Home Organization Techniques

Bins, Baskets, Buckets, Boxes and Labels

• Organizing is best done using labeled bins, baskets, boxes or even buckets. This way you can sort and compartmentalize things, which is the basis for being organized. You have a specific place for certain things. You may have ample closet space in your home, but using baskets or bins on the shelves will help keep things on those shelves organized. Label them so you'll know what's in them. Labeling is critical if you expect other people in your household to understand and follow your organizational system.

Drop-Off Area

• Every home has a general drop-off area near the main entrance. It's the place where keys, cell phones, pocketbooks, backpacks, eyeglasses and coats get dropped off as soon as you walk in the door. Again, having a specific place for these things is important. Baskets are good for keys and cell phones. If you don't have a coat closet, or if it's in an inconvenient place in the home, buy an over-the-door hanging rack. If you have kids who cannot reach that height, buy a rack that can be drilled onto the wall and place it at their shoulder level or slightly higher. It's important, too, to be in the habit of making use of those designated places for drop-off items. Put them in their place as soon as you walk in the door.

Mail and Paper Area

• When you come in from the mailbox you may be categorizing in your mind the different pieces of mail--things you need to do, things you need to file, things you need to toss. Have a specific place for the "things you need to do" and "things you need to file" categories. If you can tend to them right away, that's great. Chances are, however, the instant you walk in the door with the mail is not a good time to do your filing or pay your bills. Having a specific place to put these things will keep you from losing track of your papers. If you have kids, the paperwork collected can be overwhelming. Have a specific place for each child's papers. Categories to consider are similar to your mail.

Cabinets and Closets

• It's recommended that you address the contents of your closets and your kitchen and bathroom cabinets twice a year. Get rid of things that are expired, outdated, unused or that don't fit. The greatest problem in keeping cabinet space and closets organized is having more contents than you really have room for. If you're out of space in the kitchen cabinet where you keep canned goods, don't buy any more. If you find a really good sale and can't keep from buying more of something, figure out where you'll put it at home before you buy it. This may stop you from buying things you don't have room for. This is true for more than just canned goods--it follows for almost everything, including clothing, shoes, cleaning supplies, toys and so on.

Do it Now

• Clean a mess quickly after it's made. If it's a spill, wipe it up right away. When putting things away, put them completely away. Moving things from where they're not supposed to go into an area nearer where they're supposed to go isn't good enough. You'll just be transferring the disarray. If you put something away, put it all the way away, not just into the room where it belongs. When walking from room to room, take notice of things that are out of place, and if you're walking in the direction where the displaced items belong, pick them up if you can. Doing this regularly will keep the disorganization to a minimum. You won't end up with a monster of a Saturday morning clean-up project.

Seasonal Organization

• When a season is over, put the seasonal items away. People who live in colder climates may have separate winter and summer wardrobes. When winter's over, put away the wool sweaters and the heavy coats, gloves and scarves. Place them into bins or boxes, label them and put them in the basement, attic, under the bed or somewhere out of the way. This also gives you a chance to review what you have and decide what you don't like, want, need or what doesn't fit anymore. Put clothes that you're getting rid of into garbage bags. Within a week, drop them at a Goodwill-type collection center. If there aren't drop-off areas in your community, call a church or women's center. If they're not currently collecting unwanted clothing, they'll know who is.