Avoid the masses out shopping this Black Friday and clear the messes out of your house. These tips will help you declutter on your day off.
Focus on One Room at a Time
The first trick to decluttering your home is to focus on one room at a time. In larger rooms, focus on one zone at a time. When you’re done with one area, move to the next.Try these 15 tips for decluttering during the cold months.
Needed: Six Boxes
To declutter your home, you don’t need any fancy tools. However, before you get started, make sure you have six boxes or bins. One for items destined for the trash, a second for items to recycle, a third for items to donate, a fourth for items to save for a garage sale, the fifth for items that belong in another part of the house and a sixth for items that need to be fixed.If you’re planning a garage sale, here are 14 tips for success.
In the Bathroom
The medicine cabinet and bathroom drawers are often full of unnecessary items. The easiest way to declutter is to pull everything out at once so you can see everything you have. Discard any outdated medications, toiletries and makeup. Toss items such as hair ties you no longer use or empty lip balm tubes. Moving forward, organization experts suggest you should stick to one lip balm tube at a time, one shampoo and conditioner, one face wash, etc. This will help cut down on the number of products you have out at one time. And, those little toiletry samples and hotel soaps, find out if you can donate them to a shelter because it’s unlikely you’ll ever use them.
Clean Out Your Nightstand
Check your nightstand drawers and pull out anything that doesn’t belong there. Put books you’ve already read back on your bookshelf, return them to the library or donate them. Throw out or recycle old notes, empty pens and any used tissues. Make a rule for yourself that you can only have a certain number of books out at a time to help cut down on clutter.These 12 ingenious bedroom furniture ideas will help you make the most of your space.
Sort Clothes and Shoes
A couple times of year, go through every piece of clothing in your closet and in your dresser drawers. Toss or donate old items or pieces of clothing you haven’t worn in a year. It’s easiest to start by clothing type—so start with shoes, then socks, T-shirts, etc.These 12 awesome closet storage hacks will help keep clothing clutter at bay.
Declutter the Entryway and Mudroom
Entryways are often magnets for clutter. From mail to car keys to your child’s permission slips and school artwork, clutter can build up quickly in these areas. Toss old items and add some decorative, yet functional bins or baskets to the area to help collect items and keep it tidy. Vow to put items in this area away as soon as possible, instead of leaving papers sitting around for long periods of time.Try these 15 tips for an organized mudroom.
Banish Living Room Clutter
Now is the time to figure out what all those cords, chargers and remotes are for. If you don’t use it or need it, toss or recycle it. Create homes for all items. For example, keep all remotes in one drawer, all cords and chargers in another. Label items if necessary. Keep a designated spot for magazines and newspapers you have yet to read and recycle those that are old.Here’s what you should do with all those old chargers, wires and cables.
Tackle the Kitchen
In the kitchen, empty all the cabinets, cupboards and drawers. If there are items you no longer use or that are broken, toss the broken ones and donate the others. Consider ways to come up with better storage solutions. For example, can you store your spices on the side of the refrigerator for easier access? Will roll-out cabinet drawers help you stay organized and cut down on clutter?You can build these seven roll-out cabinet drawers yourself.
Organize the Office
Your home office is likely full of old papers, out-of-control office supplies and bundles of cords. Try using an old muffin tin to store office supplies such as paperclips, push pins and various binder clips. Feed cords through a hole in the back of your desk and try color coding files.Try these 10 easy DIYs for your home office.
Create a Command Center
Create a command center or message center for your family. This is a good place to keep mail and bills you can’t tend to right away, store grocery lists and leave important notes. Add a calendar everyone can use and you’ll never miss an appointment or a child’s sports practice again.Get organized by building this handy message center.
Add a Rack for Storage
Hanging a rack can be a great way to declutter your home. Consider installing a rack in the kitchen to hang items such as utensils or towels and get some items off the counter. A rack in the bathroom can be used to store items such as razors, sponges and toothbrushes.Try these nine organizing ideas for your kitchen.
Logs and Firewood
There’s nothing more cozy than curling up before a log fire or wood-burning stove in the depths of winter, but where do you store a winter’s worth of logs? And buying in bulk is often cheaper (see our tips for buying firewood), but finding a place to keep logs looking tidy can be tricky.
