A New Approach to Cleaning Clutter

Every time I have a newborn in the house I struggle to keep up with the housework.  I start to feel overwhelmed because there just aren't enough hours in a day to get everything done.  Most days I'm doing good if I can get a load of laundry done and have dinner on the table before bedtime.  Once I start to feel overwhelmed I don't do anything.  If I don't have time to clean it to my satisfaction then I don't spend any time on it at all.  Before you know it you're buried in housework.  And for me, I'm embarrassed that it has gotten out of control.  I know I'm not alone and here's another tip on making it work.

If you have one specific area that is an overwhelming problem, or one that you have the hardest time keeping clean, there's hope.  For me it's our island.  Everyone uses it as a dump all.  If they don't want there little sisters to be able to reach, if it needs to be fixed,  if you don't know where to put it, things going out, things coming in.....you get my point.  It all gets put there.  Not to mention, we've been considering moving.  With that in mind I've been using my island as a staging area for things to get rid of, pack, etc.  With 8 of us it feels like a never ending battle.  Just when I get it clean its a mess within a day or two.

So here's my challenge to myself, and to you.  Spend just 10 - 15 minutes everyday on that one spot.  Now here is where it may be a challenge.  It has to be EVERY day.  Here's why.  I tried this last week.  I did great for about 4 days and noticed a huge improvement.  Then we had a couple of busy days and it got pushed to the bottom of my list and didn't get done.  In those 2 days I missed, I had undone my 4 days of work.  So, I'm going to try again this week and see how I do.  Last week proved to me that it needs to be every day not just on days the piles start stacking up.  Anyone want to join me?  I plan on posting my before and after pictures next week. 

Cleaning Using the Three Step Method

I haven't done Tip Tuesday in a while, so here's a new one.

I've read a few books on organizing, decluttering, etc.  The best advice I ever heard was this....I call it the 3 step method.

• Put it away
• Throw it away
• Give it away

The concept is to put everything into one of these categories.  If it doesn't have a home then either throw it away or give it away.  I know it sounds harsh, but its an excellent way to go about it.  I'm not perfect at it - by any means - but I'm working on it. 

I used to think, "I might need it someday" or "Once I get rid of it I'll need it."  Then I heard someone say that if you are keeping things that you 'might' need or use someday then you are not trusting that God will provide it when you do need it.  That totally changed my outlook.  I'm working on decluttering.  If you have any other ideas I'd love to hear them.

Want More Comments on Your Blog?

More and more I'm noticing I can't leave comments on some great blogs!  If it's someone that I do not know personally - outside of the blogging world - I have no way of letting them know I think it's great.  So, I decided maybe I'd post this and see if it helps.  If you wish more people were responding to your posts, try this and see if you start getting more comments.

Go into your 'Settings' tab
Click on 'Comments'
Third section down is 'Comment Form Placment'
Make sure it is 'Full page' (not embedded below post)
Go all the way to the bottom & click 'Save Settings'

Try it and let me know if you see a difference in the number of comments you're getting.

Tip Tuesday

My friend Rebecca at The Blessings of Modern Domestication does what she calls "Tip Tuesday".  She has some great tips every week so check out her blog.  This week, I thought I'd do one. 

Here's a quick tip for organizing your freezer.  Use boxes.  It may seem simple but it makes a huge difference when you're looking for something. 

Here's what part of mine looked like before.  I took all the veggies and put them in a box.  I took all the packaged chicken, hamburg, and other meats, and put them in a seperate box (not pictured).  Then I put all the french fries, and other miscellaneous things in yet another box.  Now when I need a bag of carrots I can go grab one instead of searching through all the items.  Here's what this half looked like when I was done.

Maybe you can't tell from the pictures, but it makes a huge difference.  Try it and see for yourself.  Let me know if you have other great organizing tips.

~Kristine