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Greetings!
Welcome to part 3 of our three-part War on Clutter. In May, we explored the forces that drive us to cling to things. In June, we laid out the 8 steps you need to take control over the clutter and restore peace to your home. And now the time has finally come for organization! This month, I present you 9 tips (I like to call them commandments) for getting your home organized -- and keeping it that way. Coming Soon: Starting in August, we'll be talking with you about how to tackle the toughest cleaning jobs. Take our poll to tell us what tasks you most dread. Letters From Our Readers: We have loved hearing from you about your how you keep clutter in check. If you're looking for some more uncluttering inspiration, please check out this month's Letters. And keep your emails coming to jeff@thecleanteam.com. Coupon Code: At the bottom of this (and every) newsletter, we feature a coupon code for a great Clean Team product. Be sure to check out this month's patriotic promo in honor of July 4th! | |
Time to Get Organized
The 9 Comma ndments of Getting Organized -- And Staying That Way
When you walk into your home, what do you see? Are dirty dishes piled up in (or next to) the sink? Are yesterday's shoes, socks and even trousers discarded around the house? Are unpaid bills littering your kitchen table? If these scenarios sound familiar, then it's time to get organized. What you need is a system -- a set of rules (that will eventually become habits) for organizing your house and keeping it that way. I give you... The 9 Commandments.
1. Everything Has a Home.
When you come home from the supermarket, do you leave your groceries sitting in their bags all week long? Of course not! You put the milk in the fridge and the breakfast cereal in the cupboard. Now take that obvious "of course not" about your groceries and apply it to everything else you own. The place you keep something needs to be logical (you pay your bills by check, keep your checkbook with your bills) and it needs to be convenient (your kids get undressed right before their baths, keep a hamper in the bathroom.)
2. Containerize.
Did you notice that containerizing is second on this list, not first? That's intentional, so take note -- especially all you Container Store addicts out there. Being organized and staying that way requires you to put the horse before the cart: First find a logical and convenient home for your things, then decide on the best container to store it in. To organize your drawers, for example, Rubbermaid makes interlocking plastic boxes in various shapes and sizes, which are more versatile than conventional silverware trays. For a more frugal solution, line your draw with flat recycled boxes, like those from your checkbooks and jewelry.
3. Erase the Evidence.
Think like a criminal for a moment: If CSI came into your kitchen, would they find evidence of the dinner you made last night? Are the spices still on the counter and the dirty napkins on the table? Your goal is to erase the evidence -- leave no proverbial fingerprints. The same rule applies to other activities around your home: Finished coloring with the kids? Erase the evidence: Put away the crayons, hang the picture on the fridge and wash off your table. Just paid the bills? Erase the evidence: File the necessary papers and return your checkbook to your purse.
4. File, Not Pile.
Paper clutter is extraordinarily stealthy. Between school papers, bills, warranties, personal correspondence and lists, the paper volume in your home increases daily -- even when you're trying to be diligent. Rather than piling it up, deal with each piece as it comes in. File those that need to be filed (an "action" file is okay if a bill needs to be paid or a permission slip needs to be signed). Recycle junk mail and shred sensitive documents immediately.
5. Just Say No.
Some people say yes to every request out of guilt, or some misplaced idea about responsibility to others. If you always say yes to everyone else, you're inevitably saying no to yourself a lot of the time. You've worked hard to have an uncluttered, organized home, so now keep it that way by saying no (nicely) to activities that don't fit into your schedule. Saving time for you will keep your house running more smoothly.
6. One Thing In. One Thing Out.
You've spent countless hours uncluttering. You've found a home for everything -- and now you keep everything in its neatly containerized home. That beautiful zen-like state won't last, though, if you bring in new non-consumable purchases on a daily basis. Maintain your uncluttered stasis with this simple one-thing-in/one-thing-out rule. Got a new pair of shoes? Wear them in good health -- and donate on old pair to the Salvation Army.
7. Opposites Don't Attract.
Opposites might attract in love, but they're disastrous when it comes to organizing your home. Instead, find pairs that go together in form as well as function. Like the sugar that you keep with the coffee, since you need it first thing every morning. (Or maybe you're an avid baker and instead keep the sugar with the flour, baking powder and vanilla.) Keep envelopes, stamps, pens and a calculator in your basket of to-be-paid bills. Use the same rule to organize your children's toys, your home office files, and even your linen closet.
8. Take Five.
Once you get your home organized, spend five minutes a day -- three to five times a day -- maintaining it. Believe it or not, that's all it takes. Designate a different room for each five-minute period, during which you quickly pick out things that don't belong and re-home them. The reality of life is that stuff will get taken out -- and even left out -- constantly. So don't freak out if your kids' dirty clothes get thrown on the floor -- just make sure they get tossed into the hamper (ideally by said kid) during a 'take five'.
9. Lather, Rinse, Repeat.
Experts say it takes 21 days to create a habit, so you need to commit yourself to following these 9 commandments for three weeks. Tell yourself you can do anything for three weeks -- and it's true, you can. The habit you're forming, by the way, is not getting organized, but being organized.
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Coming Soon: Tough Cleaning Jobs Made Easy
Starting in August, the Clean Team newsletter will be offering you
hands-on tips for tackling your toughest cleaning jobs.
We'd love to hear
from you. What are your biggest cleaning challenges? Click on the
poll to select your answer. |
 Letters From Our Readers
Last month, I asked you to share your tips for getting rid of clutter. You had some great ideas!
How often do we get rid of something (trash or thrift store) only to find a use for it in the next few weeks? Here is my solution: I use two boxes to deal with things I think I might need later, but know in my heart that I probably won't be able to find it if I did find a use for it. One box is for the dump; the other is for the thrift shop. When a box is full, I tape up the box and mark a date on the outside. I choose a date 3-6 months in advance. When the date arrives, the box goes unopened to the proper destination. This way, if I do have a legitimate need for the item, I can retrieve it. It is amazing how seldom that actually happens.
-- Margot Julian, Eureka, CA
My best tip for getting rid of sentimental clutter: photograph it. One small box of photos keeps all the memories, and the objects can go on to provide memories elsewhere.
-- Diane Bernard
One stragedy that really helped me get it done and keep it done is to realize how unfair it is to keep extra possessions when there are so many people in need. For instance I will look at an item that I want to keep for whatever reason and ask myself couldn't someone out there use it more than I? Isn't it unfair to keep this stored away or rarely used when someone right now somewhere is just starting out and could really use it?
-- Elizabeth S., Brockton, MA
As always, we'd love to hear from you: Have you finished uncluttering? What was the hardest thing you had to get rid off? The more you share with us, the better we can serve you -- and the rest of our readers -- with our monthly newsletter. Please send me your emails at jeff@thecleanteam.com
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COUPON CODE IN HONOR OF JULY 4TH
If you're a fan of our Team Pro Toothbrush, you are really going to love this: For the month of July, enjoy $1.25 off a set of toothbrushes, which now coming in three colors: Red, White and Blue.
Now, you'll never have to worry about mixing up your bathroom toothbrush with your kitchen toothbrush again. You'll be able to easily color code your toothbrush for a specific job so you don't have to be concerned about cross contamination.
Receive your set of 3 (one of each color) at $1.25 off the list price all month long. To order your set from the list of products, select "Specials," then "Code" and then enter CTNJULY8. | |
Thanks for reading us this month! Come visit us on the web at www.thecleanteam.com.
Sincerely,
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Jeff Campbell
The Clean Team Catalog |
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