"The Best of BH&G" - Awesome Declutter Tips

Every month, my mom gives me her Better Homes and Gardens and Sunset Magazines for me to read and look through. Most of the time, I look at the huge stack and think, "What am I going to do with all those magazines? I don't have time to read them."

 

However, being the great knowledge seeker that I am, I can't let all the wonderful information go to waste!  I'll typically scan through each magazine and tear out the articles that I liked best or that I wanted to take something away from them. But then, what to do with all those torn out pages? I never end up looking at them again and they end up getting scrunched into drawers or thrown away!

So I decided, how about I just summarize the best parts of my favorite articles and blog about them, hence the birth of "The Best of BH&G" and "The Best of Sunset"! That way I can easily refer back to the information WITHOUT taking up space in my house and you all can benefit from the information, as well.

From the latest Better Homes and Gardens magazine, I enjoyed an article that provided tips on how to declutter areas of your house this new year. This article couldn't have come at a better time, since I've been trying to make a conscious effort to get rid of things and reclaim more space in our house.

So without further ado, here are some of the tips that applied to me and that I found most helpful:

BEST Declutter Tips from Better Homes and Gardens - Jan 2011

#3 ~ When you're trying to decide whether to keep something, ask yourself three questions: Do I love it? Do I use it? Could someone else use it? Claire Kurtz, thewellorganizedwomen.com

#7 ~ Relegating a sentimental item you no longer have use for to a box in the closet, basement, or attic does nothing to honor it. Instead, take a photo of the item and put it in a scrapbook or load it on your digital picture frame. Then donate the item. It's both space-saving and respectful. Scott Roewer, professional organizer

#8 ~ Each spring and fall, do CPR on your closet: Categorize, Purge, and Rearrange. Carefully consider each item. If it doesn't make you feel wonderful or look fabulous, it's a no. Put it in the "to donate" box, and put that box in your car right away. Debbie Lillard, author of Absolutely Organized

#10 ~ I spend a few minute every night before bed restoring order to my purse. I remove all trash, return floating change to my wallet and replenish tissues and business cards. It makes me feel ready to start the day.
Claire Kurtz ** I've been trying to do this one daily and it seems to help.**

#18 ~ Fit a cardboard banker's box with 13 pocket folders. At the end of the school year, go through your child's artwork and school papers together to select only as many favorites as will fit in one folder. Memories from an entire school career will fit neatly on the shelf. Julie Morgenstern

#21 ~  Is your linen closet overflowing? Pare down your stock to three towels and washclothes per person, two sets of sheets per bed, plus a set each for guests Voila! A roomier linen closet. Laura Wittman

In the spirit of the article, I decided to take Tip #21 to heart a couple of weekends ago and transformed our linen closet from this...

to this...

 

 

It may not look like much to you, but wow! Having all of the towels and sheets folded and organized properly makes them so much easier to get in and out of the closet! We'll see how long it will stay like this... It's been about a week or so and things are still in order.

Do you have any awesome decluttering tips that you would like to share with all the "clutter bugs" out there?

Image Credits: Better Homes and Gardens, Sunset Magazine