Organizing Tips for April

Hopefully the weather will be improving over the next few weeks.  I am still waiting for the first blooms of my azaleas but the daffodils are out!  We are continuing with our yearly plan of organizing that we listed at the beginning of the year.  On the cool or rainy days, take some time to organize your linens and bathroom(s).

If space is limited in linen closets, consider placing extra sheet sets in the bedroom where they are used.  They can be stored in closets, inside under the bed containers or even under the mattress of that bed.

Replace heavier bedding with lighter weight items.  Some quilts or comforters need only to be put through the “air” cycle on the dryer to remove dust.  Store them in pillow cases or the large plastic bags now available to keep them clean.  Vacuum bags can also be used but be aware they will gradually allow air to return.

Remove sheets, blankets, etc. that are torn or in disrepair.  If they can be fixed, find someone to do it, otherwise, recycle them to local pet shelters or other appropriate places.

We often collect pillows and other bedding to have on hand in case guests stay overnight.  Evaluate what you have that has rarely or never been used.  Perhaps some of them can replace those you have removed, or they can be donated or sold to allow room for better organization of the space.

Make similar decisions about your bathroom linens.  Towels and wash cloths that are in disrepair should be removed and replaced with those you have been saving for a special occasion or purchase additional items on sale.  Most department stores have linen sales throughout the year and discount or outlet stores also offer good savings. 

 

I suggest rolling towels to make it easier for children (or adults) to choose their favorite towel with the least amount of disturbance to those remaining.

Many cotton items will dry rot if not used over a period of time.  This often occurs on the folded edges so check those that have been sitting on the shelf for a longer period of time.

Clear the bathroom counters and contain any times that must remain there.  Use trays, baskets, bins, etc. to make clean up easier there.   I love the portable totes that can be easily moved to other storage areas.  Give one to each person using the bathroom is space is limited.  Be diligent in removing old or expired products and store duplicates of items in another area.

Be sure all products in the bathroom have a label.  This is especially important with medicines.  You may check out taking expired medicines to your local pharmacy or ask them the best way to dispose of them.  Flushing in the toilet or garbage disposal is no longer recommended because of contamination of local waters.

If the bathroom needs updating, consider using hooks rather than bars for towels.  Children find them much easier to use so be sure to put those lower on the wall or door.  Consider using dark or disposable towels for removing make-up

Placing a magnifying mirror on the wall saves space and is more convenient that a portable model.  Using pull out shelves or wire baskets under the sink will make access much easier to items stored in the back of those cabinets.

Keeping these areas organized requires daily maintenance because of daily use.  Setting up a schedule and requiring participation of all the family members can help keep them clean and neat.

Housework and Exercise

Exercise is not made more fun as housework.  It is probable that you have heard or read that you can create a mini-workout by incorporating exercises while doing these menial tasks.  "Do squats by lowering your body as you reach into the dishwasher to unload it or stretch higher when hanging clothes in the closet."  I personally have never done these because I want to get through those chores as quickly as possible.  I don't like to think about exercise then either.

But I have discovered housework can actually use muscles.  For the past year I have been working with a personal trainer.  We alternated upper and lower body muscles each session until I became very strong according to his evaluations.  I just learned, however, that some muscle groups were missed during those vigorous sessions.  For two days last week I vacuumed, mopped, dusted, and scrubbed a vacation cottage we rented.  I wanted to leave it nicer than I found it, and that took some elbow grease.  The following 2 days my body ached like I had never moved a muscle in the past year. 

So now I must confess from personal experience that you actually can exercise your muscles when you do housework (whether you want to or not).  I am not recommending it, but if it seems like a good idea to you, then use that time doing your household tasks to get in shape.  Go ahead, squat, stretch and convince yourself you are your own personal trainer.

Housework and Vacations

Our annual trip to Florida is planned so my husband can fish with his brother who lives there.  I go along for the ride.  It is, however, my responsibility to plan the trip there and back including hotel stays, to plan and pack everything needed for living a few weeks in a rented cottage, and clean and prepare our house to be empty during that time.  He packed his suitcase and fishing stuff.  Sound familiar?  Now I am not complaining.  In fact the control issues I possess rather enjoy the process.  Just saying.

This vacation does allow me the opportunity to have alone time while the boys are fishing.  Since I love quilting, I pack projects and supplies for those activities, too.  My hopes for getting much accomplished at the cottage are somewhat compromised since I am usually too tired after doing the normal cooking, cleaning, laundry and dog walks.  Not only can house work kill your body, but it really gets on my nerves when it gets in the way of my so called vacation.

As I write this, I have just spent two and a half weeks at the cottage.  While I have attempted work at my sewing machine and accomplished some of what I wanted to do, I decided I was not up to continuing.  I packed up my sewing machine, etc. and gave up on the projects until I get home.  My hatred for housework especially on the so called vacation was fueling my frustration. 

