Throughout the process, members of the Clean Sweep team will share time-saving cleaning tips, reveal money saving shopping tactics, and present do-it-yourself home projects. Enjoy!

• Furniture that seems to have no use can be repurposed and brought back to life with just a good sanding and a new coat of stain or paint.
• A bargain at a yard sale isn't a bargain if it's something you will never use.
• Photos are great ways to trigger a happy memory, but duplicates and pictures out of focus are just more clutter.
• Heavy dust on a toy or game is a great indication that you don't use it enough to justify it taking up space in your home.
• Putting like colored clothes together in the closet helps you find similar items quickly.

• Most colors reflect light poorly. Green is one of the few that doesn't cast harsh tones.
• Travel books date very quickly. Anything over two years old will be of little use.
• Personal tax info must be kept for seven years. Check with your accountant or tax advisor before tossing business records.
• Fitness equipment was not designed for use as a clothes rack. Use it or get rid of it, especially if it's a huge bulky piece.
• Color coding business and personal files can help you keep track of what papers belong with what aspect of your life.

• If you keep your clothes on good hangers they're more likely to keep their shape and look better longer.
• If you have "cottage cheese" ceilings and want to cover them up, hanging fabric is a good trick.
• If you have a small room, dark colors can often make it look bigger.

• Memorabilia should be displayed with the proper respect or it's just collecting dust and creating more clutter.
• New and smaller technology can help you get rid of large bulky stereo and TV equipment.
• Unread books can cause major clutter. When you buy a new one, pass another one off to a friend who may be interested in reading it too.
• Junk mail should be tossed out right away, and separated from bills and other mail that needs a response.
• Slipcovers are a great way to make old furniture look like new.
• Any mail with personal information like Social Security numbers or bank info should be shredded before being tossed or properly filed where it can't be used against you.

• Painting the walls any color helps you stay organized. White walls are bland and clutter blends into the walls too easily.
• Nice clothes should be kept in nice garment bags in the closet. Label the edge of each one so you are able to find what you are looking for quickly.
• Photo negatives can be tossed once you get pictures scanned into a computer. You will never need the negatives again.
• Physical objects can trigger strong memories, but only the memories themselves are important, not the objects.
• A small addition of a paper shredder can help you get rid of old bills, while not having to worry about your personal information falling into the wrong hands.

• You can keep things that were gifts, but you don't have to keep things just because they're a gift.
• Closets can be extremely efficient multi-purpose storage spaces.
• Painting walls different colors in the same room can give a feeling of two rooms in one.
• For a yard sale, look up prices on an online auction site can help you figure out the value of your items.

• If you have items of importance, they should be displayed or stored with respect, not stuffed away.
• When sifting through your clutter you have to be brutal in order to make a dent.
• Try to keep only stuff that is useful and/or practical.
• It's liberating when you finally let go of things you've been holding onto for too long.
• Labeling your belongings accurately can save a lot of time when searching for them later.

• If an item has a strong family attachment, you can give it to a relative to lessen the clutter without the guilt of tossing it out.
• Picking up furniture at flea markets can make your redesign less expensive.
• If your spouse tosses something you weren't even aware of, don't be upset, be happy the clutter is going with it.
• Perceived value of your possessions does not equate to actual value.

• When clearing out your stuff, keeping only things that belong in that space can greatly reduce your clutter.
• Using a process of elimination can be an easy, structured way of deciding what stays and what goes.
• Attaching some fabric to just about anything can give it a refreshing new look.
• If small bags are put into larger bags it will save a ton of space.
• Utilizing all the height of a room can give the appearance of more space and leave more room for storage elsewhere.
• If storage areas are closed off, it gives your rooms a much cleaner look.

• Making the bed every morning helps keep your room looking neat and organized.
• Letters can hold nice memories, but take up valuable space. Keep only those most dear to you, and let the others go.
• Craft supplies should only be kept for current projects. Small scraps that "might" be used can just pile up and cause clutter.
• Putting large pieces of furniture in opposite ends of the room make the room feel larger and can add a balance to the room.

