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Tips On Getting the House Organized
Getting Rid of the Mess

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Home, Garden Deals

There is a ghost in my house. It hides things I am looking for and puts them in places I didn't look...or at least that is what I told my aunt the last time she visited. The truth is, my house can turn into a disorganized mess in the blink of an eye. I end up wasting money replacing things I already own, simply because I cannot find them.

I finally couldn't take it anymore so with the help of a very organized friend (who must organize her house in the middle of the night) we worked out a plan to get on top on the household mess. If your house suffers from out of control clutter - try our plan on getting things back in order. It's simple, fast and may help you get started on the road to less mess and a lot fewer trips to the store to replace things you already have, but can't find. Need a silver lining before getting started? Just think of all the new stuff you can buy by not throwing away money on stuff you already own.

Let's Get Started!

Start With the Closets

First, have a few leaf bags or boxes handy for a place to put the items you decide you are not going to keep.

Look at each item in your closet and ask yourself - Did I wear this in the last two years.

If the answer is no, close your eyes and place it into the bag or box. Do not hesitate - just do it!

Do not stop and fold it, just toss it, or you risk finding its redeeming qualities.

Include old handbags, shoes and belts.

Time for the Chest of Drawers

Repeat the same process as above. If you simply cannot part with all your old, mismatched socks (we know they make good dog toys, etc.,) at least match them up. Toss them all into a big pile, and then offer to pay your child five cents per pair for every pair they are able to match. The rest? Leave three for the dog, and toss the rest! In the meantime, you can be sorting the more personal items, like that bra that fit you back when you were 30 pounds lighter, or your husband's underwear that used to be white. Get rid of it so you can get your hands on those things that actually do fit and that you enjoy wearing now.

The Dreaded Junk Drawers

How do drawers like this happen anyway? It is time eliminate it!

Spread out newspapers, get rubber bands (you will probably find some in that drawer), get a few small jars, and place a garbage can next to you.

Dump the entire drawer's contents onto the newspaper.

Begin sorting out the junk. Nails can go in the jar, tools go in a tool chest, old leaking batteries are tossed, old coupons are tossed, and your watch from two years ago with the dead battery...toss.

Do not put anything back into that drawer that came out of it! Change the "theme" of that drawer. Make it your plastic baggy and aluminum foil drawer, anything but a junk drawer!

Not only will it stay cleaner but also you will have fun watching how it messes with the minds of your family not to have their favorite drawer to throw everything in.

Kitchen Cabinets

How many times have you not used a glass or a dish because you did not feel like cleaning the storage dust out of it first? If you want to keep the good stuff in such a prime kitchen space, then at least use it! Take a tip from the rental places and try cleaning your rarely used dishes and wrap them in plastic wrap. You will find you use them more often if they are clean and ready to go.

Also:

Move the good dishes to a reachable shelf. If you can get to it easier, you may find you enjoy it more.

Get rid of all odd one and two of a kind dishes, glasses, and cups.

Those pots and pans that only your family gets to see? Replace them. It is not that expensive and you will enjoy cooking a lot more with pans that lay flat and do not have suspicious rust on them.

Spice Cabinets

It looks good to have a ton of spices even if we do not use them, right? We look like real chefs with all our exotic spices. But to be honest, I cannot remember the last time I used "savory" yet it sits comfortably shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the spices and has for the last six years. And guess what, spices DO have "freshness" life although they rarely ever go totally bad.

According to the Alaska Spice Company, "A good rule of thumb is to buy no more than a one year's supply of herbs or ground spices, and a one-two year supply of whole spices." So, there you go! If you still have spices in your cabinet from that cute spice organizer you got five years ago, go ahead and get rid of it (along with the organizer). Make room for the spices that you really do use.

Paper Clutter

Okay, you don't feel like sorting through it all, right? And what if you throw out something that the IRS may tell you they need? If your paper situation is totally out of control, here is a suggestion for fast cleanup.

Go around the house and collect all the loose paper (bills, lists, and letters) that you can find.

Pile it all on the floor in front of the television, rent a good movie, and start sorting.

Bills and financial papers go in one pile, personal letters and cards in another, receipts in another and miscellaneous in another.

Don't stop to way its importance - just get it in the right pile.

Get four boxes, and mark them accordingly, (Bills & Finance, Personal Letters & Cards, Receipts, Miscellaneous) and put each pile into the right box.

Store the boxes in a closet or attic and forget about it.

Make a New Years resolution to stay on top of your paper in the future, sit back, and enjoy the rest of your movie.

The Freezer

If you can't remember when you put it in the freezer - take it out and toss it. Keeping it another six months will not refresh your memory. Free up needed space for items you will eat in the future and you may be more prone to do some cooking ahead of and you'll actually have the space to freeze it. Tip - Keep a freezer pen to mark the date, in the same drawer with freezer bags.