34 weeks of Clean! Week 26- The Dreaded Storage Room/Attic

Confession time! Here is what happens when you are hosting a 34 Weeks of Clean series!  Each time you clean a room, stuff gets shoved to the storage area.  Some of it was to give away, some were items that needed to go to the dump, (like the broken office chair) and some things were just in a holding pattern.  Add that to the chaos in my current life situation, and well, you see what happened. 

Don't worry, hubby, I promise better pictures are to come.

Before-

I took some tables out I needed and dumped it all in the floor! Nice, huh?!

I share this with you to say, things happen.  Life happens.  Not even the Queen of Clean, whomever she may be, leads a perfectly clean and organized life.  I know, can you believe it?  So while we are doing our best to take back our homes, we must also give ourselves the grace to just do the best we can.

BUT, no excuses.  Let's do our best!

On that note- today we are tackling those pesky storage areas and attics.  Well, today and maybe a few more days this week! ;)

After-

This actually represents two separate places.

I know I have encouraged you not to spend lots of money buying things to help you organize, but I broke down and bought a new storage shelf system with my awesome 13 year old helped me assemble.  I will say, I do think we often buy "things" to help us organize like buckets, baskets and such, and then wind up with just as much stuff as we had, just disguised in pretty holders.  Don't fall into that trap.  Remember that one of our goals is to pare down our stuff.  But, I do realize we have some things we need to keep, though probably not as much as we think if we are being honest.  That being said, to get all the stuff off our floors we did put this rack in place and then put stuff back a little neater.

So storage rooms and attics, here we come!

• If at all possible, take everything out.  This was not possible for us, so we concentrated on sections at a time.

• Sweep out the area!  Don't forget the cobwebs in the rafters.  Boo hiss on spiders!  Have I ever told you I am afraid of spiders?

• Go through everything BEFORE you put it back.  Get rid of things you do not need (no hoarding), do not use, or is no longer useful.  Remember the "Do I use it? Would I buy it again?" rule!

• Make a plan!  Please don't skip this step.  Think about where you want to put things BEFORE you do so.  It will save you time and energy.  Ask me how I know this.

• Be creative in storage!

Unless you are in transition, I would honestly have to tell you that if you do not have enough room to store your "stuff," you may have too much "stuff."  It is my dream to not have anything in storage areas with the exception of seasonal things like clothes and Christmas decorations, but until we stop moving that is not reality.  One day soon, maybe!  The only thing we can do in the meantime is keep the stuff to a minimum and remember that our joy does not come from things, but in God alone.  

And maybe a newly cleaned room! ;)

Our giveaway basket pile is growing!  What is one thing you would like to see in the basket if it arrives on your doorstep?

Week 25- The Yard

Week 27- Clothes Storage

Blessings,

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