how to keep your home organized by minimum efforts?

Question

How can you keep things in place at home with a full time job, a toddler and a husband who is just too busy to help much at housework ?

Answer 1

My husband doesnt do squat so I feel your pain. I hate clutter and mess. i have a system. As soon as i get home i do a gatherup. My house is two levels so the kids tend to bring crap from upstairs down to the living area to play with. I use small laundry baskets. You can get them at dollar stores or family dollar. I have one for each kid and one for misc. i set them in our main room and then grab everything that doesnt belong and toss it in the right basket. I deliver the baskets to each room. I then wipe the kitchen down and grab a green trash bag. I tell each child that their basket stuff gets put away or put in the green trash bag! You'd be surprised how fast they move. Of course I have only had to toss their stuff once in 5 years, but it was worth it. As for the misc basket, I put it away while they are doing theirs (shut off tvs - its also an incentive for them to move quicker) I hate mail. I bought an antique waterbucket, mail goes there until sunday morning and then its sorted and tossed immediately, otherwise its all over the kitchen or table all week. As for my upstairs. That is usually done on friday night, I dump the kids on dad and quickly run from room to room. first i make the beds .. then i pick up everything on the floor aand put it on the bed. Then take one object at a time and put it away. Use one of the baskets for stuff that doesnt belong in that room. A wise person once posted, anything that doesnt have a designated place to be kept is most likely junk or trash ... chuck it. I live by that rule. I have friends that ask me to come over and help them purge their clutter. good luck

Answer 2

I've always used open baskets on shelfs to organize my child's smaller toys. Teach them right from the start that they can only have 1-2 baskets down at a time, must put the toys back in the proper basket when done, etc. It takes some work in the beginning but can save a lot more over the years.

IDecorative boxes, baskets, hanging shoe organizers and drawer organizers work great everywhere else. Use lots of wall hooks and coat trees so, when in a hurry, you can still toss your belongings in a place that keeps them off the floor until you have time to put them in the hamper. If you've limited counter space, those freestanding shelves that extend over sinks are a lifesaver though you might have to spend some time finding one that you like.

The key to organization is to create a space for every little thing, know where that place is and then, ease into the joy of readily being to find it.

If your place is so small or, you have too much stuff to organize properly, it is time to send some things to your favorite charity.

Answer 3

The worst scandal in our history is going on right now. Cheney and company have pushed poor muddle-headed Geoge W, into a less-than-useless "war" that is bankrupting the nation financially, diplomatically, socially and militarily, creating in the process debts that our grandchildren won't be able to pay snd squandering good will toward America that took centuries to earn. At the same time they have run roughshod over civil rights and the Constitution, and to top it off failed to adequately regulate financial markets, which has led to the credit and housing collapse, and allowed a few greedy corporations and individuals to make obscene, tax-free profits at he expense of the nation as a whole. Throw in unchecked environmental degradation and the insidious introduction of religion into national policy and you have the worst presidency in our history. Congress gets a share of the blame. They don't have the guts to stand up to the White House, or do what they were elected to do: act in the interest of the nation as a whole rather than being yes-men for whatever special interest group they think will help get them re-elected. Other than that, everything in Washington is just peachy.

Answer 4

I have a 3bedroom 9 other rooms home i work and have a husband and 7 and 8 yr old girls. I have almost all my rooms organized. my cabinets are in order with all my can goods in a line and boxed foods in a certain order and all. it takes a little time but you can do it. just do a little if not everyday a little every week and b4 long all will be organized. i still have a couple rooms to get organized, but i have confidence i can do it one day. and so can you...good luck

Answer 5

well there it is the million dollar question . if you get the right answer to this one get a copywrite on it and write a book seriously .
all anyone has ever told me is to do is to keep at it every time you get up to leave a room even for a second find something to put away .
if you saw my place right now and most days you would rofl my place is something else and its just me a dog and cat

Answer 6

go to an awesome site and sign up www.flylady.net. That is the greatest way. You only need to clean 15 mins a day. And one load of laundry a day..she has a different room everyday you work on and reminders in your email..i love it!! Hope this helps

Answer 7

what I did when I was working full time is try to do a room at a time, what I mean by this I would clean this room and then on my days off I would go through and do a touch up job on all the rooms and the laundry.