#1 Keep a Donate Bin or Bag in Your House at All Times
It is much easier to keep up with decluttering as you notice you don’t use an item rather than doing a big purge once a year. Keeping a donate bin or bag in your house allows you to quickly add one item at a time and donate it once it gets full.
#2 Don’t Start With The Hardest Spot
Organizing can be very overwhelming when you are looking at your whole house. Lots of times people will pick the hardest spot to tackle first to get it out of the way. This can leave you feeling defeated and unmotivated. Instead, start with the place that sounds the most fun, even if it is your purse or nightstand drawer. Start with what seems easy or excites you the most!
#3 Know When to Use Clear Bins or Baskets
Solid baskets can look nice because they hide the clutter, but you want to use them as storage not as a hiding place. Clear bins help you see exactly what you have and prevent items from getting lost. Check out this article to get more information on what type of bins you should use.
#4 Declutter First
It seems simple, but before you start organizing, declutter. People often get excited to organize and create a home for products they don’t need. If you struggle with keeping items “just in case” you need them but have never used them, consider using the 20/20 rule. If you can replace it for under $20 in under 20 minutes, get rid of it.
#5 Have a System for Papers
Paper clutter is one of the most stressful and time-consuming types of clutter. When you have a counter, desk, dresser, etc. full of papers, it looks messy and you know it is going to take a long time to go through. Make sure you have a system for mail coming in, coupons, bills, kids’ homework and art, instruction manuals, etc. Stay tuned for an article on how to handle paper clutter.
#6 Get Matching Hangers
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Matching hangers makes such a big difference and makes your closet automatically look so much more organized. Check out this article on what type of hangers you should get.
#7 Use Drawer Dividers
Just because it is hidden in a drawer doesn’t mean it doesn’t need to be organized. If items are just sitting in a drawer, then they will slide around every time you open and close the drawer, leaving you with a mess of stationary or utensils. Consider getting drawer dividers or clear drawer organizers to keep everything neat inside.
#8 Clean as you Organize
It’s not often that you pull every item out of a cabinet or drawer, so don’t forget to vacuum, wipe down, and deep clean every space as you organize. This will make the space feel fresh and help motivate you while organizing.
#9 Get Items off the Ground
Items on the floor get cluttered and messy quickly. Hang up your brooms, rakes, shovels, purses, etc. This will give them a home and keep items from falling over.
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