January Cure 2025 - Tasks & Discussion

DanielaAraya · 2024-12-16T16:36:23+00:00

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Looking to get your home in its best shape ever? Join our upcoming January Cure! This free program will help you improve your home in just 20 days — from editor-approved tricks and comprehensive checklists to methods that work like magic ✨

You can sign up for the January Cure right now by clicking here. The program will launch on Monday, January 6. Feel free to ask any questions below. Otherwise, we'll see you here in the new year!

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Decluttering

Cleaning

Organizing

Comments

DanielaAraya

Hey everyone! Our January Cure begins in a little over 2 weeks. Who's excited? ☺️ Let's kick the conversation off with some FAQs:

Q: What can I do now to get my home ready for the new year?

A: There’s nothing like starting the new year with a clean slate! If you want to do some decluttering prep before we officially kick off the January Cure, you're in luck because we've created the ultimate kickoff checklist of every single item you should get rid of by January 1st. Click here to download the list and get a head start!

DanielaAraya

Next up, some housekeeping (no pun intended 🧹) on how to approach the January Cure schedule:

Q: What happens if I miss a day or fall behind?

A: The January Cure is all about making positive changes to your home — on your timeline. If you need to skip a day, spend a little extra time on a task, or take a break, that’s totally okay. This process is meant to work for you, not stress you out. You can follow along day by day, use a catch-up day, or adapt tasks to fit your schedule. And here’s the best part: there’s no such thing as “falling behind.” Whether you’re with us in January or carrying tasks into February (or beyond!), you’re still making progress. You’re here, you’re trying — and that’s what matters most!

DanielaAraya

Hey all! Here's a sneak peek of the January Cure calendar. You can print this out ahead of time and keep it somewhere in sight to motivate you to keep going 🤗

user6663322

I still have not received the to do list for before the cure begins. Is it on the website somewhere. I am eager to begin!

DanielaAraya

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2962#Comment_2962

Hey there! Love the enthusiasm ☺️ You can download the task calendar here if you want to print it out beforehand. We'll be discussing task 1 more on Monday!

StephanieNguyen

Welcome to the first day of Apartment Therapy’s January Cure! This totally free program will help you refresh your home for the year ahead. For 20 days, we’ll be spending time tidying, getting things in order, focusing on key home projects, and crafting a space you’ll love.

I'm super excited to kick things off with our first task of the day: a super easy decluttering assignment that'll take you 30 minutes or less!

If you have any questions about the program, want to share the results of today's task, or need some advice, please feel free to comment on this thread and I'll be in the Cure Community forum today to offer my help!

billiebakhshi4216

I need help organizing art supplies! We have so much acrylic paint, oil paint, watercolor paints, canvasses, books, brushes, palates, pottery tools and clay, and jewelry making things (clay and beads) and I am completely overwhelmed. And the artists in the family are always asking where's my???

Any artists here with suggestions? Tips?

wtherese8362332

I work in an Art Gallery and we use a mixture of the above in our studio for art/craft supply storage especially for children’s art classes. I also have one at home to keep some sort of order to my own supplies as do my grandchildren who have a space in the corner of their very small home with a couple of these trolleys to store their art/craft and stationary supplies.
My biggest headache is storage of my fabrics/ fibre and sewing supplies!!

Miss_Matlock

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2973#Comment_2973

I have a shoe organizer on the back of a closet door for things everyone needs to access without asking: scissors, tapes, pencils (colored, art and normal), pens (sharpies, rollerballs, art, ballpoint, felt tip, brush.) I just write with a sharpie what’s in each pouch. Then paints in portable boxes (oils, acrylic, gouache, watercolor) or in a bigger box if necessary. Brushes in cute vases. I have a rolling shelf that fits in a closet with all the papers, canvases, fresh sketchbooks in wooden wine boxes that you can get at a wine shop for $4. It can be rolled out to grab supplies and rolled back in when done. (It’s just one of those silver kitchen supply shelves that are fairly inexpensive and very durable.) I also have that rolling cart from IKEA for solvents and jars. I weed through my supplies and my artist friends & I do a supply swap at Christmas each year for things you bought but it didn’t pan out for you. Then any remainders goes to a local thrift shop that only sells art supplies (which may be hard to find, but you could donate to a public school art program or the like.) Hope this is useful!!

Jokkemokke

Hey y‘all!

Greetings from Dortmund in Germany.
I set up an old and a bit damaged suitcase as the outbox. And the one place I decluttered was a small box with old documents, which I never will read again OR can read online if necessary. I am very proud of me for this good start! 😉

Looking forward to the next duties.

tilathehunn_5

I actually have 2 outboxes set up all the time for two different thrift shops since I found what one accepts (everything) but some things is not "allowed" to sell.

I give those items now to a different Thrift store. After today, I imagine at least one box should be full enough to donate tomorrow

Imaginegeorgia

Day 1 - outbox set up and first 30 minute task done. Found the mouse traps!

Shanny

Hi from France !

I decluttered a place in my bedroom with a lot of clothes on top of it ! I haven't find my out box yet but I'm thinking on it :)

I try to enroll my husband on this challenge 🤘

Can't wait for tomorrow !

Imaginegeorgia

For art supplies - Similar struggles. Realized I need clear containers or it’s out of sight, out of mind. Recycled take-out containers with clear lids, especially oblong ones are proving useful. I also converted 2 clothes closets in my old house to shelving.

Ohitsashkat

Hello! I think the document that most of us are referencing is where the website said, “You will receive a checklist of items to declutter before we start 2025 Cure…” and I was really excited to receive that— not the task list for the cure which I think is the mistake in what is being requested.

I also was curious if there was a way to receive the email earlier in the day for myself and for EU friends joining in. I typically try and complete my task prior to work. Thank you for the encouragement in starting and making it fun! Best of luck everyone!!

kristinenovak2987

I am happy to report that I sorted and organized 3 cabinets of miscellaneous kitchen items (baskets, rarely used kitchen tools, serving trays, baking trays - all the trays. It feels great to let go of unused items.

StephanieNguyen

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2973#Comment_2973

Hi @billiebakhshi4216 ! Looks like several people left some amazing ideas for you! I love a rolling cart — it makes it so easy to store things and cart it around where you need it. And of course you can cart it away and hide it in a closet, too. The IKEA Raskog is a fan favorite.

StephanieNguyen

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2976#Comment_2976

Hi @Jokkemokke ! Way to go on decluttering documents!!

StephanieNguyen

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2977#Comment_2977

I love that you have two outboxes @tilathehunn_5

StephanieNguyen

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2978#Comment_2978

Way to go!!

StephanieNguyen

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2979#Comment_2979

Hi @Shanny ! Great idea in getting your husband to join this challenge. Having an accountability partner can be so good for this Cure. It'll help you both get so much done together.

StephanieNguyen

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2982#Comment_2982

Way to go @kristinenovak2987 ! You got so much done!

megi3a67553

I'm decluttering my rolling file cart, since it always has papers on top of it that need to be filed inside. Plus, I already got my first tax document in the mail, so I need to label and file that folder today. I'm in my 70s and still prefer to do almost everything on paper.

For the first time in my several years of doing the Cure, I have the perfect container for an outbox - a large sturdy cardboard box that contained Christmas gifts. I saved it for the cats to play in, but they have ignored it, so it's going to the spare room to hold things I've already decided to donate. I hope to find more donations as the Cure goes on!

kb2608

This year I donated long unused holiday stuff in early December. So, this week's holiday packup was greatly condensed. There were also more items that went to donation, as well. Whittling down these items is a huge relief.

My outbox is in my bedroom — every year it gets easier to donate and I love the uncluttered space I get in return. If only my family members would declutter; I am the only one who does this. Alas.

takeitoutside

For art supplies (we, too, are artistic in many different realms and I'm a GS leader)… we have a large bookshelf (actually an IKEA Kallax) that is full of small clear plastic shoeboxes- a few for jewelry supplies, a few for yarn supplies, a few for painting supplies (different mediums in different bins), a few for sewing supplies… and some cubes hold stacks of neatly folded fabric. This way, when someone wants to do one certain type of art, they can just get that kit out. Good luck!

Seepocke

Hi from Austria!
I usually have 2 outboxes already set up. One is an otherwise empty drawer in my closet which I use for clothing I either try to resell or re-gift (I am part of a local freecycle group) and another small box for miscellaneous items that I keep in my hallway closet. I tend to get rid of larger items right away or store them in the basement temporarily.

Today I decluttered a small pantry, which ended up taking more than 30 minutes as I had not anticipated that I would need to deep clean it rather than just wipe the shelves. Got rid of some long expired condiments and spices and made a (small) inventory of some items that have recently expired and that I want to use up ASAP. Added those items to a list of possible meals I could make over the next few weeks. Since in Austria it's a holiday I didn't mind that the task took longer. The real struggle will start tomorrow when going back to work.

As another person from Europe already noted: getting Emails sooner would be awesome for all of us living across the Atlantic. We are 5-7 hours ahead.

ZoePatricia

Those clear shoeboxes are great for art stuff. I need to label them better. I ordered some labels and plan to have another go at them on the cure this year. My clear shoeboxes are on a folding bookcase in a closet and there is room for an ikea rolling cart in front. Closet door closes. I use the rolling cart as a landing strip for art things and as a grab and go area when I have a project.

