Time to tackle the old underwear drawer! Start by tossing anything you don't like, that is holey, doesn't fit, or excessive. What's left? Do you have enough underwear to make it through a week's laundry? As you are taking stock, are there items you need?
Organize like items together and place those items you use most often in the most accessible location. Place those items you use less often is less accessible locations.
Now that wasn't so bad, was it? Good job!!!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Get Organized Month - Organize Your Shoes
Shall we organize shoes today? First, let's get rid of those you don't like or don't wear, that don't fit, are in disrepair, or excessive. Put them in a box and put the box in the front seat of your car to donate to your favorite charity. By having the box in your car (not your trunk!), you are more likely to get rid of it and remove clutter from your home!
You probably have some shoes that are definitely summer shoes, some that are strictly winter shoes, and some that are both. Remove the out-of-season shoes from the area where you keep your in-season shoes. If you use shoe boxes to store your out-of- season shoes, and you use a different method for storing in-season shoes, reduce the number of boxes you need by labeling one end of the box for a summer shoe and the other end of the box for a winter shoe. When the seasons change, swap out the shoes, and you're organized and ready!
You can use a variety of storage methods for your in-season shoes: boxes your shoes came in, plastic shoe boxes from the dollar store, shelves, shoe racks, hanging shoe pockets, and the floor. Whatever you use, arrange the shoes you wear most often to be most accessible. Organize by color and style - black dressy, black office, black casual, for example.
While organizing, take note of gaps in your shoe wardrobe. Do you need to replace some you threw out or have worn out?
A hint: don't wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row. By letting them have a rest, they will dry out and be less likely to absorb odor.
You probably have some shoes that are definitely summer shoes, some that are strictly winter shoes, and some that are both. Remove the out-of-season shoes from the area where you keep your in-season shoes. If you use shoe boxes to store your out-of- season shoes, and you use a different method for storing in-season shoes, reduce the number of boxes you need by labeling one end of the box for a summer shoe and the other end of the box for a winter shoe. When the seasons change, swap out the shoes, and you're organized and ready!
You can use a variety of storage methods for your in-season shoes: boxes your shoes came in, plastic shoe boxes from the dollar store, shelves, shoe racks, hanging shoe pockets, and the floor. Whatever you use, arrange the shoes you wear most often to be most accessible. Organize by color and style - black dressy, black office, black casual, for example.
While organizing, take note of gaps in your shoe wardrobe. Do you need to replace some you threw out or have worn out?
A hint: don't wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row. By letting them have a rest, they will dry out and be less likely to absorb odor.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Get Organized Month - Declutter the Laundry Area
Let's tackle the laundry area. Go through your detergents, fabric softeners, spot removers, etc. - get rid of items you don't use. Also, get rid of anything that doesn't relate to laundry and store it in a more appropriate place. Group like items together. Take a moment to clean the shelf before putting things back.
As you are decluttering, take a big picture view: do you have enough shelf or storage space for detergents, fabric softeners, spot removers, etc.? Do you have hanging space for dried clothes - a door knob, a pull-out rod, a clothes rod, or another system? Do you have a space where you can fold clean clothes?
It doesn't need to be a large area, just a functional one. What is bothering you about your laundry area? Brainstorm on how to solve your problem. Ask a friend or family member for ideas - the more brain cells the better! As your time and budget allow, solve those dysfunctional problems to make laundry a more pleasant experience.
It's amazing how taking a few minutes to examine irritations and coming up with possible solutions can make a continual chore more efficient and enjoyable!
As you are decluttering, take a big picture view: do you have enough shelf or storage space for detergents, fabric softeners, spot removers, etc.? Do you have hanging space for dried clothes - a door knob, a pull-out rod, a clothes rod, or another system? Do you have a space where you can fold clean clothes?
It doesn't need to be a large area, just a functional one. What is bothering you about your laundry area? Brainstorm on how to solve your problem. Ask a friend or family member for ideas - the more brain cells the better! As your time and budget allow, solve those dysfunctional problems to make laundry a more pleasant experience.
It's amazing how taking a few minutes to examine irritations and coming up with possible solutions can make a continual chore more efficient and enjoyable!
