KarenEhman.com
Funny, smart and real Karen is the deal. She’s with Proverbs 31 (so you know she’s good!) And can I tell you, I could spend hours on her amazing site, but let me give you a little cheat sheet:
If you are struggling with piles of papers, check out Karen’s Brain in a Binder (LOVE THIS…)
More of Karen’s Freebies Be sure to check out her Twenty 30 Minute Clutter Busting Ideas
This is one of those sites that you come across when you’re googling questions like “How do I clean out my washing machine?” and “How do I get rid of a urine smell?” (If you’ve never googled this question, you’ve obviously never raised boys.) There is a lot of cleaning advice, a lot of organizing advice, and some good old fashioned genius advice. One of my favorite things is her Cleaning Checklist Printables (go ahead… go get them, I’ll wait…)
Something I LOVE: Anna is the daughter of a friend of mine, but I stumbled upon her one day when I was googling “How to clean between the glass on your oven door?” And this post popped up. Genius.
Marcia has been in the organizing game for a while and knows all the tricks – and she shares them with you – the organizing mentor you never had but desperately needed. One of my very favorite things about her site is all her great, funny and informative videos (warning, you could spend so much time watching her videos, you may just forget to cook dinner, as just a random example…)
Some of Marcia’s Great Downloads
And two more…
One Good Thing by Jilleee Great resource for all things homemade.
Becoming Minimalist Not really an organizing site, but when you have less stuff, you have less need to organize it all. LOVE this inspirational blog.
Tell me your best organizing tip (and feel free to steal from one of these sites and share it with us!) and you will be entered to win today’s prize pack of three books:
The Complete Guide to Getting and Staying Organized by Karen Ehman
Simplify Your Life: Get Organized and Stay Organized by Marcia Ramsland
and my book The Get Yourself Organized Solution.
Enter by Friday, Midnight – US shipping only.
THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED!
Some great blogs list !! Everything looks so clean and organized I love it. I use some of these tips myself .
I love reading organizing blogs! There are always new and unique ideas! Thanks a lot for sharing so many blogs! Regards!
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My tip~ Always open mail by the garbage so you can throw away the stuff you don’t need. Also, when my house is really messy and I don’t know where to start, I set the timer for 15 min. and feel accomplished after. 🙂
Only touch a piece of paper once!
My favorite thing ti use in organizing is dry erase markers, and my camera phone. I use a dry erase board on mt fridge for a grocery/ to do list, and when I’m walking out the door, isnap a quick picture of the list with my phone. That way I always have my list and don’t have to deal with little bits of paper. Also i have used this to text my lis to DH. I also take a pic of the object I want him to pick up at the store and text it to him, so I end up with the right item.
Swishing and swiping a toilet every day as part of your daily routine is the closest thing I’ve found to not having to do it at all which is what I wish were true! Thank you for your contest and recommendations!
It’s hard for an unorganized person to give my best organizing tip, I’m not even sure I have one…oh, one of my favorite ways of remembering appointments (besides my calendar) is I have a magnetic clip on the door going out to the garage, I write myself a reminder and put it there so I have to look at it when I leave the house. I also use them on my fridge to hold mail that needs to be mailed and permission slips for school. Also on my fridge, held by one of the clips are zip top bags, one each for the labels for learning, and other point makers for my daughters school (then they’re not laying on the counter, or lurking in a drawer). That’s about the extent of my organizational skills.
Three of my favorite tips 1) clean or declutter for 15 minutes. Set a timer. 2) something new comes in, something old goes out. This one is hard. 3) For papers touch them once. Meaning when a paper comes in the house, deal with it. 4) Bonus: when you leave an area of your home, immediately straighten it up.
