What can I do to be better organized?

Question

Our house is pretty spacious, but I feel like it is just more room in which to collect junk and clutter. Our kitchen especially is just piled with mail and papers and just has stuff everywhere. I feel like I am constantly picking up, but then maybe I am just walking in circles...? Please share with me ways that you keep your house organized. I work full time and have a toddler...I need help!

Wow...the state of my home DOES reflect the state of my mind! Scary!

I want to throw things away, but I am so bent on recycling that I resist. I plan to donate to Goodwill, but I never do. :(

Answer 1

I make it a rule not to get the mail unless I am ready to go through it. Make sure to throw away everything that is definitely trash first, then open up bills and pay them as soon as you receive them (if your paychecks allow).

In the area that you usually go through mail, pay bills, take care of paper stuff, etc., get two trays or baskets and make one for stuff that needs to be tackled, the "in" pile, and one for things that are tackled, the "done" pile. Every so often, file away the tackled things that you need to keep. As you take care of things in the "in" pile, throw away the papers you no longer need. Try to do these things as you go along so you don't have to make a big thing out of it by waiting 'til the piles get huge. If you wait until the piles get huge, you will be so overwhelmed you'll dread going through it and procrastinate and the piles will get even bigger.

I suggest a separate toy chest, a pretty one that matches your furniture, for your living area where your kid plays.

Also, if papers piling up is your main problem, try to do without keeping all those coupons and ads that you really feel you will some day use or look at. If you haven't done so regularly in the past, face it, you might not do it in the future, and the cost of saving a few pennies with coupons you never use is worth the pricelessness of having a clutter free counter in your kitchen.

If small appliances are sprinkled all over your counter, put them in the cabinets. It takes a couple of seconds to take them out, the few times you use them, and plug them in.

Answer 2

1. Junk mail is exactly that. Junk. Throw it out. Have a spot for bills and other important mail. Don't just leave it there once you've paid them though. Put the somewhere, throw them out.

2. Declutter. Start in the kitchen since it seems to bother you. Do the dishes right after dinner. Wash, dry & put away. It's easier if you tidy up/rinse as you cook. Appliances like blenders or coffee grinders which you only use occasionally should go in the cupboard. They just take up space on the bench top. Anything which doesn't belong in the kitchen should be put where it belongs.

3. Time for the rest of the house. Get rid of everything you haven't used/worn in the last 6 months. Do just one room at a time. Be ruthless, throw it. Honestly, if you haven't fitted into that skirt since 1995, then chances, are you never will. In the bathroom get rid of shampoos you don't use, bath gel that is past its use by date.

4. Once you have removed the clutter it's time to clean. Once again, you can do one room at a time. Start with the roof (cobwebs), windows, walls, counter/shelf tops and thn the floor. After all if you start with the floor you'll just have to do it again when you've finished.

5. Maintain. The easiest way to do this is to put things back when you've finished with them. Everything should have a place. Your toddler can help here by putting away his/her own toys.

Answer 3

One bin. Sort through the mail as soon as you can and throw away old papers and junk mail. Put the bills and notices into a folder or special draw. Usually when we feel we have too much junk it is because we do. Get tough throw out things you don't need or want as you find them - straight in the bin. If you can organise to have someone watch your toddler go for the big spring clean - do the part of the house that drives you the most crazy first - I presume the kitchen. I do it all the time and it takes me about 1/2 hour every couple months to toss crap.

