My third annual January Junk Out Jamboree is in full swing. I started strong and have already tackled the first five spaces.
Like last year, I made a list of 31 areas to clean, purge and organize. I find doing it this way is so much more manageable and motivating. I don’t necessarily go in order. Instead, I pick a task – big or small – that can reasonably be accomplished with whatever other commitments I have that day. My list goes into my notebook that never leaves my sight. Mother and Sister always joke about stealing it and reading everything I’ve jotted down. :-) I have lists for everything under the sun.
Here is my 2021 list:
- garage shelf and lockers
- garage closets and repaint door
- mudroom
- kitchen cabinets and touch up paint
- kitchen pantry
- kitchen lights (basically dust and clean the bulbs)
- polish copper pots
- hall closet
- den baskets and lights
- dining room light
- polish silver
- living room cabinets and desk
- office closet
- office drawers and cabinets
- porch
- john’s closet and clean all bedding
- john’s drawers and desk
- whit’s closet and clean all bedding
- whit’s drawers and secretary
- guest room closet
- guest room drawers and armoire
- master closet
- master drawers and clean all bedding
- fridge in kitchen and garage
- master bath and refill toiletries
- boy’s bath and refill toiletries
- guest bath cabinets
- laundry room
- basement cabinets
- powder room
- my car and purse
Do you do an annual cleaning challenge like this? I used to do mine at lent, but was motivated to start in January a while back and loved getting off on a fresh, clean start!
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I would love to see what notebook you use. My go to calendar/notebook is no longer available and i can not find one I like.
I too am a list maker. I make a list each morning and love to see that line marking off the chore as I complete it. If I do something that is not on the list – I add it and then cross it off! Lol
I am off for two weeks with the kids over the holidays and use that time to do a clean and toss. I love resetting and starting the new year with a refreshed attitude. I like your idea of listing out everything then doing it as time allows. Allows for more flexibility and less stress to complete a room or zone in one day. I am going to make my list now and put it in my planner for December 2021!
Dear Amanda, We are still looking to get your notebook and take pictures of your pages and all your lists! I need to do the junkout too!
Love, Marme
Oh my goodness! I agree that this makes it not quite so overwhelming. I am borrowing parts of your list and adding some of my own. This way is definitely more manageable. Thanks for sharing Amanda!
I think I felt a little exhausted after reading that list :)
I don’t do a purge/cleanout on the scale you do but I always do a smaller scale one. I start with our closets and go through clothes/shoes we no longer wear or are showing age and donate. Next, I go through our linen closet. When towels start showing their age or get discolored, I give them to our son for bathing his dogs. Each season, I go through my home decor storage bins and do a inventory. When I have things that I haven’t used in a long while or they no longer fit my decor I take them to consignment or donate. I put all my consignment proceeds in a savings acct so when I see something new I love or want I use those funds towards the purchase.
When our state shut down in March and I was no longer traveling, I made an incredibly long list of things that I wanted to do in those first two weeks since I was sure that’s the most amount of time I would be home! LOL… I continued to add things based on the month/season. And bit by bit, I marked off things like “get Real ID”, eye doctor, clean bathroom shelves, set up new scanner..over 200+ items…and I am amazed that when the last week of December rolled around…I had only 2 things left….I used the Notes section on my iPhone and clicked the circle beside that item when I finished and I am happy that I didn’t delete any items and it’s amazing all that I accomplished by doing 1-2 things a day even as I worked remotely…I started traveling again in September but my list just went with me….kudos to you for tacking these projects! I know you will get them all done!!
if you don’t mind- would you be able to post how you organize or stock up what supplies you use? i’m always trying to get more organizing ideas and i adore your home! i don’t do annual cleaning challenges but i definitely try to clean and tidy up a little each week!
I wish I could do this. It it is the stuff of life that makes me feel sick purging. I try to be really selective of what comes into our house (ie during little kid party years I never gave or accepted goodie bags of Oriental Trading/Dollar General, as for appliances I pay a pretty penny up front for something repairable, versus basically broken & disposable in a couple years)
I make all these piles of books, clothes, towels, toys trying to keep out of landfill and to a spot that could use it best. It is exhausting
I don’t end up purging a lot because, like you, I’m particular about what comes in! Clothes get donated. Books go in our little free library. A few other odds and ends go to Goodwill. Most of it is cleaning and organizing! Finding better ways to store things, putting things back in their places, dusting out shelves and closets and places. :-)
I confess..I have housecleaning ADD – many projects started at same time, few completed.
Terrible
Love this, Amanda. You are an inspiration. We have two lists.
1) 21 things we want to do in 2021 with family and friends
2) Home Renovations for 2021