Large closets are completely disorganized

by Melanie L.
(Northern Indiana)

I have cleaned homes for years. I can make other people's homes spotless. When clients hire me, I ask that everything is in order before I arrive - then all I do is clean (from ceiling to floor). BUT I DO NOT ORGANIZE.

The problem is - I have no organizational skills. I can decorate my own home and make it look great - but when it comes to closets, drawers, cupboards, and pantry - I'm a wreck.

It's not that I'm lazy - I love to clean... I just can't sort through the clutter and make it look nice behind doors, drawers, etc.

Like I said - I don't provide organization for clients - I just need to get my own home in order.

Also, my mentally disabled adult daughter has an apartment and I help her take care of it. Everyone ooh's and aah's over how cute her place is. Unfortunately, I never want them to open a cupboard, or the coat closet. Again, it's a mess. Again, it's clean as can be.

Clean does not equal organized.

I don't know where to start. It seems overwhelming.

Any suggestions?

Melanie L.

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Dec 28, 2010
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by: Samantha

Hi Melanie, I've thought about your question over the last few days and how to correctly answer it. My grandma was just like you. She was so clean, you could eat off her floors, but open a closet or drawer and everything was crammed in. And, she was okay with that. Her priority was being clean, and she could find what she needed when she wanted it, so she was okay w/crammed closets and drawers.

I guess what I'm getting at is you have to ask yourself, are you okay w/things the way they are? Can you find what you want when you need it, or do you have to spend a great deal of time looking for things?

Being organized doesn't require any more skills than all of us have. Getting organized takes the following 4 steps: 1. Remember the purpose of the space you're organizing & organize for that purpose, 2. Declutter - get rid of anything extra you don't need/want, 3. Categorize what's left over, & 4. Organize - create a space for what's left over after you've decluttered.

Sounds like you need some simple organizational systems that allow you to pick up and put things away where they belong, so create them using the above 4 steps. For instance, the linen closet shouldn't contain anything but linens and towels folded nice and neat, maybe extra toiletries, but contain the toiletries in baskets to keep order on shelves.

Use baskets and trays to contain things in drawers too. For instance, my makeup drawer has silverware trays to contain all the different makeup. Keep cleaning supplies in the rooms that you use them. For instance, every bathroom in my home has a plastic basket filled w/the needed cleaning supplies for that room.

I hope this helps. Just keep it simple and remember that you'll need to adjust your organizational systems as your needs change and you figure out what works for you.

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