• Being organized can make you more efficient at work. Thing won't get misplaced or lost in the shuffle if they are in orderly files and not random piles.
• Toys are fun for kids when they are played with. If they never get used, they are just more clutter in your life.
• If you get a gift you don't use, get it out of the house. Remember, it's the thought that counts, not the item.
• Record albums are great if you use them, if not, they are just clutter in our digital world of CD and DVD.

• Cheaply made toys or promotional items are not good collectibles; they just create clutter, and take up valuable storage space.
• Having toys for visiting grand kids is a great idea. Teaching the kids to put all the toys back where they belong when playtime is over is a skill they can use for life.
• One person's trash may be another person's treasure. Hold a yard sale and let your clutter move from your home, and make some money in the process.
• Office space should be separated from play space so that kids don't accidentally ruin an item you need for bill paying or work.
• Color-coding storage areas can help you keep track of whose clutter is who's.

• Old wallpaper should be saturated before you try to peel it off the walls. It helps to loosen up the glue and makes the process go faster.
• Perfume has an expiration date. Check the number on the bottom of the bottle. The last number is the year it was made. Over three years old should be tossed.
• Cancelled checks only need to be kept for four years, unless they relate to an asset purchase (house, car, stocks, bonds) then they must be kept as long as you have that asset, to prove how much you paid for it.
• Keeping one pair of "Skinny" pants is a great way to get inspired to lose weight. Keeping more then that is just cluttering up your closet.
• Old wallpaper can be covered with magnet boards you can use to display a child's art work. It minimizes the wallpaper's impact, and the art can be rotated as the child grows.

• Memorabilia and special items need to be out and displayed or they are just clutter. No one can see them if they are hidden away in boxes.
• A mirror on the back of a display case can make the case and the room feel larger.
• Valuable items that you want to purge can be sold at auction or on-line to realize their full value.
• Bills, receipts and financial papers should not be stored under the bed. It will cause restless nights.
• Cutting down the clutter helps you know what you have. Then you don't have to go out and buy an item that duplicates one you already have, but simply can't find.

• Having 15 pairs of identical pants just creates clutter. If you don't wear them, get rid of them.
• Musical instruments are meant to be played, not used as hat stands. Display them in a way that is eye catching and yet easily accessible when it's time to make some music.
• Having a few high quality accessories like purses, shoes and hats that go with many outfits is more sensible then many items that only go with one outfit.
• Old furniture may not meet your needs today. If it isn't functional, get pieces that are, and get rid of the old stuff ASAP.
• You should do a mini purge of your home every six months, to help you keep on top of the clutter, and to insure it doesn't get out of hand.

• Making sure a large piece of furniture fits in your space is important, and making sure it fits through the door way is key as well.
• Toy collections from your youth are great fun, and nice to pass on to your kids. But if you have outgrown them, get rid of them.
• If you have an old stereo that takes up a lot of space, look into upgrading your technology and getting something smaller.
• Keeping a desk in the garage for some future use just takes up space and creates clutter — use it or lose it.

• If you have an old Halloween costume you no longer intend to wear, get rid of it.
• Accessories are meant to accessorize something. If you're hanging onto an item like an old motorcycle helmet in hopes of buying a motorcycle, dump it.
• If you own a piece of clothing that's spent a year or more lying around unworn and unused, let it go.
• If you have a huge collection of accessories like handbags, get real and keep only the ones you actually use.

• Don't take responsibility for anybody's clutter except your own. If you're hanging onto someone else's extra stuff, give it back. Let them deal with it.
• If you're hanging onto something belonging to a departed loved one, ask yourself, "Am I treating this item with the respect it deserves?" If the answer is no, it's time to unload it.
• If somebody gives you a gift you don't use, get rid of it. Remember, it's the thought that counts.
• If you have an unused item you want to keep in the family, give it to another family member and put it to good use.

