Read to the end for a chance to win a GE washer and dryer!
Cleaning a home office desk area can be a challenge in the best of times – never mind when you’re trying to write a book. I think the challenge comes from the face that it is both work AND home. The clutter creep attacks you from both sides. What can you do?
Declutter the Desk and Eliminate the Excess
Go through the items on your desk and do one of three things with everything there.
1. Throw Away (or Giveaway) The Junk
This means all the scraps of paper. Any junk mail. Anything that needs to be tossed and eliminated should be done so at this time.
Sometimes you may have an item that isn’t trash, but isn’t anything you need anymore either. Put these items in a bin, box, or bag to take to your local Goodwill.
2. Put the Item Away in a Different Room
My desk has a lot of items that fall into this category. The books from yesterday’s chapter. The plate from lunch. Anything that doesn’t NEED to be on my desk, shouldn’t be on my desk.
3. Decide that it Belongs on the Desk
Once you’ve eliminated everything from #1 and #2 you are left with the items that truly should be close at hand while you’re at your desk. Here’s where your personal style and flair can come in as you creatively organize your home office supplies.
Group all your like items together. This makes it easier to keep things organize, and looks a lot neater in the home.
Think creatively about desk storage. Use the walls. Use shelves. Use memo boards and hang items from underneath raised shelves. There are a myriad of ways to be creative AND beautiful in your home office desk area.
This post is part of Spring Cleaning Challenge. We have a AMAZING giveaway for participants!
Now Here’s How to Win!
Four Prizes up for Grab:
- TWO (2) Washer/Dryer sets from GE Appliances : Facebook : Twitter (2 winners)
- ONE Do-it-Yourself Easy Track Deluxe Closet Organization Kit from The Stow Company : Facebook : Pinterest : Twitter
- ONE Professional Steam Pocket Mop from Shark Clean : Facebook : Twitter
To Enter: Leave a comment telling me your favorite (or least favorite) place to clean.
You can complete the other entry options in the Rafflecoptor entry form below – more than 30 chances because I’ve partnered with some amazing gals.
EXTRA entries: there are many ways to earn additional entries. Once you have completed the required entry the additional methods for entry will be unlocked.
**25 entries for sharing your Spring Cleaning accomplishments – Link them up below! If you are posting a link from your blog, please make sure to link to your Spring Cleaning post, not your homepage.
Be sure to include: I’m Joining Untrained Housewife and 9 other bloggers in the Spring Cleaning Challenge for a chance to win some incredible prizes!
No blog? No worry, you can link to an online photo album with a picture of your Spring Cleaning!
Sample Tweet: I’m joining #SpringCleaning12 and @UntrainedHW for a chance to #win @GE_appliances Washer & Dryer and other great prizes! http://bit.ly/GDudtv
Giveaway Rules
While anyone can enter their Spring Cleaning link above, the following promotion is open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia, who are at least 18 years of age and have a valid email address. Spring Cleaning Challenge (the “Promotion”) starts on March 20th, 2012 at 7:00 AM Eastern Time “ET”) and ends on April 5th, 2012 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time (“Promotion Period”). You may view the official rules here.
Linky & Giveaway opens today, March 20th and will be open until April 5th. We have two weeks to share, learn, and clean! Winners will be notified and announced by the end of April.
Other Participants:
Join these other Spring Cleaning Challenge Giveaway Hosts to increase your chances to win.
Spring Clean : The Why :: Home-EC 101
Spring Clean: Bathrooms :: i Dream of Clean Spring Clean: Floors and Windows :: Amy’s Finer Things
Spring Clean: The Kitchen :: Tidy Mom
Spring Clean: Home Office :: Untrained Housewife
Spring Clean: Declutter Around the House :: Live Renewed
Spring Clean : Main Living Area :: Biblical Homemaking
Spring Clean: Conquering the Kids’ Room :: Living Well Spending Less
Spring Clean: Outdoor Living Spaces :: The Greenbacks Gal
Spring Clean: Garage and Cars :: Organize365
Note: If you don’t have a blog of your own, you can participate by linking up an online photo
album. Disclaimer: This is not a compensated post. Giveaway prizes are provided by GE Appliances, The Stow Company and Shark Clean
Tango says
Actually my favorite place to clean is my office… weird I know. It seems that it gets the brain cells going as I’m clearing off my desk , filing papers, throwing things away. I usually come away with a blog post idea, marketing ideas or a new tshirt design for the business.
