The Financial Cost of Being Disorganized

  
Being disorganized costs time and money. Here's an article that details those costs:

"Have you ever purchased an item that you thought you already owned, but couldn’t find – only to have the missing item turn up a month or so later?    This may have happened to you; I know it happened in my house a few too many times.  My husband and I usually gave up looking for the missing tool, head phones, cell phone charger, or other item and went to the store to purchase a new one.   We promised ourselves we would organize the garage or the electronics closet.  After all, we were tired of spending money on items we already owned.

While this is only one example of the financial costs associated with being disorganized, I can think of several other instances that can cost money.  Paying late fees on bills or credit cards is fairly common for disorganized people.    Being charged a “no show” fee for a missed medical appointment because a reminder card was misplaced is another example.  Missing documentation necessary to file taxes can result in being unable to legally claim all the deductions you are entitled to, or penalties may be charged  if you file your return late.

These may seem like small amounts, but over time they can add up.  The equation is pretty simple; the more disorganized you are, the more money you may be losing. The calculation below actually adds some dollar amounts to the cost of disorganization and clutter:

Suppose you have a 1,500 square-foot house worth $300,000, every square foot in the house is worth $200.  If you have a 10×10-foot room you can’t use because it is filled with clutter, that’s a $20,000 storage room.  In terms of monthly cost, you’re spending about 7% of your mortgage on storage!!

The time cost associated with disorganization can add up, too.  If you spend half an hour a day trying to find “lost” items such as keys, clothes, paperwork, etc.;  that adds up to 3.5 hours a week, 15.5 hours a month, 182.5 hours – or seven full days — a year.  This is valuable time that could be better used to doing other activities that you enjoy.

If you decide you are through wasting money and time and want to be more organized, it’s never too late to start.   When my husband and I decided we wanted to become more organized, we followed a very basic strategy that I dubbed “SSO” or Strategize, Simplify, Organize!  We strategized (or I should say I strategized) on what we were trying to accomplish and where the problem areas seemed to be.  Did we have too many belongings?  Did we have inefficient storage or antiquated filing systems?  Were we emotionally attached to some of our outdated possessions?

In the simplify step we made decisions on what to keep, donate, sell, or discard (don’t forget donations may be tax deductible – a financial benefit!)

In the actual organizing step with developed new systems to control paper build up and messy closets.  For example, we open our mail every day and immediately shred any junk mail; we put our bills in a dated accordion file so we pay all our bills on time.  We follow the rule every that everything has its “home”.  If you use the measuring tape or Phillips screwdriver return it to its home.  This way it will be there for the next person looking for it.

Lastly, we pay attention and maintain the organized environment we created.  If we notice we are slipping, we’ll take an extra 10 minutes each day to get back to an organized state.  We’re enjoying spending less money and enjoying spending our time doing more of what we like to do!"

More on the advantages of being organized:
13 Tips on How to Save Money by Being Organized
9 Ways to Enhance Your Health by Being Organized
Interesting Clutter and Organization Statistics

Organizing Products I Use - Mail and Key Rack

  
When you walk in the door, you usually bring clutter with you - the mail, your keys, sunglasses, etc. It's important to corral that clutter before it gets out of hand. Here's what I chose to place in our laundry room, the entry to our home from the garage: the InterDesign York Lyra Wall Mount Mail and Key Rack. I got mine from Amazon for about $12.

What a great place to drop off the mail until you have time to sort it. And no need to have that mad dash hunting for your keys! Keeps all that clutter contained.

Very simple, very useful.

More on organizing products I use:
Organizing Products I Use - Two-Shelf Organizer for Dishes
Organizing Products I Use - The Arrow Clothes Hanging System
Organizing Products I Use - Under-the-Sink Drawers

My WordPress Blog

If you are following my blog here on Blogspot, you may want to switch over to my WordPress blog. I'm in the process of transferring my blog posts from here to there, and it will be my primary residence when that is done. 

Here's a link. When you go to the blog page, you'll find an opportunity to receive my blogs.

Do You Have a Mid-Afternoon Priority Check?

 
I'm an early morning person, and I start fading by mid-afternoon. Even if you don't have that problem, here's a great tip to help keep focused when things start getting fuzzy!

