We are no longer accepting donations for Bank of New Zealand Get Organised 2006. However, read on to find out our decluttering tips for the future.

Where do I start?

If you dive in without taking some time to plan, there's a good chance that you're going to get overwhelmed, and the job is not going to get done.

Here is one simple method of decluttering your home, using four boxes to organise your belongings:

Rubbish: This should include any item that you do not need or want, but that is not donatable or sellable. Damaged and broken items should be included in the rubbish, as if it doesn’t work and you haven’t had it fixed yet, you probably never will.

Give Away: Be generous – Take these items to a Get Organised drop off point. Think about the use someone else might get out of the items vs. the use it gets in your home buried in cabinets or wardrobes

Storage: Put items in here that you cannot part with but do not need on a regular basis, such as sentimentally valuable items. Make an inventory of the items as you box them. Group similar items together. Remember one good way to clean out closets is to store out of season clothing.

Put Away:These are items that need to be out on a regular basis. Monitor yourself by determining whether you have a place for each item. If the items in this box will not fit into your home without cluttering an area up, try to reassess whether you really need them. If you do need these “essentials”, try to come up with a storage solution that fits into your home, such as space-efficient wardrobe organisation, cannily installed shelves or stackable storage boxes.

Working room by room in your house, and clockwise around each room, sort items into the appropriate boxes. Work with one item at a time determining its proper place in your newly organised life. Don’t forget to go through closets, cabinets, and storage spaces. Uncluttering rooms like the kitchen and bathroom may be very easy to do, while rooms with storage bins and closets may take a lot more time.
Remember: Your rooms will probably look a lot worse before they look any better. Keep at it!!