Tidy time

At the moment many of us are faced with staying at home, and trying to make the best of it. We decided to have a clean sweep. Here are some ideas for tidying up, with options for even the tiniest amount of time.

Sometimes the art of doll collecting can seem overwhelming. Coupled with demands on our time both electronic and personal, it can feel difficult to keep on top of things. But even the most miniscule amount of time can be used to de-clutter and calm our doll rooms and living spaces. Here are a few tips to maximize whatever time you have available.

THREE MINUTES
Play your favorite tune and pick up as much stuff as you can before it finishes. A lively song is better than something slow as it will help to spur you into action. Even if you are just stashing everything away into a tidy bag or basket, it will make an immediate impact. The contents can be dealt with later when more time is available.

FIVE MINUTES
Sort out a drawer that’s full of miscellaneous items, or tackle the basket from the three-minute tidy above. Get rid of any old stuff that you’ve been keeping and gathering dust in case it comes in handy. It never will. Anything that is just taking up space should go. The advantage of a five-minute deadline is that it will focus you to work efficiently and not dwell on each item. Snap decisions is the key here. Congratulate yourself on a newly organized area of your room.

TEN MINUTES
Time to freshen up the room itself. Ten minutes gives you enough time to remove any marks on the walls and painted surfaces with a magic eraser – including contact scuffs and fingerprint marks around light switches. It is a quick job, but it makes such a difference. You’ll have time to run around the room with a vacuum cleaner too. It won’t be a thorough top-to-toe clean, but it’s enough to make a big impact in a short space of time. Beware: the Roomba™ is the enemy of the doll collector – there’s no better way for tiny accessories and shoes to disappear forever than with automated cleaning. It is far better to keep a beady eye on the floor for anything that might get accidentally lost.

A HALF HOUR
Organize a cupboard. We all have at least one stash cupboard or closet that serves as a depository to sort out later. Now is that moment. Remove everything and discard anything that is no longer relevant or that you are not going to use. Look out for duplicates (it can happen so easily) and get rid of them. Clean the space thoroughly – shelves, handles and all – before carefully placing retained items back. You might also use storage baskets or boxes to group items for future reference and easy access.

AN HOUR
A whole hour should be long enough to deep clean and dust your doll shelves. It’s a task that often gets neglected and, even if the shelves are enclosed, dust has a sneaky way of finding its way into every crevice. Remove everything to get right to the back of the shelves, so they can be cleaned thoroughly. Any dust on the dolls themselves can be carefully removed with a keyboard dust remover, as available online from office-supply stores. This will deliver a precision blast of air to remove dust from hard-to-reach places. A duster simply moves the dust around. Obviously, you would never subject your precious collection to the harsh vigor of a vacuum cleaner.

EIGHT HOURS
If you have a full day, you have enough time to take on the lot! This is the moment to organize your space in the way you have long been planning to. Gather all the items in each category (by size, type, color – whatever works for you) in one place. This includes anything that is not in the doll room and has meandered to elsewhere in your home. This has the added benefit of making the rest of the house more functioning and de-cluttered. Choose a large, flat area to work on, such as a clean floor, and have trash bags, boxes, and recycling bags ready to sort what can go to charity or be discarded. Have sticky notes and pens available for labeling. Make sure you have plenty of water or hot beverages to stay hydrated. Make a playlist of motivational songs to keep up the momentum, taking as few breaks as possible. You really can get this done!

A version of this story first appeared in Fashion Doll Quarterly magazine in Spring 2020