Decluttering before the holidays

Tis the season for friends and family! But wait… that means it’s time to get into the cleaning spirit too. Whether your home is the place where everyone gathers or not, this time of year is the perfect opportunity to do a little sprucing up! Here are 5 tips for how to tackle the entire home before the holidays:

• Start with “trash,” “put away,” and “donate” boxes.

  • Labeling these three boxes and categorizing your items will help you feel like you’re making a dent in the process. Put them in a central location as you work through each room.

• Work through your holiday decor.

  • As you bring out the holiday cheer, there’s a chance you may not use it all. Maybe you don’t have room for it all, or maybe you replaced some of your older decor for some updated looks. Save your space and put these items in a donate box!

• Clean one room per day/week.

  • Decluttering your entire home is a daunting task. Setting a goal of finishing one room per day (if you’re in a hurry) or one per week is a great way to keep yourself motivated and focused on the end goal!

• Take your “put away” box room to room.

  • After you’ve finished your cleaning, take your “put away” box to each room and quite literally put everything in it’s place. It’s often easiest to do at the end since you’ve likely accumulated several items that go to several different rooms.

• Throw away trash, and donate!

  • Get rid of your trash before the holiday wrapping, paper plates, and other items pile up! If you have kids, now is a great time to make room for all the new toys Santa will have on his sleigh! Finally, you’re ready to load up your donation boxes and take them to your nearest Alabama Goodwill donation location. This quick drop off will leave you feeling warm inside, because you’ve made a lasting impact on your neighbors with barriers to employment!