How to Organize Your Mail—and Keep It That Way

There used to be a time when mailboxes were full of a variety of things, like letters and cards from friends and loved ones to celebrate birthdays, holidays, and more. But most personal correspondence takes place virtually these days, which means that our mailboxes are often full of less desirable things like bills and junk mail. 

As such, many of us find ourselves simply tossing our mail aside to be dealt with later, creating a mountain of paperwork that creates an added layer of clutter to the home. But it doesn’t have to be that way, according to the professional organizers we spoke to. Ahead, learn their tips and solutions for organizing your mail and keeping it tidy moving forward.

Organize and Sort

No matter what method you opt to use for dealing with your letters and bills, Kris Hargrove, professional organizer and founder of Organized by Kris, says your very first step has to be going through your mail to see what you’re dealing with. "If you don’t sort and categorize before adding them to a bin, you’ll end up with bins upon bins of random things to dig through," she explains, adding that it’s no different than having drawers, cabinets, or shelves stuffed with a random mix of stuff. “By sorting and categorizing first, you’ll be adding like-items to bins and saving a ton of time when you go to look for what you need.”

Create a Landing Zone

Think of how chaotic it would be if your mail wasn’t delivered directly to your mailbox, but instead, it was just dropped off in random spots all over your yard. Hargrove says another way to keep on top of your mail clutter is to create a landing zone where everything goes as soon as it enters your home. "Having a designated spot for incoming mail, packages, returns, homework, shoes, keys, backpacks, etcetera helps to keep the clutter to a minimum."

She suggests creating your "drop zone" close to the door you use to enter and leave your home so that you can drop your incoming mail as you walk through the door and easily grab anything that has to go back out to the mailbox when it’s time to leave. 

Keep Letters Organized

Storage bins are always a great option for keeping your mail organized until you’re ready to deal with it. But, if you’re going this route Hargrove says you’ll want to avoid throwing everything into one big bin, unless you’re storing like items together. 

"When storing items in a bin that are all the same, it’s fine to toss them in," she says. "However, if you’re storing multiple items that are alike but not identical, don’t just toss them in." Instead, she says you should stand them up vertically, keeping them separate from other categories, creating a zig-zag approach. 

Another option is to add additional dividers to the bins you’re using. "Smaller insert bins help items to be separated and stand up vertically," she says. "Placing the items vertically helps you easily see what you have, rather than having to dig around and waste time."

Color-Code

When working with clients, Shantae Duckworth, professional organizer and founder of Shantaeize Your Space, says she likes to use color to help organize. "Color-coded folders can make sorting mail not only functional but also visually appealing, especially if there are multiple people who will be handling the mail," she says. 

You can assign different colors for categories like bills, personal correspondence, and junk mail. "This way, a quick glance is all it takes to know where each piece of mail belongs," Duckworth says. "Keep these folders in a vertical organizer on your desk or wall for easy access and to save space."

Use a Pretty Basket 

If this all seems overwhelming, Duckworth says you can consider tossing your incoming mail into a basket every day. "At the end of each week, sort through the basket and take care of the items inside," she says, noting that this method works well if you prefer a less structured system but still want to keep your mail contained. "Choose a stylish basket that complements your decor, making it a functional and attractive part of your home."

Set a Schedule 

While Hargrove recommends sorting and categorizing first, if you just can't deal with mail clutter immediately, Duckworth says you might want to give this chore a designated spot on your weekly to-do list—no matter which storage and organization system you end up going with. 

"Set aside a specific time each week to go through your mail to prevent it from piling up," she says. "Choose a day and time, like Sunday afternoon, to sort, open, and file your mail." This can also be the time when you pay bills, shred unnecessary documents, and respond to any correspondence. "Having a routine helps you stay on top of things and reduces the stress of dealing with a mountain of mail all at once."