The Sensible Organizer

Lists, lists and more lists

2012-02-13T09:27:00.000-08:00

Whether you prefer sticky notes, pads of paper, notebooks or electronic devices I encourage you to make lists for everything. The more you can free your mind the better. I keep a small notebook beside my bed so I can write things down before I go to bed. That way I don't have to worry about remembering them.

Here are my ongoing lists, how I record them and where I keep them:

Master To Do - This is where I pull my Daily To Do list from. I have it in a word document for easy updating and I keep a print out in a folder with any corresponding paper work. This list is never ending but always revolving.
Daily To Do - I use a sheet of scrap paper and pen. Once I complete an item I remove it from this and my Master To Do list. I will transfer any undone items to the next day and add more from the Master To Do.
Cleaning and Home Maintenance - This is in a spreadsheet with chores broken up by day of the week. Quarterly and semi annual items are noted as well. I have this hanging on the wall in my office.
Home Repair - Here I keep all the improvements we eventually want to make in a word document. This hangs on my husband's office wall. I guess you could call it his Honey Do list.
Vacation Packing List - I keep this in a word document so I can print a new copy for each trip. It has everything for every kind of trip. I start by crossing anything off that doesn't apply to the current trip and then check each item as I pack.
Books to Read, Movies to Watch & Songs to Buy - I keep this in the notes app on my iPhone. This way it is with me when I am shopping.
Shows to Watch - I consider my DVR a list. :)
MiscIdeas & Projects - Pinterest.com My favorite new site!
Bills to Pay/Budget - Excel spreadsheet and Online Banking (I am working on a separate blog post for this)
Account Information - This I have in a word document. I keep a printed copy in our safe deposit box. It has all our bank info, insurance info, credit card accounts, investments and the name and address of our attorney.
Shopping - Items are logged as needed on white board on fridge. Before going to the store I note the items on my Cozi.com iPhone app.
Goals: Lifetime, 10 year, 5 year, 1 year, monthly and weekly - I use a program from Raymond Aaron with pre-printed forms but a word document or journal would work well too.
Birthdays and Special occasions - I have them set up to reoccur in my electronic calendar at Cozi.com.
Things I Am Grateful For - Daily gratitude journal. This daily exercise is uplifting and a great stress reducer.

The great thing about lists is even if you don't refer to them daily somehow the items get done. I think the act of writing it down sets the plan in motion. Probably has something to do with the Law of Attraction and setting intentions. If you have a list that you don't see here I would love to hear about it. I can never have enough lists!

2012 Has to be Better than 2011

2012-01-26T13:22:00.000-08:00

I haven't blogged in quite some time mainly because 2011 was filled with so many challenges for my family. On the brightside I also had less time because my business picked up quite a bit. I have a goal to blog at least once a week this year. I am not off to the best start but I will not let that stop me. I have decided to cut myself some slack and get started in February. If you are just coming up this blog I hope my past content gives you some good ideas. I look forward to writing again. Happy New Year everyone!

Is Your House Accessible to the Fire Department?

2011-06-07T07:56:00.000-07:00

The beginning of June brought some more lessons. Seems this is my year for accidents and mishaps all in the name of learning and teaching. Our house was stuck by lightening during the last storm of June 1st. Faced with a possible home fire I was forced to look around at access to my house. The house was hit by our garage door. We smelled smoke and called 911. Kudos to the cellular 911 (our Verizon was out) getting us to the Norwood 911 ASAP and kudos to the Norwood Fire and Police, who arrived within what seemed seconds. Thankfully there was no fire, just some scorched siding and a few burnt out electronics.

It took us a few seconds to realize we were struck. During that time I was amazed I stayed somewhat composed. I had the girls put on their shoes and coats, grabbed the dog and put him on his leash. We then waited as the firemen checked the house. I was ready to bolt at any minute and was surprised I didn’t give my photos a second thought. You see I have always been terrified of a home fire and losing everything. Of course the only thing that really matters is the safety of our family.

We were also reminded of the warning not to use electronics during a storm. I am normally vigilant about unplugging things during a storm but the Bruins were playing so we sat “safely” in our basement watching the game. I also didn’t notice that my daughter was using her iPod and that it was charging in the wall. The bolt struck on the opposite side of the house but it sent a jolt through the house, zapping her finger. The shock went through her to me and to my husband even though neither one of us was touching her. Thankfully we are all fine but I will not make this mistake again!