Pity parties are very lonely affairs.  You are the only one there.  Rather than drown in my disappointment, I decided to put on my praise music and do something useful.  Of course it couldn’t help but make a difference in my attitude and outlook.  This project and a few dozen others will wait a few more days and when the next quilting retreat or workshop comes around, I will be attending.  There will be no housework there!

Organizing Tips for March

I am putting on my professional organizer hat and giving you some tips today to help you get organized this month. 

Spring arrives at least on the calendar. Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 10^th.  Set your clock ahead one hour.  This month we are concentrating on the attic and clothing.

• The Attic.  March is a good month for checking out the situation in the attic.  The warmer days allow you to spend time there without the coldest winter temperatures or the extreme heat of summer. 
• Unless you are storing items for another family member, the goal is to keep as little as possible in the attic.  It is usually inconvenient to access and too hot or cold to spend time there.  The extreme temperatures are also not good for many items to be kept there safely.  In addition, you must take care to prevent invasion by critters.
• If you are storing items for adult children or other friends or family consider asking them to retrieve them.  Setting a deadline to have them removed or they will be donated may spur them into action.  In my professional and personal experience, I have found that most people don’t really want them after being without for awhile.  You may be surprised that is the case with items you may have stored for others.
• For safety reasons and convenience, add lighting and secure floor boards in areas of the attic you must use.  
• For items you must keep, create zones for the types of items you are storing.  For example, holiday items can be labeled and stored together.      
• Use color coded containers or labels to help identify containers quickly.  These are most easily found during or right after the holidays or seasons.  I have found brown and orange bins in October and November, red and green in December and yellow in the spring.  Of course you can create you own color coded labels, too.
• Take care to cover wood furnishings with sheets or blankets.  Upholstered furniture should not be stored in the attic for many reasons. The extreme temperatures will cause the fabric to deteriorate and pests find the padding very inviting for nests.
• The attic is not suitable for candles, photographs, soft plastics such as in dolls, electronic media such as tapes, and many fabrics.  Papers and files will become brittle if stored for any length of time.  Unless they hold sentimental value, they should be recycled or shredded.  There is no need to keep old bank statements or cancelled checks and most financial documents as they are now kept by institutions in computer files.  Legal documents should be kept where the temperature is controlled.
• If there are many items left to store after sorting, purging and cleaning the attic space, it is a good idea to create a map of where items are located.  This will save much time when it is necessary to recover them.

 

• Clothing   As the days are longer and warmer, remove the heaviest clothing you will save to summer storage.  This may mean to the back of the closet, to another closet or storage area, or out of the house permanently.  If they will be part of a future yard sale, store them in the area set aside for that.
• Winter clothing takes up lots of room in closets and drawers because they are heavier and have long sleeves.  If there are items you did not use or those that children have outgrown, consider moving them out now. 

      Clothing closets are one of the most frequently requested areas to organize.   While there are great strategies to use in setting up closet systems, the biggest problem is too many items.  Pareto’s rule applies here.  You usually wear only 20% of your clothing 80% of the time.  Being willing to let go of those items that  you don’t wear, for whatever reason, will make the task of organizing the closet much easier.

      Creating zones in your closets for types of clothing will make keeping it organized easier.  Group types of clothes together with durable hangers.  Above all else, do not use wire hangers.  They are not good for you clothing or closet.

      As you sort and group your clothing you will begin to see what you have in excess and what you may need to purchase to complete an outfit.  Put those needed items on a list and try to purchase only those when shopping. 

      While consignment shops usually only take current season clothing, removed  items can be donated to a charity or sold in a yard sale.  Moving them out will give you more space for the items that you do love and wear.

 

• If you have considered the possibility of having a yard or tag sale. It is never too early to plan and prepare for one.  This month is the time to set the date and work towards that goal.  May and June are great choices as it is not too hot and people are on the move.  Consider going in with neighbors or friends to draw more customers onto your street.

• This is the time to get indoor tasks finished so you can enjoy the outdoors as soon as the warm weather is here.  Whatever the project, do not let it drag on or remain unfinished until next winter.  Make that final to-do list and get it done.

 

 

Getting Real about Housework

So far my posts have been generic.  I have included some basic principles from my work as a professional organizer because I think they might be helpful to you.  I will continue to do that because order in our lives is important, so I make no apologies for these articles.  Hopefully they will inspire you in some measure.

But today I will get to the nitty-gritty about housework.  As I have said, it is not my favorite thing,  In fact I do not like anything about doing it.  I do like the finished product.  Today my personal trainer asked me if anyone liked housework and I had to think about it.  (Side note:  I have been working with a personal trainer for 10 months.  My goals were to lose weight and to be able to walk with my husband and dog 2 miles everyday without arthritic knee pain.  I am accomplishing both.)  So back to thinking about if anyone liked housework. 