• If you own a piece of clothing that's spent a year or more lying around in its original shrink wrap, it's time to unload it.
• If you've been hanging onto old gizmos like outdated computers, pick the most recent, useable version and get rid of the rest.
• A person can only wear so many shoes. Sift through the ones you have, decide what pairs you actually need and say goodbye to the rest.
• Bedrooms are for resting, not for laundry. If space permits, make the most of your bedroom space by creating a concealed dressing area.

• Musical instruments are made to be played, not to collect dust. If you have an old musical instrument you don't use, give it to someone who will put it to good use.
• If you have a hobby or interest (like camping) that comes with a lot of equipment, find a way to keep and organize only the most up-to-date, useful pieces and unload the outdated duplicates. Nobody needs three six-man tents or six coolers.
• If you're hanging onto unsightly gee-gaws you don't use, get rid of them. If they really meant something to you, they wouldn't be lying around collecting dust.
• Create specific spaces for specific activities, like home beer-brewing. Nobody needs to see your alcohol fermenting in the middle of a room.
• When you move from one place, or one country, to another, take the opportunity to purge your old things to make way for your new life. Don't leave your abandoned clutter with a relative.

• Unless you have just one foot, there is no reason to hang on to gobs of unmatched socks. When a pair of socks divorces, respect their choice to separate and give the extra sock the boot.
• Plastic souvenir cups may bring back warm memories of some of your favorite NFL games, but you don't need the cups to hang on to the memories. Unload them.
• Old magazines just occupy space. If you've read them, dump them. If you haven't read them and they're more than three months old, they're history.
• Don't spend years hanging on to adolescent clothes in hopes of handing them down to younger siblings. Fashions change, the younger child will want new clothes, and the old clothes will only take up space. Give them to someone who can use them now.

• Do you actually use ALL of your holiday decorations? Or are some just outdated duplicates of what you actually display? Streamline the holiday stash and store it properly between uses.
• Sentimental purchases from memorable trips do you no good if you're not using them. If you have a souvenir item like a mask that's just sitting in a box collecting dust, give it to someone who will actually use it or sell it. You still have your memories. You don't need the clutter.
• Musical instruments are meant to be played, not stuffed under a pile of clothes. If you're not playing an instrument, give it to someone who will or sell it.
• If you have created alternate storage for your CD's, get rid of the cases they came in.
• Tranquility fountains are only tranquil if they're being used. If they're collecting dust and not bubbling out water, unload them.

• If you want to paint a pattern on a wall, use a projector to beam the template or silhouette onto the painting surface.
• You can create tiled flooring without tearing out old carpet. Simply tile sheets of plywood and install them over the carpet. Then, you can change out the pattern or remove it entirely whenever you like.
• If you have a lot of trophies, keep the ones that really mean something and let the other ones go.
• Cribs are made for babies. If your baby's fully-grown, get rid of her crib.
• If you have more than one of the same item in a group of collectibles, get rid of the duplicates and only keep the best of the best.

• If you have athletic equipment you don't use, sell it or donate it.
• Books are made to be read. Once you've given a book a read, let it go. You can donate books to the local library, a school or charity, or you can sell them and buy new titles.
• If you clean out a storage area like a bookshelf, purge enough to leave yourself extra space for future storage.
• Cheap keepsakes like carnival booby prizes may remind you of happy times, but your memories are just as sweet - and they take up a whole lot less space.
• If you're still holding onto your grown children's baby clothes, get rid of them. They don't fit anymore and they're out of style.
• If you need space for overnight guests and have limited space, a trundle bed might be worth the investment. It provides sleeping space for two but takes up minimal space when it's not in use.
• Make the most of a window seat by creating storage space underneath the cushion.

• Books are made to be read. If you haven't taken a peek at them in a year, sell them or donate them to charity.
• Childhood collections like baseball cards may be valuable. If you haven't added to your collection for awhile, it's time to sell it off and cash in.
• Computer technology is constantly changing. As you upgrade your systems, make sure you discard your outdated hardware and software. Sell it or donate it to a school or charity.
• If you have a collection of similar items, like records, which once belonged to a departed loved one, save the memories by displaying only a few treasured items from the set. Donate or sell the rest.

