Clutter has a sneaky way of entering our lives. It's the exit that can be a problem. In the spirit of organizing clutter, I offer you these 7 ways you can reduce clutter in your home or office:
1. Buy a Shredder
Kids Organizer Bins
I would be lost without my shredder. A shredder parked next to your work area is the greatest friend you'll ever have. Sometimes we keep junk around simply because it doesn't feel safe to throw it away. You won't have this problem if you get a shredder.
2. Use Bins and Other Containers
Bins are so handy! Go down to your local discount store and buy a few big plastic bins. The uses for these are endless. Put some in the kids' rooms to hold toys (don't leave the lids on - think easy access.) Leave one near the back door for dirty boots. Put one in the closet and bring it out for emergency decluttering; to help you carry stuff from room to room.
3. Treat your CD's and DVD's Like Books
Don't bother with fancy storage units, put them on shelves like you would books. This makes it both easier to find later and usually takes up less space.
4. Use Binders
Get to know your local office supply store. Binders are a cheap way to keep your household paper under control. Don't forget to get a 3 hole puncher while you're there. Some binder ideas: medical binder (holds medical information for the whole family), dental binder, achievement binders (make one for each child, keep artwork and good report cards in it instead of plastering it all over your refrigerator and kitchen.) Binders are a great way to cope with organizing clutter of the paperwork type.
5. Don't Sleep on Dirty Dishes
It's not nice to wake up to dirty dishes, and letting them sit can invite unwanted pest problems. Wash them before you go to sleep and put them away the next day if you have to. You'll sleep better knowing they're done and wake up to a nicer looking kitchen.
6. Throw Away the Obvious
I bet you can go into any room in your house and make it look better in less than five minutes just by throwing out the obvious rubbish; things like unread newspapers, junk mail, wrappers of every kind, etc. Don't let trash pile up in your house, as soon as you know its trash, toss it.
7. Make the Bed Everyday
I know you don't always feel like making the bed, but a made up bed makes a big difference in how the room looks and how you feel about yourself and your home throughout the day. Even if no one but you is going to see that bedroom, what kind of message is an unmade bed sending to your subconscious mind?
Clutter is insidious, but if you learn to deal properly with it from the start, organizing clutter becomes much easier.