Crystal
Storms.crystal@gmail.com
I have another tip just pop into my head. When I was pregnant with my first, we didn’t have a seperate nursery or closet, so we needed to figure out how to handle the clothes. We bought a quilt rack and hung the baby clothes on hangers then hung the hangers on the rack. We put the rack over a heat vent so the clothes weren’t very cold in the winter. We had one side for ‘current size and season’ and one side for transitioning and weeding out clothes that were too small/big/out of season. As she grew up, she learned how to hang her own clothes and was able to choose her own clothes much easier since everything was in reach. Our oldest is now outgrowing her quilt rack, and we’re getting ready to have little sister share a room with her, so oldest will have the closet while youngest has the rack to hang clothes.
The best organizing tip that I follow is to do it right away, don’t let things sit and pile up. So that means sorting mail as soon as you bring it in from the mailbox and throw away junk mail immediately. Also clean up spills and such right away because the longer you wait, the harder it is to clean. This has saved me time, messes and clutter.
I do a complete load of laundry every time – so I sort / deal with stains, wash, dry (hang or dryer), then fold and put away. That way whatever load I was doing is done – no lingering piles of clean laundry that need to be dealt with (it’s almost as bad as having piles of dirty laundry that need to be dealt with:)
I created a “mail station” on the counter in my kitchen. When the mail comes in, if I have time it gets sorted immediately and there’s a place for everything. If I don’t, there’s a spot for unsorted mail and when I’m on the phone with someone I sort what’s in that spot. Cuts down on missing a bill or not being able to find something important that you “know you got the other day”…
Whenever we get a new appliance, gadget, etc., I put the manual, extra screws, and receipt in a ziplock bag. Then everything is in one place!
I have a binder with school papers and calendars. Each child gets a three hole punched folder and everything school related goes inside. This year has been so much easier because of the binder!
The best idea I’ve ever had was to LABEL EVERYTHING. Whether it’s in the fridge, or the closet, if it’s labeled, it’s easier to keep like things together. I also put things into easy to stack/arrange boxes or baskets, to keep it contained. Everything has a space, and when we are done with it, it’s to go back in that space. While I like to think I’m organized, and I LOVE doing it, I still have a LOT to learn! There are certain areas in my home that are organized, but others that I have no clue what to do with! 😛
I do try to keep the kitchen presentable…. every night before bed i do dishes if they aren’t already done, clean up the counter, put shoes away, tidy my stack of papers/fliers/mail that i’ve not gone through yet. 🙂 We (and company) enter through the kitchen so my goal is to keep it at an unembarrassing level of tidyness. 🙂
I put an empty plastic tub with a lid in my Daughters closet and throw the clothes that don’t fit her in there. When the tub gets full I then consign her clothes. Keeps clothes nice and organized.
About 5 years into my marriage, I gave my husband a “drawer” in the kitchen-no more emptied-pocket mess or stash of papers he’s saving to look at–it all goes in “his” drawer–not the counter 🙂
I try to spend no more than 15 minutes in one spot while I’m picking up. Whatever gets done I fine! Usually I’m finished by that time anyway!!!
If I were actually organized and had a tip to share, I wouldn’t need to win those books! 🙂 Well, apparently, I’m not hopeless since I do prioritize my to-do list, like Karen’s – today, soon, someday. I do like Marcia’s tip of scheduling to-do items, writing them on your planner. I do have a bill-paying tip. I have the billers or my credit union send email reminders before bills are due. Once a month, when I receive the reminder email, I schedule all the payments for when I do want to pay them.
I have a daily to do list which I split into calls, errands, computer and home, then prioritize within each. I also have a running project to do list so I don’t forget long term projects/tasks and can move those into my daily list as tasks/time/priorities permit.
We love to do yard sales but our rule with toys is ” you have to bless someone else with two of your toys for every one toy you purchase.”.
Just 15 minutes…. If I am frustrated by a clutter hot spot, I tell myself to spend just 15 minutes there. Whatever I get done is fine. Usually, I have everything done (in that one spot!) before the time is up, so why did I brood over it for a day, week, month, or year!! lol
My little boy is 21 months and loves to scatter all his toys about the living room. I have a set of shelves and baskets to collect everything and it makes it easy to pick up at the end of the day. Of course, the best thing is that I limit the number of toys he has access to! About half are put up in the closet, and we will rotate the toys every month or two. He’s young enough that its like getting new stuff!
