7. Where is your washer/dryer located? 8. Where does everyone put his or her dirty clothes? 9. Where do you like to or would like to fold clothes?

? Your washer and dryer might not be located in a convenient place, such as basement. More and more builders are starting to place these machines in hallways, kitchens, and even bathrooms. If you have funds and space, you might look into relocating your machines. ? Install a laundry shoot in bathroom closet or area that is convenient for everyone to use. If that isn’t possible, designate a place for everyone in home to put his or her dirty clothes. ? Find a place in home where you are comfortable and have plenty of room to spread out and sort/fold clean clothes.

10. Why are you responsible for everyone clothes?

You are only one that can answer this one .

11. How often do you want to do laundry?

? Decide if you want (I know, no one wants to do laundry) to do laundry daily, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Then ask if you need to or are you able to.

12. How many articles of clothing does each family member REALLY need per week, season, and special occasion?

? This is time to be REALLY HONEST with yourself and will depend on your answer to # 11. How many articles of play, casual, dressy, work, holiday, seasonal, and special occasion outfits does each family member need? If they have too many, you will never stay ahead of dirty clothes. ? Recycle, sell, or donate clothes that aren’t being used or that you have an abundance of. ? If you or your family are putting on and taking something off (and throwing it in dirty clothes) because it doesn’t fit right, look right, or you hey don’t really like it…get RID of it!

Laundry Tips: Always try and wash a full load. Wash hand towels and smaller items of same color range with large articles, such as sheets and table cloths. Make sure you and others know how to use proper cycles on machines to minimize wrinkling. Put a clothes rack by dryer and hang clothes as they come out; put away by person/room. If you can’t hear buzzers on machines or tend to lose track of time, set a timer for length of cycle and keep near you. Clothes that need ironing should be washed first so you can iron while other loads are being done. Wash delicate, underclothes, and hand washables while taking a shower.

Please remember that anything you try you MUST give it a chance to work, at least a month. If you find something not working, try another schedule or approach for another month until your clothes stop multiplying.

I hope some of these tips and hints will STOP major reproductive system of your laundry. Good Luck!

Smiles, not Piles, Janet

The Organizing Wizard, Janet L. Hall, is a Professional Organizer, Speaker, and Author. She is owner of OverHall Consulting, and Organizing By Phone. Subscribe to her FREE organizing newsletter at http://www.overhall.com/newsletter.htm or visit her web site at http://www.overhall.com

Copyright © 2000 by OverHall Consulting, P.O. Box 263, Port Republic, MD 20676. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce, copy, or distribute so long as this copyright notice and full information about contacting author is attached and article is kept intact.

This is way to focus on a problem, make a resolution, and set a goal. This is what I have coined a “Goal – Resolve.

"Goal - Resolve! What is this woman talking about?"

Goal - Resolve: a statement that determines a problem, what action you need to take, and to what end you want to attain.

Since this is an article about organizing, let’s make a Goal – Resolve for organizing an area of your life that is driving you crazy (you fill in blanks):

I, _________________, have determined that I need to organize my _____________, and will sort through, toss, recycle, or donate anything that is no longer of use or of value to me. I will do this for _______ minutes or hours a day until area is organized and everything I keep has a “home” and can be easily located when needed."

***** The Organizing Wizard, Janet L. Hall, is a Professional Organizer, Speaker, and Author. She is owner of OverHall Consulting and Organizing By Phone. Subscribe to her FREE organizing newsletter at http://www.overhall.com/newsletter.htm or visit her web site at http://www.overhall.com

Copyright 2002 by OverHall Consulting P.O. Box 263, Port Republic, MD 20676 All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce, copy, or distribute so long as article is kept intact, this copyright notice and full information about contacting author is attached.