Mel @ Trailing After God says
The bathroom is my least favorite to clean.
Sarahviz says
With THREE boyz, by far my least favorite place to clean is THEIR BATHROOM!!!
BrannanS says
This is the kick in the booty I needed, I think! We are still mid-move (not sure we will ever be fully unpacked!), and I have GOT to tackle my craft room, aka Room of Doom. That sort of thing makes me feel productive…but dusting, cleaning fans, cleaning windows and blinds? Meh. It’ll go away on its own, right?
Lisa Owen says
I hate to clean the laundry room it is always full of towels and clothes and little messes of laundry detergent and fabric softener !!!!!!!!!
Sharon at Momof6 says
My least favorite place to clean are the bathrooms….. 6 kids…. just sayin’
Average Jane says
My least favorite place to clean is our basement room where the cats’ litter boxes are kept. Ick.
Christine says
My least favorite place to clean? Must be behind the toilets. *shudder* I do love cleaning my kitchen…getting those surfaces clean and tidy feels awesome. 🙂
Elizabeth Dagostino says
My favorite area to clean is the kitchen. So nice to wake up every morning to a spotless kitchen! I would love to win a new washer and dryer for my mother on law. She has had the same washer for 30 years, and does not have a dryer. She would love a new set!
Barbara @ Homeroom At Home says
Least fav to clean is behind the toilet and bathroom in general. I hate when a shampoo bottle accidentally leaks in storage cabinet, reaching the top ledge of shower (as I’m vertically challenged) and our hard water make disgusting rings around tub drain and inside toilet. Oh yeah this is my most dreaded cleaning job!
girlymama says
my least place to clean is the bunny cage. for sure. especially during a hot summer. (EWWW)
Odie Langley says
My least favorite place to clean would have to be my smokier. Everything has this dark brown film on it
and is sticky as well. I am always so glad when that job is over.
Odie
MommaDJane says
Least favorite place to clean is the shower and tub.
MaryB says
Favorite room to clean is the bathroom – immediately visual that it’s clean as every surface sparkles, no hair on the floor or in sinks, toothpaste splatter is gone from mirrors and faucets, tub/shower surfaces are shiny and new looking … smells fresh and clean.
Amanda says
My least favorite place to clean is the bathroom … I’d much rather organize the office!
patricia says
I have to agree with Average Jane. Cat litter box area is no fun to clean.
Lori says
My favorite thing to clean is doing laundry…my least favorite is the bathroom! I hate mopping in there cuz there is always hair hanging around!
April says
I hate cleaning the floors. I need to clean them now as a matter of fact.
San Diego Momma says
I’m broke and I STILL hire someone to clean my bathrooms. I hate dirty bathrooms. I suspect I was a toilet washer in a previous life.
Jen Y says
My favorite place to clean is my kitchen because I love to cook & I love a pretty place to work.
Shana D says
As I was cleaning the toilets today I was telling myself that this was my least favorite place to clean LOL My favorite place to clean though are the baseboards. I don’t know why but seeing them dirty bugs me so much so I always have to clean them.
Jayme says
I actually LOVE to organize things…. they may get un done fairly fast but I love to do it! =)
Natalie says
Yep, bathroom – the kids bathroom – why does it always smell like urine?! (I think it is because there is a boy using it!;)
Jenn @ The Purposeful Mom says
My least favorite is definitely the bathroom!!
Laura P. says
I really hate cleaning under the bed. I like cleaning the closet though.
Crunchy Beach Mama says
My least fav is definitely the bathroom. I dread dread it and hate that I have 3!
Alina Bradford says
I hate cleaning around the litter box. Why can’t cat’s ever keep the litter in the box?
