Can anyone tell me some good organizational tips to help improve my housecleaning skills?

Question

My husband and I have a lot of stuff, We have two kids... Ive had numerous yardsales and there still seems to be a lot of junk in our home that is cluttering up our house, and making things messier than what they are. Im not that great of a housekeeper as I cannot keep things organized.. Does anyone have any tips for organizing kids rooms, paperwork, and other things? I would appreciate any advice you can give... Anything to rid myself of the constant clutter...
:)

Answer 1

Boy can I sypathsize with this! My husband and I are both packrats too. And I, like you, have *no* real talent for organization.

There are two things that can help: For every new item you bring into the house (clothes, toys, and so on) take something out. And have a place for everything, and when you're done using it put everything back in its place.

If the kids are big enough, they can help by taking care of their rooms. And with a few other chores.

Before you buy anything, ask yourself if you really need it. My sister is a compulsive shopper, so this is something she has to watch.

For a week-long project, you might try this:

Get three large containers and go through your house one room at a time. Label these containers 'Keep', 'Maybe', and 'Dispose of'. Sort all the items in the room into these containers. Then after you've cleaned the room well, put back the things that are in the 'keep' container and take those in the 'maybe' container out to store. For those in the 'Dispose' container, throw them away, sell them, or take them to the nearest Goodwill or similar store.

Once you have the clutter reduced, cleaning shouldn't be so nightmarish.

Use a similar approach with your paperwork.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I'm not a great housekeeper either so start small. Some one mentioned Fly Lady and I've looked at it before and it sounds like a good idea, you might want to try that.
I just made a bill paying system that seems to be working. I used a cork board, cheap calander (mine came out of All You magazine), construction paper, push pins and file folders. I made tags for each of our bills (morgage, water, phone, electric, ect.) out of contruction paper and covered them with clear tape. Then made labels for the file folders out of the same color as the tags. I also made small "paid" tags to mark the paid bills and a large pocket marked "bills to be paid" When a bill comes we put the bill and the envelope that came with it in the "to be paid" pocket and the tag on the day it is due. Once it has been paid we stick a "paid" tag over the bill tag and put the bill in the folder. Bills don't get lost or paid late. Also seeing what is due when helps us to budget. If this continues to work I'm going to add library tags for when things are due and a place for debit card reciepts.
When organizing kids stuff label where things go, if they don't read yet use pictures, so they can see where to put stuff back. (you can do the same in other rooms too so things can be found and put back) Baskets and hooks that have family photos attached (laninate and use ribbon) can be decerative and show every one where things go also.
We just moved and I am trying these things as I unpack to keep the clutter from taking over. Sometimes magazines have some really good tips for organizing, that is where most of mine came from.

Answer 3

Start simple. Go through your closet. Throw out/give away anything you ahven't worn in the last 6 months. Excepting winter clothes if it's summer & vice versa. Go through those as well. Anything you really wont wear, get rid of it. If once you're done you realise you don't have nything to wear go shopping, buy new things. You'll fell 100% better. Hell, make everyone go through their closets.

Next, go though the house room by room. You don't have to do this all at once. Take a rag & dust everything. If it has no sentimental value, throw it, if it addds nothing to the appearance of your house, chuck it. Cracked plates, chipped cups, ditch em. Those hair products you haven't used since 1987, Gone. Get the drift? A lot of what you get rid of should be okay to give away. If it's not, put it in the bin! Broken stuff, toss it. You aren't really going to fix it.

Continue to do this every 6 months or so. Before you know it your house will be clutter free.

Answer 4

I am in the same boat as you. I hate cleaning the house but someone has to do it, preferably my husband..lol. Here are a few tips that I actually need to be following as well as giving out. If the papers are not important, through them out. If they are, you should probably invest in a file cabinet to keep things in order and organized. One thing that my husband I purchased was a mail holder that hangs by our front door. It opens up and you can put the keys in it( i always lost my keys prior to this). And those bills that need to be paid can be put in it. As far as the kids, it may help to get one of those rolling drawer combos for each kid. Make sure it has at least 5 drawers, and on Saturday or Sunday of each week, have the children or you put their clothes in it for everyday of the week. This will keep them from looking through everything in the closet and throwing it on the floor trying to put an outfit together. Those are just a few because I believe I've taken up a whole page..sorry. Thank you for letting me share. I hope that helps some.

Answer 5

Well I do a little cleaning everyday, like if the floors need doing them do them, and so forth, but I spend one full day out of my week and clean my house completely then that way I can keep it up during the week and I say do laundry EVERY day if you have kids!One more thing if you don't want the stuff that is cluttering your house donate it to goodwill or soemthing then go through the stuff you want and make it into groups!

Answer 6

File your paper work, bills, etc. If you don't have a file cabinet go to an office supply and buy one of those brown expando files. When mail comes in throw junk mail out immediately. Write the due date on the outside envelope of your bills. Don't keep all paid bills but just the month before. When you pay one month throw the previous month away. Invest in a shredder to get ride of those offers to open credit cards that you don't want to open or tear those up to protect yourself from someone going through your garbage and opening an account in your name. There are some good books on the market that will help you with the kids rooms, etc. Check out your local book store. Good Luck!
Sparrow

Answer 7

I purchased a couple of those big plastic containers with lids when my daughter was young. I told her when she got through playing she needed to put her toys back in there and put the lid on top. That worked out well. She was too young to put things up in an orderly fashion, but with those, all she had to do was toss her stuff in and put the lid on. Worked great. Depending on the age of your kids you can get them each a plastic milk crate and some file folders. The folders fit right in there and they can put their papers in the folders. I actually use that method for my own stuff. My daughter uses a three ring binder to save her artwork and papers in. She also has an old school desk I picked up for her that she keeps her crayons, paper, scissors, etc...in. For some of my own things, I purchased smaller plastic containers with lids and put photos, art supplies (I like doing crafts) and sewing patterns, etc... in and I have a closet I stack them in. Hope this helps.

Answer 8

Sort through the mail as soon as you get it, and put the recycling papers into a sack.
If you buy 3 new shirts, get rid of 3 old shirts, etc.
Have a place for everything , and everything in its place.
Keep up with garage sales.
There are websites to check out, like messies.com or others. that will have good tips.

Answer 9

baskets and more baskets use them everywhere - in the kitchen cabinets for kool-ade,gravy's -package foods -in the living room by the door for mail,keys ,small toys -no big toys out of the play room, bathroom 1 for soap,another for shampoo 1 for shaving stuff etc, once you start you will find all kinds of ways to use them and put a small trash can in every room of the house - saves a lot of time .
When you start cleaning start in 1 room stay there till you are done no going to other rooms to put stuff up- if it don't go in that room put it in a basket by the door when you get done with frist room go to next ,get everything out the basket that goes in that room and clean room putting anything that doesn't go in that room in the basket - by the time you get to last room only thing that should be left in your basket goes in the frist room just put it up and you are done - i know it sounds like a lot but its not.
Remember baskets are your friends !!
hope this helps

Answer 10

Get rid of all knick knacks that don't have any personal attachments to them. Get rid of small kitchen appliances, dishes utensils etc. that you never use. Get rid of furniture, clothing, linens that are unnecessary. The less that you have in your home the less that needs to be organized. We donate our useless belongings every 4 months or so. And most improtantly stop shopping!!!!