Cleaning Up the Clutter after the Holidays

Christmas is right around the corner and your about to get slammed with a lot more stuff. Once the unwrapping dust has settled, you need to decide what you are keeping and what you are getting rid of. If you do not like or can not use a gift, DO NOT give it a home in your closet, drawer or garage. Put it right into your garage sale box or into your car to take to consignment. Websites like Garage Sales Tracker have a directory of all your closest consignment stores with directions. Check them out at http://www.garagesalestracker.com/

Purging before the holidays

Tis the season for gifts and more gifts. While we love all the fun of giving and receiving, you may be worried that your home is cluttered enough with stuff that you don’t use. In anticipation of the new goodies, why not clear the clutter?

Spend 15 minutes a day going through one small area at a time. Pick a drawer, a cupboard or the corner of a room to do in one time period. As you are going through, keep reminding yourself that clearing clutter is also opening up space for new and useful things. Once you receive all your fabulous new gifts, you will have a nice neat place to store them.

This is a great activity to do with your kids as well. Teach them a lesson in organization by showing good clutter management habits. Set aside some time with them before the holidays to go through their belongings and get rid of what is broken, no longer used or still in the box because it was never used at all…. Not only will they learn clutter management, but they can also join in the holiday spirit by donating these no longer needed items to a worthy charity.

Don’t let the happiness of receiving be overshadowed by the stress of adding to a cluttered space. Just a small amount of time per day can transform your space into a functional and stress free environment. Happy holidays!



Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Clear out Handbags and Help Another Person

The icing on the cake with organizing is being able to find a really good *new* home for items that someone is getting rid of. Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting the owner of Heaps of Handbags, Carrie Gendron. Heaps of Handbags takes donated hang bags and cleans them up to re-sell. The proceeds of the sales go to fight human trafficking. Not only are you clearing your cluttered closet by getting rid of the handbags you don’t really use, but by donating them to Heaps of Handbags, you are reusing items and helping your fellow man. To learn more about Carrie’s business or to donate bags, check out her website at www.heapsofhandbags.vpweb.com.

Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Maximizing cupboard space

Kitchens are one of the main areas of concern for those dealing with disorganization. One of the main complaints I hear is that kitchens are too small. Step number one is to de-clutter as there is always a lot of unnecessary stuff in there. Step number two is to maximize space.

So many kitchens and bathrooms are full of unusable space. Deep cupboards are one of the biggest culprits. Unless you are Stretch Arm Strong, how on earth are you supposed to utilize the space in the way back of that 3 foot deep cabinet?

The solution? Roll-out drawers. Roll-out drawers make it possible to maximize cupboard and cabinet space. They are cost effective and easy to install. The people at Shelves to Drawers Company make it really easy to do it yourself. Check out their selection of Shelves to Drawers Roll-Out Storage Solutions at: http://www.ShelvesToDrawers.com

Books, books, books

One of the main things that I end up hauling out of the homes of my clients is books. Books, books, books. I am an avid reader, so I get the allure. However, the luster quickly fades when you realize that you have no more room in your living room and piles of books in boxes eating up your garage space. So here are some ideas:

• Use the library. Now you can go online to reserve books. When they arrive, the library will email you. What a great system! You may have to wait for a bit on the new releases, but considering you are paying for the library through your taxes, it is smart to get your money’s worth.
• Try http://bookmooch.com/. At Book mooch, you share books with others and all you have to pay is the shipping. While it isn’t free like the library, you won’t have to wait for the new releases.
• And if you absolutely must buy new books, try selling them at www.half.com when you are done. The buyer pays shipping and you can get back part of the cost, plus save space in your home.

I mean, really, if you don’t re-read the book over and over or use if regularly for reference, then you don’t need to have a copy on your shelf. Save a tree, your sanity and a buck by sharing books instead.

Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Prepare now for the holidays

Depending on when and how you celebrate your holidays, you have approximately two shopping months left until the big season. Do you feel like the weight of the world (or maybe Santa’s sleigh) just fell on your shoulders? Never fear.

Christmas, Hannakah and all other holidays should be treated like any other big project. Since the holidays come at the same time each year, we can anticipate them and prepare so December is not a month you dread as much as the dentist. Right now I want you to sit down and make two lists. The first list will be of all the people you want to buy gifts for. The second list is a “to-do” list of everything that needs to be done in preparation for the holiday season.

