TL;DR
Piles keep coming back because piles beget piles: leave one item behind and a new pile grows around it. When you tackle a pile, don’t stop until every item has a home. Keep two medium-size baskets by the front door, one for things coming in and one for things going out, and empty them regularly.
Dear Kathi,
I seem to spend my time constantly tackling piles around my house. I often get rid of two-three piles a week but when I turn around, another one has suddenly materialized. Nothing I do seems to permanently remove the piles from my life. How can I stop this madness?
Debora, Cardiff
Debora,
Congratulations on tackling two-three piles per week! It appears that you are determined to win in this battle.
Piles beget piles. This means that if we put away everything but one item from a pile, it will reproduce another pile as if by magic. When you tackle piles, do not stop until each and every item has found it’s home.
Clutter always chooses the path of least resistance. When we come home tired and don’t take the time to put away the items we bring into our home, a pile begins.
Our natural tendency is to drop an item beside something else that is waiting to be put away. We rationalize that putting it there will increase the likelihood that both items will be dealt with in the morning. And so begins the pile.
One way to reduce your frustration is to keep two baskets by the front door. One will be for in-bound goods and the other for outbound. When you have a moment, take the in-bound basket on a tour of your home and return each item to its proper space.
The outbound basket will help keep you organized. As you find items that need to leave home like film to be processed or clothing to return, place them in your basket. Before you leave home each day, glance inside to see if you are heading in the direction that any of these items need to go. If so, grab whatever needs a ride and you are on your way to streamlining you errand time.
Make sure your baskets are medium sized (10-12 inches) and you will keep your piles under control and your time dealing with them to a minimum.
Kathi is a professional organizer, image consultant and event planner based in San Diego California.
Please submit your questions to: [email protected].
San Diego Professional Organizer
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Frequently asked questions
Why do piles keep coming back after I clear them?
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Piles beget piles. If you put away everything but one item, that item attracts a new pile almost by magic. When you tackle a pile, don’t stop until each and every item has found its home.
How do piles get started?
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Clutter always takes the path of least resistance. When you come home tired and don’t put away what you bring in, you drop it beside something else that is waiting to be put away, telling yourself you will deal with both in the morning. And so a pile begins.
How can baskets help keep piles under control?
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Keep two baskets by the front door, one for inbound items and one for outbound. When you have a moment, carry the inbound basket on a tour of your home and return each item to its proper place.
What goes in the outbound basket?
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Anything that needs to leave the house, such as clothing to return. Before you head out each day, glance inside to see whether you are going in the direction any of those items need to go. If so, take them along and streamline your errands.
What size baskets work best for managing piles?
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Kathi recommends medium-size baskets, about 10 to 12 inches. Baskets that size keep your piles under control and keep the time you spend dealing with them to a minimum.
