I am trying to organize my home!!!?

Question

I need some tips!!! How do you stay on top of organizing day in and day out?

Answer 1

Tips for organizing mail: When you bring in the mail, sort it immediately. Throw out the junk (make sure you shred things like pre-approved credit card applications, etc.) Designate a place to keep bills to be paid. I have a What's Due folder that I bought from www.colorfulimages.com but you could use a basket or just a plain folder. I keep the folder on a shelf on my desk next to the computer (where I pay my bills).

Keep a jar or other container for spare change if you find that piling up around your house. We have a spare change container in the master bedroom and in the kitchen because those are the places where my husband empties his pockets. My husband has a basket on top of the microwave where he puts his keys, cell phone, wallet, etc. We also have a key rack by the door for extra sets of keys.

If you have a lot of clothes, you need to go through your clothes and decide what you want to keep and what you want to get rid of. If you haven't worn it in a year, get rid of it. If it doesn't fit anymore, get rid of it. The Federation of the Blind and Purple Heart send trucks to our neighborhood every couple of months to get donations. When I find something I don't need, I set it in a box so I'll have boxes of things when they call to say a truck is coming around. So you could check into donating clothes and other unwanted items or sell them on E-bay, Craig's list, Amazon Marketplace, etc. If you have a big problem with too many clothes for the amount of storage space you have: after you have gone through your clothes and pared down, you need to establish a rule that every time you buy new clothes (or hats if you are a hat person), you need to give away the same number of pieces of clothing. This will keep you from getting back to where you started.

If you have a lot of books, DVDs, CDs, video games, go through them and think about whether you really use them and like them a lot. Don't keep stuff because you might use it "someday". If you read a book and liked it, don't keep it just because you liked it. If it's a reference book, it makes sense to keep it. If it's a novel, give it away or sell it. The same thing that goes for clothes can go for books, DVDs (or whatever it is you personally accumulate a lot of): when you bring in a new one, pick an old one that you don't use anymore to give away or sell.

If you have photos that aren't in albums, sort them into categories (family, friends, vacations, etc.) or try to put them in rough chronological order and file them in acid free cardboard photo boxes. They are inexpensive and sold just about everywhere.

Remember, things are just things. They aren't your life. If you declutter first, it's easier to stay organized.

Answer 2

My husband and I are both packrats- though we're not quite as bad as we used to be.

It's easier to stay organized if you get rid of the stuff you niether want nor need: Clutter tends to really mess up attempts at being organized!

Invest in a paper-shredder and use it to destroy junk mail immediately when you bring it into the house: That way it won't pile up.

Get a few shelves or totes to help with storage.

When you finish using an item, put it back where you got it so that won't become clutter.

If you need help deciding what you're going to keep, get 3 large containers and go through your house 1 room at a time, and sort the things in it into your containers. 1 for stuff you definately want to keep, 1 for 'maybe' stuff, and 1 for stuff you're going to throw out or donate. The process might take a few days, but it will be worth it.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I have ADD so organizing is more than a task it is just torture. You have to give everything a place and always put it there. I have to pick one thing to organize today is the dining room. I have tons of totes and organizer things I have bought at IKEA and Wal Mart. I get to it and when I find something that belongs in another room I put it in a laundry basket once I am done I go room to room delivering things from the basket.

Answer 4

If you mean after you have organized and are trying to keep it that way the easiest way is to put things back in place as soon as you have finished with it. Read mail as soon as it comes in throw away junk mail, and place bills in a file marked to be paid. Other paper work that comes that needs to be filed have separate folder labeled Needs to be filed. Then take one evening and do all paperwork. Have a laundry hamper in your bedroom place dirty laundry in as soon as discarded. If you can do these things you will never have to organize in a major way again.... Good Luck..

Answer 5

Start in one corner of a room and move around the room. Organize as you go.

Try checking out flylady.net

Answer 6

I am an organizational freak. Once you get everything in its place, you just take the extra couple of seconds to put it back where it belongs once you've got it all in order...

Try http://www.flylady.net - this site is GREAT for helping people get their homes organized!!!

Answer 7

Why not have a look at HGTV website and join me in doing their 6 week organization challenge? They have video to show you how they do each room and it looks pretty fun.

I'm motivated!

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/pac_ctnt_988/text/0,,HGTV_22056_41470,00.html

Answer 8

Actually the KEY is to do it immeadiately, like example - come home take off work clothes, either put them into the washer or hang up if you can wear again. DO IT IMMEADIATELY.

Answer 9

Decide on a place to keep everything then stick with it. Start by keeping your keys, wallet, shoes, mail.... in the same place. Move on to household items.

Answer 10

go to the home depot to get your color chooses. and than have a theme in mind while in the process of doing so like cowboys, Indians