What's your favorite organizational trick? - Page 2

[starling&diesel]

mottos

"Don't put it down, put it away."
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"One thing in, two things out."
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[mommaof3boz]

If you haven't used a kitchen item in the last month you don't need it.

Anything clothing that doesn't get worn in its season you don't need.

Line things up. ie put all your cans of tomato sauce in a row like at the grocery store. Its SO much easier to find things and take inventory before grocery shopping. Bring the old ones forward and put the new ones behind.

Any spices not used in two months aren't going to be used. And really they lose their "spice" after 6months anyway.

Canning jars aren't just for canning. They are great for storing spices, nuts, teas, etc. They work great in the refrig for leftovers, all you need is a canning funnel. They can be used for drinking glasses when company comes...they look great with water and a lemon slice. They can also make great candle holders.

Bulk isn't always best. Never buy bulk anything until you are sure you use it enough to use it up. Never buy bulk in a product you haven't tried previously. Only buy bulk for staple items..sugar, flour, oatmeal, etc.

If you have exposed two by fours on the stairs going to your basment, unfinished, put cross boards between them and use them to store cans of food, boxed items, etc.

[Vanessa]

Originally Posted by Lady Lilya

That is how I took it.

Good. It's sometimes hard to tell online.

[Vanessa]

Originally Posted by Penelope

Um, I was kidding. My bad. :

It's just a funny way to phrase a cleaning tip, yk?

Nothing to see here... carry on.

No problem. I thought so, but just wanted to be sure.

[Lady Lilya]

I took Penelope's post as kidding too.

[Wolfcat]

Originally Posted by purplemamaaz

Based on this idea I started putting my and my kids clothes away in "outfits". Shirt, pants, undies, socks stacked on top of each other. I reach in the drawer bleary-eyed in the morning from being up with the baby in the night and pull out a complete outfit ready to go.

From birth, when I fold DS's clothes, I sort them into outfits (I used to include socks, but not as necessary) and use diaper pins (unused due to wonderful dipe covers) to pin them together.

I recently got a few bins for toys. I only keep a few toys out at a time (he has way too many anyways).

Originally Posted by mommaof3boz

Anything clothing that doesn't get worn in its season you don't need.

Line things up. ie put all your cans of tomato sauce in a row like at the grocery store. Its SO much easier to find things and take inventory before grocery shopping. Bring the old ones forward and put the new ones behind.

I do this. I periodically sort out DS's clothes (he's still young enough for me to do this semi-seasonally) and take a look at my own. I also put my clothes in the closet from one side (I tried sorting my clothes by type, etc., but I just don't have enough variety to justify it). If I notice that something has been stuck at the other end for some time, it's time to rethink keeping it.

I also keep foods, etc., in categories. I know when something is out and I know if I have enough of something.

I also keep daily-use stuff (my purse, planner, etc. and DS's daycare bag) in the same spot all the time. Grab 'n' go. I check each evening to see if anything needs refilled.

I keep a diaper bag stocked and in the car for short trips.

Gosh, now I feel really organized, but I'm not, I swear!!

[celestialdreamer]

Lots of great tips here that I use too. My best organizational trick isn't necessarily about "organizing". I try to go through my house frequently (weekly or monthly depending on how much time I have/what needs to be done) and sort through items that can be donated or given to family/friends. Since I do it frequently it doesn't take much time. As I'm doing this I put them all in a box/bag and tidy up whatever cabinet/drawer I'm looking in. This keeps things like my kitchen utensil drawer, bathroom cabinet, craft supply armoire looking neat inside because it is being straightened frequently and unused items removed. Once I am done sorting I immediately take the box/bag to my van. Usually I drive straight to Goodwill or my fav consignment store right then. If there are items to give away to friends/family I put them in our entry so I won't forget to give them to the person when they are over and walking out the door. Since I see them in plain view it motivates me to get together with the person anyway Getting rid of the clutter actually *out* of the house ASAP is my biggest trick. It is much more gratifying to me to get rid of the items right away for some reason, plus less stuff = less to organize & clean!