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Get Organized Month - Clean out the Freezer
Today's job is a big one - cleaning out the freezer. It's invigorating to get rid of old stuff and have a fresh start!!
First, take everything out and stack in like piles. Store your piles in dishpans while cleaning out the freezer, if you wish. If your freezer needs to be defrosted, this is the time. Ugh! You can use a hairdryer to speed up the process. (I have also used a hair dryer to unfreeze my ice maker on several occasions! Saves a housecall from the plumber.)
Have your trash can handy while pulling stuff out of the freezer. If it has freezer burn, you don't know what it is, or it's been there for a while - toss it!!
Now to organize. You can use plastic covered wire baskets, which work in both your fridge freezer and chest or upright freezer. You can find these at Stack and Stacks (www.stacksandstacks.com/html/11228_storage-basket.htm) for $11.99 and $17.99 depending on the size. One reviewer said she could fit four of the smaller ones in her fridge freezer.
I used to use crates in my chest freezer to hold like items. But they're too heavy when full to move around easily. If you don't want to spend the money on the wire baskets, visit the dollar store and use dishpans for your large freezer and small plastic baskets or crates for your fridge freezer. Two dishpans fit perfectly sideways in my chest freezer and they're easy to stack and move around.
As you are replacing items in your freezer, make those items you use often more accessible, with the oldest items most accessible so you'll use them first.
That was a big job!! You should give yourself a standing ovation!!
First, take everything out and stack in like piles. Store your piles in dishpans while cleaning out the freezer, if you wish. If your freezer needs to be defrosted, this is the time. Ugh! You can use a hairdryer to speed up the process. (I have also used a hair dryer to unfreeze my ice maker on several occasions! Saves a housecall from the plumber.)
Have your trash can handy while pulling stuff out of the freezer. If it has freezer burn, you don't know what it is, or it's been there for a while - toss it!!
Now to organize. You can use plastic covered wire baskets, which work in both your fridge freezer and chest or upright freezer. You can find these at Stack and Stacks (www.stacksandstacks.com/html/11228_storage-basket.htm) for $11.99 and $17.99 depending on the size. One reviewer said she could fit four of the smaller ones in her fridge freezer.
I used to use crates in my chest freezer to hold like items. But they're too heavy when full to move around easily. If you don't want to spend the money on the wire baskets, visit the dollar store and use dishpans for your large freezer and small plastic baskets or crates for your fridge freezer. Two dishpans fit perfectly sideways in my chest freezer and they're easy to stack and move around.
As you are replacing items in your freezer, make those items you use often more accessible, with the oldest items most accessible so you'll use them first.
That was a big job!! You should give yourself a standing ovation!!
Friday, January 11, 2008
Get Organized Month - Declutter Your Pantry
Wintertime is a nice time to declutter your pantry or food cabinets, especially if the weather is conducive to being indoors.
When you know what you have in your pantry and where it is, you're less likely to overstock. And it's easy to see what's on hand when you're making out your menus and grocery lists.
Start on one side of the pantry or cabinet you're decluttering. Examine to see if the item is outdated. Toss anything you don't think you'll use - it's just taking up valuable space.
Now sort like items together - canned vegetables, canned fruit, baking supplies (near the oven or mixer), and so on. I like to sort my vegetables according to color, so it's easy to locate them. If you have several of the same item, place the oldest one in front so you'll use it first.
While you're at it, wipe down the shelves if they need it. And if you're really industrious and you don't have shelf lining, do that, too!
If you have shelves that are spaced far apart, consider getting some space savers (plastic-coated wire organizers) to increase your storage capacity. You can find these at Bed, Bath and Beyond (www.bedbathandbeyond.com), Target (www.Target.com), The Container Store (www.containerstore.com and other such places.
Reward yourself for a job well done!!!
When you know what you have in your pantry and where it is, you're less likely to overstock. And it's easy to see what's on hand when you're making out your menus and grocery lists.
Start on one side of the pantry or cabinet you're decluttering. Examine to see if the item is outdated. Toss anything you don't think you'll use - it's just taking up valuable space.
