Organizing Products I Use - Under-the-Sink Drawers

  
I had so much fun maximizing the space in our new home! One product that has been especially efficient is a set of under-the-sink drawers for my bathroom. Our cabinets are tall and the space under the sink would have been wasted without some organizing help.

I found the perfect solution: the Bronze Mini Stackable Cabinet Organizer from Seville Classics. I bought four, two for each cabinet under our double sinks. I measured under both sinks, but didn't realize that the plumbing was placed in a slightly different place under my husband's sink - a little more forward from the wall, making it impossible for the drawers to fit depthwise. My mistake! So disappointed, but I found some other organizing solutions for under his sink which make him happy.

I knew it was going to be a very tight fit under my sink. In fact, for the last step of building the drawers, I had to twist them diagonally, and insert them into the space before adding the top shelf and inserting the drawers. But they fit!

The drawers are adjustable so you can create heights that work for the products you use. I chose one drawer for the things I use frequently - skin and hair products.

Another drawer contains first aid supplies and over-the-counter meds. My blow drier rests on one of the shelves, and so on. Plastic liners come with the unit so small things don't fall through the wires.

So what to do with the other two shelves? They didn't fit under the guest bathroom sink or the kitchen sink. But there was a perfect spot in my pantry - a little corner between the steel shelves and the wall where I could place the drawers at a diagonal.

I stacked the units (there's a connector included to make them sturdy), and store potatoes, onions and garlic in one large drawer, snacks in the other drawers, and large plastic bowls on top. I'm so pleased to be able to use that small space so efficiently!

I can't wait to show you some of the other products I'm using in my new house to get the most out of my storage space!

More on organizing products:
A No-Cost Organizing Solution for Your Pantry
Entry Closet Door Organizer
Repurposing My Shoe Organizers in the Pantry

Organizing Products I Use - Steel Shelving

     
We moved over the weekend, downsizing from 2200 square feet to 1550 square feet in what we are calling our retirement cottage. So I am trying to maximize every square inch of storage space! We are excited to live efficiently and simply in our new home.

We lost a lot of garage space, which we are mourning! It's a tight squeeze to get both our cars into our garage, but there are 18 inches between the wall and the garage door, which allows for some steel storage shelves along the walls where they don't interfere with the opening of car doors.

With the expense of a move, we didn't really want to spend the money on an expensive garage organizing system. So this was our solution.

I told you about these steel shelves from Lowe's in a previous blog post. They are 48 w x 74 h x 18 d with adjustable shelves and must be put together. They come in other sizes as well. The units we bought cost about $70 each and come in black or silver.

Here they are in operation, holding seasonal items. We have chosen clear storage boxes to contain those things we know we are going to keep for a long time but don't use often. The containers are less than 18 inches wide so two of them fit on each shelf lengthwise without sticking out more than the 18-inch clearance.

Each shelf holds up to 350 pounds, so I can get a lot of mileage out of these shelves! We have four shelving units in our garage to house keepsakes, seasonal decorations, etc.

My husband cut down another one of these shelving units to fit into the closet in our laundry room, turning it into a pantry. This created an amazing space to store food, appliances and cookware. The appliances (bread maker, food processor, slow cooker, and waffle iron) are on the floor , and the food is organized according to categories on the upper shelves.

This unit allows me to see everything and reach everything easily without having to create stack-upon-stack storage. I placed mesh shelf lining on the wire shelves so things don't fall through the wires.

These five shelving units were set up before moving day, and as we brought things over during the week, we had a place to put them! They expanded our storage greatly while using only 18 inches of depth. And they're economical and strong. We had used some cheaper but sturdy-looking plastic shelving in our other garage, but the shelves started sagging over time. Springing for the steel shelving was definitely worth it to us.

More on organizing products:
Organize Toys Using a Wire Garden Hanger
A No-Cost Organizing Solution for Your Pantry
Repurposing My Shoe Organizers in the Pantry

Organizing Your Bracelets - Go Vertical!

"Avoid a jumbled jewelry box by stacking bangles and cuffs on a paper-towel holder. It'll be so much easier to survey your options." Another clever idea from Redbook!!

More on organizing jewelry:  

Declutter Your Jewelry  

Organizing Your Jewelry 

Jewelry Organizer

Spring Cleaning Using Household Products

    
As you may recall, I'm in love with vinegar! I've started using it as my main cleaner for surfaces and glass. It's a natural disinfectant and very inexpensive. It also gets rid of mineral deposits, which is problem we have here in Montana.

I'm going to link to several past blog posts about using household cleaners to do spring cleaning - lemons, baking soda, vinegar, and dryer sheets. Lemons are also natural disinfectants, and create a great stain remover when combined with baking soda. Click the links above to find out how effective and economical these household products are when it comes to cleaning!


More on spring cleaning:

Three Steps to Clever Cleaning

Spring Cleaning Relationships

Spring Cleaning Your Mood

Spring Cleaning Your Career

Spring Cleaning the Noise

         

Wheels - The Best Invention Ever! (Close Second: Long-Lasting Lipstick!)

