1. wash windows
2. have the carpets cleaned
3. clean sky lights and avoid falling off the ladder
But why wait for all that spring cleanliness? Get started now with this easy philosophy on organization:
The 5S Philosophy
The 5S's are a quick way to remember all the steps to organizing and sustaining organization. 5S is simple, quick and will SAVE YOUR SANITY. Best of all it is a small continuous improvement, not an overhaul. 5S takes you one step closer to a cleaner, more sane environment.
Start with one small space; it could be your purse, the medicine cabinet or the toy box. Once you have mastered the toy box you may feel ready to move on to the laundry room or your office, but don't start there, always start small.
1. Sort - Take everything out of the space you are working on. If it's your purse, simple dump it out on the table. Separate your stuff making piles of like items. Throw away items you don’t need anymore. Make piles for items that should go somewhere else and piles to return to the space you are 5S-ing.
2. Straighten - Keep items you want in designated places. This is where we start putting things back. In a purse, where will you place your cell phone, keys, wallet? Is it all dumped in the center pocket, or do you have side pockets to place small items? If you utilize the smaller pockets you will always know where items should be.
If you are organizing a desk space; literally TAPE outline where the stapler and tape dispensor belong. You can even outline where your morning coffee cup usually rests - or add a glued/ taped down coaster. Tape outlines help keep items in designated spaces. The outline will help you recognize if something is missing or out of place. And when the kids are asked to put something away, they know right where it goes!
Labels can be used to straighten toy boxes, cabinets, or other spaces. Like a tape outline a lable designates where an item belongs.
3. Shine - Make it sparkle. Clean your purse, work area, desk, toy box, etc. Cleaning should be a regular process not something that happens only when the mess has piled up.
4. Standardize - Use this same process for like spaces. If one bathroom closet is organized with labeled bins, the other bathroom closet should be too. Keeping things organized in a similar manner helps you know where things are, reduces stress and keeps you from memorizing too many organization methods.
5. Sustain - Complete this process regularly to keep spaces organized and clean. I 5S my purse nightly to remove items added that day and keep things I need the next day. It's that easy!
6. Sanity - You will feel less anxious when everything has a place and lives there. I promise.
2. Straighten - Keep items you want in designated places. This is where we start putting things back. In a purse, where will you place your cell phone, keys, wallet? Is it all dumped in the center pocket, or do you have side pockets to place small items? If you utilize the smaller pockets you will always know where items should be.
If you are organizing a desk space; literally TAPE outline where the stapler and tape dispensor belong. You can even outline where your morning coffee cup usually rests - or add a glued/ taped down coaster. Tape outlines help keep items in designated spaces. The outline will help you recognize if something is missing or out of place. And when the kids are asked to put something away, they know right where it goes!
Labels can be used to straighten toy boxes, cabinets, or other spaces. Like a tape outline a lable designates where an item belongs.
3. Shine - Make it sparkle. Clean your purse, work area, desk, toy box, etc. Cleaning should be a regular process not something that happens only when the mess has piled up.
4. Standardize - Use this same process for like spaces. If one bathroom closet is organized with labeled bins, the other bathroom closet should be too. Keeping things organized in a similar manner helps you know where things are, reduces stress and keeps you from memorizing too many organization methods.
5. Sustain - Complete this process regularly to keep spaces organized and clean. I 5S my purse nightly to remove items added that day and keep things I need the next day. It's that easy!
6. Sanity - You will feel less anxious when everything has a place and lives there. I promise.
