On March 12, 2015 an article was featured in Time magazine “Americas Clutter Problem” by Josh Sanborn.
“Americans have more possessions than any society in history. Can we finally take control of them?”
Clutter has taken over our lives; the most common clutter spots are children’s bedrooms, home offices, attics, and garages, professional organizers say. What does it take to create a clutter-free space? Here are 10 key home organization strategies …
Find a place for every item. One reason things pile up on counters, tables, and floors is that they have no “home.” Storing items in the room where they’re used helps ensure they get put away when you’re done, and usually it’s best to store similar items together. If it’s something you use frequently, make sure the storage place is easy to access. “If you need to reach to a high shelf and take down a turkey platter just so you can return a bowl to its ‘home,’ odds are it’s not going to get put away.
Don’t Take the Freebees. The better you are about keeping things out of your home, the less likely things will pile up inside. Freebies. It’s nice to get a T-shirt or coffee mug, but will you really use it? Take a minute to opt out of mailings from credit card companies and other direct marketers. Bottom line? Always look for ways to block unneeded items before they cross your threshold.
Look for the mole. Periodically scan your home for sneaky clutter spots, and spend some time figuring out why stuff accumulates there. Often, it’s not what you think. Once you understand the problem, you’ll find it easy to devise a solution.
Hold off on shopping for storage containers. We often think the solution is to stock up on organizing products. Most likely you own plenty of storage containers and have plenty of places to store your items, therefore it is best to organize first and then decide what is necessary to purchase.
How Many similar items do you own. Why have 3 of these, 5 of those, 12 of these, 9 of those…Anytime you get something new, get rid of something similar.
Memories are great. However, they can take up a lot of room. Consider alternate ways of preserving memories. Lots of photos… transfer them to your computer and create back up folders. If you are a tactile person, organize them in photo books. In todays technology we can chronologically organize our life on Facebook, Instagram and many other digital venues and still save a back up to our computer. If you have a favorite photo… sure print it, but why keep boxes old photos that only accumulate dust and risk the chance of mold. Something your child made… why not take a picture of your child with the creation, and let that be your keepsake. Why have something in the garage collecting dust when you can display a photo for your quests to compliment on. Of course, if you have something truly special, you’ll want to keep it, maybe even display it in your home.
Look in your Clothes Closet. We wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time. Sorting through your clothes, and your children’s, at the end of each season. Does a particular garment no longer fit, or maybe it’s uncomfortable? Toss it into a box. Then take the box to a favorite charity or a consignment store. And don’t hold onto things because you think you might need them someday. One key to de-cluttering is getting rid of things, not simply rearranging them. Tidying up is not the same as organizing.
Look for simple clutter control solutions. Think home organization “kits.” Buy some clear plastic shoebox-sized containers, and use them to create kits where you store all the items you need for a particular task. For instance, you could create a shoeshine kit, a bill-paying kit, and so on. That way, you can easily find everything you need to accomplish everyday tasks.
Stick to a schedule. Some spaces, like kitchen counters, need daily de-cluttering. Others can be tackled weekly or monthly. When that time comes, be systematic. Take all the items in a defined area (a cabinet, a desk drawer), and spread them out so you can see what you’re facing. If you’re de-cluttering the drawer where you keep kitchen utensils, for example, spread them on the counter, and then sort into two piles: utensils you use regularly and those you don’t use. Be patient — effective de-cluttering takes time. Don’t get discouraged if de-cluttering takes longer than you think it should.
Hire a Professional. Don’t be afraid to hire a professional. We have the experience and knowledge to put you on the right track and assist you in getting the job done in an efficient timely manner. After all, life has lots of moving parts and we want to help you get things in order to help you enjoy your home and space with out clutter or casualties.
