Low-hanging fruit is the fruit on the lower branches – the fruit that is easier to get. In Decluttering, we use the phrase to mean tasks that can easily and quickly be completed before moving on to more challenging work.
Don’t start with what you can see. Start with what you can’t see. This little secret will make your decluttering process a lot more efficient and productive: Look to the nooks and crannies first!
This is where you’ll find the low-hanging fruit … the items that you can decide quickly whether you need to retain or let go.
There are areas in everyone’s closet that don’t get much attention, except to store “stuff” we don’t know what to do with.
Areas like behind the clothing racks, under the clothes, or on the shelves above that you need a step stool to reach!
“What’s that jewelry cleaning machine doing way up there? I haven’t used that in years, and probably won’t ever again. That box of scarves … they may be in fashion again, but I am no longer working and a scarf over a blazer is not my current go-to.”
Are you storing boots, blankets, and other bulky items on the floor under the clothing? Exercise equipment you no longer want … bins of yarn … books that you are meaning to read? Everyone has something tucked away down there!
Then tackle the clothes.
The changing season is a good time to rethink your closet space and make decisions about individual pieces in your wardrobe BEFORE you put them away for next season.
Be honest with yourself. If you haven’t worn a piece of clothing during the past winter at least a few times, chances are next winter, you won’t wear it either. Take this opportunity to decide to donate it or try to sell it on a Facebook Internet Yard Sale site. Approach the current season’s clothing in the same manner.
Helpful Tip
Here’s a tip I’ve found very helpful. When you wear a piece of clothing this spring, return it to the rack on a colored hanger, or tie a ribbon around the hook of the hanger. When the spring/summer season is over, you can easily see which clothes you’ve worn, and which have just taken up space. Those are the pieces you can donate or sell when you switch your wardrobe over to next season.
Next … the kitchen!
We never seem to have enough cabinet space in the kitchen. However, most of the utensils we use every day are in two or three cabinets or drawers. The rest are crammed full of kitchen gadgets and duplicate utensils we rarely use. After all, how many spatulas does one cook need? That garlic peeler that appeared to be a necessity?
Then there are the cabinets over the microwave and refrigerator that hold … I don’t know what … since it is such a bother to get out the four-level step stool to be able to get up there safely.
Things like the cookie press I used with my kids at holiday time when they were much, much younger. Fancy teapots I no longer use. An electric fry pan – who fries anymore? Let’s not forget all the plastic for storing leftovers. Certainly, we all have many more lidless containers than we care to admit.
Don’t forget the bottom cabinets – the ones we must get on our knees to reach the very back.
Spare rooms.
If you are fortunate enough to have a spare bedroom or two, then they are next on your list. Follow the guide above to go through what’s hidden in the closets, on the shelves, and in the dresser drawers. Here, “out of sight, out of mind” is definitely true.
Medicine cabinets.
Unused and expired medicines take up needed space. The answer is to check all prescription meds and dispose of them properly using drop boxes at your local police station, CVS, or Walgreen’s. We also tend to accumulate lots of lotions, creams, and ointments – both medicinal and cosmetic – that can be culled to save only the ones we like and use routinely.
The office.
Tax time is approaching and now is the time to dispose of no longer needed receipts, bank statements, and tax records. Check to be certain you retain the appropriate number of years’ records according to the law in your state. Be sure to shred any documents with identifying information. There are many companies that accept your documents and shred them for you. Google shredding services in your area to find some that may fit your needs.
There are other areas in the home where you’ll find low-hanging fruit – the basement, workshop, or attic. Our basic advice is that areas that are out of sight tend to accumulate the largest amount of the least used “stuff.” Once you’ve decluttered these out-of-the-way places, you are ready to go room-to-room to make the more difficult decisions, especially if you are moving to a downsized home.
Marie LeBlanc at Transitions Liquidation Services is a Senior Move Manager who has been a proud member of ALCA and has served on the Board of Directors for more than ten years. If you are considering a move or have a senior loved one who is transitioning to community living call her at 617-513-0433 or send her an email.