Additional services can help clear clutter

As you get older, you could utilize services to stay in your home or living quarters. Services might start with the lawn guy, then a gardener, moving on to a housekeeper, etc. Or you may be lucky enough to have kids or grandkids help out. The service person we use most likely has all the equipment/tools needed to get the job done. So why are you keeping a duplicate set?

Now that you have a guy cut your lawn and edge it, unclutter and get rid of your lawnmower and edger. If a gardener does you flower beds, it is time to donate all the gardening tools, fertilizer and weed killer.

Have you gotten to the point where you hire a handy man to do your improvements and repairs? So why keep all that lumber, scrape metal and tools? Save a few items for light maintenance and get rid of the bulk. This will clear up your garage or shed.

If you pay to belong to a gym and go regularly, why hold on to exercise weights, stationary bike or various exercise equipment?

Either sell, donate or give away your unused items. The same applies to sports you no longer participate in. Baseball mitts, fishing rods, camping tents and water floats are all cluttering up your living space or storage. Your children, grandchildren or neighbors may be happy to get them for free.

What if you eat out and seldom cook? Do you really need to keep two or three sets of china or silverware? Many children do not want these items, so consider a consignment shop. Lots of your pots, cooking dishes and appliances can be cleared out and donated. If you have a regular housekeeper cleaning your home, do you still need all your cleaning tools (vacuum, shampooer and dusting tools)? Also, cleaning products can be put aside.

Why let items you no longer use continue to collect dust? Free up space so you can breath and enjoy the pleasure of someone else doing the tough jobs.

Maria Ward has been a lifelong organizer applying techniques to personal life, business and learning. She worked as a professional organizer and was a member of the Houston professional organizers group. Now retired, she offers organizing classes at Lone Star College’s Academy for Lifelong Learning Program. Email: mariacward@gmail.com.