Instead of waiting until the end of the day to assess your priorities for the next day, consider doing a mid-afternoon priority check. At 2 or 3 o'clock, look to see what is remaining on your to do list for the remainder of the afternoon. Look at your schedule for tomorrow and the week ahead so you can plan your priorities accordingly.

The advantages:

- you'll have a clear picture of what needs to be done by the end of the day and you can adjust your focus if necessary

- you'll have renewed motivation to ramp up your productivity so as to avoid working late

- you'll be less likely to discover last-minute tasks just as you were ready to end your work day

- by keeping the big picture in mind, you'll avoid getting bogged down on lower priority tasks.

A mid-afternoon reality check enables you to be able to maintain your focus and your productivity!


More on productivity:
Increasing Your Effectiveness at Work
Don't Let Interruptions at Work Derail Your Productivity
Going Beyond the To Do List

Another Efficient, Inexpensive, Safe and Natural Cleaning Agent

You know how much I love vinegar as a cleaning agent. It's cheap, a disinfectant, and can be used for so many things! I recently read the following article lauding hydrogen peroxide for some of the same reasons. Until now, I've only used hydrogen peroxide on my pierced ears and on injuries. I have a new appreciation for hydrogen peroxide and will be trying out some of these suggestions. Enjoy!

"Ever since I started using Hydrogen Peroxide to get rid of armpit stains, to clean cookie sheets, as a miracle cleaner in my kitchen and bathroom, and to make my own “oxi clean”…I ALWAYS have at least one bottle of the stuff under my kitchen sink, under my bathroom sink, AND in the laundry room.

This stuff is amazingly versatile! But it wasn’t until recently, after doing some IN DEPTH research on the subject, that I came to realize what a “miracle substance” hydrogen peroxide really is! It’s safe, it’s readily available, it’s cheap, and best of all, it WORKS! It works for a LOT of stuff!

Hydrogen peroxide should really be called oxygen water, since it is basically the same chemical make up as water but with an extra oxygen atom (H2O2). Because of this it breaks down quickly and harmlessly into oxygen and water.

Some other interesting facts about hydrogen peroxide: It is found in all living material. Your white blood cells naturally produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to fight bacteria and infections. Fruit and vegetables naturally produce hydrogen peroxide. This is one of the reasons why it is so healthy to eat fresh fruit and vegetables.

It is found in massive dosages in the mother’s first milk, called colostrum, and is transferred to the baby to boost their immune system. It is found in rain water because some of the H20 in the atmosphere receives an additional oxygen atom from the ozone (O3) and this H2O2 makes plants grow faster.

Next to Apple Cider Vinegar, hydrogen peroxide ranks up there as one of the best household remedies. Besides the obvious (cleansing wounds), did you know that it is probably the best remedy to dissolve ear wax? Brighten dingy floors? Add natural highlights to your hair? Improve your plants root systems? The list goes on and on! There are SO many uses for this stuff that I’ve started replacing the cap on the hydrogen peroxide bottle with a sprayer because it’s easier and faster to use that way.

I have compiled a rather impressive list of uses for 3% hydrogen peroxide that I hope will have you as thrilled and bewildered as I was!   

• Wash vegetables and fruits with hydrogen peroxide to remove dirt and pesticides.

   
• Add 1/4 cup of H2O2 to a sink of cold water. After washing, rinse thoroughly with cool water.

   
• In the dishwasher, add 2 oz. to your regular detergent for a sanitizing boost.

   
• Also, beef up your regular dish soap by adding roughly 2 ounces of 3% H2O2 to the bottle.

   
• Use hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash to freshen breath. It kills the bacteria that causes halitosis. Use a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water.

   
• Use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to make a paste for brushing teeth. Helps with early stages of gingivitis as it kills bacteria. Mixed with salt and baking soda, hydrogen peroxide works as a whitening toothpaste.

   
• Soak your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide between uses to keep it clean and prevent the transfer of germs. This is particularly helpful when you or someone in your family has a cold or the flu.

   
• Clean your cutting board and countertop. Let everything bubble for a few minutes, then scrub and rinse clean. (I’ve been using it for this a LOT lately!)

   
• Wipe out your refrigerator and dishwasher. Because it’s non-toxic, it’s great for cleaning places that store food and dishes.

