The Organised Housewife » Tips, ideas, inspiration and motivation to help keep you and your household clean and organised

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Decluttering Tasks

Take the Declutter 52 Things in 52 Weeks Challenge

YOU CAN DO IT!

The 52 Week Challenge is decluttering ’52 Things’ from the home in 2011.  It’s never too late to join.

The Steps of Declutter 52 Things in 52 Weeks:

Step 1: Determine what are your organising goals

Step 2: What is clutter

Step 3: 5 steps to clear your clutter

Step 4: Start the 52 things in 52 weeks Challenge

Step 5: How to part with sentimental items

Step 6: Create a to-do list

Items to declutter to date:

Task 1 – Turn coathangers

Task 2 – Soft toys

Task 3 – Organise Coffee Table

Task 4 – Remove 3 bed linens

Task 5 – Remove 5 items from under laundry sink

Task 6 – Little laundry cupboard

Task 7 – The ironing pile

Task 8 – Broom cupboard

Task 9 – Kids colouring books

Task 10 – The freezer

Task 11 – The kids wardrobe

Task 12 – Board games

Task 13 – Nail polish

Task 14 – Birthday candles

Task 15 – Contents of handbag

Task 16 - Expired beauty products

Task 17 - The Bathroom cupboard

Task 18 – Birthday Cards

Task 19 – Unused exercise equipment

Task 20 – Around your kitchen sink

Task 21 – Songs you don’t like on your ipod

Task 22 - Shoes you can’t walk in + {Review} Benjibox  

Task 23 – My suitcase, only the necessities

Task 24 – Odd socks

Task 25 – Handbag collection

Task 26 – Wardrobe Cabinets

Task 27 – One Shelf

 

Task 28 – Junk Mail

Task 29 – Old Video Tapes

Task 30 – Broken Electrical Equipment 

Task 31 – Play Jewellery 

More decluttering challenges from 2010:

  1. Declutter your kitchen bench
  2. Sort through the kids toys
  3. Use items from pantry
  4. Use fabric from your stash
  5. Throw away old cleaners
  6. Get rid of craft supplies you won’t use
  7. Organise old food magazine recipes
  8. Throw 5 from your handbag
  9. Throw away all kids tried textas
  10. Throw away 10 from your office drawer
  11. Throw away 10 things decluttering your kitchen

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Grab the Declutter 52 Things in 52 Weeks Challenge Button

 

The Organised Housewife
The Organised Housewife

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  • http://propodder.com Jay Walsh

    Neat idea, Katrina (pun intended). Also, a great idea on how to get readers viewing previous posts!

  • http://www.threelilprincesses.com Kellie @ThreeLi&#039

    Oh, how I need to follow this list! Fantastic! :)

  • http://www.ourlifeinblogform.com Tracy

    Great idea for a list! Like Jay said – a great way to get readers to view previous posts too.

    PS I am so glad that I've found your blog.. so many helpful ideas!

  • http://jaredandrebekah.com Rebekah

    I LOVE organisation! :) Great resources!

  • http://robecriluto.com/ Beet

    I'll have to go through some of these!

  • Bec

    You have the most amasing site! Thank you so much for doing this.
    I have just started the decluttering and it is exactly the plan i need. i am so looking forward to creating my HOME, rather than just living in my House. I have recently become a SAHM (My little one is now 6months) and am finding your suggestions great for helping me find my way in this new full time job. :-)

    • Katrina

      Thankyou Bec, I am so happy you are enjoying the website. That’s exactly right, you need your home to feel homly and comfortable and to the standard you desire. Look forward to hearing how your journey goes!!

  • Colleen Williams

    Hi Kat,

    I just had to let you know how your website helps me everyday. The ideas are fabulous. You have helped me rediscover the joy in having my home organised, clutter free and easy and enjoyable to live in. I have three children all close in age and the home was more a chore that I never enjoyed. Now its a different story and the kids even get in on the act. Thank you so much in leading the way in us all rediscovering the joys of a home rather than a house, and rediscovering that being a housewife isnt something to be embarrassed about. Its been a dying art in todays world I feel. I love that my children come home to peace, love, warmth and know they have a Mum who cares about them and the environment they live in. I am a much happier person for it thats for sure. Keep up the inspiring work!!

