Untidy People of the World, Organize!

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Untidy People of the World, Organize!

Written by Kristen Hanley Cardozo

Organization doesn’t come naturally to me. One of my college roommates was biologically neat, and all things considered, she was surprisingly patient with me. However, though not naturally organized, I like order and feel troubled without it. I was trying to do something about this when necessity, in the form of motherhood, forced me to become a neater, more organized person. Not that my house is, by any stretch of the imagination, neat as a pin. I don’t suppose that’s possible with a toddler in the house. But for those of you who are as unorganized as I, I have compiled a list of the things I’ve learned about housework:

1. Make the bed. A small detail, I know, but it’s much easier to keep a clean bedroom if the bed if made every morning. An unmade bed is the most discouraging sight and makes one sluggish in cleaning up other areas. After all, what’s the point if the room will still look messy?

2. Put away clothes as soon as they are washed. Another obvious one, but still not always easy to do. I find that if I get behind on the laundry, that it, more than anything else, will clutter up the floor. Moved from couch to bed to floor, it can be the single most discouraging factor in putting it away. That big heap is far too intimidating.

3. Hide the clutter. You’re not going to become an organized person overnight. In fact, you may never become an organized person. But not everyone has to know this. Stash clutter in drawers, closets, and bins. Later, you may be able to sort this stuff out. Chances are, you haven’t known where most of the items have been for some time, and in many cases, you haven’t missed them. Throw away the things you haven’t missed, which brings us to…

4. Throw out whatever you can. I’m serious. It’s much harder to live in squalor when you don’t have as many possessions. I know, as Americans we’re entitled to our stuff, but do you really need that talking Chihuahua? Or that commemorative Olympic pin you saved because it had that amusing typo? Anything that doesn’t have a place or purpose should be considered as a throwaway candidate.

5. Don’t buy stuff because it’s a good deal. Is it? It might be cheap, but if you’re not going to use it it’s not a good deal. Yes, that sweater is useful, but if you hate it, buy the slightly more expensive one you’ll like and wear. Ask yourself, “Useful to whom?” It may not be you.

6. If you have carpeting, vacuum regularly. I hate, hate, hate having carpeting. But I do, and the only way it looks good is if I vacuum every day. On the other hand, vacuuming the floor forces you to remove the various toys and litter that your young demolition man has thoughtfully left there for you. Ah, a silver lining for every rain cloud!

7. Do the dishes as you use them. This is the hardest one for me to adhere to. I will do it consistently for about a week, and then hatred of dishes combined with the chaos of everyday life leads me to think, “I’ll just do this one later.” Big mistake. Nothing breeds faster than a couple of dishes left alone in the sink. Thwart the dishes’ evil plot to overpopulate the world via your kitchen.

8. Clean your bathroom once a week. Yuck. But, really, once a week isn’t all that often, and it doesn’t get too messy if you clean the tiles regularly. A simple bleach product will keep your tub/shower and sink shiny and purty, like the smiles in toothpaste commercials. The toilet also benefits from a regular scrubbing.

9. Keep your kitchen sanitary. There’s nothing worse than dying because your insides turned into soup. Clean counters and stoves after you’ve used them and sweep up the floor. Most of the yucky bacteria contracted in the kitchen do very scary things to a body.

10. Go easy on the antibacterial products. Most bacteria are destroyed with simple soap and water. Too many antibacterial products can cause the present bacteria (mostly harmless) to mutate into something disturbing and evil named Fred. Do not unleash this horror.

11. The best cleaning products are cheap. You can clean almost anything in your house with baking soda and vinegar. Not just for volcano science projects anymore! Baking soda is a natural abrasive, and both products are natural deodorizers. Plus, the cool volcano effect can cause dirt to come bubbling out of hiding places. Gross, yet oddly satisfying.

That is all the advice that I have the presumptiveness to offer. Good luck, and if you have found my list unhelpful, I suggest you stop seeking advice from someone who admittedly doesn’t have a high level of expertise in her subject matter.

Copyright 2001 Kristen Hanley Cardozo