• You can create privacy in a doorless room by hanging a curtain over the entry area.
• If you hang your clothes properly, they will last longer, look better and be readily available.
• Sort through old pairs of shoes every six months. Get rid of outdated styles. Unload the pairs you haven’t worn for a year or more.
• If you have a hobby or business that requires you to use a number of small items like buttons or beads, organize them into smaller, see-through storage units and place them at eye level where you can easily see what you need.
• You can create a fanciful, country-inspired headboard using wood planks and a little paint.

• Bold colors don't have to be overwhelming. Remember that furnishings and accessories can absorb the impact of a bold paint scheme and make for a soothing overall design.
• Keep musical instruments you play. Sell or donate the ones you don't play.
• If your work requires that you keep a second wardrobe or collection of costumes, organize these secondary clothing items so that they remain in good condition and are easily accessible.
• If you have a favorite piece of furniture that has outlasted its usefulness, you have several options about what to do with it: sell it, give it away or refurbish it.
• In addition to using existing items like rugs to build a color pallet, you can mimic the interesting shapes of existing furniture pieces like headboards to enhance a room's design scheme.

• Clean out your kitchen every six months and toss all foods that are out of code or that have no code date on them.
• If you have a large collection of dishes like wine glasses, keeping only the ones you can use. Sell or donate the remaining dishes.
• If you're hanging onto items you don't use merely because they were gifts, save the memory and sell or donate the item. Remember, it's the thought behind the item that counts.
• Keep your children's toy clutter under control by donating or selling the toys your children have outgrown.

• If you want to hang onto old furniture, keep it clean and in useable shape. Call a local upholstery cleaner from time to time to keep the fabric looking good.
• When you buy your child a new toy, make sure you purge another toy she's outgrown. That way, your toy inventory will remain manageable.
• If you have artwork you aren't displaying, sell it or donate it to charity so that someone else can enjoy it.
• Go through your books twice a year and purge the ones you're not going to read.
• If you already have built-in storage but need more room, add onto the existing units with custom shelving.

• If you have a special hobby like scuba diving that requires that you have a lot of equipment, go through it every six months and get rid of the items that are outdated or unused.
• Gift wrap is made to be used. If it's sitting in a box and you haven't used it in a year, toss it out.
• Go through your collection of videotapes and DVDs every six months. Toss, donate or sell the ones you're not using.
• Favorite collectibles that can't seem to find a display place in your home have outworn their welcome. Sell them or donate them.
• Pare down your collection of stuffed animals and give the extras to a charity or hospital where children can enjoy them.

• Autographed sports items like baseballs and basketballs are great, but if they're just lying around unused, save only one or two valuable ones and sell or donate the others.
• Theme collectibles have a tendency to take on a life of their own. If you're hanging onto theme items like pig curios or cow salt and pepper shakers, sell or donate most of them and keep only a couple of the ones you really love.
• You can double the usefulness of existing office furniture by adding onto the desk space with plywood or pre-made shelving.
• Believe it or not, black paint can add a dynamic design element to a room if it's used with complementary colors.

• If you have art you aren't displaying, give it or sell it to someone who will enjoy it.
• If a room has spacious, interestingly-shaped walls, they can hand bold color. Give these rooms a dash of panache with rich paint choices and lush fabrics.
• If you sell things from home, organize your home office and your sales materials so that you can see these items. Efficiency in the office will translate into increased sales.
• Costumes that you only wear once a year should be recycled or stored away where they aren't cluttering up the storage space you use for everyday living.
• Seating can also double as storage. If you need seating and lack storage, find furniture that can do double-duty.

• If a beloved relative has given you an item you don't use, pass the love along by donating or selling the item to someone who can really enjoy it.
• Family heirlooms like dishes are meant to be used. If you're not using them, give them to another family member who will enjoy them.
• If you want to upgrade your kitchen or bathroom by installing a new sink, make sure the item is an improvement on the old one. If it isn't, get rid of it.
• Be sure to purge toxic chemicals once every six months and dispose of them at an appropriate disposal facility.

