What happens when two pack rats get married and live with two cats, two dogs, and two kids? A ton of clutter. But we’ve taken some serious steps to clear up the clutter, including trying out some of REAL SIMPLE’s favorite tidying techniques to see what works and what doesn’t. (After all, there is no one-size-fits-all tidying method that works for everyone.)
After trying the 15-minute cleaning and room-by-room tidying routine last time, we experimented with two boxes of tidying. Here is a complete overview of this method. It also includes some tips that can be a game-changer for containing clutter once and for all.
How the two boxes organize
As you might guess from the name, the two-box method requires only two boxes (or bags!). One for things you keep and one for things you donate or throw away. As you sift through the clutter, place each item in its appropriate box. Once the box is full or you are finished using it, start placing items in the “Keep” box. For items in your donation/disposal box, either get rid of them immediately (be bold!) or, if you’re not confident, set a deadline of a month later to decide their fate.
Advantages of organizing two boxes
If you’re looking for a truly deconstructive tidying technique, this might be the way to go. Here’s what we liked:
Make decisions faster
Basically, it’s a yes or no decision on how to get rid of two boxes, so it was easy to quickly deal with large boxes of documents and overcrowded storage shelves in the basement.
Making a lot of progress helps you stay motivated
This method allows me to quickly clean up the clutter (I got through the shelf in question in just 20 minutes) and gives me the satisfaction I get from completing a mission, which leads me to another project. It inspired me to work on (my project). – Sink storage — don’t call it quits.
Disadvantages of the 2-box method
The two box tidying method had some drawbacks that you should consider using.
What you donate tends to stay.
We’ve seen one of the most common problems people have when it comes to decluttering: they decide to let something go, but the item that was meant to leave the house never finds its final resting place. This is often the case. In the past, I’ve left charity clutter on my front porch for months before finally being able to move it outside. I’m thinking of arranging for it to be removed sooner next time, but right now the entrance is a mess and I’m having trouble.
I also put off keeping the box.
Items in the space I was clearing were quickly put back, but items in storage boxes in other rooms remained in those boxes. (In fact, there may be a storage box right next to me as I write this.) The boxes don’t feel as cluttered as the actual items in them, so I’m not motivated enough to get rid of them. Not yet. –That’s definitely a problem.
It took a long time to empty the keepbox
The items were to be returned to various locations throughout the house, so I spent a lot of time putting the items back in their original locations. This was great for step counting, but not so great for time management.
Make two box organization work for you
The two-box method definitely has a place in the pantheon of decluttering methods, but to make it work better, we recommend following a few tips:
Add trash bags to the mix
It probably goes without saying, but instead of mixing things that are clearly trash with your donations, have a trash bag nearby that can be thrown away immediately. There is no need to add a second step there.
Plan gift items
Set a date for a garage sale or charity pick-up, set a deadline to post in your local Buy Nothing group, or load it into the back of your car and drop it off at your local charity venue. It’s too easy to just leave it in the house.
Consider “Phase 2” of Keep Items
Instead of randomly walking around your house with a collection of tools, books, and other whimsical items, organize your storage bins by room. That way, you can work more efficiently and get things back in their proper place faster.