Organizing Your Belongings in Your New Rental Continued from cover..
Step 1: Get rid of the junk. Make three piles: Things to keep, things to sell or donate, and things to throw away. If you really need to, you can also make a pile of things to put in storage. Get some boxes and bags and get to it. Tell yourself that if you haven’t used it in the past year, you really don’t need it. Don’t allow yourself to stop halfway through, as this will only drag out the process. This is about cleaning up your life as much as it is your closets. This is also a good time to drop off or try to sell those items you decided to give up. Clean clothing can be brought to a resale shop. Items that may be of some value or of use to others can be brought to a company that will sell items for you online. These places will usually charge you a fee, but you will get some money back if your items sell. Donating useful items to the Salvation Army or other charitable organization is also a good idea.
Step 2: Set up a system. You don’t want to be stuck in this situation again next month, which is why you need to come up with a better way to store your belongings. Consider some of these storage/organizational items to help you out:
• Fold clothes and put them away neatly and in a logical location. Put clothing that is not currently in season (e.g., winter sweaters and coats) into storage bins and exchange the items in the bins for the items you have in your closet when the weather changes.
• Keep one file organizer for all your important papers and documents. Label each section with “home,” “auto,” “medical,” “insurance” and anything else you need. As soon as you bring home a receipt or get a document in the mail, put it in the file so that paperwork does not overwhelm you.
• Empty out bags and purses and put those items away. Maybe you’ll even find a hidden $20 bill!
• Under-the-bed storage boxes or bins. • Furniture that doubles as storage, like tables with drawers underneath and open-top ottomans.
• Plastic storage bins with drawers for easy access.
• Racks for shoes. • Shelving that can be installed in closets. • Filing systems for papers and documents. • Hanging racks near the door for keys and coats.
Step 3: Sort and Sift. Now that you are left with only those items you must keep, it’s time to get organized. • Bring your belongings to the place where it makes the most sense to use them.You’d be surprised how many people store bathroom cleaners in the kitchen and shoes in the living room.
• Throw out things that are just taking up space (shoeboxes, CD cases and boxes from purchases you’ve had for several months or more).
• If you have a good amount of photos and other memorabilia, purchase an album or scrapbook.
• Allow yourself one drawer, shelf or bin for “junk.” This might include a radio that needs to get fixed, batteries that need to be recharged or photos you need to put away. When the space gets full, you know it’s time to start putting things away. We’ve given you the secrets to getting organized, but keeping it organized is completely up to you!
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THE WASHINGTON POST/READY TO RENT/DECEMBER 19, 2010
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