As much as we joke about it, living with clutter can be a serious problem that can significantly and adversely affect our lives. I have seen it in my own family’s life (when we were in the process of remodeling) and there have been many studies to prove that clutter can cause stress. I think that deep down most of us know this but for many of us it is so hard to get motivated to take care of the problem. Sometimes, we simply don’t know where to start.
Here is a simple list of four things that I hope will get you started in the right direction. For some of you, doing all four of these things at once may be too much at first so pick one (the one that bugs you the most) and do it every day for a couple of weeks. Once you have that one under control, then pick a second one. This should be easier because you will like the results completing of the first task so much you will want to try the second one. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. It’s better not to try to do too much at first if it is very overwhelming.
I don’t care what happens in your day– Before you go to bed, make sure you do your one thing. Some of you may have to start with tiny baby steps. For example, I say “Pick things up off of the floor.” I mean pick up the floor in the whole house but you may have to clean just one or two rooms at first and work your way up. That’s ok. At least you are moving in the right direction and for some of you you are at least moving. 
1. Pick up anything on the floor.
2. Clear countertops, tables and flat surfaces
3. Wash dishes*
4. Wash the laundry. Follow through all the way from the hamper to putting it away in dressers or cabinets.
*One of the things I learned to do as a young bride to make washing dishes much easier was to fill my sink with hot soapy water and stack as many dirty dishes in the water as I could before I did anything else. Then, I quickly wiped down my counters and table. That way, if someone came to the house, it at least looked like I was working on washing the dishes and it made the room look neater.
Photo By: ShardsOfBlue – Roxanne Ready
Those are great ideas and really simple, too. I really liked your “washing dishes” story. I’m going to remember that tip
Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 
jill, i do that too . .have a pan of soapy water that i soak things in (esp the silverware) and i rinse out the glasses and soak in a bit of water in them too (until i am ready to wash them) ..
hubby couldnt get into the kitchen when we lived in the old house but here in the apt, he noticed that and asked me when i started to use a pan with water to soak things and i told him i have always done that, u just never noticed! ..
his grandmother and mother raised him to soak things too .. so did my mom and grandma .. its a good habit to get into esp if u dont have a regular dishwasher (the machine, hehee) ..
thanks for sharing ..
and yes, do something every day to cut down on the clutter .. we are still decluttering (even tho we have moved; if i cant find a home for it and if i havent used it in a long while and really dont need it, out it goes) ..
My Mom used to soak her dishes too but I really never paid attention while growing up. When i got married my husband got me in the habit and it is soooo much easier to soak & wash especially while cooking. Then after the meal–not many big pots/pans to clean.
I never thought of that. My daughter bought me a dishwasher 10 years ago(to replace the one that was broken) some time ago. I still get a sink full of dishes. I rinse them first. I intensely dislike dried on food. I decided to try to clean out the dishwasher as soon as the dishes are cooled and then keep up with the ones I use. I live alone, so I have no one but me to blame!
I, too, have always soaked my dishes. But what is funny is my daughter does not. She doesn’t like washing dishes in dirty water so she runs her water as she cleans her dishes. I know it’s a waste of water, but I can’t get her to change.
I have always been a soaker too….those rare times when it wasn’t done I found the dishes to be twice the work they normally are! Thanks for some great ideas!
Sharon
What a great article. Was hoping to read more though. Guess there can always be a Part 2. I didn’t read anything about actually getting rid of things.
I recently moved after 26 yrs from a very large house built in 1870. Yep, full attic & basement. It was the kind of move where there was so much stuff being thrown away that you have to move out of town due to the embarrassment. Well, it was so bad we had to move cross country (NJ to CA).
Our new home is so great–no cabinets or closets overflowing, everything has a place, neat, organized & so easy to clean. Make a commitment to yourself.
For me the non-stop purge lasted 6 weeks. I know it can be a tough job. Take the advice of the article and take baby steps.
This was our mini version of the bunches of detail posts I have already written. Here is a link on organizing and tossing in detail. Scroll down the page for a whole bunch of articles and even more when you get to the bottom at older posts. If this isn’t enough then we have a section on getting rid of things when you are moving.Just scroll down the page for the different articles on this too.
Organizing
Moving
Sorry-forgot to mention my main comment. I recently read that clutter is visual noise. Every time you open your eyes it screams at you.
I soak the dishes, too. It makes the job much quicker and easier. Even when I’ve lived in houses or apartments with a dishwasher, I never used it. My mom never owned one, even with a family of eight. To me it’s easier just to wash them by hand — especially when you soak them first. Thanks for all your great tips!
I have just started doing this & I like it. It is such a simple thing, but its made a big difference in me cleaning the kitchen at night. I really like the feeling I have when I get up in the morning to cook breakfast with clean counters. I am nearly 60…just shows me I am never too old to learn something or change a habit. Thank you!
Thank you for the 4 Things To Be Done Daily tips. It seems so obvious. I’m suffering from severe depression and have no energy or desire to clean my house with any regularity. I am a RN and only 40 but have’nt been able to work. My house is’nt dirty, but oh so cluttered. I have a wonderful husband, who is a Police Officer, working all shifts, who takes care of the dishes, I do the bathroom. We have two kids, 10 & 15, who will pick up after themselves after being “prompted.” I see the clutter all day, every day, which fuels my anxiety, yet I don’t get up to take care of it. This depression is paralyzing and debilatating, for lack of better words. I may be undergoing ECT, it’s reached that point. All this being said, everyone’s posts have inspired me to give this a shot with baby steps, and for that, I thank you.
Jana I don’t suffer from depression but with my CFS it has so many of the same symptoms especially the lack of energy and motivation. I thought I would never be able to function and get my house even semi clean. Finally one day as I was watching TV I made myself get up and clean one section of the kitchen during the commercial. The only way I got myself up was that I said I only needed to do 5 mins. then I could sit done and veg again. So I did. The next commercial rolls around and I did 5 more minutes. Each time it got easier and easier to get up and do it. By the end of the afternoon I had the whole kitchen clean without even realizing it. That then in turn motivated me to keep doing this. Here is another post you might like to read too along this same line Things to do in 5 Minutes also check out some of our other cleaning and organizing posts too. Having CFS I usually gear most of my cleaning and organizing posts not only for healthy people but try to give ideas for those of us who have little or no energy. I try to get people to stop letting guilt drain them of what little energy they do have so they can use the energy for starting to get things done.
Thank you for those great advice!