Home Organization Pros Share Secrets to Getting Your Home Clutter Free

Summer is almost here, which means spring cleaning is about to wrap up. But not without our crash course in home organization first. Whether you struggle to get rid of clutter or just need a push in the clutter control direction, our organization tips will make the last part of spring cleaning quick and easy.

Starting to sweat over the very thought of decluttering your home? Breathe easy. If you take it one step at a time, clutter control is possible. First, start with these guidelines from Lorie Marrero, creator of the Clutter Diet, on how to assess what to keep and what to trash when you’re organizing your home.

• First think about how often you use the item (if it’s rare, you might consider throwing it away)
• Think about when the last time you used it was (Marrero says if it has been more than a year, it could be a sign this item should go)
• Think about a scenario when you can imagine yourself realistically using the item (if you can’t imagine a reasonable time you would use the item…you should probably trash it)
• Assess the worst case scenario if you throw away the item
• Ask yourself if the item aligns with the goals you have for your life. For example, if you struggle to part with broken knick knacks from your college days, think about how these items might not reflect the person you want to be right now.

Now that you have the building blocks for home organization, think of the problem areas and commit to clearing clutter there first. Here are three areas that can make a big difference if you organize them now.

Organizing the Home Office

Whether you actually have a home office or if another room in your house doubles as the office, chances are papers are piling up somewhere. To get rid of clutter in your office, Marrero employs a strict policy called ART. The ART system involves sorting papers into three piles:

• Action: these are papers that require some sort of action (a contact you need to follow up with, a bill you still have to pay, etc.)
• Reference: these papers are things you want to hold on to (paychecks, bank statements, etc.)
• Trash: this one is easy. A pile of all the papers that you don’t need!

Once you’ve sorted all your cluttered papers, invest in a paper storage bin so you can keep “action” papers separate from “reference” papers. Once you’ve got your system in place follow professional organizer and author of One Year to an Organized Life Regina Leeds’s overall rule of organizing, “You have to have a designated place for everything you own and you have to return that item to its place when you’re done with it.” Sounds simple but you have to stay committed!

Organizing the Bedroom/Bedroom Closet

Leeds warns that a clean home can often harbor a messy secret … a cluttered bedroom! “Most people hide chaos in their bedroom,” she says. In order to get your room clutter free, try these closet organization tips from Marrero.

• Start by donating the clothes you don’t need (use our tips above to judge whether you should keep or toss an item)
• Organize the “keeper” clothes by type of clothing and then color. “It’s the best way to get visibility of what you own. It makes you a better shopper and you end up saving money and time because you already know what you have,” says Marrero.
• Invest in some simple storage tools:
  • Closet divider
  • Over the door shoe pockets
  • Plastic garment dividers

Organizing the Garage

According to Marrero, the garage is your clutter cemetery. “It’s where clutter goes to die,” she says. So chances are cleaning up this mess is a big task. Now is the perfect time to give your garage a makeover because fun summer items (think beach gear, lawn chairs, bikes and your grill) are amidst the mess.

Organize your garage with these easy steps from Leeds:

• Invest in a dumpster system (or consider the Bagster we wrote about earlier this month!) for all your trash
• Sort items by trash, donate/sell, needs repairs, needs to be returned and keep. (Note: unless you can sell items in a timely matter, just donate them!). Once you have everything sorted, devote time to trashing, fixing and returning your items.
Invest in container/storage solutions for the items you’re keeping. If you have a big enough space, consider hanging items from the ceiling or whether a built-in storage space is feasible.
Once you’ve got your equipment, start labeling and organizing!

For more home organization tips, visit our experts’ websites!

Lorie Marrero’s website>>

Regina Leeds’s website>>