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15 Organizing Tasks You Can Do in 15 Minutes

We are busy people.  And I am guessing 99% percent of the population doesn't share the same crazy obsession with organizing that I do.  I do it like it's my hobby.  But most people, not so much.

I find myself doing quick spurts of organizing.  I don't blog about them each and every time because I do it impulsively and before I know it I am done and grinning ear to ear.  So it got me thinking about those quick and random acts of organizing that make a big impact on our home.  You may not have five hours to clean out and entire room, but everyone has 15 minutes each week to spare for a little organizing lovin'.

Here are my top fifteen organizing tasks that can be done in fifteen minutes or less!  Have fun friends!

• Empty out all trash
• Wipe down dash and center console
• Clean windows
• Vacuum Seats
• Add a small bin to corral all of the items you prefer to keep within the car

• Remove all expired foods
• Wipe down shelves and bins
• Categorize remaining foods by type
• Create special baskets for breakfast foods and lunches
• Use a Sharpie or Washi tape to label food container with expiration dates

• Pick a drawer, any drawer
• Empty contents
• Donate/toss anything that you haven't used/touched within the past three months
• Vacuum/wipe down inside of the drawer
• Place items back using drawer dividers if possible {drawer dividers reduce risk of "toss and shut" syndrome.  Anything can be used from washed out yogurt cups to muffin pans to cereal boxes}

• Recycle all junk mail
• Unsubscribe from mailings {many online services can help you do this quickly}
• Place important dates into your calendar
• Scan/File statements
• Designate a single basket or paper tray as your inbox for weekly sorting

• Toss any expired products
• Combine like bottles and toss anything that you don't use frequently
• Remove contents and wipe down shelves
• Place items back strategically {by item type}
• Remove any medications and store them in separate, dry environment {medications should not be stored in a medicine cabinet}

• Donate anything you haven't used within 3-6 months
• Tag or turn your hangers.  After you wear something, place the hanger back in the opposite way.  Now, you have a system for purging down the line {unturned hangers mean you haven't wore the item and it has to go}
• Add a bin or bag to your closet for donations.  Now, you have an instant place to purge when you follow the "one in, one out" rule.
• Vacuum out floor of closet, wipe down shoes
• Plan your wardrobe for the week

• Delete spam and old Emails
• Sign up for an Inbox cleanup service {there many out there similar to this one}
• Reply to anything that requires a quick response
• Create folders/labels to "file" away your Emails.  Create one label as an active "To Do" list and use the rest to quickly find important correspondences.
• Unsubscribe from unnecessary notifications from Social Media sites.

• Return piled up items back to their original home
• Wipe down the counters
• Store away appliances that are not used frequently
• Add a small basket or bin for the items that typically land on your counter, and empty it at the end of each day

• Remove all expired foods
• Wipe down shelves and bins
• Categorize remaining foods by type
• Create special baskets for breakfast foods and lunches
• Use a Sharpie or Washi tape to label food container with expiration dates

• Empty contents
• Vacuum inside of pockets and pouches
• Toss garbage and items that are no longer needed
• Categorize contents and place within small pouches {such as pencil pouches} or a purse organizer {for example, one pouch holds cosmetics, one pouch holds electronics, etc...}

• Remove contents from drawers and top of nightstand
• Wipe down outside and inside
• Toss any expired lotions, chapsticks, etc... Purge items that don't belong
• Add dividers/organizers to drawers
• Place a small dish on the top to hold your favorite daily jewels/hair ties

• Blank slate it!  Clear your desk of clutter and piles
• Wipe down desk
• Add an "inbox" for important papers/documents
• Toss old pens, pencils and broken/unused supplies
• Keep only items you use daily on your desktop, tuck the less frequently used items away in drawers or bins

• Create a shopping list/meal plan for the week/month
• Search Pinterest, magazines and cookbooks for a few new recipes to try each month
• Sign up for a meal planning service {many available which will plan your weekly meals and provide you with a shopping list}
• Use online services {such as Evernote} to create an online catalog of your favorite recipes, or put them all together within a recipe binder

• Empty the closet/cabinet to give it a blank slate
• Wipe down shelves, go the extra mile by adding pretty shelf liner
• Toss/donate any items that haven't been used within 6-12 months
• Place sheets within baskets {for the non-expert sheet folders}, or within shelving dividers
• Refold/roll all towels to face the same way
• Use space saving bags to condense large quilts and pillows

• Empty contents of your makeup bag/makeup drawer
• Wipe down insides of bag/drawer 
• Toss expired items {it's not good for you to use expired makeup yo!}
• Purge down items that are duplicates or seasonal
• Wipe down each makeup item/case with disinfecting wipes
• Clean makeup brushes {details here}

Those are just a few things that I do, that take me 15 minutes or less, and happen when I have a spare moment and feel like getting something accomplished quick.   I always feel superfab after tackling each one of these tasks, and they all make a positive impact on our lives here in the Jones household.  I try to do something every day or two, but many of these items can be tackled in a single weekend or spread out throughout the month.  And if you have attention issues like I do, a timer will be your best friend forever.  As will good tunes.

Now it is your turn!  I have to know, what am I missing out on?  What quickie organizing tasks do you accomplish within 15 minutes or less?