         
Aren't wheels wonderful? I often say that wheels are the best invention ever - they make our lives so much easier! And when it comes to moving heavy objects, wheels are essential. 

But what if the object we need to move doesn't have wheels? Self-adhesive wheels come to the rescue! And who carries these? The  Container Store, of course! For $14.99 you can get a set of four. Now these wheels are permanent, so be careful what you attach them to.

You can rent wheels that are non-adhesive from BungoBoxes, along with rentable recyclable boxes and other supplies.

 

And there are always rolling carts (like small dollies). Stacking boxes on these instead of carrying them, saves your back and makes hauling much more pleasant. 

I got my rolling cart at Staples. They are sold as luggage carriers for around $55. Make sure to take note of how many pounds they hold. The one I use holds 250 pounds. There are cheaper ones out there, but they carry less weight.

More on hauling:

April is National Tackle Your Clutter Month

A Green Moving Soluton - Now You Can Rent Moving Boxes!

Finding Charities that Will Pick Up Your Clutter

 

Closet Space-Savers and Organizers

    
Looking to get more mileage out of your closet? I've compiled a collection of space-savers and organizers on my Pinterest board so such resources are in one place for you and my clients. I've chosen those with the highest reviews in an effort to provide the best quality. 

Click here to take a look. Hope you enjoy them. :) I have boards on shoe storage and closet organizing systems, too, if you're interested.

More on closets:

Don't Make the #1 Organizing Mistake

Closet Mapping

Get Oranized Month 2009 - Organizing Your Clothes Closet

     

WD-40 - Another Time-Saving, Money-Saving Miracle Product

      
My uncle Charlie (a chemist) sent me this email - not sure who the original author is. A great resource for all sorts of problems!  

"I had a neighbor who had bought a new pickup.  I got up very early one Sunday morning and saw that someone had spray painted red all around the sides of this beige truck (for some unknown reason).  I went over, woke him up, and told him the bad news.  He was very upset and was trying to figure out what to do probably nothing until Monday morning, since nothing was open.  Another neighbor came out and told him to get his WD-40 and clean it off.  It removed the unwanted paint beautifully and did not harm his paint job that was on the truck. I'm impressed! 

WD-40 who knew?  'Water Displacement #40' The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts.  WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company.  Its name comes from the project that was to find a 'water displacement' compound. They were successful with the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40.  The Convair Company bought it in bulk to protect their atlas missile parts.
 
Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you. 
 
Here are some other uses: 
1.  Protects silver from tarnishing. 
2.  Removes road tar and grime from cars.
3.  Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.
4.  Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making them slippery.
5.  Keeps flies off cows. 
6.  Restores and cleans chalkboards.
7.  Removes lipstick stains.
8.  Loosens stubborn zippers.
9.  Untangles jewelry chains.
10.  Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
11.  Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
12.  Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.
13.  Removes tomato stains from clothing.
14.  Keeps glass or plastic shower doors free of water spots.
15.  Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
16.  Keeps scissors working smoothly.
17.  Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes.
18. It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor!  Use WD-40 for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring.  It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off.  Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.
19.  Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly!  Use WD-40!
20.  Gives a children's playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
21.  Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers.
22.  Rids kids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises.
23.  Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.
24.  Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
25.  Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers. 
26.  Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
27.  Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.
28.  Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.
29.  Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.
30.  Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.
31.  Removes splattered grease on stove.
32.  Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.
33.  Lubricates prosthetic limbs.
34.  Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).
35.  Removes all traces of duct tape.
36.  Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.
37.  Florida 's favorite use is: 'cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers.'
38.  The favorite use in the state of New York , WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.
39.  WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a little on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time.  Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose. Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some locations.
40.  Use it for fire ant bites.  It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.
41.  WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls.  Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag.
42.  Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and rewash.  Presto!  The lipstick is gone!
43.  If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and allow the car to  start.
P.  S.  The basic ingredient is FISH OIL."
                                                       

Organizing for a Power Failure - Are You Prepared?

       
This is the season for power outages (if winter ever shows up!!) - snow and ice and high winds. We had high winds recently with a forecast of power failure. So I decided to make sure we were ready. My brother first told me about power failure lights - lights plugged in throughout your home that activate if the power goes out. 

Yes, flashlights are good. But these lights illuminate a whole room for up to six hours. It makes a scary situation not so scary.

These are not night lights and do not shine unless the power goes out. I put one in the living room and one in the upstairs hallway, so we'll be able to navigate safely. 

 I found my Brinks Emergency Power Failure Lights at Walmart for about $10 each. My brother found his at Sam's. I'm not sure of the brand he bought.

Just one more thing to put your mind at ease in an emergency.

More on emergency preparedness:

National Preparedness Month - Emergency Supplies

National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #1: NOAA Radio

National Preparedness Month - Emergency Supplies

 

Destressing Christmas 2011, Part 8 - Give Memories, Not Clutter

   
Here's the final installment of my Destressing Christmas 2011 series. How appropriate for December 1! I hope this month is joyous,  meaningful, and destressed! 

