OT- Cleaning out the clutter...

[wahmof3]

Sorta OT here, but how do you keep up with "clutter" and how do you keep your house organized?

I am constantly picking up after every single person in my family and its getting extremely old.

My kitchen is the worst room in the house. We have a ton of counter space and an island that has become a catch-all, for everything.

My children and DH are horrible about picking up after themselves.

I get up in the mornings, shower, and once over my house before the first DCK arrives.

I need some tips for organization, as well as, how to teach my children to pick up their things.

[Sereetta]

Track Progress

I not sure how old your children are but you could always do a star chart and offer rewards. Little rewards such as that person is able to chose the menu for dinner, etc.
After a consistent time of cleaning after themselves they will become upset is there is clutter!!!! Lol... Just remember to be on top of the kids and advocate that hubby joins in. We can't demand your husbands like we do with the kids so get creative. Start stroking that ego and be in the best mood when it is clean! He will want to keep it clean everyday just to keep you in the mood! lovethis
Also don't get discouraged if they don't do it perfectly each time! Keep a positive attitude and it will happen in time. ::

[SilverSabre25]

It's something I struggle with too. I've made amazing strides in the past year though. The house on it's worst day looks much better than it used to on it's best day. As I said, amazing.

One of the things that's changed most for me is to take a "hotspot" of clutter and look at what it is that gets caught there, and why it gets caught there. Then make a routine that will address that issue. If clutter piles up somewhere, there's usually a pretty logical reason for it.

For example, I figured out that several spots (right by the front door, the kitchen table, and a couple other spots) kept getting full of mail that came in. Most of *that* was recycling, and so I hung a plastic bag on one of the hooks behind the front door and I sort the mail the second I come in the door. The recycling goes straight in the bag and the rest goes up the stairs with me where in a perfect world I would then deal with it all but right now it just gets piled on my desk. Baby steps

[NeedaVaca]

I saw this once and thought it was such a funny idea, it might work for your kids? Not sure about their ages...

[Loveyoustinkyface]

FlyLady.com has helped me!

[Country Kids]

My two big hotspots is because of the daycare (it seems thats my life for everything). Its the spot where all papers go, projects toys in timeout, things to go through, etc.

Our garage is the same way. We finally had to buy shelving units for everything and there is still alot off of them. I use it all so no I can't get rid of it. My husband even suggest getting a small storage unit but alot of times I need to be able to get it right away and can with it being here. He gets discouraged because he wants it to be like a man cave and can't because of everything.

I just said to my hubs today that we would gain soooooooooo much space if I didn't do childcare. We would gain the gargage, the extra room I do it in, the two big hotspots, and an entire yard. Deep down though I think I know I would miss it and having it here. Someday though I do need to have this be our home for us.

[Crystal]

Last year I went through every closet, drawer, cupboard and the garage and sent everything to the dump that we hadn't used in more than 1-2 years. It was a HUGE relief to purge and makes it easier to keep things organized.

Mail is handled the second it comes through the door.

There is a hamper in every bedroom and bathroom and clothes go straight into one when taken off.

I turned my garage into a home gym, so no one is allowed to throw there crap in there

As soon as a container is emptied, it goes to the recycle bin or gets washed and used IMMEDIATELY for something else.....if it cannot be reused immediately it goes to the bin.

If my son has paperwork, etc. that I need to sign, read, etc. he gives it to me to handle as soon as he gets home and it goes right back in his backpack, or is handled accordingly.

These things have made my life a little easier and I get a lot less frustrated during my days.

[Play Care]

FlyLady.com has helped me!

I LOVE the fly lady system! I have an app on my ipad that's based off her system called Home Routines. It has really helped me keep my home looking the way I want it to look. I have found that I needed to invest in storage solutions in order to keep things neat and tidy - clear bins, file folders, baskets etc. A lot of our clutter was actually things we needed (paperwork for taxes, schools forms for the kids, etc.) but just didn't have a designated spot. I also agree about evaluating your "hot spots" in your home (where clutter tends to pile up) and go through them every day. I love the idea of an ugh-oh bin for older kids. After one warning to pick up their things, they go in the bin and they must do a chore to get them back. They can chose not to, but then the items are either packed away or donated