So I ask is your house accessible to the fire department? I realized that even though my office, which is next to the garage, is organized there is still quite a bit in the way had they needed to start ripping out the wall. Our garage has become a temporary storage area as we are doing some purging and remodeling. Had there been a fire there I am sure they could have worked around these things but I would prefer they have better access. Often when we think of clutter fire danger we picture people with small paths through the clutter of their house. I am now looking beyond that and will strive to have even less stuff. I will also be looking at my client’s spaces differently.

Nature vs. Nurture

2011-04-26T15:52:00.000-07:00

Are we born organized or do we learn it from our parents? As an adoptee I wonder if I learned it from my fairly organized parents or did I inherit it from one of my birth parents. I look at my husband who is incredibly organized (maybe even more than me) and yet both his siblings are not. We also created two very different children of which neither one is particularly organized. One likes to collect things and is messy. The other doesn't have many things, has a fairly clean room (maybe because she leaves things everywhere else in the house UGH) yet she can never seem to find anything.

Perhaps being organized simply comes from life experiences. It wasn't until I became a Professional Organizer that I realized I have always been trying to find order in my life. I have been comfortable being an adoptee but I think deep down it has shaped who I am. At age 5 I was always walking over the neighbor's with a dust pan and broom and much to my mom's horror asking them if I could clean. I was also always organizing our linen closet, cabinets and any other space my parents would let me at. I even became an Accountant where I could organize numbers, spreadsheets and endless amounts of paper.

I now see organizing things helps me cope with things I can't control in my life. Now imagine my stress level when I had my children and my house slowly turned upside down. Then imagine it again when they got to the age where they could move items from one room to another. I used to be the mom who would count every block to ensure the set was full and pair up every Barbie shoe. Thankfully I gave up on that but it took everything I had. I admit I have a tinge and a half of OCD. Now that my children are older I fight the constant battle of getting them to put things away. Time will tell if they will learn to be organized. I am hopeful because I teach people everyday how to organize their spaces. That said if I can't teach them because they rebel against me as mom then I will hire another Professional Organizer for them!

Cleaning Schedule

2011-04-08T10:30:00.000-07:00

Spring seems to have finally arrived here in New England. Turns out my wrist took much longer than I expected to heal. I am still not back to normal but I thrilled to be able to type with two hands again. Now begins the fun of getting my house back into shape. This will be the toughest spring cleaning I have ever done.

I shall tackle it one step at a time. I have printed out a new copy of my cleaning schedule and will jump right in. I really can't start soon enough as my lovable mutt is blowing his coat. Those of you with shedding dogs and more specifically shedding Labradors can feel my pain.

My schedule is a follows:

Monday: Counter, dishes, dry mop, dust, clean out fridge and gather trash

Tuesday: Counters, dishes, vacuum, toilets and sinks

Wednesday: Counters, dishes, dry mop, tub and laundry

Thursday: Counters, dishes, sheets and glass surfaces

Friday: Counters, dishes, dry mop, mop, toilets and sinks

Monthly: Closets (vac), stove, microwave, toaster oven, fridge top and scrub counters

Quarterly: Mattress pads, comforters, wash fridge and detail car

Semi Annually: Windows, vacuum utility area, curtains

The most important lesson I have learned from this injury is that I need to delegate specific tasks to my children. They have been taking turns with each task and that has resulted in too many arguments. Oh and honey if you are reading this feel free to remind me if I start to let things slide.

New Year Resolutions

2011-01-31T08:52:00.000-08:00

Do you make them? Normally I don't but as luck would have it I did this year and have been unable to fulfill them. The first was get to the gym more and the other to update my blog regularly. Wouldn't you know that just a week into the new year I broke my wrist. Typing a blog entry with one hand is no fun and the first few weeks I was in too much pain to even go ride the bike or do a leg workout. I am taking this as a sign to stick with my plan to not make them again. Instead I will focus on my goals each day and trust that I will reach them.

I do believe everything happens for a reason and the best thing to come of this is my kids have been pitching in more around the house and I no longer have to style my daughter's hair each morning. I look forward to getting this cast off so I can get back to my goal of blogging regularly. Although I will miss having my daughter style my hair. ;)

What happened to September?

