Real Clever Moms

Now that you have a plan and have all your storage solutions ready, it’s time to get down to business and start organizing your house. Here are a few tips to help you do just that and more importantly, help you stay organized for the long term.

Recycle old newspapers and magazines - Don’t let them pile up all around your house. If you find a magazine article or newspaper column you want to keep, cut it out and file it; as soon as you so once you finish with the magazine or paper, recycle it.

Have a message station – Keep your telephone, pens, note pads, mail and calendar in one central location. Jot down all important dates and appointments as soon as you schedule them.

Set up a filing system – Don’t let piles of papers clutter your house. Deal with bills and mail as soon as you get them. Set up a system for organizing pending bills and items you need to file, and remember to file these things permanently from time to time. One of my favorite plans is to buy a portable file box every year with categories preprinted on the files. Throughout the year, file important papers. At the end of the year, be sure to label it with the date, and store it in the attic or garage. If you don’t need to keep a piece of paper permanently, throw it away.

Put it away – First, you need to make sure you have a place for everything in your house, then get into the habit of putting things away as soon as you finish with them. Teach your kids to do the same. If you take a few seconds to put things away, you’ll never have an overwhelming problem on your hands. Make sure the kids know there is an appropriate place for everything.

Multitask – Don’t let precious minutes slip away. If you’re on hold on the telephone, use that time to clean out your purse. If a friend calls for a chat, sweep the floor or fold the laundry while you’re talking. You’ll get your chores done without even noticing.

The Basket Technique – This works especially well if your house is set over two or more floors. Go from room to room with one large basket and place items that don’t belong in the room inside your basket. As you go into a new room, put the items back where they belong, while gathering up the things that don’t belong.

The Evening Tidy – Each evening take a few minutes to put things back in their place. Try to do a quick tidy and leave your house ready for the next day. You can also set the table for breakfast and pack the kids’ lunches. This will help you avoid rushing in the morning, and you’ll feel good to waking up to a neat and tidy house.