For in-house storage, firewood stacked under a stair alcove makes a great focal point, or try a shelter built on to a shed or outer wall for an outside solution. Then keep a few logs by the fire (but not too close) in a wicker basket or brass scuttle for genuine rustic appeal.
Christmas Decorations and Accessories
You only need them for a few weeks, so keeping Christmas decorations and accessories tidy is a must. And get organized with plastic storage boxes for your delicate tree ornaments. Also, protect individual ornaments by putting them in disposable plastic cups.Wind tree lights around boards or onto a reel to avoid frustrating tangles next year, and keep artificial trees in a large storage tube. Check out our other Christmas decluttering tips.
Hats and Gloves
There's nothing more frustrating than searching for a lost glove or hat when you're in a rush, so take control of those warm clothing items by giving them a home of their own. And just string clothespins on aluminum wire (it won't rust) and stretch it between screw eyes on the back of a closet door. These winter preparedness tips will some in handy, too.
Winter Scarves
This nifty closet organizer keeps scarves (and ties and belts) in order. Scroll down in this collection of great organization tips for complete instructions for this scarf holder. And for bulkier winter scarves, make the scarf holes larger.
Coats & Jackets
Bulky winter coats and jackets take up a lot of space and you've got to consider how to store them when they're wet. And when considering decluttering tips, the simplest solution is a line of coat hooks in your entryway. Make sure they're well spaced to allow for drying.A free-standing storage unit like this one gives you a lot of versatility. Also, you can include shelves and cubby holes for accessories, or leave the inner shelves out to accommodate longer coats.
Umbrellas
Whether you like a huge golfing-style umbrella or a compact handbag design, an umbrella is essential for braving the unpredictable winter weather if you’re not in a snow zone. And wet umbrellas that leave pools of water seeping across the floor are unsightly and can cause accidents.
Umbrella stands allow you to hook your umbrellas off the floor, and usually have a drip tray to catch stray raindrops. And, these stands allow you to find your own umbrella quickly when you’re heading out. But umbrellas are just as happy in a storage container, such as a brass pot, a plastic tub, or an open design with elastic sides for maximum aeration.
More Footwear
This wall-mounted shoe organizer is easy, takes only a couple of hours, and can be done with scrap wood and dowels. And for less than $20, you can make a shoe rack that's customized to fit your available space. It lifts footwear off the floor for easy cleaning, and prevents scuff marks and mud prints on your walls.
Sort Mail Every Day
Don’t let mail pile up. Jeanne Taylor, a professional home organizer, says mail can be a major source of clutter in many homes. Make a resolution to sort through your mail each day and toss or recycle pieces you don’t need. Create a space to keep bills so you don’t lose track of them. Better yet—go paperless!You can build a DIY mail organizer from a repurposed closet door!
Purge Often
Lifestyle blogger Chloe Ciliberto believes a good resolution to curbing clutter is to purge more often. Set aside some time a few times a year to get rid of things such as clothing you don’t wear, kitchen items you no longer use and old toys your kids have outgrown.Here are 10 things to know about Swedish death cleaning. (It’s much more fun than it sounds!)
Take 10 Minutes Each Day
If you take 10 minutes each day to tidy up a room, that’s more than an hour a week to clear clutter throughout your home. While some rooms such as the kitchen and living room may take a little more time, rooms such as the bathroom and guest room may take even less.Try these clutter-busting strategies for every room.
Adopt the One In/One Out Philosophy
Whenever you buy a new item, consider getting rid of an old one. This philosophy will help you keep clutter out of your closet, off counters and even your child’s toy room.Build a low-cost custom closet to stay organized.
Organize Your Laundry Room
Laundry rooms are often cramped spaces and clutter from them often makes its way into other parts of the home. To keep the laundry area clutter free, set up a drying rack to hang items. Take it a step further with these tips from Martha Stewart and add a shelf unit for laundry products and, if you can, create a spot to fold and iron items.
Also, check out these 20 small space laundry room organization tips.
Mop and Broom Organizer
Say so long to brooms and mops that always seem to fall over. This mop and broom organizer holds up to 11 tools, perfect for a garage, basement or mudroom.Try these 10 tips for organizing your garage and keeping it organized.
Jewelry Organizer
Perfect for storing jewelry at home or away, this hanging jewelry organizer has 32 pockets for storage, along with 18 hook-and-loop closures. Unlike jewelry boxes, this organization system makes it easy to find just what you’re looking for and takes up less space as it can hang in your closet.Need to hide something? Check out these secret hiding spots, perfect for stashing cash and jewelry.
