An Interview With Peter Walsh - Getting Started!

If you decided that you can’t live another year in the clutter around you, the house you live in doesn’t feel like yours any longer or it’s all just overwhelming, you have probably come to the point where “It’s All Too Much”. It’s time to take the steps that will change your life forever…so, let’s get you started!

Tackle The Clutter!
Peter calls this first step the “Kick Start”. It’s tough to make people part with things that belong to them. If you commit to taking the “F.A.S.T.” approach…this will also become your new mantra! What is F.A.S.T.? You’re going to like this.
F = Fix a time. Schedule a kick start date with everyone in the household.
A = Anything not used for twelve months - let it go!
S = Someone else’s stuff. If it doesn’t belong to you - it’s time to go.
T = Unusable items and garbage are history.

Organize Your Material!
Be sure you have plenty of trash bags on hand. Keep in mind that your goal is to fill lots of them. Buy or borrow tarps. You’ve probably seen Peter use these on TLC’s Clean Sweep. They are GREAT for sorting “stuff” into piles. Depending on the space you have, a tarp can be assigned to each household member or in ”teams”.  Consider renting a dumpster that can be delivered to your home and towed away when filled. Plan sandwiches or pizza for dinner. There won’t be time for food prep.

Pick The Final Destination
If I haven’t mentioned this already, Peter Walsh is a no nonsense kind of guy. These three options for every item you come across will explain why.
1. Keep. This category is for items that you use all the time.
2. Trash. Remember that you are creating space and getting rid of the clutter that is making you unhappy.
3. Out the door. These items are either going to be sold at a yard sale or online, being donated or given back to their owner. I love this part…”once in this pile, the item never comes back into your home”.

Game Rules
These are pretty easy. Start on time, don’t argue or waste time, make your piles and don’t stop until you are done!

At the end of this purge, “evaluate and congratulate”. There will be some things that mean more to some than to others. This is where the family give and take comes in. Decide what’s important and a way to let go of the things that don’t deserve the space they are taking. As the leader, rally the team and get them excited to accomplish the next step!

NEAT Tip of the day:
Holiday Wreath Storage bags are perfect for storing garland. We used a 42″ Wreath Chest to store our indoor and outdoor garland this year. These also have center pull-out storage to keep your garland, bows and ornaments all together. Just “coil” the garland from the inside of the chest and work your way to the outside edge. Also note as you store your wreaths in these storage bags, that there is some open space between the pull out storage and wreath. A single 9-foot strand of garland fits perfectly here! Wreath storage bags range in price and size to fit your needs.

Happy Organizing!
-Mrs. O

January 7, 2008 on 5:52 am | In All, Featured Guests, Interviews