Help! I'm Knee-Deep in Clutter!: Conquer the Chaos and Get Organized Once and For All

224 Pages·2007·3.431 MB·English

by  Joyce I. Anderson

H e l p ,
I’m Knee-Deep in Clutter!
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H e l p ,
I’m Knee-Deep in Clutter!
Conquer the Chaos and Get Organized Once and for All
J O Y C E I . A N D E R S O N
AmericanManagementAssociation
NewYork•Atlanta•Brussels•Chicago•MexicoCity•SanFrancisco
Shanghai•Tokyo•Toronto•Washington,D.C.
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LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Anderson,JoyceI.
Help,I’mknee-deepinclutter!:conquerthechaosandgetorganizedonceandfor
all/JoyceI.Anderson.
p. cm.
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN-10:0-8144-7420-9
ISBN-13:978-0-8144-7420-4
1. Storageinthehome. 2. Housekeeping. 3. Homeeconomics. I. Title.
TX309.A63 2007
648(cid:2).8—dc22
2006025180
(cid:2)2007JoyceI.Anderson.
Allrightsreserved.
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
Thispublicationmaynotbereproduced,
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inanyformorbyanymeans,electronic,
mechanical,photocopying,recording,orotherwise,
withoutthepriorwrittenpermissionofAMACOM,
adivisionofAmericanManagementAssociation,
1601Broadway,NewYork,NY10019.
Printingnumber
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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C O N T E N T S
Introduction xi
Acknowledgments xiii
PART ONE. Knee-Deep Clutter and Chaos 1
Chapter1.TimeWise 3
1stStep:PaperRoundup 4
2ndStep:MasterList 4
3rdStep:YearlyChecklist 5
4thStep:WeeklyPriorityList 5
5thStep:DailyCalendar 5
6thStep:SundaySetup 7
Chapter2.CorraltheBiggestClutterCulprits 9
1stStep:In-and-OutShelf 10
2ndStep:MailandPaperwork 11
3rdStep:Clothes 11
4thStep:FoodandDishes 12
5thStep:ToysandGames 12
PART TWO. Hip-Deep Clutter and Chaos 15
Chapter3.Basement 17
1stStep:ThePlan 18
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vi Contents
2ndStep:TheFunHouseintheBasement 18
3rdStep:LaundryArea 19
4thStep:One-StopShopping 20
5thStep:Playhouse 20
6thStep:ShapeUp 21
7thStep:OfficeorStudyHall 21
8thStep:ToolTime 22
Chapter4.Basement,Attic,andGarage 24
1stStep:Storage 25
2ndStep:CleartheClutter 25
3rdStep:FunStuff 26
4thStep:HearthandHome 27
5thStep:KiddieCorner 28
6thStep:Let’sGetPersonal 29
Chapter5:BathroomsandLinenCloset 31
1stStep:ClumpEverything 32
2ndStep:Let’sGetOrganized 32
3rdStep:TheBeautyCounter 33
4thStep:LinenCloset 34
Chapter6.Bedrooms 38
1stStep:Clearinghouse 39
2ndStep:SleepAids 39
3rdStep:Sanctuary 41
4thStep:Decorate 42
5thStep:OfficeWork 42
Chapter7.Bedrooms—Kids 44
1stStep:CleanupCampaign 45
2ndStep:Sleepytime 46
3rdStep:Grooming 46
4thStep:Schoolwork 47
5thStep:Decorate 47
Chapter8.ClothesandAccessories 49
1stStep:Space-Savers 50
2ndStep:GetRidofIt,SellIt,orGiveItAway 51
3rdStep:SeasonalSetup 52
4thStep:GetItTogether 52
5thStep:ColorCoordination 53
6thStep:TheFamilyJewels 54
7thStep:ChildrenOnly 54
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Contents vii