Cable Organizer
All those cables don’t stand a chance of getting tangled with a cable clip. This handy organization tool will help you solve all that cable congestion when it comes to all the cords around your desk, television and charging station.Here are 15 easy home office organization ideas you need to try.
Door Organizer
Perfect to keep all those permission slips, homework packets and school folders organized, this over-the-door hanging organizer is the perfect organization tool for busy families. The organizer is easy to attach to the door and is the perfect addition to any home message center.Build a home message center with these complete how-to instructions.
Storage Rack Organizer
Gain more kitchen storage space with this handy six-hook organizer. Easy to install, this organizer lets you hang items, such as coffee mugs and utensils, in the pantry or cabinet.
Refrigerator Organizer
Need more storage space in the refrigerator? These clever storage shelf organizers are the perfect spot for fruits, cut vegetables and small snacks.These six simple steps will prevent refrigerator breakdowns.
Cosmetics Organizer
Give your cosmetics a new place to call home with this organizer kit. Easy-to-use, it will keep all your items out of sight and in the proper spot just behind the cabinet door.These 20 bathroom storage hacks are perfect for your small space.
Kitchen Sink Organizer
This sink organization tool will help keep all your dishwashing supplies in one space while freeing up valuable counter space. The organizer has two drain holes and uses suction to fit perfectly in the corner of the sink.Check out these 30 ways to revolutionize your kitchen space.
Pantry Organizer Rack
Keep all those pans and lids in their designated space with this cabinet and pantry organization rack. It has six compartments and fits most pans and lids.Check out these 16 pantry organization ideas you’ll wish you knew before.
Drawer Organizer
Get all your socks and undergarments organized with these drawer dividers. This set includes four bins and fits easily into most drawers.Check out these 15 tips to help you reclaim closet space.
Battery Organizer
Great for the basement or garage workshop, this battery organizer holds 82 batteries of various sizes. It also comes with a detachable battery tester.This is the proper way to get rid of batteries.
Find Unused Storage Space
Whether it’s in the rafters of your garage, between joists in the ceiling of your basement, inside a cabinet, etc., maximize your home’s storage space by thinking outside of the box! For example, The Family Handyman reader David Ojala uses gutters as storage shelves on the side of kitchen cabinets for one of the most clever home organization hacks we’ve seen:
Vinyl rain gutters are fairly inexpensive and great for storing small items. They come in 10-ft.-long sections, so you can cut them up with a power miter saw or hacksaw and make several shelves out of them. I just snap an end cap on each end, drill a couple of holes and attach them to my cabinets with wood screws and finish washers. For heavier stuff, I attach them with fascia gutter brackets, which you’ll find at the home center right next to the gutters. — David Ojala
Plus: 9 more uses for gutters that aren’t on the roof.
Spice Gripper Clips
Unless you love opening your spice cabinetand having little bottles of cinnamon and paprika fall on you all of the time, this is definitely one of those kitchen organization hacks you are going to want to try. These spice gripper clips keep spices in neat rows inside a cabinet or on the back of a door.
Under-Cabinet K-Cup Organizer
Love your Keurig, but hate having to always reach for the coffee pod boxes? This under-cabinet organizer makes reaching far for those boxes a thing of the past. This cabinetk-cup holder can slide down for an easy grab, and back up so it's out of your way Organizer.
Two-Tier Spice Drawer
You can build this two-tier spice drawer yourself in a day. And it allows you to organize your spices face up so you can quickly find the chili powder and dried thyme.
Instant Laundry Room Cubbies
If you don't have cabinets or shelves in your tiny laundry room, buy inexpensive plastic crates at a discount store and create your own wall of cubbies for some small room organization. Screw them to the wall studs using a fender washer in the upper corner of each crate for extra strength for DIY laundry room shelves. The crates hold a lot of supplies, and they keep tippy things like your iron from falling over. Here are some more ideas for small space storage solutions.
Add Cubbies
Add some cubbies to store toys, books and art supplies. You can add some bins to hide items, such as remotes and cables that you may not want to see displayed. Depending on your space, you can also use the design as a media console.