   
• Clean your sponges. Soak them for 10 minutes in a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and warm water in a shallow dish. Rinse the sponges thoroughly afterward.

   
• Remove baked-on crud from pots and pans. Combine hydrogen peroxide with enough baking soda to make a paste, then rub onto the dirty pan and let it sit for a while. Come back later with a scrubby sponge and some warm water, and the baked-on stains will lift right off.

   
• Whiten bathtub grout. First dry the tub thoroughly, then spray it liberally with hydrogen peroxide. Let it sit — it may bubble slightly — for a little while, then come back and scrub the grout with an old toothbrush. You may have to repeat the process a few times.

   
• Clean the toilet bowl. Pour half a cup of hydrogen peroxide into the toilet bowl, let stand for 20 minutes, then scrub clean.

   
• Remove stains from clothing, curtains, and tablecloths. Hydrogen peroxide can be used as a pre-treater for stains — just soak the stain for a little while in 3% hydrogen peroxide before tossing into the laundry. You can also add a cup of peroxide to a regular load of whites to boost brightness. It’s a green alternative to bleach, and works just as well.

   
• Brighten dingy floors. Combine half a cup of hydrogen peroxide with one gallon of hot water, then go to town on your flooring. Because it’s so mild, it’s safe for any floor type, and there’s no need to rinse.

   
• Clean kids’ toys and play areas. Hydrogen peroxide is a safe cleaner to use around kids, or anyone with respiratory problems, because it’s not a lung irritant. Spray toys, toy boxes, doorknobs, and anything else your kids touch on a regular basis.

   
• Help out your plants. To ward off fungus, add a little hydrogen peroxide to your spray bottle the next time you’re spritzing plants.

   
• Add natural highlights to your hair. Dilute the hydrogen peroxide so the solution is 50% peroxide and 50% water. Spray the solution on wet hair to create subtle, natural highlights.

   
• According to alternative therapy practitioners, adding half a bottle of hydrogen peroxide to a warm bath can help detoxify the body. Some are skeptical of this claim, but a bath is always a nice way to relax and the addition of hydrogen peroxide will leave you – and the tub – squeaky clean!

   
• Spray a solution of 1/2 cup water and 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide on leftover salad, drain, cover and refrigerate. This will prevent wilting and better preserve your salad.

   
• Sanitize your kids’ lunch boxes/bags.

   
• Dab hydrogen peroxide on pimples or acne to help clear skin.

   
• Hydrogen peroxide helps to sprout seeds for new plantings. Use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution once a day and spritz the seed every time you re-moisten. You can also use a mixture of 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 32 parts water to improve your plants’ root system.

   
• Remove yellowing from lace curtains or tablecloths. Fill a sink with cold water and a 2 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Soak for at least an hour, rinse in cold water and air dry.

   
• Use it to remove ear wax. Use a solution of 3% with olive or almond oil. Add a couple drops of oil first then H2O2. After a few minutes, tilt head to remove solution and wax.

   
• Helps with foot fungus. Spray a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry. Or try soaking your feet in a peroxide solution to help soften calluses and corns, and disinfect minor cuts.

   
• Spray down the shower with hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria and viruses.

   
• Use 1 pint of 3% hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of water to clean humidifiers and steamers.

   
• Wash shower curtains with hydrogen peroxide to remove mildew and soap scum. Place curtains in machine with a bath towel and your regular detergent. Add 1 cup full strength 3% hydrogen peroxide to the rinse cycle.

   
• Use for towels that have become musty smelling. 1/2 cup Peroxide and 1/2 cup vinegar let stand for 15 minutes wash as normal. Gets rid of the smell.

   
• Use hydrogen peroxide to control fungi present in aquariums. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt your fish. Use sparingly for this purpose.

   
• De-skunking solution. Combine 1 quart 3% H2O2, 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 teaspoon Dawn dish detergent, 2 quarts warm water."

More on cleaning solutions:
Spring Cleaning with Vinegar
3 Steps to Clever Cleaning
Clever Cleaning Tricks that Save Time and Money

Organizing Products I Use - Two-Shelf Organizers for Dishes

 
As I told you in a previous post, I have a weakness for dishes. And I love to entertain. So the combination could be a little scary if it weren't for space-saving organizers! My new favorite is the Grayline 40126, Large Two Shelf Organizer. I bought four of these gems from Amazon and use two in each cabinet. They were about $22 each, a pretty reasonable price for making me smile for years!

