So, How Do I Organize Clutter?

How to organize clutter is a major faltering point for a person who wants a clean organized house but lacks the knowledge of how to act on it.  When a person permits their house to become too cluttered, actual cleaning like dusting and vacuuming takes a back seat.  The homeowner now must spend a great deal of time and energy de-cluttering prior to the real cleaning beginning, that by the time they get around to cleaning the area they just de-cluttered, they are too wore out to keep cleaning or there is no longer time to finish cleaning everything else.  But, there are steps to controlling that clutter that can at times be overwhelming.

The most common thing that clutters people's homes is papers.  Whether it is the mail, newspapers, papers from work, or your kid's school work and projects they bring home, there are numerous techniques to organize yourself to stave off these things cluttering up your home.  Take the time to sort through the mail properly when you receive it, and , make this a habit.  Post a small trash can at the front door so junk mail scarcely even has to enter the house.  Place bills that need to be paid in a "to do" file straightaway.  The "to do" basket can be hung on the wall near a telephone or computer for those who like to pay bills that way, or in a basket on a desk close to the stamps and the return address labels.  File away other important papers at once rather than leaving them in a pile to do later, as later sometimes doesn't come until after it has officially become into clutter.  Keeping work documents at home operates the same way.  File "to do's" in one place and important papers immediately.  Some folks have trash bins that can be situated in a bottom cabinet in the kitchen.  It is a very good idea to place a bin that will contain old newspapers next to the garbage can.  You will be able to then take out the trash and the recyclable newspapers all at the same time. 

Every parent knows how many school papers can come home each day with their child.  Parents can sometimes become torn between wanting to hold on to everything that their child makes as a keepsake and desiring to keep the clutter down.  Keep a plastic storage bin in a cabinet or closet close to where you sort through the backpack each day.  Use this bin to place important projects that you would like to keep and throw out the rest of the school work and flyers.  A bigger bin can be placed in a basement, beneath a bed, or in an attic that you will be able to dump the smaller bin into that will permanently hold those treasured bits of history that your child will love to look through one day.

When trying to curb other types of clutter, there are a few additional things that you should always think about.  Is this an item that you'll use again?  Be truthful with yourself.  If you have not used something in a year you in all probability are not going to use it again so, eliminate it.  You may prefer to consider selling it or giving it to a charity if it is still clean and functional. If the item is used infrequently and you are not certain whether or not you should keep it, store it for six months.  If you do not use it in that time frame, you can get rid of it.  Seasonal items can be stashed away in an attic, basement or some other storage place.  Consider purchasing large storage bins that can be stacked on top of one another and used as drawers.  The most frustrating matter for me is when I purchase something that is on sale because it is not in season, or I find a seasonal item that wasn't put away when the rest were and I can't get it back into the right box because everything is piled on top of it. Plus, if the drawers are clear, you will be able to see what is inside of them and when it comes time to decorate for the season, you will be able to easily find the items you would like to put out first.  Also remember, if something is broken, damaged or stained, throw it away. This will really help you to organize clutter and free yourself.  This applies to all items, not just seasonal ones.  You will most in all likelihood waste time and effort trying to work around the thing that should be in the trash.