Best organizing tip? Well … I keep Rubbermaid Tote Boxes in my shed, with out-of-season clothes, extra-toys-the-kids-aren’t-using, extra-craft-supplies-that-don’t-fit-in-the-house, etc. The boxes are numbered, and the numbers correspond to my little card-file – so, IF I keep my organizing system organized, it works …
For the kitchen:
Use the water/drain pipes in one side of the cabinet under my kitchen sink as dividers for storing larger pans (sheet pans/pizza pan, etc.) or serving plates that don’t fit in my other cabinets. The other side has a big tub for cleaning supplies.
My fave cleaning tip that was worked wonders for me: set a timer for 15 minutes and pick an area! It is amazing how much you can actually get done in those 15 minutes that looked like it would take hours
My rolls of Cricut vinyl was a messy problem. So I have storage closet under my basement stairs- I purchased some long nails and drove them into the wood at an angle to slide rolls of vinyl onto them. They are organized, out of the way, and easy to see what I have. For the odd sizes, I hung a shoe organizer and tucked remnants in the pockets. Still working on other areas that need organized!!
we have one of those hanging wall file organizers and we have folders for each of the kids’ keeper work…and at the end of the year, we place it in their personalized rubbermaid for memories. The hanging files are helpful because we can sort it right away…plus, it keeps the amount saved to a minimum.
I do not keep clothes that do not fit. Period.
I recently started getting my mom’s “hand-me-down” magazines. When I find something I like (idea, receipe, etc.), I pull out the page and put it in a pretty three-ring binder I bought and filled with sheet protectors which are divided by categories. Once I try the idea, product, receipe I can decide to keep or toss the page. That way, I’m not cluttering up the house with magazines. They go straight in the recycle bin and I only keep the few pages that interest me.
I am a writer, card designer, creator with my photos and poetry so i have paper of all kinds, cards, envelopes etc. that i keep neatly in a glass front bookcase where i can see exactly what i’m looking for and get to it without a great deal of trouble. I think this is the only organized place in my whole apartment. I am for the most part a total disorganized mess and it seems the harder i try to make it better the worse it gets. I am getting good ideas from Karen and other sites.
When cleaning or decluttering an area, I “stay within my circle.” An imaginary line around that area that I can’t leave. I have a box for trash, a box for donation and a box for things that go in another room. This keeps me from getting distracted by running into other rooms and seeing other things that need done 😀
Once you have things organized, in order to keep them organized follow the 1 in-1 out rule. The only way you can buy more of something whether it be clothes, toys, or kitchen gadgets you must get rid of the same number of that type of item. That way clutter can’t sneak up on you.
I am still looking for my best organizing tip! Some of my family members think that I am really organized but I think I have them fooled! I do some of the basics of when something new goes into the closet, take something old out. I am good about having yard sales to get rid of old stuff and then donating the left overs. I tackle MOST mail when it comes in. I have a file system for all the little hand booklets that come with new products. Just to name a few. I am soooo happy that you gave us the link of how to clean in between the glass on the oven door. Mine is just awful and I never knew how to clean it. Thank you!!
I have a touch it, deal with it rule with my papers that I got from Glynnis Whitwer’s book, I Used to be So Organized. It either goes to its home or in the trash. It is a huge help!!!
One thing at a time. I get overwhelmed thinking about all the things I should have more organized or should clean better or more frequently . . . not to be a slacker, but just take small steps and enjoy the progress!
I am NOT the most organized person that is certain. I do have 1 rule that I try to follow, and that is that if it doesn’t have a home it can’t live in my house. my kids know that everything they own must have a specific home
I like the idea of organizing. i like the charts and lists. to know what to do how often and how much. i read karens book last year. very great ideas. im having trouble with my kids memories and my deceased mothers belongings. she gave good ideas. now i just need to do it!! i can plan, buy my folllow through is sort of messed up. i did try the boxes or bags on table or flooor as i sorted. i was able to get the trash out right away. would like to sell some things, but again, not sure of the way to do it. so it sits here.
