Featured Blog Guest- Beth Ruck, Conquering Clutter

I have the pleasure of working with Beth in my BNI networking group. She is the one who introduced me to these amazing business owners and operators, and I wanted to interview her since we have such a synergetic relationship in home maintenance.

She owns Conquering Clutter in Cookeville, TN. Beth offers organizational services for the home and office. Organization provides peace of mind, reduces stress, and allows you to manage your space and items more effectively. Don't let your things control you. Let's hear from Beth directly as she answers my " gotta-know" questions.

Debbie: What inspired you to become a professional home organizer?

Beth: My mother was a very organized person and taught me that you could accomplish a lot in 15 minutes.

Debbie: How did you get started in this industry?

Beth: In 2014, I discovered that a person could have a career as a professional home organizer.

After some research, I joined NAPO – National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals. I took classes, read books, and launched my business in May 2015.

Debbie: What do you love most about helping people organize their homes?

Beth: I love helping clients see their organizing goals accomplished and feeling better about their spaces.

Debbie: It is nice to see how my space evolves. I notice a sense of peace when less clutter surrounds me.

Debbie: What’s one misconception people have about professional organizers?

Beth: One misconception is that professional organizers will make you throw away items.

I always let my clients know that they are in control of the decisions regarding what they keep, donate, and throw away. I ask them questions and give them guidance on how to make decisions.

Debbie: I am glad you are respectful of those items. They can hold meaning for people.

Debbie: What is the most common organizing challenge homeowners face?

Beth: Not knowing where to start or how to get started.

Debbie: Is there one area of the home that tends to overwhelm people the most?

Beth: Many people struggle with paperwork: what to do with it, what to keep, and a filing system.

Debbie: Yes! I seem to have a pile of paper that grows. I need to tackle that.

Debbie: What is the biggest mistake people make when trying to organize on their own?

Beth: The biggest mistake is not getting items out of their homes that no longer serve them.

Debbie: I think the hardest thing is saying, "I may need that one day". I hold onto things, and the moment I get rid of it is the moment I know I was going to need it. Then I have to go out and buy it. "You never know when you need it," as they say.

Debbie: How do you help clients who feel emotionally attached to their belongings?

Beth: I help them by listening to their stories, encouraging them to document why the items are important to them. After we talk, I ask them if they want to bless a family member/friend with the item or donate it to bless another. The decision to keep an item rests with them.

Debbie: What are three simple things someone can do today to make their home feel more organized?

Beth: Put items back where they belong, have a donation box that, when full, is donated within the week, and clean out one drawer a day.

Debbie: You never know what you find in those drawers- right? I tell my kids we do not buy more things unless we donate or get rid of what we have that no longer suits us.

Debbie: If someone only has 15 minutes, what quick organizing task would you recommend?

Beth: Resetting a room: making the bed, hanging up clothes, putting laundry in a basket, emptying and loading the dishwasher

Debbie: What organizing products or tools do you find yourself recommending the most?

Beth: Purchasing clear containers with lids and labeling them when appropriate.

Debbie: Do you recommend organizing before or after a deep cleaning?

Beth: I recommend organizing before a deep cleaning.

Debbie: From your perspective, how do cleaning and organizing work together?

Beth: Generally, when organizing, it is best to take everything out of a space: drawer, cabinet, or closet. Next, go through the items to purge, and before returning items to the space, clean the space.

Debbie: I will add that the mind benefits a lot from a clear and clean space. Too much clutter is not healthy for your brain. Dirt breeds bacteria. Build-up of dust, pollen, and allergen are not good for breathing. There is a mind and body connection when it comes to cleaning and organizing.

Debbie: How does having an organized home make cleaning easier?

Beth: When items have a home and are put away, then flat surfaces have only what you want and use often. This makes it easier to clean the flat surfaces.

Debbie: Have you seen situations where a home really needed organizing before it could truly be cleaned?

Beth: Yes, especially in closets where items are on the floor in piles. The clothes are usually dirty and need to be washed, and the floor needs to be vacuumed and possibly washed.

Debbie: What is the most unusual or memorable organizing project you have worked on?

Beth: I worked with an elderly lady for about three years in two different homes. This lady was widowed and had declining health. She was a bit depressed because of this and had let things go at her home. At first, she thought I would tell her what to get rid of, but found out that I was respectful of her and her things and that I gently guided her in making decisions. We became friends and shared many stories.

Debbie: What is one organizing transformation that really stuck with you?

Beth: When I worked with a mother who had three small children and was overwhelmed with clothes. She was great at making decisions and, in 1 ½ hours, went through her and her husband’s clothes, some kids' clothes, and donated 13 black garbage bags of clothes and had 1-2 white kitchen bags of trash.

Debbie: Wow. That is pretty quick. I like how you helped with making those decisions fast. Sometimes we need the time to sit and just focus on the task at hand.

Debbie: What surprises clients the most when they work with you?

Beth: How much better they feel.

Debbie: How does an organized home affect a person's stress level or daily life?

Beth: They feel more in control, less stress, like a burden has been lifted.

Debbie: What advice would you give someone who feels embarrassed about the state of their home?

Beth: It did not happen overnight, so it will take time and decisions to get to their goal. I am there to guide them without judgment and help them love their space.

Debbie: What small habits help people keep their homes organized long-term?

Beth: Have designated homes for items and put items away each day. Keeping only what they love, use, or need.

Debbie: What is your favorite room to organize?

Beth: The bedroom, so clients have a spot to relax and rest well.

Debbie: What is one organizing rule you personally live by at home?

Beth: Schedule seasonal organizing, going through clothes, cabinets, etc., so that they get done.

Debbie: If you could give homeowners only one piece of organizing advice, what would it be?

Beth: Done is better than perfect!

If you would like to have Beth come over to your home or office and give you a consultation, visit her website https://www.conqueringclutter.net/ today!