StephanieNguyen

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2989#Comment_2989

@megi3a67553 what a great outbox! Good luck gathering donations!

StephanieNguyen

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2990#Comment_2990

@kb2608 decluttering unused holiday stuff is such a great idea! This really is an ideal time for it. What did you use as your outbox this year?

StephanieNguyen

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2992#Comment_2992

Hi @Seepocke! I love that you made an inventory of items that you want to use ASAP. That a really smart idea! Where do you keep this inventory list? In the pantry?

Seepocke

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2996#Comment_2996

For now I just wrote the items on a sheet of paper that I attached to the side of my fridge next to my grocery shopping list. So next time before I go to the store I can look at the inventory and decide what I want to make and add necessary items (like fresh vegetables or meat) to my shopping list. We are talking only about 8-10 items that I want to use up soon, so it's a small list.

olgasdottir18859

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2973#Comment_2973

That's me— and that's what my "declutter" task was. My best piece of advice is don't be afraid to throw out old paint tubes, second best— Goodwill is your friend (or if you have a local "creative reuse" store which is basically Goodwill for arts and crafts) for storage and organizing items.

I had so much fun just now going "oh man I completely forgot that I had this!"

coloradocondo6491

Good start! I cleaned up my laundry room, swept out the heater closet and changed that filter; finally got the piles off of the ironing board and folded it up; wiped down the appliances and cleaned the floor. I didn’t have time to do the closet in that room, but put it on my list. I made a big trip to the dumpster with boxes, and put my out box in the laundry room. Yay!!

StephanieNguyen

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2997#Comment_2997

@Seepocke That's smart!

StephanieNguyen

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2999#Comment_2999

Nice @coloradocondo6491 ! You did so much today.

ej353516

I am sick today so the best I could do was set up an outbox of an old IKEA bag and just contain my head cold clutter.

Zephy

For my first day task, I cleaned up all the mail that had piled up on a table in the living room. I hadn't gone through it in a couple of weeks, due to holiday travel, and it was looking pretty scruffy! Now it's all sorted.

GrandmaLyn

For my first day, I organized and set up my yearly budget planner. Added, income and bills paid so far this month. Head cold so this was the best I could do today.

chantilly2401

For my first day, I decluttered dining table. It became a crafting, staging area during the holidays and was struggling to recover.

DanielaAraya

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2974#Comment_2974

I use these cabinets to organize my arts and crafts supplies, too! I find it especially helpful for paper goods, stickers, and smaller items. I have a lot of paint that I need help organizing, but I think my first move will be taking inventory and then finding a way to clearly see what colors I have because I have so many!

empty

I already have an outbox that is pretty full, need to start posting things in my local Buy Nothing group to empty it again.

Decluttered the clothes chair and tracked down all my cat's toys around the apartment to put back into his toy box.

DanielaAraya

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/2981#Comment_2981

Got you! Here is the list you are looking for. You can still work on this despite it being after January 1st 😊 I don't have control over our email send times, unfortunately (I will share this feedback with the team!) — but I know that the daily task articles go live a couple of hours before the email is sent out. You can check back on the January Cure homepage to see when the new task is available for you. I hope that helps a little bit!

DanielaAraya

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/3002#Comment_3002

That's more progress than I would have made with a head cold! The bag will be there when you're ready! Hope you feel better soon ❤️‍🩹

DanielaAraya

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/3003#Comment_3003

The best feeling. That mail pile always sneaks up!

DanielaAraya

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/3004#Comment_3004

Something seems to be going around — I hope you feel better soon! Do you use a physical planner, or do you use an online tool?

DanielaAraya

https://community.apartmenttherapy.com/discussion/comment/3006#Comment_3006

Great job! I'm with you! My dining table has become a catch-all for so many things. I cleared mine up today too 👏

WallabyMomma

I cleared off the chair and chest in my bedroom, folded and put away all the laundry that had piled up, and decluttered stuff from those areas as well. I have a bag started for trash items and one as my donate bag.
I’m pretty good when it comes to filling donate bags and getting them out of the house right away. Feels good to see the organized space!

PattyP

I decluttered my dinning room table because it had been collecting all kinds of items since Christmas Day! I used an old laundry basket as my out box. It sure looks nice to see the table again! It felt positive and uplifting……

rich4404

I cleaned out a tote bag that had become a catch-all for papers, receipts, mail, magazines, and anything I cleared off my desk while preparing for a holiday party. Instead of creating an outbox, I tossed everything I no longer needed straight into the trash. Now that it’s decluttered, I can reuse my tote bag for grocery shopping and other errands.

erin7736

cleared off my nightstand that was piled with months worth of random clutter. Feels like such a breath of fresh air to have the space clear!