There are probably some people who like certain aspects of housework.  Maybe you hate washing dishes but love washing windows.  Or maybe you love ironing (I always burn myself so I don't do it.) but hate mopping floors.  I know I cannot speak for everyone, but honestly, I don't personally know of anyone who likes any of it.  It has to be done so why don't we like it?

Let me speculate and give you some of the reasons I don't like it. 
1.  It takes time away from other things I would rather do:  reading, quilting, picking flowers, just about anything else. 
2.  It is a never ending process.  Just as you finish the job, it has to be done again.  With other projects, there is and end.  My quilts are completed and enjoyed, the book is read and donated, and the flowers are arranged. 
3.  It is never quite perfect.  Even after the copper skillet is clean, you could always go back and polish the bottom of it to a brilliant shine.  You could iron the pillowcases, but what about the sheets--please NO. 
4.  There is always another task waiting even if you think you are finished.  The ceiling fan blades need dusting, the chandelier globes need washing, hey even the light bulbs need dusting.  See what I mean? 
5.  Who likes broken fingernails, dishpan hands and work clothes which are intertwined with housework?  Enough said.

So now that I have been very real and honest, let me end on a more positive note.  While there are many things we don't like to do, we can do them with a thankful attitude.  We can be thankful we have things to use, enjoy and clean.  We can enjoy the compliments we get from family and friends as they appreciate what we have done.  We can use the time spent in mindless housework to
plan projects, find solutions to problems, pray for others, converse with family, memorize scriptures or sing worship songs.  Hey, this may be the only alone time you get.  The time need not be wasted.  I encourage you and myself to make the most of it.  We may hate it, but we can still use it for good.

Organizing Checklist for February

I have not been inspired to write more about my relationship with housework, but here are some organizing tips I have shared on my business blogs. 

This month we are concentrating on books and hobbies.  Since there are so many types of hobbies and since we often take on too many, this blog will be a long one.  I have gone into more detail in my book, but you can begin with these tips.

     Books

• Keeping fiction books that you have read serve no purpose except to prove you own them.  Sell or donate them knowing you can borrow it from the library if you have time to read it again.
• Non-fiction books should be grouped by category.  Since information is always changing, using older books as reference many not provide recent findings.  Let them go and use the Internet to find the latest information.  The books are not your brain and letting them go will not cause you to forget what you have learned.  (Old age, however, may cause you to forget.  I speak from experience.)
• Make friends with the library. 
• Use vertical areas to provide extra shelves or cabinets for storage. 

Hobbies

• Limit the number of hobbies you take on:  two is best or three if it is related to the one of the others. 
• Do not try to purchase every new tool or supply for that craft when it comes along.  Most specialty gadgets are rarely used and take up valuable space.
• Finish one project before you start another one.  I know that is difficult when classes come along to teach a new technique.  Go to the class and take notes if you must, but do not start another project. 
• Purchase kits when they are suitable.  It will save you time in making choices and money in purchasing supplies you don’t use.
• Use storage containers designed for your items if they are convenient for you to use.  It is usually the most efficient use of space.  If those are too expensive, try to find a less expensive but similar substitute container in the fishing tackle, laundry or kitchen storage area of the store.
• Consider over the door style shoe bags with clear pockets for sorting and storing small items.
• Portable totes, rolling carts or drawers, wheeled suitcases and crates are all options when space is limited.
• Fill the closet in a spare room with shelving for containers or stackable drawers for your craft items.
• Folding or card tables can be used for projects if no other surfaces are suitable for your projects.  These can be stored under beds, behind tall furniture or in other storage areas.
• Purge items you have not used and realize now you probably will never use.  Our tastes and preferences change over time and there is no point in keeping something just because you thought you might use it.  Sell or donate it to your craft group or guild.
• Store craft magazines and how to booklets in a magazine holder.  When it is filled, use the one in one out principle.
• Use peg boards to store tools and supplies that are used often.
• Convert chests, china cabinets and other furniture into attractive storage for your supplies..
• Discard unflattering, foggy or distorted photos.
• Invest in a digital camera and begin using online services to create scrapbooks, calendars, cards and more.
• Consider scanning older quality photos rather than saving them for scrapbooks.  Companies that offer those services are listed in the resource section.
• Plan a photo give away day for those photos you no longer need or want. 
• Shoe boxes or similar photo boxes can be used to store saved photos.
• If upgrading to equipment or supplies with more features, sell or donate the equipment and supplies it replaces.  Do not keep it just in case you might need it.
• Use crafting/sewing tables with adjustable legs so it can be lowered to a comfortable level.
• Divided plastic drawer sets and towers can be used to store supplies.
• Purge patterns and fabrics and sell or donate those you no longer use or like.
• Create a cutting/project/pressing table by placing a table on bed risers to make the height more back and neck friendly.  Cover it with a padded board for pressing.  A cutting mat can be placed on top of this as the need arises.
• Keep projects portable in the extra large zip top bags.
• Consider fishing tackle boxes for sorting and storage of small notions, beads, wires and tools.
• Store stacks of containers on shelves in bookcases or cabinets with identifying labels on the front edge.
• Save only very special greeting cards you have received.  Cut off the verse and name of the giver to save and discard the front and envelope.
• Make memories of sentimental items by creating shadow boxes, framed photo collages, pillow tops, album covers or quilts.  These can be passed on to other generations.
• Make a child’s craft kit by storing the supplies in a zip top big bag.  Everything will be ready for them to use and clean up will be simple.
• Eliminate excessive gift wrapping supplies by investing in one or two rolls of paper.  White or paper bag brown can be used for any occasion.  They can be decorated with markers or rubber stamps or left plain with a pretty bow.  Store in a flat container under the bed or in containers designed for them.  Keeping one bright and one pastel roll of ribbon is sufficient. 
• Use special ribbon holders if you maintain several rolls.  These make it convenient for you to pull off one ribbon at a time.

