When your home is organized, it’s a relaxing refuge. But when it’s not, it can feel downright chaotic. We consulted Jan Jasper, author of Take Back Your Time (St. Martin's Press, 1999) and Georgene Lockwood, author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Organizing Your Life (Macmillan, 2005.) for important strategies on bringing order to your home.
Q: What’s the first step in organizing a home?
A: Set up "Operations Central.” Every family needs a place for processing mail and paying bills, and it shouldn't be the kitchen table. Instead, locate an uncluttered surface—and stock it with a calendar, scissors, pencils, pens, highlighter, tape, stapler, envelopes, address stickers, stamps, calculator, notepaper, paper clips, letter opener, bank deposit slips, and sticky notes. The workspace should be near the phone, since many pieces of paper can be eliminated immediately with a phone call. You’ll also need a filing cabinet for storing permanent items as well as a wastebasket or recycling bin for getting rid of trash.
Q: What about bathroom clutter?
A: Give every family member a different-colored plastic bin to hold personal-care items, and then arrange the bins on the bathroom shelf, says Jasper.
Q: And everyday clutter?
A: Begin by establishing a to-do area by the front door. Drop off everything that needs to go out: papers to photocopy, clothes to bring to the dry cleaner, and library books to return. Next, implement the three-box method. Start by labeling three boxes: "give away," "throw away" and "store someplace else." Beginning at the front door, walk around the inside edge of the room and put anything that doesn’t belong into one of the three boxes. Neatly organize what does belong, then move on to the next area. Each day, dispose of anything in the "throw away" box, and deliver the "give away" stuff to the nearest charity.
Q: What about those overflowing and/or endless mountains of laundry?
A: Know when to cheat. First, don't do laundry more often than you have to. Buy extra sheets, towels and underwear on sale so you can skip an occasional laundry day. And when you do get around to washing those sheets, try folding the flat sheet around the fitted sheet and pillow cases so everything's bundled together when it’s time to make the bed.
Q: What are some other suggestions for staying organized?
A: Learn the 30-second rule. If it takes 30 seconds or less to do a job, do it immediately. This applies to putting away packages when you come home, placing scissors back in the drawer, or hanging up your coat. Commitment to this habit will change your house. On the other hand, know your limits—and hang up that Superwoman cape. "Being less of a perfectionist about keeping a perfect home will give you more time to enjoy life," says Jasper.
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