An organized home is a safe home. Have you ever noticed how cluttered the counters or tables get? It seems like you clean and the next day your house has already collected an array of miscellaneous items. Does your house have a place for everything?  Probably not. Today, we will provide some tricks to help keep your house organized.

Follow the 80/20 rule. It’s been stated that we only use 20% of what we actually own. When you think about that statistic, it’s pretty easy to put into perspective how much can be disposed of or donated. If you go through each room and first determine what can go and what can stay, then you’ll have a better idea of what type of storage you need, in addition to what you already have.

Once you’ve eliminated the extra 80%, (or realistically the extra 40-50% because it’s hard to let go of everything) you can get some storage options to get organized. Many jump at the opportunity to buy bins with lids because they stack and sort. However, if you’re going to be using the item fairly often, putting it in a bin with a lid hinders your ability to efficiently clean. Start with open containers. An open laundry bin that you can toss clothes into versus a bid with a lid can make a huge difference when cleaning up. The same goes for toiletries. If you use them often, leave them out on a shelf or counter and put the rest away.

For the items that must go in a drawer, get a drawer organizer. Drawer organizers are no longer restricted to separating your cutlery. You can use them to organize your sock drawer, your other utensils, bathroom supplies, etc. Anything you must place in a drawer can be slotted into its rightful place. This way, next time you need to find the can opener or potato peeler, you don’t have to sift through a giant drawer packed with miscellaneous kitchen utensils.

Be mindful when arranging the location of items. If you use something frequently, keep it towards the front of the shelf or drawer, if you use something rarely but it’s necessary to keep around, place it towards the back in a clearly labeled container. You should also consider if an item is worth keeping. If you haven’t worn that red sweater in a while, place it in a bag or box for donating later. Place a date on the bag or box and if you haven’t gotten the sweater out by the deadline, just donate it without looking in the container.

If you don’t need or love it, then don’t keep it. There are others out there that can fit your old shoes or t-shirts and they may need it more.

If you’d like more tips for organizing your home visit: https://www.womansday.com/home/organizing-cleaning/g2801/life-changing-organization-tips/

This link provides 13 tips from professional organizers that can help you declutter.