Azslyn Cole says
the kitchen
sandra says
my least favorite place is the bathroom
ellen ross says
well thats easy…. the kitchen. because its always such a huge project and i get overwhelmed easily
Cindy Riggs says
My favorite place to clean is the kitchen. My heart sings when I have a clean kitchen. Thank you, Cindy Riggs
domestic extraordinaire says
My least favorite thing to spring clean is the dining room. It seems to have way too many functions in my home and the table and buffet in there seem to serve as a catch all. It is so frustrating, no matter how many times I ask the girls not to dump stuff in there & they still do.
Erin says
I hate cleaning the bathrooms, and doing laundry, and the dishes…..pretty much all of it, but it has to be done right?
rajean says
I dislike cleaning the area around the base of the toilet. It’s just not easy.
Barb says
Thanks for the home office tips-it’s the most difficult room for me to keep organized since so much comes in and out all the time, especially when projects underway, nothing can be moved! Our 2012 goal is to get rid of our 4 drawer lateral file cabinet, which is a dusty space hog, & go almost 100% paperless. The process has been a challenge. Just learned the NEAT system scanner/software we’d plan to use is not compatible with our 64bit computers (which are almost new) so we’re looking for other scanner/software which will easily categorize documents, but allow for easy retreival in future. Any ideas from other participants of the Spring Cleaning Challenge who’ve already solved this problem?
christen krumm says
I hate cleaning the bathtub and I like to clean/organize… haha 🙂
xo,
Christen
ChristenKrumm.com
Jen - Life With Levi says
I hate cleaning the shower. We have hard water, so it seems never-ending!
Theresa Shafer says
I hate cleaning the bathroom. Especially the toilet.
Billie says
I hate doing the dishes.
Pam says
I absolutely dislike to clean the boys bathroom. My favorite is the living room because its the first room you see when you enter the house, I like coming in to a clean home.
stephanie says
If I’m in the mood I love to organize my closets and desk!!!
elizabeth cochran says
My favorite place to clean is the bathroom. It’s small enough that it’s not a huge job but it’s a very satisfying one since it looks so great and shiny when I clean it.
Terri says
My favorite place to clean is the kitchen.
Melanie @ Mel, A Dramatic Mommy says
I don’t like cleaning, period. It doesn’t matter which room. 😀 I feel like it’s a never ending, repetitive process.
Marti Parks says
I hate cleaning the kitchen because my family makes a big mess in the kitchen.
Jessica Eaton Ledford says
The bathroom floor! All that hair!
claire dossin says
The kitchen is my least favorite place to clean, by far.
Danielle says
Our kitchen! I loath cleaning the kitchen!!!
Laura Jacobson says
My least favorite is the bathroom! UGH
shanna says
The bathroom of course
Cindy Westerhaus says
Hi. My least favorite place to clean is my children’s bathroom. It really can become gross. But my favorite place to clean is the kitchen because it is the center of my home.
Kara Locke says
I don’t mind cleaning the bathroom itself its the toliets i hate cleaning. The smell of them always makes me gag.
ceej says
Hands down, the bathroom is my least favorite place to clean.
Sarah Carroll says
My least favorite place to clean is the Kitchen, probably because it has to be done daily and I get sick of it.
Carolyn says
I hate cleaning the bathroom where my cat’s litterbox is.
Billie Jo says
Kitchen because it is a never ending mess
Pauline Milner says
I actually love it when I give my office a good cleaning. I am a very organized person, but, over three months or so, things start to get out of place. It feels good to take a couple of hours to put everything back where it belongs.
Thanks for offering this great giveaway opportunity. ~Pauline
stephanie christmann says
I hate cleaning the bathroom.
catherine c says
the bathroom
Kelly L says
I hate cleaning walls and windows.
Kelly Nicholson says
What is your least (or favorite) place to clean?
jeez let me see..the toilet..duhjhh
Beth Good says
My least favorite place to clean is the basement. There’s always a few spiders down there.
Samantha D says
My least favorite place to clean is the bathroom, favorite is probably the kitchen because I can get ready to start cooking again in a nice clean kitchen!
Jenn McCullar says
I think the bathroom for sure is my hated cleaning chore.
