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  Posted by DatOK ZeQ - Malaysia's Spice & Salt World Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:36am PDT

  Just take it easy, slowly but surely ! Everything will be OK, trust me !

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  Posted by leoo Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:40am PDT

  jst do it one day at a time lol thats how i do it

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  Posted by doglover Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:41am PDT

  That's funny. My wife and I figure the Neatest homes are those ready for sale in an instant...we have a lived in home and things like keys are on a holder but sometimes go awol in pants pockets or in pillow cushions. I like a tidy Kitchen and Living area but with 3 children - it's a lived in look 99% of the time. Have a good day - let the little stuff go...

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  Posted by wendyfrancis1975 Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:44am PDT

  I LOOK AT MY HOUSE AS MY PLACE THAT I CAN HAVE THING MY WAY SO IF SOMEONE DONT LIKE IT THEN THEY CAN LEAVE ,,,,,I HAVE THREE KIDS SO ITS NOT CLEAN ALL THE TIME BUT ITS SANITARY SO THAT THEY DONT GET SICK,,WE ALL HAVE TO HAVE A ROOM OR SOMEPLACE THAT IS JUST OUR SPACE ONLY,,SO ITS MY HOME,,,AT WORK I CLEAN ALL DAY DOING VARIOUS THINGS SO AWAY FROM THERE WHO CARES....LOL

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  Posted by Ashlee Wed Jul 16, 2008 2:09pm PDT

  For me, I just throw everything away that I don't need. For example, I'll buy a magazine, read it, then toss it because honestly... how many more times are you going to read the thing? Same with make up. You don't need drawers and drawers filled with make up, do you? Have what you need and leave it at that. I have one little bag for make up and that is all. Mascara, eye liner, blush, lip gloss and eye shadow. Just go through everything one at a time. This weekend... tackle your bathroom and throw away what you really don't need. Next weekend, do another project. For bills... do everything paperless. Or, if you prefer getting your bills mailed to you to look them over that way or what have you... scan your bills into your computer that way you have a record of them and NO mountains of envelopes everywhere. I used to have a real big problem with this because I never wanted to throw anything anyway. But... going paperless has definitely helped a bunch! Back to tackling one thing at a time... once one room is completed, make sure to keep up with it. It won't be hard now that it's clutter free and organized. When you get ahead, you should be able to stay ahead. In the mean time, you'll probably feel overwhelmed... but you'll get there. And I promise, once you do... it's the greatest feeling in the world. Seriously. Good luck.

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  Posted by Little c Wed Jul 16, 2008 2:15pm PDT

  just follow through with your actions. clean as you go!

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  Posted by reroj3 Wed Jul 16, 2008 2:29pm PDT

  Your home and sanity is definitely what you make of it. I have 3 children (11,9,8), work full time, volunteer, traveling husband and my home is lived in, but it is very neat, clean, and functional. I started working with my children very early on putting things where they belong. This is the main key. Disorder creates chaos and dysfunction. There is nothing wrong with letting your hair down and relaxing, but after you have reached that relaxation point, get up and pick up behind yourself. To get started, access what is crowding your space the most, and come up with a storage solution for that. It doesn't require much $$ to get organized, just a little bit of time, elbow grease, and creativity. The $ mart has great containers, for magazines, mail, hair and make up accessories. Combine like items, and take inventory of what you have....more than 3-donate to a woman's shelter and de-clutter your space! Short on $, shoe boxes work great, old mayo/pickle jars; Ziploc bags........get the point! My friends call me "BREE" off of the Desperate Housewives b/c they say that nothing is out of place, but it's simply a choice of life that I have and will always maintain....neatness, that I hopefully pass on to my children! You have more time to spend as a family playing games, @ the park, and just relaxing! Good luck!

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  Posted by graylady Wed Jul 16, 2008 4:53pm PDT

  Ashlee please don't throw away your magazines keep them to donate to boring doctors offices that have nothing to look at but mens mags.Or donate them to hospital waiting rooms.I have to spend alot of time at both places and it gets pretty boring with nothung to read.As for cleaning house,like the others you just have to tackle a room a day and then sweep thru them and pick up the clutter everyday or as needed.

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  Posted by Alex Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:48pm PDT

  My rule of thumb is, if you haven't used something for 6 months, you are likely not going to use it again so get rid of it. It's hard when you are overwhelmed but just commit to a small section and make piles of stuff to throw away, keep, and donate and you'll be surprised how much stuff you can live without.

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  Posted by cheerup Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:49pm PDT

  Hi Ashlee, because i have been in your shoes an I had to learn by force I can give you a tip or two that helped me. I literally timetabled everything that i have to do on a weekly basis. Mopping , laundry, changing sheets etc. all done to a scheduled. It may not always work but most time it does for me.Letters, magazines newspaper etc. get rid of weekly.Donate, shred, recycle and save only what you need. Oh, I agree containers and ziplock bags are a v.good investment.Try it.

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