Junk Mail Magic

Choose a low-handling routine for paper mail

Sort by the sender name on the front, and try to move each piece only once. A shallow tray, a pen and one sender sheet mean less unfolding and restacking. If someone helps, settle what they may touch before they handle any personal mail.

By Junk Mail Magic. Updated .

Set up the tray

  1. Put a shallow tray where the mail lands. Drop pieces in as they arrive, still folded.
  2. Keep one sheet next to the tray with three columns: keep, advertising to stop, ask later. Write only the sender name.
  3. When you sit down, take pieces from the top of the tray and place each one face up on the stack for its column. Group them now and decide later.
  4. Put the unopened ask-later stack in its own spot. Opening it is a separate task, for you or for someone you choose.

Agree on the helper's role

Before the helper picks up anything, choose one level: move piles only, read the outside, or open specific items you name. Write that choice at the top of the sender sheet, for example "helper may sort piles only." You can change it whenever you want.

Tray sender sheet

Example for your own use. Replace the bracketed details and review what you share.

Keep: [sender names] Advertising I may want to stop: [sender names] Ask later: [sender names or description] Helper may: [move piles only / look at the outside / open items I name] Helper may not: open envelopes without my permission Next sender to act on: [name]

Find repeat senders

After a week, read the advertising column. A name that appears more than once is a good candidate for a removal request. Start with the most frequent one and record it on the sheet as your next sender.

Official source

Make a short mail decision list for a low-energy dayMake a plain-language card for a helperAsk a helper to sort by sender without reading contentsMake a large-print sheet for managing unwanted mailMail routines that fit your needsAll practical mail guides

Have an unwanted advertisement ready?

Photograph one piece you are authorized to handle, with the sender and full mailing label visible. Review the details before submitting. The first request is free; the sender controls the response.

Try one request free