Ten Quick Tips To Organize Your Home

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Start Conquering Your Clutter Today:

1 Kitchen counters are usually the communal dumping ground for stuff. Once a day, take a laundry basket and fill it up with everything that doesn’t belong in the kitchen. Then walk through the rest of the house, dumping things off where they really belong. 

2 If you are having trouble getting rid of things, count up the number of items you have – 15 table cloths, 10 black sweaters, 4 can openers, and 6 glue guns. Then reduce the amount you have by one third or one half. This will help you see that you don’t really “need” 10 black sweaters.

3 Store credit card receipts in labeled envelopes to make it easier to reconcile your bill when it arrives. Then shred your receipts. Are you thinking you need to save a receipt to make a return? Do so within a month; if you haven’t done it by then you probably never will.

4 Create a mail station for your mail. Include 5 bins labeled- to pay, to read, to file, to decide/discuss, and to do. Then make use of it.

5 At the beginning of each New Year, clean out your files. Store the supporting documents for your taxes with your tax return and shred unnecessary papers.

6 Cancel magazine and catalog subscriptions if you aren’t reading them. They are taking up space and costing you money.

7 Saving stuff for your next garage sale? Designate one area of your home/garage to store it. Add to it as you pull out seasonal and holiday things all year long- including clothes, decorations, and knick knacks.

8 Before lunch, dinner, and bedtime pick up a few toys with your children. Doing a little at a time, means it won’t be so overwhelming later on.

9 Think twice before saying “just put it in the basement”. Before you know it, your basement will look and feel like a landfill. If the item won’t be used on a regular basis or for holidays, take it out the back door instead- to the garbage or charity.

10 Every time you put away a new pair of shoes or a new piece of clothing, donate the same number of items you just put away.

*** When you just can’t do it all get someone who can run errands for you. There are many concierge services. We recommend Stephanie McDonald.