Making a Mail Sorter

One of the main objectives of home organization is to simplify by reducing clutter. Undoubtedly, a lot of the clutter that exists in our homes comes in the form of paper, specifically mail. In most cases, it's easy enough to dispose of the junk mail, although not always. It's typically those items that need to be paid, such as utility and cable bills, items that need to be filed, and items that require a response that add to the clutter. Use a minimal amount of material and a simple dowel to make a filing system that can easily and effectively rid your home of paper clutter.

Determine the size of the mail sorter based on the amount and type of mail you ordinarily receive. For instance, do you receive a lot of mail each week or only a little? Do you purchase items online that arrive in large envelopes or boxes that may not fit into such a project? These may require a separate, sturdier design. Base the heft of the material and the dowel on the information you determine here.

Next, use cloth material to make the sorter. This can be material that is bought from a fabric store specifically for such a project, or it can be material that is leftover from previous projects. Since the sorter is specific to your needs, you can design it in any way that will accommodate those needs.

Cut the cloth to the pre-determined, necessary size. With the print side down, fold over the edges lengthwise, and stitch them to add a little more stability.

Next, fold the bottom section of the cloth upward toward the middle or no more than three-quarters of the way to the top of the cloth. Fold the edge over crosswise, and apply a stitch up the length of the folded material to form pocket inserts. These sections are where the sorted mail will be stored.

You may choose to label each pocket so that the manner of mail stored within each can be easily identified. Consider adding such categories as To Pay (such as bills), To File (such as financial or health insurance statements), and Reply (such as wedding or party invitations or subscription renewals). Use iron on labels, or take your creative side to new levels by monogramming each pocket.

If it is not a strong suit, consider applying liquid stitch to each section that requires stitching.

Based on the pre-determined size of wood dowel, fold the material crosswise at the top of the sorter either downward or over, depending on the design you wish to accomplish with the material chosen. Ensure that the dowel fits easily into the insert, then stitch the material.

There are several options for hanging the dowel with the mail sorter attached. Consider the type of material where you wish to hang the dowel. Is it sheetrock? Wood? Determine which method works best based on the materials used and the desired hanging place. Then, hang the dowel with the sorter attached, and insert your mail daily into the appropriate pocket.

Using a hardwood dowel, some material, and a little bit of creativity, you can easily turn your mail clutter into an organizational accomplishment!