If you have younger kids, you can make it easier for them to get dressed on their own by putting a full outfit in a ziploc bag. I have twins that are in Kindergarten (a boy and a girl) and whenever I finish laundry, I pack up a full outfit (underwear, pants, shirt, and socks or sometimes it’s a dress, undies, and tights) in a gallon size ziploc bag and then I put all their bags in a basket or one of their drawers. It has made a world of difference in the morning! They can easily get dressed on their own. If you have a child who likes to pick out their own clothes, have them help you when you’re folding laundry and they can choose what outfits they want in their bags!
I use to type out the groceries I normally buy according to the aisles where they are and saved the file on my computer. I’d print it out, put it on my fridge, and circle the items I need to buy.However, I’ve saved time in making my grocery list Now by using an App on my iphone which I have with me All the time so updating it when I need to anytime & Print it when ready to go shopping.
Hi Vonnie.
You are the winner! Congrats. Please email me bronwyn@kathilipp.com
A basket at the top of the stairs and another at the bottom – put items in to take up or down when you go. Don’t make an extra trip.
My first thought was.. “OH NO! When do I have time to read these blogs!?” But I am going to make time because I must get organized! Thanks. (No tip from me,YET)
I am definitely doing the brain in a binder thing for my children’s school year. Karen is brilliant and even though she has no idea who I am she feels like a mentor to me! 🙂
Something I do that helps me keep things uncluttered is abiding by the rule, “If I can’t remember the last time I used this, I don’t need it.” And so I bag or box it up and take it to the Goodwill or sell it.
I recently found the silverware basket from our old discarded dishwasher. I put wallpaper samples down in the bottom and it now has a repurposed life as a caddy for pens, pencils, scissors, markers, and colored pencils for this homeschooling, crafty family.
My favorite tip is to have 3 boxes as I clean. 1 for donation, 2 for trash and 3 stuff that belongs somewhere else. I always make it my goal to fill the one for donation and see how many I can get. It means less in my house so less to keep organized. Even so with 6 kids I am constantly in need of help in organizing.
I agree with Dawn regarding FlyLady; however, that site is a very “busy” site. There is a lot of information on that site – almost too much going on in my opinion. She does have great information though. One thing I love to do and I don’t remember where I got it from, is to photograph my children’s art work whether it was made at school or at home. I love their creativity, but whoa! This stuff piles up after awhile. I could store it all in boxes, but then I have tons of boxes with stuff in it – most that won’t get looked at. By photographing their artwork and then putting those photographs in a scrapbook or photo album, their work is preserved even if the originals are no longer handy. It is also fun to look back at artwork and see how their creativity has changed.
I carry a bag from room to room when I’m cleaning. I gather things in the bag that don’t belong in that room. As I move to the next area. I grab anything out of the bag that belongs in that room and put it away.
GBennett
Great giveaway! Thank you for offering it, and for sharing these great blogs!
I’m not sure I have any super fabulous new ideas or anything, but the one that seems to really help in our home is to remember to keep only what we LOVE and NEED. Those thoughts help put many unnecessary items and our unnecessary attachment to them into perspective.
I really don’t like clutter, but my tendency is to put everything away so I can’t see it. Then I end up stashing stuff I will never use again. So I think about each item before I put it away. Will I need it again (duh!) and if I moved across the country would I take it with me?? I recently moved from PA to TX and it changed the way I think about “stuff”!
My favorite organizing tip: use what you already have. I covered empty coffee cans with scrapbook paper and used them to store our school supplies. They look neat on the shelf and with labels the kids can easily find what they need. I’ve also covered Pringles cans, Nesquick cans, cappuccino cans, and Capri Sun boxes. I reuse metal and plastic, but try to stay away from the cardboard cans. Happy organizing!
I love Karen Ehman’s Brain in a Binder and Anna Moseley’s Cleaning Checklists. I’m going to build my own binder incorporating both women’s tools. As far as a favorite organizing tip, I like Marsha Ramsland’s tip of doing a 2-minute pick-up before leaving a room. I do something similar with a room check every night.
