Let’s make believe we’ve all spent the past year diligently reading this monthly organizing blog, and now we have completely organized homes, everything has a home, and everything is in its place. (Just go with me on this. Even I don’t follow my own blog’s advice.) The next challenge is . . . how do we maintain our neatly organized pantries, closets, garages, kitchens, and other spaces? It’s easier than you may think.
Find out the ten habits that will keep your spaces looking spiffy!
1. The one-minute rule.
Got a minute? Yes, you do. Use it to tidy up whatever room or area needs it: Your home office, the living room, kitchen counters, bathroom, wherever. Spending just one minute per room usually lets you put things back in their place. That is, as long as you make it a daily habit and don’t wait for days’ worth of clutter to accumulate. You may want to do it in the morning to start your day, or at night after everyone has gone to bed (I prefer doing my one-minute chores at night so the house is tidy when I get up and I can spend more time staring into the abyss of my coffee cup.)
2. The ten-minute tidy.
In between the one-minute daily pickups and the bigger organizing projects, there are random little organizational projects you can do on the spur of the moment. Like when you suddenly can’t open this stupid kitchen drawer because there are too many spatulas jammed in here and you can’t stand it one more second! Jump in for a quick reorganization, ten minutes tops, and ta-da! It’s organized again. These little wins help keep small spaces under control.
3. Make time to tweak your storage spaces.
Much of our storage is behind closed doors: out of sight, out of mind. But don’t forget those spaces—that’s how they easily fall to disorganization over time. Instead, spend one day a month neatening up one area you’ve already organized, such as a closet, garage shelves, or pantry. This isn’t a major reorganization project; it’s just straightening things up before they get out of hand. Put it on your calendar to ensure you complete it (If you have kids, you might need to do this more often. Or, if like me, you have a partner who can de-organize a space within seconds while looking for something that’s right there in plain sight.) This habit can help you keep organized spaces from reverting to total disasters. Just be sure to rotate through all the various spaces in your home throughout the year.
4. The one-in-one-out rule.
This one is simple (but not always easy). For every new thing you bring into your home, remove one old thing. No exceptions. This rule is perfect for people who tend to collect things or hold onto stuff they might need “someday.”
5. Taming the mail mountain.
Mail piles up quickly. Make a daily habit of throwing out or recycling the junk mail as soon as you bring it in from the mailbox. Get rid of it without ever touching the mail basket. It only takes a few seconds and saves you from having to go through a big pile every few weeks. Keep a weekly habit to go through what’s left and deal with bills, invitations, and so on.
6. Do a seasonal clothing check-in.
Take an hour or two at the beginning of every season to assess your wardrobe. You may find a few pieces you haven’t worn in a while to donate. If you have the space to pack away out-of-season clothes, now’s the time to do that. I’m in the process of weeding out the “Who am I kidding, I’m never going to fit into that again in my lifetime” items. There are a lot of them.
7. Set up a donation location.
Find an out-of-the-way space to stash a basket or box to collect any items you find and no longer need, whether it’s clothing, toys, or household items. When it’s full, take it to the appropriate charity. Here are some of our favorites:
- Goodwill (clothing, electronics, and household goods)
- Habitat for Humanity (household goods, furniture, tools, sporting equipment, etc.)
- Rose Haven Day Shelter (women’s and children’s clothing, backpacks, tents, rolling luggage, unopened hygiene products, blankets, towels, etc.)
8. Assess your storage.
Most people’s homes get cluttered not because they don’t have enough space, but because they don’t have the right storage. Look around to see if you can put any clutter into a basket, box, or another storage container. But resist the urge to dump stuff just to get it out of sight! Organize it before you store it. Similarly, don’t keep so many storage containers that they actually become clutter!
9. Ignore that “Buy Now” button!
Before you add something to that tiny little shopping cart on your computer, ask yourself if you really need it. Do you have space for it? And again, do you really, really need it? Impulse purchases clutter your home as fast as the boxes they come in.
10. Have a simple family mantra for cleaning up.
Have a saying that helps your family build good clean-up habits. Make it something like “Don’t put it down, put it away,” or “Less is more.” My loving mantra for my adult children is “Clean up after yourselves if you ever want to inherit anything.”
Ahem, and Now a Word From Our Sponsor . . .
Need organizing assistance on your way to forming the ten tidy habits, or some thoughtful systems to help you manage and maintain your spaces? Big Rocks Organizing would be honored to help you. We are compassionate, nonjudgmental, and just plain fun to work with. Plus, we’re also experienced and highly trained in assisting neurospicy folks. Schedule a free exploratory call.
Big Rocks Organizing does not earn a commission on any products we may recommend, nor are we affiliated with any retailers or online sellers.
Upcoming Events
Ask the Organizer: 🔨 Maintenance 🧰
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
5:00–6:00 p.m. PST
Online—Register here!
Let’s close out the year by putting some great strategies in place to keep your systems running smoothly, so you can enjoy a clutter-free and stress-free home for years ahead!
About Andrea Thompson
Andrea was an advertising copywriter/creative director for 40 years before retiring, then unretiring to start a new career in organizing, then retiring again to travel the world with her husband, John. She fully admits her home is not 100% organized.