Finding Things to Purge
Something happens to me when the calendar changes and a new year begins. I get this uncontrollable urge to purge things that are lingering around me.
I can walk around my home today and see corners and drawers bursting at the seams just begging me to organize and purge the excess that has found its way into them.
We live in a very small house, and in my quest to keep our lives simple I find things to purge a couple times a year.
So as we embark on the New Year, I am looking forward to digging in and ridding myself of clutter!
Here are my top 1o things I will be purging:
Holiday Decorations – Over the years we have really cut back on what we decorate and how much we actually use. Before I put the decorations up for a year, I will be sorting and purging many of the things we no longer use or have the desire to display.
Magazines – I used to be a magazine junky! Really I should have gone to a magazine support group because it was painful to give up my addiction. Even though I no longer buy magazines, I have had a hard time letting go of some of my favorite issues.
Sewing Supplies – There are three totes that are taking up space in my closet and are in need some serious purging.
Health & Beauty Supplies – I cannot believe how fast the bathroom cabinets collect stuff! I’ve made a goal not to buy one thing new until I have used up, thrown out, or made do with what I already have.
Kitchen Utensils – How many serving spoons does one cook need? By the looks of my kitchen drawer, I think the magic number might be “7”! I know I’ve never used seven of any one utensil, so my kitchen drawers are first on my purging list.
Cleaning Supplies – We make all of our own cleaning products, but I know lingering in the back of my kitchen cupboards are bottles of store bought cleaners that I will never use again.
Glassware – Every January I purge my home, and every January I have a collection of glasses, mugs, and vases that have found their way into my kitchen. I swear they breed in there!
Books – Very rarely do I buy books, but the ones I do buy at yard sales or the second-hand stores tend to add up by year’s end. I love taking a collection of books and donating them to the library or to our senior center.
Linens – My linen closet is always a jungle, and I’m so happy to be ridding myself of all those extra items that are hanging around in there. Second-hand stores are always in need of bed linens and towels.
Office Supplies – I tend to collect things that I think I may need, but as I look around I can see what I really need and use is just what is on my desk right now.
I know it can seem like a big job sorting through everything, but keep in mind that if you have not used it in the last year, chances are you will never will.
Thanks for stopping by!
Tracy Lynn
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I can definitely relate to #2! Although I also don’t subscribe to magazines anymore, I have the hardest time ridding myself of them…
Magazines were a hard sacrifice to make for me…I love the feel of them in my hands, the smell of the ink and the glossy pages.
That is a great list – I have a hard time culling things in several of those categories! I’d love it if you’d share this at Reviews, Chews & How-Tos this week for our first Awesome Life Friday Link Up.
Lynda I will try and remember to go share it at your Link Up and thanks for stopping by!
This is the story of my life lol! We don’t have a very small house (everything’s big in Texas) but we have no storage space. I purged the bathroom cabinets last month, purged the linen closet yesterday, moving onto the kitchen this week. My problem is that I have a hard time giving things up when I know I can repurpose them somehow… Like old sheets, there’s gobs of things I can use old sheets for… This is my problem!
Sara I agree with the sheets, but I look at it as if I have not done anything with them by now I am not going to do anything with them this year. I donate to a Christan Mission so I know they need them more then I do. Happy purging!
We live at the same house! Amazing. I have a box started with “spare” (I use the term loosely) kitchen items plus other sundry items. I do this at least twice a year. I dunno. 🙁
It’s good to see someone else is in the purging mood too! There’s something about a new year that makes me want to clean everything out! We have a few more closets to go, almost there!
I made it through every room and closet in my house and I feel so good! It is like spring cleaning in winter. I love it!
great ideas, Tracy! I went through all of the Christmas decor this year and reduced from 8 totes to 4, including the gift wrapping box. It felt good. Now I need to do the rest of the house! I tend to collect free stuff like rubber bands from the mail, oatmeal containers, and yogurt containers…because I might use them for something. But then I end up with a cupboard or drawer full of junk! 🙂
There is nothing like the feeling you get when you have gotten rid of clutter in your home. I downsized our holiday boxes this year as well and I can bet I will never miss all the things I gave to the Goodwill.
