Your Top 20 Organizing Questions Answered

June 13, 2013
Have questions about organization? We've answered 20 of the most popular issues.
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What are some simple tips to declutter daily so the mess does not pile up in the long run? --Faye

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Taking a little bit of time every day to organize is the key to a perpetually clean home. Prevent little messes from turning into clutter catastrophes by completing these six simple tasks every single day. 

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2 of 15

My family uses the kitchen island as their dumping place. Any ideas on how to help us organize this cluttered space? --Donna

Credit: Ditte Isager
Get Our Kitchen Organizer Ideas

Add bins under the island or near the door where your family can immediately sort mail, homework, and other paperwork they need to keep on hand. Assign each child a basket to leave their hats, keys, and backpacks so everything is easy to find again the next day for a stress-free morning.

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Our mudroom is a mess. How can I contain entryway clutter? --Chris

Create an “unloading” station for each family member with a peg rail for coats and accessories and a labeled bin for shoes, backpacks, and other items they would normally trail through the house. A boot tray near the door keeps grime from shoes in its place –- simply fill a metal tray with a few stones (found at garden centers) so wet messes drain to the bottom and your shoes and boots don’t sit in a puddle.

Corral gardening supplies with hanging U-hooks and a labeled pegboard so everything is in its place when you need it.

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How do I keep my kitchen drawers better organized? I've tried using utensil holders, but the drawers still become disorganized! --Michelle

Organizing is about creating a system that works and training your family to maintain it. Try using expandable organizers in larger drawers to give everything a place. Combine standard flatware trays and bigger sizes for cooking tools to create a perfect fit. Labeling the compartments can help remind your family to put each tool in the proper spot.

5 of 15

Over the years I've amassed a box full of cords. How can I keep them organized and separated? --Melanie

Keep your extra cords from resembling a pot of spaghetti with a few simple steps. When cords are in use, keep them contained in wire baskets you can hang under desks or entertainment units. When storing them for later, wrap the cords in foam tubing cut in 10-inch sections. Label each tube so you can find what you need when you need it.

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I don't know what to do with all the small appliances that I use rarely. Everything is piled up, but it looks messy. What can I do? --Gina

Appliances you use only occasionally should be kept out of sight but still be within reach. Install sliding doors in deep lower cabinets to maximize the space.

 

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7 of 15

We have fish, cats, parrots, and a dog. How can we organize feed, vet products, paper for the cage, litter, carriers, and coats/collars/leashes? --Elaine

Credit: Ditte Isager

Steal Martha’s ideas for organizing a space specifically for pets by creating a storage system for pet food. Martha has three dogs, five cats, and 22 canaries, so it’s important to keep everything tidy. Dry food is kept in the pantry in labeled, stackable airtight plastic containers. Bowls and canned food are stacked nearby in see-through bins. Leashes and accessories are kept neatly coiled in a shallow drawer or basket.

 

Get More of Martha’s Tips for Organizing a Pet-Supply Cabinet

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I need some creative ways to organize or store handbags and tote bags. --Tomi

For bags that can be hung, install a pegboard on one unused wall of your closet with hooks for everything from handbags to belts. If you don’t have wall space to dedicate to bags and totes, consider installing a high shelf to keep them all organized and protected.

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Our pantry is bursting, and when I go through it, I realize we have multiple bags of some stuff. How can I organize it so I know what we actually have on hand? --Melanie

Credit: Formula Z/S

Create a shelving system where you can instantly see what you have. Consider adding shelves specifically for storing dry goods on a basement wall or in the stairwell, along with a dry-erase board where you can make notes when one item is running low. 

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10 of 15

I have lots of extra bedding. What is the best way to store bedspreads, quilts, and blankets? --Susan

Get More Tips for Organizing a Linen Closet

Bulky comforters, wool blankets, and extra pillows may need 18 inches of shelf space. Stack these linens at the top of the closet, since you probably only reach for them a few times a year. Store blankets and comforters in zipped plastic bags that allow you to remove the excess air for more compact storage. A large plastic bin that you can store is also a good storage solution.

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I have 200 or so Martha Stewart punches, and I am having a hard time organizing them. Any ideas? --Adam

Credit: Mike Krautter

Our new Martha Stewart Home Office Wall Managers are perfect for customizing to store your favorite crafting supplies. Create a wall of easy-to-install clickable shelves perfectly sized for displaying all your Martha Stewart Craft punches.

Get the Martha Stewart Home Office Wall Manager

12 of 15

I have lots of specialized serving bowls and platters for serving buffet style. I need help storing them so they are accessible. Any ideas? --Sandy

Credit: Eric Piasecki
Get More Tips for Organizing a Sideboard

Consider displaying platters and serving bowls in a china cabinet by storing them upright. Use an expandable tension curtain rod to hold everything in place. Or you can add wire shelving to your cabinets to add an additional layer of storage for bulkier items.

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Help! This mom of three boys needs to conquer the chaos of kids’ toys. How do I organize our spare room for peace and harmony? --Gwen

To help little ones keep their toys in place, use clear labeled boxes and bins (use photo labels if your children can’t yet read) divided by type of toy.

For a more stylish approach to organization, sew pockets onto a quilt and hang it on the wall for instant storage. 

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I need tips to organize the "junk drawer" in the kitchen. With so many rarely used items in it, how can I keep the drawer neat? --Sandra

Instead of a one-size-fits-all solution, create customized “junk drawer” storage with a variety of clear plastic bins and metal boxes with lids. Using multiple sizes and color-coded labels will keep everything in its place.

 

Get Martha’s Tips for Organizing the Junk Drawer

15 of 15

I have a corner cupboard that is so awkward to get into; sometimes I forget what I have in there. What's the best way to conquer this problem? --Linda

Reclaim the darkest corners of your cabinets by installing sliding drawers or a lazy Susan that allows you to see what you’re keeping in the back. 

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