Organization tips and tricks

[dosekies]

I am having a hard time keeping my small apartment clean and organized with all of our 'stuff' that we have. I really want to get it organized once and for all, but am having a hard time with storage space. We can't use anything on the walls but command hooks and have no room for another bookshelf or anything. I'm also horrible at being able to get rid of things.

SO...what are your tips/tricks for organization and cleaning? Any creative command hook usages? How do you decide what to keep and what to get rid of without being attached? I'm so bad at this! My fiancé will be at work most of the day tomorrow, so I want to try and tackle as much as I can during that time.

 

[kimblebee]

One word...

Declutter

 

[cluvsdisney]

The only way to stay organized is to have a place for everything. If there isn’t a place for whatever, something needs to go.

I’ve done some decluttering and got rid of obvious things that we don’t like, don’t work, don’t use. It’s a struggle for me bc DH likes having stuff and doesn’t like getting rid of things because he feels like we’re wasting money but doesn’t see that not using it is wasting money and space.

Good luck

 

[disykat]

I would start with more decluttering and organizing the closet space you have available first. Then when you see the things you love that are left to store, you can go from there. There has to be a starting point before you can move forward.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Ask yourself, "Do I love it, do I need it, does it make me money?" and go from there.

 

[luvsJack]

What kind of stuff do you have?

 

[powellrj]

I always told my kids to start in a corner and work your way around the room. That way you aren’t so overwhelmed.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I hate clutter. The way I see it if I can't use it is gone. I don't want to grow attached to things. I have one cabinet of things I enjoy and that is enough. It feels good to not have things clutter a room. You just dig in and do it and not look back. The more you think about it the harder it is to get rid of it.

 

[piccolopat]

Organizing is not the answer if you really have too much stuff. You have to first decide how much space you have or are willing to devote to storing everything and then start paring down from there. For example, if you only have 3' worth of bookshelf space, you can only keep 3' worth of books (and ideally a little less than that). We lived in a 600 square foot apartment for 10 years and had far less issues with clutter than when we moved to a 1500 square foot house. It's gotten worse as we got more space. Now that I'm heading towards retiring and eventually downsizing a bit, I'm going through everything. It's amazing how much stuff we've accumulated that we don't need or want. The hardest part is getting rid of stuff that have (or had) value because I just don't want to deal with yard sales or selling online.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I am having a hard time keeping my small apartment clean and organized with all of our 'stuff' that we have. I really want to get it organized once and for all, but am having a hard time with storage space...I'm also horrible at being able to get rid of things.

I'm the same way! My weaknesses are keeping sentimental things, and being able to see a dozen ways I might use something.

I recommend reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo (- from the library, of course, so you don't make more clutter! )

* I also recommend reading it with a "buffet" attitude, rather than a "prescription" one. - Some of it went a bit too far for me...but I still found some good tips and things to think about.

Any creative command hook usages?

A small, light curtain rod stretched between two hooks can hold necklaces or scarves.
You can hang binder clips on command hooks to hold bills, photos, reminders by the door, etc.
Hang your measuring cups/spoons on the inside of a cabinet door to free up drawer space.
Shower caddies are not just for the shower! - Use large command hooks to hang them in other rooms to store small items.

 

[eeyoresmom]

I don't really have a problem with clutter because it makes me anxious but how about taking pictures of the sentimental items and keeping a photo album? I keep a container in the back of my car and take things out of my house regularly. Easy to drop them at a thrift store or clothing donation box. The key is not letting it build until it is a huge overwhelming project. My Dad died last year and I was solely responsible for cleaning out his 2400 sq foot house. He was a pack rat and it was seriously traumatizing for me. Two of the days I actually stood in the mess and just cried until I could motivate myself.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I keep a container in the back of my car and take things out of my house regularly. Easy to drop them at a thrift store or clothing donation box.

That's a good idea!

It also reminds me of something else I meant to add before. - OP, if you're not sure about letting go of something, box it up and store it out of sight for a little while (even in a friend's garage or something). If you don't miss it, then you can confidently donate it.

The key is not letting it build until it is a huge overwhelming project.

