Five Boxes, A Bag, A List and the Mt. Vernon Method of Organizing!

Let's Get Started!

 

The Mt. Vernon method originated at the George Washington estate, Mt. Vernon.  This method of cleaning of cleaning and organizing was shared by the housekeepers of the estate and was further popularized by other Professional Organizers! 

In the method you start at the door of a room and move clockwise around the room, organized each inch of a room, surface or furniture piece before moving it the next section, until you have cleared and cleaned every square inch of a room.  The benefits of this method are many, but primarily it allows you to pace yourself and minimize getting overwhelmed because you are focusing on one small area at a time! 

Be ruthless with your decision.  Understand that you may feel some discomfort as you begin making decision about letting items go.  That’s normal-you will get past this the more to do it.  The temporary discomfort of letting something go is a small price to pay when you consider the pain that comes from living helplessly with all of the clutter in you home.  This temporary discomfort will soon be replaced with a feeling of exhilaration by the renewed freedom and control you feel once you’ve begun to take action. 

Now, here comes the FIVE BOXES, A BAG AND A LIST!  Use this method for “processing your space” with the Mt. Vernon Method. 

1)  Gather your supplies: 

• 5 large, easy to store cardboard boxes or plastic bins.  These boxes will become you de-cluttering tools for rooms to come!
• Large black trash bags
• Zip-lock bags
• A couple of Sharpie Markers
• A pad of paper or 3×5 index cards (for recording To Do’s and/or notes)
• Clear Sterlite plastic containers, 27 qt and 56 qt
• Cardboard storage boxes from the office supply
• A Timer!

Commit the time, 60 minutes is ideal!  For each of the boxes, write on a piece of tape or piece of paper on each box with these words: 

• KEEP IT
• ROUTE IT
• GIVE IT
• SELL IT
• STORE IT
• TOSS IT

Choose the space to de-clutter and set your timer for a predetermined time of 30-60 minutes.  Allow for an additional 10 minutes for clean up and routing misplaced items. 

Line up our labeled boxes, trash bag, and keep the pad of paper close by.  Start sorting items beginning on the left side of the room and working left to right.  Start working your boxes de-cluttering the items that you come across.  Stay on track with your progress and continue to write notes of what needs to be done, purchased, etc.  But it is important not to get side tracked and start another project in the middle if your work. 

When the timer goes off, take a minute to clean up.  Now it is time to start dealing with the boxes that you have been filling up.  Now you can route the items that were in your “route” box, throw away items that were in the trash box, schedule a time to donate other items and, if it makes sense, schedule a date for your garage sale!  My method of donation is to take it to the consignment store to sell your items and then make some fun “mad” money to either spend at the consignment store or cash it out and take a girlfriend to lunch! 

Break down your tasks and you will find that it is to manage.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me! 

Happy Organizing!  Bridges