It’s January, the season of planners, gym memberships, and yes, organizing. Each year thousands of Americans add “get organized” to their handy list of New Year’s resolutions. And every year those same people watch their closets, mudrooms, and living spaces fall into disrepair. The trouble isn’t that people are messy; it’s that most homeowners have too much stuff to keep home spaces clutter-free. We’re taking it from the top. Keep your closet neat and tidy with a full-on closet purge this January.

7 Things to Purge from Your Closet

1. Memory pieces. We get it, you loved prom. But if you’re 24 (or 44, or 64) and your prom dress is still taking up closet space, that’s a problem. Box up any clothing you’re keeping for sentimental purposes. If it has real sentimental value (like a wedding dress or varsity jacket), carefully seal it and store it in the attic. If not, let the pictures speak for themselves.
2. Things that don’t fit. We’re not just talking about expanding waistlines here. If a piece of clothing hangs loosely, fits too snugly, or bunches in weird places, it’s time to toss it. If it’s not a flattering cut for your figure, pass it to someone who will appreciate it more.
3. High maintenance clothes. If you find yourself passing up a perfectly good suit because you don’t want a trip to the dry cleaners, it’s not a good fit for your lifestyle. Donate it to someone in need and stick to the washer-ready wearables you love.
4. Fashion flops. Sure, those metal studs were the height of fashion 10 years ago. But have you worn that faux leather bag in the last 5 years? Purge your closet of any relics from seasons past.
5. Old, torn, or stained items. That shirt you loved a little too well for a little too long? It’s no longer doing you any favors. Bag it up and make room for something fresh, clean, and hole-free.
6. Things you won’t wear again. Stop asking, “When was the last time I wore this?” and start asking, “Will I wear it again?” If the answer is, “probably not,” pass it along to someone who will.
7. Old organizers. Whether it’s a cramped shelf or a broken shoe rack, if a closet organizer isn’t doing its job, it gets the boot.

Getting rid of old clothing, closet organizers, furniture with no storage space, and other junk you found hiding on the shelf? Call Mr. Junk to donate or recycle your home clean out items so you don’t have to.

Closet Organization Image from FreeDigitalPhotos

If you polled your friends’ New Year’s resolutions, many of them would note items like, “get organized” or “live simpler.” The new year lets us overhaul the things that overwhelmed us in the past, whether that means eating less junk food or keeping less clutter. If you’re already putting off New Year’s organization, we’ve got you covered.

How to Keep New Year’s Resolutions

Your goals may seem insurmountable, but it’s possible to stick with them. Here are 3 tips for keeping New Year’s resolutions in 2016:

1. Do. Don’t avoid. Why do most people fail their resolutions within 6 months? They’re not making positive changes, they’re avoiding negative pitfalls. It’s much easier to eat healthy than it is to nix junk food. Don’t make “get organized” about avoiding messes. Implement actionable strategies to help you stick with the cleaner lifestyle.
2. Make a goal (and check it off). Don’t keep your resolution to yourself. Let your friends and family help you stay organized this year. Write down your goal for the year. Then break it down into mini-goals for each month, or even each week. You’ll be surprised how quickly you can surpass even your grandest expectations when you conquer them bit by bit.
3. Try again! Mess up? Don’t give up! Start over. It’s easier to get into good habits if you stick with them instead of only doing them when it’s convenient.

New Year’s Resolutions for Homeowners

1. Downsize. If you’re anything like most people, you have years of Christmas presents, birthday gifts, and bought items cluttering up closets. Before tackling New Year’s organization, weed through the clutter and box up what you don’t use or need.
2. Dive in. Whether you organize room by room, all at once, or with a squad of declutter-fairies, you can’t change your lifestyle until you take care of the problem. Sort, organize, label, and call Mr. Junk to haul away the junk that’s left.
3. Create an action plan. Don’t just expect your home to stay clean. Despite our best intentions, life always gets hectic, and counters always get cluttered. Instead, make a plan going forward. Put kids in charge of certain chores, plan laundry Mondays and fridge clean out Saturdays, and teach the whole family how to stay organized. Simple tricks make all the difference.

Out with the old? Call Mr. Junk to haul away unwanted stuff so you can dive into a cleaner New Year.

