Home Organizing Guide

Organizing your home can feel overwhelming, but with simple, manageable steps, it becomes completely doable. This guide walks you through a clear process to help you create a space that feels calm, functional, and easier to live in.

Step 1: Start Small and Set Yourself Up For Success

Choose one small area (a drawer, one shelf, a single category like shoes).
Set a time limit (30–60 minutes) to avoid burnout.
Gather basic supplies: trash bags, donation box, recycling bin, and a “relocate” bin.
Expect it to look worse before it looks better—this is part of the process.

2. Declutter First (Do NOT organize before this step)

Key rule: Do not sort or organize items you don’t plan to keep.

Simple Decluttering Method:

Take everything out of the space.
Handle each item one at a time.
Sort into:
- Keep
- Donate
- Trash/Recycling
- Relocate (belongs somewhere else)

Decision Questions:

Do I use this regularly?
Would I buy this again today?
Do I have duplicates?
Is this adding value to my life?

Helpful Tips:

Avoid “maybe” piles—make a decision.
Declutter by category (all shirts, all cords) when possible.
It’s okay to take breaks.

3. Where to Donate
(Salt Lake City Options)

Deseret Industries – clothing, household items, furniture
Goodwill – general donations
The Road Home – check for specific needs (often hygiene items, clothing)
YWCA Utah – women’s items, professional clothing
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah – may offer pickup services

Tip: Always check current donation guidelines before dropping items off.

4. Recycling & Disposal

(Salt Lake City)

Salt Lake City Waste & Recycling – curbside recycling, bulk waste info
CHaRM (Collection Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials) – plastics, Styrofoam, electronics
Best Buy – electronics drop-off
Household Hazardous Waste Facility – paint, chemicals, batteries

Common Categories to Separate:

Paper & cardboard
Plastics
Glass
Metal
E-waste (cords, devices)
Hazardous materials

5. Sort What You’re Keeping

Group like items together (all cleaning supplies, all office supplies, etc.).
Subdivide categories if needed (e.g., short sleeve vs. long sleeve).
Identify how much space each category realistically needs.

6. Create Functional Systems (Not Just “Organized Spaces”)

Focus on function over appearance.

Key Principles:

Store items where you use them
Make frequently used items easy to access
Use containers to create boundaries
Label when helpful (especially shared spaces)

Examples:

Entryway: basket for keys + mail
Kitchen: zones (cooking, baking, snacks)
Closet: group by type and season

7. Put Everything Back with Intention

Assign a home for every item.
Avoid overfilling spaces—leave some room for flexibility.
If something doesn’t fit, reassess (space or quantity).

8. Maintain Your System (This is the Key to Long-Term Success)

Simple Maintenance Habits:

Do a 5–10 minute daily reset
Put items back after using them
Keep a donation box available year-round

Weekly / Monthly:

Quick check-in of problem areas
Reset anything that’s starting to pile up

Seasonal:

Revisit categories (clothes, storage areas)
Remove items you no longer use

Important Mindset Tips

Progress is better than perfection
You don’t need fancy bins to be organized
Decluttering is an ongoing process—not one-time
It’s normal to feel overwhelmed—just return to one small step
Don’t sort everything before decluttering (this slows people down significantly)

Other Ideas:

Create a “drop zone” for everyday items
Use a “one in, one out” rule for certain categories
Keep sentimental items contained to a defined space
Digitize paperwork and photos to reduce physical clutter
Keep a donation system in place. Have a designated bin or bag for items you’re ready to let go of. When it fills up, drop it off. This helps keep clutter under control.