Clutter Control: Useful Tips for Getting Rid of the Mess

by Susan Wright

You need this book if: * your paperwork and files are a mess * you are surrounded by clutter and don't know why * you can never find a book in your library * the contents of your closet are a complete mystery * you are a confirmed collector * your house is disorganized * you have no control over your time. Arranged into short, easy-to-read chapters, this compact guide includes a wealth of practical information for organizing your life and keeping your living and work areas clutter-free. Chapters focus on room-by-room strategies, revealing pain-free techniques for sorting and sifting through items, reclaiming and maximizing storage space, and parting with objects you no longer need (or want). Specific sections treat special challenges, including how to deal with family clutterers, how to cope with limited-space areas, how to organize paper files and financial information--even how to develop the time management skills you need to organize your activities, your schedules, and your life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Self Help

102 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

See also S.L. Wright

Susan Wright (aka S.L. Wright) is a USA Today Bestselling author of more than two dozen novels and nonfiction books. She writes New Adult Contemporary Romance novels, as well as Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Science Fiction and Star Trek novels, and has been published by Pocket Books, Penguin Group, St. Martin’s Press and Kensington.

Reviews

[Lauren Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Step Aside, I'm a Professional!" I know there's a joke somewhere which started that expression. I can't find it, which is making me nuts. "Step Aside!!!" was the first thought popping into my head when I finished Clutter Control: Useful Tips for Getting Rid of the Mess, compiled and edited in 1991 by Susan Wright and originally titled Eliminating Clutter from Your Life as a Learning Annex title. The book was a $2.00 find at Goodwill - why not!

There is SO MUCH WRONG with this book.

For every tiny nugget of wisdom - and there are some, I particularly enjoy and applaud her sensitive, compassionate perspective concerning interacting with children - Ms. Wright adds a dozen generalizations, poor word choices (Ms. Wright uses "should" the way Marie Kondo uses "lazy"),  and "Of course you can!" claims which are awful. The book is old. The National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO) was formed in 1984; there were only 16 members in August 1985. So Ms. Wright was a pioneer in her way, writing this long before anyone could take a course in "Working with Emotional Processors" or "How to Empower Even the Most Persistent Procrastinator" (recent offerings from the Institute for Challenging Disorganization, which itself dates to 2003 or earlier). Ms. Wright wasn't, as best I can tell, a NAPO member. So she did the best she could: she doesn't give any attributions to her sources, so I don't know where she found the scarce water in the desert.

My point is this: many times, this effort DOES need a Professional. I think all of my colleagues and I can tell a story of working with a client who was harmed by a technician who came in to his/her space and did little more than re-arrange the furniture and slap a few labels on baskets. Professional Organizers who care about credentialing, continuing education, best practices, will be helping you learn time and stress management techniques, space planning methods, ways to objectively think about your stuff, and, uh huh, will probably have a label maker and a favorite (shoe-boxed) size bin.

Lauren Williams, Certified Professional Organizer(R), Owner, Casual Uncluttering LLC, Woodinville, WA USA

[Anne (w/ an E) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book has motivated me [somewhat]. I have already organized my nightstand and it has stayed that way for over 24 hours. Hey, you gotta start somewhere!

[Michele Brack]

#13 A self-improvement book

I know that I really don't have a clutter problem AT THE MOMENT, but it's always nice to read about things to help in the future or other things that I could streamline and do more easily. However, considering this book came out over 20 years ago, I was seriously just laughing the whole time at most of the suggestions. One of the first things they told you to do was to clear off your typewriter table of all junk. There was also a whole chapter on how to store and label your VHS collection (I still have one, but I'm also weird) and also your record collection.

I don't agree with some of their methods of organization, but I guess that's up to individual. Though I keep a record of all my books and movies and HAVE sub categories in all of the descriptions, I don't like to arrange my books by subject. I find it easier to arrange them by author's last name and then by publication date after that. Of course comic books and certain graphic novels are put by themselves and there are certain books that I cannot fit onto my shelves and therefore do not fit into the system, but it's what works for me.

All in all, this really didn't tell me anything I didn't already know but it was still a nice brisk read and I got a laugh out of it.

[TJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off I have to say that buying this book proved I needed to read it. It really is ironic to sell an item and that items sole purpose is for you to get rid of items. However I did find it interesting. I also found some of the tips useful. Some of the sections are a bit dated, it talks about organizing cassettes, not CD's or loading all your music to your ipod. However the concepts are all still relevant. And to prove that I have learned from this book, I gave it away after reading to a friend who was interested in the topic as well.

[Heather]

I have owned this book for years. So far all it has done is be part of my clutter. I have never opened it.

[Cheryl]

A lot of information and suggestions packed in this slim volume. Almost overwhelmingly so.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing new here, but useful as a summary of relevant efficiency techniques.

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't get much out of this book. Most of the tips I've heard before. It is a short read, and might be good for anyone who has a very tough time with clutter.

[Annburnett · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a good basic book to get you started decluttering the different parts of your home.