Collections

• Valuable collections such as rare coins or jewelry should be appraised, inventoried and stored in a safe place.
• Purge items you have collected but have no sentimental value and you do not want to display.  See if a family member wants them before selling or donating.
• Have pictures taken of you with the item before removing it if you no longer have room for it.
• Limit the items you collect to the space that you have to display them.  If you insist on storing some of them elsewhere, rotate them through your display so you can enjoy what you have.
• Group your collections together for the most attractive arrangements.
• The best collectible is money.  Save it in interest bearing accounts rather than spending in on other items to collect.  It takes no storage space and grows in value.

 

 

 

An Organizing Schedule for This Year and January

Happy New Year! Once again I must get used to writing the date for the new year correctly. You would think by now I would not start the year with 19 but old habits die hard. For those of you who like to plan ahead, I have an organizing agenda for the year that will include the checklists for those topics each month. In addition, I will include other items that need to be addressed that time of the year. Here is the schedule:
January--Paper, Files, Home Office
February--Books and Hobbies
March--Attics, Clothing
April--Linens and Bathrooms
May--Garage and Yard
June--Children's Rooms, Guest Room/Spare Room
July--Family Room or Den
August--Toys, Electronics (are they the same thing?!)
September--Bedrooms, Clothing
October--Dining Room
November--Pantry, Kitchen
December--Holiday

Now on to January. It is time to deal with the papers and other items in home offices. Regardless of the size or space you have to manage the running of the home, you need a clutter free space to pay bills, keep records and manage accounts. The computer was supposed to make us a paper free socieity but we all know that did not happen.  We bought printers and made matters worse. Here are a few tips to help with this areas.

• Create an inbox for incoming papers: mail, bulletins, newsletters, schedules, etc. Put this in the space you normally drop mail. Select categories and put the paper that enters the house in the correct section. If you use a compact hanging file box, make a hanging folder for each category that fits your situation. Drop the papers in it and deal with them when necessary or the file is full. I continually get feedback from clients on how this one thing helped them to get control of incoming bills, etc.
• Save only legal documents or papers related to your home or health in a permanent file drawer or box. You do not need to keep the statements from every institution after they have been checked for accuracy and/or paid. Those accounts are kept in computer files by the institution that you can access if necessary. Even appliance and electronic manuals are kept online now.
• Purchase a fireproof/waterproof box for storing originals of legal documents and information that relates to your accounts, etc. This will be heavy but can be locked and withstands destructive elements in case of disaster. It can also be accessed by you when banks with safety deposit boxes are closed.
• Shred old documents with personal information and recycle the rest. Minimize your paper storage.
• Stop magazine subscriptions and get your information at the library or online. Move out all older magazines. If you have read them, you don't need them. If you have not read them by now, you won't read them in the future. The same goes for newspapers. Except for the Sunday edition with coupons (if you are a couponer), most news and obituaries (of course) can be found online. Remember magazines and newspapers are more than half advertisements.
• Throw away catalogues as soon as they come in. Save the discount label if you decide to order something online or by phone. Looking through catalogues is like watching a very long commercial. What a waste of time!
• Speaking of time: Use a calendar with a week at a glance that breaks the days into house. Smartphones and computers have free calendar programs like this or you can use a paper version. Block out your activities and you will see the available hour you have to do the things you have put off.
• Clear the desk, counter, table or whatever you use for office activities every night before going to bed.
• If you would like more information on guidelines for saving papers, I have a document I will send to you. Email me through my website: www.OrderlyPlaces.com and let me know you want it. My book also has more detail on organizing your papers, files and office. It is in your local library and can be purchased online from Amazon or my website.