2010-10-13T09:16:00.000-07:00

September is all a big blur to me. The start of school always gets me no matter how much I prepare for it. I just can't seem to switch gears easily from the summer. It took a run in with a mouse last night in my garage to tackle some much needed appointment making calls. He took off like a rocket and I wasn't sure if he entered the house. Of course then I kept hearing things in the heating vent. First thing this morning I called the duct cleaning company. The thought of breathing in droppings disgusts me! That reminded me to call for my annual oil burner check up and since I was on a roll I called the sprinkler company for a winterizing appointment. Now I just need to find some extra cash so I can hire back my pest control company.

Cozi.com has been working out great! My kids love that I can print them each their own personal calendars. I am never without my calendar since I always have my phone. When I have to make a change it is much neater than having to cross out things on a paper calendar. Best of all making those appointments this morning was a breeze. I will remember that next time I procrastinate.

The best thing I ever did was set up a Home To Do list. In addition to the above tasks I have items like Drain Hot Water Heater, Clean Dryer Vent, Change Furnace Filters and Change Batteries in Smoke Detectors. I realized today though that I had many of these items scheduled for September and October. Not the best timing since the beginning of the school and the start of all the activities have my head spinning. I am going to change the timing of as many items as I can to a less busy time of year. That is if that time exists.

Cozi.com update

2010-08-25T08:55:00.000-07:00

So far so good with my free calendar at www.cozi.com. I also purchased the app for my iPhone and I love it. The Cozi calendar is web based so I can access it from any computer and it is very simple to use. The best part for me is I can view it by the month. I am a visual person and need to see the entire month at once. Unfortunately the app doesn't offer the monthly view but it beats having to carry my date book around. Not having to sync my phone to my computer is a bonus. The color coding for each family member is great too!

Cozi also offers shopping lists, to do lists and a place to journal. Up until now I have been using the note pad on my phone for my lists. Switching these lists to Cozi ensures that they are safe if something happens to my phone.

I keep my calendars year to year for both tax purposes and for memories. So I will be printing out the monthly pages for my records. I may even print out copies for my kitchen so the family can easily view their schedules.

I don't use outlook but there is an option to sync to that. My husband uses outlook but I fear his demanding schedule would clutter up my calendar. For now I am happy to only enter the items on his list that affect me. With two children in multiple activities, my own business, running a home and a husband with a crazy schedule I have been longing for an easier way. I think Cozi may be the answer I have been looking for.

2010-08-24T09:19:00.000-07:00

I am always fascinated by people who use electronic calendars. I have always embraced all things related to new technology but I just can't manage a paperless calendar. I have made many attempts because it is something I really want.

I have just discovered www.cozi.com. It seems to be a cool site and there is an app for it. I have decided to give it a try and will keep everyone updated on how it works for me. In the meantime if you currently use Cozi and have any insights please share.

Zones

2010-03-05T12:16:00.001-08:00

Having zones in the kitchen is an essential part of being organized. They can include lunch preparation, breakfast, snacks, coffee/tea , baking, pantry etc... I have a tiny kitchen so having zones is crucial to me.

In my lunch preparation area I have breads, plastic utensils, baggies/wraps, reusable containers, reusable lunch bags, a bowl of change, bottled water/reusable bottles and napkins. This is all within reach of the refrigerator and my snack drawers. The counter in this area is kept clear for preparation. This allows me to assemble my girls lunch boxes very quickly in the morning. I prefer to make them in the morning because my kids don't always know whether or not they will want to bring or buy. I will often do some prep work the night before such as washing and cutting fruits and vegetables.

Never miss an appointment again

2010-02-11T13:42:00.000-08:00

The best place I have learned to store my upcoming appointment cards is on my fridge. They are all in one clip by date with the most recent appointment on top. As soon as I make an appointment I log it into my calendar but the cards serve as a second reminder. It is easier to flip through them than search my calendar when I need to see if I have already made an appointment. This is especially helpful for appointments that are scheduled a year in advance.

Great site and there's an app for that too!

2010-01-22T08:08:00.000-08:00

I found this great site today. I was cleaning out my pantry and wasn't sure if a few items were still okay to keep. They list the shelf life for every thing plus there is other information on food storage. I am thrilled that there is an iphone app too because now I can quickly look things up a clients homes.

Go to http://stilltasty.com I apologize for no link. Blogger is acting strange today. :)

My tip is to mark everything with a sharpie the day you open it. That way if the shelf life depends on the date it was opened you won't have to guess.

