Tips for getting rid of clutter

If mail is piling up on the kitchen counter, toys litter the floor and trying to find a matching pair of shoes in the closet seems more trouble than it’s worth, then you’ve got clutter.

Tackling what for many is a persistent problem only after it’s spun out of control is no real solution, says Peter Walsh, the best-selling organization expert and host of Extreme Clutter on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

“De-cluttering is a process, and something you have to incorporate into your daily life in the same way that you don’t think twice about putting on clean clothes, or bathing, or eating,” he says. “It’s not an event but more about keeping track of your stuff and staying on top of it.”

That means no procrastinating or putting off what you’ve already started, which is often the culprit of clutter.

“If you stop using the word ‘later,’ I promise you it will make a huge difference in your life,” Walsh says.

When the mail comes into the home, sort it. Junk mail can be tossed out, placed in the shredding bin or shredded then and there.

Remind kids to put away toys in their designated bins before moving on to the next diversion. And before adding new toys to their collection, ask your kids to put aside the toys they’ve outgrown for charity.

“It teaches t hem about philanthropy, it teaches them about the hierarchy of value, it teaches them about limits because you can’t have everything,” Walsh says.

Parenthetically, the same applies to adults.

Every home has its physical limitations.

Too often people overload a drawer, or fill a closet to breaking point with excess purchases, sentimental items that remind them of an important person, achievement or event, and objects they’ve acquired in anticipation of an imagined future.

A pair of jeans a size too small is just one example.

“Look, there’s nothing wrong with remembering the past or preparing for the future unless they take away from reaping the only thing you have, which is the life you have now,” Walsh says. “Rather than bringing you happiness, or peace, or calm, or focus, if the stuff you own is causing you stress, or paralysis, or arguments with your partner, or financial ruin, then you need to do something about it.”

Purging is only the beginning.

“You don’t want to tackle too many different areas because that becomes overwhelming, so we always try to find out what is at the heart of what is bothering you, and then we focus on that one area,” says Olescia Hanson, spokeswoman for the U.S. Container Store chain.

“Closets are usually the No. 1 problem area.”

How to deal with it? Take out all the contents and evaluate them. If you no longer wear something, donate it, put it in the yard, sale box or recycle.

Want to make your kitchen user-friendly? Keep countertops clear of paperwork, cereal boxes and dirty dishes.

For cabinets, double your vertical storage space using shelf dividers and towers. Keep only the items you use on a regular basis close at hand. Store items you use occasionally in bottom drawers or overhead cabinets. Got a cluttered entryway? Designate a hook, shelf or cubby for each member of the family to keep shoes, backpacks, coats and other belongings as they come and go.

Teach your kids to stop throwing their dirty laundry on the floor by having them pick out a special hamper for their room or bathroom.