My organization in 2013 kick has now extended beyond our home and into my aunt's house. My aunt and uncle have lived in their home for thirty-five years and the junk has accumulated. My uncle is a complete pack-rat who used to love to hit garage sales and their house is a reflection of years of mild hoarding (lots and lots of books).

My uncle's health has declined and my aunt is getting older, so in the last year, she has been slowly donating and trashing unnecessary stuff. Really, my uncle's poor health is the only way that she has been able to get any of this done, as she secrets it out during his naps. If he realized how much she has cleared out of their house, he would not be pleased. Of course, the house is greatly improved by her actions.

On Tuesday, my aunt and I tackled the top half of her hall linen closet. The top three shelves have been a catch-all for junk. It's one of those that you don't open, unless you are prepared to catch everything that it about to tumble out. We had a rouge lightbulb fall and smash on the wood floor. Not a good situation.

As with all organization tasks, we started by removing everything and sorting it into appropriate piles. My aunt had tons of expired medicine, dating back to 2002, tons. There were loose light bulbs everywhere and a lifetime supply of hair spray. As we went through the cupboard, she lamented on all of the wasted money with unused prescriptions and items that she bought not realizing that she already had a ton. Organization is good for your wallet!

This had been in the cupboard for decades!

Sorting piles in the hall. We also used the guest bedroom (my room) and the office for piles.

I do have a bit of an ulterior motive, that my aunt was quick to point out. One day, I will either inherit the house or have to help my family move out of it. One way or the other, I will have to clean it and it's just easier to chip away at it a little each time I visit. Plus, it makes it easier for them living in it now. I would urge anyone in a similar situation to do the same.

Having lost my mom, I can assure you that cleaning out a relatives house is far more difficult when under stress. Do it while they are alive and can help. Plus, it's a great idea if they can tell you about important mementos, it's a bonding experience. My mom went through her jewelry box with me and then took it a step further and labeled all of the important pieces. I would never have known which ones were my Grandparent's Wedding rings or sentimental pieces that my father gave to her. It means a lot now.

I went to the adult toy store (Bed, Bath and Beyond) with my coupon and spent twelve dollars on three plastic storage containers. One container has all of the floating light bulbs, safe where they won't break. Another has travel sized items and the third contains first aid items. The boxes are labeled and clear for easy access. I may go back and get a few more to further organize the space, but at this point it's a million times better than it was before.

Please don't tell my uncle that we got rid of about 80% of the stuff! I really scored with a find that was hidden deep back in the cupboard.

I have used this style Bobbi Brown make-up case for years and my current one wore out last summer. I wanted to ask for a new one for Christmas, but found out that it had be discontinued, which is crazy, since it's so perfect. My aunt had this and it had never been used, so she gave it to me. A huge score. Cleaning can lead to hidden treasures.

At some point in your life, there is a high probability that you will be faced with the task of having to clear out the home of a recently deceased friend or relative. I've done this twice and it is a life altering experience. Naturally, when someone passes, it's a time for self-reflection. I've found that it makes me want to get in touch with friends and check things off my bucket list. However, cleaning out the home of the recently deceased brings about a different kind of self-reflection that I will refer to as The Purge.

It makes you realize that a person can accumulate a lot of crap and sometimes what the crap says about the owner is not such a great thing. The person tasked with cleaning out your home is going to uncover all of these secrets.

Now, you can say, "I'm going to be dead, so what do I care?". Fair enough. However, if you care about the people in your life, get your crap in order.

My mom invented organization. She laminated and filed everything. She made lists for her lists. When she passed, I discovered her secrets.

My paternal grandparents were Mormon and when my parents bought our townhouse, my grandparents insisted on building a food closet for them. It's in the garage and is big enough to hold a years worth of canned goods and supplies. Nice thought, but we never stored more than holiday decorations and cans of Spaghetti-O's.

I had not been in the food closet for years, until I went in it after my mom died and discovered more Saran Wrap, Wax Paper and Ziplock Bags than my Sixty-Eight year old mother could have used in five life times. It was on every shelf, definitely bought in bulk at Costco, just incase the zombie apocalypse came and she didn't have supplies to wrap up her annual holiday sweets. My mom never touched the kitchen except from Thanksgiving thru Christmas, when she cooked the turkey's and made an addictive butterscotch nibbles. I'm dying to know why my mom felt the need for the stockpile.

I also found out that my mom had a secret affinity for anything sold by The Franklin Mint.

She had thirty unopened decks of playing cards. My mom hosted a card night maybe twice a year.

Mom didn't have anything too bizarre or shocking, but I found a stack of papers clipped together. Each was a list detailing exactly what she would do if she won the lottery or hit a big jackpot in Vegas. Initially, I thought that this was kind of sad, making plans for money that is nearly impossible to win. However, now look it more like a dream list and it was nice to know that she would have been very generous towards a lot of people and organizations. My mom had a big heart. She liked to gamble, but I know she didn't have a problem with it, so this may have been a waste of time, but it's essentially harmless daydreaming.

Yesterday, I helped a family friend clean out the apartment of her deceased daughter. I never met this person, but learned a lot about her yesterday. She was a hoarder and unfortunately, she was also into crafting and costuming, which only made the level of junk in her apartment astronomical. I was rather stunned by the spectacle and swaths of fabric hanging in every inch of available airspace.

I knew things about her, like she was an amazing singer, very vivacious and beautiful. She had many friends who loved her and although she loved children and owned a children's party company, she never had any of her own. I also learned, by finding a box while cleaning her closet, that she was a star in the adult entertainment industry. Skeletons in a box, hiding in the back of the closet. This is the sort of stuff that should be thought through when you know that your eighty-year-old mother is going to be tasked with the clean up. It was graphic. Also, this apartment was in such a mess, that it's going to take weeks to clear out, most falling on a grieving mother.

I feel that people have the right to privacy and to live their lives the way they wish. However, it's definitely something to consider that someday, people you love and who likely be very emotional over your death, with be tasked with combing through your stuff. What will they find? I can't see a stupid roll of Saran Wrap and not think of my mom hoarding it. What will they question? What extra burdens will be on their back, due to your lack of organization?

Cleaning someone else's house fills me with the burning desire to clean my own. It's time for The Purge and those useless collectibles gathering dust are the first to go!