• Childhood collections of cars and stuffed animals may have sentimental value, but they also collect dust. Reduce them and sell or donate the lions' share of the collections to children who can enjoy them.
• If you have old family furniture that you don't use, either give it a facelift and use it or sell/donate it to someone who can use it.
• Pare down your wardrobe by a third every six months. Save only the clothes you wear and get rid of the items you don't wear.
• If you have an old collection of something like baseball cards, either re-invest in your collecting hobby or sell all or part of the collection to someone who will appreciate its value.
• You can breathe new life into old furniture by repainting and reupholstering it.

• Outdated wallpaper makes a room feel dingy. Remove it and add a fresh coat of paint for a clean new look.
• If you've recently lost a lot of weight, donate or sell your outmoded clothing and enjoy a new, smaller wardrobe.
• Old keepsakes like letters can be enjoyed if you put them in a scrapbook where they are easily accessible.
• A large number of similar items like stuffed bunnies does not make that group of items a "collection." If you have gathered a lot of stuffed bunnies, for instance, keep only a handful of the ones you really enjoy and donate or sell the remaining ones.

• You can only enjoy so many stuffed animals at any one time. Pare down your collection to only the ones you actually use and enjoy them.
• If you have collectibles like Desert Storm mugs or mementos from the Olympic games, either display them, sell them or give them away. But don't stow them away under the bed.
• Create a romantic headboard and use an unused quilt by hanging it on the wall behind your bed.
• Clear plastic containers are handy for storing things like handbags in the closet.

• Whenever you get a new toy for your child, purge one that she no longer uses.
• You can create drama and function in a room by constructing a wall-sized entertainment center.
• Files are meant to be used for reference. If they're just lying around, it's time to toss them.
• Toy storage can be fun and functional: with some splashes of color and a few accessories, a simple storage bin can be a playful train caboose.

• Go through your electronic equipment and keep only those items that represent the most up-to-date technology.
• You can create a new feeling in a room by covering a mirrored wall with fabric or a textured item like bamboo.
• Mid-century homes often contain closet build-ins like shoe racks. They can be repurposed for use as magazine racks or tie holders.
• Magazines are meant to be read. If you haven't looked at yours in more than six months, it's time to let them go.

• Organize your papers and receipts; you'll find that you end up keeping only what's necessary and you save yourself the mess of having extra paper around.
• You can create mystery and romance in your bedroom by hanging a simple and inexpensive canopy of wood and fabric over your bed.
• Paint a series of colors around a room to create a dynamic Mondrian effect. And don't feel like each wall has to be its own color; you can pick up a new color in the middle of a wall and wrap it around a corner. Think outside the wall! class="primeColor"> Check out the "bones" of your old furniture. Instead of replacing functional pieces, give them a facelift with color and hardware and use them.
• If a room has two focal points, make them both accessible by placing swivel chairs in between them. class="primeColor"> Never keep more than two back issues of any magazine.

• If you collect gifts, remember to give them. Purge your gift box every three months and unload the items you haven't been able to give away.
• Stuffed animals from childhood take up space and can be dirty. If you're just hanging onto them for sentimental reasons, give them to charity so that a new generation of children can enjoy them.
• If you have a lot of family photographs, get rid of the negatives and just keep the photos you intend to use.
• Scrapbooking is a rewarding hobby, but it can take up a lot of space. Be sure to organize your scrapbooking supplies in an area where they can be easily used. Excess supplies should be tossed or given away.
• The fabric from a sentimental item like your grandmother's old handbag can find new life as a scrapbook cover. Don't just save sentimental items, repurpose them so you can enjoy them all the time.

• Provocative art photos of Marilyn Monroe are best suited for an adult space, like the garage or study.
• Make a kid's closet kid-friendly by placing hanging clothing at the child's level and making the items he uses every day accessible.
• You can double or even triple storage space above a built-in credenza by adding floating shelving above it.
• A child's room can be fun and functional if you include a bunk bed with desk space below in the design.
• Frame round mirrors with inexpensive bike tires for an cool look in a kid's room.