Let’s Get Organized

Posted in: In The Know
Tags: organization, storage, clutter

January is National Get Organized Month, making it the perfect time to clear the clutter and get a fresh start on the New Year. Identify the areas of your home in need of the most “help” and follow these simple tips for your most organized year yet!

(Courtesy of Prime-Living.com and Simplify101.com)

Kitchen
1. Start with the pantry. Check dates on canned goods and spices, removing anything past its prime. Then, divide your pantry space into categories of food and organize spices alphabetically so you can quickly grab what you need.

2. Remove all non-kitchen items from the kitchen. Find a new home for items like light bulbs, batteries, kid’s toys and general clutter.

3. Eliminate the excess. In addition to non-kitchen items, eliminate the extra kitchen items you don’t need. Remove extra (or excessive) coffee mugs, plastic drinking cups, carryout packets of plastic-ware and condiments, food storage containers without lids (or lids without containers), towels and potholders, and any bulky appliance you rarely (or never) use.

Home Office
1. Create a filing system. Use file folders with tabs in categories like bills, personal correspondence, and invitations. Have separate baskets for magazines, loose-leaf paper and photos that you can store on shelves.

2. Attack the pile of “stuff.” Go through small piles at a time, filing the important documents and throwing out (or shredding) what you no longer need.

3. Keep a bulletin board or dry-erase board where you can stick your to-do lists and leave yourself reminders.

Closet
1. Ask yourself the following about every item in your closet: Do I love it? Do I wear it? If you answer no, then it’s time to get rid of it. If necessary, enlist a friend to tell you if an item belongs in the “keep” pile or “donate” pile.

2. Sort your clothing by color with most-worn items in front, so they’re easy to access.

3. Install a “donation” box in your closet. Place a donation bin, box or basket in your closet so you can de-clutter your closet and toss items you no longer want as often as possible.

You may also consider investing in a few simple products to help get you moving in the right direction.

Drawer Dividers: Keeping your junk drawer, kitchen drawers and bathroom drawers organized is much simpler when you can separate items categorically.

Plastic Bins and Containers: Use them in closets, your pantry, craft rooms and office to sort everything from scrapbook paper to socks.

Message board: Keep to-dos, business cards, reminders and school calendars in one place and check it each day.

Baskets: Purchase a few wicker baskets that not only look nice, but serve as storage for blankets, remote controls, scarves or photo albums.

Looking for more organization ideas? Visit the NAPO Blog.