15 Secrets Moms Use to Stay Ahead of the Clutter

If you are anything like me, staying organized is a challenge. My intentions are good, but with three kids under the age of 6, I never quite seem to get it all together. So when HybridMom asked readers a couple of weeks ago to share one organizational tip used in your daily life, there were so many creative comments I just had to compile and share.

1.  I try to be paper-free. If I can scan it and turn it into a PDF I can toss the paper. Even better is to "Print to PDF". -Melissa

2.  When planning out my week in advance, I write down my family activities first and block out the time I want to spend with my family and highlight them in yellow. Then I schedule business and other appointments around my family. I highlight business in blue, things scheduled with friends in pink, etc. This way, I make sure I always have time for my family first. -Julianne Alvarez-Wish

3.  I make sure everything is set up on the counter before I go to bed. Purse is ready, items for the kids, lunches all set up in the fridge.  Then we can all make breakfast and head out the door in one charge! We even put the trash by the front door so we can grab it as we run out instead of making a trip at night. Streamlining is key for a family of 9.  –Suzanne Bastien

4.  I use the GroceryGadget app on my phone so I never lose my grocery list. I am able to quickly jot down when I need something, and have an organized list when I get to the store!  -Kristi G

5.  I tear out recipes from magazines and keep them in my car in a folder so when I am not sure what to shop for I can just pick out a few on my way into the grocery store. It helps break me out of the "food slump" and the kids aren't tired of the same thing day after day.  –Lynne Graves

6.  I utilize cute carry bags for my 5 year old daughter's different activities. Every weekend after laundry is done I fill the bags for each activity: polka dot drawstring has tap shoes, socks and leotard for Monday's dance class; mesh Hello Kitty bag has swimsuit, towel, clean underpants and warm up suit for Thursday's swim class; etc. This way, no matter what adult is handling the activity that day, all the items are in one central place and ready to go. –Teri Rees Momeyer

[header = page 2] 7.  To keep them contained and separate from the general snack supply, I keep my daughter's school snack options in a basket. I'm never caught off guard that someone ate the snacks intended for school and after a weekend my daughter is excited to pick from a new assortment of snacks.  –Laurie B

8.  I've designated one stair per person in our family of four where I put things as I find them around the house: shoes, books, schoolwork, sports clothes, etc. And a plastic bag on the handle of my closet at the foot of the stairs.  At the end of the day, everyone has a chance to simply bring up their "pile" to their room and put it away. If not, they know: if it's there on the stairs at night when I go to bed (around 10pm), it goes straight into the plastic bag and out the next day (or two) to a charity nearby that collects clothes, toys, etc for poor kids.  -KST

9.  Before bed, I pack lunches for both children and put them in the fridge. If anything needs to be put in a thermos (warm food), I set the thermos on the counter, put a measuring cup of water in the microwave, and set the microwave to "delay start." By the time I'm out of the shower and in the kitchen, the water is warm and ready to heat the thermos. It also serves as a reminder to add the food-filled thermos to the lunch box! –Jayme Johnson

10.  I touch it once! Whether it's the mail, a toy that needs to go upstairs, something that goes in the garbage, a pair of shoes I need to put away. Once! Then it is done and I don't have to waste my time touching it again. It works for me! -Terrie M.

11.  With four kids I was getting lost in the sea of paperwork from school for each child: tests, notices, lunch menus, homework, etc. So I got a nine-slot cubby system that I attached to the bottom of a cabinet in my kitchen. Now, not only does each child have their own cubby, but there's a cubby for bills, supermarket circulars and even cubbies for my husband and me!  -Alena B

12.  For my three daughters, I don't hang up all their clothes, I put together outfits and roll them together and put them into a shoe sorter that hangs in their closet. That way, they can choose their own outfits for the day and it saves space in their closet. It is also much faster and easier to put their clothes away. -austinmomofseven

13.  After having many a gift card go by the wayside or lose value because we couldn't find them, my husband and I purchased an index card box with the alphabetical dividers and we use that for our gift cards. -mrspacman

14.  I learned about a great idea from the women in my local Mothers of Multiples Club - "Kid of the Day." With 3 kids - twins age 4 and a 2-year-old - we had many fights over choosing TV shows, who sits in which spot in the car, etc. Now, I write each child's initial on our large wall calendar, in his or her special color, and the fighting has virtually evaporated. When there is a question, we just look at the calendar - even the 2-year-old can see that if there isn't a blue mark on that day, then it's not his day! -mvbobs

15.  With twin 1-year olds, life is hectic. To make feeding time easier, I have set aside a shelf in the refrigerator just for them. I stock it with meals and snacks, already cut into bite sized pieces so that daddy, the babysitter and I can quickly get a well rounded meal or snack on the table.  -KTM

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The 7 Biggest Myths About Laundry

Secret Tips For Cleaning Rugs, Hard Wood Floors, and Other Surfaces

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