Answer 4

When you bring in the mail don't put it down until you throw out/put in recycle bin the trash/junk mail. Have a paper recycle bin close to your back door or kit door sor this purpose.Then place the bills and mail in a container just for them. At the end of the mo when you pay bills, put the receipts in a file. All other paper is to be recy. or trashed.Every day when you prepare meals have a sink of hot soapy water. Wash the cabinet tops and stove and pans you have finished with while you are preparing. Never leave it for afterwards b/c you never know what will happen later! As soon as the meal is finished, put the dishes in the DW or wash them by hand.Don't worry abaout drying. God made air to dry dishes for busy moms! After putting your toddler to bed go through the house with a box or basket and pick up things that are out of place.Put them into the room that they belong. Your house will be picked up and neat if visitors come over unexpectedly and you will be realaxed and not embarrassed!Your toddler should be learning to put way his things as SOON as he finishes with it and before getting another toy. He can put his dirty clothes in the hamper also(if he is walking and an ave. child).A couple of times during the week you may need to do a load of laundry to get by with and so you will not be overwhelmed on the weekend. You will probably need to sweep a few times during the week since you have a toddler.You need Sunday off all day for family time(and church) so you can rest and regroup for the upcoming week.On the weekends you will not be overwhelmed with putting away stuff and going through mail and papers and can get real cleaning done. Do one or two rooms thoroughly each weekend and every month your whole house will have been cleaned and not accumulating dust and junk and grim!.Once a mo. move the furniture and get it really cleaned. Once a mo clean out a closet or storage space or fridge and it will not get blown out of proportion.While you are vaccuming give the toddler a wet clothe to "dust" with. He will love helping and you are training him for his life! When he is older and your weekends get full with his sports,etc. you will already have him trained that his home chores come first and must be completed before anyone can go. He may choose to do his chores on fri. evening so his sat will be free for early ballgames, etc. When you are cleaning the kit. let him have a wet, with water only, rag to clean the cabinets fronts or table and chair legs. I still remember doing that job when I was about 2 or 3! I was the youngest and always had to do the lower parts of chores.I also remember holding the dustpan for mom when she was sweeping.Your son should be making sure his room is picked up before bed daily. At his age I would do supper,pick up time, and bath and bedtime story and bed. Then you can have unwind time or ph. calls,read,computer time.etc.Please stay off of the ph and computer while he is awake. He needs your full attention since he doesn't see you all day. You need to bond. Working together on the house will help bond and also teach him responsibility and respect for his home and mom!Remember to praise his work and thank him for being a good worker. Praise goes a long way when training a young child or anyone. Keep your cleaning simple during the week so you aren't stressed and you have plenty of time with your child! Best wishes!

Answer 5

What stops you from donating? It is a good cause. And you will feel like a new women when you get rid of the clutter. I was a junk collector myself, then my grandmother died and I had to clean out her 20 room house, full of stuff that she probably did not use for 20 years. It is just not worth keeping all that junk.

Answer 6

Don't let the paperwork get on top of you. Anything I don't think is needed which is lying around I put in a trash tray. This includes magazines, leaflets, coupons, bills, junk mail etc. Twice every week at 11pm on Wednesdays and Saturday evening, I rip up everything in the trash tray and put it in the paper recycling bin. It's up to anyone else to go through the trash tray and and salvage anything before it's too late.

Because they know I'm going to tear it up, people don't leave paper lying around and if they have done it, gives them an incentive to check the tray. Always tear junk mail and old bills in half at least four times to prevent identity theft, even if it is going for recycling, don't leave anything intact. If people see your trash is properly torn up they'll surely look for easier targets.

Answer 7

do you have a husband, other young kids?

-well, thats a start - ask your husband or kids to help clean up
**note do not nag or bust them on it. ask politely and state your case why. i.e you workfull time, you need help cleaning up. use charm.

-maybe have a basket, or container that people can put papaers and stuff into when their finished. put it in an obvious place nearby.

-have a container near in rooms with the clutter, put it near the door. when you go into a room, and there is heeps of it. dump it into the container and leave it. tell the person whos room it is that their stuff is in the container and they would need to clean up after themselves. dsay it with a smile.

-get a nanny

Answer 8

First of all when you get your mail stop at the door and sort through it..Throw away the garage mail advertisement, throw away junk mail, keep bills and try to pay them when they come in.....First of all get a file cabinet and file all you bills and important papers....Then get 3 boxes; one for throw away; one for goodwill; and maybe keep box...Good Luck!!!!

Answer 9

If you can find some time to throw out anything you don't need, do it. Then you should get a file cabinet to keep all bill statements, important documents, etc. That's a start.

Answer 10

Getting organized means you can organize your home quickly. Tips, articles, and links to organize every room of your home. Organize the office. Organize the garage. Organize closets. This site will help you organize the entire house.
http://housekeeping.about.com/od/getorga... (About Housekeeping