Summer Declutter Workshop- Week 1 of 4

Sit back, relax and get ready to be inspired by the awesome Workshop Series "Summer DeClutter"!

I am so excited to share a little Summer Declutter workshop with you all here at Crazy Domestic.  My name is Becky and I am the mama behind Clean Mama. For the next four Wednesdays, I am going to be encouraging you to choose 4 "hot spots" in your home to declutter.  I'll be working right along with you, sharing some organizing and cleaning tips that you can use in your own Summer Declutter.  Shall we get started?

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Why a Summer Declutter?  It's hot, kids are home - is this really a good time to tackle the projects?   Done right, decluttering is a great way to lighten your load, simplify your life and maybe make a few extra bucks.  Summer is  a great time to clear out the closets, drawers, basements, and get ready for a garage sale or a trip to your local thrift store for a tax-deductible donation.

The Summer Declutter Plan- Clean 4 "hot spots" in 4 weeks in an easy, breezy way.  What do I mean by easy, breezy?  Make it fun - set yourself up with a bin or basket to sort through while watching a great movie or listening to your favorite CD.  Make a pitcher of iced coffee or tea and sort and organize while chatting on the phone with a long-distance friend or your sister.  Make it fun, make it relaxing and the least chore-like as possible.  Sound like fun?  Here's this week's "assignment"- are you in?
Crazy Domestic Summer Declutter Worksheet

• Download the free Summer DeClutter Checklist

• Choose 4 areas in your home to declutter and write them down in the 4 hot spot blanks (some suggestions:  an area or two in your kitchen, paper clutter hot spot, a closet or cabinet, clothing....)

• Complete your first week's Summer Declutter Hot Spot by following the 4 steps and checking them off as you go.

I'll go first - my first Hot Spot is my pantry.  It's a great size and has great storage, but gets cluttered in a hurry.  I turned on a good movie - made myself a little snack and an iced tea and got started.   For the most part, I used what I have for this declutter - but I did buy two new trays for some cooking and baking storage.

BEFORE:

Step #1 - I emptied each shelf out.

Step #2 - I sorted and tossed anything that was old or expired.

Step #3 - Put items into categories and group like items together.

Step #4 - Neatly put items away in their new assigned spots.  I turned clothespins (I'm a little nutty when it comes to clothespins - I decorate them and use them for lots of weird things) into identifying labels (black spray paint and labels printed on sticker paper) to help keep the pantry items in the right spots.

 The fun thing about this idea is that I can move the clothespins around if I decide to switch up my pantry organization.  Want to try this?  Here's a free printable so you can make your own.

Pantry Labels

And here's my pantry AFTER giving it a little Summer Declutter attention:

Here are a couple highlights:

shopping bag basket and kids' dustpan

trays for baking and cooking supplies - no messy spills

I love these clothespin labels!

Check off the Completed box - and you're done with Week One of the Crazy Domestic Summer Declutter!
Come back next Wednesday for another area to tackle and another freebie printable.

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A Little About the Workshop Author:
Becky is the go-to-gal for all things clean! She is a former elementary art teacher, who incorporates art and craftiness into every place she can. Her blog, Clean Mama, is full of crafty, cleaning and organizing fun! She also runs a super successful etsy shop called Clean Mama Printables and she is a Shaklee Distributor. (I get tired just listing all of her skills!) We are so excited to have Becky here with us for the entire month of July and hope you'll stop by her blog for even more creative cleaning ideas and inspiration!

Links to other Summer Declutter Posts:
Week Two, Week Three, Week Four