Books : The Queen of Clean Conquers Clutter : Excerpts

Chapter 2: Getting Started

Are you a Harried Harriet? Harriet unlocks the front door with a heavy heart. It's past dinnertime already. An unexpected phone call and a long line at the supermarket have made her late -- again. Dodging a lone sock in the hallway (how did that get there?), she can hear the answering machine go off: "Mom! Pick up! I'm waiting for a ride at soccer practice!" Harriet slides her bags full of groceries onto the kitchen counter, where the movie the family watched last night still sits patiently waiting. Darn, she meant to return that to the video store. That's another $3 in fines. The dog has chewed a slipper again. His leash has been missing since yesterday, and no one has been able to take him for a much needed walk. Harriet is -- well, harried! She's tired, hungry, and frustrated. Dinner's not made, and the house is a mess. Does this sound like the end of your average workday?

Life is becoming increasingly complex. Spending time at home should be a relaxing, fun experience, not an exercise in frustration. There is an easier way to live than Harriet's daily routine. Wouldn't it be much nicer to come home like Peaceful Pauline? Pauline opens the front door, placing her keys in the basket on the hall table and her handbag on a handy wall hook nearby -- right next to the dog's leash! Tonight's dinner is already cooked and ready to be popped into the oven. Last week, Pauline cooked a double batch of spaghetti and froze the second half for another day. That leaves half an hour to change clothes and read and sort the mail before it's time to eat. After dinner, the kids can take the dog for a walk. This evening, the family will watch a video together, and Pauline might even have time to call her mother for a chat. No wonder Pauline is peaceful!

What's the difference between feeling like a Harried Harriet and a Peaceful Pauline? It comes down to this: clutter control and organization. Controlling clutter and organizing your life may seem like an impossible task, but just think of all the impossible tasks that you do every day. And think how much easier they would be if you weren't surrounded by clutter and chaos! Conquering clutter really does pay off -- in fact, conquering clutter has such terrific benefits that once you begin, you'll soon become hooked. If you've gotten used to living in clutter and chaos, you'll be pleasantly surprised to find how enjoyable conquering clutter and getting organized can be. You can relax in your own home, find things when you need them, enjoy your day-to-day activities, and feel in control of your life. And, if you're like most of us in these days of instant gratification, take heart: conquering clutter pays off immediately!

I once had a fortune cookie that read: "Every journey, no matter how long, begins with a single step." What is the first step in getting organized? Having a system, of course. A workable solution for daily life that really gets results. And that's where I come in! I've worked up a little system so that you can take me with you from room to room, so you can let me -- the QUEEN -- be your guide! It's a little reminder to help you follow through with your clutter-busting intentions, to keep you from getting distracted or feeling defeated before you begin. Give it (me!) a try.

Question
Unpack
Evaluate
Eliminate
Neaten up!

Question. What is the purpose of this room, cupboard, drawer? What do I see that doesn't work here? How can I make better use of this space? Why am I keeping this article of clothing? What am I happy with? What works here and what doesn't? If the twins are teenagers, why do we still have two shelves of Dr. Seuss books on display? If the summer sun is shining, why do we have four mismatched mittens on the table in the hall?

Unpack. Get it all out in the open, one thing at a time. For example, if you're working in a closet, do only the shoes first. Sort through one shelf in the linen closet. Remove the contents of one drawer in the kitchen. Remember, only by taking things out will you really have a sense of what you have and what you need to do with it. You can't conquer clutter if you can't see it.

"A goal is nothing more than
a dream with a time limit."
-- Joe Griffith

Evaluate. It's judgment day. Ask some questions: When was the last time I used this? Do I really need this? If so, is this where the item should be? Then prepare to stash it or trash it. Okay, I know, this is the hard part. If your heart is saying you need it and your mind says it hasn't been used since Nixon was president, sometimes it's hard to be impartial. Look at things as if you were helping a friend. If the things weren't your possessions, what would you do? Then do it.

Eliminate. One bag is for the neighbor, a charity, or the school fund-raiser. The other bag is headed straight for the trash. Every item that isn't destined to go back into that drawer, closet, or shelf belongs to one of these two bags. Get rid of the excuses for keeping things while you're at it. I've heard them all: I might need that someday. Aunt Margaret gave me that. Somebody might be able to make use of that, so I'll hang on to it. Eliminate your excuses as you eliminate your excess stuff. They're both clutter, and you'll live better without them.

Neaten Up. This is the fun part. Oh, how clever you'll feel as you admire your rows of neatly organized shoes, freshly straightened spices, or tidy stacks of towels. This is the time you get to put things where you want them and stand back and admire your work. Don't be afraid to be unconventional. If you like storing your underwear rolled in clear hanging racks on the back of the bedroom door, that's fine, as long as it works for you. Try things out, and change them if they don't work the way you hoped they would.

So, now that you have a system, what's the best way to use it? Start small. I'd like to suggest that you devote just 15 minutes at a time to this process -- that's all it takes to really get results. If you like, you can even use your kitchen timer to remind you -- or release you, if you're really resisting the idea. So often we feel discouraged because a task seems overwhelming. This simple 15-minute rule lets you off the hook. You don't have to eliminate your clutter all in one day. You can chip at it over time. Believe me, I've tried many ways to manage my day-to-day life, and this is the only one that works consistently. Don't be surprised if your 15 minutes slip away before you realize it! Then, if you like, you can reset the timer for another 15 minutes and tackle another drawer, shelf, closet, or box. It's up to you! You never realized organizing could actually be fun, did you? C'mon. Let's get started!