Kelli Wilson

www.asimpleplanconsulting.com

765-6104

www.naposacramento.org

Lee Mahla

www.getorderlee.com

631-6881

Prices vary depending on services

Every family has one and they all look the same. Dried-up pens, snapped rubber bands and crusty old erasers next to the questionable stray batteries and wayward small toys.

It’s the junk drawer and the mess doesn’t stop there.

“There’s a rule that we only use 20 percent of our stuff 80 percent of the time,” said Professional Organizer and National Association of Professional Organizers President Kelli Wilson. “And it’s easy to get bogged down by the clutter. Sometimes all people need is that other person in the room to keep them on task.”

Wilson’s business is helping people get organized and she’s got tips for every room in the house.

The home office

Wilson said the home office is a big challenge for organization because of all the paper that builds up. She suggests colored files and bins to keep documents separated. For example, a blue bin can store business documents and green file folders can be used for bills or tax forms.

Roseville resident Pat Bergeron worked with Wilson to get her personal documents in order with contact numbers written on each file.

“It was very helpful to have someone help me go through it all and tell me what to keep and what to throw away,” Bergeron said.

Wilson’s tip for the cluttered desk is what she calls the “bulls-eye” technique.

“Sit down at your desk and visualize what you need all the time everyday,” Wilson said. “Those are the only things that should be at your desk.”

From there, things should be close to you based on the frequency of its use.

“This is a really good visual because with most people, if they can’t see it they think it’s gone,” Wilson said.

The kitchen:

Professional organizer Lee Mahla has found that the kitchen tends to be a particularly cluttered area in the home because of how its function has changed over the years.

“The kitchen is no longer just a place where we cook and eat,” Mahla said. “Kids are doing their homework, people pay their bills and sort their mail. It’s serving more purposes and things begin to accumulate to serve them.”

Mahla said families should find a routine to get the counters and table back to what she calls “default mode.” Everything should have a place and, at the end of the day should be in their designated spaces and ready to go.

“Store things where you use them, and when you’re done using them store them,” Mahla said.

The entryway:

This is where everything is dropped after work and school and where most realize that they’ve misplaced their keys or sunglasses their next trip out the door.

“This is a functional room too, the things still need to be in the same place every time,” Mahla said.

To keep this area clutter-free, Wilson suggests baskets for shoes or backpacks so kids always know where to find them.

While many people would be embarrassed to invite a stranger into their home to go through their personal items, that’s the best part about a personal organizer.

“We’re an unbiased party who’s only there to help,” Wilson said. “We’ve seen it all and it’s not our place to judge.”

Some professional organizers choose to undergo training classes to work with specific types of needs. Wilson is trained to work with ADD/ADHD and brain injury clients, while Mahla is certified to help the elderly downsize and prepare for a move.

“People tend to create an emotional attachment to things, and it’s not about the stuff,” Wilson said. “Sometimes all they need is permission to throw it away.”