Did you host the family for Thanksgiving or is it your turn to host Christmas?
Then it is time to get the house in order. If you spend a lot of time looking for things and have closets or drawers brimming, it is time to think about an organized home.
The first step would be to start with a positive attitude. Cleaning is a chore, but taking a positive approach will encourage family members to become involved.
Clutter is a family affair, so it is important to find a time for everyone to discuss plans for clutter control. It is unfair for the family to expect one person to restore order.
Once everyone is on board the family needs to make time. The best suggestion is to set aside several Saturday mornings to work as a family on big cleanups. In each room, start at one spot and work clockwise around the room until you reach your starting point. Sort your items into boxes labeled Keep, Store, Give Away/Sell, and Throw Away.
The Keep Box should contain items that need to be returned to their proper places. It is important to sort the items together.
The Storage Box is a place to put items for use at another time.
The Give Away/Sell Box are the beginning of your next yard sale or to be taken to a consignment shop to earn some money from your unwanted items. You could also give these items to a secondhand store or charity.
The Throw Away Box is meant for anything that is broken, ripped, worn, or stained. This box could also be a trash can or trash bag. A trip to the recycling center or landfill may also be in order.
After the home has reached the clutter-free status, there needs to be a family discussion about how to maintain it. Share your ideas and expectations of what is expected and acceptable. You may need to teach others simple and effective ways to do the tasks. Everyone needs to do a little bit every day. Talk about those sources of clutter and how to avoid them.
It might be good to make a chart of responsibilities for the family to use as a guide for daily and weekly. Some members may object, so remember to stay firm and do not do their share of work or you will end up getting the task back! It should take about at least 2 to 4 weeks until the jobs become routine. You will need to be patient. The reward is worth it in the end. When youth and adults help with household work, they learn to carry out tasks, accept responsibility, and help others. They may develop a sense of “can do,” which builds self-confidence.
There is no better time to prepare for the holiday season and New Year than right now by having an organized home. To get the job done, all family members must be involved and accept responsibility. Not only does it reduce the stress for the person in charge of the household, but it can allow family members to be more at ease with things are in place. Why not start this weekend?
For more information on cutting the clutter, contact Jennifer K. Terrell, K-State Research and Extension – Southwind District 4-H Youth Development Agent at 620-244-3826 or [email protected].
