Organizing 50 Years of Clutter

Sharing is caring!

I recently helped someone declutter and organize a basement full of stuff. Well, okay, only part of a basement full of stuff. There were over fifty years of family “memories” stored there. These pics are from the second day of working on it. There was an entire car full of donations carried out and dropped at the local thrift store before we started on the second day.

Day two we focused on going through everything on the shelves and the getting some of the stuff they were planning to keep stored away in the empty spaces on the shelf so there would be more room to work and less stuff to trip over.

We sorted all the things into keep, donate, and trash piles. I am the voice of reason in these sessions because I can be objective about the stuff we are sorting and convince them to get rid of many things that might otherwise have been kept.

These are the after shots, and yes, there is plenty more room for improvement.

Look! Clear floor space!

When we started this entire area was full of piles of stuff that we managed to declutter.

More cleared floor space.

The pile closest to the bottom of the photo is a pile to be donated. The chairs toward the back are the sorting area.

We filled the shelf and then pulled this smaller shelf over to clear another area.

Progress on such a major project is best taken in small sessions so as not to be overwhelmed and overworked. If you need to, just rush into your dungeon of clutter and grab a box and take it somewhere less chaotic to sort through it. Perhaps setting a time limit would help you get more done. Set the time for 15 minutes and work as fast as you can until that timer goes off then take a break for five minutes and repeat the process as often as you can. Take before and after pics, they can be very motivating. Years ago I cleaned an attic by studying the before pics and planning my attack (what I could get rid of) ahead of time, which was easier for some reason. Try several different methods and tricks to keep from getting bored. Even just one short decluttering session a week can make a huge difference. In a year the project will likely be completely finished and you will look back in amazement at what you have accomplished.

Just jump in a do something. Future you will be so glad you started today.

Sharing is caring!