    Kind Regards

    Colleen Williams

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  • chari buchman

    VERY HELPFUL!!!! THANK YOU!

  • Ebonie

    Well I am going to try and do this challenge. I want to get to the stage that the house looks really good most of the time… Like I’m always playing catch up, only every getting my job half done…

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1415644307 Leanne Woollard

    a medical cabinet/cupboard/box blog would be such a great idea, knowing what to have and keeping it organised is always something i try and do 6 monthly :)

    • http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina

      I have taken a few shots for the newsletter and then some more to create a complete post about it soon for you :)

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  • Belinda

    I hate clutter & de clutter as often as i can which is what made my year to find your site, my husband often calls me ocd but i think its just the more crap you have the more time you spend cleaning it. your website especially showed me how to part with a lot of clutter i was hanging onto from my childhood & past…. I cant thankyou enough for that (my husband thanks you to, lol)
    1 de cluttering discovery i have found which is saving my sanity is using my old finish tablet containers as storage deviders in my most messiest draw i have in the house, the 2nd kitchen draw.. elastics, medicine cups, plastic clips etc…. My solution is saving my sanity big time, 5 of them fit neatly along the front of my draw and i have a much tidier & organised draw. i will post a picture on your facebook page & you can feel free to share it with everyone as i have also got a lot out of your site & if i can help others it would make me so happy, also that it being a very inexpensive way to organise!!
    Belinda

    • http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina

      I love it Belinda, just saw the photo, thankyou for sharing. I’ll add it into the newsletter for everybody to see your great tip!

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  • Anonymous

    Hi Kat – I have just found your site and I really love it. It is exactly what I have been looking for as I am so sick and tired of living in chaos.

    As this year is well and truly half way over I plan on doing 2 Challenges per week and so far this week I have decluttered the horror cupboard under the kitchen sink and the expired beauty products in my bathroom. It is such a liberating experience for me and I am feeling so motivated – just hope I can keep it up. I have been drowning in clutter for way too long and it has been holding me back from really reaching my full potential. Thank you for helping me the best me I possibly can be!

    • http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina

      You can get there Susan, you sound motivated, keep with it and eventuallly you will be enjoying your space around you.

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  • Paula

    Hi Kat

    I discovered your website a few weeks ago and have become a bit obsessed. So far this week I have sorted out the linen cupboard, decluttered as many soft toys as I could get away with and rearranged my hanging cupboard by turning the hangers around. Couldn’t wait to get home from work today so I could plan for the weekend. Sad, but true.

  • Wylva Hall

    Hi, I have recently come across your site and I absolutely love it! I dont just want to be more organised – I NEED to be! Your site is giving me motivation and path to a better organised life. I have also just started blogging myself – if your interested check out my progress: http://thetruthbehindthesupermum.blogspot.com/

  • B-prepared

    Hi Kat, just wondering what you do with all your old Greeting cards? I seem to have kept ALL of them for both my kids since birth and also mine and my husbands for quite a few years :( What do you do with yours? Store/ throw / revamp ?? Any suggestions?

  • B-prepared

    thanks Kat. I came across your site a two weeks ago – my husband is most impressed as he was always complaining about the clutter around the place. My pantry was done yesterday and even my 3yo cant get enough of it – with things all clearly labelled and in plastic stackable storage containers :) kithcen and linen cupboards done too and now we have two spare cupboards to fill – and we thought we needed a new house to make room for our second child! – You can see why hubby is loving your site too :) He cant wait for me to get through the rest of the house lol x

    • http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina

      Great work!! You can do it, will make it so much easier for you.

