Home Organizing Workbook: Clearing Your Clutter, Step by Step

by Meryl Starr

Failing the Mary Poppins' snap-the-fingers approach to cleaning, here's the next best an utterly practical handbook that offers lasting results for anyone looking to banish clutter from every room in the house. Home organizer par excellence Meryl Starr offers up her hardworking organizing solutions in The Home Organizing Workbook , a straightforward guide to getting organized. The room chapters begin with targeted questionnaires that help the reader identify specific organizational problems, followed by hundreds of hardworking solutions and strategic maintenance tips. Those itching to get started can dive right in with step-by-step organizing projects ranging from quick-and-easy weeknight jobs, like overhauling the spice cabinet, to more intensive endeavors such as reorganizing the bedroom closet. Accessory lists at the end of each chapter feature dozens of the best products available, from lazy susans to shelf dividers, and explain exactly how they can be used to optimum effect in each room, while the extensive resource list shows where to get them. It's a package as tidy as its concealed Wire-O lay-flat binding, tabbed chapters to take readers straight to their problem area du jour, and full-color, solution-oriented photographs sure to inspire action. Ready to clear that clutter and keep it that way? The Home Organizing Workbook is the ultimate guide to preserving open spaces.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Self Help

176 pages, Spiral-bound

First published November 1, 2003

Reviews

[Liz Banks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a well organized book that was easy to read. I will reference it when I get around to organizing again, probably in January. It has less than 100 pages, which is a plus for this kind of book.

[Kristine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the projects in this book that have lists of things you will need and step by step instructions. I would have liked to see more options rather than just trashing for getting rid of things, though.

[Hazel Leu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super helpful!

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very basic information about organizing various rooms in a house.

[Rebecca Noran · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tore through this one too but it was decent — well organized, scannable, to the point. Might be a good resource for someone taking a diy approach and wanting a guidebook.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Super quick read, which was great. It felt super dated, especially in the chapter about home offices—talking about things like if you are thinking about owning a computer, etc.

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Repetitive and extremely geared toward middle class families in the 90s, but still had some good pointers.

[Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

fine but very basic suggestions. perhaps i would have more highly rated this if i had stumbled on it earlier in my organizing adventures. i don't recall discovering any new-to-me or particularly insightful advice.

i read the e-version and starkly felt the lack of explanatory and inspiration photos. i can't say whether the print version offers these. but they would have radically upped the usefulness and fun factors.

[Joy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was not as practical as what I had hoped. Really, what can you say other than get three bags and work around each room. There seemed to be a bit more info on decorating than organizing,
and lots of organizing involved the kitchen or bathroom, which was not helpful for me. No more books on organizing -- just do the work!

[Dinah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice organization (imagine that) of the book. Photos are nice and some are inspiring, but seem staged rather than taken from actual houses where people live.

Marred slightly by uncharacteristic for Chronicle Books visual design decisions; apparently running on the mandate "think not outside the box, but right on the edge of the box."

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very basic suggestions and how to instructions. Maybe i need the 'industrial strength' version which includes physics-defying advice on finding room for double the amount of stuff which will fit into a given space. ;)
I did enjoy the cheerleading you-can-do-it positivity of the writing style. Overall a good basic how-to

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book at helping you to reduce clutter, decide what's important, and organize your entire home. I actually spent 6 months completely re-organizing our house before our son came home. This book was instrumental in the re-org. I highly recommend it!

[RachelAnne]

Yes, because all I really need to get organized is another book. Sigh.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some nice ideas, and easy to work through. I was able to help my sister - now for MY house!

[Jacqueline Mull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great organizational book....definitely gonna use the info suggested to declutter and organize my home

[Sooah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The baking soda idea was pretty good.

[JoAnne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Organizing your stuff.

More about finding space for your stuff. Little about discarding excess. And nothing addressing creating new habits.
Summary: look at you stuff. try an organization gadget. Put your stuff away. Enjoy your cluttered home.