Missing the Obvious
June 26, 2007
We’re continuing in our organizational tip contest this week. I received a number of tips that fell into that “obvious” category, but they’re obvious for a good reason — they really work! And even as I did some purging of my own last week, I was reminded how often I think I’m doing the obvious tips that work when I’m really not.
- Velma and Susan both said to put things away as soon as you finish using them. That’s an obvious tip that is too easy to ignore.
- Tamara, Connie, Tiffany, Valerie, and Sylvia all reminded me to label containers. Valerie even added the idea of using a different colored tub for each person’s storage.
- Sandra, Carrie, Miranda, and Betty all said to sort mail right away. Carrie goes through her mail right beside the trash can, and Joan said that she uses three folders to deal with paperwork. One file says to pay, one says to file, one says to do, and when she opens the mail, everything not trash-worthy goes into one of those files. Great idea, Joan.
- Liz Zelie says she and her roommate have a ten-minute clean-up time whenever they feel their place needs to be cleaned up. She says it’s amazing what you can get done in ten minutes. I’d agree.
- Tracy says that everyone in her house has a basket with their name on it, and their items that need to be put away go in it. When they’re watching TV at night, they take a commercial break and put all their things away. Sounds like something I did as a kid!
- Cecilia says that for quick company clean-up, she throws whatever is lying around in a plastic bin and puts it out of sight. When company leaves, everyone takes their stuff out and puts it away. Not a bad idea for those all-too-many times when we forget to put away immediately what we’ve finished using.
So there are all kinds of original ways to get your house picked up. But here’s one more obvious but oh-so-good tip for us.
The Big Woman, Pat, Debbie, Betsy, C, Adhab, and Cynthia, all say THROW THINGS AWAY! They suggest various ways from literally throwing what you no longer use in the trash, to donating it, recycling it, or selling it on E-Bay. I just spent two days going through closets and did this. The rooms I cleaned look so much better, and I feel so much better. Thanks, everyone!
Along those lines, Angela says she makes it her goal to throw away one item every day. There’s a tip I really like! Breaking big items down into little pieces makes it so doable. Great tip, Angela.
Well, 2 more days of tips, and then I’ll announce the winner. But for right now, I need to find something to throw out . . .