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Goodbye Clutter!

Clear the Clutter Before Baby Arrives

By Kathy Waddill

The second key word ­-- tool --­ also benefits from an expanded definition. Even though the word might conjure up the image of a hammer or a screwdriver, organizing tools are not limited to hand-held mechanical implements alone. Instead, a tool is any instrument that helps you accomplish a specific task. The word tool encompasses a wide variety of instruments. Containers are just one type. A tool can range from something as simple as a box top to a complicated piece of equipment like a computer, as long as it does the job you want it to do. If you ever tried to drive a nail with a screwdriver because you couldn't find your hammer, you know the difference the right tool can make.

In your overall organizing system, containers and tools play essential roles. Each one of them has a job to do to support you and your activities. The right ones are the ones that help you live your life today and are flexible enough to support you if your life changes tomorrow. The trick is deciding which one is best for the organizing task you need help with. If you want to store dishes, for instance, a dresser won't do. By the same token, a kitchen cupboard isn't a good container for sweaters. Sometimes, selecting the correct tool or container for a specific job is a tricky proposition.

Let's look at some of the ways you can tell you haven't had good luck I>Using the Right Containers and Tools

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