The Best Organizing Advice From 25 Years of REAL SIMPLE

Organizing, is there any topic that’s more REAL SIMPLE? We didn’t think so! Having an organized and decluttered home is what makes every other part of your life efficient, and well, possible. After all, it’s hard to concentrate when you’re surrounded by stacks of unopened mail or an overstuffed fridge. These are some of our favorite ways to get your home and your life feeling and looking shipshape.

Keep Your Sheets Together

Repurpose ribbons from gifts: Tie them around sheet sets so individual pieces don’t stray. You’ll never waste time hunting for a matching set again! You can even write “queen” or “king” on the ribbon. Or store the set in one of the pillowcases.

Add Storage to Your Refrigerator

Yes, it comes with bins. But put in more! Bins can hold smaller items like yogurts and string cheeses, which tend to flop around or get pushed to the back only to be rediscovered well past their expiration dates.

Set Up a To-Be-Dealt-With System

Keep a large, empty basket on hand during tidying sessions. When you come across something that belongs in another room, throw it into the basket and put it all away later.

Break Down Big Tasks Into Smaller Ones

Instead of telling yourself that you need to organize the pantry, make a to-do list of steps, says KC Davis, author of How to Keep House While Drowning. For example: “Toss expired food,” “Clean sticky bottles,” and “Group like with like.”

Rehome the Small Stuff in the Bathroom

Tired of losing bobby pins, tweezer, and nail clippers in your medicine cabinet? Hang a magnetic knife strip on the back of the door and let science do its thing.

Front-Load Your Favorites

This is especially true for you junk drawer! Store your most-needed items—like matches and your trusty box cutter—toward the front of the drawer, where you can grab them easily. Relegate lower-priority supplies to the back.

Use a Forget-Me-Not Basket

This trick is a game changer for those of us who are a little forgetful. “By hanging a basket on their front door, they can place all the items there that they are always struggling to find when trying to head out the door in the morning—keys, kids’ signed papers for school,” says professional organizer Nikki Boyd. “Having the basket directly on the door handle eliminates the option of forgetting anything and keeps the entryway clutter-free.” Be sure to place the basket near whichever door your family uses most often. Adding a small chalkboard for written reminders can also help.

Start a Grocery Inventory

You’ve heard of keeping a shopping list of the things you need, but it’s also key to make a list of the things you definitely don’t need. Start a note in your phone for items you’re stocked up on to avoid unnecessary buying. (Because any more than six cans of chickpeas at a given time means you’ve gone overboard.)

Corral Baking Sheets With a Tension Rod

Tired of releasing an avalanche of pans every time you want to do some baking? Empty out a cabinet (or at least one side) and install two tension rods vertically—one near the back of the cabinet and one parallel to it, closer to the door. Repeat as needed to add more sections. This way, you can file your baking sheets (and your cutting boards and cooling racks and muffin tins) side by side and simply grab what you need.

Streamline Your Cleaning Supplies

You need all-purpose cleaner, bleach, dish soap, tile cleaner, toilet cleaner, and glass cleaner, says Jessica Ek of the American Cleaning Institute. And guess what? These things don’t have to live together. Store them in or near the rooms where you’ll use them to make your life easier.

Don’t Buy Organizers (at First)

“You won’t really know what you need until you dwindle down what you have,” says Kansas City, Missouri-based pro organizer Amy Tokos. Toss or donate your unwanted items, then see if you can repurpose some of your baskets and bins to corral your smaller stash. If your current collection of organizers isn’t working for you, then you can consider doing some shopping. Tip: Measure the shelves and drawers in question and bring those numbers with you.