No more tangled necklaces

2010-01-07T08:23:00.000-08:00

To organize your necklaces use a bulletin board or piece of cork. Line up push pins and hang your necklaces and even bracelets from them. You can dress up the board with fabric or just put it plain inside your closet or the inside of your closet door.

2010-01-06T09:13:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone!

Raise your hand if your Christmas tree is still up? Other indoor holiday decorations? How about those outside lights?

If you answered yes to anyone or all of these questions you are not alone. I think many people keep them up until today Little Christmas.

When you get to putting all those decorations away take the time to think about each item and whether or not you really want to keep it. Be sure each item either has meaning for you or you really love the way it looks. If you have already put things away be sure to perform this task next year as you take everything out. My motto is for every one new thing that comes in something old must leave.

Does anyone have any goals for 2010 they would like to share? They don't have to be organizing related.

Easy Wrapping

2009-12-16T10:28:00.001-08:00

Thanks to Jen for inspiring me for for today's tip. For those hard to wrap odd shaped gifts use a decorative or appropriate occasion color pillow case. Tie it up with some nice ribbon or yarn. These can be used year after year and the best part is they fold nice and flat for storage.

Creat a Family Calendar

2009-12-14T15:36:00.000-08:00

Hang a calendar in an area where all the family will see it on a daily basis. Be sure it is one with large blocks for writing in. Record each member's appointments, schedules and important dates. Highlight each person's entries in a different color. In my family I am yellow, my husband green, my oldest blue and youngest pink. This way everyone can quickly see what they have going on for the day, week or month.

When Space is Limited

2009-12-11T07:12:00.000-08:00

Utilize the doors of your closets and cabinets by installing hooks, towel bars, shoe organizers, baskets or wire racks.

Just some of the items you can store on the door:

Robes
Towels
Belts
Scarves
Ties
Purses
Coats
Towels
Outfit for next day
Pantry items
Toiletries
Toys
Tupperware lids
Wraps and Foils
Gift wrap

The possiblities are endless. Send me your suggestions.

Honey do you know where the booklet to snowblower is?

2009-12-10T07:25:00.000-08:00

My answer to that question is yes honey it is where all the booklets are. Then of course I have to show him again.

Create a binder or two for all your product information booklets and warranties. Use sheet protectors to hold each one. I have mine grouped in categories such as appliances, electronics and kid stuff. I also have the type of binders that hang in a filing cabinet to free up shelf space. Be sure to go through the binders once a year and toss any that you no longer own.

Unexpected Company

2009-12-09T15:25:00.001-08:00

You have company coming in minutes and you need to do a quick cleanup of your living areas. Instead of stashing things in drawers and closets keep an over the door shoe holder in your entry closet but don't store shoes in it. Quickly pick up and stash small items such as toys, magazines, mail and remotes into the shoe pockets. When your company leaves you will know where everything is. The trick is to clean it out as soon as you can and put things where they belong. Everything you have must have a home!

Is the interior of your car cluttered?

2009-12-08T11:19:00.000-08:00

There are lots of neat little organizers you can buy for your car but my two favorite items for keeping your car clean are a small trash bin and a tub of baby wipes.

We all create trash in our car (especially families with children!) and a trash bin is an easy way to keep it under control. I have a small one that I keep a grocery bag in as a liner. I store extra bags at the bottom so there is always a fresh bag. Let me tell you that bin has come in handy many times during car sick incidents.

Baby wipes have so many uses. In the car it nice to have them on hand for a quick hand cleaning. I also use them to wipe down the dash board and other parts of the interior. I often do this while I waiting for my kids to get out of school. They are also great stain removers for the upholstery and carpets. Those wipes have also been life savers during those car sick incidents.

Linen closet too small?

2009-12-07T07:38:00.001-08:00

Realistically we only need two sets of sheets per bed. If you have limited space in your linen closet store your extra set of sheets between your mattress and box spring. This alone can free up so much space.

You can also pare down the number of towels you have. Two per person work in my household. I have a rule that you must use your towel at least twice. If you have a good place to hang them to dry completely there is no need to wash them after each shower. Be sure to fold or roll the extra towels the same way when storing them. You can free up more space in the linen closet by having each family member keep their extra towel in their closet or dresser.

If your linen closet is outside of your bathroom this can be a great place to store medicines. I like to keep mine in plastic baskets but if you have bins or drawers they work well too. Be sure to go through your medications and first aid items a few times a year to check for expiration dates.