And I bought the most beautiful holiday decorations that I did need at our local thrift shop! I will never buy new again! I donate as well as shop there.
I know I can’t believe the great things you can find if you just look at the second hand stores first.
Oooh, good list! I’m working on purging the house right now, starting with my kids’ toys that they NEVER play with!
I remember when my kids were little their rooms were always the first place I started and I always did them right after the holidays. Happy purging!
I love purging articles! For me, it’s the chaos of the house as we return home after traveling and unloading gifts, toys, luggage, blankets, candy, etc., along with the decorations that makes me say, “Enough! Let’s get rid of stuff!” I’m looking forward to having a spring garage sale!
I wish I could have a yard sale! I live out in the middle of now where land so I take all my things to the Christian Center in town. Thank you so much for stopping by and Happy Purging!
Believe me it’s faster and much easier to take your unwanted items and donate them! Having a yard sale is a lot of work and time. Usually in nice gardening weather. I did one last year and have decided that’s enough for me. but good luck to anyone who does!
3 totes of sewing supplies? You’re so cute. I have an entire room that I can barely walk in full of sewing, craft, and “I’ll put it here to keep the kids out of it” miscellaneous.
I like the idea of taking books to the senior center. I need to reduce our collection. We have 11 bookcases, all full to bursting, and doing book reviews, more coming in all the time.
It is amazing how much stuff we can collect…I need to go through my kitchen cabinets again.
Isn’t it amazing how we collect all these things we think we need and then to find out we never use them?
I definitely purge magazines and cleaning supplies, too; however, I’m not at the stage of purging holiday decorations. Maybe when the kids get older. haha
Thanks for sharing at the linky party for A Little R&R!
Great post. We used to move house every 5 years when we were renting (not because we wanted to but it was necessary) and when we did my No 1 daughter and I would purge stuff that we hadn’t used in all that time. Now that we have bought a home I’m not so on the purging thing, but thank you for the reminder and hints on how to go about it. Thanks for linking up at Good morning mondays. Blessings
haha moving is the best way to reduce belongings, isn’t it? after all, you have to handle everything you own so why not?
I agree moving is the perfect time to purge. We have moved a few times and I found it the easiest then.
I also love the idea of purging during this time of year! I have started one room at a time, getting rid of the excess that has crept in. One of my most challenging “purges” is books. I absolutely love books, but there are only so many that fit on our shelves. 😉 Getting back to simple makes the home that much more enjoyable.
Tracy,
This post made me giggle multiple times because I have some of the same problems: my linen closet is a jungle and my mugs also breed! My silverware disappears though and it is still a mystery! Thanks for sharing on Homestead Blog Hop.
Jen
My books go to the senior center or VA Hospital, fabric and yarn to Newborns in Need, kitchen items and clothes monumentally handicapped group.
We did quite a bit of purging in our storage shed this month. We’ve been adding since we bought our cabin in 2001 and it was so bad you couldn’t get in to find anything. Now it is all organized, and swept clean. We have vowed to keep it that way. Now all we have to do is convince the packrats to do the same. – Margy
There is something so freeing about purging things in your life. I get a sense of peace when I don’t have a lot of clutter around me. SO proud that you are doing the same!
Some really good advice… I know I need to get around to it, I’m just too busy!
I am purging the house this week, a couple rooms a day. What a great feeling. Next week I will just have the tack room in the barn to go through:) Thank you for all the great articles:)
Hi Tracy, I am in the middle of a major purge right now. Im starting in the basement which is also a extra pantry, craft room and sewing area. Trash bages, boxes to sell and things to donate. It does take time but so worth it.