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In this article, I’m sharing my best attic decluttering tips to help you make the most of your storage space.
With any area of the home how I declutter as a Professional Declutterer is room by room instead of jumping between rooms and NO SKIPS REQUIRED!
So when you head up to your attic, stick it out to the end, it will be so worth it and you will thank me.
How to Use the Space – Attic Decluttering Tips
With attics, the only items that are required to be up in the attic are the Christmas Decorations as we are now starting to get more commercialised with other decorations with Halloween, Easter and St. Patrick’s Day following behind.
Followed by suitcases that are working and being used regularly every 12-18 months.
Then we have our keepsakes from our childhood and up to the present day together with our children’s artwork and personal items that are very sentimental to us.
And finally tax returns /accounts with retention periods of 7 years, where at the end of the 7-year time frame (here in the Republic of Ireland) are removed and shredded correctly.
But our attic becomes the dumping ground of our entire house, so a-z of clutter is dumped up there never to come down only the decorations each year.
The biggest challenge you will have with any area of the home that is full to the brim with clutter is knowing where to start.
Step 1: Get Ready to Declutter Your Attic
Not much preparation is required here to be honest.
When are you going to start this decluttering project that you keep putting off and coming up with any excuse to avoid it?
I know you have been talking about it for months, years and now probably decades!
If you feel and know there are a lot of things in the attic that are suitable for charity, I would recommend that you call the charity shop you wish to donate to and ask them what they accept and don’t accept so that you can bag up items as you are handling them.
Please remember every single charity shop differs in what they accept so its no harm in calling in before starting.
Once you have decided you are going to start, make sure to block that date off your calendar, many people take annual leave to get a good run at it.
I would recommend setting your mobile phone for 15 minutes at a time to just get your focus and motivation going.
Put your phone on flight mode – that will help to avoid distractions.
Step 2: Who Not to Tell?
I would avoid telling family and friends what you are doing as they will be phoning you, texting for updates or more than likely rocking up for tea.
You will end up plugging in the kettle and chatting for the day instead and go scrolling on social media which will result in no decluttering, no organising and no transformations at the end of the day.
Step 3: The Meaning of Decluttering!
You must know what actual decluttering is and its meaning because the majority of people think decluttering, spring cleaning and tidying are the same thing and they are NOT.
So decluttering is your ability to let go of items that no longer serve you and that you have not used in the last 12-18 months but these items need to leave your house within 12-24 hours to the following destinations:
- Charity shop(s) of your choice
- Family and friends
- Local recycling centre
- To sell for cash
- Camogie/ GAA Club clothes collections
- School collections – clothing
- Charity bins for clothing /textiles/footwear/handbags etc – highly recommend if charity shops are not accessible and opening hours don’t suit you
- Homeless shelters
- Provisional centres for refugees
- Community projects
Step 4: Take a Before and After Picture to See Your Progress
For your eyes only take a picture(s) or video of the attic before you tackle it and to see your progress in the decluttering process, because decluttering is a continuous process.
Check out my before and after decluttering transformations for inspiration.
Step 5: Storage Boxes
Check the attic before you start – are there clear storage boxes and lids that you could repurpose and reuse without going out buying more if not needed?
(As you work through the attic you may need to buy more for organising other items)
Step 6: D-day
So the day has arrived and the first thing I would recommend you to do is look in the attic to see if there are any large items that you know you no longer need, love or want.
That will open up that space in an instant for example
- a bed mattress,
- furniture,
- large recycling boxes,
- black bags of clothing (ready to go but never seem to get to your car),
- baby equipment.
Step 7: Know Where to Start
So now that the larger items are removed from the attic space, look around and see what catches your eye!
When I tackle an attic, I could start right to left or straight down the middle of it.
The most important thing as you work through this area is to handle everything there and this is what you hear me saying a lot it’s a deep dive declutter.
There is no point in just ignoring boxes as you do this process.
If it was only to organise all your pictures by gathering them as you see them and putting them into one box instead of bags here and there.
Step 8: Christmas Decorations
Everyone’s attic will differ in what they store up in their attic spaces, but whatever items that are remaining group the same items together.
For instance, put all the Christmas decorations in one area of the attic.
I would recommend when you are putting up your Xmas decorations if it’s in November or December, take every single decoration down from the attic that includes your Christmas jumpers, Pjs from the previous year as well as table cloths and napkins.
