How to Organize Your Home in 1 month

Well, here we are. It’s  September. Socializing is still out, quarantine is still in and we’re all going stir crazy. Like the rest of the world, I’ve struggled with how to keep my kids on track and organized for a school year that may very well be spent at our kitchen table instead of in a classroom. How are we going to make the best of this situation~ one with no real end in sight, when our children still demand regular meals, entertainment, structure and bedtimes? 

I bought a volleyball net. And a bocce ball set. And two soccer goals. I’ve met with seven different pool contractors. I’ve purchased 1700 pieces of sidewalk chalk (spoiler alert:  we’ve used them all). Because the reality is, we’re still homebound and we need to keep ourselves and our children occupied.  

Here’s our plan:

We’re going to organize as if our lives depended on it. While I usually reserve the entire month of January for my organizing challenge, I’m adding it right back in to quarantine routine. Rather than going into this school year with the fear of the unknown, let’s go in with a game plan. I hear you cheering, moms! I’ll teach you how to organize your home in one month.

Here are my no-fail tips to an organized home in just 31 days.  

1.  Spend no more than one hour on each room. Set your timer and work quickly. Keep your vacuum, Lysol wipes (if you were lucky enough to score some) and a trash bag by your side at all times.
2. Throw away socks without matches. If you have a pile like we do, say goodbye!  Keep them for sock puppets if you must, but let’s choose to make our lives simpler and get rid of those sad old socks. 
3. Have a good closet gut check. If you haven’t worn it, used it, or longed to wear it in the last year, donate or sell. 
4. Pretend that you are fleeing from a fire when attempting this home clean out. When I organize dresser drawers, it’s a two second decision to keep, donate or sell.
5. Remember that this is just stuff. If it’s not making your life better, you probably don’t need it.  

Amend this schedule as you see fit. You certainly don’t have to do things in this particular order, but I like lists… and I like crossing things off of lists. I also like making my bed first thing when I get up because it makes me feel like I’ve already accomplished something by 7am. 

So, let’s begin. Welcome to the Couch to Cleanup Organizing Challenge!

Week 1: 

Let’s dive in to the kitchen chaos. We’re going to spend one hour each day working though cabinets and drawers, the pantry and refrigerator / freezer.  Say goodbye to Tupperware without lids, chipped dishes, and expired pantry items.

Week 2: 

You’re strong, you’re fearless, you’re moving on to the kids rooms. Ready to dive right into those plastic bins full of toys? Let’s do it. My best tip is to divide things into five categories: Purge, donate, sell, keep, and file. The first four are obvious, but the last refers to that sweet little piece of artwork, or school photo~ things that need to be saved, but require a special place. Put that all into a bin, labeled with each child’s name. When the bin is full, it’s time to sort again and reassess what you want to keep! 

Week 3: 

Walk away from the children’s rooms. This week is all about closets. First up? The linen closet. While the thought of folding a fitted sheet perfectly might send you into a tailspin, I’m here to tell you that no one cares how you fold your fitted sheet.  Mine look ridiculous, but the important thing is that I can quickly grab an entire sheet set because once I’ve folded everything, I stick it into a pillowcase. The entire set: fitted sheet, flat sheet, 2-3 pillowcases, all go together into one pillowcase. It looks tidy and even my kids know where they can find their own sheet sets! Do they change them? No. But might this encourage them to try? Also no. But still, you’ll appreciate it. I swear. Once you’ve finished the linen closet, move on to hall and storage closets. 

Week 4: 

Bathroom break! Just kidding, there’s not actually a break involved, but we will be organizing the bathrooms this week. Do you need that entire bin full of makeup that you SWEAR you’ll wear one day? Probably not. You also don’t need 17 travel size shampoo and conditioner sets from your past vacations (ahhh, remember vacations??). Donate those! Many women’s shelters desperately need them and will gladly take them off your hands.  

Week 5: 

We’ve saved the best for last. Your bedroom and closet! You are such an expert at purging, this will be a cinch! Remember the rule of one hour per day. Go through dresser drawers, closet, and lighten things up. It’s going to feel great, I promise. Let’s go into with clear minds, coordinated socks and tidy closets. 

Well done, friends! You’ve just completed the one month Couch to Cleanup Organizing Challenge!

Jen McDonald lives in Houston, TX  with her husband, three kids and two dogs. She is a self- proclaimed “renegade home stylist and fearless DIYer,” who loves organizing and hates cooking.  When she’s not working on a home project, she’s tending to her kitchen garden. You can find her on Instagram @jenmcdhome  or check out her new website, www.jenmcdhome.com for inspiration and tips.   Read her other posts here:  https://themamahoodblog.com/?s=Jen+McDonald+