By Debi Martin

It’s that time of year when we engage in that annual ritual known as spring cleaning. But first, you must de-clutter, or you’ll just rearrange and clean around the clutter. Why does it get so bad? Behind every cluttered household is a procrastinator, says Mary Carlomagno, a self-described reformed shopaholic and professional organizer at Order in New York and author of Give It Up! My Year of Learning to Live Better with Less ($11). “Clutter represents delayed decision,” she says, and creating order out of the chaos is about making “a commitment to know what your needs are and what you value.”

The trouble with most of us is that we fill the space we have, whether it’s a 600-square foot Manhattan apartment or a three-bedroom house. Where does all the stuff come from? We buy stuff because it’s cheap and it’s everywhere, says Carlomagno. “There’s a wide variety of inexpensive goods these days, and people are more apt to use new than use the old when you can buy a new whatever for less than $10. It’s also about the romance of the new.”

Carlomagno contends that clutter isn’t just about stuff itself. It’s about the kind of life you want to live. She recommends adjusting your attitude and thinking about how you want to spend your time. Do you really want to spend time taking care of all the stuff you have? It’s a quality-of-life issue.

“Be consistent” is what Carlomagno’s mother always told her, a mantra she applies to organization. If you tend to leave your car keys on a table by the front door, then, that’s where your keys belong. If you want to remove clutter from your home, come up with a system of organizing that’s tailored around your natural habits.

Where to Start?

Carlmagno advises the best place to start is just to get moving. “Don’t over-think it. Do it,” she says. “People get to the point where it causes massive anxiety. The task at hand is nowhere near the anxiety level associated with it. It’s never as bad as you think it’s going to be.”

Ask yourself these questions from Lynn Cressy of Lynn’s Home Décor. Cressy emphasizes considering which areas will be the most difficult to complete, the simplest to finish and the rooms viewed most by family and friends. You might want to start by downloading a free copy of her e-book, The Essential Guide to Organizing Your Home. Jay White at Dumb Little Man suggests starting at the bottom by picking up whatever is piled on the floor. Then work up to flat surfaces such as tables, shelves and countertops. Next, tackle furniture and other large items that clutter the room. Finally, sort through drawers, cabinets and closets. Another source is Get Myself Organized, which offers a free e-mail mini course, along with e-mail alerts and coaching.

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