Comments about ‘Curing clutter: Staying organized year-round is key to spring cleaning’

spring cleaning used to be necessary when people used fireplaces, coal and oil to heat their homes. I love to deep clean my house 2x a year. Once starting in September. That gives me plenty of time to get it spiffy for the holidays. I do it again after the holiday, as somethings take a back seat to holiday preparations. I'm still working on the post holiday cleaning because of winter illness. There's no pressure, I'm just doing it for my own satisfaction. Take the pressure off yourself and I think you'll find it goes much easier. Once I'm done, I can just worry about the basic day to day cleaning until the fall rolls around again.

If you want to get really motivated at cleaning up the clutter in your house, just watch one episode of "Hoarders" and it will scare you right into it!

She is taking some concepts from others...like Fly Lady's fifteen minute decluttering baby steps turned into tortoise steps and some from other organizers I have seen.

A closet, or one cupboard, or drawer is a bite-sized project. Pull everything out, clean the closet, and put stuff back in -- after sorting it into Keep, Throw Away, and Donate piles. Love it! Makes me feel like I've really accomplished something. I don't do "spring" cleaning -- when spring hits, I want to be in the yard. I do it before Christmas (get rid of clutter before more comes in the house) and before school starts (get kids to go through closets before buying school clothes). If more is coming in, prepare by getting some out first.

I believe in Bohn's tip to set a timer. I find that helps alot. It breaks it down and I don't feel so overwhelmed.
It's smart to keep organizing vs. staying organized. Like 'I like closets' I want to be in the yard/garden and not spring cleaning and when I organize one step at a time this helps.

I like her advice to avoid sales. I used to bring home loads of things I had bought just because they were on sale. The economy and my tight budget have stopped that. I see too much stuff as a real distraction. I'm spending more time with friends and family instead of at the mall looking for "deals" I thought I needed. Our homes can't fit all the junk we are tempted to buy. It was a curse - all those cheap imported goods. I feel I have tamed the shopping monster. I only buy things I need! My house is less cluttered and I feel more at peace. I also donate items I no longer need to church thrift stores and look there first if I have a need.

I am so glad this article was written. Marilyn's approach to de-cluttering is refreshing. I have been frustrated because I wanted to get organized then STAY organized. KEEP organized is so doable! Marilyn not only has fantastic tips for organizing, in her daily blogs and articles, she can make it fun!!! This certainly has lifted my spirits!!! Success is in the air! Thanks Marilyn!

Has anyone had to get rid of stuffed animals and if so how? I have one that needs to meet the scissors and but cut up to be thrown away because it is falling apart. I play with it all the time and I won't let him out of my site. My thirty two year old pound puppy needs to be cut up and thrown away because it is very dirty and I won't wash it on sundays like I am supposed to be doing according to my allergist if I wanted to be able to keep it but I broke my promise to him. I need to be punished now because I wouldn't do what he told me to do. I sleep with the pound puppy stuffed animal and I suck my them when I play with it and I suck on it's ear at night. I am thirty six years old and I have been told that I am acting very immature and acting like I child. If anyone has a way of helping me come up with an idea of how to get rid of my animals please email me wootonemily@Hotmail.Com