Cut the Clutter!

Is clutter bogging you down? Is it living on your shelves collecting dust and in your closet stealing valuable space, has it wandered down the hall to the kids room and taken over? It�s time to cut the clutter.

If you have a very small desk and don't have room for stacks or slots, add shelves above your desk. For those of you that have the desk room for slots and stacks you can put shelves above your desk and put the items you use less often on the shelves, for example, extra supplies, reference material, staplers, etc. For those of you that can't put up shelves, get crates for next to or under your desk and put things on top or in the crates.Where does the clutter go?What will I need?4. Plastic tubs are ideal to combine smaller items and are transparent enough to locate what you need to fetch. Use any sized plastic tubs, just be sure that the lid is airtight. Some items, such as clothing and paper products will degrade over time when exposed to air, so if you are locking up family keepsakes, the safe container must be snug. In addition, every garage needs a little housework now and again, and your airtight plastic containers can be hosed down in the yard and returned to the cleaned out garage shelf.Donate � Clothing in good condition, toys or any usable item in good condition.One tip for those of you who use the phone extensively (for those of you in Lease Purchasing this is a must). If you are left handed keep your phone on the right hand side of your desk and vice versa, to avoid trying to write over a telephone cord.Choose a room determine the clutter hot spots. For example the top of the refrigerator is often a clutter attracting spot. Remove each item and ask your self is this trash? What value or use is this to me? Do I have more then one of these? Sort items into Trash sell or donate. If you decide to keep it designate it a permanent home. Move to each room fine the hot stops for clutter and repeat the process.3. Metal shelves are an excellent resource to expand your garage space, giving you stacking room capacity to the ceiling. When installing the shelves, be sure they are extra deep and wide to accommodate the most bulky of items, regardless of what you have on hand for storage at the moment.The golden rules of clutter
If you do not use it lose it.
Build a wardrobe, once you do when you buy new replace the old.
Every thing has a place if it doesn�t toss it.
Every thing must have a use if it doesn�t toss it.
Less is almost always more!
Less is easier to clean and care for!For those of you that are long time subscribers, you know that we are big advocates of organization and time management. A great way to organize your day and not waste time is to have a To Do list. A list allows you to focus on what needs to get done, what's important, rather than flitting from one thing to another and never getting anything done. Your To Do list should be updated at the end of each day, so it is ready for the next. If you didn't finish a project put it on the next day's schedule but at the top of your list.6. Make a commitment to get rid of unnecessary items, either by way of the trash can or turn your trash into cash with a yard sale. If you have not used a particular item for years, the odds are that you will never use it again. Let's not get emotional over our stuff, and either toss it or find it a good home elsewhere.Laundry baskets make great toy storage for stuffed animals and other big toys. They are also great to leave in a central location for family members to toss things in until they get to putting them away.Clutter hot spotsWith your desk open and clear, your phone easy to use, and your To Do list, you're ready to move forward with your day. For more time management and organization tips, how to set up your office, and how to run a successful home based business, check out our manual, "The Complete Home-Based Business Manual" on our website at: http://www.homebusinesssolutions.com/products/products.htm1. Organization starts with honest evaluation of your secret garage treasures, sometimes hidden away out of sight for decades. To separate some of the inventory, place your items into one of two categories: things you will pull out for seasonal use and the rest intended for indefinite storage.Coat room - make sure all outer wear has working zippers and fastens; toss worn shoes or unworn shoes.Bathroom (Shelves, medicine cabinet, under the sink) Old make up, used products, empty products, old magazines, newspapers5. Hooks can also be an advantage for storing items with irregular shapes that would not stack well in a line. If the item you wish to hang does not have its own hook, cover the item is sturdy package wrap and bind it up with packing tape. From the new casing you have made, you can add a few layers of cord to balance a bulky piece from a garage hook on the wall or ceiling.For those of you with a desk with drawers you can organize the items in the drawers by using draw dividers. They'll keep everything separated, which saves you time, because you don't have to look through the whole drawer. You can also use products specifically designed for drawers or ordinary silverware trays to keep your supplies divided.You should sort clutter into three categories.Bed rooms (closets, dressers, shelves) � Clothing, paperbacks, knickknackCopyright 2002 DeFiore EnterprisesShelves give books magazines and knickknacks a place to live.Sell � Brand name clothing items or any thing in almost new condition such as toys.

The golden rules of clutter
If you do not use it lose it.
Build a wardrobe, once you do when you buy new replace the old.
Every thing has a place if it doesn�t toss it.
Every thing must have a use if it doesn�t toss it.
Less is almost always more!
Less is easier to clean and care for!

Author: Jennifer Gove