Clutter Busters from A to Z
- Getting organized can be fun and empowering
- You should create a list of the spaces you need to de-clutter
- How small steps can lead to major clean sweeps
Your home should be a source of comfort and pride. It’s an extension of your family and a place for you to relax. But there’s nothing relaxing about laundry on the kitchen table, or last year’s mail in the china cabinet. If you’re tired of fishing through drawers and closets for your lost clothes and other missing items, make a commitment to get organized. Here are 26 ways to get started.
Assemble the necessary supplies. If you plan on organizing your closet or home office, make sure you’re prepared. Stock up on file folders, stackable boxes, label makers, and organizing bins ahead of time.
Be willing to part with unnecessary items. If you haven’t used something in a year, chances are good that you can live without it. Don’t hang on to duplicate items or random objects that you might use in the distant future. Instead, donate unused possessions to someone who can use them now. You’ll free yourself from the clutter and the dust that it’s collecting.
Create simple filing systems. Alphabetical file folders are great for coupons, bills, or even photos. You can store hanging files in a deep desk drawer or a box with a fitted lid. Remember not to overcomplicate your system. Family members will be less likely to file things, if they need a 3-day course to understand what goes where.
Develop a system for handling incoming and outgoing paperwork. From the phone bill to your son’s field trip permission slip, every bit of paper should be funneled through your system. To start, open your mail next to the shredder or the recycling bin, so you can shred unnecessary offers and recycle fliers and junk mail. Bills can go into a tray that you empty on a weekly basis. And each child can create a tray, for school documents or other items that require your review.
Enlist the help of others and delegate small jobs. Smaller children may not be able to organize the entire bathroom, but they can clean out a drawer that’s been assigned to them. Teaching your children organizational skills – even at a young age – is a worthwhile endeavor.
Finish what you start before moving on to something else. You may get bored with the process – especially when all of your summer dresses are piled in the hallway. But you need to stick with your project until the job is done. Allow yourself a lunch break, then get back on task.
Go green with your attempt to de-clutter. Recycle, repurpose or reuse whenever possible. Otherwise, get rid of your junk through Freecycle (http://freecycle.org/). Your trash is someone else’s treasure!
Have a plan for all incoming items. This includes mail, groceries, and new clothes. A good rule of thumb is to remove one old item for every new thing that enters your household. If you buy a new sweater, try to donate an old one. Not only will this plan keep your house organized, it will keep you from buying things that you don’t yet need.
Ignore the occasional slip. When you run an active household, perfection just isn’t an option. There will be times – like during the holidays, for example – when you need to make a few clutter allowances. If you’re stressing over wrapping paper scraps, you’ll never have any fun.
Junk it. Recycling is great, but sometimes junk is just junk. Use your common sense, and enjoy the satisfying racket of the garbage truck on trash day.
Keep a de-cluttering schedule. It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you think of all the places in your house that need a good cleaning. Don’t address them all in one day. Tackle each room on a rotating schedule.
Learn from the experts. There is an entire industry dedicated to organization and de-cluttering. Check out their articles, books and websites to learn from those who do this for a living.
Make the most of your free time. Waiting in the carpool lane at school may be a good time to clean a few things out of your car. While you are talking on the phone, you can be cleaning out a kitchen drawer.
Note the files that really need hard copies. All other files can be stored on your computer. If you are good about backing up electronic files, there is no need for a printed copy of everything.
Organize the most dreaded areas first. The dread may be leading to procrastination. Once you’ve tackled the biggest mess, the rest will seem easy.
Prioritize. If your whole house is out of control, ask yourself which area needs your attention first. For example, the downstairs may take priority over the upstairs because this is the area that visitors will see.
Quiet that voice in your head that says, “give up, it’s not worth it.” Even though the process seems like hard work, de-cluttering is always worth the effort. People with less clutter in the lives are more productive, more focused, and more relaxed.
Resist playing the blame game. Every person living in your home contributes to the clutter. And everyone should take responsibility for the mess.
Start small, and work your way to bigger items. Divide clutter into clear categories, like trash, donation items, and things you will keep. If the last two categories are hard to distinguish, start by throwing out the trash. You’ll eliminate a good chunk of the clutter without having to make difficult decisions.
Take pride in what you have accomplished. Once you have your junk room cleaned out, make an effort to spend more time in there, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Understand the stress that clutter adds to your life. Whether it’s the inability to concentrate because your house is a mess, or not being able to find a specific sheet of paper when you need it, clutter costs you time.
Visit container stores and storage websites. You may get a few organizational ideas and possibly find a few new products that can help.
Work towards controlling clutter on a daily basis. Even just a little effort everyday can go a long way.
eXplain your organizational system to others in your home. You shouldn’t be the only one working towards a clutter-free home.
Yard sales! Clutter is easier to part with if there’s a dollar sign attached to it.
Zero in on your clutter hot spots. Hot spots tend to include your desk, your dining room table, or your kitchen counter. Once clean, treat these areas to a mini-makeover by adding a framed photo or a pretty fruit bowl. You’ll be less likely to dump new junk on an old hot spot if you value its fresh appearance.
Jennifer Applin is a freelance writer and will soon be the mother of six young children born within a 5-year span. Her writing focuses on strategies for busy parents to juggle it all.
Comments for Clutter Busters from A to Z:
2 comment(s)
Cynthia On Monday, April 05 2010
This was a great article. It's easy to tame the monster when you stick with it.
Lin On Friday, July 02 2010
Great tips! I think teachers collect more paper than anyone! I plan to try these much needed suggestions. I'll let you know how they work.
Thanks