Your Organized Home

Organizing While You Are There

  Opportunities exist each day to either clear away a small amount of clutter or maintain an existing space. Taking these small opportunities to organize a little at a time reduces the need to spend hours later “getting organized.” I call it organizing “While You Are There.”

The easiest way to see how this works is with files. No one likes to clean out an entire drawer full of files (myself included), but it doesn’t hurt much to clean out one or two. The next time you pull out a file, look through the entire file. Shred or discard any duplicate, outdated, or no longer relevant information. If you have more time, tackle a few of the surrounding files. This should only take five minutes or so.

The idea is to clear out items that are not used, liked, or needed as you naturally come in contact with them. Follow me through the office and house to see how this works:

• office desk drawers – What supplies do you regularly use? Discard or donate what you don’t. Store the rest in a separate box.

• book shelves – Do the titles on the shelf reflect your current interests and lifestyle? Donate a few books (especially those old college textbooks!).

• kitchen drawers and cabinets - Are you holding onto unused cooking and baking items or food? Donate what you can to your favorite charity.

• junk / utility drawer - Can any items be better used in another room or stored with other like items? Put them there.

• family / living room – Old magazines? Outgrown or broken toys or games? Recycle and donate. No one misses what isn’t used.

• linen closet – Mismatched or old towels? Keep the best. Toss, donate, or store a few as rags in the garage.

• bedroom – Items (like paperwork and kids’ toys) that are not conducive to sleep and relaxation should be returned to their proper homes.

• closet – There’s a reason you, your spouse, or your child hasn’t worn X, Y, or Z. Donate it to someone who will.

• bathroom – Do you really use all those toiletries?


Remember, the idea is to clear out unused or unneeded items while you are already there. Does this take a lot of extra time? No, the time is already there. You just haven’t noticed it yet.

You have a few minutes when you are:

o waiting (in the car, in a line, or for _______ to get ready)

o taking a break between tasks

o looking for something

o putting something away (especially a new item)

This week look around. Is there a small area or two that you could organize while you are there? Do you have a few extra moments to look through that drawer or cabinet? You’d be surprised what a difference small steps over time can make in your home and office.

Take some time this month to clear out a few spaces while you are there. You’ll be glad you did.

© Renee Ursem, 2010

Get Rid of Clutter Fast and Easy With These Simple Tips

(Guest Post: Marilyn Bohn)

Let's face it, there are some things that we don't like to do either because we think they are hard or we don't know where to begin or how to do them. A few years ago I was making one of my daughters her freedom quilt (this is a red, white and blue quilt I give them on their 21st birthday). I was appliquéing blue snowflakes onto a white background. I hit a wall and I couldn't continue making the quilt. Just the thought of sewing on it almost made me ill. Another daughter suggested I make only 21 blocks instead of the number I was aiming for. That one small suggestion is all it took; I changed the pattern and was able to finish creating this beautiful quilt.

If you are stuck with clutter and you want to change but don't know where to start I have several tips on how to get rid of clutter in four rooms in your home.

7 Ideas for Handling an Overabundance of Bathroom Products (lotion, sanitizer, perfume, etc.)

Do you have a plethora of bathroom products?

A Reader Writes:

I'm looking for ideas to help my mother.  She is 65 years old and has a HUGE collection of personal products in her bathroom and linen closet.  Most of them are unopened and expensive (she got them as gifts) so she does not want to throw them out.  But, she will never use all of it and her space is filled to the brim.  Is there any place that would like this kind of stuff?
Thanks!
MaryAnne -- Jacksonville Florida USA

MaryAnne- Yes!  I've listed seven options and I bet my readers will have ideas too.

Use Simple White Chalk in Your Closet or Basement to Remove Moisture

Today's post is short and sweet, but one that could make a big difference in the smell of your spaces!  Do you have damp closets or basement spaces?  If so, go purchase simple white school chalk.  Tie a few pieces of chalk together to form a small bundle and hang in a closet or other space to absorb moisture. 

Use Color to Help Organize Your Family

Organizing with color is a fun way to organize a family.  It can help you quickly identify where an item belongs or to whom an item belongs.  You may not realize it but you probably already use color to organize your home.   For example: your toothbrushes.  Does everyone in your house have a different color?  Of course they do, otherwise it would be confusing and could get a little gross.

Medication Mania! How to manage multiple medications/supplements a day.

Being accountable for your own health is the first step in being healthy!  However, when you have slews of pills to take at different times of the day, it can be hard to do it right.  Do you have a lot of pills to take or know someone who does?  Maybe it is medication for a medical condition, or nutritional supplements . . .  It can be confusing to track different pills.  I'll show you step by step how we organized one woman's 20+ pills a day.

Cool Do-It-Yourself Projects with IKEA Hacks

Are you a closet DIYer?  Do you like to make things for your home or office?  If you are like me, you may like to "hack" things more than make them from scratch. 

What is a hack? A "hack" is when you take something and make it into something else. 

What is IKEA? The store IKEA is a world-wide company that offers a "wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them."  Their designs are very utilitarian most of the time, but high quality in workmanship.

So, an IKEA Hack takes IKEA products and modifies them for form, function or design to work for what the user needs in their space.  If this is of interest to you, check out the blog IKEA Hacker.  IKEA Hacker shows you how to transform IKEA stuff and takes hacks from all across the globe to feature.  Check out the link below for great ideas.

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/search/label/storage

Thanks!! to @lisamurphyTO, @chrissychrzan and @tinkugallery for sharing this site!

Makeup - To Keep or Not to Keep

When someone begins thinking of organizing, many questions can pop into their thoughts. Every once in a while we will select questions from our readers and share our response with you.

Q: What is the appropriate age at which to throw out cosmetics & toiletries?

Simple Tools that Help You Save Space

The "mud room" slash "laundry room" in our home has a layout that I don't really care for.  It is long and has a lot of not-so-usable space.  The coat closet is quite small too.  We use these great door hanging hooks over the door to the garage and the door to our kitchen. 

Do you take your medicines when you should?

I have talked before about how various medical conditions can make it difficult for you to focus and organize.  Often, even if you are being treated for your condition, you could have problems.  Why is that?  It could be caused by not taking your medication or by taking it at the wrong time.  Some medicines are more sensitive than others. 

Do you have a lot of medications to take?  Do you remember to take them when you are supposed to? 

For many, remembering what meds to take at what time is very difficult.  The more medicine you have to take the more difficult it can become.  Here are some things you can do to help: