Clutter Busters: Simple Strategies For Cleaning Up Your Act
With of the biggest challenges couples and families face is
CLUTTER, both dealing with it and avoiding it. But, according to
experts, there's really no need to stress over "mess",
especially if you learn how to clean up your act, BEFORE it gets
out of control
1. Front and Center: Deal with items such as loose change, keys,
mail, etc. right at the front door. Consider a console or nearby
shelf on the wall on which to place things neatly and out of the
way. And, don't forget to sort mail immediately tossing anything
you'd consider junk (though that doesn't include bills).
2. Go Barefoot On The Parquet: Okay, one of my biggest pet
peeves is taking shoes off at the front door. After all, if
you're visiting someone or attending a house party, shoes are
part of the ESSENTIAL accessories that make and complete the
outfit. Taking them off just makes the ensemble look, well,
"silly". Still, I'll have to admit that for the "casual" get-
together or on a daily basis, keeping the floors clean may not
be such a great feat, if friends and family leave their shoes at
the door and walk around in bare or stockingeed feet.
3. Book Ban: Get rid of old books and magazines that are piling
up on the table, nightstand, or on the office or living room
floor. Consider donating books to hospitals, hospices, nursing
homes or to your local library. You can donate magazines to your
local salon, doctor's or dentist's office. Organize books and
magazines you intend to keep on shelves or in a smart magazine
file.
4. Counter Countertop Clutter: Make it a "ritual" to clear off
tabletops and countertops when you are finished using them or
before you retire for the evening. And, don't let things pile
up. Also make sure to have a safe storage spot for remotes and
think about getting a universal one to program most of your
entertainment systems, limiting the confusion and the clutter.
5. Fun And Games: No doubt children want and need toys, but they
certainly don't need to have them "everywhere". Make sure you
clean up after really small children or help youngsters clean up
after themselves. Have a designated play area in your home and a
storage crate to hold the essentials... and think about
color-coding each crate for each child.
6. Take A Load Off Doing The Laundry: Make sure everyone knows
to put their clothes in a hamper (not on the floor) when they
are dirty or when they take them off. And, make sure you
separate whites, darks, and colors beforehand. Finally, consider
doing a load of laundry in small increments, before each basket
is full, to avoid laundry overload.
7. Learn To Bottle Things Up: Open bags can take up lots of
space and simply look messy. Consider instead storing chips,
nuts, etc. in pretty glass (or plastic) containers that can be
moved from room to room, offer airtight storage, can easily be
stored or displayed.
8. Stop Playing Hide And Seek With Your Hardware: Instead of
rummaging through boxes, drawers, etc. for the necessary, nut,
bolts and screwdrivers, consider investing in a pegboard. You
can buy a sheet at your local hardware store and hang it on an
"inconspicuous" wall, then purchase the accompanying accessories
designed to help you organize.