Cleaning Out Rooms in Four Easy Steps

The closet is stacked floor to ceiling with every box you could fit in it. You've stuffed every drawer. Packed every shelf. Filled every inch of available space.

Face it. It's time to clean out this room.

Maybe you don't have a room this bad (or maybe you do). Either way, you know you need to do something about it. But where do you start? What do you keep? What do you throw out? And how do you decide?

With a few simple steps, you can get that room into shape in no time.

STEP 1: Break the room down into manageable parts.
You may want to start with the closet, a shelf or maybe a corner. Wherever you begin, pull everything out of the room if you can. You're then ready for...

STEP 2: Deciding what goes back IN to the room. The easiest way to do that is by approaching the problem in reverse. That is, figure out what WON'T be going back in the room, get rid of it, and keep the rest. As a general rule, if it's something you don't use or enjoy anymore, it's probably a safe bet that you can toss it.

STEP 3: Decide between what's a keeper and what's "clutter" by asking yourself the following questions:

• Is it something I actually need?
• Can I do without it?
• Do I use it on a regular basis?
• If not, have I used it within the last year?
• Is it in good working order?
• If it's broken, can it be fixed?
• Would it be hard to replace it if I ever need it again?
• Would I pay money to store it?

STEP 4: If it gets a failing grade based on these questions, you have several options to consider on what to do with it:

TOSS: Nothing opens up space like simply getting rid of something that doesn't work anymore or that you don't use.

DONATE: Whether it be clothes you don't wear or old working appliances, you can pass them on to help somebody else at your place of worship or a charitable organization like the Salvation Army or a homeless shelter.

GIVE AWAY: Pass on to your grandchildren those hand-me-downs that are simply taking up space you can use.

SELL: Free up space...AND make some money at the same time by holding a garage sale or placing an ad in the paper or online.

RECYCLE: Old cans, tins, plastics and glass can go to the local recycling center, freeing up space and being kind to the environment at the same time. Other items--like old bed sheets or towels--can be "recycled" to give them new purposes, like drop cloths for painting or rags for cleaning.

You can create a pile of stuff for each option you choose for your "clutter". When you're done disposing of each pile, the stuff you have left over can go back into the room, and you can breathe a sigh of relief for all the space you've opened up.