Getting organized for a new year

It takes as much time to put something in the wrong place as the right place.
By REBECCA SLOAN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
It's the dawn of a new year, and almost everybody's longing to start fresh and turn over a new leaf.
Besides shedding holiday pounds, probably one of the most popular New Year's resolutions is getting things in shape around the house.
Of course, losing weight is no cinch and neither is establishing and maintaining an organized home.
Debra Bish, owner of Organized A to Z in North Lima, said the key to an orderly abode is tackling little bits at a time. Bish, who said she's always had a knack for keeping things neat and tidy, started her home organization business in 2003. Bish will visit a client's home and suggest ways to better organize a space, or she will do the job for them.
"Resolve to set aside just 30 minutes a day and devote that time to home organization," Bish said.
"Target a problem area, such as a junk drawer or a messy closet and get to work."
A little encouragement
If you start feeling bogged down -- like you're drowning in the contents of your junk drawer -- keep your feelings in check and keep plugging away.
"Don't give up," Bish said. "The main two reasons that people are not organized are because they lack the time or they feel too overwhelmed to try."
For people who wish to learn how to establish and maintain a more orderly home, Bish conducts a free, hourlong workshop.
During the workshop Bish selects a problem area and offers pointers on how to rid the area of unnecessary clutter, reorganize the area and throw away unneeded objects.
"The hardest part for many people is the purging process," Bish said. "People don't want to part with things even if they don't need them."
Once a space is organized and clutter free, Bish stresses the fundamentals of keeping it that way.
"It does take time to get organized initially, but after that, the time it takes to stay organized is minimal," Bish said.
"For example, once you designate a spot for your car keys, then you have to make the decision to put your car keys there every day. It sounds simple ... but you have to make the decision to do it. Otherwise, you are not going to stay organized. Just remember it takes just as long to put something in the wrong place as it does the right place."
Bish said each room in a home has its typical problem areas, and she gave these quick tips for folks who want to try to get organized on their own.
IN THE BEDROOM
U Rid the closet of clothes you never wear. "Fashions change, sizes change. Be honest. Get a garbage bag and take the stuff you never wear to Goodwill," Bish said.
U Once you've purged your closet of unnecessary garb, organize clothes according to type. "Put pants together and sweaters together," Bish said. "Or coordinate according to color."
U Make the most of vertical space. If your closet has only one rod, install a second above or below, or invest in a closet doubler, which is a gadget Bish sells that transforms a one-rod closet into a two-rod closet.
U If you share a bedroom, have separate drawers for each person.
U Buy drawer dividers for drawers where small items are stored.
IN THE BATHROOM
U Make the most of the vertical space beneath your bathroom vanity by installing shelves.
U Clean out vanity drawers and designate one drawer for nail products, one drawer for bath products, one drawer for hair products, etc.
U If you're tired of slippery shampoo bottles that fall under your feet while you're taking a shower, invest in a shower dispenser. "You fill these dispensers with shampoo, conditioner or body wash, and at the press of a button, the dispenser releases the correct amount." Dispensers fasten to the shower walls with adhesive or screws.
IN THE KITCHEN
U When organizing your kitchen, simply think of the grocery store. "You don't go to the shampoo aisle to find pancake syrup," Bish said. "Store like products together. Keep baking supplies together, keep canned goods together."
U Throw away old spices. "I tell everybody that the shelf life of a spice is one year. After that, it loses its potency, so when you buy new spices, buy small containers unless you use a lot of that particular spice," Bish said. Invest in a spice caddy to organize new spices.
U Buy step shelves for boxy cupboards where small items are stored, such as canned goods. Stack taller items toward the back.
IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM
U Buy a cart that fits between the washer and dryer to make the most of unused space.
U If your laundry room is small, invest in a retractable clothesline to hang pantyhose and other items.
IN THE HOME OFFICE
U Sort through old utility bills and throw away anything that's more than a year old.
U Find a good filing system and stick with it.
U Set up an incoming/outgoing mail station where bills and other important papers can be kept until it's time to mail them. Just use a simple plastic letter divider.