Cut the Clutter

by Dorling Kindersley

  ▪

  energy costs

  Light it right. Home lighting is a major

  ice dispenser, include it in the inspection.

  player when it comes to energy use. Reign in

  ▪ Change the filters on the central heating and air systems.

  unneeded lighting with low-tech practices

  Clean air filtration devices as recommended by the manufacturer.

  such as turning off lights when you leave the

  ▪ Test smoke detectors.

  room, together with high-tech methods like

  ▪ Test remote alarm systems according to the instructions of motion-sensitive light switches.

  the monitoring service.

  ▪ Light it well with CFLs. Compact

  fluorescent light bulbs use one-third the

  Every 3 months:

  energy of their conventional counterparts—

  ▪ Make an inventory of first aid supplies. Replace any missing and they last 8 to 12 times longer. To help

  items. (Print a free first aid kit inventory checklist at Organized cushion higher up-front costs, look for

  Home.com; see also page 177.)

  governmental rebates that assist with the

  ▪ Hold a family fire drill, and review the family disaster plan transition to CFLs.

  with all household residents.

  ▪ Harness the power of power strips.

  Even when not in use, computer equipment,

  Every 6 months:

  televisions, and home electronic devices

  ▪ Drain sediment from the bottom of hot water heaters (if continue to draw power. Cut them off at the

  sediment is allowed to accumulate, it can affect the efficiency source with by using a power strip to turn

  of the heating element).

  these devices on and off. Look for new

  ▪ Replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

  “smart power strips” that will power down

  ▪ Check fire extinguishers to make sure they’re charged and printers and peripherals automatically when

  ready for use.

  the computer is turned off.

  ▪ Clean the ashes from the fireplace or a wood-burning stove,

  ▪ Bundle up the hot water heater.

  and empty the ash pit.

  Adding an insulating jacket to the hot water

  ▪ Check the hoses installed on washing machines, and replace heater lowers energy costs for hot water. Don’t

  them if they show signs of wear, or every two years.

  miss any exposed hot water pipes; plastic pipe

  ▪ Vacuum refrigerator coils to remove dust.

  insulation is inexpensive and easy to apply.

  ▪ Check refrigerator gaskets with the “dollar-bill” test: insert

  ▪ Double up in the oven. When you turn

  a dollar bill between the door and the refrigerator. If you can the oven on, make its energy use count. Slide

  pull it out easily, the refrigerator gaskets are loose and they side dishes in next to the Sunday roast for a

  should be replaced.

  whole-meal solution. When baking potatoes,

  ▪ Remove and clean kitchen exhaust fan filters. Most can be add extras, for making potato salad later in

  washed in the dishwasher to remove grease build-up. Alternately, the week.

  spray the fan filters with a degreaser and then rinse. Dry them before replacing.

  176

  CYCLES OF AN ORGANIZED HOME

  Be prepared with a

  family disaster plan

  Life happens—and so does fire, flood, and natural disaster. Will your family know what to do if disaster strikes? Just as schoolchildren practice fire drills, family members need to prepare for the unexpected. A family disaster plan teaches everyone what to do and where to go when an emergency arises.

  Make a family disaster plan

  ▪ Discuss the types of disasters that are most likely to happen.

  Does your family know what to do in the event of fire, Explain what to do in each case.

  earthquake, or severe weather? A simple family disaster plan

  ▪ Pick two places to meet:

  will help all family members deal with natural disasters on the

  * Right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, home front. To create a family disaster plan, follow these steps like a fire.

  from the “Family Disaster Plan” developed by the US Federal

  * Outside your neighborhood in case you can’t return home.

  Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross: Everyone must know the address and phone number.

  ▪ Ask an out-of-state friend to be your “family contact.” After Four steps to safety

  a disaster, it’s often easier to call long distance. Other family 1 Find out what could happen to you:

  members should call this person and tell them where they are.

  ▪ Contact your local Red Cross chapter or emergency

  Everyone must know your contact’s phone number.

  management office before a disaster occurs—be prepared to

  ▪ Discuss what to do in an evacuation. Plan how to take care take notes.

  of your pets.

  ▪ Ask what types of disasters are most likely to happen.

  Request information on how to prepare for each.

  3 Complete this checklist:

  ▪ Learn about your community’s warning signals: what they

  ▪ Post emergency telephone numbers by the phones (fire, sound like and what you should do when you hear them.

  police, ambulance, etc.).

  ▪ Ask about animal care after a disaster. Animals are not

  ▪ Teach children how and when to call 9-1-1 or your local allowed inside emergency shelters because of health regulations.

  Emergency Medical Services number for emergency help.

  ▪ Find out how to help elderly or disabled persons, if needed.

  ▪ Show each family member how and when to turn off the

  ▪ Find out about the disaster plans at your workplace, your utilities (water, gas, and electricity) at the main switches.

  children’s school or day-care center, and other places where

  ▪ Check if you have adequate insurance coverage.

  your family spends time.