No More Wire Hangers!

2009-12-04T09:39:00.000-08:00

First step to an organized closet. Replace all your mismatched hangers with new ones. They don't have to be expensive wood ones, although they are lovely. Plastic ones in all the same color work just fine. You will be amazed at how this small step will automatically make your closet look neater. While you are replacing each item try to make your decision of whether to keep it or not. If you are undecided place the hanger on the rod backwards. If after six months it is still backwards it is probably safe to give the item away. As you put each item back in the closet group them by like items. All pants should be together, sweaters, blouses etc. You can even go further by breaking those categories down into colors. Also be sure everything is hanging in the same direction with the exception of those items you are still unsure of.

When tackling a clothes closet only work on one section at a time. For example work on the hanging items first and when finished move onto any shelves and finally the floor items. Pulling an entire closet apart can quickly turn into a disaster if you run out of time.

Mail Time Tip

2009-12-03T06:12:00.000-08:00

Are you tired of all those catalogs? Every time I shop on-line the company sends me a catalog in the mail. I am shopping on-line for a reason people. I really don't like junk mail!

Visit www.catalogchoice.org (sorry I can't get a link in there) to opt out of any catalogs you wish to stop receiving. It really works! No more daily LL Bean or Lands End catalogs for me.

It has been far too long...

2009-12-02T09:10:00.000-08:00

In an effort to jump start my blog again and inspire me to write I will be posting quick tips each day. I would love any questions about organizing to help me as well.

Tip of the day:

Hate cleaning the shower? The best thing I ever learned was to clean it while taking a shower. All you need is shampoo and a sponge. Shampoo is a great degreaser and isn't toxic. If you don't want to use your good stuff just keep a cheap bottle on hand.

Take my poll

2009-04-14T12:41:00.000-07:00

Not sure why the poll looks all wonky but my question is for those that have thought of hiring a professional organizer but haven't. What is holding you back?

Look what being organized can save you

2009-03-31T10:29:00.000-07:00

I just got back from Shaw's and I purchased $128.75 worth of products for $20.65. I also walked out of there with a coupon for a free gallon of any brand milk (up to $4.69 value) and a coupon for $1 off my next order. I went in with my coupons (that I organize each week in a binder) and list (attached to my clipboard) and spent about 45 minutes shopping. The above picture is what I got. If you can't see everything here is a list:

1 Cantaloupe $0.88
1 Bag pre-cut broccoli $1.00 (had $0.55 coupon that doubled) made $0.10
1 Bag pre-cut stir fry veg $1.00 (had $0.55 coupon that cashier missed) $1.00
2 Packages (9.5lbs) chicken split breasts (on sale & had $1 off 2 pkgs)$10.31
2 Corn Pops (Bogo coupon plus $1/3 Kellogg's Shaw's coupon see below) $1.50
2 Rice Krispies - generated the free milk coupon w/above(Bogo coupon) $1.50
3 Dole tropical fruit cans - generated $1 off next order($1/3 coupon) $2
1 Mug Root beer $1.05
2 Barilla mini pastas ($1/2 coupon) $1.00
1 Shaw's frozen lemonade free with Shaw's coupon
1 Shaw's plain frozen bagels free with Shaw's coupon
2 LOL butter/canola (2 $0.55 off 1 coupons) $1.18
1 Earth's Best baby food free with Shaw's coupon
1 Viactiv Carmel chews 60ct free with Shaw's coupon
1 Motrin 20ct free with Shaw's coupon
1 Children's Motrin free with Shaw's coupon
1 Listerine Smart Rinse free with Shaw's coupon
1 Stay Free ultra free with Shaw's coupon
1 Aveeno lotion free with Shaw's coupon
1 Aveeno baby lotion free with Shaw's coupon
1 JJ baby shampoo free with Shaw's coupon
1 Band aids nearly free with Shaw's coupon $0.30

Yesterday I purchased $77.96 worth of products for $33.03 making my total this week $53.68 so far. I say so far because there are a few deals at Stop & Shop that I want to take advantage of. Not too bad for a woman that used to spend about $160 a week on groceries. Plus an additional $400 or so at BJ's each month.

For anyone that is curious, it takes me about and hour and a half to cut my coupons, file them and find all my deals for the week. It seems like a lot of work but there are so many women that blog about deals that I just follow what they do. Sites like www.slickdeals.net and www.couponmom.com spell everything out as well.