Photo: Courtesy of Ana White
Kitchen Storage: Better in a Basket
You come home from the grocery store with an armful of fresh fruit, but lo and behold—there's no spare fridge or counter space available. A stylish solution for this storage problem is to hang a single or tiered wire basket from the ceiling. You can store your apples, bananas, and oranges as well as potatoes, onions, and garlic here. Plus, a hanging basket adds visual interest to your kitchen.
Storage Bin Index
Like a lot of other people, my wife and I love large plastic bins. But remembering what's inside each bin is tough, and reading a small label is nearly impossible when your bins are stored high on garage shelves. We solved both problems by labeling our bins with large numbers. Each number corresponds to a page in a binder that lists the contents of each bin. It's simple to change the list, and it's a heck of a lot easier to find what you need by checking the binder than by rummaging through each bin.— reader Gerald Naumann.Editor's Note: When it comes to bin I.D. tags, we like adhesive storage pouches that let you slip index cards in and out easily. You can find these at office supply stores or online retailers.
Plastic Bag Holder
An empty rectangular tissue box makes a convenient holder for small garbage bags, plastic grocery bags and small rags. Simply thumbtack it to the inside of a cabinet door. It's one of our favorite kitchen storage ideas.
Cabinet Storage Organizers: Flip-Down Paper Tray
This tray is perfect for pens and paper. When closed, it's mostly hidden by the cabinet face frame. Hinges and magnets hold this tray in place under an upper cabinet. To install the tray, screw on the hinges first. Then open the cabinet door above and clamp the tray to the underside of the cabinet while you screw the hinges to the cabinet. Need a more robust command center? Here's how to build a message center in your kitchen instead.
Hang Spray Bottles Under the Sink
Hang spray bottles from a rod to keep them upright. It can be hard to keep spray bottles from falling over and making a mess under your bathroom and kitchen sink. To keep them upright, hang them from a short tension rod (about $12 at discount stores) in your cabinet.
Skinny Laundry Room Cart
A lot of laundry rooms have a narrow wasted space either next to or between the washing machine and dryer, and it's usually a hideout for socks and lint. To take advantage of this space and organize your laundry room, build a simple plywood laundry room cart on fixed casters to hold detergents and other laundry supplies.
DIY Tiered Hangers for More Closet Storage
Short on closet space? Use a lightweight piece of chain to stagger hanging clothing in tall closets to maximize space. Just loop the first link of the chain over the first hanger, and hang subsequent hangers on every other links after. Hang up to six shirts for the rod space of one. If you're up for a bigger project, you can build your own melamine closet storage system.
Three-Ring Tool and Appliance File
Store your appliance and tool manuals in three-ring binders so you can find them when you need them. Insert labeled dividers to organize them for quick reference instead of having them scattered in different places.
Corral Sports Gear
This sturdy ball corral holds a herd of balls and lets kids easily grab the balls at the bottom without unloading all the ones on top. It’s built from 3/4-in. plywood and 2x2s. We made our ball corral 24 in. wide x 33 in. high x 12 in. deep.
The hooks on Bungee cords can be a safety hazard for kids and adults alike. So cut the hooks off the cords (or use elastic cord available at camping, sporting goods and hardware stores). Thread the cord through predrilled holes and secure with knots. Drill the holes slightly larger than the cords to make threading them easier.
We added plumbing hooks and short gutter troughs on the outside of the corral to make it easy for kids to stash smaller balls, helmets and mitts.
Looking for ways to store bikes?Check out eight productsthat can help.
Efficient Bike Storage
Hanging bicycles from the rafters is a great way to save garage space. But even hanging bikes can take up a bunch of room. Here’s a cool space-saving product that puts a new twist on the humble bike hook. TheSaris Cycle Glideis a system of hooks mounted on glides. Once the bikes are on the hooks, they can be slid closer to the wall on the glides that mount perpendicular to the wall. And because the hooks slide back and forth on the lower set of glides, the bikes can be nestled neatly together, taking up a lot less space. This system also makes it easier to take down the bikes when they’re hanging over a parked car, a boat or a big mess like in my garage. That’s because you can pull or push the bikes clear of the obstruction before you lower it. You can buy a Saris Cycle Glide for $245 at bike stores or online.
If this style isn’t to your liking check out otherbike storage ideas.
Turn Your Hangers
Once you’re gone through your closet and weeded out the unused items, turn all hanging clothing with the hanger facing outward. After wearing an item, return it to the hanging rod with the hanger facing the back of the closet. After one year, all articles of clothing still facing outwards were not worn, and you can consider getting rid of them. Find outhow to get rid of anything.