Done? Great! Now it is time to break it down. Let’s start with the gift list:
• Can you make this list any smaller? What I mean is, do you really need to buy all the people listed gifts? Do you think that anyone on that list might give a huge sigh of relief if you suggested to them that you skip swapping gifts this year? I made this suggestion to my siblings and they jumped right on board. We agreed to exchange kids’ gifts only, cutting my shopping list by four.
• Shop online!! You may pay a bit more, but think of what you save in gas, time, stress….need I say more?
• Group gifts that need to be bought by the store they will come from. Then find times between now and December when you will be in the area of those stores. Keep your list with you and get that shopping done when you are in the neighborhood so you aren’t running all over town later.
• Not sure what to get people? Carry the list in your wallet year round. When you are out running errands, pull out your list and remind yourself who you need to shop for.

With your to-do list, group items according to when they need to be done. For example, in October you can pick a photo for your holiday cards and stock up on wrapping supplies (thanks to our friendly retailers who have had holiday displays out for a month now), but you need to wait until closer to the holidays to decorate the house and bake cookies. Once things are grouped according to when they need to be done, start plugging them in to your calendar, spreading tasks out by doing a few little things each week. “Getting ready for the holidays” sounds overwhelming. “Go buy stamps for my holidays cards” does not. Break big projects down into small tasks. Assign them to yourself months in advance, depending on when they need to be done. Have peace of mind knowing that everything that needs to be done is written down and that you don’t have to worry about most of it today.

Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Great Press for Clear the Clutter

I was just interviewed last week by a reporter at the Everett Herald. Follow this link to see what I had to say about organizing.

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20091001/LIVING03/710019974

Organizing Basics Class

Come join me for a class on Organizing Basics. In this class you will get inspired as you learn great ways to break down the task of organizing into simple, easy to do steps. Tips on how to inspire your kids to be more organized will be discussed as well. For more information or to register, please go to http://www.monroe.wednet.edu/COMMUNITY_SCHOOLS/Fallclasses.pdf or call 360)804-2570. Come join me on Monday, October 12 from 6:30 - 8:00 PM. Cost is $15.

Save space in your closet

Small closets? Transition your clothing seasonally. Store out of season clothing in storage boxes, chests or even cardboard wardrobe boxes in your garage. When the weather changes, make your transition.

When you hang your new seasonal clothing, face the hangers backwards in the rack. When you wear an item, wash and re-hang, put the hanger on the correct way. At the end of the season, whichever hangers are still backwards are holding items that you never wore and can get rid of, rather than storing for the next year.

Another way to maximize space is with huggable hangers. These hangers are great because they are really thin and allow you to fit more into your closet.

All the storage items listed can be found and purchased on the suggested products list at www.cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com.




Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Being prepared for illness or death is the best gift you can give your loved ones.

About a year ago, I sat down with my Dad and filled out a life organizer with him. He scoffed at first, but when I explained how important it was, he agreed and got it done with me. At that time we also reviewed all his legal documents to make sure that everything was in place in case of a tragic situation. I got copies of everything and kept them on file at my house. Today, as I write this, my Dad is laying in the hospital unable to respond. In my state of worry, it is hard for me to think straight. His life organizer has been my saving grace. Having all the vital information at my finger tips has been crucial to handling his affairs for him. Death or illness can hit you or a loved one suddenly at any time. Are your affairs or those of your parents or loved ones organized in such a way that your spouse, good friend or family member can easily step in and take care of things for you? If not, read on….

Every family should have a life organizer. You can make it or buy one (check out the Savvy Senior Organizer at www.colorfulimages.com – not just for seniors!!). A life organizer is a notebook or file that contains all the most important information needed to manage your household. Information about medical, insurance, bill paying, children’s school, pet’s needs, passwords, etc should be included. Having all this information in a safe, central location will save your loved ones a lot of grief at a time when they need to focus on getting things handled. Life organizers are an invaluable gift.

Furthermore, every person should have a will, power of attorney and medical directory. Death is a very hard topic to discuss, however, being prepared for it is the best gift you can give your loved ones.

Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Organizing in the event of a death

The loss of a loved one is difficult in so many ways. One of the challenges at a time like this is clearing out their home or closet, yet it is a task that must be handled.

