 Touch Zones Our clients ask us all the time if we have any tricks or tips on organizing our homes. Everyone has those one or two areas that are a growing monster. We have taken a look at how we keep our homes. We have learned from organizing professionals what their tips and tricks are but we have modified them to fit our personal needs. After having our friends try our Touch Zones, we believe we have found the magic combination. We have taken your entire hrouse and have divided it into 5 Touch Zones plus a Monthly Monster. We call our weekly focusTouch Zones because it requires that you touch each area and slowly transform it. If you spend just 15 – 20 minutes each day in each of our scheduled Touch Zones de-cluttering and organizing, you will discover an amazing transformation. A Monthly Monster is one area that can easily become a huge mess in our homes. The 5 Touch Zones will be basically the same each month. The Monthly Monsters will change every month. So long as you follow our schedule, you will be a Touch Expert! Before you start working on your Touch Zone, we suggest a few rules. 1. Make sure you are completely dressed. This doesn’t include your shoes because I don’t wear shoes in my home and I know most of our clients don’t wear shoes in their homes either. However, you shouldn’t start cleaning in your pajamas as you will find a reason to stop and get yourself dressed and ready for the day. If you stop your routine to get dressed or ready for the day, you likely won’t be motivated to finish what you started. 2. Your Touch Chores should be done completely before starting on your weekly Touch Zones. Touch Chores are two or three routine chores that you do in the morning and two or three routine chores that you do in the evening. We suggest picking up any dirty clothes on the floor and putting them in your hamper, hanging up any towels from showers and making your bed in the morning and wiping off your kitchen counters, shining your sink, and hanging up any clean laundry at night. Your personal Touch Chores may differ so long as you make a habit of finding two or three routine chores that fit your lifestyle. We call them touch chores because you have to physically touch the chores. 3. Touch, clean, organize or de-clutter one pile, drawer, shelf, or cupboard at a time. Distracted cleaners will start cleaning the first area, find something to put away, move to the second area to put away the item from the first area, and start cleaning the second area rather than finishing the first area. This is not an effective way to touch, clean or organize any Touch Zone. 4. Stay on task and be consistent. It takes 21 days to change or instill a habit. If you skip just one day, you will find it harder to start a habit or stay on task. Touch each zone every day for 15 – 20 minutes. You will find it easier to stay on task and organize if you stay in the “zone.” 5. Make each Touch Zones a race! Set your timer for 15 – 20 minutes and see how much you can accomplish. Even if you are on a roll, don’t spend more than 20 minutes in any area of the Touch Zones. If you spend more time in any one Touch Zone, you can become burnt out and may not return to that zone the next time justifying that you already put in your time for that zone. De-cluttering is the first thing you have to do before you can begin maintaining in any Touch Zone. When you de-clutter, think in terms of throw away, give away and put away. We still want you to spend just 15-20 minutes in each area of the Touch Zones but not more than 20 minutes. Don’t forget to set a timer so you will stop at your time limit. We suggest getting a trash bag, and 2 boxes labeled give away and put away.  Spend 15 – 20 minutes in each area of the Touch Zones filling your trash bag with trash and items you can’t give away to a charity or put away some place in your home. Once the trash bag is filled, THROW IT AWAY. Don’t look at what is in the bag or question your decision. Fill one box with items that belong in another room. Once the box is filled, take it to each room in your home and put away all the items in the box. Fill the last box with items you don’t use or love and can give those items to charity. Also, don’t wait to donate the items. The longer they sit in your home, the more you are apt to find a new place in your home for them. Don’t forget your tax credit for giving items to charity. Use this program to keep track of what you are giving away and include a picture for the IRS, just in case. Once each Touch Zone is completely de-cluttered, you are ready for a detailed cleaning of each Touch Zone. These are our October Touch Zones. The appropriate Touch Zone will be published Sunday morning and removed Saturday night. Don’t worry about starting late – you will get caught up and in our routine. Not every home will have rooms in every Touch Zone so feel free to start any time. We will rotate the same Touch Zones next month so it is easy to catch up! Print out the schedule below and put it somewhere that will remind you to spend 15 - 20 minutes on each Touch Zone. Congratulations! You are taking the first step to declutering your home and maintaining it in between your cleaning service. Of course, we suggest using our cleaning service, but if it won't fit into your budget now, these tips will help you maintain your home. Michelle |
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CategoriesDe-cluttering Tips and TricksTouch Zone #1 Touch Zone #2 Touch Zone #3 Touch Zone #4 Touch Zone #5 Touch Zones Introduction |
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