The 3 Box Rule has helped me the most in my efforts to dejunk my home. I’ve used it for years and still do every time I clean out an area in my house. So simple yet so effective! These three boxes with a couple other instructions will aid you in your effort to make life a little less messy and complicated.
Supplies
Get 3 large sturdy boxes and label them as follows.
(Downloadable signs below if you want to get fancy.)
1.THROW AWAY
This box is for garbage and items that are no longer usable or worthwhile for anyone to use or keep.
2. GIVE AWAY
Things that still have use but you don’t need anymore. Take these items to the thrift store and let someone else benefit from them.
3. PUT AWAY
Items that go in another room in your home.
Free Signs Download
Printable Signs To Tape On Boxes
How To
Working in ONE ROOM AT A TIME, put your boxes in the center of that room. Starting in one spot and working around the room go through things and toss them in the appropriate box using this IMPORTANT GUIDELINE: If you haven’t used it in 13 months chances are you will never use it. (This allows for holidays)
After you’ve completed a room, deal with each box you’ve filled RIGHT THEN AND THERE. Put away the items that belong in other rooms. Take your throw away items and dump them in an outside trash bin if at all possible. Put the items you will give away in another box or bag and CLOSE IT. Place it in your car and take to the Thrift Store as soon as it’s convenient. The key point here is to get all your box items out of sight and out of your home as fast as you can. Otherwise its way too tempting to pull things back out.
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Great tips to get started! I have the addition of a sell box as well. However, I need to get better about just letting it go after a no go at selling.
Ah… yeah for yard sales or ebay. I should have thought of that!
I love letting go of stuff. I have a giveaway box all the time! This caught my eye on Inspiration Spotlight Link up today!
Very good idea Suzie… and give away box that’s available all the time. Love it!
I’m really going to need to do this! We recently moved to Florida and our new house is going to be much smaller than the one we’re moving into (plus we used to have a huge basement for storage…Florida houses don’t have basements). I already know that we’re going to have to get rid of a lot but it’s a good thing. We collected so much “stuff” when we lived in our huge house and I know we don’t need most of it. Thanks for a great post!
We are moving really soon and I have been trying to seriously de clutter. I tend to hop about a bit instead of a methodical room by room approach. Thanks for the tips.
Your so welcome Julie. I’ve found my box method to be indispensable. I’ve used it for years. I need things to be orderly even when I’m cleaning a mess. lol! Thanks for the comment! Good luck on your move!
We did this after Christmas to make room for the new stuff and it was awesome! I also have a rule about clothes…if I haven’t worn it in the last 6 months (12 months if seasonal) It’s OUTTA here! Thanks for sharing at Pin Me Later Link-up, I pinned! for later 😉 hehe
Good for you! Once you start doing that you realize how much easier life is! Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting… and pinning!
Great idea to declutter. I have a few rooms that need this done. When my husband was in the Navy I often decluttered when we moved. After being in one place for a long time things are getting very cluttered.
Yeah when you move a lot you tend to do it naturally. Thanks so much for reading and for the comment!