Declutter your Scary Attic in 5 Easy Steps

Cleaning your attic doesn't have to be an overwhelming task. If you focus your effort and follow some simple steps, you can generally get a lot accomplished in just a few hours. Fall is a great time to do a quick clean before the cold of winter comes.

1. Sort: The first step for a quick declutter is to sort it into categories such as 'holiday', 'kitchen/serving', 'art/decoration', 'tools', etc. Do this quickly and without too much thought so you don't get bogged down at this stage.
2. Cull: As you separate into categories, add a quick step of tossing anything that obviously needs to go: stained, damaged, infested items can be quickly discarded. Set these things in a bin or bags near the door.
3. Assess: the categories and put them into 3 piles 1) Keep: You still use it, it is in good condition, and you have no duplicates. Set these to one side for later. 2) Discard: This should be anything that is stained, damaged, torn, unusable.  3) Give: Items in good condition but either you have duplicates, you haven't used it in the past 3 years, and/or could borrow or would likely buy new IF you ever need it again. Tip: if you are saving things for family members, ask them and respect their response. If they don't want items, find a new home where someone will appreciate them. Go to DonateGoodStuff.org to find nearby organizations that will do good in your community.
4. Rearrange: Before you simply stack your 'keep' items back against the walls, pause to consider how you would most enjoy your newly cleared space.  Consider what might be placed somewhere else in the home where you will be more likely to use it. Think about putting things you use most often near the door, and lesser used items further in. Also, consider space savers and organizers to maximize space and keep things organized in the future.
5. Yearly touch-ups. You've made an effort and created an organized space. Yay! If you take time annually to go through your attic, you will be able to do it very quickly and ensure you aren't stowing away too much 'stuff' that you don't really need.