Clutter Control and Organizing Solutions

Many people confuse getting organized with their need to purchase more stuff to contain the stuff which then makes you organized. That’s not quite how it works.

You might think that you have to go out and buy all those organizing holders, baskets, bins, storage units and whatever else they tell you you must have to get organized! Uh no! Don’t confuse “getting organized” with “buying stuff”. It’s NOT the same thing!

It’s a process not a purchase. Cute phrase huh? Yeah well it’s true!

Look around you! See all that stuff? The clutter? The stack of clothes that needs buttons, or has a rip. The stck of artwork in the corner because your child cannot part with their little “gems”. What about that pile of papers on the kitchen island - oh come on - you have it! And all those magazines! What are you going to do with all of them? I can guarantee you that a) you don’t need most of it, and b) you can use some of it to actually get yourself organized! So let’s begin with looking around us for mundane everyday “often tossable” objects that we can organize with.

I recommend collecting empty rubbermaid containers, all the lids you have around, boxes, baskets and even butter containers and glass jars. All of these items can be used for storage, and if you don’t wind up using them you can toss them in the trash and feel good about it.

You will need to get them cleaned up and make them useable. If you have plastic containers with no lids, go on a hunt to find the lids. If you cannot locate the lids for the proper storage containers, you will need to separate those with a lid, from those without a lid, so you know what you are working with.

Clean out glass jars and plastic tubs that used to hold food. You can air them out by setting them outside in the sunshine for a day or two after you have cleaned them.

Wipe out baskets, bins and boxes to make them clean and useable. Basically you will want to sort everything by size once you have everything cleaned out and ready to go.

Keep your mind open to possibilities. That Priority Mail Box you received in the mail the other day can be trimmed down and hold magazines, papers or books. Many products we throw away everyday can be painted, altered or covered in paper or wallpaper to be useable and look attractive. Keep that in mind.

More on the containers later…..

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