Expand the Counter with a Kitchen Cart
A rolling kitchen cart is the next best thing to adding cabinets and countertop space. The top provides extra work space when you’re preparing that big Thanksgiving dinner. And the shelves below hold items that would otherwise consume countertop space. If you plan to use a cart for food preparation, choose one with a tough top like butcher block, stainless steel or plastic laminate. Some cart tops are glossy finished wood—beautiful, but not very durable. Carts come in a variety of wood finishes, so there’s a good chance you can match your existing cabinets. Or you can go for an eclectic look with a shiny metal or painted cart.
Tucked Away Coffeemaker
For serious coffee drinkers, stowing the coffeemaker inside a cabinet just doesn’t make sense; you’ll only have to pull it out again in a few hours. Here’s a solution: An under-cabinet coffeemaker is always available and doesn’t take up valuable counter space. Plus: here’s how to get those peskycoffee stains out of carpeting.
Under-Cabinet Knife Storage Racks
Pull-down racks give you instant access to kitchen essentials without the clutter of spice racks or knife holders. When the cooking is done, the rack swings up against the underside of the cabinet. The acrylic knife rack like the one shown here, or buy a pair of hinges only andmake your own wooden rack to hold knives, spices or other small items that take up counter space.
Off-the-Counter Microwave
Tuck the microwave under your cabinets to get it off the counter. Microwave ovens are the biggest space hogs on most countertops. With a few models, manufacturers offer optional mounting kits that let you mount the microwave under cabinets. To raise your old microwave, consider the sturdy brackets shown here. But first measure its height and the height of the space above the countertop; with a larger microwave, you might find that the space under it will be too small to be useful.
Tidy File Center
Countertops are a landing pad for paper—mail, news clippings and other assorted notes. Get that mess off your counter with folders and a file holder. The one shown here (from an office supply store) mounts with screws or double-sided foam tape. If you don't have suitable vertical surface, get a file holder that sits on the countertop. It will take up less space (and look neater) than a stack of papers. If you're short on space and could use a home office, read up on how to turn your closet into a makeshift home office!
Closet Nook Shelves
Salvage the hidden space at the recessed ends of your closets by adding a set of wire shelves. Wire shelves are available in a variety of widths.Measure the width and depth of the space. Then choose the correct shelving and ask the salesperson to cut the shelves to length for you. Subtract 3/8-in. from the actual width to determine the shelf length. Buy a pair of end mounting brackets and a pair of plastic clips for each shelf.Want more tips on organizing your closet? Check out these 11 clothes storage ideas.
Open Your Mail Over Your Recycling Bin
That way, you’ll be less tempted to save unimportant things for later “when you have time.” You’ll keep what’s really important and immediately recycle the rest.
Save that Six-Pack!
Do all of your small bottles in the refrigerator door like to tip over after opening or closing the door?Fortunately, the answer to tidying those wayward bottles is just a recycling bin away.
To keep all of your condiments under control use anempty six-pack holderto hold and organize the condiments in your refrigerator door.
This organization solution is also great for transporting your condiments for a backyard BBQ or picnic!
Under-Sink Storage Bins
What's hiding under your kitchen sink? If the space under your sink is anything like ours, it's an overcrowded jumble of cleaning supplies, sponges and plastic bags. Here's a great way to store these items right on the door of the sink cabinet. Cut a plastic storage tub in half with a utility knife and screw it to the inside of the cabinet door through the plastic lip at the top of the tub. Just make sure you position it so you can shut the cabinet door when all your bags and other supplies are in the bin.
Pullout Towel Rack
Pullout towel racks are typically meant for kitchens, but they're also perfect for cramped bathrooms. They keep damp hand towels and washcloths off the counter so they can dry out of the way. You can find pullout towel racks at discount stores and online retailers.
Closet Storage Ideas: Use Door Space Intelligently
Don't forget the door when counting your closet space! Try an over-the-door shoe organizer on the backside of a closet door to organize scarves, belts and other accessories. Or of course, shoes too! Would you rather have your shoes out where you can see them? Make this easy-to-build shoe rack with modern style!