I typed out the groceries I normally buy according to the aisles where they are and saved the file on my computer. I print it out, put it on my fridge, and circle the items I need to buy. I save time in making my grocery list, and save time in the grocery store! I know exactly which aisle to go down and which ones I don’t!
Most of my organizing help has been based from Flylady. A while back, she sent an email comparing clutter to cholesterol, which ‘hit home’ for me with my family’s history battling high cholesterol. I’m currently also attempting “40 Days of Decluttering” this Lenten season. Finally, I stumbled upon the site “How Does She Do It,” which is a free menu planner. You can type in your recipies or use ones that are ‘shared’ on the site, and you can easily make menus with the grocery lists made as you go.
I love these blogs…I am trying to get more organized so my life will be alot smoother. My home work area is in shambles. I realized my mail had been stacked high. I always separated the bills & put them in one place and just stacked the other stuff for a later day. I decided to evaluate how often I touched the mail & began making a mark on the envelope everytime I touched it. Doing that even made me open it faster. My goal now is to open & discard junk mail & deal with the other the day that it comes if possible. Now working to file the rest of the papers. Thanks for your tips everyone
I took Courtney’s advice from Women Living Well & Good Morning Girls and made a binder for Christmas/Gifts. I LOVE IT!!! It keeps me so organized, with everything in one place!
I do laundry every day to keep it from piling up and i also sort through (and dispose of or deal with) mail everyday as soon as I get home so it isnt lying on the counter 🙂
I always try to do at least a load of laundry a day, even on weekends. I also, take a tip from Flylady and empty and clean my kitchen sink every night. It is less stressful in the morning when it is all clean.
A simple tip…I try to do one load of laundry a day. It keeps my laundry basket somewhat empty and it’s easier to manage getting it folded and put away.
My best organizing tip…pick one day a week/month/etc. Have a friend come over…pick a project and knock it out with their help. It’s fun, makes you commit (instead of stopping to run an errand, check email, etc.) and it gives another perspective on how to organize or what to get rid of it (because they aren’t emotionally attached to it like you are). Then recipocate at her house! My friend and I plan about 3-4 of these days a month. Kitchen cabinets, kids rooms, pantry, Christmas decorations, you name it. Whatever is weighing on your heart that needs to get done “first”.
Not sure if I am a good one to give organizing tips from…since I need to organize more but…The best advice I have is do it now. When you get the mail – put it up now don’t put it on the counter to do it later. When you get the clothes out of the dryer put them away now don’t set them on the spare bed and say you’ll do it later (cuz I do that sometimes and forget there are clean clothes in there! HA!) It wil only take a few extra minutes do it now! Off to take my own advice now….
My best organizing tip…FLYLADY!!! You can organize anything, 15 minutes at a time!!
Dawn
My tip for organization. I use empty toilet paper rolls to keep cords from tangling (lab top, hairdryer,iron etc.) I sometimes cover them with contact paper to brighten them up and makes them a bit more sturdy. Great for storing cords at home or while traveling. 🙂
Love my Brain in a binder. Also keep all my bills in a separate binder and it is so much easier to manage and find what I need. They are life-savers!! No more lost phone numbers, medical information or bills!
My best organizing tip? Buy a labeler. I homeschool my kiddos, so we have lots and lots to keep organized. My kids have both fallen in love with my simple $20 labeler from Walmart. In my house, if it doesn’t walk, there’s a real good chance it has a label across the front of it!
My favorite organization tip involves simplifying my laundry routine. I have lots of little (and not-so-little) people running around and I used to dread laundry. At least the loads with all those mis-matched socks and underwear. Whose are these!? They all looked the same. Solution: Everyone has their own small zippered lingerie laundry bag labeled with their name in permanent marker. It stays in their room until laundry day to collect all those dirty socks and underwear. On laundry day they zip it up, I wash them, dry them and hand them back their bags to put away! Love it:)