Ten Quick Fixes

1. Consider donating your books that you no longer need to keep to local literacy projects, public libraries, local schools or adult community centers. Make room for the new books you are reading.
2. Make a to-do list. List what you are going to do today to get rid of all your excess. Your list might include:
   a) Discard all old magazines and catalogs.
   b) Have your child go through one drawer and take out what he or she is no longer able to wear or no longer wants to wear. Donate to your local Salvation Army.
3. Stop making excuses about why you keep all that clutter. Stop saying:
   a) An old sweater: "I paid good money for this!"
   b) Old Christmas cards: "Someday I'm going to use them for a scrap-booking project."
   c) An old chipped platter: "I may need it someday."
4. Clean up the garage. Here's how to start:
   a) Throw away old cans of paint and stained rags.
   b) Dispose of combustibles such as newspapers, magazines, boxes, and old furniture.
   c) Make sure all aisles are clear of debris to prevent accidents.
5. Little tasks take little time: So few of us have several hours to clean out our closets. The key is to use the 5-10-15 minute segments we do have. For example:
   a) Clean one shelf in your closet.
   b) Clean one drawer in your desk.
   c) Put in a load of wash.
   d) Answer a few emails.
6. Break the big jobs down into small, manageable jobs. You won't be so overwhelmed with what you see. Small steps will transform your home in big ways.
7. Distribute the mail as soon as it comes in. Ask the following questions:
   a) Is it junk? Toss it in the trash.
   b) To whom does it belong? Put it in its rightful place.
   c) Does it need follow up? Try to respond within 48 hours if possible.
   d) Does it require reading? Place it in your reading file and take it with you so you can read while waiting at the doctor's office, the dentist, to pick up a child from school.
8. Children's rooms need proper tools to keep them tidy and neat. Consider these suggestions:
   a) Keep a small vacuum handy to quickly clean up messes.
   b) Put up a pegboard or bulletin board to hang things on to keep things off the floor.
   c) Use extra large wastebaskets with plastic garbage can liners.
   d) Organize toys in plastic boxes or buckets.
   e) Install closet rods (appropriate to the height of the child) so he or she can hang up their own clothes.
   f) Limit snacking in bedrooms.
9. Where do I begin? Start with something easy and then move on to more difficult projects. Next you might choose a room where you spend the most time. De-cluttering will give you a sense of control.
10. Make sure everything has a designated place. If there is no place for stuff to go, it's going to get piled. Make it a goal to prevent those piles.

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Excerpted from 101 Ways to Clean Out the Clutter. Copyright © 2008 by Emilie Barnes. Published by Harvest House Publishers. Excerpt may not be reproduced without the prior consent of the publisher. All rights reserved.