If there is no statement of who is to get what item, I recommend bringing all the loved ones together and assigning them each a specific colored sticky note. Allow each person to go around the house or room and put their color sticky on any item that they would like to have. Have an agreed upon way to deal with any item that is wanted by more than one person such as a coin toss or a hat to draw a name from. You may be surprised to find that people tend to want very different things.

If there is still a great deal of stuff, consider having an estate sale. If you go this route, you simply need to get rid of the obvious trash or unsellable items and leave the rest for buyers to look through.

If you do not want to have an estate sale, you want to break the space up into small zones and tackle one zone at a time. Set up a pile for “donations” and a pile for “trash.” Mark your piles so it is easy to recall which is which when you get going. Now pull everything out of the zone and start separating it out. Once everything is separated, put the trash in the garbage can and the donations in your car to drop off or on the curb to be picked up.

Keep in mind that hiring a professional organizer can be a huge help at a time like this. People tend to attach their raw emotions to objects and keep things to remind them of their lost loved one. While it is fine to keep mementos, keeping too much or items you don’t have room for creates new problems. A professional organizer can help you to keep things in perspective and offer ideas on how to preserve memories without impacting your living space.


Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Back to School Time Management

For parents, the summer countdown is on. With about a month to go until the coveted first day of school, there are steps that can be taken to make the transition go smoothly.

Back To School Supplies: The lists have been out for a while now, so there is no reason not to have all the items purchased already. Take advantage of good sales as well as large inventory. Don’t wait until the last minute to get all of this taken care of.

Sleep Adjustment: Been sleeping-in this summer? About two weeks before the first day of school, start going to bed earlier and getting up closer to the time you will have to in the fall. Give yourself and the kids a week of getting up at school time before school actually starts. This will make the first day of school much less exhausting as you will already be back into part of your routine.

Paper Management: Back to school means homework, but also lots of paperwork for Mom and Dad to manage. Set up an inbox system in your home. Train your kids to get in the habit of emptying their folders when they first arrive home. Their homework goes into their inboxes (or gets done right away) and the papers for parents go into your inbox. This gives those piles of paper a home, instead of being thrown into an already existing pile. Be a good example to your kids by keeping on top of your inbox. While the kids are doing their homework, sit down and go through your inbox. Write dates on your calendar and sign things that need to be signed. Process each piece as it comes in so a huge pile does not take over.

After School Activities: Start looking into options now. Have a family meeting in which everyone sits around the master calendar. Discuss which activities everyone wants to participate in. Write them on the calendar in pencil to see how they all work together. If there are conflicting activities, come up with a fair way to decide what will stay and what will have to be skipped. Again, be an example for your child in time management and setting priorities. And don’t be afraid to set boundaries and say no to too many activities. Your child may not agree when you tell them no, but in the long run, they are learning a valuable lesson.



Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Handy Sunscreen

During summer, nothing is more important than protecting your skin from the damaging sun. But how often do you find yourself out in the sun with no sunscreen handy? Keep a small container of sunscreen in your purse and/or car. Use a contact lens holder or empty pill container to carry a small amount of sun screen around at all times. Never get caught in the sun unprotected again.



Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

De-Clutter Your Jewelry Box

Do you have a jewelry box full of old broken chains? Earrings you will never wear? Or bracelets your grandma gave you, but are not your style? Why not sell it and de-clutter that box?? Gold is extremely valuable right now! Not only can you make room for the pieces that you actually like, but you can walk away with some extra cash in your pocket. Clear the clutter is now offering gold and sterling silver buying services. Contact us for more information!

Helping Kids to Get Organized

Summer is a great time to help kids get their rooms organized. With more spare time, you have a great opportunity to start some new habits. Organization is a life skill that needs to be taught just like nutrition and personal hygiene.

Start with motivation. Give them a reason to want to get organized. Make getting rid of unused stuff an opportunity to make money by offering to hold a garage sale with their old stuff. Let them keep the profits. Another option is to give them a chance to be charitable. Find a family in need or an organization you believe in and donate the old toys.

Show them the way by doing it with them at first. Set aside 10 minutes a day to do this together. Show them how to pick one small area to work on. Take everything out of that drawer, corner, or box and then start sorting. Remember to immediately put all donations in the trunk of your car (or somewhere out of sight) as kids tend to want to take things back if they see them again.