Chapter9.EntertainmentCenter 57
1stStep:EntertainmentTonight 58
2ndStep:MusicalMoments 59
3rdStep:Subscriptions 60
4thStep:TheBookstore 60
5thStep:ThePlayStation 62
Chapter10.Foyer,LivingRoom,FamilyRoom,andDiningRoom 65
1stStep:Chit-Chat 66
2ndStep:GreenPeace 66
3rdStep:FengShuiIt 67
4thStep:ArtAttack 67
5thStep:AccentuatethePositive 68
6thStep:LightenUp 69
7thStep:TheWelcomeMat 69
8thStep:FineDining 70
Chapter11.Kitchen 72
1stStep:Rack’emandStack’em 73
2ndStep:Clumping 74
3rdStep:TheDiner 75
4thStep:TheCounterRevolution 76
5thStep:Fixin’UptheFridge 77
6thStep:KPDuty 78
7thStep:UsingYourNoodle 79
8thStep:PerkUpthePlace 79
Chapter12.HealthandSafety 82
1stStep:DailyMedications 83
2ndStep:MiscellaneousMeds 84
3rdStep:MedicalPaperwork 85
4thStep:HouseholdSafeguards 87
5thStep:EmergencyPlanning 91
6thStep:DisasterKit 96
Chapter13.HomeOffice 100
1stStep:Location,Location,Location 101
2ndStep:Purchasing 102
3rdStep:SettingUptheOffice 105
4thStep:Calendars,Trays,Folders,Envelopes,andIncoming
Papers 109
5thStep:PriorityFolders 112
6thStep:TheDailyWorkRoutine 113
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viii Contents
Chapter14.Paperwork—Daily 119
1stStep:MailandPaperwork 120
2ndStep:DailyHabit 121
3rdStep:WeeklyHabit 121
Chapter15.Paperwork—Backlog 124
1stStep:SortingStation 125
2ndStep:TheBigDecision 125
3rdStep:DigIn 126
Chapter16.Paperwork—FilingFestival 129
1stStep:GENERALINFORMATIONFoldersandACTION
Folders 130
2ndStep:PERMANENTBUSINESSANDHOUSEHOLD
Folders 132
3rdStep:PERSONALINTERESTFolders 134
Chapter17.PartiesandOvernightGuests 138
1stStep:You’reHavingaParty 139
2ndStep:AWeekorSoBeforetheParty 140
3rdStep:TheDayBeforetheParty 142
4thStep:TheBigDay 144
5thStep:TheParty’sOver 145
Chapter18.Photographs 147
1stStep:SortItOut 148
2ndStep:OrganizingPhotos 148
3rdStep:Negatives 151
4thStep:PhotoStorage 151
Chapter19.TravelAids 154
1stStep:Inventory 155
2ndStep:Travelogue 156
3rdStep:HaveBag,WillTravel 157
Chapter20.TravelPlans 160
1stStep:AdvancedPlanning 161
2ndStep:OnlyOneWeekLeft 164
3rdStep:VacationGetaway 164
4thStep:Puttin’ontheRitz 165
Chapter21.TravelChecklist 167
1stStep:Carry-On,Wallet,MoneyBelt 168
2ndStep:PackYourBags 169
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Contents ix
PART THREE. Ankle-Deep Clutter and Chaos 175
Chapter22.TheDailyandWeeklyRoutines 177
TheDailyRoutine 182
GoodMorning:StoptheClutterCycle! 183
1stStep:BathroomBuffing 183
2ndStep:BedroomBeautification 183
3rdStep:KPDutyandSpotPatrol 183
4thStep:Head’emUp,Move’emOut 183
GoodAfternoon:StopCreepingClutter! 184
1stStep:ItStopsRightHere 184
2ndStep:KeepinTouch 184
GoodEvening:ConquertheChaos! 184
1stStep:KPDutyandSpotPatrol—Again 184
2ndStep:PlanAhead 185
3rdStep:ClosingUpShop 185
TheWeeklyRoutine 185
Oh,No!It’sThatTimeAgain! 185
1stStep:TheSundaySetup 185
2ndStep:GettheGoodHousekeepingAward 186
3rdStep:TweakingTime 186
4thStep:LaundryCycle 187
5thStep:TheGreatOutdoors 187
6thStep:PlowThroughthePaperwork 187
Chapter23.TheYearlyChecklist 190
Index 199
AbouttheAuthor 207
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