Frequently Asked Organizing Questions ANSWERED by a Professional Organizer with Tracy Bowers

Come and sit down with Tasha and Tracy as they work through some of the most commonly asked organizing questions such as, “What do I do with paper clutter?” “My space is small, how do I organize it?” and “How do I let go of items that have been gifted to me?”

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MEET TRACY

Tasha welcomes Tracy Bowers from Organize Simply to the podcast. As a professional organizer, Tracy answers some frequently asked organizing questions that Tasha found online.

ORGANIZING SMALL OR LIMITED SPACES

Tasha’s first question is about organizing small spaces or areas with limited storage. Tracy stresses the importance of only keeping what fits comfortably in the space. Even though we may love many of our things, there may simply not be room to store it all. She encourages us to keep the favorites that do fit, and let go of the extras by donating them.

To maximize space, Tracy suggests using vertical storage such adding extra shelves inside cabinets or closets, using hooks on walls, and choosing containers that fit well in the space. She also shares a tip about getting shelves cut to size at stores like Lowe’s or Home Depot.

HANDLING PAPER CLUTTER

When it comes to paper clutter, Tracy recommends dealing with mail right at the mailbox by immediately tossing junk mail and envelopes before bringing anything inside.

For organizing active papers, Tracy suggests using labeled vertical sorters rather than traditional filing cabinets, which are better for long term storage. She shares the project folders she uses to keep papers contained and easy to access.

WHAT HAPPENS TO DECLUTTERED ITEMS?

Tasha asks what professional organizers do with items clients need to have removed after a decluttering and organizing session. Tracy explains that her team always hauls everything away.

Donations go to a local donation center, cardboard to a recycling center, and trash goes into a dumpster clients provide (if there is a lot of trash). This prevents clutter from lingering and when Tracy and her team leave, the job is truly done.

Tracy discourages us from keeping things we are letting go of to give to family members we may not see for a long time. Instead, she encourages us to donate locally so that the item is getting out of our house and going to someone who will appreciate it.

TIPS FOR KEEPING CLOSETS ORGANIZED

Tasha brings up how many people struggle with keeping closets organized long term. Tracy’s advice is to have less clothes. Keep only what fits comfortably in the space. If there are items you just don’t want to get rid of, store them elsewhere.

Tracy suggests grouping clothing by category, folding clothes such as pants neatly, using bins for smaller items, and labeling everything. She recommends consistent hangers for a uniform look and says her preference is thin, rubberized hangers over velvet ones.

LETTING GO OF GIFTS

Tracy shares her thoughts about getting rid of gifts. She says the real gift is the act of giving and the thought behind it, not the item itself. She encourages us to release guilt about letting go of gifted items. It’s okay to pass them on so someone else can enjoy them.

SENTIMENTAL ITEMS

Tasha talks about one of the hardest decluttering topics- sentimental items. She states how, after making progress on easier items like clothes or toys, people often hit a wall when sorting through things with emotional meaning. These are more difficult because they are irreplaceable and have memories attached to them.

TRACY’S PERSONAL STRUGGLE

Tracy shares her own experience. Though she dislikes clutter and prefers minimalism, she admits sentimental items from her kids and late grandmother are very meaningful and hard to part with.

She shares how her husband built attic storage specifically for keeping memory bins for her children. When moving from California to Utah, Tracy realized she really didn’t want to move all of those bins. This prompted a process of sorting and digitizing these items with her daughter.

MAKING MEMORY BOOKS

Tracy worked with her daughter to photograph items and create an inexpensive photo book through Costco. This simple process made it possible to preserve the memories without keeping every physical piece.

THE VALUE OF MEMORY BOOKS

Tracy points out that photo books are actually more accessible and enjoyable for future generations than boxes of stored clutter. Kids and grandkids can easily flip through a book unlike bins that are stored out of sight.

NO REGRETS

Tracy acknowledges that having doubts about tossing an item are normal but the peace that comes from releasing so many things will make it worth it.

DECLUTTERING THE KITCHEN

Tasha next asks about decluttering a kitchen or pantry effectively, stating that food can create a lot of clutter, especially when you buy in bulk from places like Costco.

Tracy shares that when decluttering a pantry, we often underestimate the time and effort that it will take. If we are tackling this project ourselves, she recommends breaking it down and starting with one category at a time, like snacks or breakfast foods.

TIPS FOR PANTRY ORGANIZING

Tracy also suggests removing items from bulky cardboard boxes and transferring them to simple baskets to save space and increase visibility. Even inexpensive dollar store baskets are a great start.

DONATING UNUSED FOOD

Tracy encourages donating sealed food to local pantries instead of throwing it away. Many people are grateful for these donations, and food pantries accept items older foods as long as they’re safe.

Tracy assures us that most older packaged foods aren’t harmful. Donating or discarding unused items helps to keep our pantry fresh and manageable.

STARTING FRESH

Tracy suggests tackling pantry decluttering in manageable chunks to avoid overwhelm and mess. This method also helps maintain momentum and results in a more organized space.

The key takeaway here is the less stuff you have, the simpler it is to stay organized. Keeping fewer items reduces stress and helps you keep the space under control.

WHAT COMES NEXT

Tasha asks Tracy what comes next after a professional organizer leaves. How do people maintain order? Tracy emphasizes that life with busy kids means things won’t stay perfectly tidy all the time, no matter how organized you are. But with a clear system and labeled homes for everything, putting things away becomes quicker and easier.

OPERATION CLEANUP

Tracy shares a family tradition called “Operation Cleanup” where her husband would call everyone to action. With fun music playing, for 10 minutes, the whole family would pick up and put things away. Because everything had a designated spot, the kids knew exactly where to put items.

“PUT THE HOUSE TO BED”

Tracy tells a story from her childhood about admiring a tidy house and learning a simple routine from a neighbor. This routine was, before you go to bed, no matter how tired you are, you go around and put your house to bed first.

Tracy says this habit is a game changer for waking up to a fresh, tidy home and is something she still tries to do daily.

DRAWER ORGANIZERS & BINS

Tasha asks about favorite products. Tracy recommends acrylic drawer organizers, especially the Everything brand from The Container Store, for their variety of sizes and affordability. She warns against pre-divided drawer trays that don’t fit individual needs. Instead, she recommends customizable individual organizers so each item has its own home.

BUY IN BULK ON SALE

Tracy advises buying organizers when they’re on sale, stocking up on various sizes, and returning what isn’t needed. This allows for flexibility and finding the perfect fit for each drawer or space.

WHERE TO START WHEN OVERWHELMED

For those who may feel overwhelmed, Tracy’s advice is to start very small—just one section or category at a time. Whether it’s a few T-shirts in a closet, a junk drawer, or a baking shelf, focusing on a tiny area makes the task manageable and less intimidating.

SMALL STEPS LEAD TO BIG CHANGE

Tracy encourages taking small steps, like clearing off a cluttered desk by removing items that belong elsewhere, even if you don’t have time to put everything away immediately. Using a basket to collect things that can be put away later helps reduce stress and visual clutter.

LESS STRESS, MORE PEACE

Tasha asks Tracy what is currently giving her less stress and more peace. Tracy shares a personal story about struggling with exercise when life is busy but finding motivation through a family group chat. Prioritizing her health has boosted her energy and mood, even if it means posting less on Instagram for work sometimes.

 

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