My only other good trick is to always make sure that you get your house back to "zero" each day, as a friend of mine used to say. That way things can never get too far out of hand. I aim for toys put away, counters wiped, dishes washed/running in dishwasher, laundry folded/put away by the end of the night. I find that if I do this each evening then it is a pleasure to get up in the morning. If I leave out a basket of laundry to fold or a pile of stuff on the counter, it seems like I'm behind on what I need to do before I've even started! I always start a load of laundry and empty the dishrack/dishwasher each morning so that dishes have somewhere to go and at that I won't ever get way behind on laundry. This takes very little time, makes my house run so much smoother and if I need to clean or do some other project that I don't have a bunch of other nonsense to deal with.

[Momma Aimee]

My only other good trick is to always make sure that you get your house back to "zero" each day,

this really helps me .............. lowers anxiety too .............

[GruppieGirl]

I keep folders in a kitchen cabinet for easy acess.

Girlie School
Girlie Activities
Little Guy School
Little Guy Activities
Family
Menu

They have really helped clear out the piles of paper that come into my house!

[Let It Be]

Originally Posted by Wolfcat

I also put my clothes in the closet from one side (I tried sorting my clothes by type, etc., but I just don't have enough variety to justify it). If I notice that something has been stuck at the other end for some time, it's time to rethink keeping it.

Great idea! I need to try this.

[artparent]

celestial, this is what i try to do too, getting to zero...but have rarely accomplished it in the last couple of years . i call it resetting the house...now that you point out that you try do have it all done by the end of the day, i think i might try to hold that thought in my head. plus all the other excellent ones above!!

i use a lot of flylady.net, and i particularly like to use the timer and check off 6 ten-minute items on a weekly clean. that's when things are going well!!

and my children like to play 'elves'. lately it has been more like cinderella, which is a pretty interesting exchange!! sometimes channelling grumpy stepmother is just the thing


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[Shefalismommy]

It really helps me to have a dark colored laundry basket for darks and a light colored one for lights. The minute I bring things downstairs, they get sorted into the right basket. When the clothes reach to top, the basket goes right into the washer--no delay! I used to get so overwhemled. My mother-in-law also lives with us and she would come down and just pile her clothes into mt. dirly laundry. Now we all follow the sorting baskets and it makes it really easy for me to see.

The other trick is to remember that laundry has several steps. They all have to be finished. Starting the wash is just the first step!

I'm the only one who does the laundry because no one else understands how to staintreat, and DD clothes kept getting ruined when MIL would throw them in without treating. She also didn't understand sorting at all. Now, it's all organized, things aren't stained, and I don't even care that I'm the only one doing it.

[jee'smom]

great tips!!! i'm going to go through my spices and closets after the holidays!

[HoneyTree]

I don't know how many moms this would apply to, but I work out of the home with my baby, and each day need 1) the diaper bag, 2) my backpack (where I keep my papers, and 3) our luches. I have three bags--one for each--and in the mornings, or ideally the night before, once they're packed they go into a bright blue laundry basket right by the door. Me, the baby, and the laundry basket then all go out to the car together in the morning!

[Areannasmom]

Originally Posted by HoneyTree

I don't know how many moms this would apply to, but I work out of the home with my baby, and each day need 1) the diaper bag, 2) my backpack (where I keep my papers, and 3) our luches. I have three bags--one for each--and in the mornings, or ideally the night before, once they're packed they go into a bright blue laundry basket right by the door. Me, the baby, and the laundry basket then all go out to the car together in the morning!

I LOVE this- i'm always running back into the house because i forgot my purse or her lunch or something.

I'm putting this, and many others, to use right away!

[sabrinat]

Having the Home Management Binder and a schedule for cleaning has really helped me be better organized.