You can see my star cabinet here on the left. I bought these stars and stripes dishes one year after the Fourth of July at half price.  This was the year I was having stars as a Christmas theme, so perfect! (I no  longer have Christmas themes, as I started accumulating too much stuff!)

But I love these dishes - great for the Fourth, Memorial Day, birthdays (stars for the star), and Christmas. I found star glasses at another store and collected some star baskets, a sugar and creamer, napkin rings, and a large star bowl.

In the past, I've had to stack these and store them in different locations. I'm so happy that I can keep all my star stuff in one location and be able to find what I need when I need it. I had a little extra room and stored some party plates in the extra space on the left.

I also have a tulip theme running through my house, and purchased tulip china when we first returned from Kenya. My mother-in-law gave me tulip serving dishes one year. I've never been able to store them all together until now. The plates are white with embossed tulips - not expensive, but I love them!

So back to the organizers - what I enjoy about these organizers is that they really max out space in cabinets that are high and deep. Things are easy to get to without having to unstack anything. The only thing that would have been better is if both organizers could have fit horizontally against the back wall. But I didn't find any that worked. Nonetheless, I'm very happy with how they've allowed me to store an abundance of dishes in a small space.

If you love dishes like I do, these organizers may make you smile, too!

More on Organizing Products I Use:
Organizing Products I Use - Bakeware Organizers
Organizing Products I Use – The Arrow Clothes Hanging System
Organizing Products I Use – Under-the-Sink Drawers

Office Organizing for the Visual Person - Magazine File Boxes

  
I'm sorry I haven't posted for a few days. My husband's father passed away, and his memorial service was over the weekend in Pennsylvania. It was an uplifting, celebratory time and a chance to see many dear friends and family.

Changing subjects dramatically, I'm working with a business owner to organize her office. She is visual and needs to be able to see her action items, or it's "out of sight, out of mind." 

There are a number of options available to her, one being magazine file boxes. It's an attractive way to store papers, receipts, etc. without looking messy. Items to be added can be dropped into the appropriate box easily.

Here are some cute magazine file boxes that I felt were inspiring:





Aren't these adorable? They're from IKEA. These are also available in blue, black and white. Rattan, mesh, wood, and steel magazine file boxes are among other IKEA options.





This set from Fellowes has six different colors - another great trick for the visual person. Each color can represent a different category. And color is motivating and inspiring. These boxes have the labels on the open side of the boxes, which I'm not particularly fond of, as the contents show, looking cluttered. You could always make your own labels and put them on the other side, though.






These cute red ones come from The Container Store. They also have matching letter trays, storage boxes and file folders. Just makes you want to get organized doesn't it?



Whitmor provides a more whimsical look with bright plastic boxes. I love the colors, but don't like the fact that you can see through the plastic, though, again adding visual clutter.

And here's a mahogany magazine file box by Rolodex for a more elegant look.




Another idea: If you want to customize magazine file boxes to match your decor, you can always get plain white ones and decorate accordingly.

We'll talk more about organizing for the visual person in future blog posts.

More on office organizing:
Three Steps to Organizing Your Office
Managing Paper, Part 1
Managing Paper, Part 2

Increasing Your Effectiveness at Work

  
There are a number of things you can do to stay at your peak effectiveness during your work day. Experiment with the following:

- Take the breaks your employer offers to you. Go for a walk, go outside, climb a few flights of stairs - move! Just a few minutes of change refreshes your mind and your body.

- Multi-tasking is over-rated. It seems that all the hype about multi-tasking over the last few years has proven to be bad advice. The studies I've read recently show that people who concentrate on their task at hand do it more quickly and more effectively than those who multi-task.

Doing a couple of tasks at the same time which require little concentration is always a time saver - just make sure you don't sacrifice quality for "efficiency." If you have to redo a task, it's not saving you time.

- Create boundaries for yourself. Don't volunteer to help someone else at the expense of your own duties. Don't let others waste your time. If you are in a noisy area, close your door or wear headphones to reduce sound if it's acceptable in your workplace. Go to a different location to work in quiet if possible.