Touch it Once Rule

2009-03-25T08:01:00.000-07:00

The Touch it Once rule is a great idea many organizers promote. The idea is to handle items only once and not move them from place to place. While I love this idea it is not always feasible.

For example it is highly unlikely that most people will open a bill, pay it right away and then file it. In these cases I recommend you "Touch it the Least You Can" rule. When you open your mail throw away all the junk and sort the rest into categories that make sense to you. Mine are bills to be paid, items to be filed and items that require action such as invitations and school permission slips. I file the bills to be paid in a folder marked Bills To Be Paid, the filing goes in my To Be Filed folder and the action items go into my inbox. I pay my bills twice a month, file all my papers once a week and go through my inbox daily. The reason I don’t file the papers immediately is because I never stick to that. You absolutely have to find systems that work for you.

I do recommend that you use the Touch it Once rule as much as possible. For example instead of just putting a dish in the sink immediately put it in the dishwasher. If the dishwasher is full hand wash the item and continue to do that each time until dishwasher is emptied. You will be amazed at how quickly you train yourself to unload that dishwasher right away. As I write this I realize my kids have thrown a wrench in this one for me because I have yet to train them to do this. I am going to start tonight!

Put your dirty clothes in the hamper immediately after removing them. Hang up your coat and put away your shoes when you enter the house. Put your keys in the same spot each time. I personally have trouble with this one because I come in through different entry points each time and usually have a handful of items. My solution is to have a spot at each entrance. That way I will know they are in one of those two places. I haven't made it a habit yet but I will get there. I know it will make my husband very happy.

Finally always put items away after using them. To stick with this you must make sure everything has a home. When everything has a home and the home makes sense to you cleaning up will be a breeze.

Get your photos under control

2009-03-23T08:03:00.000-07:00

Gather up all the photos you have stashed around the house. Use any container you have on hand. Once they are in one place set aside some time each day to go through them. A good time to do this is when you are sitting in front of the tv.

Be sure to toss any photos that are blurry or you just don’t like. Any duplicates should be tossed or given away. If you simply can’t part with them store them separately from the originals. Label the container as duplicates to avoid confusion. For those of you with children in school I recommend setting aside duplicates for them to use in school projects.

When you have all the photos you plan to keep start sorting them into categories that make sense to you. For example by year, by occasion or by family member. For sorting and storage I love the Power Sort Box from Creative Memories. It can hold up to 2400 photos! You can also use photo safe boxes. Be sure to label the back of each photo with Who, What, Where, When and Why with a photo safe pencil. Future generations will thank you.

What is clutter?

2009-03-22T06:52:00.000-07:00

The first step and key to getting organized is to remove clutter. It is impossible to organize clutter and no system will work where clutter is present.

Clutter is

Trash, junk mail, old paperwork not needed for tax or insurance purposes, stale or expired food, old magazines and newspapers, etc…
Items that haven’t been used in the past year (with the exception of holiday and seasonal items)
Clothes that don’t fit or you don’t like - this includes items that need repair. Usually if we love an item we will fix it right away.
Anything that doesn’t bring you joy or causes you stress. With the exception of important documents. Tax forms and tax related paperwork cause me stress but alas I must keep them.

My best advice for keeping clutter at bay is for every new item you bring in to your home get rid of another.

The Freezer

2009-03-21T16:29:00.000-07:00

This is a post I originally made 2/5/08 with an update

I don’t know about you all but my freezer has always been a challenge to keep organized. Just the thought of reorganizing it chills me to the bones. The other day I came across a simple idea that left me thinking... How come I never thought of that? Yes, even a obsessive organizer as myself sometimes can’t see outside of the box. Apparently I am full of puns today.

The idea is to use bins inside the freezer to group like items together. I purchased some matching cubes at the dollar store and within 5 minutes my freezer was organized. There is one for frozen veggies, one for chicken, one for other meats and one for frozen meatballs. Currently I am using two for frozen veggies since I have been stocking up by getting lots of freebies. My other items are in boxes and they slide in nicely beside the bins. I am reposting this a year later and I have to say this method has worked great for me. It is so easy to see when I am running low on something as everything is grouped together. I took the above pictures today.

This project also inspired me to clean off the surface of my fridge. I removed all the pictures and magnets and I must say it has really made my kitchen seem so much cleaner. I never realized how cluttered that fridge door was even though I had everthing in nice little frames neatly arranged. If you have a bunch of things on your fridge I encourage you to clear it off and see how it makes you feel. My girls automatically thought the entire surface would now make a great white board. Clearly I have more work to do on them. A year later my fridge door is still clutter free.