Yes, I would recommend putting these listed items with your decorations.
This is the main reason because of the amount of people who can’t find items they have picked up throughout the year.
Go through what is working, and not working, broken ornaments, items you have used for the last 20 years and fancy a change of colour on the Christmas tree
Ask yourself self “What items did I not put up last Christmas and why?”
Step 9: Get Things Out of the House
Remember charity shops take Christmas decorations 52 weeks of the year and get them into the charity shop or ask family and friends would they like these items before they leave you home.
A very important tip is when you declutter and ask family and friends do they want certain items, you need to put a time on it!
e.g. If you want these items you need to collect them by Friday.
And by Friday evening they will have left your house and on their way to the charity shop.
Why… People forget and you end up holding on to items forever and there is a bit of people-pleasing thrown into the mix and we do not want to upset anyone.
If they don’t show that’s not your problem. You need to have firm boundaries, especially with family and friends and then everyone knows where they stand with one another.
Step 10: Charity Shop Tips
Items charity shops take:
Books, bric a brac, photo frames, complete jigsaw puzzles, toys in good condition, new items, clothing, bedlinen, footwear, lego, stationery items, dolls, baby accessories and equipment, decorations, crockery, saucepots, CDs, DVDs, cassette tapes, records, candle sets, vases, board games, storage boxes, furniture in good/very good condition, bags, bubble wrap, wrapping paper, table clothes, cushions
Step 11: Recycling
The following items can go in your recycling bin or the local recycling centre:
Copy books from school, workbooks, plastic covers from school books and workbooks, artwork that you do not want to keep, plastic pieces of broken toys, cardboard, paper, plastic covering, photographs and just make sure to tear them up into pieces.
Step 12: What to Take To the Recycling Centre
Duvets and pillows that are stained and soiled seem to find their way up into the attic for some strange reason, and these items are accepted at the local recycling centre for a few quid for you to dispose of correctly.
What else can you take to the recycling centre:
Paper, cardboard, plastic, household plastic, glass, broken crockery, metal, wood, paint cans, electrical items, batteries, light bulbs, mattresses, old carpets, rugs, broken toys, tiles, broken furniture, couches, window frames, doors, glass, tins, clothing, household rubbish, carpet/lino, windows, panes of glass
Step 13: Personal Information- Keep It Safe
My biggest pet hate is paperwork with your info on it from your name, full address, policy details, bank account details, and credit card numbers that get thrown into the recycling bin and into the recycling centre.
PLEASE: dispose of your info safely by shredding it.
Step 14: What Do I Do With Photographs?
This was when we had cameras and printed off all the pictures off the negatives, while now everything is on our phones and we are paying for storage in the cloud!!
Get a clear storage box for the moment and as you find pictures as you work your way around the attic, pop them in there.
I’m all about grouping the same items so this is your system for pictures and at a later stage you can go through them in your own time.
Pictures together with paperwork is the slowest part of decluttering and with pictures, they are very personal to you only.
When you are ready at a later stage declutter duplicate photos, photos with red eyes, missing body parts, old boyfriends, people you are no longer close to or involved with etc.
And if you’re in the mood you can pop them into photo albums if they are loose.
Step 15: Artwork Belonging to My Kids!
When it comes to artwork you need to be ruthless occasionally, because you can’t keep every scribble and drawing your kids produce.
Over time the artwork doesn’t be long adding up as we know as parents and that’s where the guilt comes in.
But there are so many ways to preserve their drawings instead of having boxes of drawings in storage boxes as well as suitcases in the attic never to be seen again.
I have a solution for you and that is a keepsake book where a company here in Ireland came up with a fantastic idea called https://myartbook.ie/ check it out!
>> Get 15% off with the discount code ANNEMARIE15
Step 16 – Keepsake Memory Box
When I mention a keepsake box clients my followers love it!
Every member in the home should have their very own keepsake box which is a clear storage box to put their memories, items, and treasures into but that you keep coming back to and reviewing regularly (at least every 12 months).
From penpal letters you received as a child, travel mementoes, items of clothing, birthday cards from a loved one who has passed away, your first cassette tape/record first pair of shoes, debs dress, 21st birthday glass it will differ for everyone because as I also say, clutter is personal to everyone!
