We all got ‘em….old diaper boxes, computer component boxes, Amazon.com shipments….so let’s reduce/reuse/recycle by putting them to good use and control our clutter!

Keep an empty box in every closet of the house:

• Front hall closet: keep a box for “outgoing” items like store returns, library books, or items that belong to someone else. Next time you go out, grab the box!
• Kitchen pantry: keep a box for things that belong in another room like kid’s toys or loose papers. When it gets full, take 10 minutes and transport them to the right room then put the empty box back in the pantry so it’s ready for the next batch of clutter.
• Clothes closet: keep a box for items you no longer wear and want to donate. When it’s full, drop it off.
• Kid’s playrooms: keep a box in your kid’s rooms or playrooms for toys they no longer want to play with. Donate them when it gets full.
• Home office: keep a box for shred items. If you own a shredder, shred while you’re watching TV. If you don’t own a shredder, take it to a shredding service. Check with your town hall to see if your town has quarterly “shred-a-thons.”
• Craft rooms: keep a box for fabric & ribbon scraps, bits of yarn, and left over cotton polyfill. In early spring, set the box outside for a month and let birds use the bits to make their nests!

(TIP: If you’re on a tight budget or don’t have a box lying around, your local ABC store will let you have boxes for free. They’re already put together and they’re a manageable size to fit anywhere and still be light enough to lift when they’re full.)