5 Tips for a Successful Purge

Allow me to share a picture of my closet with you (obviously not in need of a purge, right?!):

What? You think I’m lying? You mean, that’s not what the closet looks like in your installation housing?

Okay, I couldn’t get through that last part with a straight face.

Fine, that’s not my closet. This is my closet.

A sad bit smaller than my dream closet, although I also realize that, for some of you, even this closet might look spacious.

As I mention in this post, years in the military seem to produce an incredible accumulation of stuff. Military gear, memorabilia, furniture, and household goods pile up quickly, and before you know it, you have way too much stuff and not nearly enough space for all of it.

If you’ve ever found yourself in this position, you could likely benefit from a purge.

A purge is what I like to call my annual clean out of excess stuff. It’s one of my least favorite jobs, but it has my most favorite results! I literally go room by room through my house and get rid of the things we no longer use or need. The result is less junk, more space, and a whole lot less stress. It’s a big task, but over the years, I’ve honed my technique, and I’m more than happy to pass along what I’ve learned about the process.

Here are my tried-and-true tips for making a purge successful:

1. Focus on one area at a time.

Here’s how my purges used to go: I’d start cleaning off the kitchen island. On the island, I’d find some paperwork that needed to be filed. I’d take it upstairs, only to realize there’s no space in the filing cabinet. I’d start cleaning old paperwork out of the filing cabinet, and find an old bill that I couldn’t remember paying. I’d log on to pay the bill and mysteriously end up on Facebook. Suddenly, four hours have gone by, my office is now a mess, my kitchen island is no better than before, and I’m sitting on the floor watching videos of baby goats. Not a good strategy.

Instead, choose one room at a time and only work in that room. If you find something that belongs in another room, take it to that room, set it down, and walk back to the original room. You can deal with that item later, once you’ve finished working in your focus space.

2. Give yourself a time limit, and stick to it.

If I were to be perfectly honest, I could probably spend about eight months cleaning out my house and still not be completely finished, but if I took that approach, I would definitely hate my life and spend most of my time watching videos of baby goats (again). So, I use time limits to keep myself motivated and productive.

To do this effectively, set aside a reasonable amount of time for each area you’re tackling, and stick with it. For a full room, I usually set aside two days. For a closet, I might give it six hours, but whatever the time limit, once it’s over, stop! Go take care of something else or kick back and relax for a little bit, but don’t do any additional purging in your focus space once time is up. Time limits not only motivate you to stay on task, but they also help prevent burnout.

3. Enlist help where it will be most helpful.

Okay, I know that statement doesn’t sound very groundbreaking; however, many of us are used to being independent and taking care of things on our own. Purging, though, can be a big task, and seeking meaningful help will make a difference.

Are you the sentimental type who has a hard time letting go of things? Perhaps get your less sentimental partner or friend to help you evaluate what should be kept and what should be purged.

Do you have older children? Let them handle the purging in their room or closet.

Do you have young children? Do yourself a favor and hire a babysitter for the reasons shown in the video below:

Get the help you need, and your time spent purging will be shorter and more productive.

4. Sort items into trash, treasure, or purgatory piles.

Trash is self-explanatory, and it goes straight to the trashcan at the end of each day—no leaving it sitting on the floor!

Treasure includes all the items that will be getting new homes. These items can either be donated or sold, depending on the quality of the item and the time you’re willing to invest.

The purgatory pile is for all the things you’re not quite sure about getting rid of. For example, perhaps you have a jacket you’ve worn for one or two occasions—it might be useful again, but you probably could also live without it. Put these questionable items into purgatory! They’ll all go into a box, which will be stored in your closet or garage. If you end up needing the item, go get it out of purgatory, but anything that hasn’t been touched by your next purge automatically goes straight to trash or treasure!

A quick note about the treasure pile. If you want to donate, you can always give your items to national organizations like Goodwill, Salvation Army, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, or Disabled American Veterans, but also consider supporting smaller local organizations. Emergency or homeless shelters are often seeking donations, or try taking items to local nursing homes or schools. Selling your used items may seem more appealing due to the money you could make, but carefully consider the time involved and what you will actually get for each item. You can list items on Craigslist, Ebay, or a local Facebook yard sale page, but this involves taking pictures, monitoring the status of your ad, and responding to inquiries. Also, if you take this route, make sure you prioritize your own safety—never share your address online, and try to meet potential buyers in public places or with a trusted friend whenever possible.

5. Use what you have.

You can spend a small fortune on organizational supplies if you really want to, but it usually isn’t necessary. You can keep your remaining items neat, tidy ,and organized with items you already have on hand. Try using an old ice cube tray to organize jewelry or an old silverware tray to sort makeup or medications. If you have a particularly creative thumb, Pinterest is full of great suggestions as well, such as these chic fabric bins from cardboard boxes.

 

 

 

Purging may seem like a miserable prospect, but with the right strategy, it doesn’t have to be! Once you’ve developed a system that works for your household, make it a regular part of your routine. Each purge will get a little less overwhelming, a little bit faster, and a little bit more enjoyable, and the results will always be fantastic.

Good luck!

 

What tips do you have on purging effectively?