Can You Do 40 Bags in 40 Days?

I dunno. I'm going to try.

Sarah of Clover Lane set down the 40 bags in 40 days challenge. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm constantly, and I do mean constantly, filling bags around my house. I have a couple devoted to different things in my laundry room - one for a friend with kids smaller than mine, one for the thrift store, one for the women's clothing swap that I do every 6 months or so.

But this is different. Can I rid my house of 40 bags of junk/miscellaneous/garbage/useable goods to send to the thrift store? Maybe. I think I can. And that's saying something. How ballsy is it of me to have all this STUFF, much of it taking up space and needing to be dusted? What am I teaching my kids? Just buy more and more and more stuff and fill your house, every corner of your room, with more stuff.

So, I'm going to try. We were way too sick last week to begin on Ash Wednesday, and I didn't get started until Saturday. But Saturday I filled 9 bags. (For ease of measurement, I'm allowing myself to count any size bag. Not a sandwich baggie, silly - but a Target bag, paper grocery bag, garbage bag or paper store bag are all counting for me.) I've given each kid a bag to fill - but of course I'm going to supervise and make sure that they don't toss good stuff. :)

I need to declutter again. I need to deep clean, again. I need to reorganize, again. This many people in this size house means that stuff just multiplies over and over.

Are you with me?

Comments

[Julie C]

What a great idea!! We have so much stuff it is practically obscene. Time to purge. Thank you for posting this!

[Deborah]

Can I include recycling? I fill a huge disney shoppper bag twice a week, with glass and plastic and cardboard. I'm sure going to try, I'm a closet hoarder.

Good luck!

[Amie]

Ay yi yi, I am sure I have 40 bags worth to purge, not sure I have perseverance to stick with it.

[Brandi Mantha]

How big do the bags have to be? Depending on size, I could be in on this...

[Shelly]

I am already on a purging kick and have done well over 40 bags, with many more to come. I will join you to see if I can get 40 more!

[Mary @ A Simple Twist of Faith]

Yes I am!

[Brenda Diggs]

I already did one bag yesterday, and am getting ready for my move across country and trying to take as little as I possible can, so I'm in- I think I can do it easily ( especially if the bags don't have to be a specific size!)

[Julie]

I love this idea! I'm in!

[Headless Mom]

I've been trying to do it too ever since I saw the link on Mary's blog. After Mom and Dad leave I'll get on it!

[bama Cheryl]

I'm willing to do it - just need to find the time. Sure NEED to do it - and I like the idea that it's really any sort of bag, like you said a Target bag, a grocery bag and so on. I'll (gulp) give it a whirl!

[Maureen]

I started this weekend and did six bags. Just finished my seventh a few minutes ago!

[Ann W.]

I'm in. what an excellent idea! We could use a little less clutter here....

[Nicole]

I'm doing this already! It's great timing since I'm already getting ready for the baby!

[Sandra]

i'm totally in.

[Carrie]

I saw that idea too but I really decluttered this past summer already because we thought we were moving. It is slowly creeping up on me again though so I decided to set the timer for 30 minutes each day for at least 30 days and do something in the house that has been bothering me. A drawer, closet, kids' room, kitchen cabinet, a box of papers, etc. We'll see how long it lasts.;)

[Christine]

I saw this too and I've been doing it as well. I love it! I wish I had been taking pictures before and after :( It's so addictive and I can't stop! I set the timer for 15 min and I keep going after it goes off. So stress relieving and I love all the rooms after I'm done.