Pamela Kramer

If you're like me, your spare time comes m small slices: 30 minutes during the wash cycle, 40 minutes while the chicken bakes. So why not get organized while you're waiting for other things to happen? Most of these projects can be done m 30 minutes or less. A few minutes here, a few minutes there, and you can kiss the chaos goodbye.

Never Forget Again

Create a to-do basket. Put a pretty basket or bowl in a prominent location, such as the kitchen counter. When you come across an item that requires action-a battery that needs to be replaced, a key that needs to be duplicated or a button that needs to be sewn on-toss it in your to-do basket. "It's easier than writing up a list," says Rosemarie Jaszka of Clifton, New Jersey, who looks through her basket on Saturday mornings. "I prioritize the tasks and plan my errands for the day."

Book your great ideas. Use a three-ring binder to keep track of articles that you want to refer back to or photos of cute haircuts you might want to try, says Linda Koopersmith, author of The Beverly Hills Organizer's Home Organizing Bible: A Pro's Answers to Your Organizing Prayers. Use dividers with tabs to create sections for 1 health, travel and decorating, and put clippings in plastic sheet covers.

Make a pantry checklist. On your computer, type up a master list of items you like to keep on hand, such as pasta, chicken stock and diced tomatoes, and post it near your pantry. Next to each item make slash marks to indicate the number you have in stock. When you use an item, make a hatch mark through one slash, forming an X. "Before you go shopping, check the list to see what you do and don't need to buy," says Cynthia Townley Ewer, editor of OrganizedHome.com, where you can find a free printable pantry checklist.

Start a gift list. Don't let those great gift ideas slip away. In a small notebook, create a page or section for each person you frequently purchase gifts for. Note the person's sizes, favorite colors, clothing preferences, hobbies and interests. Keep the log with you on your forays to the mall or around town, so you can jot down ideas when they come to you. And don't forget to keep a wish list for yourself, in case someone wants an idea for you!

Clear the Clutter

Set up a portable office. Corral household papers in a file box with a latched lid and handle so you can use it in any room, and stash it out of sight when you don't need it. Label folders for papers you use on a regular basis, such as unpaid bills, phone lists, team schedules and school information. "It's like a mini headquarters for your home," says Mary Carlomagno, owner of Order in Hoboken, New Jersey. Put a small plastic supply box inside that contains your checkbook, address labels, stamps, pens, a calculator and a small stapler.

Clear out your in-box. Create a to-do folder for e-mails that require action Stock and several folders for messages that you want to keep. " Avoid creating categories that are so narrow you only have one or two e-mails in each folder," says Valerie Warren, owner of Streamline Solutions Consulting in Portland, Oregon. File the e-mails you need and delete the rest. Unsubscribe to e-mail newsletters and advertisements that you don't want to receive.

Stop hunting for instructions. Clearly label the pockets of an accordion style file with the name of each room in your home. Put the instruction and care manuals for appliances and equipment in the appropriate pockets. When you buy a new telephone or mower, staple the receipt to the instruction manual and file it in the appropriate slot. If you sell or donate an item, include the paperwork for the new owner.

Be Ready for Anything

Change a $50. In a safe spot, stash a few ones and fives so you have the correct amount on hand for babysitters, allowance and lunch money. "Sometimes I dip into my stash when I'm going to dinner with friends so when it comes to splitting the bill, I'll have the right amount," says Debbie Abrams Kaplan of Foster City, California. Hide a $20 in your glove compartment for an emergency, and keep a handful of quarters in a change purse so you can feed a parking meter or put air in your tires.

Give your purse a makeover. Use small, different-color pouches to keep like items together. "Having things in pouches makes it easier to switch handbags," says Lorie Marrero, owner of Living Order in Austin, Texas. Use one pouch for personal essentials (lip balm, nail file, dental floss), another for office items (paper and pen, calculator) and a third for shopping items (coupons, frequent-shopper cards). Designate compartments for items you use often, such as your wallet, cell phone and keys.

Stock a medicine kit. Sort through, medicines and first aid supplies, and discard items that have expired or are no longer needed. Organize what's left in a three-drawer plastic storage box. Make sure you have on hand a pain reliever, cough syrup, decongestant, antihistamine, antibiotic ointment, wound disinfectant, calamine lotion and bandages. If not, add them to your shopping list. "You don't want to have to run to the store when someone gets sick or hurt," says Ewer. Store the box in a cabinet with a childproof latch.

Find It Faster

Color-code your closet. Separate items by category, such as dresses, slacks and tops. Then organize each section by color, from lightest to darkest. "It's so much easier to reach in your closet and find the black pants or white blouse you're looking for," says Christina Lari, president of Open Doors New York, a lifestyle and concierge service. As you organize, donate to charity any items that are worn, outdated or no longer fit.

Get a handle on those shoes. Tired of searching for that pair of sexy sling-backs you bought last year? Use your digital camera to take a picture of every pair of shoes. Then print the photos and tape them to the ends of the corresponding shoeboxes, suggests Lari. Or store shoes in clear plastic shoeboxes. Group according to season or style, and stack with the photos facing out. "This way you can see what you have without going through 10 or 15 boxes," she says.

Put cosmetics in order. Round up your various compacts and tubes, and toss out any products that are broken, old or out of style. Put any items that you need to replace on your shopping list. Arrange what's left in a three-drawer plastic box: eye makeup in the top drawer, cheek and face products in the middle, and lipstick in the bottom, suggests Sandra Felton, author of Smart Organizing: Simple Strategies for Bringing Order to Your Home. Arrange nail polish on a revolving tray.

1-MINUTE ORGANIZERS

Really busy? These tasks can be accomplished in one minute or less.

* Stash a supply of small trash bags and a roll of paper towels in your car.

* Put an envelope in your purse to hold receipts in case you need to make a return.
* Hang a pen or pencil next to your calendar so one is always there when you need it.
* Keep a small plastic cup in your laundry room for loose buttons, coins and safety pins.

* Use a permanent marker to write on your scissors “kitchen” or “Mom’s office.”

* Put a pretty box or dish next to your bed for your nail file, hand cream and rings.

PACK RAT NO MORE

These are the four excuses we often use to avoid parting with clutter, says professional organizer Lorie Marrero. Here's how to send them packing for good:

What you tell yourself: “I might need it someday.” What to say instead: “I haven’t used it in years. If I need it again, I can always buy or borrow another one.”

What you tell yourself: “I paid good money for it.” What to say instead: “If I keep it but don’t use it, it is still being wasted. Better to give it to someone who will use it.”

What you tell yourself: “It is still perfectly useful.” What to say instead: “It may be useful, but it’s not useful to me, and it is taking up time and space in my life.”

What your tell yourself: “It was a lovely gift.” What to say instead: “It was a lovely gift, but now it’s time to send it out into the world for someone else to enjoy.”