That's one thing I didn't like about the book. She recommended doing the whole project at once, but that was too overwhelming for me. Last summer, I worked on one area at a time, and did make some progress.

 

[wenrob]

If I haven’t seen or used it in six months it’s out of here. I have condensed sentimental things down to just a few small totes. Meaning, I have one with things from DH’s mother, one for each grandma, a box for each kid etc. There is just no need to hang onto all that stuff just because it belonged to them. I got rid of all my crap from high school save for a handful of photos (I did not remember half the people in most of them) and my class ring. I got rid of my wedding dress, bouquet, ring bearer pillow, champagne glasses, bridesmaid dresses I wore in people’s weddings. Really, why was I hanging onto all that? It’s not like I’ll EVER use or need any of it again. I was just hauling it around from place to place in boxes. I hung onto letters but got rid of a crazy amount of cards that pretty much all said the same thing. Linens and blankets that never got used but took up space, gone. Really LOOK at what you have. Do you NEED it? Do you USE it? No? Get rid of it. It’s just stuff.

Consider going digital with your media, books, magazines, music, movies. That literally takes up zero space. Get rid of all those old electronics we all hang onto and never use. Don’t hang onto stuff because it *might* be worth something someday or you *might* use it someday. If you’re not motivated to sell or use it now, your never will be.

 

[marcyleecorgan]

Take pictures of EVERYTHING possibly meaningful and document a little story to go with it. You can even take photos from all angles, should technology give us easy, mobile 3D projection and holograms.

Does every cabinet have a door? It should have something hanging on the inside back for storage.

Do most of your drawers have sub-dividers?

Take advantage of magnets to create small storage areas.

Have you cleared out your Tupperware/plastic container area? Mine always needs a lid match-up and a purge of the warped ones...

Store stuff. If you never think about it for 6 months, and ESPECIALLY if you forget that you own it, it really needs to be sold/donated/it has to leave your house...

 

[jdb in AZ]

A co-worker had a rule in his house -- don't buy anything unless you get rid of something else. Maybe that's why he only had one kid.

 

[IndianaMouse]

Over the door shoe organizer with clear pockets! This has been my favorite organizing tip. DD has one in her room for storing art supplies and make up. I use one inside my closet for belts, scarves, wallets, gloves etc.... and there's one on the back of my bedroom door for my make up and all the "beauty" items that women need, essential oils and even all of our vitamins and cold medicines. The one in the pantry is perfect for holding those items that always get lost in the shuffle like seasoning packets, jello , food coloring , sprinkles etc.... This link shows a few ways that other people use them also. https://www.camdenliving.com/blog/7-shocking-ways-use-over-door-shoe-organizer

 

[dyna]

Several things to try.

1. Go thru each room find 10 things to get rid of either throw it away or donate. Set up box for both. Do this every day till done.

2. Pick an area or a room to work on for 20 mins a day till done. Remember your throw away an donate boxes.

3.For every new thing that comes in 2 goes out.

4.As you are working on becoming more organized an efficient make it a rule to put everything away soon as you are done with it.

5. Finish 1 project, job before starting another.

As you go out either take out garbage to the big can outside or the box to donate.

 

[Mizzoufan]

The rule at my house is you haven't use or played with this i a month it goes away. Of course there are expectations to this weather or sentiment objects.

 

[MrsCobraBubbles]

Do you use Pinterest? There are so many organization hacks on that site that you could sit at your computer for days and not see them all. At my old house I bought longer legs for my couch so that I could fit 2 under-bed storage bins under there because my kids have too many toys. I think I paid about $40 bucks for the replacement legs but it was worth it to find another place to store junk.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

As far as organizing, I like baskets. They keep stuff from just being scattered in closets and cabinets etc...

HOWEVER, thinning out stuff is the best start. Believe me, I went from a 3br house where we had a garage and yard barn to a 1br apartment. I had to learn how to not be as attached to stuff and just get rid of it. I picked out what I absolutely thought I had to have and donated, sold, pitched the rest. Now I live in a bigger house than the one before, I am sure we will fill it back up eventually.