Quick Clutter Control: Ten Tips For A Tidier Home
©
Colleen
Moulding 1.
Whenever you have a few minutes to spare put away
five or ten items that are not in their correct place.
These could be toys that the kids have left somewhere,
letters that need filing away or odd socks that need
putting in a drawer.
2. Dump junk mail the moment you receive it. Deal
with other mail at least once a week filing away what
you need to keep in an indexed concertina file, card
or plastic file wallets or even large brown envelopes.
3. The five boxes method. This will clear clutter
from any room or area of the house, but can look awful
while in progress. Set aside a time when you won't
be disturbed, put on a tape of upbeat music and have
a treat in the fridge for lunch. First job is to label
the boxes - Rubbish, Give Away/Sell, Keep, Sentimental
and Not Sure. You then go through everything in the
area consigning each item to one of the boxes. Theoretically,
by the time you have got rid of the Rubbish and Give
Away/Sell boxes, you should have enough space to store
the Sentimental and put the Keep items back in an
orderly way. The Not Sure box should be sealed up,
stored in basement or attic and if not needed after
six months or one year, given away unopened, so that
you're not tempted to keep the contents all over again.
4. Be ruthless. If you haven't used an item in the
last two years you are not likely to need it again.
Do you really want a clutter free, streamlined home
or not?
5. If you can't face an entire room, break the job
down into manageable tasks - the kitchen junk drawer,
the letter pile, the hats, coats and shoes area. That
way you won't be put off decluttering as just too
big a task.
6. Treat yourself to items that make staying tidy
easier. Cardboard storage boxes are great for sewing
and craft items, Christmas decorations, treasures
that your children have made. Plastic or fabric hanging
shoe bags are perfect for storing small toys and dolls
or for hair brushes, clips, cosmetics and toiletries.
Invest in some of those drawer dividers that separate
drawers into a dozen little compartments - but don't
fill them with junk!
7. Clean and put away fifty per cent of your ornaments.
Not only will this give your home a more modern minimalist
look, you will get your dusting done in half the time.
8. Consider enlisting the help of a family member
or friend to be your organizing buddy. She helps you
with your house - you help with her clutter disposal.
Hearing yourself try to explain why you need a whole
kitchen cupboard full of plastic containers can help
you get them into that Rubbish box.
9. Don't keep buying things. Stop and think, do I
really need this and have I got somewhere to keep
this? Some people work on a one in, one out system,
i.e. if you buy a new sweater, toy for the children
etc. then one goes to the charity shop or is given
to a friend.
10. Don't give up. It will take time. All the clutter
didn't come into your home in one day and you won't
get rid of it all in one day. Keep on sorting, dumping,
tidying and labelling, cut back on bringing new clutter
home and it is a battle that can be won. You will
have more time, a neat home and less stress as a reward
for your efforts.
Colleen Moulding is a freelance writer living in the
south of England. She is also the owner/editor of
All That Women Want.com a magazine, web guide and
resource for women everywhere. |