Monica W. says
hate to clean windows, but love to clean and organize everything else (including the car!)! :o)
Donna George says
I hate cleaning my garage. So dirty and dusty. blech
Jaydyn b says
Hate cleaning the bathrooms.
Lori says
The bathroom, is my least favorite room to clean.
lisa lo says
Least is the bathroom…ugh!
Sophie and Momma says
I hate cleaning out the closet. Between my husband and I we have such a stuffed-small closet. I hate doing the laundry as a result! :>(
Andy says
Has to be our bedroom!
Janina says
Bathrooms, definitely, but really there are days when I’d like someone to do all of it!
Lee Black says
My least favorite place to clean is the bathroom! With 2 boys and my hubby, it just gets really dirty! Boys are so messy!
Anastasia @ Eco-Babyz says
my least favorite are our bathrooms, they show it too
Pam D says
I hate cleaning the bathrooms!
Julie Harris says
always the bathroom
Miranda Sherman says
I ate cleaning the basement and garage.
Angieleigh says
I dislike cleaning the bathroom, especially as I am the only girl in this house. Boys can be so gross. However, I love doing laundry! Especially when I have a working dryer IN my home and not at the local laundromat.
Judith Bayer says
My least favorite place to clean in the shower stall.
mo says
My least favorite place to clean is any closet. I’m terrified of spiders and once had a huge one make a leap at me in a closet.
Cherise says
The bathrooms!
Shannon says
My least favorite area to clean are the bathrooms…especially the kids bathrooms…I just don’t understand why trash is around the trash can but not in the trash can, or why towels are on the floor instead of in the basket, etc. 🙂
Sylvia Ortiz says
My least favorite place to clean is the dreaded bathroom!
natalia ryjova says
I HATE cleaning the kitchen.
Nadine L says
The bathroom, especially the floor in the bathroom
Kambrea says
I hate cleaning the bathroom!
Melissa says
Cleaning out clothes is my least favorite thing to clean. It’s a reminder that my babies are growing way to fast and that I have to go shopping. Thankfully it happens once a year!
My most favorite “spring cleaning” is the yard and getting it ready for the growing season!
Sammi says
bathroom, definitely
Fidiya says
I don’t like cleaning the windows (and the blinds)!
sarah cool says
the kitchen, mainly mopping. mopping is def my least fav thing to do!
Peggy Chandler says
Kitchen because it just keeps getting messed up when I am finished.
amanda roach says
i despise cleaning the bathroom and the junk cupboard lol.
i have already got half way thru my spring cleaning. [ima little ocd lol]
~attic
~basebent
~2 garages
~kids closet
~kids dressers
giveawaymama@hotmail.com
Kristie Betts says
Bathroom
Denise says
My favorite room to clean is my son’s room because everything has a place! (Now I just have to make sure everything in all the other rooms has a place too!)
Denise says
So far I’ve thoroughly cleaned our religious ed. classroom, so now I can move my stacks of materials back there and make space at home, and I’ve cleaned out the car, so now I can just focus on the house. All bathroom cleaning is complete, and the bedrooms and closets are done.Storage room is organized with new shelving. I’ve been putting off sorting papers.
Kim says
The kitchen.
Amy S. says
The bathroom is my least favorite room to clean.
carol says
My favorite place to clean is the kitchen. I love when everything is in order and the appliances sparkle, however, it never seems to last long with three kids.
Monica says
Least favorite place to clean is the bathroom. Most favorite thing to clean is cloth diapers!
Mary Baker says
My least favorite is Kitchen, especially washing dishes. My favorite is Laundry!
Mary Baker says
My least favorite is kitchen. My favorite is laundry.
sheina says
the kitchen ergg I hate doing the dishes
jenn says
My favorite job is actually laundry, I do it for other people in my home to make extra money
Linda Meyers-Gabbard says
My least favorite place to clean is the bathroom.
Geri S says
I hate cleaning the stove.
Kelly Falcone says
I hate cleaning toilets!
DNLee says
My least favorite place to clean is the bathroom. All of those nooks and crannies and bending over to clean the tub, kills my back!