FreeDigitalPhotos

Losing a loved one is an overwhelming experience. Grief, funeral arrangements, and financial concerns far exceed the 24-48 hours of bereavement most people receive from work. The last thing anyone wants to do is sort through the house of someone they’ve lost. Tackle this physically and emotionally taxing task step-by-step to minimize stress and pain.

How to Clean Out the Home after a Death

Whether it’s a parent, grandparent, friend, or other loved one who passed away, sorting through their stuff can bring a flood of positive and negative emotions. Organizing the task can help family members do a thorough clean out, even when they’re overwhelmed.

1. Divide the work. Many times, the take-charge sibling winds up with the daunting task of cleaning out their parents’ home. This can cause increased stress and grief, as well as encouraging troublesome family dynamics. Divide the physical labor of cleaning out a late loved one’s house. Take the home room-by-room or put one sibling on packing duty while another cleans and organizes.
2. Remember it’s okay to be sentimental. Everyone deals with grief in different ways. Some donate everything to avoid confronting grief, while others refuse to throw away anything. A healthy balance is necessary when cleaning out a late parent’s house. Ask each family member which items they hold dear. Set aside family keepsakes before sorting the rest for donation.
3. Hire an appraiser. If your family has decided to sell jewellery, antiques, or other costly items, hire an appraiser to advise you on the best way to dissolve assets. Most appraisers charge an hourly fee, so organize the items beforehand.
4. Be realistic. It’s okay to hang onto photos, souvenirs, and family heirlooms that hold special significance. But don’t fall into the trap of keeping everything. After setting aside the items you or a family member would like to keep, sort the rest for donation.

Mr. Junk donates or recycles hauled items whenever possible. Call us to remove broken appliances, old furniture, and other items you won’t pass on to other family members.

Image from FreeDigitalPhotos

As a junk removal company, we’re pretty familiar with the temporal nature of stuff. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the hubbub of the holidays, from finding the perfect gift to cleaning out the guest room before company arrives. And there’s something magical about opening a gift on Christmas Day to realize that yes, your sister really does know you that well. But when the Christmas tree hits the curb, you realize that stuff is just stuff. By New Year’s Day, kids will have broken their brand new toys, passed along gifts they don’t want, and shoved still other items to the back of the closet. But the memories of the holidays — the joy, the merriment, the hours of laughter with people you love — can’t get stuffed into a New Year’s clean out bin.

Take the time to relax this Christmas, reconnecting with loved ones near and far. Put aside the wrapping paper to teach your son to baste a holiday ham, cuddle up with hot chocolate to watch a Christmas movie with your grandparents, and share your new gadgets with the generous giver. At the end of the day, memories are the things that will stick with you.

Merry Christmas from your friends at Mr. Junk! We wish you happy holidays and a bright New Year.

You’ve made your list and checked it twice. But are you really ready for the holidays? Christmas is less than two weeks away. Across Atlanta, folks are going into a tailspin buying last-minute presents, stocking up on Christmas groceries, and frantically cleaning the house before guests arrive. Are you a master of the holiday season? Check off this Christmas to-do list and see!

How to Get Organized for the Holidays

• Don’t just grocery shop. Make a list of all the dishes you’ll make for Christmas eve and Christmas dinner. Make sure you have not only the bare essentials, but extras in case things go wrong during cooking. Getting crunched for time? Ask a few guests to bring their seasonal specialties. It’ll lighten your load, and everyone can broaden their palates with a few extra treats.
• Prepare for guests. That means prepping the guest room, sure. It also means putting away breakables that your nieces, nephews, or grandkids might mistake as toys.
• Organize the house. Nothing’s more frustrating than feeling overwhelmed during Christmas. Relieve your holiday stress by scheduling preemptive organization. Enlist the family to help you pick up around the house. Do a final run-through, starting at the front door and pretending like you’re a guest seeing the house for the first time since last Christmas.
• Think ahead. On December 25th at 6am (or 8:30, if you’re lucky enough to have middle schoolers), you’ll be knee deep in paper, ribbon, and gift bags. Relieve the stress of holiday clean-up by planning ahead. Keep ornament storage organized (divided boxes work wonders), keep a trash bag on hand for discarded wrappings, and announce the clean-up plan ahead of time so the kids don’t dart off with their new toys.
• Call Mr. Junk. Have Christmas decorations you haven’t used since the 90’s? Will you be out of town for the curbside Christmas tree pickup? Call Mr. Junk and schedule a holiday junk haul at your convenience.

Wrapping Paper Image from Flickr