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Tom's Guide
4 hours ago
- General
- Tom's Guide
I just discovered the '27 Fling Boogie' technique, and it finally makes decluttering fun
Decluttering is one of those tasks you know you really need to do and the longer you put it off, the worse it gets. And since you have to live amongst the mess, you can't ever really avoid it. But, the process of decluttering can be incredibly hard. It's not just about ridding your home of clutter, it's about letting go of objects you've grown accustomed to having around. Usually that 'just in case' feeling can mean you hold onto things for a lot longer than you really should, because 'just in case' never happens. And this is how I found myself in a clutter rut. The items were building up and the urge to declutter was itself becoming a cluttered space in my mind. And then, I found myself down a cleaning rabbit hole on TikTok and came across this oddly-named trend, the '27 Fling Boogie'. And honestly, it's changed the way I think about decluttering forever. The '27 Fling Boogie' is a trend created by Maria Cilley aka. FlyLady, a "personal online coach" that strives to help you clean. And so, she came up with this unusually named method that tasks you with throwing away 27 items and giving away 27 items. I've tried many a decluttering method, from 'the poop rule' to the KonMari method to Swedish death cleaning. By now, she clearly needs help tidying: "She really needs helping decluttering" and you'd be right. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. So, when I heard that the 27 Fling Boogie wanted me to run through my home gathering up items firstly with the idea of throwing them away and then to giving them away, it felt like a game I could finally get onboard with. My main problem with decluttering is how much of a chore it is and how overwhelming it can be. By gamifying the idea, the 27 Fling Boogie gave me an opportunity to stop thinking about it like a task and, really, stop thinking altogether. I quickly realized by using the 27 Fling Boogie technique, I had to focus myself onto one room or one particularly messy spot, like my wardrobe. And that's when it really started to work. Running around like a headless chicken was fun at first, but then I was struggling to find 27 items just strewn across my home and it was far too easy to ignore populated spots. And focusing my attention was the key. The 27 Fling Boogie gave me a straightforward look at what I had and less about sitting there endlessly staring at each item. It wasn't, "Should I keep it?" It was, "Throw or donate?" And, sure, it definitely did work, but I also came to the realisation that 27 was just a number that gave me a goal. Most of the time, I surpassed 27 in the throwing away pile, but came under the quota in donating – and that was totally fine. At the end of the day, I was focused on doing something with my clutter and slowly, but surely, my house became less messy without me feeling any kind of guilt – especially as I dropped off items to charity to find new homes.
Epoch Times
07-05-2025
- General
- Epoch Times
Simple Organization and Storage Tips
'Sorry my place is such a mess!' If you have to pull out that one every time you welcome friends or family into your house, it might be time to get organized. Marla Cilley, also known as the FlyLady, calls that CHAOS: Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome! Organization is an important aspect of any home. And we're quite familiar with the rule: a place for everything and everything in its place. Right? The challenge is finding that place and then actually following through! What follows is a random selection of tips and tricks I've received over the years from my dear readers. Undoubtedly, some will have a ring of familiarity, while others will have you smacking palm to forehead wondering, 'Why didn't I think of that?!' Reading all the way to the end just might give you an uncontrollable urge to get started. You might come up with your own organization and storage tips and tricks, which we hope you'll share! Cord Corral Computer cords and charging cables make homes and offices unsightly. Camouflage the cords by threading them through a length of a 1/2-inch PVC pipe you've attached to the wall. Drainer Do-Over Take a forgotten dish drainer that's most likely stashed under your kitchen sink, and give it a new life in the office. Use it for organizing paper, pencils, pads, cards, and envelopes. It works great and will save you a few bucks from buying a desk organizer. Earring Organization Clearly, there is no single way to accomplish the matter of keeping earrings organized and not hopelessly orphaned! Here's one more: Are you always rummaging through your jewelry box in the morning to find a matching pair of earrings? Purchase a 28-day pill organizer from a dollar store to organize your earrings. The box is clear plastic, so you can easily see all of your earrings at a glance. Cabinet Storage Guide Once you have your kitchen cabinets organized, take photos of every item that goes into each of your kitchen cabinets and drawers. Then print them in thumbnail view, one page per cabinet. Tape each handy reference guide to the inside of the cabinet door, and now your family is perfectly clear about what goes where. It's a quick guide to finding what you have stored in deep or low cabinets as well. Golf Bag Revival An old golf bag makes a great caddy for all of those long-handled tools in your garage or garden storage shed. It looks cool, too. Safekeeping For things you would hate to lose in a fire or tornado but won't fit into a safety deposit box, do this: Put them in freezer bags, and store them in the freezer. Chances are they will survive a disaster quite nicely. Storage Space Solution If your storage space is limited and you have to stack several boxes on top of one another, make a diagram on an index card, and keep it in a handy place. When you look for something, you'll know exactly where it is. Store items that you're more likely to use often toward the front, with less frequently used items at the back. Stored Cords Tangled, unorganized cords can quickly clutter your space. Use empty paper towel and tissue rolls to store appliance cords. It keeps them neat, and you can write on the roll the appliance or item it belongs to. The Law To keep your possessions from overtaking your life and your space, declare a new personal dictum: For every new thing that comes in, something old must go out. You must obey The Law. It'll work. In fact, there will be times that you'll really want to bring home something new, but the thought of getting rid of something of equal size or value will help you distinguish between a true need and a passing desire. Flower Power Use a terra-cotta flowerpot (super inexpensive in the garden department) to hold all your kitchen-cleaning tools under the sink. The terra cotta absorbs moisture, which will help to keep your tools dry and rust-free. The Perfect Box Buy milk from Costco, and recycle the box they come in, which is perfect for storing 8-by-11 sized documents and magazines. These sturdy boxes are easy to manage because they are smaller and hold less than typical storage boxes. Dear Readers: We would love to hear from you. What topics would you like to read about? Please send your feedback and tips to Related Stories 4/25/2025 4/20/2025