Instant Kitchen Cabinet Organizer
A metal file organizer is perfect for storing baking sheets, cutting boards and pan lids. You can pick one up for a buck at a dollar store. To keep the organizer from sliding around, use rubber shelf liner or attach hook-and-loop tape to the cabinet base and the bottom of the organizer.Plus: 18 Inspiring Inside-Cabinet Door Storage Ideas
It’s Time to Toss Those Takeout Menus
Though your takeout bag comes with a menu or two, the reality is, you end up stuffing all that wasted paper in a drawer. Then before you know it, menu after menu, it’s hard for you to close your kitchen drawer. Toss those suckers in the recycling bin and stick to looking up menus online. Don’t miss these quick kitchen cleaning tips.
Vases and Flower Pots
Vases and flower pots will accumulate with each growing season. Make sure you only keep what you need, otherwise you’ll start to get buried by them. You likely don’t even need another flower pot, you probably have the answer in front of you. Check out these awesome DIY planters made from kitchen castoffs.
Hangers
Hangers seem to just spontaneously spawn in the closet. Don't let them choke out your closet. Find a place to store extra hangers.
Pet Supplies
Little Fido is spoiled rotten with toys and treats but don't let it get out of hand. Don't let him keep an old toy because you think it's his favorite. He'll likely find a new favorite given the opportunity.Check out other tips for dealing with pets.
Exercise Equipment
Working out a gym might be a better fit for you than sitting on that exercise bike at home, so trade in that bike. There are plenty of other people thinking some exercise equipment is the perfect addition to jumpstart an effort to get in shape.Find out how to downsize so you can make the most of the space in your house.
Plastic Storage Containers that no Longer have Lids that Fit
That container used to heat spaghetti has heated one too many noodles and the lid doesn't fit anymore or even worse, you've lost it. Sure a little plastic wrap would make it so you could store food but you've likely got other containers you've been using.But if you like think you can repurpose those things, you'll like creative storage options. You'll never guess why you should keep an empty egg carton in the bathroom.
Games with Missing Pieces
Part of the fun with some board games is if you lost a game piece you made your own but after a while, as more and more pieces disappear it's best to cut your losses. Monopoly is no fun without the car, dog, top hat and the cannon gone. No one wants to be the thimble. No one.Learn how to build your own board games and other game room ideas.
Receipts
You may have to keep some receipts for tax purposes but you don't necessarily need to keep a paper copy. Try making pdfs of receipts or take a picture of them that you can easily print if needed.Make sure to destroy personal documents after you no longer need them.
Old Freezer Items
There's likely a bag of frozen vegetables buried somewhere in your freezer and has been for a long time. Go through and check to see what you want to keep. Or come up with a clever device to make things more visible in your freezer.Check out other cleaning ideas you should check on every once in a while.
Coupons
Unless you're waiting for a call to be on Extreme Couponing get rid of all those inserts that come in the paper you don't need. The grocery store keeps books of coupons by the front door. The nice thing is those coupons have expiration dates so pick a day each month to clean out your coupon folder.Ditch those coupons and find the 15 things you should buy at Costco.
Cards
Grandma always gets the best birthday cards for you but you're not obligated to hang on to it for eternity. Establish a rule, George Costanza said the rule is a minimum of two days.Try keeping a card organizer around during the holidays if you really need to display cards.
Phone Books
A phone book is sort of turning into a historical artifact these days. They're pretty handy when you have a wobbly table but when you can look up a number on the web from your phone and dial in one touch, it's hard to justify having a phone book around.If you really do have a wobbly table or chair, found out how to fix a broken chair.
Old Makeup
Makeup will dry up if it goes unused and when it does, make sure to toss it. If you keep it around to keep track of what it is, write it down somewhere. Purging your bathroom drawers will open things up for your home. Items such as shampoo and conditioner caps, hair gel tubes, hair spray triggers, lip balm tubes, soap dispensers, mascara tubes, powder cases and eyeliner pencils can be recycled.Learn other ways to open up your bathroom.
Old Towels or Bedding
Having a few old towels around is helpful for cleaning but they can build up in a hurry if you're not careful. Go ahead and get rid of them after they've outlived their usefulness.Find out how to keep your linens fresh without chemicals.
Old Glasses
Your prescription changes over time so keeping those old glasses around isn't helping anybody. The frames might be nice but you don't really need more than two pairs of glasses. You can donate old glasses to the Lions Club, which has set up Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centers.
