Conquer Clutter for Good with These Simple Habits

Get into the habit of performing these small tasks regularly to keep even the most clutter prone areas of your home organized.

Closets
Each day, hang up everything and put away clean laundry. Put your shoes back in their places, straighten stacks, and have a regular habit of bringing empty hangers back to the laundry room. Remove clothing along the way as you decide to donate it, and put it in your "Donation Station," using a paper shopping bag or box to gather those items for Goodwill. Twice a year when you organize and change out seasonal clothing, these habits will keep everything more visible and manageable when you are ready to do a bigger project.

Related: 42 Double-Duty Household Items

Garages
Break down cardboard boxes, manage your recycling and trash, sweep excess leaves and dirt to keep them from tracking into the house, and keep a path cleared between the car and the door. Return sports equipment, chairs, and bikes to their racks and shelves. And each time you fill up with gas, empty the trash from your car right there at the gas pump.

Pantries
Each time you return from the grocery store and put food away, stop and straighten up what's there. Move cans and boxes for greater visibility, throw away containers with only a few crumbs left, and check for moldy bread and stale chips. Reclose cereal cartons and cracker boxes that your family has left open, and remove excess packaging from large warehouse purchases like soft drinks, paper towels, and snack foods.

Related: 11 Easy Steps to Organized Bliss

Entry and Exit Doors
Take shoes back to bedroom closets, put errand items in your car, and clear out mail and papers. Hang up coats, put dirty socks in the laundry room, and get the kids to handle their odds-and-ends of toys and school items once a week.

-By Lorie Marrero

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