  • Bebright2

    Hi there, this is a great blog! I’m in the process of decluttering with an overseas trip coming up and found your tips/tasks extremely helpful!!!

    • http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina

      So happy you are enjoying all the tips :)

  • Pam G

    I just went through our medicines box and threw out all the old prescriptions and out-of-date or expired medications! Now everything fits perfectly and it’s not bulging at the seams! I also decluttered the top of the piano and the 4 by 4 Expedit bookcase in the kids playroom. Loving all the challenges so far :)
    Next stop – bathroom cabinets and old beauty products… do those use-by dates still count if the product has never been opened? I’ve got some eye shadows, mascara etc which is brand new and unused – will it still be good?

    • http://www.baublesbubblesbags.com/blog Norlin

      Hi Pam, Norlin from Baubles, Bubbles & Bags Style File here. Thought I’d pop in and help Katrina answer your beauty products de-cluttering question. Yes, the use-by dates on old beauty products still count as the ingredients in them might have reacted having been in there for awhile. As for mascara – you would be able to smell a weird scent if it’s way past the use-by date. Also, if you have used the mascara before, you would need to throw them out after 6 months of use. Eyeshadows last up to 3 years. Lipstick, 2-3 years but just give it a whiff. Like food, it will give off a weird smell once it goes off. Hope that answers your question.

      • http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina

        Thankyou Norlin for helping Pam, wow I am sure many of us look at our beauty products differently now

  • Sharon Farrow

    OOh I have eyeshadows that must be at least 10 years old. I will do the challenge and through them out this week.

    • http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina

      yes Sharon, I think it is time to part with your eyeshadow :)

  • Jodi

    Im taking the challenge but doing it over 52- 60 days. Not 52 weeks. 2weeks down and going great guns. Thanks for all your great ideas and tips.

  • Jennywren71

    Hi there, just found your site through a link on Facebook. Over the past week I have been decluttering my house.
    So far I have tidied and moved the board games. Gave some away.
    Entry area – dusted and tidied china cabinet and got rid of shoe dishes that I haven’t used in years. And rearranged furniture.
    Christmas decorations taken down and packed away in plastic crates. Threw out whole heap of scrappy decorations and old tinsel
    Lounge room – dusted, threw out old junk mail, tidied game controllers no they are all now stored in baskets. Found some old memorabilia glasses and tossed them. Threw out broken game parts.
    Bathroom – cleaned out drawers and under sink cupboard. Tossed out old razors, waxing kits that were 10 year old at least, old hair dryer parts, wooden massage things, old makeup and makeup brushes. Washed toiletry bags and threw old ones out.
    Reorganized makeup and bath products. Threw out some candles too.
    Kitchen – tidies cupboards and got rid of old coffee cups, broken plastic ware, nick nacks from drawer, old shopping bags and old candles and cake toppers. Tidied pantry and put everything in my Tupperware containers. Tidied telephone area threw out old pens and scrap paper and little bits of crap that accumulated there. Tidied printer desk and threw out old paper and phone books. Packed camera gear away in a spare drawer in bedroom rather than on top of cupboard. Tidied Tupperware cupboard and matched lids to bases, collected any broken stuff to be replaced at next party.
    Did bedside table , threw out old magazines, book marks and paper scraps. Top dresser drawer got rid of old glasses, hair clips, old junk jewelry and other assorted crap. Undies drawer – got rid of old underwear and things that dont fit. Packed away winter clothes in suitcase and sorted clothes into sections. Tidied hoes and tossed ones I don’t wear. Tidied bookshelf and took heads to second hand book shop, gave some away to friends. Sorted them into topic and author so I can find what I need. Laundry – tidied shelf and under sink and ditched old containers. So I think I have done the 25 things and more in about four days. Lol. Feels great. Hubby keeps checking what I am ditching and made a comment about me really cleaning up! Only thing left is the desk and filing cabinet. They are next. Thanks for your motivating site.