Now sort like items together - canned vegetables, canned fruit, baking supplies (near the oven or mixer), and so on. I like to sort my vegetables according to color, so it's easy to locate them. If you have several of the same item, place the oldest one in front so you'll use it first.
While you're at it, wipe down the shelves if they need it. And if you're really industrious and you don't have shelf lining, do that, too!
If you have shelves that are spaced far apart, consider getting some space savers (plastic-coated wire organizers) to increase your storage capacity. You can find these at Bed, Bath and Beyond (www.bedbathandbeyond.com), Target (www.Target.com), The Container Store (www.containerstore.com and other such places.
Reward yourself for a job well done!!!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Get Organized Month - Declutter Your Cell Phone Contact List
How long is your contact list for your cell phone? Is it time to update it?
Go through your contact list and remove names you no longer need, clean up anything that is incomplete, and add names you need on your phone.
It won't take long and you'll be able to find the number your looking for more quickly!
How pleasant!
Go through your contact list and remove names you no longer need, clean up anything that is incomplete, and add names you need on your phone.
It won't take long and you'll be able to find the number your looking for more quickly!
How pleasant!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Get Organized Month - Declutter Under Your Sink
Let's take a few moments to see what's under the sink in the kitchen.
If you have a carrier which holds your cleaning supplies, clean that out. Get rid of old sponges and outdated cleaning supplies. Wash it out. Check to see if you have everything you need for cleaning throughout the house. If not, add what you need or put it on your shopping list.
Now for the entire cabinet. Start in one corner and work systematically from there. Toss anything that is outdated, empty, or not used in the last year. Remove or combine duplicates.
Sort into like items: dishwashing (liquid soap, dishwasher soap, brillo pads; etc.); general cleaning; and other categories you keep under the sink.
As you are sorting, ask yourself, "Is this the best place for this item?" Maybe your general cleaning supplies would be better under a bathroom sink, in the laundry area, or in another place.
Place items back under the sink in their like-item groups, placing those things you use most often closer to the front.
My own personal bias: get rid of the dish drainer. It's unsightly and makes your kitchen look messy. Or get a wooden fold-up dish rack that takes up only about three inches of space. When you finish a meal, place your wooden rack on a kitchen towel. Wash the dishes and put them away and fold up your dish rack. Store it on one side under your sink. If you only wash an item or two, drain it on a towel and dry immediately. Clean surfaces!!! How refreshing!
If you have little ones, make sure you have a safety lock or a keyed lock on the cabinet door where you store your harmful chemicals.
Good job!!!
If you have a carrier which holds your cleaning supplies, clean that out. Get rid of old sponges and outdated cleaning supplies. Wash it out. Check to see if you have everything you need for cleaning throughout the house. If not, add what you need or put it on your shopping list.
Now for the entire cabinet. Start in one corner and work systematically from there. Toss anything that is outdated, empty, or not used in the last year. Remove or combine duplicates.
Sort into like items: dishwashing (liquid soap, dishwasher soap, brillo pads; etc.); general cleaning; and other categories you keep under the sink.
As you are sorting, ask yourself, "Is this the best place for this item?" Maybe your general cleaning supplies would be better under a bathroom sink, in the laundry area, or in another place.
Place items back under the sink in their like-item groups, placing those things you use most often closer to the front.
My own personal bias: get rid of the dish drainer. It's unsightly and makes your kitchen look messy. Or get a wooden fold-up dish rack that takes up only about three inches of space. When you finish a meal, place your wooden rack on a kitchen towel. Wash the dishes and put them away and fold up your dish rack. Store it on one side under your sink. If you only wash an item or two, drain it on a towel and dry immediately. Clean surfaces!!! How refreshing!
If you have little ones, make sure you have a safety lock or a keyed lock on the cabinet door where you store your harmful chemicals.
Good job!!!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Get Organized Month - Update Your PDA Contact List
While we're updating lists, take a few minutes to update your contact list on your PDA if you use one. Delete those names that are no longer relevant to you and those "vital contacts" you no longer recognize!
If you categorize your list, categorize those names that are not categorized.
If you categorize your list, categorize those names that are not categorized.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Get Organized Month - Update Your Christmas Card List
Now that you have probably received all your Christmas cards, it's a great time to update your Christmas card list. Whether you use an address book, Outlook, Yahoo, Palm, or a written list, let's get started!
