Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1: Behind the Scenes Q&A
Chapter 2: Getting Started
Chapter 3: Organizing 101
Chapter 4: Everyday Stuff
Chapter 5: Paper
Chapter 6: Storage
Chapter 7: Kitchen
Chapter 8: Kids
Chapter 9: Out-of-the-Ordinary Times
Chapter 10: Work and Home Office
Chapter 11: Getting It All Done
Chapter 12: Simply Green Organizing
Chapter 13: Real Moments—Specific Organizing Questions
A Note from the Author
Book Group Action Guide
Bite-Size Organizing Groups
Index
About the Author
What is clutter?My definition of clutter is any item that falls into one or more of three categories:Things you do not use or love (three extra spatulas in the kitchen utensil drawer)Things without a home (the new shirt you just bought that is draped over the back of a chair because your dresser is overstuffed)Anything unfinished or in need of repair (the sweater sitting on the washing machine that is missing a button)Where does clutter come from?Sometimes it seems like clutter falls from the sky; as quickly as you clear one area, it gets cluttered again. I've noticed that each person accumulates clutter in a different way. Which of the following describes you?Holding on to an item thinking it might come in handy one dayPutting an item down and planning to deal with it laterBeing unwilling to let something go simply because it's still goodGetting stuck in a perfectionist rut and waiting to do the organizing project perfectlyHaving a sentimental attachment to items because they remind you of somethingTaking items home just because they are on sale or freeOne or more of these accumulation methods can create clutter. Knowing how you create clutter can help you to deal with it.How do I know if my clutter is normal?The general rule is that if clutter is not affecting your day-to-day living, then you're doing all right. Like most rules, however, this one has exceptions. Some people are unable or unwilling to recognize that clutter is disrupting their lives. Here are the top ten signs of an overly cluttered life:Unexpected guests send you into "scoop and dump" mode. That means before you can answer the door, you grab a bag or laundry basket and frantically scoop up piles of paper, toys, clothes, etc., dumping them in a closet, bedroom, or garage. Once your guests leave, you don't address the clutter you just moved.You misplace things on a daily basis. Everyday accessories like a cell phone, keys, pen, purse, shoes, jacket—you get the picture.You live out of a laundry basket. Clothes are washed and folded, yet there is no space in the closet or dresser drawers to hang them up or put them away.Piles of "important" papers are stacked on surfaces (and possibly the floor) throughout your home. You leave them out as a visual reminder so you won't forget to act on them.You stash stuff in one or more areas of your home, planning to decide what to do with it later. But later never comes. You might use the garage, basement, attic, spare/guest bedroom, or other hideaway. You quickly shove items into these spaces and shut the door behind you before they spill out.You accrue late fees on bills because you don't reconcile your financial statements.Spaces in your home can't be utilized for their intended purpose.Areas of your home can't be cleaned properly because they're cluttered.Disorganization is causing conflicts in your relationships with friends and family, or causing you to decline invitations because you feel tied to your home.You find yourself running out of space, even though your amount of storage space hasn't been reduced by a major event like welcoming a new baby or moving into a smaller home.How do I know if I would be classified as a compulsive hoarder?Compulsive hoarding is more than simply being disorganized. Most of us associate hoarding with stories we've heard about people whose homes have only narrow pathways through stacks of junk, or about people who have fifty cats. But compulsive hoarding is a medical condition in which...