- Eat. If you are running low on fuel, you will not be able to function properly. Have a healthy snack during your breaks.

- Drink. Keep yourself hydrated. Our well-known coffee cafes make their coffee three to four times stronger than regular coffee, and if you get a specialty coffee it's loaded with sugar. Stop for one on the way to work, and expect your energy to crash in a couple of hours as the caffeine and sugar wear off. Better to have some green tea. Or water!

If you need more help with time management at the office or organizing your office efficiently, see our books on those topics.

More on work efficiency:
Three Steps to Organizing Your Office
Three Steps to Time Management at the Office
Three Steps to Time Management

An Easy Way to Send a Meaningful Graduation Gift

  
Looking for a meaningful high school graduation gift? If you have high school graduation gifts to send, I have an easy solution for you.

Three Steps to Time Management for the College Student is now available on a flash usb drive or as a download.

Help your high school graduate prepare for college - what could be more meaningful than that? And the usb drive has extra room on it for your student to use for classes in the fall.

We can send Three Steps to Time Management for the College Student directly to your gift recipients. Just write in their names and  email addresses/addresses in the comments section of your order.

Another idea: when I give a local graduation gift, I make a college survival kit (a shower caddy filled with college necessities plus my college usb drive). For more information on making a college survival kit, see the link below.

More on college:
College Survival Kit - A Practical High School Graduation Gift
Three Steps to Time Management for the College Student
Organizing the College Application Process

Helping Your Child Organize Packing for Vacation

  
Can you believe it's vacation time already? If you help your child get organized beforehand, things are more likely to go smoothly without trauma and drama.

Before you start packing for vacation, do some preliminaries first:

1. If you are flying, check with your airline for current luggage allowance/weight and carry-on restrictions.

2. Count how many days you are going to be gone (including traveling days).

3. Knowing how often each child is likely to spill something or get dirty, add an appropriate number of outfits.

4. Consider where you are going. Check the weather ahead of time so you know if it will blazing hot, rainy, or have some cool temps. My first trip to Montana in May required me to buy a coat, closed shoes and long pants for the snow!

5. Make a list for each child and for yourself or a generic list which can be used by everyone. Whichever you choose, each person should have a list. Create your list on your computer, so you won't have to reinvent your list for every trip - just update it, if needed. We used to travel quite a lot, and having a packing list kept us from forgetting important items.

With list in hand, each child can put together the appropriate number of outfits, including socks, underwear, hair accessoriies, and jewelry as needed. Have your children stack each outfit on their beds so you can check to see if they match and don't have holes or stains.

Armed with gallon ziplocks, place each outfit, socks, underwear, and accessories in one bag. Squeeze all the air out to save room in the suitcase, and mark the bag with the child's name on it. Sure makes it easy when it's time to get dressed - the entire suitcase doesn't need to be rifled through to find an outfit for each child! And you don't end up at the end of the week with non-matching outfits.

Make sure you leave one outfit out for the day you begin your vacation. :-)

For those with children still in diapers, you can toss an extra set of clothes in the diaper bag and use the ziplock for soiled clothes if needed.

Have a backpack for each child in which they can pack items to entertain themselves. Make sure they realize they must carry their own backpacks so they don't overload them and make them too heavy. I always tried to purchase some small toys, games or activity books - one for each child for each day - so they would have a surprise to look forward to and reduce the boredom factor, especially on long car trips.

Bring along some Dramamine just in case someone might have a tendency to get carsick.

I aslo tried to have some car games in mind to make time go faster - alphabet/sign game (look for letters of the alphabet on road signs), 20 questions, etc. One summer my brother and I made a list of all the Dairy Queen, Dairy Marts, Dairy Kings, Dairy-ettes, etc. on our vacation. We could rattle them all off for years afterward!

Audio children's books are a lifesaver! We listened to many children's classics on our long trips - Tom Sawyer, Gulliver's Travels, etc. Children's music is also fun. And if you have a DVD player in the car, it makes time fly. Just don't overdo it - you want to have some quality time as you travel with your family.

If your children are old enough, buy a small scrapbook for them to fill with postcards and mementos of their trip. Provide them with a means to take pictures, whether it's a phone, camera or disposable camera. Bring along crayons or markers so they can draw pictures of their activities each day.

