Curing Your Pack Rat Ways

by DoItYourself Staff

by Alyssa Davis

As a general rule, it is so much easier to accumulate things than get rid of them. When your habit of holding on to stuff keeps you from living in a decent clutter-free zone, such that your storage is overflowing to block passageways and every bare surface of furniture is taken up, that’s when you know you need to get serious about the mess. You need to cure your pack rat ways.

Here are some tips to help you get your living space transformed into one that is calm and organized.

Choose a starting point: The first obstacle to overcome is actually the procrastination that has gotten you into the category of pack rat. Make the decision to start clearing up your living space, for your own good and the wellbeing of those living with you. Write down a list of the things that bother you in your home, like an overflowing closet or the stacks of magazines on the floor. Begin tackling the top one and work your way down the list. Set small goals, like working on one item on your list per week.

Organize items into piles: Once you begin working on an area of clutter, take all items out of drawers and cabinets to a clear space where you can pare down the amount of accumulated stuff. Sort the items, whether they be clothes, kitchenware, or magazines, into piles of “keep”, “donate”, and “toss out”. The things that you keep should be essential, or things that you have used within the past year. The pile to donate should contain items in good condition that you do not need, while items of no real value should be put in the toss out pile.

Designate storage spaces: Knowing where each item goes in your home is an important step in reducing clutter. Instead of storing items in random places or wherever there is free space, designate spaces for the items. For example, determine that all bills, coupons, and flyers should go in separate folders organized on a file rack. In the kitchen, store all serving ware in one cabinet and all cooking utensils in another, and so on.

Use suitable containers, labels, and organizers: These storage solutions help you to keep things organized in their proper places. Containers like plastic bins, baskets, and boxes are essential for storing similar items together. Clear labels make it easier to see where things should go and find what you need. Drawer, cabinet, and closet organizers are very useful for making the most out of the available space.

Keep surfaces clear and clean: When the major clutter has been cleared and essential items assigned to their storage spaces, the best way to maintain your organized home is to deal with items as soon as you can. For instance, when you arrive home, make it a habit to clear and sort the day’s mail instead of leaving it on the table. As soon as you are finished using a particular item, store it back in the drawer or box where it belongs.