Below you’ll find some of the best ways to stay organized and uncluttered month to month.
Checklist: Tackle Small to Large Closets
Start with your smallest closet and work towards tidying up the largest one. You’ll finish small closets fast, giving you more time and motivation to handle your largest offender, likely your bedroom closet. Try this order:
Hall or entryway coat closet Kid’s bedroom closet Primary bedroom closet
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Checklist: Work on Kitchen Zones
It doesn’t matter the size of your kitchen, each one has typical zones or segments that need decluttering, cleaning, and organizing. Check off the list as you go along:
Small appliances (pare down and clean) Lower cabinets Upper cabinets Utensil drawers Junk drawer Pantry (if separate)
Checklist: Steps to Reduce Paper
You may need a few files and boxes to keep documents and papers in order. Organize your papers into these piles, then transfer them into labeled boxes or bins to handle during the month:
Papers for shredding Papers for the recycling bin Small “forgotten” bills, such as copays Receipts/papers for filing Critical documents for taxes
Checklist: Tackle These Spots
Bathrooms tend to have a mishmash of small items scattered in various places. As you’re going through items, open them up and smell them; some creams may be stale or smell noxious, for example. Clean and organize these five main bathroom areas:
Vanity drawersVanity lower cabinetMedicine cabinetShower caddy and shelvesLinen closet
Checklist: Reducing Shoe Clutter
Check mudrooms and entryways for forgotten footwear, too. After gathering, cleaning, and disinfecting footwear, take these actions to limit the clutter:
Care for seasonal and special occasion footwear by storing in clear bins. Invest in a stylish footwear cabinet for your entry or mudroom. Toss footwear with holes, peeling, and unfixable zippers or heels.
Checklist: Organize Into Zones
Garages have universal zones. Grouping like items with like makes life simple anywhere in the house, but especially in the garage, where there are many small items that tend to become misplaced. Specific zones requiring storage include:
Auto suppliesSports and athletic equipmentHousehold and gardening toolsRecycling center
Checklist: Clothing Must Haves
It’s not always easy to toss an item of clothing. But every single item of clothing should fit all of the following criteria:
It fits well.You wear it regularly.You feel comfortable in it.It accurately reflects your style and image.
Checklist: Hints for New Habits
Change or add to your routine slowly. Choose from the examples, or come up with your own ideas:
Wake up earlier. Hydrate first thing in the morning. Prepare for your day with a list. Schedule quiet time into your planner. Review your day at night.
Checklist: Keeping Fragrant Linens
Linen closets have a way of collecting odd odors. Here’s what to do for fresher smelling linen closets:
Replace old musty towels and bedding. Remove linens and wash them. Loosely pack linens into the closet for air circulation. Keep a box of scented soap in each linen closet.
Checklist: Scan Your Silverware
Overlooking your silverware inventory means having mismatched sets or not enough for your holiday table. Improve your silverware situation by doing the following:
See if you have full formal and everyday cutlery sets; replace if necessary. Polish tarnished and stained silver flatware. Replace dull steak knives or sets with loosened rivets. Separate out plastic cutlery.
Checklist: Gather These for the Holidays
Now’s the time to set up a staging area where you can gather what you’ll need before the activity begins. Gather these items:
Holiday dinnerware Holiday food displays and trays Holiday food storage containers for guests Holiday gift containers for food and baked goods Seasonal baking needs such as cookie-cutters
Checklist: Keeping up With the Holiday Clutter
You may feel like you are walking on a carpet of gift wrap, gifts, and smashed holiday cookies and ornaments. Here’s what to do to keep up with the crush:
Dedicate a large recycling bag or garbage can for gift wrap. Toss broken items in a separate garbage bag. Label a large box for donations. Find more efficient systems to store holiday decor. Invest in a better storage bag for your holiday tree; it’ll save money in the long run.