Helping your children get organized before vacation empowers them, reduces your workload, and makes for a more pleasant trip!

Happy traveling!

More on organizing fun:
Three Steps to Planning Your Child's Parties
Organizing Spring Break - Planning in Some Refill Time
Organizing Spring Break Fun

Organizing Products I Use - Spice Organizers and Turntables

  
Even before we moved, I knew I needed to do something with my spices. The little grocery store I go to sells locally grown spices in small plastic bags. I love that they are locally grown and that they are much less expensive than bottled spices. However, those little bags get messy, even if you containerize them.

My solution? Little plastic bottles I bought from Uline. Yes, I had to pay for the containers, but only once. Now I can refill them as needed without the cost of the bottles. I used my label maker to label each container.

I was shocked at the number of spices I had! To prevent cooking boredom, I have been trying out a lot of new recipes, hence new spices.  Some of them are on my Pinterest, if you care to check them out.


Next I bought a stair-step spice organizer that expands (got it from Amazon). And no, I didn't organize them alphabetically. Maybe I should. Haven't gotten there yet. :)

You can see the finished product on the right. I did keep some of my bottled spices, especially those  that I like to shake out - red pepper flakes, for example. But when they run out, I might transfer them to my Uline containers. I still have a few unused ones.

Now what to do with all those oils and vinegars? Since my cabinets are very tall and I'm pretty short, I opted for turntables on the second shelf. I have three: one for oils, etc., one for tall spices, and one for vinegars and such. The turntables make all those ingredients readily accessible without needing a step stool.

My mixer and canisters are on the counter, making it a convenient baking area. Measuring spoons and cups, spatulas, whisks, and bakeware are in cabinets and drawers below to save steps.

I love having many of my cooking ingredients available in one place and easy to see and reach. It took me a while to figure out what I wanted for a price I didn't mind paying, but I'm so happy with my choices. It's worth researching different options until you find what you want.

I smile each time I open this cabinet.

More on organizing the kitchen:
Three Steps to Organizing the Kitchen
Organizing Products I Use - Bakeware Organizers
Redbook: Clever Storage for Plastic Wrap, Foil, and Reclosable Bags

Clever Cleaning Tricks that Save Time and Money

   
Hate to spend money on expensive cleaning products? Or you've run out of some of your favorite cleaning supplies and don't want to make a trip to the store? Here are a few ideas for substitutes:

- Smelly drains - to clean drains, pour a hot, strong solution of salt water down the drain (1/2 cup salt for every quart of water)

- To deodorize food containers and shoes, stuff a balled-up piece of newspaper into lunch boxes, thermoses, plastic food storage containers, and shoes. Let them sit overnight.

- Out of paper towels? Clean windows with coffee filters. They leave no lint or residue.

- Out of coffee filters? Use a couple of paper towels.

- Clean stainless steel with olive oil or a vinegar solution (half vinegar, half water).

- Use the above vinegar solution as a regular household cleaner. It's a disinfectant, and it's natural and safe around children. I keep mine in a spray bottle. Cheap, too - $2-3 per gallon!!

- Instead of caustic, abrasive cleaners, make a past of lemon juice and baking soda.

What are your clever cleaning tricks? I have a cleaning problem that stumps me - my coffee maker is silver but not stainless steel. Can't get rid of the opalescent spots. Any ideas?

More on clever cleaning:
A Perfect Solution to Organizing Your Housework
Three Steps to  Clever Cleaning
Green  Spring  Cleaning with Vinegar

Spring Cleaning Your Attic

 
Spring is a wonderful time to attack the attic - it's still cool enough to be able to tackle this decluttering job! You certainly don't want to wait until summer. And the timing is perfect - you may find you have enough for a yard sale. Now that's motivating, isn't it?

Start by walking around your attic to take a mental inventory of what you have there. Designate corners for each category - Christmas, other seasonal decorations, keepsakes, off-season clothing, suitcases and traveling accessories, home repair supplies - whatever categories represent your life.

Now that you have designated certain corners for the categories you have stored in your attic, it's time to sort.

