Curing clutter: Staying organized year-round is key to spring cleaning

Spring is right around the corner, but with sunshine and warmer temperatures comes something less than revitalizing — spring cleaning.

Deep cleaning an entire house can feel overwhelming, but Marilyn Bohn, professional organizer and author of "Go Organize: Conquer Clutter in 3 Simple Steps," said there's an easier way.

Bohn of Bountiful said staying organized year-round is the key to stress-free living.

"Don't do spring cleaning," Bohn said. "Do it a little at a time and do it all year long."

By not getting overwhelmed with the task at hand, Bohn said the workload becomes less intimidating.

"A lot of people who are disorganized can see all the clutter, it's like they can see the forest, but not the trees," Bohn said. "They see there is a problem, but don't know how to correct it."

The first step to an organized household, Bohn said, is focusing on one task and completing it at an easy pace.

"My philosophy is to work from the inside out," Bohn said. "So maybe just start with a drawer or something small. A lot of the problem is that people become overwhelmed and so they work until they're exhausted and sick of it and never go back to it. That just creates more clutter."

To alleviate organization burnout, Bohn recommends setting a timer for 15 minutes and cleaning until it goes off. Then take a break and evaluate the next step.

"Walk away and get a drink," Bohn said. "Preferably water, not a margarita — even if that might make the clutter really feel good — and get a snack."

The important thing to remember is to take it slow, she said.

"Rome wasn't built in a day," Bohn said, "so you don't need to think, 'Oh, I've got to get all of this done today.' "

The system worked for Mary Louise Bean, a retired teacher from Bountiful, who contacted Bohn after attending one of her presentations.

She wanted to get organized, but the daunting task of sorting through a messy desk had kept her from trying.

"I couldn't even look at that desk, and that's why I had always put it off," Bean said.

That's when she called Bohn.

"In one day we only set up a filing system and emptied one drawer, but after she left I felt like a different person," Bean said. "When you have emptiness and clutter has been cleared it changes your whole happiness. It's like here's this inversion, and as soon as you have a day where it's sunny, you just feel better."

Using Bohn's tips, Bean said she was able to retain her momentum and continue organizing her house.

"The hardest part was just getting started," Bean said. "It's like with exercise, just taking that first step is the hardest part."

Caitlin Thompson, founder of www.cluttercubed.com, said she started a blog to share advice from someone dealing with clutter and to help her get motivated.