Go Organize: Conquer Clutter in 3 Simple Steps (22 page)

Create as much counter space for folding clothes as possible. Whatever is on the countertop, take it off and put the items away in the cupboards, trash, mending basket, or BE basket. When the counter is kept free of clutter, it will be easier to fold clothes, and it will be an inviting room to be in.

Hamper

If there is enough room, consider having three hampers in the room (or one divided hamper) — one for whites, one for light colors, and one for dark colors. If there is room for just two hampers, use one for whites and one for colors. The dark colors and the lighter colors can be separated before washing.

If there are hampers, baskets, or laundry bags in the children's rooms, have them be responsible for bringing their clothes to the laundry room on a certain day you specify. If they don't bring their clothes to the laundry room, don't go and get them. They will run out of clothes to wear, and this will teach them the importance of helping with the laundry. Keep the supplies they will need where they can reach them.

Clothes in the Hamper or on the Floor

Sort through the clothes and put them in the appropriate section in the hamper. Treat the clothes that have stains and put the ones that need repairing in the mending basket. As you are looking at each one, donate the ones that are too small for anyone in your home to wear. (Wash all clothing items before you donate them.) Those that are ripped and stained beyond repair should be thrown away. You can start a batch of laundry right now if you want.

Tip:
If the light in the room isn't bright, consider adding a full-spectrum light to make checking for stains easier.

Folding and Putting Away Laundry

After the clothes are washed, one of the biggest problems is folding all the clean clothes and getting them put away. Here are some ways to get the laundry folded before it becomes insurmountable:

 


1. Fold each load as it comes out of the dryer.
   

 


2. Assign one or two family members the responsibility of folding the clothes each week; rotate this task weekly.
   

 


3. When the children do their own laundry, have them be responsible to wash, fold, and put away their clothes.
   

 


4. Plan to fold the clothes in the evening during down time while watching television, or when you are supervising homework or listening to music or an audio book.
   

 


5. If you wash laundry every day, try to fold the clothes on the same day so they don't end up in piles as large as Mount Everest.
   

 


6. Place baskets on the shelves, one for each family member. Teach family members that they are responsible to take their clothes to their rooms and put them away, and to return the basket to the shelf in the laundry room. If you step in and take their clothes to their rooms for them, charge the children money when you are performing this maid service for them. It may motivate them to cooperate, and they will see you are serious. If they don't have money of their own, assign them other tasks so they can work off the charge.
   

This is the room where the iron and ironing board are used most often (unless you keep yours in your sewing area). Set the ironing board up against a wall so it is always convenient for ironing and pressing clothes. If space is at a premium, here are two space saving options: Use an ironing board that hangs from the back of a door or install one in the wall that folds down for use and folds back into the wall when not in use.

WRAP UP

Congratulations on using the Searchlight to pinpoint what needed to be changed, then using the Spotlight to set goals to make changes, and then using the Green Light to make your laundry room just as you want it to be.

Here is a list of things to continue to do to make doing the laundry easier:

 


• All laundry supplies will be located in convenient areas.
  

 


• The counters will remain uncluttered as everything will have a home and after an item is used it will be returned to its place.
  

 


• A divided laundry basket (or multiple baskets) will be used to reduce time sorting clothes.
  

 


• A specific time and place will be scheduled to fold laundry.
  

 


• Family members will be taught to do their own laundry when they are old enough.
  

 


• Each family member will be responsible for returning folded clothes to their rooms to put them away.
  

 


• Items stored in this room will be contained and neatly organized in the cupboards or on the shelves.
  

With your organized laundry room or space, it will be easier to do the laundry, and with everyone in the home helping, it will no longer be a hassle to wash, dry, fold, and put away the laundry.

If you have ever considered downsizing, this chapter is for you. It focuses on downsizing for a move, but you can downsize even if you aren't planning to leave your current home. If you start the downsizing process before you actually need to move, you will have the time you need to adjust to the idea of moving. Reducing the amount of your possessions on a regular basis will help you avoid the physical exertion and emotional trauma of doing it all at once.

Do you find yourself living in a home that has become too large for you? Have you started thinking about downsizing, but you aren't sure you want to leave your home? Or, would you like to move but are afraid if you get rid of your belongings you will be letting go of your memories? This chapter can help you find peace.

SEARCHLIGHT

With your Searchlight, ask yourself the following questions to help you decide if it is time to downsize to move to a different home. Write down your answers in a notebook. What wattage do you feel? On a scale of 1 to 10 do you have the feeling of 7 or above as you ask yourself these questions?

For Homeowners:

 


1. What do you love about living in your house?
   

 


2. Can you afford to keep the house?
   

 


3. Will the house need major work in the next few years (e.g., new roof, furnace, etc.)?
   

 


4. Have the stairs become a problem for you? Do you worry about falling?
   

 


5. Is the house too big for your needs?
   

 


6. Are you able to keep up with the daily maintenance?
   

 


7. Has the yard become a burden?
   

 


8. Can you keep up with the housekeeping? (Can you bend down to clean up spills so they aren't a hazard?)
   

 


9. Do you feel you can stay in your home, but you have too many things to take care of and it consumes too much of your time?
   

 


10. Are your children or relatives storing their things in your home?
    

 


11. Are there adequate community resources that you can easily access (i.e., health care, shopping, and public transportation)?
    

