Friday Coffee with MAP - March 1, 2024

Hello, and welcome to Friday Coffee with MAP!

This week, let's dive into the conundrum of clutter. It is a persistent problem: life has a way of piling up. The issue with clutter, it seems, is that the unnecessary items are often mixed in with the essential or sentimental ones. Navigating between useful and wasteful clutter is an art, and in this week's article, three home organization experts share their perspective on deciding what is ok to declutter versus what you really ought to keep.

Happy reading!


"Here's What You Should Never Declutter, According to the Pros"
_{by Amanda Lauren for Real Simple}

Real Simple spoke to three organizing pros about what you should always declutter, versus those you should be intentional about keeping.

Papers & Documents:

Always Declutter: Manuals for appliances and electronics should be decluttered as they are readily available online.

Never Declutter: Keep important documents like birth certificates, social security cards, and legal documents, filing them away for safekeeping. Consider keeping them in a small fireproof safe.

Kitchen Supplies:

Always Declutter: That weirdly-shaped wine glass you never use? That can go. Discard or donate unused kitchen gadgets and duplicate items.

Never Declutter: Hold onto any item that is used regularly, as well as some of the seasonal items, like turkey basters.

Household Paper Products:

Never Declutter: Non-perishable items like toilet paper and paper towels do not need to be decluttered, even if bought in excess. They can be stored effectively.

Sentimental Items:

Always Declutter: Old ticket stubs and Playbills tend to be set aside for a scrapbook that never seems to materialize. Probably best to get rid of them.

Never Declutter: Preserve irreplaceable family heirlooms and truly cherished items that may be passed down through the family one day. Keep them organized or displayed in accordance with their value to you.

Toiletries:

Always Declutter: Is the area under your bathroom sink a complete disaster? Dispose of tiny hotel toiletries and samples that are so rarely used. Remember, they have expiration dates!

Never Declutter: Keep half-full bottles of regularly used toiletries and products. You never know when you will run out of your current shampoo or get the urge to switch back to previous routines.

Duplicates of Useful Tools:

Never Declutter: There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to find the scissors or measuring tape. Maintain duplicates of items like these in different areas of your home for convenience- and save yourself that hated “now where did I put the __?” frustration.

Clothing:

Always Declutter: Donate clothing that no longer fits or hasn't been worn in a year. Give stained or damaged clothes to a textile recycling company or organization so they don't end up in a landfill.

Never Declutter: Keep well-made, classic pieces like a quality trench coat or loafers, as they are likely to be useful in the future. You never know what might come back into style, so keep quality pieces of clothing around. 

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So tell us: What tips for decluttering your home have you picked up over the years?

We’re looking forward to hearing from you! Have a wonderful weekend.

Thank you,

The MAP Team

10345 W. Olympic Blvd, Suite 110
Los Angeles, CA 90064
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