Michelle Spann says
The bathroom…I hate cleaning the bathroom!
Tammy Allgood-Hemmerling says
My least favorite room to clean is the bathroom! My favorite room to clean is my kitchen!
daisies0999(at)yahoo(dot)com
Cori Westphal says
Windows are my absolute inner nightmare! It’s monotonous. It’s smelly. And it’s dangerous!
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Ashley Morrissey says
I like doing laundry but I HATE absolutely HATE cleaning the bathroom haha
-Ashley Marie Morrissey
ashummz05(at)yahoo(dot)com
Colin Batchelor says
I hate cleaning the attic!
Colin B
colinb9000@gmail.com
Lauren Ayer says
Baseboards are my least favorite thing to clean… Thank you for the awesome giveaway!
Michele Ertter Brosius says
#1 Worst place is bathroom.
#1 Favorite place is bedroom. love the smell of fresh cleaned sheets and bedding!
Thanks
Michele
Jason Judge says
Without a doubt my least favorite place to clean is the bathroom!!!
Michelle Mikolaszuk says
My least fav to clean is dishes 🙁 I hate washing dishes. With 4 kiddos things pile up quick! Thanks for the giveaway!
dammcm(at)att(dot)net
lauren knott says
THe bathroom is my least favorite place to clean
jamie villari says
Least favorite place to clean is the bathroom!
Nicole Carter says
The Bathroom!
Sarah VM says
The bathroom is my least favorite place to clean. Although when it’s sparkly clean and smelling fresh, I am happy!
jodi lasher says
My favorite place to clean is my bathroom.. I dont know why, but i just like seeing my toilet get sparkly clean and my tub.. My least favorite place or thing to clean it the windows in the place i live.. I hate washing windows lol
paula says
I Hate to clean the closet !!! ughhh Seems always a mess.
Chelesa Sims says
I hate cleaning the kitchen
Chelesa Sims says
i have managed to clean out the closets and sorted out the old clothes we dont wear anymore and gave it to goodwill and oraganized papers
alsvegas says
I HATE CLEANING THE GARAGE, WE HAVE A BIG FAMILY AND A BIG GARAGE, EVERYONE FROM MY MOM TO MY BROTHER’S AND SISTERS KIDS HAVE THINGS IN IT, YOU SEEN THE SHOW HOARDERS WELL THAT’S WHAT OUR GARAGE LOOKS LIKE, IT TAKES US DAYS TO CLEAN IT OUT AND PUT BACK FOR MORE JUNK FROM OUR FAMILY HOARDERS 🙂
Sara C says
I HATE cleaning bathrooms!
Karhma says
I hate cleaning floors in general. Doesn’t matter the room.
Ollie Moss says
My favorite place to clean is the bathroom. I love the smell of a clean bathroom.
Thank you,
Ollie Moss
ollimo91@aol.com
Valerie Taylor Mabrey says
I like cleaning the floors hate cleaning toilets
vmkids3 at msn dot com
Tracie Trump says
Least fav is bathroom, my fb is Michelle Trump, tracietrump@yahoo.com
Noreen says
Toilet, I hate cleaning them but luckily my husband cleans them so I don’t have too
Rainey R says
My favorite place to clean is the living room, its easy, the least fav would have to be the bathroom
Lynn R says
I most dislike cleaning the bathrooms and then second to that would be dusting and having to move all of my display items from bookshelves, etc.
Paul T / Pauline T says
the bathroom especially the toilets – emscout9 at Hotmail dot com
Cheryl Abdelnour says
My least favorite place to clean is the bathroom. I like cleaning the kitchen.
stacy h says
my least favorite place to clean is the kitchen =)
hancoci_s at msn dot com
Lisa Fisher Walker says
The bathroom is my least favorite room to clean.
Rachel Travis says
My LEAST favorite thing to do is clean the floors!!
frontload says
thanks for sharing.I will keep you bookmarked!
Amy L says
My favorite thing to clean is my kitchen. I especially like to clean out the cabinets, and I usually find items that I forgot I had. Once the kitchen is spin-and-span, I may be inspired to bake something yummy 🙂