Thursday, August 12, 2010

A House of Order: Twenty a Day . . . Keeps the Clutter Away!

AAAAHHHHHH . . . the JOYS of CLUTTER!
It's one of the thing we can alway count on.
Some of us have . . .
Paper Clutter.
Some of us have . . .
Laundry Clutter.
Some of us have . . .
Dish Clutter.
Some of us have . . .
Craft Clutter.
Some of us have . . .
Toy Clutter,
And some of us have . . .
ALL OF THE ABOVE!
Clutter Doesn't Sleep!
Once you let that bad rascal into your home,
it's just a matter of time before it completely takes over.
Here's a simple solution to help
CLEAR THE CLUTTER
and
RESTORE THE BALANCE
in your home.
It's the
TWENTY-A-DAY
System!
All you have to do is, get rid of 20 things
EVERYDAY.
The 20 things can be:
20 pieces of garbage, 
20 pieces of clutter,
OR
a combination of clutter and garbage.
Have your kids help you! 
You can make it into a game or a contest.
You will be surprised to see how fast this simple step
can make a difference in your home.
Start in the area you struggle with the most.
Remember:
The clutter didn't get there overnight.  Be patient and consistent.
With this system . . .
You'll be clearing the clutter WITHOUT having to
tear your whole house apart in the process.
So are you ready for the
CONTEST part of the post?!?
It's the 7 Day
Twenty-A-Day Challenge!
Each day you get rid of 20 items
you can add your name to the comment section of this post.
I will put the names into a hat and draw out 
THE WINNER OF THE DAY
each night at midnight.
You have to actually get rid of the 20 things
BEFORE you add your name.
You'll just feel guilty if you put your name before you do it!
IF you don't win the first day, don't give up . . .
The contest won't end until NEXT WEDNESDAY!
The PRIZES are . . .
5 - 10 Steps to Organized Work Books
and
2 - Vital Records Binder Tabs and Contents CD's!
Let the DeCluttering Begin!

68 comments:

Sharon said...

I'm in! I've already got rid of more than 20 papers!! Does that count? hee hee I have massive paperwork, massive shredding to do! Filing grrrrrrrr.

Kelly said...

I cleaned out my family binder and am ready for school to start!!

Miss Katie said...

I've done mine for today! I'm excited about this. It will give me some motivation.

Unknown said...

Wonderful Challenge! I love the feeling after I declutter but getting the motivation is hard sometimes. I tackled my cook books. 20+ gone. It is funny how we hold onto the entire book when we only use a few of the recipes in each one. The useful recipes are now placed neatly in my binder. I gave the cookbooks to my sister-in-laws to build up their recipe collection. One person's clutter is another person's treasure.

Tami said...

Did more like 40! I love to throw stuff out!

Anonymous said...

Tell me, tell me. What is the 10 steps to organized workbook? Is this something you wrote or something we can purchase somewhere if we don't win.

Tara M said...

I did my 20+ school papers-accomplished! Love this idea. Just the motivation I need!

debbieo said...

We are actually doing this only on a more grand scale. We sold our 3,200 square foot home on 16 acres and are going to live in our 5th wheel with an enclosed trailer for storage. Yesterday alone, I worked in my sewing room and removed at least a dozen boxes of craft items, material, beads, etc. I am taking it to an auction house. I plan to get rid of about 90% of our belongings.

Susan said...

Seven chances to hopefully win that Vital Records Binder CD!!!! (I already have the book and absolutely love it! I sat down and read it like a book in one hour - absolutely worth it.)
20 things gone from my house...and when the kids wake up from naps and return from school, each of them will take a turn in their own rooms.
Thanks for the challenge!

Deb said...

I am working in my classroom today (can I do this challenge in my classroom since I'll be here more than my house in the next two weeks?!) and have a box for the DI full of at least 20 storybooks. I have also filled 1 garbage can. I think that's a good start for today! Love this challenge! :)

Anonymous said...

I am not in your ward. But I de-cluttered a drawer in my kitchen that was driving me crazy. And I went through my son's school papers from last year and put them in a keepsake box like you did in a post a few weeks ago. Thanks for making me do it. I love your blog.

