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    Real Simple Organize Your Home
    Real Simple Organize Your Home
    Real Simple Organize Your Home
    Ebook266 pages1 hour

    Real Simple Organize Your Home

    By The Editors of Real Simple

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    About this ebook

    The editors of Real Simple Magazine present Organize Your Home.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherReal Simple
    Release dateSep 6, 2019
    ISBN9780848701352
    Real Simple Organize Your Home

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      Real Simple Organize Your Home - The Editors of Real Simple

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      Your Words

      How Do You Get Your Family to Help with Organizing?

      AN ORGANIZED HOME IS EVERYONE’S TO ENJOY—AND EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY. HERE’S HOW SOME OF OUR READERS SHARE THE LOAD.

      PHOTOGRAPHS BY BIZ JONES

      I tell the kids why we organize, not just to do it because I said so. In our house, it’s for ease and lack of stress.

      –A.M., LITITZ, PENNSYLVANIA

      With three active teenagers, keeping track of who needs what uniform and equipment when can be a little overwhelming. Dry erase markers have been our salvation. The kids write their schedules on their bathroom mirrors so they’re reminded of what they need every morning.

      –D.E., AUSTIN, TEXAS

      I make wristbands from construction paper (or I use soft, flexible plastic with Velcro on the ends for something more durable). I write chores on them and put one on each child’s wrist. They wear them until the chore is done.

      –M.S., HOUSTON

      Start young and make it fun. I also try to set an example for my 6-year-old. I can’t expect her to be organized if I’m not.

      –S.B., SPOKANE, WASHINGTON

      My daughter and I would set an alarm for one hour and do as much as possible in that time. When the alarm went off, we would finish the tasks we were on, put away any tools, and go out for a fun experience. We liked seeing how much can be achieved in a short time and have great memories of fun outings together.

      –B.S., CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA

      When I was in the workforce, my family had mandatory weekly cleaning parties. Afterward we could all enjoy the weekend with a clean and organized space.

      –D.A., LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA

      We painted the inside of our pantry cabinet door with dry erase paint and keep a running shopping list there. Every time anyone uses the last of something or thinks of something they would like us to buy, they write it down.

      –K.A., MADISON, WISCONSIN

      Each night we have five-minute madness. Everyone has five minutes to do a quick check around the house and put things where they belong. It helps cut down on clutter and makes organization a lot easier.

      –R.P., CLAYTON, DELAWARE

      Clutter control is a must! I keep a large laundry basket by the back door. Unwanted household items, grown-out-of clothing, and books go into it. When the basket is full, I happily take it to the local charity thrift shop.

      –M.A., PHILADELPHIA

      I had a list of chores that needed to be done each week. My daughters would sign up for four duties (one of them had to be a less-than-fun job), and I would do the rest. No one felt they were stuck with just one job they hated to do.

      –B.B., EDWARDS, COLORADO

      I have started something I call commercial cleaning. My little girls and I watch home improvement shows, and when the commercials start, we run into a designated room and go to town. When the program is back on, we return to snuggling on the couch. It keeps the cleaning and organizing novel, quick, and fun.

      –A.L., TUCSON, ARIZONA

      Technology is a big part of our children’s world, so we use it to get them engaged and organized. Our favorite tool is an app called Cozi [owned by Meredith Corporation, the parent company of Real Simple]. We use it for nearly everything, including our calendars and shopping lists. The kids have their phones with them all the time—why not make that work for us?

      –C.W., SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA

      Set up simple systems even young children can use. Instead of labeling pegboards, I outline items with a liquid chalk pen so the kids know which hook to use in storage closets. Anyone can see which item may be missing right away.

      –A.D., FORT COLLINS, COLORADO

      Kid-level hooks and shelves allow my kids to put their things away independently.

      –E.K., WEST BLOOMFIELD, MICHIGAN

      JAY WILDE STORAGE DRAWERS

      Make storage lid-free so things can just be tossed in.

      D.R., RUSSELLVILLE, ARKANSAS

      The Real Simple Method

      More Calm, Less Clutter

      Think of decluttering as the opening move that makes all other organizing goals more achievable. Our whole-house, whole-family plan featured here is designed to save time (fewer closet excavations) and aggravation (no more pantry landslides). It might also erase guilt, since clutter reminds us of the decisions, big and little, that we’ve dodged. More shelf space is lovely, but more mental space is the real game changer. What will you do with yours?

      PHOTOGRAPH BY ANNA WILLIAMS

      Step 1

      The Prep

      CONFER WITH YOUR TEAM It’s essential to get everyone in on the process to ensure buy-in. Without collaboration, it’s unlikely anyone will honor your unilateral decisions on where things live, says New York City–based professional organizer Andrew Mellen. Spark your family’s interest by transforming a key shared space, like the mudroom or kitchen. Organizing is contagious—usually the less interested parties just need to see progress in one area to get on board, says Jordan Marks, cofounder and owner of It’s Organized, with locations in New York City, New Jersey, and California. Ask everyone to share ideas on how your home could function better. Then divvy up jobs based on strengths: If your husband loves to wheel and deal, he can sell items on Nextdoor; your teenager can drive things to the recycling center; your 5-year-old can test the pens in the office.

      PLAN YOUR ATTACK Ask your family which areas bother them most on a daily basis. They’ll see the most meaningful results from tackling these pain points first. Reserve blocks of time to work—up to an hour a few times a week or a two-hour weekend stretch. Put them on the family calendar and stick to them; consistency is what matters most.

      GATHER SUPPLIES To clean out a clothing closet, you’ll need a full-length mirror for try-ons and heavy-duty trash bags for sorting castoffs. Use a permanent marker and Super Sticky Post-It Notes to label the bags to donate, tailor, sell, and recycle (for items no longer usable). Use a similar strategy for other areas of your home.

      Step 2

      The Purge

      GET IN A ZONE Set a timer each time you dive in—this helps you keep a steady pace. Shut off visual distractions—texts, TV—and put on music or a podcast you can zone out to, says Melissa Maker, author of Clean My Space.

      SORT AND EDIT Bring three sturdy bags into every room: one for trash, one for donations, and one for items that would be better stored elsewhere. Large, opaque garbage bags you can tie closed discourage rethinking. For bulky housewares and furniture, use bright dot stickers (the kind you see at garage sales) to mark the categories. First clear out anything that’s a no-brainer (worn-out shoes, obsolete sports equipment), then sort items, keeping like with like. In the entryway, group each person’s belongings. In the closet, keep blouses together and pullovers in their own pile. As you work, identify what else you can get rid of. (Because clothes can be

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