Comments on: Three quick organizing projects you can do right now

By: Diana

Diana — Mon, 10 May 2010 16:42:12 +0000

Have a daily mail routine, and a shredder. Take your mail straight to your desk, shred the junk, and immediately handle or enter/process any bills you receive. Take your magazines and mark them for reading in a box or magazine rack.

By: pam munro

pam munro — Fri, 07 May 2010 19:22:46 +0000

I AM a clutterer – but I DO always return objects to the space they “belong” – that is: dishes to the kitchen – clothes to the bedroom & hall – sewing supplies to sewing box – tools to toolbox – and so on – I am still cluttered & have a ways to go – but this simple habit DOES help me organize my stuff.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 06 May 2010 07:27:11 +0000

clean out your wallet, go through your bag and clean out old stuff or update lip glosses etc, go through your phone and make sure all numbers are updated, clean our your inbox, phone and email. Take all the photos of your camera and sort them out. Clean through your files on the computer, file all loose paperwork away in filing cabinet.

By: Ali

Ali — Thu, 06 May 2010 05:48:06 +0000

I love the 3 min unclutter. Maybe we could have a daily one on Twitter?

By: Jess

Jess — Thu, 06 May 2010 01:34:45 +0000

Reclaim your dining room/kitchen table! If this takes longer, at least stack up the clutter in one corner so you can handle it when you have more time.

By: John Soares

John Soares — Wed, 05 May 2010 23:20:37 +0000

Brush my golden retriever. Believe me, the hair she sheds is clutter.

By: Eva Wallace

Eva Wallace — Wed, 05 May 2010 22:55:43 +0000

Clean off your computer desktop; File away word documents and images and empty the recycle bin. Change your background wallpaper for a fresh space!

By: Poppy

Poppy — Wed, 05 May 2010 21:21:55 +0000

I have CLUTTER! When I leave a room, I try and pick up what doesn’t belong and PUT IT AWAY. It doesn’t take long to clear the visible clutter as we are usually moving from room to room.

By: April

April — Wed, 05 May 2010 17:38:25 +0000

@Dawn F

Not just a happy driver, but a safer one. Imagine all that debris flying around and injuring yourself and passengers if you get in an accident!

As for the original topic, find any cluttered surface and scoop it all into a bin. Then sit down to watch TV—during commercial breaks, sort the bin. When the show is over, you’ll have neat piles to either put away or throw away (which takes 30 seconds to a minute to do), and a clean surface and an empty bin to boot.

By: WilliamB

WilliamB — Wed, 05 May 2010 17:11:10 +0000

If you can, break down a big task into little ones, and start on those.

Frex, I’ve been putting off donating suits to a charity. I figured out what the blockage was – valuation – so I broke down the tasks:
1. List/describe suits.
2. Find a valuation (I’ll probably do this a few at a time).
3. Write the valuation letter (the charity usually doesn’t want to do the valuation itself, but will sign a reasonable valuation prepared by someone else).
4. Contact charity, to get letter on their letterhead and to arrange a delivery date.
5. Put suits on hangers I’m willing to give away.
6. Deliver suits.

Now I have to get off my duff and do these things.

By: Jeri Dansky

Jeri Dansky — Wed, 05 May 2010 15:48:29 +0000

For those in the U.S: Go through your pantry and pull out any food you’d like to donate to the National Letter Carriers’ food drive on Saturday, May 8.

By: -

Wed, 05 May 2010 14:50:02 +0000

How about putting the clean, dry dishes away from the dish rack or dishwasher?

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 05 May 2010 14:40:28 +0000

Go through one or two shelves in the pantry. If you find more than 1-2 of the same item, put it in a bag for the food pantry. We can donate at church, but also I think the big Post Office round up is this weekend. (?) Make sure to check expiration dates.

On a related note, pick through the items in the refrigerator – just the door or a drawer or two, if that’s all the time you have. Pitch rotting or outdated items. Wipe drips from bottles.

Put clothing away that is: Hanging on a door, hanging on a dresser knob, or laying on a chair/the floor/piece of exercise equipment/in the basket.

By: Dawn F

Dawn F — Wed, 05 May 2010 14:39:38 +0000

What about clean out the interior of your car? Grab the cups, kid’s toys, soccer cleats, etc., etc. Once it’s cleared out (trash tossed, items put up in house), do you still have time to wipe off the dash and/or vacuum? If so, do it! A clean car makes for a happy driver!

By: Donna

Donna — Wed, 05 May 2010 14:29:39 +0000

Here at the office I just sorted through the lunch menu file that we all reference, eliminating duplicates. Found we had 14 copies of our favorite Chinese takeout menu! The file is nearly an inch thinner now.