Handling Clutter!!!

how do you guys do it??? i can't take it anymore!!!! between the bills and countless cards/photos and stuff, there is crap EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!

what do you guys use to keep it all under control???

I know it gets out of control really fast. I am not the neatest person in the world and DH certainly isn't . We try to keep the clutter to a minimum by subscribing to the Everything has a Place Theory and try to stick to it.

I go through the mail every day, bills go in the office in the blue envelope, action stuff goes in the purple envelope that comes to work with me the next day, junk goes into recycle immediately. Same thing with stuff, jackets an shoes belong in the closet, tools in the garage etc. I find the key is getting organized once and keeping on top of it constantly.

Check out this website....

Flylady

I have subscribed to her YAHOO group and get the daily digest. I have been following her advice for about 2 weeks and my house hasnt been cleaner and clutter free!!

She tells you that you can do anything in 15 mins!! She is great on geting rid of clutter and has good hints on what to do with it!!

Try it and let me know what you think!!

Im telling you...try FlyLady out....I was scheptical at the beginning but now I look around at my house and how clean and clutter free it is!!

thanks lisa rose! i am definitely going to try her out!!

cooky - since DH moved in, the clutter problem has gotten 100x worse!!!!! he leaves his crap everywhere!!! since he's out today - i am taking control

I'm a big advocate of Flylady too. While it's geared to stay at home mom's, they do offer advice for working women and you can take her processes and adapt them to your needs.

Some of the better advice is regarding methods to reduce the clutter as a first step, and controlling it on a regular basis. I particularly like the 'fire drills' which advocate identifying areas that become hot spots (clutter colection zones) - for me, the counter next to the stove, the dining room table, the coffee table by the couch. Have a daily 'fire drill' where you clear the clutter from those area, so it doesn't build up.

She also advocates having a rountine - cleaning certain areas or things on a rotational basis so you're always ready for drop-in guests.

I also strongly agree with everything having it's place - unfortunately, we're still identifying places for stuff so it's still out of control.

Another hint - analyze your habits and work with them to control the clutter. We have a bad habit of dropping mail and other incoming 'stuff' on the dining room table because there is no credenza, kitchen desk, island, etc. then it stays there. I've recognized that this 'stuff' needs a place to land when it comes in, and I'm looking for a better solution so my dining room table stays clear and ready for dinner. In the meantime, I use the fire drill concept to make sure it doesn't pile up.

I've heard it takes 30 days for something to become a habit, so if you can keep your routine for a month it will start to become second nature. Good Luck and thanks for inspiring me to get back to the task!

I throw EVERYTHING away!!! This sometimes gets me in trouble, because I throw away good things...but my philosophy, if I can't find a place for it, it's garbage.

FI always finds things like pens, staplers, etc. in the garbage.

Wendy I had the same problem and I hide the shoes one day and I told him if he put them where they belonged he would find them. Never really had a problem since!

I would hid the shoes too..and see how quickly he gets them when they are in the right place...or as my Dad used to do- open and window and throw it out. (of course make sure its not breakable or can hit anyone! )

...clutter- Rob has a lot of paper clutter.
we try to go through the mail as soon as it gets in the house. Junk mail goes in the recycle bin, newspaper and pertinent mags on the corner of kitchen table, coupon/samples opened and put away, bills by the computer,etc.

the tough stuff for us is a lot of the mailings he gets thru various club organizations...and the mailings we get from our Temple and Daycare...

Lisa Rose!!!! I signed up for Fly Lady and although her tips are great I literally had 45 emails in my inbox for today from her - whats up with that? lol Is there a way to get only 1 or 2 a day??

FutureMrsTC....go to YAHOO groups and change your delivery preferences to Daily Digest. That will give you 25 messages in one email...usually around 1 or 2 a day!!

I did that the first time when I signed up for Flylady and my mailbox was going crazy!!



Hope that helps!