Old Computers
Before getting rid of an old computer, make sure all your personal information has been deleted to prevent identity theft. If you have a laptop check out what kind of battery it has so you can find out what to do with it. Some laptop batteries have special requirements for recycling. Find out some other interesting items you can recycle that you didn't think you could.
Old Cellphones
According the Environmental Protection Agency, back in 2007 only 10 percent of cellphones got recycled. Drop boxes have sprouted up across the country but you can still contact the cellphone company to send an old phone back. Or you can donate it to one of several charities that have set up recycling programs.Find out how to boost your cellphone signal at home.
Old Shoes
You found the perfect shoes for that outfit a long time ago and you don't even wear that outfit anymore, so why not lose the shoes? Or you've replaced your lawn mowing shoes three times but still have the previous two pair sitting around. Ditch those shoes, you might even be able to recycle them. Make sure your shoes aren't stomping all over your mudroom with some shoe storage hacks.
Old Cords
You've got the power cord for the original Nintendo still but the rest of it has disappeared. Get rid of the cord and any other homeless cords you've got laying around. And for those ones that you still need, try organizing them with toilet paper rolls.
PVC Storage
There are plenty of ingenious hacks for PVC pipe that you can use when organizing your basement. This DIY PVC pipe wrapping station organizer is a great way to keep wrapping paper, craft supplies and even small toys neat and tidy.
Fill Glass Jars
Smaller craft and school supplies might seem difficult to organize, but not if you use glass jars. Buy new glass jars at the grocery store, or wash and reuse pickle, olive, jam or jelly jars. See how a Mason jar can do some heavy lifting around the house.
Shoe Solution
We have a strict policy at our house about removing your shoes before entering the house. (It works most of the time.) Once we implemented the rule, the next problem was the clutter of shoes blocking the door. While I was looking at the coat rack in the entry, it dawned on me that I could do the same for shoes, so I built another one and hung it close to the floor. — Jimmy Keen. Get your mudroom organized with these 15 simple solutions.
Store Your Artificial Tree in a Tube
Now that the holiday is over, what's the best way to store an artificial Christmas tree? Many people like the convenience of an artificial Christmas tree, but storing it can be a pain because it takes up so much space. Here's an idea: Buy two 8-in.-diameter concrete form tubes, wrap each layer of the tree in twine and shove half of the tree layers down each tube. Mark the layer numbers on each tube and slide the tubes up in your garage rafters for a perfect storage solution!Need more more storage space for your tree and other Christmas decorations? Check out these great garage cabinets.
Corral Your Gift Wrap
Want to know how to store wrapping paper in a neat and orderly fashion? Propping up rolls of gift wrap in the corner of a hall closet often means wrinkled, torn or lost rolls. Here's a way to keep the rolls neatly organized and easy to reach. Make a wrapping paper 'corral' by screwing a small section of wire closet shelving vertically to the side of a closet wall. Just slide the rolls in and out of the corral?they won't tumble over or get lost behind the coats. Check out more closet decluttering tips here.
Make Cardboard Storage Spools for Your Holiday Light Strings
Next up: How to store Christmas lights. Here's a great way to recycle cardboard and keep your strings of holiday lights from getting tangled when you store them. Just use strips of cardboard and cut out a slot on each end to make a 'spool' to keep the lights from slipping off.
Keep Your Lights in Labeled Plastic Bags
This has got to be the easiest way to store strings of holiday lights. Just put each string in a separate plastic bag and write where the lights go right on the bag. No wrapping or coiling necessary. It's in the bag!
Make Holiday Light Storage Stands
Storing holiday light strings without wrecking them is tough. Here's a great idea: Just screw a dowel to each end of a wooden base cut to the size of a large plastic bin. Then wrap your lights around the dowels in a figure eight and place the stand in the bin. You'll be amazed how many light strings you can wrap around the stands without them getting tangled or damaged. Check out these other great storage ideas.
Hose Reel for Holiday Lights
To keep holiday lights from getting tangled and make it easy to string them around the yard, roll all the strings of lights onto a portable hose reel with wheels and a handle. Check out these other great Christmas light storage ideas.
Labeled Tree Layers
Artificial Christmas trees are assembled in color-coded layers. After a few years, the colors rub off (or you lose the instructions), and putting the tree together gets confusing. Try this simple trick. When you disassemble the tree at the end of the season, do it one level at a time. Once all the branches from one level are off, duct-tape them together and number each layer with a marker. Next year, the tree will go together in a snap!
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