In the summer, when I am not teaching, I spend time focusing on the clutter in my home. While we do a good job managing clutter from day to day, I still do a yearly purge of all rooms and areas. It gives me the opportunity to deep clean our home, get rid of items we don’t need or use and figure out if the systems and storage we have in place are still working.
I know for many moms that is not the case. You are overwhelmed by the clutter in your home and no matter how many times you try to tackle it, you still can’t get it under control. You cannot just purge clutter away, you must have regular systems in place to handle clutter everyday. Here are the four steps organized people use to keep their homes clutter free.
They Purge Disposable Clutter Immediately
Disposable clutter is any type of clutter that takes up space in your home that you can easily get rid of almost as soon as it walks in the door. When organized people come across this type of clutter in their home, they deal with it immediately and you should too. Here are examples of common disposable clutter and how to get rid of it.
- Shipping Boxes-break down and recycle or dispose of
- Shipping Packaging-recycle or throw away
- Mail-click this link to read my post about handling mail
- Plastic Bags-recycle or reuse
- Fast Food Wrappers-Dispose of as soon as you finish eating
- Coffee Cups-Recycle or throw out
- Paper from Work or School-mark down important dates or file papers in designated spots
They Designate Spots For All Their Stuff
This is easier said than done, but it is a really important step. Next time you are with an organized friend in their home, watch them for a few minutes. You will notice that they always have a place to hang their keys and put their papers. You will also notice that they are very methodical about where they find things and how they put them back.
If you do not have a designated place for items such as purses, wallets, keys, backpacks, mail, paperwork, office supplies and toys, they will take over your space or constantly get lost. The three most common spots in a home that gather clutter are the dining table, kitchen counters and the front entryway. If you purge disposable clutter immediately and designate a spot for your belongings, it will go a long way toward keeping your home clutter free.
They Keep Like Items Together
I can’t stress this tip enough. If you have 14 different spots for the same type of item you will always have either way too much of it or you will never be able to find it. Either situation is not good. Organized people always keep their like items stored together and they always know how much they have and when they need to replenish. So decide on a spot that like items will live in, gather all the other items like it and keep them together.
They Fix Messes Before Adding to Them
Even the most organized people have messes in their home from time to time The difference between you and them is that when they come across small messes or disorganization, they fix it immediately. Most people tend to continually ignore these spots and even worse, they often add to the mess! How silly is that? Honestly, for most of these spaces it may only take 5-10 minutes to straighten the mess. If you find one of these spots in your home, I encourage you to stop and take the time to fix it. Usually, you will find the area is not that bad, but no one took the time to just stop and correct it. Whether it’s a messy desk drawer or linen cabinet. You can easily take back control of the space and the clear the clutter.
If you ever wondered how your organized friends keep their homes consistently clean and clutter free that is the secret. I challenge you to try these four steps for 30 days and see if it makes a difference in the appearance of your home.
Do you want to learn more about the systems that I use to keep my home organized? Check out my post on The 10 Routines That Will Keep Your Home Organized.
Do you constantly feel overwhelmed by all that you have to do? Read my 10 Strategies That Will Help You Overcome Overwhelm
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