    • http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina

      Wow that is wonderful efforts you should be so pleased and starting to enjoy all these little spaces!!!

  • Di

    I love your website, being “organizationally challenged” I like to get tips from everywhere. The big kick start for me to actually get moving was to have a friend come in once a week for a month and help me in a few rooms. Now I feel I can keep on top of it myself…………..most of the time

    • http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina

      What a wonderful friend, I am sure that would of been a great help.

  • bettyfenwick1@googlemail.com

    any way to down load need help

  • Natasha Johnson

    1. I want to feel “ RELAXED “ while I’m at home.
    2. I want to spend more time doing “ GOING ON OUTINGS WITH MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS “ .
    3. I want an area of the home where I can “ STORE BITS AND PIECES “.
    4. I want to organise “WALK IN WARDROBE “ room first.
    5. I always loose “ TIME “ .
    6. I want to be all organised by “ 31 MARCH 2012“ . Is this unrealistic??? Not sure but I really want to try to be clutter free by then so I can enjoy my next holiday.
    7. Something that I don’t need anymore , but am having trouble parting with “CLOTHES THAT DON’T FIT ME ANYMORE“ .
    Thanks Katrina…I was thinking about how much of my holiday was wasted because I was so overwhelmed with housework. I was thinking about writing myself a list so I can see the positive things I have achieved instead of focusing on the negative of how out of control everything is and tah dah you have already done one. Thank you for some focus and motivation.

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  • http://www.munchkinmagic.weebly.com/ Aloma

    I’ve been so inspired by your website, realising that I can only have a beautiful home if it’s also decluttered. So, I’ve cleared my wardrobe, kitchen pantry, kitchen cupboards, kitchen drawers and bathroom cupboards. Tomorrow, on to the linen cupboard, handbags and shoes. After all that, I can start to consider things like shelving solutions and frames for emotional, special items, to make our home really reflect who we are, not reflect our ‘stuff’. Thanks Katrina, and everyone else who contributes to this blog and linked blogs!
    I blog special things we can do for children: http://www.munchkinmagic.weebly.com. Hopefully I can return the favour by inspiring you one day.

  • Tellie C

    I havent been following you blog for long, but since finding it, I am so happy! I have decluttered my Kitchen draws and cupboards (all thats left is the freezer and pantry – Im doing those on the weekend) I have declutttered my Bathroom – I filled an entire box full of stuff I didnt use or was empty or out of date. I have also started decluttering my wardrobes, yesterday I filled a laundry basket with old pjs, underware and shoes………. like in your post, the ones you can’t even walk in. Then I got my 10 year old to do her shoes, she didnt want to part with any of them, so I told her to pick 2 pairs, and she found that easy. I then did the 5 and 6year olds shoes and put my partners and my own “extra’ shoes that were in the door way, AWAY! My 10year old commented that It seemed like I was really cleaning the whole house, as she has had to do so many trips to the wheely bin for me, I told her it was just the beginning.
    We have a really small house, with very limited storage, and we have 4 children. My youngest (almost 18months) is still in our room, because her room is……….. wait for it…………………… full from one wall to another of CLUTTER! Things packed in boxes and just stuff! I look in there and dont know where to start, which is why I decided to do the bathroom first and just a couple of draws in the kitchen. I have also filled 3 large stripy bags full of stuff for the op shop. For so long I have wanted to just have the essentials, just a simple home, but have not known where to start. I wanted my childrens rooms to just have their beds, a wardrobe, bookshelf and toy box, and not have that corner in the room, where boxes sit on top of other boxes. When I moved out of home, I was under this illusion that a house wasnt a home without ‘Stuff’ or boxes of stuff, I dont know why, but thats what I thought, and so I never threw anything out. I only moved out of home 5 years ago (at age 19) but in those 5 years, have we acumulated so much JUNK! I have even started sharing your ideas with my Mum, who is a hoarder (sorry MUM.) I do the dishes every morning and I make sure my kitchen is sparkling every night (dishes are my down fall) But I know Im always happier when they are done.. Thank you so much! I enjoy coming on to your page and finding new tips/ tasks or printables everyday. I go over old posts and find new things I could be doing. I really have no excuse to have not been doing them in the first place, but sometimes its just something as simple as coming across someone elses blog and thinking………. I will do that, I will change! THANK YOU

    • http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina

      ooh tellie, I am so pleased that you have been able to make a change. Good on you for making the effort, you will be thrilled with the end result!

