With summer soon coming to an end, folks are transitioning from a carefree way of life to a more structured schedule. Time spent mostly outdoors or away from the home has probably led to some homes accumulating a decent amount of clutter.
Following are tips to help people conquer clutter and organize their space.
Bedrooms
- The master bedroom should be yours alone. Make it one for grown ups.
- Don’t let dust mites or clutter fester under the bed.
- For kids, establish zones. Zones help kids understand the concept of everything having a proper place.
- Set toy limits.
Family and Living Rooms
- Make sure all media has a defined area. You can also arrange DVDs into specific categories for easy access.
- Think about transferring all your CDs to a computer. If you aren’t ready, put your CDs in binders and discard the cases.
- Limit magazine subscriptions. Seriously assess how many you are reading each month and cut back accordingly.
Home office
- Keep your office uncluttered by ensuring any flat surface is clear of junk.
- Go digital. Organize your computer files, delete old ones regularly and back up important ones. Pay bills online to reduce paper.
- To minimize junk mail, contact the Direct Marketing Association at dmaconsumers.org or call the mail preference service at 888-5OPT-OUT.
- Maintain a good filing system. Suggested categories are: automotive, education, financial, health and medical, home and real estate, insurance, legal, work and taxes.
Kitchen
- Every three months, check and discard old food or perishables in the fridge, freezer and pantry.
- Never have a junk drawer.
- Tweak organization seasonally. In the fall/winter keep your Dutch oven near. In the summer, bring the blender front and center.
- Consider mounting the microwave under a cabinet to free up space.
- The only pots you truly need are: A good frying pan, a saucepan, a large sauté pan, a cast-iron skillet, and a stockpot.
Dining Room
- Consider the dining room table sacred. Do not use this large, inviting surface as a catch-all.
- Only keep dishes, silverware and serving platters you actually use.
Bathroom
- Keep surfaces clear. Cleanliness is extremely important here. Steam, moisture and condensation promote mold and mildew.
- Install hooks or rods for towel storage. Purchase an over-the-toilet cabinet or install shelves to neatly store other bathroom items.
- Every six months, check what’s in the cabinets. Note: Cosmetics and medications have expirations dates.
Basements/Attics
and Closets
- We wear 20 percent of our clothes 80 percent of the time. Purge seasonally.
- If those “treasured” items are in a box or bag, they’re probably clutter. If they’re truly treasured, display them properly in the home.
Garage and Tool Shed
- Once a year, drag everything out of your garage and commit to getting rid of half the items.
- Organize items into like groups—garden supplies, tools, sporting goods, and so on.
- Empty your toolbox and get rid of duplicates. Then, throw away loose nails and screws.
- Check paint cans to see if the paint is still usable. Check with your local government to find the best way to discard old paint.
- Do not store highly flammable items like kerosene, paint thinner or gasoline unless they are in a tightly sealed container in a closed cupboard. Ensure that your garage, like the rest of your home, is fitted with smoke detectors and keep a fire extinguisher handy.
- Consider using the ceiling of your garage for storage.
Sources: Organize.com; Oprah.com; RealSimple.com; Housekeeping.com.