I'm hosting a Christmas party Friday night, which I love! Cleaning, shopping and getting ready today. :) On to our topic for today:

It seems that our country is drowning in clutter! Our kids have so many toys, their rooms are overflowing. We have to rent storage units to hold our excess stuff.

This Christmas and throughout the year, consider giving memories instead of clutter. Give experiences! I've talked about some of these before, but they are worth repeating. :)

One year my parents were visiting us at Christmas when we lived in the DC area. Their gift from us: tickets for them to take our daughters to the Nutcracker at the Kennedy Center.

For one daughter's 16th birthday, we took her and her boyfriend (now husband) to see Stomp! in lieu of having a party. For our other daughter's birthday one year, we went to the play Little Women (one of her favorite books) followed by high tea, reminiscent of our time living in Kenya.

I have a dear friend who has four boys. Each time one graduates from high school, he gets to pick where in the country the family will go for vacation that year.

For my parents' 50th wedding anniversary, all four of us siblings typed out a tribute to them, framed them in gold frames, and presented them on a family vacation.

This year we celebrated their 60th and my brother created a video incorporating interviews he had done with mom and dad as well as photos throughout their lives. It was just a family affair - the four siblings and our children. We siblings each toasted my parents - what a wonderful memory and special time together!

Speaking of my parents, once when our girls stayed with them, my mom walked them around the neighborhood telling them about our neighbors who lived there when I was growing up. It included a trip to Midway Grocery, a tiny little grocery store where I and my siblings would go to buy candy. They still have fond memories of that experience!

When we lived in Kenya, my gift to the guys on our team was a dozen cookies every month for a year. Even though they were material objects, they didn't stay around long enough to create clutter!

When we visited one of our daughters this year, we decided to choose one five-star restaurant rather than several average places to eat. It made a fun and delicious memory!

Considering what your loved one or friend likes is the key. Here are some other ideas:

- If it is expensive, you may be able to team up with others. If Uncle Jim wants to celebrate his 80th birthday by sky diving or going for a hot-air balloon ride, have family members chip in.

- Share the experience. Accompany your friends or family to the event to make a joint memory.

- Give your time. Bring lunch over to auntie's and spend a couple of hours with her. Or babysit for a young mom who needs some time out of the house. 

- One of our daughters is contemplating a ski day as one of her gifts this year, since we are so close to good skiing and she'll be here for Christmas. 

Your gift experiences don't need to cost a lot. The only limit is your creativity!


More on no-clutter gifts:

A Last-Minute Clutterless Gift Idea - BookSwim

Easy Decadent Fudge Recipe

Destressing Christmas, Part 11 - Meaningful Gifts with No Clutter

Some of My Favorite Organizing Products - The Ball Claw

 
A few years ago, the Ball Claw people asked me to do a review of their, at that time, new product - a new way to store athletic balls. Unfortunately, I never did the review. So now I will make up for it.

The Ball Claw is an ingenious way to store those hard-to-store athletic balls. It comes with just a few screws, grips the ball, and can be used in various places - even in your car trunk! Here are some options:

 

 

 They're inexpensive ($11.99), simple to use, and make use of vertical space, rather than taking up floor space or closet space. Both of our girls are athletes - if we had only had the Ball Claw then! If you have athletes in the house, this product may be an answer to your athletic gear clutter!


More on organizing sports gear:

Organizing Your Mud Room

Storage for Your Garage

Some of My Favorite Organizing Products - My Heavy Duty Shredder

  
We always have good intentions of keeping up with our shredding, don't we? But it gets out of hand and we overheat our shredders (or catch them on fire!!) when we finally get around to shredding.  

One of the best investments we've made is the Royal MC14MX 14 Sheet Microcut Paper Shredder. It is a heavy duty shredder which will shred 14 sheets of paper at a time.

I don't know about you, but we get a lot of paper. Even though we've joined LifeLock, which removes us from credit card ads, etc., we still manage to have a considerable amount of mail and documents to be shredded.

What I like about our shredder:
- it's heavy duty - if it is getting close to overheating, which is rare, it stops
- the shredding basket holds 10 gallons of paper
- it microcuts, which means it shreds into one-fourth the size of normal shreds
- it shreds 14 sheets of paper at the same time
- staples, DVDs, CDs and credit cards can be shredded
- auto stop and start
- it makes the job of shredding shorter and safer.

I can't remember where we bought ours, but I saw it on several online sites at varying prices. And there are similar products at local office supply stores. It's an investment, but in my opinion, well worth it if you do a lot of shredding. 

More on my favorite organizing products:

Some of My Favorite Organizing Products - The Epson 1500 Scanner

Some of My Favorite Organizing Products - Cabinet Expanders

Some of My Favorite Organizing Products - Tall Laundry Hampers