  ▪ Get training from the fire department for each family member on how to use the fire extinguisher (ABC type), and show him 2 Create a Disaster Plan:

  or her where it’s kept.

  ▪ Meet with your family and discuss why you need to prepare

  ▪ Install smoke detectors on each level of your home, especially for disaster. Explain the dangers of fire, severe weather, and near bedrooms.

  earthquakes to children. Plan to share responsibilities and work

  ▪ Conduct a home-hazard hunt.

  together as a team.

  ▪ Stock emergency supplies and assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit.

  SURFACES AND SYSTEMS

  177

  ▪ Take a Red Cross first aid and CPR class.

  ▪ Determine the best escape routes from your home. Find If disaster

  two ways out of each room.

  Earthquake, fire, or weather disaster can

  ▪ Find the safe places in your home for each type of happen any time, anywhere. When the

  disaster.

  unexpected disrupts life at home, keep these

  points in mind to stay safe:

  4 Practice and maintain your plan

  ▪ Remain calm and patient. Put your plan

  ▪ Quiz your kids every six months or so.

  into action.

  strikes

  ▪ Conduct fire and emergency evacuations.

  ▪ Check for injuries.

  ▪ Replace stored water and stored food every six months.

  ▪ Give first aid and get help for seriously

  �
� Test and recharge your fire extinguisher(s) according to injured people.

  the manufacturer’s instructions.

  ▪ Listen to your battery-powered radio for

  ▪ Test your smoke detectors monthly and change the

  news and instructions.

  batteries at least once a year.

  ▪ Check and update emergency numbers on phone lists, Check for damage in your home

  cellphones, and PDAs.

  ▪ Use flashlights. Do not light matches or

  turn on electrical switches, if you suspect

  damage.

  The first aid kit

  ▪ Sniff for gas leaks, starting at the water

  The following list covers the contents of a basic first aid heater. If you smell gas or suspect a leak,

  kit. In addition, you may want

  turn off the main gas valve, open windows,

  to include a first aid manual

  and get everyone outside quickly.

  and a flashlight and extra

  ▪ Shut off any other damaged utilities.

  batteries for emergency use.

  (You will need a professional to turn gas

  Keep the kit out of reach of

  back on.)

  children.

  ▪ Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches,

  ▪ Antiseptic wipes

  gasoline, and other flammable liquids

  ▪ Tweezers

  immediately.

  ▪ Antiseptic ointment

  ▪ Antiseptic solution

  Remember to ...

  ▪ Assorted plasters

  ▪ Confine or secure your pets.

  ▪ Sterile gauze

  ▪ Call your family contact—do not use the

  ▪ Adhesive tape

  telephone again unless it is a life-threatening

  ▪ Selection of bandages

  emergency.

  ▪ Sharp scissors

  ▪ Check on your neighbors, especially elderly

  ▪ Safety pins

  or disabled persons.

  ▪ Plastic gloves

  ▪ Make sure you have an adequate water

  ▪ Painkillers (acetaminophen and ibuprofen)

  supply in case the service is cut off.

  ▪ Diarrhea medication

  ▪ Stay away from downed power lines.

  ▪ Insect repellant

  ▪ Thermometer

  ▪ Instant cold packs

  cut clutter

  Room to live

  Room by room around the house, clutter

  can stage a seemingly never-ending battle

  for space and place. While the principles for

  clearing clutter and regaining calm remain

  the same, specific tactics are needed for the

  distinct types of clutter challenges posed by

  , organize, clean

  the rooms in your home.

  Private areas, such as bedrooms and

  bathrooms, may suffer from function overload,

  expected to do too many jobs in the same

  space. Public areas are afflicted with “too

  many generals” issues; in these shared spaces,

  fighting chaos is a team effort, and requires

  coordination with, and cooperation from, all

  members of the household.

  In this section, we’ll move through each

  area of the home to cut clutter, get organized,

  and clean house. We’ll apply the STOP clutter

  methods to fight disorder, from the master

  bedroom to children’s play spaces, entry hall

  to family room. We’ll declutter books and

  magazines, entertainment areas, and create

  order among the arts and crafts supplies.

  180

  CYCLES OF AN ORGANIZED HOME

  Fighting clutter room by room:

  where does the shoe pinch?

  Room by room, clutter and chaos take hold, complicating even simple everyday actions—but not all clutter is created equal. Where does your clutter shoe pinch?

  Pile-ups of “stuff” give valuable clues to where life isn’t working. Let the clutter lead the way, and solve the biggest problems first.