      • Tellie C

        I’ve smiled every time I have opened a kitchen draw tonight, I have a draw below my sink that has scissors in it, and it is usually so full of ‘stuff’ that I cant close it with out force. We are renovating and tools and boxes of nails were shoved in it. I took them all out and put them in the shed, now I nice clean draw with scissors, a bbq lighter and the new dish sponges is all that lives in it!

  • Mel

    Love your website!!! I need to unclutter around my kitchen sink, empty water bottles for drinking are my big problem, I like them to dry completely before I reuse them so I have tonnes upside down in a dish drainer on my sink but while my dishwasher’s not working I need the space for handwashed dishes as well, any ideas on how to minimise /organise these, I want them off my bench!! my cupboards are cluttered with other plastic stuff, lunch boxes kids plates, bowls and cups (kids little and won’t give them ceramic stuff/glasses) So cluttered I’m sick of it!!

    • Nadineg

      HI Mel, Think laterally, if you have a nice basket on your kitchen counter and into this you toss all your drink bottles and lids and toddler stuff that you need easy access to. This gives them a place to go to without opening cupboards or drawers. I put my drink bottles, travel mugs and plastic mugs into mine, and although mine is kept under my sink due to older kids, it works just as well. We also have several drink bottles already filled and in the fridge ready to grab as we go.

  • Macemish

    iam so loving this site!!!!

  • Amy_louise69

    Hi, i found this blog the other day as i would love to be more organised and sometimes it all gets a bit too much. This past week i have written myself a to do list everyday and completed it. No i have managed to clear the worktops in my kitchen, clean and organise the kitchen cupboards and drawers and clean and organise both my fridge and freezer. I am already feeling much happier and cant thank you enough :-) x

    • http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina

      That is wonderful Amy, I am so pleased that you have made such a great start!

  • Miss_e799

    This website is no good for my OCD but I LOVE IT! ha ha ha

    • http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina

      LOL :)

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  • Housepretty

    Hi, I just found your blog whie over at A Beach Cottage. I have actually been decluttering for…hmmm…about 8 years! I know what you’re probably thinking, “Why in the world would it take her 8 years! How much junk did she have ?!” Part of the problem started with the first house we moved into, which we had built. The basement wasn’t finished yet. Everyone saw our basement as free storage. When we sold the house, to moved closer to town, and have an easier time selling a house closer to town, with possible upcoming move out of province, it took us FOREVER to get the house emptied. The next move had me not let anyone leave after helping, unless they took at least one thing with them! That helped. Next move, because of husband’s relocation for a job, had me get Salvation Army to come two times with their truck, which got it, probably, 1/3 full each time. In this house, I’m still going nuts. I have found Kijij, whoo! hoo! My husband has joked to several people leaving our house with “treasures”, that next, it will be him! When we were moved back from out of Province, the movers counted, NOT including furniture, 96 boxes! We came back with a 2 month old baby, but she didn’t have much “stuff”. Now, you tell me, what on earth, for argument’s sake, do two adults need with 96 boxes of “stuff”!? The way I look at it now, is, God brings you into this world, with not even a diaper on your bum, so what do you REALLY need?! I’m currently in the process of painting each room in our home, and as I paint a room, I’m decluttering the rest of the “junk”. Man, what a feeling! I just praise God I finally got over the emotional attachment with all the stuff!

