Help! I'm Knee-Deep in Clutter!: Conquer the Chaos and ... (ISBN 0814474209)

Book Description:
"Be honest: Do you keep telling yourself you'll go home and finally organize all those clothes and papers and other possessions that just seem to multiply when you're not looking? But maybe, just maybe, you can't help from thinking that the last time you went to the trouble of reorganizing, it all just magically went back to being messy within about a day and a half? Join the club. When you have a busy life -- and who doesn't these days? -- it's impossible to find enough time to keep cleaning up the same mess over and over again. You pick up all the papers, and the next time you walk in the kitchen there's a pile sitting there -- taunting you. Where does it all come from? And why won't it go away? Of course, the whole idea of becoming organized is that you won't have to do it over and over again. But have you found that magic system yet? Never fear, if you're holding this book in your hands right now, the good news is that you have! Help, I'm Knee-Deep in Clutter! is a sanity-saving book that empowers you to conquer the chaos once and for all. Organization expert Joyce I. Anderson gives you simple, realistic solutions for getting things under control not just immediately, but permanently. You'll find that getting organized is surprisingly easy if you have a plan of attack. Filled with helpful charts, checklists, and other clutter-busting companions, this snappy guide shows you exactly how to: corral the biggest clutter culprits and start making a difference right away * set up simple daily and weekly routines to keep the mess at bay * break big, overwhelming clean-up jobs (like the basement, garage, and closets) into smaller, more manageable tasks * and much more You'll find easy-to-implement strategies, instantly usable tools, and all the guidance, humor, and inspiration you need to make a huge difference in your home and your life without breaking a sweat. Help, I'm Knee-Deep in Clutter! gives you the straightforward and sensible solutions you need to de-clutter every room in your home, and keep it that way once and for all! Really!"

Good book but needs better layout:
I wanted to rate this 3 1/2 stars. This book would be great for someone who does Sidetracked Home Executives or FlyLady (licensed to use their system, adding her own touches to it), as it breaks tasks down for you into really basic steps, room by room. The travel lists and the tip list in the back are very good. What I didn't like about this book: Spends an entire chapter on basements, which many people do not have. Also discusses attics, same thing. And, you shouldn't be using them for storage of lots of things anyway, if they have any potential as proper living space. Some of the advice seemed rather arbitrary in nature, especially as far as the paperwork organization. Not everybody organizes in the same way (e.g., some prefer color-coding as opposed to straight alphabetization). So, this is a "how to organize HER way book", as opposed to organization books that offer many different ways to go about it. This would have been much better in an 8 1/2 by 11 inch format, instead of the 5 1/2 by 8 1/2 format. Constantly turning pages for the lists was annoying. There was a high degree of repetition of the basics and list headings, which took up space, and the little pencil logos would have been better replaced by a line to put a check mark on. This is a good book for those who need a "just tell me what to do" approach. If you want a bit more flexibility in your organizational choices, this book still has some good advice, but you might also want to read Peter Walsh's books as well.

For Beginners Only:
I found this book annoying on several levels. The information it contains is extremely basic. I admit I've read many books on organization, but I found no new ideas here. Some of her suggestions seem odd (advice to put fake plants in your kitchen to make it cozy while pointing out - correctly - that they collect dust in another chapter). Some of them needed clarification (she suggests putting computers in your child's room with no discussion of safety issues, despite a brief mention of computer safety in another chapter). The format is largely a collection of lists of ideas and routines, and each and every chapter repeats exactly the same first steps of scheduling and organizing, which makes the book appear longer and more comprehensive than it really is. I also wondered where her editor was hiding -- her continual use of "clumping" drove me mad. Most of the people I know group like things together when they organize, they don't clump them! I'd recommend this book only to beginners who believe the list format may be especially helpful.

Helpful Clutter Tips:
I consider myself to be a fairly organized person, but I found many, many tips in this book to make my life easier and more organized. I highly recommend it. It's well-written and it's easy to find information on your particular clutter problem. A good reference book to have on hand during the upcoming spring cleaning season.

Checklists to Conquer the Clutter:
I got a kick out of this book. It's easy to read and offers useful checklists that are comprehensive, down-to-earth, and helpful. That's exactly what I needed!

Big help for a busy mom:
I found Help, I'm knee-deep in clutter! an easy read. As a single and working mother of two-year-old twins, I have no time to be creative enough to find my own organizational methods. When I see something in my daily routine that is messy or has always been a bit unorganized, I turn to the chapters and find exactly the pages I need to help me get started. I think this is a really helpful book in it's own "neat" way.