Contain it + maintain it
Use Ziploc® brand Containers with the Smart Snap® Seal to organize and maximize space. They’re perfect since you can see through them, and they come in handy sizes for clutter control. For example, the extra small bowl is great for paper clips and the small square works well for pens and pencils. And the large rectangles are perfect for personal correspondence, bills, coupons, etc. (we’ll get to the best ways to organize all that paper later). They’re also stackable, which makes them real space savers.
Cable stable
Sick of power cords and chargers for all your different electronic devices getting lost, tangled, or hard to locate at a moment’s notice? Try this great trick: Set aside empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls and use them to neatly secure and contain wrapped cords—simply label the tubes with a permanent marker and voilà—you’ve got a cable stable!
Escape the cord bind…with binder clips
Another headache-inducing mess is undoubtedly the tangle of cords always in use around your desk, like power cords for your computer and monitor, digital camera, and your phone charger. Clip binder clips to the edge of the back of your desk and thread each cord (different sized clips will suit some cords better than others) through the metal part of the clip to its proper place and never, ever waste time detangling cords again.
De-blur your devices
Smudgy, blurry screens—whether on your monitor, cell phone or e-reader—are a real drag. That’s why you should keep Windex® Electronics Wipes in your desk drawer. To safely clean your electronics, first power your devices down, then use a pre-moistened wipe directly on the screen and surfaces, leaving them streak-free.
Toss, sort, and shred
What to do with the mountain of mail and paper crowding out your keyboard? First, go through the pile and toss anything you don’t really need—and if it has personal information that would be of use to identity thieves, shred it! Next, sort and file the rest. Create an Immediate Attention file (or folder or bin) for things you need to act on soon, such as bills. Bank statements and important receipts can go into a To Be Filed bin. Use a Ziploc® brand Slider Bag to hold coupons you’ve clipped or printed from websites, and keep it in your purse or glove compartment.
Sweep up your computer desktop
Don’t let all the extra files on your computer desktop slow you down. Organize by creating folders with names like “Family Pictures,” and “Recipes,” to house random files. To speed up your computer even more, clear out web browser caches and histories (usually under “History” or “Internet Options” in the browser menu), and delete files you no longer need, such as old software versions.