Getting organized seems like it should be easy enough. We know how to sort and store our possessions. We have unlimited organizational tools at our disposal. Cleaning and organizing experts call out to us from magazine racks, bookshelves and our crowded email inboxes.

 

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Unfortunately, many of us remain confused and frustrated about where to begin. These three small projects are designed to let you warm up your organizing muscles and feel the big benefits of organization without an overload of work.

The Junk Drawer

We all have these secret hiding spots for things that don’t fall into any category. Alas, a lot of things end up in a junk drawer that in reality belong somewhere else. It may be in another room, but often, it’s the trash.

Begin by purchasing an inexpensive drawer organizer that has labels included. Dump out the contents of your drawer. After you’ve thrown out the trash, sort and put away items that belong in a different part of the house. Label the organizer compartments and place the small “junk” in its newly organized home.

Nearly every major retail store carries tray organizers with multiple sections of various sizes and shapes. These are available at every Wal-Mart or Target, and I've even seen them at discount dollar stores as well. Online you can purchase a Stacks and Stacks Junk Drawer Organizer or The Container Store’s Everything Organizer.

The Medicine Cabinet

Sort through the contents of your medicine cabinet, and you’re likely to find expired prescriptions and mostly empty bottles. Throw away these items and free up the space. If your medicine cabinet is still bulging, it may be time to store some of its contents in another place. The varying temperature and humidity in bathrooms can be a problem for many medications. Consider storing medication in a location without temperature extremes and humid conditions. Paring down the contents of the medicine cabinet will make what you really need easier to find.

Under the Kitchen Sink

A lot of people still keep a cocktail of cleaning liquids, powders and sprays under the kitchen sink. Begin by throwing away outdated cleaners, items you don’t intend to use and empty containers. Keep cleaning supplies used in the kitchen under the kitchen sink, while other cleaners can be stored in or near the rooms where they are used. Rarely-used specialty cleaners can be stored in more inaccessible places, as fits their seasonal nature. The items that are left under the kitchen sink can be organized with plastic tubs or cleaning caddies, making them easy to remove and replace.

When you’ve finished these small projects, don’t be surprised if you catch yourself opening the junk drawer, the medicine cabinet or the cabinet underneath the sink just to marvel at your own organizational skills. Take joy in your accomplishments. Starting small can give you the confidence you need to organize many other areas of your life.

 

About Sarah Aguirre

Sarah Aguirre is a writer and consultant specializing in the trials and successes of cleaning and organizing homes. She started as an assistant in her mother’s cleaning business at the age of six, although her most important training has come in her own home as a mother of four. Now, as the guide for About.com’s Housekeeping and Organization site, Sarah publishes a weekly newsletter filled with timely tips and ideas to efficiently clean and organize any home.