How can I get cooperation to organize our home? !?

Question

There are many ideas floating around out there, I really don't care if the answer is manipulative, or polite, clever or down right sneaky. I just need a bunch of ideas to try to get two members of my family to sort of ... learn to enjoy being organized.

Now I already heard one idea I am trying. Put the container to corral a mess at the site the mess happens!! Great... but now I have a messy container there.

Well at least it isn't all over the house right?? Well...... jump in with all your ideas.

By the way, I am a female.... and the two other members are males... does that give you a clue? I know... Mars and Venus.
Well that aside, I really need the help and I am nearly beside myself.

We moved to the current address a couple of years ago, after living in one house for fully 30 years. We cut our junk by half and still have another half to go. I make trips regularly to the Goodwill. HELP ME IF YOU CAN!!! (Does that sound like a song?)

Sheepish :(

Answer 1

I wish I knew...I have three males versus me and it's a constant battle. We have common areas that I've simply laid down the law on, and when the area is cleaned everyone works together. If they don't help, the stuff belonging to the offender is placed on their bed until they put it away. And I've found that when they say mom/honey where's my Whatever ..not knowing and not answering works.

Begin by calling a family meeting and laying down the law. Make rules and stick to them, And that means you, especially!

I found I was as much of a problem as the guys! What I had to do is to teach myself not to pick up after everyone, and to not let them get away with being slobs and to make each person responsible for their mess instead of me, that they can't ask me where their stuff is and it's not my responsibility to know where everything is. You need to be consistent and expect the first while to be tough. And most important do not give in once the rules have been set. I realized it was as much me being a problem by doing things for the guys as it was the guys being a problem. And I had to realize that most guys don't read home decorating magazines nor do they care if the home does or doesn't look like a magazine picture. It became a compromise for all of us involved. They had to do more, and I had to give a bit on a few details. We have a pile of boots at the back door, but not the front. The living room looks like a magazine picture, but the basement Doesn't. The boy's rooms are disasters, but the hall and bathroom isn't. And there are times it's still a constant battle...

Answer 2

I had my own business as a professional organizer, and I found that in cleaning a space, work in a clock fashion. Pick a starting point, then work (counter)clock wise. Have a bin for Goodwill, trash and 'keepers'. This takes time, so work in slots of about 3 hours. Once you empty a space out (closet, cabinet, etc), vacuum and/or wash it down to have a clean place to put stuff. But everyone has to cooperate and first by sitting down and setting goals on the organizing. Once you get rid of all the junk that you don't want, clean up your space, you will love living there again. It's healthier and more cohesive.

Answer 3

Clean the place one more time the way you want it. Then call a family meeting and announce that anything left lying around for more than 24 hours will either be thrown out or taken to Goodwill.

Then follow up. One or two items disposed of in this fashion and you should see an improvement.

It worked in my house.

Answer 4

I think that it is reasonable for you to expect that common living spaces be relatively clutter free. Tell them. I like the answer about throwing out or donating anything that is still left out after a set amount of time.

Answer 5

particularly, i detect them suspicious. Mike Royko as quickly as wrote a column in Chicago that counseled human beings whilst interviewed by utilizing pollsters to lie. I particularly have on the grounds that got here across that pulling pollsters legs is an artwork-style unto itself.