  Observe clutter clues A heaped-up dining room table, Keep clutter magnets clear In every home, some “clutter covered with mail and paperwork, signals a need for a magnet” areas attract clutter faster than black trousers attract household paper management center ( see pages 220–221).

  lint. A convenient countertop or a table near the front door Piles of backpacks, shoes, school projects, and jackets at the can’t seem to shake off a constant influx of mail, newspapers, back door indicate an informal—and messy—attempt to create car keys, discarded toys, and loose change.

  a family Launch Pad ( see pages 182–183). Bathroom Because clutter breeds faster than rabbits, identify the countertops heaped with tangled hair dryers, cosmetics bottles, clutter magnets, and build time into each day’s schedule to and grooming products tell you that better organization—and a clear them. A daily sort will prevent them from mushrooming morning schedule—are needed to cut clutter in the bathroom.

  into clutter mountains when your back is turned.

  ▲ Clean. Around the house, each area ▲ Declutter. Shared living areas tend to

  ▲ Organize. Storage areas, such

  presents different challenges. Kitchens

  inherit clutter from every family member.

  as linen closets or shelves, must be

  and bathrooms require more cleaning.

  Children can help, too.

  organized to make good use of space.

  ROOM TO LIVE

  181

  Clutter

  Clutter, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

  3 Stand on the front porch or entryway

  A level of clutter that’s cozy to one person will seem to your home. Based on what you see—

  sterile and bare to someone with a higher tolerance

  decorations, shoes, and clothing—what

  level. Find your tolerance level with this quiz, and season is it?

  shape solutions that are right for you.

  A Christmas. Actually, it’s Christmas two years ago, quiz

  if you really want to know—but I think it would be

  1 There are monthly bills to pay. How do

  wonderful if every day were Christmas. Also, I see a you tackle the job?

  few Halloween decorations in the corner, over there, A I shove aside the breakfast dishes, dig out the next to the swim fins from last week’s trip to the lake.

  grocery sack holding the bills, and write the checks B Gosh, I’ve been meaning to take down the sign

  —who cares about a few toast crumbs?

  from John’s birthday party last month; think I’ll do B I turn on the TV, pull up a lap desk, and tear into it right now, thanks for reminding me.

  the envelopes during commercial breaks. Hey, it’s

  C Aside from the holiday season, I don’t believe in good exercise to get up and go hunt for the bills!

  decorating the front door. Even then, I think a simple C I stack the bills neatly on the desktop, get out evergreen wreath makes just the right statement,

  the calculator, and arrange the pens in the pen can

  don’t you?

  before I begin.

  4 First thing in the morning, you enjoy

  2 Time for bed. What’s your routine?

  reading the newspapers. What does the

  A I remove the cat from the pillow, sweep a few table look like afterward?

  crumpled tissues onto the floor, and plop down

  A Table? What table? I read the papers catch-as-amidst the magazines—it’s been a long day!

  catch-can ... I think the local section is still in the B I shake out the sheets (it was a busy morning!), bathroom, and last I saw, the children had the comics plump the pillow, and move a few
things to make

  in the family room.

  a spot for my water glass on the bedside table.

  B OK, I admit it: I just toss them in a pile on top of C I turn down the fresh bedding and frown at the the table and hope the Newspaper Elves come and

  wrinkle that developed in the pillowcase during the

  put them in the recycling bin.

  day. I arrange my water glass, bedtime book, reading C I read the newspapers front to back, and when glasses, and emergency flashlight neatly on the

  I’m finished with them, I fold them neatly for the

  bedside table.

  next person. Doesn’t everyone?

  If you answered mostly A,

  If you answered mostly B,

  If you answered mostly C,

  congratulations! You have a high

  you’re a happy medium. You tolerate

  why are you reading this book? You

  tolerance for daily clutter. You’ll get

  some clutter in your life, but take active

  have a very low tolerance for visual

  the job done even in disorganized

  steps to keep the clutter level down.

  clutter, and know that life runs most

  surroundings—but you do admit that

  Since you become stressed when life

  smoothly—and you are happiest—

  life would improve if you didn’t spend

  gets too chaotic, focus on building daily

  when you keep possessions under

  so much time looking for lost items.

  routines that bring life back to center.

  control and disorder at bay.

  ROOM TO LIVE

  183

  Decluttering

  the

  entryway

  It’s the portal of passage between home and the outer world: the entryway. For the family, it’s the place from which they launch themselves each day and hit the road; for guests and visitors, it’s the place where they form their first impression of the house or apartment that lies behind that front door.

  A clutter-free, organized entryway makes life easier on all Mission Control: family Launch Pads

  fronts—and creates a beautiful entrance to your family’s Just as a spaceship must have a dedicated structure to support home. Try these tips to organize door areas and entryways: liftoff, so family members need a Launch Pad to stabilize them as they blast out the door in the morning. What is a Launch

  ▪ Focus on floors. In the entryway, the outside meets the Pad? It’s a dedicated space—perhaps on a bookcase shelf—