Julie said...

Put me down for one entry! I unpacked 2 boxes (we moved in March and am using the empty boxes-one for our library donation for Saturday and another for a trip to DI). Thanks for holding out a carrot to get this donkey moving!
Julie King

jeanine said...

I'm excited for the challenge! I already did my 20 for the day!

Melody said...

20 a day, now that is manageable!! It is the other 100 a day that poses the problem.... I have done more than 20 dishes just from dinner tonight. I hope that counts.
My clutter comes from me, my cats, and my kids.... help!!!!

Janelle Savage said...

I have also gotten rid 20 things. I am trying to declutter before my husband gets orders to transfer.

Marshall Mayhem said...

I did it! 20 items for me!

The David and Tricia Smith Family said...

I have tears in my eyeballs and I'm as proud as punch!
Way to Go EVERYONE!
I'll wait until midnight to draw out the winner and I'll post it in the morning!
Keep up the GOOD WORK!!!
Trish

Julie said...

Seven garbage bags full of clothes for Stake Clothing drive! I can see the kid's closet floor again. Count me in!

Allison said...

Count me in if this is open to people out of state in AZ. Thanks for the de-cluttering encouragement!

Sherol said...

So I have been canning apricot jam this week. I am going through boxes in my food storage room and tossing out stuff I should have got rid of years ago!!!!!!!!!!!!

DSLA said...

I am not in your ward either but I LOVE your blog! Thanks for the challenge! 20 things GONE!

Marcy said...

This a great way to get started! My kids have way too many toys and we all have too much junk! I went around the house throughout the day and just threw away "stuff". I doubt anyone even noticed the missing 20 things!
Thanks so much for keeping up with this blog! It has been so helpful! Even to us in Texas!

Janelle said...

I got rid of tons of junk mail today. My counter is starting to look better already.

Melissa @ It's Fancy Schmancy said...

I did it! Papers, clothes, boxes. I will do it tomorrow too! I love reorganizing.

Janelle Savage said...

I did mine for Friday. I feels so good to get rid of all that stuff you havn't touch since you put it where it is.

jeanine said...

20 more things today!

Miss Katie said...

Do we post for day 2 here also? If so I've done it again today!!

Renee said...

Yee Haw!! Just did it!! (In fact I cheated a teensy tiny bit and actually threw away 25 things!!) Hope that is ok! :) It made me happy!!

The David and Tricia Smith Family said...

You're blowing me away . . . Way to GO!

Jennifer C said...

I just recently found your site and I love it. I threw away my 20 things. I live in AZ also and I didn't know if this was just for your ward but thought I would give it a try :)

The David and Tricia Smith Family said...

Anyone is WELCOME to take the challenge!

Tami said...

still throwing stuff out!

Tara M said...

20 for Friday done. In the Garage, could do about 500 more.f

Amy said...

I went through a whole stack of papers and got rid of about 90% of it! Feels good to get something done from my list! thanks for the challenge!

Jenna said...

I LOVE getting rid of stuff and decluttering! Thanks for this challenge. I got rid of 20 things and I could keep going for hours. But I will save more for tomorrow so I have a chance to win!

Unknown said...

Junk drawer... Done. I got rid of more than 20 things and found better homes for more than that. I have been putting that off for a long time. Thanks

Jess said...

You just amaze me! Thanks for the 20 items tip! I think it will be just what we need in our house! Hope everything is better at your house soon! Jess

meghan said...

I am late starting but am totally doing this challenge!!

Miss Katie said...

Mine done for Sat. too!!! I'm slowly starting to see an improvement.

Tara M said...

Did my 20 today. Feeling good.

Susan said...

20 more things thrown away and out of the house. (I am still working on school paper from last year...and a new year just started.) I will be working on organizing that this year. I have memory boxes for the year.

Allison said...

Done for today, whew, barely made it!

Tara M said...

20 out of today's church bags. That is really sad that there where 20 things to declutter!

Unknown said...

With it being the sabbath, I am going through my ensign/friend magazines. I took out all the fun things for the kids to do from the friend and the articles I want to re-read from the ensign. I cleared out more than a few year in about 45 minutes. And the space that I saved is amazing.

