Time to Declutter – Part 1 – Pathways to Organization

I am still asked by email or at speaking engagements how to get one’s house in order and free of clutter. It’s a problem for everyone primarily because we have so much more stuff than any other generation.

I know it’s hard. And the best way to get something hard accomplished is to put it into small steps.

Action Plan

First, plan a clutter-free attack. You must really want a clutter free and organized home! Write down the rooms in your home that needs to be worked on. Then for each room, write down the best way to get it clutter free; do you need to buy shelves, or hooks or bins? You see, we need to harness all our stuff and put it into zones:

1. Too many books? Buy shelves and keep all the books in that zone.  If you are never going to read the books again and they have no sentimental value then donate them to someone in need.
2. Too many toys? Buy clear bins and label each bin with the toys inside.
3. Too much of anything? Divide and conquer! Go through just one room, pull out what shouldn’t be there, clean the room and then place back just what you want or need there.
4. Still too overwhelming? Start with just one drawer! Let’s pick your bedroom and pick one drawer (either your bedside table or dresser drawer) and take everything out. Then only put back in the drawer what should be there. Make dividers out of cardboard or buy them. Viola! You have one organized drawer! Then move to the next drawer until you tackle the whole bedroom.
5. Then take everything out of the bedroom that isn’t for sleeping. Yes! Your bedroom needs to be clean, fresh and have minimal items in it.
6. Once you get the hang of it, go to another room, closet or pantry. I promise! Reducing your clutter will then encourage you to clean and organize which will change your life. You will have more peace, less stress and more time for your life.

Here’s some other quick tips:

1. Set rules: Everything in your home must have a place and as soon as an item is used, put it back!
2. Have a set place for car keys, sunglasses, pens and paper, cleaning supplies, etc.
3. Closets must be combed through twice a year. In the Spring, this is the best way to ensure all sweaters and heavy winter items are cleaned and stored away. Keep a section in your laundry room or closet for all items that need to be donated.
4. Get your family to help! Children should keep up with their own bedrooms by making their beds, keeping dirty clothes in hampers (and older ones can launder their own clothes!), cleaning their bathroom, dusting and vacuuming. NOTE! If they don’t learn at your house, they will never learn until it’s too late. My idea? Get one family member to dust, another to vacuum, another to mop floors, etc. You could get the whole house cleaned quickly if everyone helps.
5. Keep your kitchen counters clear of papers. Keep papers in files, just like an office would. Go through mail everyday: sort and discard, placing important mail as bills, in one place.
6. Bring 4 large bags into every room and closet. One is for trash, one for donations, one for the item to be cleaned, and one for items that would be better stored elsewhere or to be sold.
7. Take before and after pictures! You will be able to see what is not working and then when all is clutter free, you will see your finished work.

Next month, I’ll continue. Feel free to email me with any questions or suggestions you may have!

Manna from Heaven

Many women seem overwhelmed with keeping up with their homes, laundry, children, work and cooking. So, pray about it and start to take one step at a time. And quit shopping! We don’t need all this stuff. Make your home clean, comfortable and a welcome oasis for your family.

Colossians 3:23 ²³Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the LORD, not for human masters,

Proverbs 14:23-24 ²³All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. ²⁴The wealth of the wise is their crown, but the folly of fools yields folly.