Empty out your junk drawer. Discard anything no longer needed. Return items back, keeping like-items with like-items.

A GON Reader Asked:

Hello Maria,

I've been reading your Get Organized Now! newsletter for years and have benefited greatly from many of your ideas. Now I have a question. We have been blessed to have a 'main' house and a vacation home for many years. We have decided to downsize to just one house in the coming year. However, both houses are full of furniture, clothing, books, dishes, linens, decorations, self-care items, and other things we love.

I have purged and organized regularly for many years, so we don't have much 'junk.' However, there are duplicates of almost everything! We'll want to keep some things from each house. Can you help me work out a method for separating what is to be kept, moved, sold, stored, or given away? For example, in the living room in one house, I want to keep the piano, a few lamps, some art work, and the loveseat. In the other living room, I need to sell the piano, donate the loveseat, keep one lamp and donate the others, etc.

We plan to hire movers, but I envision a logistical nightmare and don't know how to coordinate this. Do I need to remove all the 'donate' items first? We're in a rural area without a Goodwill pickup truck, so any donations will have to be hauled by yours truly. I'm overwhelmed just thinking about it! I know this is long, and it reflects my worry about this! Please help! Thank you!

--Lonette Gregersen, a loyal reader

Maria Gracia's Response:

Hi Lonette,

This is a huge project...and you may have already started since you sent this note to me awhile ago. To keep it as simple as possible, here's what I suggest to help you get a big chunk of it accomplished.

1. Focus first on the home you're going to be living in once you downsize. From that home, give away anything you're donating. Sell anything you're selling. Toss anything you're donating or throwing out. The less you have, the less stressful this project is going to be. Plus, once you do this, you'll be able to clearly see what you can fit from your other house, and what you can't.

2. Put emphasis on the BIG items next, like your furniture, the piano, TVs, etc. Draw a sketch of each room in the house you'll be living in. Then begin adding notes (or drawings) signifying the big items that are going in each room. Be sure to include the big items that are already there, and those you are transferring there. Once you have this, label each piece of furniture with the room name (BEDROOM, DINING ROOM, etc.) If you come across something that's not going to work in the home you'll be living in (like if you discover it's too big), that item should be labeled DONATE.

3. Focus on the decor accessories and vital electronics/tools next, like lamps, art, computers, microwaves, etc. Using your sketches, begin adding notes about what items are going in each room. Once you have this, label each item with the room it's going in. This does not include tiny items, like kitchen gadgets and such.

4. Make those labels highly visible. Be sure, when you label, that the labels are large, so you can see them immediately, like large sheets of 8 1/2 inch by 11 inch paper, and use a THICK black marker, versus tiny sticky notes written in pen or pencil. I know this is going to make your 'move out house' look like a retail store for a little bit, but it will only be until the movers get the proper items into your 'move in home.'

5. Divide into two. I also suggest, and I know this is going to look messy for a bit, if you can move all the items you are transferring to the home you'll be living in to one side of each room...and everything else to the other side of the room, this will help you better visualize AND will also help the movers.

6. Handling duplicates. I'm assuming that most of your basic living needs are in both homes, and for the most part, keeping duplicates is going to be unnecessary. So, unless you have a favorite pot in the kitchen, favorite towels in the linen closet, etc. perhaps pick and choose just those items and consider donating or selling most of the rest from the 'move out house.'

7. Consider a POD. If available in your area, you might consider a POD. The POD trucks deliver a large container (the size of a rental truck) that sits in your driveway. You load it up on your schedule. When it's done being loaded, it's delivered to your new home's driveway. I believe they offer loading/unloading services too.

Good luck! I'd love to hear about this project when it's all done!

P.S. If you allow it, the 'clutter monster' will take over your home and your life. Take back control and say goodbye to your clutter today. Goodbye Clutter!

"I try to abide by your principles I've learned from your GON in 5 Minutes Newsletter and it is so good to see you suggesting these to your readers."
-- Jessica Bailey

"Hi Maria, Your newsletter is absolutely brilliant as far as I am concerned! Really hits the nail on the head for sooooooo many things in my life. Loved the recent procrastination video you mentioned. Thank you!" -- Julie Swift, Victoria, Australia

I'd really love to know your thoughts about GON in Five Minutes! Just hit Reply and let me know.

-- Thanks! Maria

To fast-forward to getting organized today, visit:

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___ 1. Do today's task on my March Monthly Organizing Checklist. The March 24 TO DO focuses on behind the refrigerator. Visit GetOrganizedNow.com to access my March Monthly Organizing Checklist.

___ 2. Relax and read a book today. Last month, GON readers responded to, 'How many books do you read for enjoyment in any given month?' Visit GetOrganizedNow.com to access the results of that poll, as well as personal reader comments.

___ 3. Schedule a garage sale. Garage sales are an excellent way to get rid of clutter AND make a few extra bucks for yourself and your family. To ensure it's successful, get your hands on a copy of my Garage Sale Toolkit!

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