Child Clutter

2009-02-09T13:45:00.000-08:00

It is amazing how children can turn an incredibly organized house into CHAOS. My girls are almost 10 and 8. When they were babies keeping my house neat was easy. Sure my husband and I were tired but having systems in place made it easy to keep clutter under control. It wasn’t until they got older and started moving things from place to place and bringing home mass quantities of artwork and school work that things fell apart. I have spent the past five years developing systems to control this new (to me) type of clutter. Here are my favorite tips on child clutter:

Artwork - I lay out a bunch of their artwork on the floor and take a picture of it. Then I toss all but a few pieces. I also write on the back of the photo my child’s name and the year.

School papers - I don’t keep every good grade that they get. I started to at first and realized how quickly the papers add up. My goal is to have a banker size box of their school work for their entire school career (k-12).

School notices - When notices come in I immediately write the info on my calendar and throw the paper away. If there is too much info I attach the folder to the back of my calendar and note this on the calendar itself. If it is something that requires action (permission slip, money for field trips) I do it right away and put it back in their school folder.

Backpacks - I have a designated hook for each girl’s backpack. When they come in the door they must empty their bags and hang them up right away. At first they groaned at this but they now realize it takes less than a minute and they like knowing where all their stuff is. They put their homework folders on the table. Then they empty their lunch bags and put them on the appropriate shelf. Any library books are brought straight to their rooms. When their homework is done they put their folders back in their bags.

Homework folders - My oldest is in fourth grade and instead of using the multiple folders her teacher recommends we bought her a seven pocket accordion file. Now she doesn’t have to worry about remembering which folder she needs and notices don’t get lost. The categories we have for her are: Agenda, Homework, Notices, Study Sheets, Spelling, Friday (papers from the week for me to review), Blank Paper.

Toys - The size and quantity of their toys are always changing so I have never invested in any expensive decorative containers. My favorite organizing piece is the plastic three drawer rolling cart. I use a long one for art supplies and the narrower ones for things like Barbie’s and Lego. I love that they can easily move from place to place and that the drawers can be removed. It makes clean up so easy! Plus if we have “messy” friends or relatives over I can easily roll all those small toys and crafts out of site.

Clothes - Probably the most important thing to keep under control is clothes. I devote one day in the fall and one in the spring to purging. In the past I had would save things for my younger daughter but now my girls have such different taste. At the end of the season everything is either given to friends or donated to charity. If you are going to save hand me downs the key is only keep the items you absolutely love, that are in great condition and that won’t go out of style. Some children can be incredibly picky. If you find your child repeatedly refuses to wear something I recommend giving it away.

Books - Once a year we devote some time purging their books. We donate anything that is too easy for them. We have also cut down on the number of books we buy and instead visit the library frequently.

Goodie bag junk! - I despise it. It has taken me years but I have finally convinced them that most of the stuff they get is junk and unless they love it we throw it away. I could probably fill a large green trash bag with the stuff they have accumulated over the years. Same goes for McDonald’s Happy Meal toys. Although we have cut way down on eating there.

Schedules - I try to keep their schedules light but even if they are only do one or two activities it seems there are endless dates to keep track of. I note everything on one calendar and each person’s activities get highlighted in their color. I’m yellow, my husband is green, my oldest blue and youngest pink. That way everyone knows where they need to be each day. My calendar is hanging in my kitchen.

Tips from a Professional Organizer

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I always start my organizing jobs in one corner of a room, desk, other surface or container, then work my way around clockwise.

I work with small sections at a time to avoid a big mess at the end of my session. This way I can stop at anytime if necessary.

I find it best to sort and purge at the same time.

My “piles” always include Toss, Donate and Keep.

I use green trash bags for donations and white one’s for trash to avoid confusion. Most people don’t have spare boxes lying around but trash bags are easy to obtain.

I never purchase organizing products until everything is sorted and purged. My goal is to avoid buying new products and use containers my customer already has.

I label almost everything. My most important tool is my label maker. I love my DYMO LetraTag!

I put function before beauty. I feel that a system should be in place for some time before investing in decorative containers.

The most important part of my job is asking the right questions. We are all different and there isn’t a universal organizing system that works for everyone.