Compare the address of your Christmas cards with the address you have on your list. You may want to add in any personal info you want to remember about your friends and family. For those addresses that disagree with your list, change the pertinent information.
If you received Christmas cards from people not on your list, decide if you want to add them to your list.
If you are revamping your list this year, like we are, it's easier to do it with another person. One person to read the address and the other to write or type. It also serves as a way to insure accuracy if the person writing or typing repeats it back to the first person.
Compare the address of your Christmas cards with the address you have on your list. You may want to add in any personal info you want to remember about your friends and family. For those addresses that disagree with your list, change the pertinent information.
If you received Christmas cards from people not on your list, decide if you want to add them to your list.
If you are revamping your list this year, like we are, it's easier to do it with another person. One person to read the address and the other to write or type. It also serves as a way to insure accuracy if the person writing or typing repeats it back to the first person.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Get Organized Month - Declutter Your Schedule - Take Some Time Off!
Today is Sunday, a day of rest. Take some time off if you can, and do something to refresh your soul - read, take a nap, give yourself a pedicure, take a bubble bath, write in your journal, spend time with God, dream, go for a walk - whatever it is that refreshes you!
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Get Organized Month - Declutter Your Catalogs
Let's get rid of all those excessive catalogs. I have a box on a shelf that houses my current catalogs. It's only about five or six inches high, so I must be selective in what I keep. When I get a new catalog, I find the old one and toss it.
So wherever you keep your catalogs, purge those you don't want and keep only the latest issue of the ones you do want. Better yet, sign up to receive the catalogs via email. When you receive catalogs in the mail that you know you don't want, immediately place it in your recycling container so you don't waste time and energy by having to move it again.
The internet eliminates the need for you to keep a lot of paper catalogs around. If you sign up to receive catalogs via email, you're saving trees!
There's a great website that will help you eliminate your paper catalogs in a few minutes. It's www.catalogchoice.org. It has an alphabetical list of catalogs and gives you the opportunity to decline receiving each catalog on the list. I went through the entire list and it took me only about 15 minutes.
It will take up to 10 weeks for your catalogs to stop coming. You just have to be strong and not sign up to receive any of the ones that catch your eye!! I managed to get through the list without signing up for Godiva and Sees Candies. :-)
You can waste a lot of time and money by flipping through catalogs unnecessarily. You can also save a lot of time and money by shopping online. Just have to be discerning.
So wherever you keep your catalogs, purge those you don't want and keep only the latest issue of the ones you do want. Better yet, sign up to receive the catalogs via email. When you receive catalogs in the mail that you know you don't want, immediately place it in your recycling container so you don't waste time and energy by having to move it again.
The internet eliminates the need for you to keep a lot of paper catalogs around. If you sign up to receive catalogs via email, you're saving trees!
There's a great website that will help you eliminate your paper catalogs in a few minutes. It's www.catalogchoice.org. It has an alphabetical list of catalogs and gives you the opportunity to decline receiving each catalog on the list. I went through the entire list and it took me only about 15 minutes.
It will take up to 10 weeks for your catalogs to stop coming. You just have to be strong and not sign up to receive any of the ones that catch your eye!! I managed to get through the list without signing up for Godiva and Sees Candies. :-)
You can waste a lot of time and money by flipping through catalogs unnecessarily. You can also save a lot of time and money by shopping online. Just have to be discerning.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Get Organized Month - Declutter Your Computer Programs
Today let's declutter our computer programs. Excess programs on your computer slow it down. Click "Start" at the bottom left hand side of your screen. Click "control panel". Then click "add or remove programs." This will list all the programs currently installed on your computer.
Scroll down through the programs and click the program you want to remove. Then click "add or remove" to remove those programs you no longer use - the one for the digital camera you no longer own; for the printer you got rid of; for anti-virus programs you no longer use; and other programs you don't need.
Just don't be too hasty. We had two items listed for a game we love, and I uninstalled the program for the game rather than the one for the free trial!! Ugh.