Anonymous said...

I got rid of a bunch of toys, all the broken ones or the ones missing pieces etc - Amy

THE PHILLIPS FAMILY said...

I went through my church bag. I won't post what I actually found in there..(there may have been some potential food storage, dried raisins, nuts, other unidentifiable items)
This has been so wonderful for me thanks for the challenge!!

Prepare all Needful Things said...

Just the encouragement I needed~ tossed old 'souvenir' t-shirts and extended family souvenir gifts from their travels (they got the trips, we got the junk they brought back!)

Shari said...

While making dinner, I cleaned out two cupboards and two drawers and got ride of tons of junk and tins I didn't need anymore

Susan said...

20 things done. Yeah! Four Days in a row! :)

Stephanie said...

Not sure if this is over with or not..but we just got back from a vacation and while unpacking, I decided to THROW STUFF AWAY! Yes. Stuff that we didn't need on the vacation that we've had for at least a year. Just sitting there. So out it goes! :D 20+ things gone! :D

Janelle said...

I got rid of even more junk mail and magazines today.

Renee said...

I'm LOVING this challenge!! 20+ things are gone again at my house!! Thank You!!

shauna said...

I got rid of at least 20 things today as I cleaned out our front entry, the recycling corner, cleaned out a church bag, and tidied up the bathroom. Twenty is such a doable number! Thanks so much for the challenge!

Tami said...

took 7 bags to goodwill!

Jess said...

Okay, I seem to be comment-impaired today! I did the challenge and enjoyed it way-way too much! It should not give me such joy to throw away that flip-flop that has never had a match! Thanks for the challenge! Now I can say, well Tricia says I have to! If this is post #2 for me for today I'm sorry! I'm new to this!k (that's my son helping!) Jess

Anonymous said...

I love your blog. Just saw this challenge. I just cleaned our toy room and got rid of 2 bags of toys, we can actually walk in the closet now. Yay!! Katie

Susan said...

I did my 20+ items today. It is amazing how many things you can throw out once you start looking. Thank you for the encouragement to get started and keep going!

Unknown said...

Got an early start on a beautiful day. I went outside and loaded my hubbys truck up with out door toys. Lots of the toys have been used and abused. Even though this great (low humidity) weather, I am dreaming of fall with a decluttered yard.

Stacy said...

I am definitely on the bandwagon for decluttering! Have you ever seen Hoarding:Buried Alive? If that doesn't motivate you, what will? I'm in the midst of decluttering my closet! Such fun!

Anonymous said...

Okay so I'm cleaning out the garage. I had a garage sale a few weeks ago and lots of stuff came back in :( So I've decided to just take it away and have gotten rid of about 40 things so far. I'm challenging my kids to this as well. It's been great!!!

Tabby said...

I did mine for today. I went into my boys room, because I was tired of all three of them telling me that they can't find their shoes. Well, no excuse now! I got rid of three bags of outgrown, not worn clothes, and a bunch of shoes that they do not fit into. WOW! When they came and saw it they said it will stay that way. We will see!! :) HAPPY DAY!!

Susan said...

I just took out the recycle. Normally the recycle can is 3/4 empty...today it was completely full! Goodbye paperwork clutter!

Unknown said...

My house is looking fantastic. Thanks for the challenge. I hope to make this a new habit. 20-a-day is my new way to stay on top of the clutter. My kids have been in school for a week now and I think I could fulfill the 20-a-day just cleaning out their folders. Today I focused on my clothing drawers. I found 20 things in the first 3 drawers. Thanks again!

Stacy said...

I can't believe how much "stuff" I have accumulated over the years! Getting rid of 20 things per day makes the task less overwhelming. Thanks for the motivation!

Susan said...

20 things today and the kids room looks great! Thanks for the challenge!

Stacy said...

Your challenge has really helped me clean up. I love having less clutter! It makes everyday that much less stressful. Thanks.

Susan said...

Thank you for all that you do!

Mary said...

This is a wonderful idea. I have really enjoyed it. Wish I was finished de cluttering. I don't think that ever happens.
Thanks for your blog! I love it Mary