31 Days of Getting Organized (Using What You Have) – Day 14: Mail Holder

Welcome to Day 14 of 31 Days of Getting Organized by Using What You Have.

Mail and lots of other paper are coming into the house daily. Sometimes it’s hard to keep track of everything. The most important thing is to have a central place for everything to come into the house in the first place. Laying it one the kitchen counter is not the best answer. I have a better idea!

I made a Mail Holder/Sorter. Everyone in the family knows the mail goes in the back end of the Mail Holder as soon as they bring it into the house. I’ll sort it when I get home or later that evening  but if I can’t get to it right away, at least we know where everything is.

I started with the free Ikea dish carrier and spray painted it Catalina Mist by Krylon. I love the soft blue-green color. You can paint it, paper it, or leave it as is.

Then I added some file folders to the front area. I’ve been asked many times how to deal with papers coming into the home daily. Here’s an effective and easy way to keep papers under control and easy to find from the minute it comes in. Use 4-6 files with categories such as : File, To Do, To Read, Kids. Use categories that best fit your needs. I used little clothes pins and wrote on them as labels.

I used clothespins because I love them but they’re also perfect for clipping urgent papers to the front of the folder.

Since I stood the folders on their sides I used clear packing tape to seal off the ends so  things wouldn’t fall out.

Here it is in action! I go through school papers everyday because they usually need immediate attention. I go through the mail once or twice a week, then file it into the appropriate folder and recycle the junk mail. I usually go through the files on Sunday or waiting in the pick up line at school, mark events on the calendar, return papers, fill away, etc.

You could make a mail holder out of a cereal box or any other box the appropriate size to handle mail and other papers.

This project was originally posted August 2012.

See you tomorrow for the next post in the series 31 Days of Getting Organized by Using What You Have: Portable First Aid Kit