk could be donated to those in need.
5. Donate items you are unable to sell in a garage sale, or if you choose not to have a garage sale at all. Donating items to places such as the Salvation Army, Goodwill, and the American Red Cross offers people in need and less fortunate a chance to have nice items that they normally wouldn't have. Teach your children the gift of giving by allowing them to pick items of their own to give away to children in need. This helps give children a sense of compassion toward others and will help them to see others who are less fortunate than themselves. Have them come with you to donate junk to these places. Also, when donating items, you can get a receipt in which you can claim on your next year's taxes and get a little tax break just by giving.
Tags: garage sale, give away, aside give, aside give away, away sell