But this box again, is all about grouping the same items which in this case is “memories” so if you need to locate an item(s) you will know exactly where to find it in the house, instead of checking every press and wardrobe in the home.
Try it and let me know how you get on with it!!
Step 17: What to Do With Old Picture Frames
I find the world of old picture frames up in attics and again, I would ask my clients “How long have they been up here?”
Over time interiors change, trends come and go as well as our tastes.
So I recommend if these picture frames are not going up on the walls again, take out the photographs and group them with the other photos that you are storing in your attic.
If your old picture frames are in good condition and you no longer want them they can go to your chosen charity shop.
Over time, frames get damaged by the heat in the attic.
Timber frames can go to your local recycling centre into the timber bin.
If you have metal frames that have got rusty or tarnished you can dispose of them in the metal bin again at your local recycling centre.
Step 18: Taxes, Bank Statements and Receipts
Here in Ireland, we are to hold on to accounts, bank statements and receipts for 7 years and the attic is where this paperwork is dumped up in a corner.
It’s time to let go of paperwork once the 7 years is up and by setting up lever arch folders at the start of the year or when your tax year starts.
Once the tax year is up close off that file/folder replacing the previous 12 months with new files and then shredding the year 2016 for example.
So every year you are filing away a tax year but you are also decluttering a tax year that is no longer relevant.
Please make sure that you dispose of these documents and information correctly by shredding them and not throwing them into the local recycling centre for all to see and read.
Step 19: Toys, Toys and More Toys!
Toys can be a huge issue in homes!
What I see a lot is clients rotating toys up into the attic if there are a few kids in the home especially items that may be too advanced, and they are put up into the attic.
But if your attic is cluttered and not accessible you will find that you will miss the boat on that one and it will be too late for them to play with.
In my opinion, I’m not for rotating toys.
The fewer toys the better in the house.
If there are too many toys like us, our kids/grandkids get overwhelmed and won’t play with much because there is too much choice.
They need to be able to see items. As the saying goes – “less is MORE”.
And avoid putting broken toys up in the attic.
Once the kids are finished playing with certain items, do a clear-out.
As a Professional Declutterer, I recommend you do a clearance of toys for each of the kids coming up to their birthdays and before Xmas.
And if the kids are older, get them involved in the process.
Step 20 – Clothing
When it comes to clothing if storage is minimal in the home, store your summer /winter wardrobe in clear boxes or vacuum pack bags ( Primark Pennys are the only ones I recommend).
Also if you have kids of different ages, and you are holding onto items for siblings, get clear storage boxes again and group the same-age clothing into these storage solutions.
Keep checking the clothes regularly, with growth spurts, and what one child loves wearing another may have a different taste and style.
If clothes are ready to go for charity get them out of the house ASAP and avoid dumping these black bags into the attic.
Don’t forget to use the charity bins that are located around the country at service stations, near local schools and halls, co-op stores as well as hardware stores.
These bins are emptied once a week and taken to a large warehouse of that charity and sorted out and then distributed back down to the charity shops.
I hope you enjoyed my step-by-step method and enjoy your newly decluttered attic space.
Much love
Anne Marie x
Need help decluttering your attic? Keep reading!
When you’re ready, here’s how to get more support from me:
Join my Academy: whitesagedecluttering.com/white-sage-academy/↗
Book a virtual 1/2 day decluttering session: Virtual 1/2 day decluttering €500 – White Sage Decluttering
Check out my 1:1 Package for a deep-dive declutter
Client testimonial – attic space
“Before I even met or spoke to Anne Marie I knew she was what I needed to clear out over 25 years of clutter in our attic. I knew there was no way I could do it by myself.
Anne Marie arrived full of energy and enthusiasm and worked methodically through every item, giving gentle advice along the way on what to keep and what to let go.
Anne Marie has a warm, friendly personality and it felt like I had a best friend in my home helping with an enormous task.
She has a wonderful understanding of family life and how clutter can build up and gives great advice going forward on how to keep on top of it.
The best part of Anne Marie’s service is that she takes away all your unwanted items/clutter in her car to the local charity shops and recycling centres and will instinctively know where to go with items from her years of experience.
I no longer avoid going up to the attic and it now feels spacious, organised and has dedicated spaces for everything.
If you are thinking of engaging Anne Marie’s service, just stop thinking about it and go do it!
It will be the best money you will ever spend.”
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