I just turned 18, and I live with my parents. My room is a complete mess. I have laundry all over, books, jewelry, and makeup. Can anyone help me get motivated to clean and organize?
I need some tips on how to keep it clean and organized too.
jkitley
Invite someone over whom you want to impress and tell them you would like them to see your room.
(03/29/2005)
By Anonymous
Every time you walk into the room, put away five things. It takes a little while to make this a habit, but it's a very easy thing to do (should take about 60 seconds or less) and in a few days you'll be surprised that such small acts have started to make a big dent in the clutter.
Make sure you have places for all your stuff. You can't put things away if they don't have a home to go to. (03/29/2005)
By Kathryn
When I have to clean the spare bedroom or the basement, I just watch a few shows of, "Clean Sweep" and that seems to get me motivated. (03/29/2005)
When I start to clean any room in my house, including basement or garage, I turn on either the TV, my police scanner, or put on a CD. Then I pick one area to start in. I have wicker baskets or cute containers to hold small items, underbed storage containers for clothing, and containers in the closets for more clothing. Then I limit myself to a time limit to get it done. It helps.
LI Roe (03/29/2005)
By Roseanna
I have the same problem, getting motivated. I usually do one of two things. I invite a friend over and use their ideas for organization, along with my own. I am fortunate as my best friend loves to clean, but she also likes to throw things out which is sometimes good for me as I hang on to everything. It helps just to have someone to talk to and bounce ideas off of to keep the motivation flowing.
The other thing I do is make myself dedicate 1/2 to 1 hour to get it done. And many times once I commit to a time slot I may work longer, but it's the initial time slot that gets me moving. After a 1/2 hour, if I'm tired of doing it I just stop as long as the basics are done and no big mess is left then I reward myself with time spent how I really want to spend it. I never let myself give in before the original time allotted is used up.
By Barbie
If you're like me you just have too much stuff in there. Declutter in a big way, but do it a little at a time. Start with 15 minutes a day and work your way through it. Try to do it too long at one time and you will probably get overwhelmed or burn out. Easiest way is probably to get the clothes off the floor, chair, etc. and into a container or better, washed, dried, and put away. Then you can do something with the rest. Best of luck to you. (03/29/2005)
By kidsNclutter
Have you tried Flylady? Website flylady.net She is very motivating and will teach you routines to not only get the place tidy, but keep it that way.
Regards.
(03/29/2005)
By Jo Bodey
I went to a local pharmacy (Walgreen's) and got collapsible laundry hampers 2/$5 and went at it. They are great for sorting, storing, and hauling to other rooms. I also picked up a bunch of photo storage boxes at the Dollar store and used them for smaller items like makeup and hair supplies, jewelry, whatever I want. They stack beautifully on bookshelves and are pretty to boot. I covered boxes paper comes in (10 ream-size) with fabric and use them to store bigger items.
I used an old door (curb) for a tabletop in the bedroom, and 2 (2-drawer) file cabinets I found on the curb to hold it up. Voila, computer work center with storage underneath. Oh, and I bought a tablecloth for $2.49 on sale at Linens n' Things (online) and got the best computer chair through Freecycle (freecycle.org - check it out). It was a fun challenge to do it inexpensively. Good luck. (03/29/2005)
By Carolyn
By Darween
Hang clothes in like sections (i.e. pants, blouses, skirts, etc) and shoes the same way. I find that having a couple hangers ready with a full outfit is a great time saver.
Don't buy any organizers until you know for sure what you have left. Sometimes you won't even need one. A couple of nice wicker baskets can be pre-bought for the top shelf of your closet or desk.
By Fran Marie
Another thing is this, if you are 18 yrs old, how much longer will you be living with your parents? Probably not much. Either you will be going to college or into the workforce, and wanting your own place or Lord forbid, wanting to get married, oh please wait at least 7 more years for that.
All of which means there is probably a ton of stuff in your room that you have outgrown or will soon.
Now is the perfect time to start going through all your things and deciding if they really serve you anymore, have they outlived their usefulness, have your tastes matured, have you undergone a lot of changes resulting in things that no longer fit your body or your soul. Put away the stuff of your childhood, except for a few treasures, to make room for the future. You have the whole world to explore and enjoy, you can't do it if you are bogged down with so much of the past.
Once you purge, what remains will be very easy to organize and cleaning will be a snap. (04/01/2005)
By Darween
Remember how much you loved charts of accomplishments as a kid? Post one on the fridge listing "Extra tasks to be done". Everyday devote as much as an hour to doing one thing on your list. Mark it off. Feels great to see that list getting whittled down. Before long all the little extras are done. Also, if you'll make it a real effort to do 1-2 loads of clothes before bedtime you can pretty well keep up with laundry. Dollar Trees sells those little 4 sided mesh folding hampers. Finally, I got my kids to keep their dirty clothes in one spot. I carry them in it to be washed and loaded with clean socks, underwear, etc. to take to the rooms to be put up. Ain't it amazing what happiness $1 can bring?
Sharon (04/03/2005)
By ThriftyFun
Most of the people here are suggesting flylady, but I find that simplymoms.com works much better for me, I like using it as a base for a system that I can make myself that suits my needs better, and in that we find it's very useful as a motivater.
(04/21/2005)
By Just Me
When I was 18, my room was the same way so to clean it one thing I would do is make up my bed, take everything off the bed and put it on the floor. Next I would pick up one type of item at a time. For example, I would pick up all the shoes and put them away. Next, all my pants, next all my blouses, and so forth. Little by little, I would see the mess disappear.
And then to keep it clean, I would ask myself, "How did my room get so dirty?" What I noticed was little habits like throwing wrappers on the floor so I would try to make a habit of throwing all wrappers away. I also made the decision to stop eating in my room and that made a real difference.
So you might want take a minute and examine some of your bad habits and make an effort to change them. You will see your room stay cleaner for longer. (12/15/2006)
By Lonette
"Your goal is not a goal, unless you write it down."
"Place your goal somewhere visible." (09/01/2008)
By Stephen
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