Organization 101

Everyone is familiar with the age old axiom, "A place for everything and everything in its place." It's a friendly reminder that good order and organization allow us to function, with the peace of mind that clutter and inconvenience will not prevent us from living stress-free lives. The real question is: are today's students able to apply this bit of wisdom to the whirlwind of college life?\n"Cleaning my room is definitely my last priority," says freshman Becky Burns. "I usually put if off until it gets so bad that I can't find the things I need for class."\nIt's easy to relate to this situation. For many, living independently at college is the first time many students don't have the luxury of parents at least lending a helping hand in tidying up. And when a slob of a roommate is thrown into the mix, room maintenance is far from the minds of most.\nSo, how do you go about making your dorm, apartment or house a fashionably functional pad that's capable of accommodating not only your guests, but yourself? \nInterior design specialist Coral Nafie of www.about.com says on the Web site that utilizing the space you're given is the key. If organization is intact, more space is freed up to put extra stuff or it can give more room to your guests or roommates.\n"Use every space available to you, from the closet to the floor," Nafie says in her article. \nThe "container within a container" method works well (e.g., sliding plastic drawers or Tupperware totes into a space that's already designed for storage, such as your closet, drawers or even under your bed.) Hanging hooks for coats, bookbags or blankets in every nook and cranny is also recommended. \n"Behind a door is a great out-of-the-way storage area," Nafie says. \nCleaning is another necessary evil that comes with having your own place. And when the cleaning you're doing is in a bathroom, some college students can run into a very rude awakening.\nBut tending to the toilet might not be as gruesome a task as you might think. Syndicated newspaper columnist and housekeeping advice maven Heloise addresses the issue on the College Corner area of her Web site, www.heloise.com. What's more is that students can clean on a shoestring budget. Bathtubs, for example, can be scrubbed with a scrub brush and some cheap shampoo. \nAs far as "the throne" is concerned:\n"Newer-model toilets with a shiny finish are easy to maintain by scrubbing with the toilet brush several times a week, for a minute, rather than only once a week," Heloise says on her site. "This will prevent a hard-water buildup. For regular cleaning, use a disinfecting cleaner, and don't forget to clean under the seat, the lid and around the base."\nSounds fun, right? While no one likes menial tasks like these, it's easy when you put those roomies of yours to work. Set up a chore schedule and stick to it.\nMaking a list of room staples is also a necessity. "Thrifty" continues to be the name of the game as Heloise lists virtually free ideas to keep your place looking (and smelling) great.\n"Put several drops of peppermint or cinnamon on cotton balls and place in a margarine container or small jar," says Heloise, for a cheap air freshener you can make yourself. "Poke holes into the lid and put in an out-of-the-way area behind furniture or in a bathroom and your guests won't have a clue."\nBed Bath & Beyond has a "Shop for College" page on its site, www.bedbathandbeyond.com. Popular organizational tools like the colored canvas range from $7.99 to $12.99, and the popular "over-the-door" organizer with mirror goes for $19.99. Small, plastic storage baskets that could be put anywhere run as cheap as $4.99.\nOther must-haves the company recommends for college students include shoe racks, boxes and bags, CD and DVD storage and bulletin and message boards. Not only can all these cut down on clutter in your room and life, but they can all be picked up at your local Bed Bath & Beyond.\nOrganizational accoutrements certainly make your room more functional, but what about more fun? A lot of students have a broader definition of "dorm room essentials" -- poker tables and board games are only a couple of familiar things found in most students' rooms, but perhaps video game consoles are the most prominent.\n"Video games in my room provide the best escape from college work," says freshman Scott Underwood. "It's the way I relax. They are also one of the best ways to get people together and bond and have a fun time." \nIndeed, Playstations, Xboxes and Game Cubes are nothing out of the ordinary to spot in the room of a typical college student these days. The games can keep your guests entertained for hours. From an organizational perspective, it can provide lots of fun without taking up a lot of space (just remember to keep your games stored in a storage tote, of course.)\nSo whether you're in the dorms, in a fraternity or sorority or off campus in an apartment or house, there are lots of ways to keep things running smoothly, regardless if you're by yourself or sharing space with other people. What's more is you can take care of your place without spending a lot of money, a lot of space and you can do it all by yourself. Wouldn't Mom be proud?