How to Tackle Paper Clutter! {10 Tips to Get & STAY Organized}

Learn how to tackle paper clutter once and for all with these easy paper clutter organization ideas you can start using today!

So are you ready to banish those messy piles of paper for good? When it comes to staying organized, paper clutter solutions are key! That’s why I’ve put together my top tips and tricks for How to Tackle Paper Clutter!

Whether you’re looking to kickstart your organization or just want to be a minimal mom, this simple system will help you become a superstar organizer! It’s time to learn what to keep, what to toss, and what categories to file.

Let’s get organized, shall we? Here’s what you need to do…

How to Tackle Paper Clutter

Related: 75 Home Decluttering Tips! {Easy Tricks for a Tidy House}

#1: Purge That Paper!

The first thing you’ll want to do is tackle your current piles one by one. This can be tedious, I know, but it’s the only way to get the clutter under control. Once we deal with the piles, then we can learn how to prevent them. But first, it’s time to purge, purge, purge! Go through each item and shred or recycle what you no longer need.

#2: Take Pictures, Then Let it Go

Sometimes letting go can be hard, right? Well, another trick is to just snap a quick photo, then let it go. For example, my kids used to bring home pages of artwork every day from school, and my sentimental self wanted to keep it all! They worked so hard on these cute little projects, how could I let them go? But when it came down to it, our house was tiny, our closets and cabinets were full, and there was no where for it to all go.

So… I kept my very favorites, took pictures of them holding other pieces, and let the rest go.

Frugal Friend Jenny from KidsnCoupons writes:

“I have 3 kids. I would like to save all their wonderful works of art but I would need an extra garage to store it all. My kids get so excited when they show me their art.

I have found I not only love their art but their huge smiles as they show it to me and explain all the fantastic details of their finished master piece.

I’m sure you have heard the idea of taking pictures of your child’s special works of art, but I have taken that a step further….take a picture of your child holding their art work.

Not only will you get some of the most fantastic smiles recorded but you freeze in time what your child looked when they made this most wonderful creation. Most likely they made it for you.“

Here’s a sweet photo of Jenny’s son with his special artwork…

#3: Never Let the Mail Pile Up! {Deal With it Right Away}

Mail is another kind of paper clutter that just has a way of taking over, doesn’t it? First, make sure to only renew the magazine subscriptions that you really LOVE. You can also call or go online to remove yourself from old mailing lists you no longer care about. Then… put these savvy tips to use…

Sherry writes: “Process today’s mail TODAY. If you have a pile, process at least 10 pieces every time you walk past it.”

Donna writes: “Toss junk mail immediately. Scan stuff that needs to be kept, file the scans, shred materials with any kind of personal information on it.”

Brenda writes: “Go old school. Touch it once. Toss it, handle it or file it.”

Gale writes: “I purchased a large business size office shredder that is kept by my desk. Anything that needs to be shredded from the mail goes there instantly, and any old papers as soon as they are rediscovered in the desk. Zero paper clutter!”

Michelle writes: “Deal with mail daily: trash & shred.”

Tammi writes: “I sort mail as it comes in near a trash can I discard all flyers, catalogs, anything marked occupant and such. I immediately shred what anything personal that us not needed and file any important paperwork and pay bills as they come in. It literally takes 5 minutes a day.”

Shari writes: “Throw everything labeled presort away without opening it.”

Lisa writes: “File it, throw it out or put it in a shoebox to be shredded right away. When shredding box gets full I shred it.”

Ann writes: “I have a sign on my letterbox saying “no junk mail” – it works!”

#4: Use the Ads to Clean Your Windows & Mirrors

Feeling extra frugal? Skip the paper towels when you wash your mirrors and windows, and use the free newspaper ads that came in the mail this week! They actually are work so well, and really are the secret trick to streak free mirrors!

Alexa writes: “I use the ads as paper towels to clean my windows, they don’t leave a streak. The rest I use in my fire pit. The only paper I keep are check stubs, insurance and tax papers.”

Related: The Best Homemade Glass Cleaner!

#5: Keep Digital Files {Scan When You Can}

Lynn writes: “I scan everything paper when it comes in and put it in folders: Taxes, Cars , Medical etc.. Then I burn or Shred the paperwork.”

Tara writes: “I scanned things I “think” I may need and then threw it ALL away. I didn’t even put it in different folders or organize. Because I would have put off doing it if I knew that was part of the task. IF I need any of that paperwork, I would have to thumb through it so scrolling through a PDF didn’t seem any different. Im soooo happy I did it!”

Melanie writes: “I even scanned my kids school items each year from K-12 and have it organized with file folders by grade on my computer external hard drive.”

Janica writes: “I try to do everything on my computer so I don’t have to use paper and I always know where to find my notes and documents. Signed up for electronic bills and statements as well. Bought a small accordion file folder from Walmart to hold the rest of the paper I need to keep.”

#6: Always Opt for Paperless Bills When You Can!

Michelle writes: “Go paperless whenever possible.”

Jennifer writes: “All my bills are paperless. Utilities are autopay and I keep a spreadsheet for credit cards and pay them online every payday (the ones that are due before next payday). My only mail is junk mail, and it goes straight in the rubbish bin. I rarely print anything, even for work. No paper, no paper clutter.”

#7: Tidy Up Your Piles of Notes

Teresa writes: “When I sit down to go through a pile of paper and notes I’m surprised to find that most of it isn’t relevant anymore, or I don’t really want to pursue, buy, or call on the items I have made the notes on. I keep thinking that I just need one notes or journal book to keep all of this in one place ,and then go through it weekly and erase the things I no longer want there.”

Nancy writes: “I keep a binder and have tabs A-z. I put an index in front. I am constantly taking notes on future books to read, frugal websites, places to travel. Then, I will put all my travel notes under “T,” etc. really helps keep me organized as I hate looking through “notes” to find something.”

#8: Keep Urgent To Do Folders on Your Desk

Mary writes: “Folders I am currently working with go into a wooden stand-up file storage box on my desk. Items that need to be addressed today go into a small stack beside my laptop.”

Michelle writes: “Use a pending file for action items (to be cleared out by the end of each week). File only what is necessary.”

#9: Then Use a Filing Cabinet or Bins for Everything Else

When it comes to the papers you’ll want to keep, the most important thing you can do is to create an EASY filing method.

Jen writes: “I bought a filing cabinet. My biggest accumulation is school work from the kids so they each have their own folder now.”

Mary writes: “Go through older files once a year and toss any paperwork no longer needed.”

Kimberly writes: “I have a 2 drawer file cabinet, check the mail daily, toss/ shred the junk, and only keep things as recommended… like 7 years of tax returns, etc. And every year at tax time I do an annual purge”

#10: Have A Place for Everything… and Everything in Its Place!

Jessica writes: “Use the “Everything has its place” approach to organizing. And if that place is the trash, then that’s where it goes!”

And if all else fails, Chelsea writes: “I bought a roll top desk. I just hide it when company comes.” 🙂

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So do you have any favorite tips or tricks for How to Tackle Paper Clutter?

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