 


12. Has the neighborhood changed, or is it no longer safe to live in?
    

 


13. Are you isolated from friends and family in your home?
    

 


14. Would you like to live closer to your adult children and grandchildren?
    

 


15. Are you able to take care of your medical needs in your current home (e.g., taking medications on time, diabetes testing, etc.)?
    

 


16. Make a list of your housing needs and desires. Can these be satisfied with other housing?
    

 


17. Do you feel you can continue to live in your home with some professional assistance as needed (e.g., housekeeping, Meals on Wheels, activities through a senior citizens center that also picks you up for activities, etc.)?
    

 


18. If you wait too long, will someone else have to make the decision to move for you?
    

 


19. What will you gain by moving into a retirement community or assisted living? Have you considered the following?
    

     
    

    1. staff to check on your health and security
       

     
    

    2. housing that is private, clean, and on one level if needed
       

     
    

    3. Provided meals (either part or all), which eliminates shopping, cooking, and washing dishes
       

     
    

    4. convenient medical services
       

     
    

    5. other seniors that live close who have the same interests and provide a social network for activities
       

     
    

Relocating can be a traumatic experience for anyone, but it is especially so for older adults and their adult children. Children who live close by may feel they are asked to do too much, and those living far away may feel guilty because they aren't closer to help in the process. However, with good planning, much of the frustration and trauma can be avoided.

Many seniors contemplating moving from their homes may see it as the beginning of the end. However, it can be a wonderful time for seniors as there are many opportunities for easier and better living after moving from a house that has outgrown them. There are many options, such as comfortable condominiums, gated communities, retirement centers, assisted care centers, or “mother-in-law apartments.”

Paula was very concerned about her elderly parents staying alone in their family home for several reasons. Her father would forget to take his medications, and when encouraged to take them, he would become angry and accuse her mother of treating him like a child.

They had been taken advantage of by a man who had come to their door saying their roof needed repairing. Being trusting people, they gave him several thousand dollars for repairs and never saw him again.

Her mother's vision was starting to decline, and when something was spilled on the floor, she didn't see it and she slipped and fell. The laundry room was in the basement, and Paula knew it was hard for her parents to go up and down the stairs to do their laundry.

Her mother drove her father to his doctor's appointments but her reflexes, as well as her vision, weren't as good as they used to be, and Paula feared her mother would cause a car accident.

Socially, her parents were isolated. Their friends and family had moved away. They wanted to go out and do fun activities but they didn't have anyone to go with, and her mother couldn't drive at night.

Paula thought it would be hard for her parents to leave the home they had lived in for thirty years. She expected resistance when she talked to her parents about moving, and she was prepared to let the idea of downsizing and moving to a smaller home sit with them for a while. She was surprised that they actually were eager to move to a different place with less upkeep and where they could be around others their own age. They had wanted to move but were afraid their children would not want them to leave the family home.

Does downsizing and moving make you feel anxious? It does for the majority of people who are moving. Even if you decide not to move, just think of how much you'll gain by getting rid of years of accumulated clutter. You will have more freedom, more space, and feel happier and be more peaceful in your home. When the time does come for you to move to a different place, you will have done yourself and your family a favor by sorting through everything before it has to be done. A great gift to leave your heirs is to sort and clear out your belongings so they don't have to do it after you are gone.

For Adult Children

 


1. Is there someone who lives near your parents who can monitor and assist them when they need it?
   

 


2. Are you willing to agree to let your parents downsize according to their schedule, needs, and wishes?
   

 


3. Have you cleaned out all of your belongings from your parents' attic, basement, or garage (e.g., old school papers, sports memorabilia, wedding dress, photo albums, scrapbooks, dolls, card collections, etc.)?
   

 


4. Have you given your parents permission to toss out or give away any gift that you have given them (like the clay pot you made in the sixth grade)? Let them know you are happy with them parting with anything you have given them if they no longer need, want, or have space for it. This will release them from feeling guilty and allow them to let go.
   

SPOTLIGHT

After using your Searchlight to ask yourself questions about downsizing, you wrote the answers in your notebook, and possibly discussed it with your family; now it is time to use the Spotlight to make some goals.

Heather's grandparents gave family heirlooms and treasures to their grandchildren for special occasions long before they planned to move from their home. It gave them pleasure to see how much their grandchildren enjoyed their gifts. They also shared their memories about each item as they gave them to the children. This method allowed them to downsize a little at a time. When they passed away, there were very few things of either monetary or sentimental value left in their home. Living on a fixed income, they also saved money by sharing their treasures. And there was no fighting within the family as to who would get what when the grandparents passed away.

Possible goals could be:

For Homeowners:

 


1. Make the decision to downsize and move while you can and before an illness or an injury makes the decision for you later. This could force you to move when you aren't ready.
   

 


2. Take inventory of everything in your home and decide what you want to do with those belongings.
   

 


3. Hire a professional organizer to help with the downsizing process.
   

 


4. Hire professionals who specialize in working with seniors.
   

 


5. Hire a real estate agent to help locate a house that fits your needs. Visit retirement centers and other places you think you might like to move to.
   

 


6. 6. Downsize and stay in your home.
   

For Adult Children:
If you feel your parents should move and they don't want to, work to support them in their decision. You can help arrange for service providers to come into their home if that is what they need.

Respect their desires and continue to be encouraging, not nagging. When role reversal happens parents may resent their children taking over. Encourage them to downsize even if they plan to stay in their home.

GREEN LIGHT