Start in one corner of your attic. You may want to surround yourself with several boxes - one for each category plus one for giveaways. As you sort each item, ask yourself:
- is it necessary?
- have you used it in the last year?
- is it important to you or someone else?
- could someone else use it?

If you absolutely must keep the item you're sorting, place it in the appropriate box. Have a trash bag nearby for those things that don't even qualify for giveaways.

Work your way around the attic. You may discover additional categories as you go. You may also find items in your attic which would be better used elsewhere in your home. Be creative - are there some keepsakes you want to keep that could serve as storage containers in your house? Your mother's tea cups could hold jewelry in your dresser drawer, for example. A trunk could hold toys or linens.

Place each box in the corner you have designated for that category.

Now that you've decluttered and sorted, you're ready to look at your storage needs for your attic.


Evaluate each category to see what would best house those items. Do you need large clear storage containers for linens? Do you need small boxes for books? Do you need a place to hang out-of-season clothes? Do you need shelves, drawers, hooks, etc?

Before you go out and purchase storage containers, look around your house, basement, garage, etc. to see if you already have such storage. You may have an unused dresser that would work for storage if it were moved up to the attic, for example.

Label each container with the contents so when you're hunting for something, you don't need to open every container. If you are using clear storage containers, write your list on a piece of paper and slide it down the side of the container so you can read it without opening the box.

When you have completed your attic cleaning, celebrate! Good job done!!

More on spring cleaning:
The Health and Mental Health Benefits of Spring Cleaning
Spring Comes to the Rescue of Winter Depression and Clutter
Spring Cleaning Relationships

DIY Scarf Storage

 
Thread scarves though shower-curtain rings attached to a hanger for wrinkle-free, easy-to-see storage. Another idea from Redbook.

More DIY organizing projects:
What to  Do with those Dry  Cleaning Hangers? - Make a DIY Shoe Rack
Organizing Your Bracelets - Go Vertical!
Organizing Toys Using a Wire Garden Planter

Hoarders Plead Guilty to Child Cruelty

  
I've read about people dying in house fires because their clutter wouldn't allow them to get out or be rescued. This is the first I've read about hoarding becoming child cruelty. The following details an English couple narrowly escaping prison because of their excessive possessions.

"A couple whose obsessive hoarding cluttered the house until their four children had to eat their meals on the stairs, have narrowly avoided a prison sentence.

A man aged 47 and his partner aged 46 were described as 'slovenly' yesterday by a judge who had been shown pictures of their home. Piles of clothes filled the bedrooms, and toys and bric-a-brac picked up at car boot sales made conditions cramped throughout the house.

The couple, from Bedfordshire, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey in Central London to four charges of child cruelty by providing inappropriate living conditions for the children between September 2007 and September 2011.

Judge John Bevan said that the couple appeared to blame each other and told them that they were lucky not to have been sent to prison.

'The evidence demonstrates, and one only has to look at the photographs, that you were slovenly,' he said. 'The photographs are dreadful. There was nowhere to eat food other than on the stairs.'

Police and social workers who visited the three-bedroom terrace house found the children eating their meals on the stairs because the kitchen was so cluttered. The children, who are all aged under 16, cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Judge Bevan told the father: 'As an ambulance technician, you should have known better.'

Addressing the mother, he said: 'You were addicted to car boot sales and clutter. The children were unkempt and untidy. Despite claiming you were suffering depression, you were not prevented from going to car boot sales and making the situation worse and worse.'

They were given six-month suspended prison sentences and ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work each, in what is believed to be a first such ruling related to hoarding.

Charles Ward-Jackson, for the prosecution, said the house was 'extremely untidy' but that it was clean. The couple ignored repeated warnings after social workers visited the house on a number of occasions.

Judge Bevan said: 'He has got money problems — she seems to spend it all at car boot sales. She shows a number of characteristics common in individuals who hoard, frequently shopping, visiting car boot sales on a weekly basis.'

Bozzie Sheffi, representing the mother, said that her client suffered from depression and was exhausted.

The couple had appeared in court after being bailed, and Judge Bevan told them: 'You can count yourselves fortunate that you are leaving by the same door you came in through.'"

More on hoarding:
Are You Turning into a Hoarder? Find Out.
5 Causes of Disorganization
Hoarding - There are No Easy Answers!