Scroll down through the programs and click the program you want to remove. Then click "add or remove" to remove those programs you no longer use - the one for the digital camera you no longer own; for the printer you got rid of; for anti-virus programs you no longer use; and other programs you don't need.
Just don't be too hasty. We had two items listed for a game we love, and I uninstalled the program for the game rather than the one for the free trial!! Ugh.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Get Organized Month - Declutter Your Purse/Wallet and Briefcase
Take a few minutes to declutter your purse or wallet. File all those receits. Get rid of expired credit cards, membership cards, and coupons. Toss all the trash. Remove excess items. Evaluate what's left - is it necessary?
Now for the briefcase - toss the trash, old newspapers, and other outdated material. File receits and other papers you want to keep. Do you have what you need - pens, paper, etc? Replenish anything that has wandered away. Is your briefcase working for you - does it hold all you need it to hold? Or is it bigger than you need? Make sure it meets the need.
Now for the briefcase - toss the trash, old newspapers, and other outdated material. File receits and other papers you want to keep. Do you have what you need - pens, paper, etc? Replenish anything that has wandered away. Is your briefcase working for you - does it hold all you need it to hold? Or is it bigger than you need? Make sure it meets the need.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Storing Christmas Lights
If you haven't taken down your Christmas lights yet, here's a great bit of advice: Real Simple Magazine (www.RealSimple.com) suggests coiling your Christmas lights on a garden hose holder - the kind you crank. No tangles or knots! Cover them with a trash bag and you're ready for next year!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Get Organized Month - Declutter Magazines
January is "Get Organized Month" as declared by the National Association of Professional Organizers. So I'm going to take a different task each day to help you get organized.
Today let's attack magazines.
1. Go through your magazines and toss those you know you have no use for any more. To double your time, do this task while watching the Rose Bowl Parade or game, a movie, or another activity that lends itself to multi-tasking.
2. As you're going through your magazines, ask yourself if you really want to continue the subscriptions you have. If you don't have time to read your magazines, it's wasting your money and cluttering up your house!
3. For those magazines that are left, cut out articles or ideas you want to keep or read. Keep a file for those articles you want to read and toss.
4. For those articles or ideas you want to keep, make files for each different category or create a binder for decorating ideas, scrapbooking examples, etc. Use plastic protector sheets and just slide the ideas into the sheets. If you place a piece of paper in the protector sheet, you can store an idea on each side.
5. If there are entire magazines you want to keep, get some magazine boxes and label them accordingly. Give yourself a limit on what you will keep. For example, if you decide to keep one year's worth of magazines, remove the oldest one when you receive and have read the newest one.
6. Decide if you want to organize your magazines by magazine titles, topics, or by month (if you want to look at ideas, recipes, etc. seasonally).
7. Keep your current magazines in a magazine rack or box and take them along when you might need to wait for a doctor's appointment. You may also want to take along your file of "need to read" articles.
Now, doesn't that feel great?!
Today let's attack magazines.
1. Go through your magazines and toss those you know you have no use for any more. To double your time, do this task while watching the Rose Bowl Parade or game, a movie, or another activity that lends itself to multi-tasking.
2. As you're going through your magazines, ask yourself if you really want to continue the subscriptions you have. If you don't have time to read your magazines, it's wasting your money and cluttering up your house!
3. For those magazines that are left, cut out articles or ideas you want to keep or read. Keep a file for those articles you want to read and toss.
4. For those articles or ideas you want to keep, make files for each different category or create a binder for decorating ideas, scrapbooking examples, etc. Use plastic protector sheets and just slide the ideas into the sheets. If you place a piece of paper in the protector sheet, you can store an idea on each side.
5. If there are entire magazines you want to keep, get some magazine boxes and label them accordingly. Give yourself a limit on what you will keep. For example, if you decide to keep one year's worth of magazines, remove the oldest one when you receive and have read the newest one.
6. Decide if you want to organize your magazines by magazine titles, topics, or by month (if you want to look at ideas, recipes, etc. seasonally).
7. Keep your current magazines in a magazine rack or box and take them along when you might need to wait for a doctor's appointment. You may also want to take along your file of "need to read" articles.
Now, doesn't that feel great?!
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