  • http://www.facebook.com/Phoenicia55 Phoenicia Parkyn

    Since moving into my new rental home I have had to not just de-clutter but also downsize. I find doing it room by room or box by box is the best way – and putting items on ebay to sell even for a small amount. I put these things in a box out of the way or in my carport as soon as I have listed them. I believe it doesnt matter how long they take to sell just so long as they do. I am being quite ruthless, but it is a big job.

  • Fleur.Muller74

    Thank you so so much Katrina for the motivation!!! You have inspired me! I work full time and leave home at 5.15am and am never home before 6.30pm each night, this leaves me tired and very unmotivated to say the least. I have started on my days off to follow your “where do I start” suggestions. At the start of my 2 days off I now collect all the wahing and start the machine for the day and then loading the dishwasher and clearing the kitchen benches and giving them a good wipe down. I then write my “To Do” list and then go about getting them done and crossing them off the list. So far in 2 lots of 2 days off I have completely emptied the office and cleaned the walls and ceilings which are Tounge and Groove and 3m high, sorted most of the crap that was in there had a huge throw out and taken the bookcases to the shed to be painted white. I have cleared out and tidied 3 kitchen drawers and under the kitchen sink and cleared and sorted the bathroom vanity cabinets. Today I washed the walls in 2 hallways, the toilet and most of the 3rd bedroom! This is a great start! Now to read your posts each morning on my days off with a cup of tea to keep the momentum going and get my whole house sorted so that I too can be an Organised Housewife! Looking forward to reading more of your posts, tips and tricks!

  • rani

    hello katrina,i am a great fan of your blog. i love the way you organise your house.i am cleaning and throwing all unwanted junks and surprised to see that i have stored so many things as sentimental,as well as feeling it might be of future use,,thanks for this lovely intersting blog,.
    i dont get these baskets and pantry accessories her in tamilnadu ,,india.but i arrange things with the available products. once more i am getting addicted to your blog,THANKYOU.

  • Kirk McCormick

    Hi Katrina,
    This is an excellent list of ways to shape things up at home, Like most of your other commentators, this list is a great start for me to get off my butt and just do it. At least there is some instruction and direction in it. I get overwhelmed thinking about doing all the work that needs to be done all around the house, rather, it’s easier to find somewhere to start and then get going. Great post, thanks for sharing all of your excellent suggestions! 
    -auto accident lawyer Denver

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  • Funkyessentials

    After recently being sick and having to litrilly let my house go it has made me realise how unorginised i am , and that anybody coming in to help me litrilly cant cause there is no rhyme or reason to my house other then makeit fit, no more ! ive made a list of what i want to achieve for each room, and what i need to achieve it, and thursday night a trip to ikea. to get every sort of container i need and anything else i can find to make my life easier
     

  • http://www.facebook.com/melissa.phillott Melissa Phillott

    I started last night. Decluttered the kitchen pantry and the kitchen bench. It feels so good. Now I just have to teach my boyfriend to leave it that way…

    • http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina

      Just give it 2 minutes every evening or every 2nd to tidy up the pantry, he will see that you are putting in the effort and hopefully will try too.

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  • Suzanne74

    I am currently on Long Service Leave from a busy job and have had two most satisfying weeks before we go away decluttering my house – thanks so much for the inspiration! I gave 5 boxes of toys to charity from my two children and they didn’t even notice they’d gone…

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  • http://www.facebook.com/barbara.ceccarello Barbara Ceccarello

    great idea to push me to begin decluttering !!! thank you, I’ll start tomorrow morning, for sure!!! Sorry for my bad English….:(

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  • Meg

    I’m in! I’m pretty excited about it. I just threw out old, mouldy drink bottles and Tupperware in the kitchen. They’re old and take up space. And I’d never use them!

  • Teresa Edwards

    I was recently diagnoised with Bipolar II and I find it very hard to do basic everyday things. Washing piles up, dishes are left, floors need moping etc. With discovering your page and getting your daily email of jobs to do, I find that things that seemed overwhelming are now getting eaiser.
    So THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU <3