Conquering Clutter

Consider the value of your space. Currently, the space in your home (in Utah) is worth around $100-125 per square foot. That’s the price of the "land" those stacks of magazines are sitting on. Is that your best use of that valuable space? Got a spare room filled with mostly junk? That may be taking up $15,000 of valuable space your family could enjoy --- a craft room, a guest room, an office?

Clutter often results from procrastinating, not making a decision. Be strong and decide now where things go. By keeping things just in case you might need it sometime, by saying "yes" to clutter, what are you saying "no" to? Peace, calm, more space for what you really want and need, house guests, entertaining, easier cleaning days? The list goes on.

Gather at least three large boxes, baskets or bags -- nothing fancy, these are just practical. One is for garbage, one for things to donate and one for things to go elsewhere in the house.Now, we’re let’s apply a few general guidelines for organizing any space:

1. Make a Date: Set aside enough time to organize your space. Try to avoid most of the distractions of a normal day. Don’t make other appointments. Don’t run to the store. Don’t answer the phone. Have someone watch the kids if you can, or work fast during nap times.

2. Identify a Purpose. Each space has a specific function in a home. Identify each "zone" in the area you're organizing. Bedrooms have zones for sleeping, dressing, storing clothing, maybe reading, etc. Desks have zones for mailing, bill-paying, couponing, school work, etc. Kitchen have lots of zones which we'll deal specifically with in another post. Define the zones and actually sketch out the area, labeling the zones. Now, keep your plan nearby and refer to it as you organize. As you sort your items out, remember that if something doesn’t fit the defined purpose of this area, toss it out!

3. De-Clutter. Start in one section and work your way around the room or space clockwise and deal with EVERYTHING in your path. Nothing gets tossed aside to decide about later. Be harsh. Be honest. Does it belong in this zone, fitting the purpose I’ve defined? Do I need it? Do I use it? Does it work for me? Do I love it? Would I buy it again? Most of us use 20% of our stuff 80% of the time. We can get rid of a lot!

If it belongs in your space, put it in a pile to stay. If it belongs in another room or space, put it in one of your three boxes or baskets. DO NOT leave the room to put it away. This is where you get distracted and never return to the original crime scene! If it is no longer useful to you but someone else could use it, put it in the Donations Box. If it is trash, put it in the bag. Continue to work your way through, dealing with everything. Remember that you should be working in small sections. For example, don't try to reorganize the bedroom, the closets, the nightstands and the vanity. Do each area separately, one thing at a time.

4. Put things away. Take the trash out of the room into the hallway, or let someone else take it to the garbage bin. Do the same with the DI box and the box of things that belong somewhere else. Turn your attention to the things that will stay. If you can, put them away. Use containers anywhere you need to group things. Put like items together, keeping in mind your zones/plan. Put all your shirts in one section of the closet. All the baking dishes in one spot in the kitchen.

5. It is stays, label it. Identify what is in each spot. It might seem obvious that this is where the socks go, but you may forget more unusual items, and labels are crucial to having anyone else participate in your plan!

6. Clean up. Take just a few minutes to spruce up the area. Make the bed, dust the newly uncovered surfaces. Vacuum and tidy up a bit. This isn't the time for deep cleaning. We've still got work to do in this room, but for now, make it look nice.

7. You can leave your room, but not the job. You’re almost done. First, remove the trash from your house—all the way out! Second, take the box for DI’s to the trunk of your car. If you are going to give some of those things to a neighbor or sell to a consignment shop or whatever, put the items for each destination in a separate bag/box. Label them and line them up by the door. Set a goal that within 48 hours you will get them out of your house! (P.S. Don’t save them for a great yard sale one day in which you’ll recoup thousands of dollars. You won’t do it, you won’t make the money. Rid yourself of this stuff now!) Third, address the box of things that belong somewhere else in the house. Put away what you can. If something doesn’t have a place yet, or it won’t fit where it should go, take it to a "vacation resort" for now (a corner of the house or garage where it can wait until a home is found -- but find it!)

8. Show off! Removing things from your spaces and de-cluttering are going to give you so many endorphins you’ll be dancing from the ceiling. So, enjoy it; show off your hard work to your friends, your neighbors. Blog about it! Most importantly, show it to your family. Let them know things are changing. There will be no dumping in this space anymore!

Now you're half done. Yes, that's right. Because organizing a space is only the first part. Next, you have to MAINTAIN that organization. More on that next time . . . .