In keeping with this week's theme of New Year's resolutions, we've decided to devote today's Toolbox Tuesday to a "tool" that can help remove debris from your work zone and clutter from your life. The tool? The trusty contractor bag.

Ever since the clock struck midnight on January 1, Alex and I have been cleaning like maniacs. I've been focusing more on closets and storage tubs, whereas Alex has been focused on trying to corral the beast that is our basement. With all of these organizational efforts going on, it got me thinking about what an important item a trash bag can be in situations such as these. 

I know it may seem a little odd to devote a post to the importance of a hard working and durable trash bag, but if you've tried to cut corners in this area and go a less expensive route, I'm sure you quickly learned as we did that less expensive bags can rip or tear much easier, leaving you with a bigger mess than you started with. (As well as leave you with the occasional trail of dust and dirt from your work zone to your back door. Ugh.) Our bag of choice? Ruffies Pro Contractor 3 mil 42 gallon clean up bags.

The "3 mil" is the key here. This denotes that the bag is a sturdy and solid 3 mil plastic that can stand up to way more than your kitchen trash bag can accommodate. Don't be fooled by the thinner "contractor" bags, they tear or puncture if you happen to look at them sideways. Can you tell we've learned our lesson? We always have an ample supply of these great 3 mil bags on hand.

So whether you're tacking a large scale renovation involving truck loads of debris...

No, this photo isn't from our News Year cleaning spree, it was taken several years ago during our major bathroom project.

...or you're simply doing a little New Year's purging and decluttering, make sure you have a bag that can help you get the job done.  

Was anyone else been bitten by the clutter bug in 2011 and you're trying desperately to rid your home of unnecessary items for 2012? Anyone starting a big renovation project with the start of the new year? We'd love to hear all about your plans for kicking off 2012 in style. 

Did you enjoy reading this post? Want to learn more about our first-hand experiences with other tools, devices or items used throughout our renovation? If so, check out our complete list of product reviews in our Toolbox Tuesday section. 

Note: We weren't compensated for this review. We simply want to share good products when we see them, and hope that learning from our mistakes can help save you time, money and frustration.