Garage and closets garner most attention

When people think of spring cleaning, the first areas of the home that come to mind are closets and the garage, according to the Rubbermaid Organization Survey. Nearly one-third of the respondents said closets were the thing most in need of a spring cleaning, while more than 25% indicated it was the garage.

Instead of getting distraught over where to begin your cleaning efforts, follow these simple tips from Peter Walsh, organizer on The Learning Channel's popular "Clean Sweep" program and author of How to Organize Just About Everything:

Don't jump into spring cleaning. Take some time to plan what you are going to do. It took months, even years, for your closets and the garage to get cluttered--set a reasonable timeline for how long it will take you to de-clutter and get organized. Break the job into small, manageable pieces and tackle them one at a time.

Use the ratio rule. When sorting clothes, shoes, or even power tools, try cutting down the total number you keep. For every four items you retain, donate or throw away one. Challenge yourself and try to lower the ratio to three to one or, if you are really brave, two to one.

Understand and honor your treasured collections. Items covered in dust and cobwebs in a trash bag in the attic or back of the garage are not collections. If you truly treasure those items, display them proudly and properly in your home; otherwise, ask yourself why you are holding onto them.

Use vertical space. Check out the organization systems that are on the market, especially ones that are easy to install. They make it convenient to create order out of chaos, add a new look to your home, and make the most of that unused vertical space.

Create zones in the garage. Identify the main uses for items in the garage and arrange them accordingly: sporting goods, tools, gardening, cleaning, and so on. Assign a specific area for each set of items with clear labels and appropriate containers. Maintaining zones will help keep the garage neat and organized.

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