Once you have sorted out everything that is going to go away, help them create a new home for what is left. When something has a home, it is easy to put it away. Encourage them to be creative by having them decorate labels to mark boxes or drawers. Another option is to have them take photos of the neat areas. Post the photos in that area so they can easily remember where everything goes.

Help them to maintain their neat space by setting aside time at the end of each day to tidy up. Set a household rule that towards the end of play dates, guests help clean up also. Help them to understand why neatness and organization is important for tranquility in your home.

You can make daily maintenance fun too. Make up a silly song that everyone has to sing while cleaning up. Set a timer and have a contest to see who can do their area the quickest. You can also hold neatness contests. Award a winner each day and track the winners on a sticker chart.

Another opportune time to get kids to weed out unused toys is right before a birthday or Christmas. Remind your kids that there is only so much room. With the prospect of new toys on the horizon, it is important to make room for the new by clearing out the old.

If you are dealing with organizing issues yourself, be a role model for your child by seeking assistance for yourself. Hire a professional organizer to come work with your whole family to make your home a more peaceful environment.


Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Organizing for a Road Trip

So you are taking a road trip? Visions of the Griswalds come to mind? Road trips are so much fun, but only if you are organized.

As with any trip, pack lightly. Really, unless you are travelling to the deep center of the jungle, you can buy anything wherever you are going. I have driven cross country many times and I can attest to the fact that there is a Target or Wal Mart pretty much anywhere now. So don’t pack your entire house and keep in mind that if you forgot something, you can most likely pick it up along the way.

To help with packing, plan out your clothes by making a stack for each day. Think about what you might be doing that day and make sure you have everything you need in the stack. You can even pack each stack in a small bag (like the bags you use to bring home groceries for example) for easy transport in and out of hotels. This way you don’t have to lug your big bags in and out. You can grab one bag of clothes and a toiletries bag and off you go.

Also, when getting dressed the morning you leave, make sure that as you use each toiletry, you pack it (or a travel sized version) right away. This way, you are sure to have all your essentials. Keep your pjs in this bag too as you will need them each night.

I suggest bringing along a cooler and some groceries too. You can save money and eat better if you bring along some staples from home such as water bottles, fruit, a loaf of bread, peanut butter and jelly, etc. Save room in the car for the cooler so you don’t have to pull over for snacks or drinks.

Traveling with kids? Pack each child a plastic box or bag with paper, crayons, silly putty, cards, electronics, etc. Let them pick. Keep each child’s own box/bag next to them in the car so they can entertain themselves on the road.

Speaking of electronics, those cords and chargers can get out of control. Prepare a Ziploc baggie for each electronic device. Use a sharpie to write what each bag is for and then keep all chargers, plugs, extra batteries, ear plugs, etc in the appropriate bag.

Most of all, have a great time and enjoy the scenery!! And if you have any other great trip ideas, please share them!


Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Getting Organized for Summer

Summer can be an unstructured and relaxing time, but that can also lead to more disorganization. Here are some tips for keeping things running smoothly:

• Keep travel-sized sunscreen and bug sprays in your car. That way you never are without it.
• Buy a mesh laundry bag at the dollar store. This is a great bag to tote beach gear/toys around in. Not only will it keep all your beach toys in one place, it is easy for transport and the mesh material allows sand to be shaken out at the beach (not inside your car).
• If you are out of school and at home with the kids for the summer, keep a schedule anyway. Pick a certain time each week for cleaning, one for errands, etc. Let the kids know that despite the laid back feel of summer, things still need to get done and post your schedule.
• Another idea is to post a list of jobs that need to be done and assign prices to them. Allow the kids to earn extra money throughout the week and then make time for a trip to the store to spend their earnings. This is a great thing to send the kids to when they whine about being bored.
• Right now is a great time to do a check of all summer equipment. Take a half hour to check all your equipment to make sure it is in good, safe, operating order. If it is not, get it fixed right away so that when you are ready for fun, your stuff is ready to go too.
• Set up a box in your garage or extra space. Make this your “donate/sell” box. As you go through summer, put anything that no longer fits, works or is used in that box. At the end of the season, take any summer items not used and include them in the box. If you didn’t use it this year, you most likely won’t next summer either. Lighten your load.


Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Processing Mail

One thing that consistently comes up is how to deal with mail. It tends to get thrown on the counter and pile up quickly. Mail needs to be processed immediately. On your way back from the mailbox, make a stop at the trash can. Throw away/recycle anything that you don’t need or aren’t interested in. For example, those grocery store ads that come every Wednesday never make it past my recycle bin. Next stop should be your office, bill paying area or whatever space you have for dealing with household operations. Your mail should be immediately opened and put into its proper home. You should have a shredder located in this area as well.

Every household should have some kind of filing system and bill paying folder system. I prefer the tickler file (see my article on tickler files) but that doesn’t work for all. Open and file your mail. Shred anything that has personal information on it.

This sounds like a lot of work when you have other things to attend to, but giving your mail 5 minutes of dedicated time a day will save you lots of paper piles, stress and possibly late fees later.




Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Spring Organizing Challenge - Final Week

Welcome to week 4 of the Spring Organizing Challenge!! How did last week’s challenge go?? I would love to hear from you. This is the last week. I hope you have been keeping up.

This week you are challenged to focus on your hobbies. Whether active hobbies or well intentioned starts, hobby supplies can take over any space.

1. The very first thing I want you to do is sit down with your spouse, partner or roommate and talk about what goals you have for the space that your hobby materials and supplies currently occupy. Do your best to come up with an agreed upon goal. Keep your goal in mind as you proceed.
2. Now answer this honestly – is this a hobby you are actively pursuing? By actively, I mean, you work on it on a regular basis. If so, great – follow my basic organizing steps to weed out what you really need to keep (can be found on my blog). If not, you need to be very honest with yourself about whether you will ever get around to it. Honestly, if you haven’t worked on it in 6 months or more, it probably will never happen.
3. Having a hard time giving up the $500 in scrapbooking materials or model airplane pieces? Consider the price of your peace of mind. Is the initial cost for a hobby never pursued worth the loss of living space and moving forward in life?
4. Here is another option – sell it. Put a post on Craigs List or Ebay and try to recover some of that cost. Many hobby materials fetch top dollar on sites like that.
5. Don’t want to sell it? How about donating it to a retirement home or a place for kids like the Boys and Girls Club. How great would it be for someone else to benefit from all this?

Here are the benefits:

• You will reduce clutter in your home or garage and open up more living space.
• You could save money if you are actively doing your hobby because you will have it all organized, thus knowing what you have and don’t have. Your hobby will also be more enjoyable in an organized environment.
• You will be environmentally-friendly because you are using what you already have rather than consuming more. Or if you are passing on your hobby materials, you are recycling, which is great!
• Should you decide to donate your excess, you will be helping out someone in need which is good for your soul.

Remember – share your thoughts!!! We all want to hear what you did, how it went, challenges you faced, etc. Good luck and have fun!!

Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Spring Organizing Challenge - Week 3

Welcome to week 3 of the Spring Organizing Challenge!! How did last week’s challenge go?? Comments? Questions? Issues??

This week you are challenged to focus on your bathroom. Yes, bathrooms need to be organized too.

1. Pick one drawer, cabinet or corner and start there.
2. Pull everything out and start sorting.
a. Check expiration dates on medicines and make-up – throw away anything that has expired
b. Group duplicates together. For example, if you have three extra bottles of shampoo, put them together.
3. Once it is all sorted, take another honest look at everything. Is there make-up that you really won’t wear again? Is there lotion that you just don’t like the smell of? Or do you have enough shampoo samples from the Marriott to provide for an entire small nation? If so, how about purging some of it. Pass the unused cosmetics and toiletries to a women’s shelter. Or, vow not to buy another bottle of shampoo (no matter how good the sale) until you have used up all those sample bottles.
4. When you are putting everything back, keep like items together. Also, consider using the shelf stands that are sold in almost any store like Wal-Mart or Target. Follow this link to see what I mean - http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8832618. These allow you to utilize the vertical space in your cabinets and make it easier to see everything you have. When you know what you have, it is simpler to keep inventory.

Here are the benefits:

• You will reduce clutter in your bathroom.
• You will save money because you will be using up what you already have, rather than buying more of things that you just couldn’t find.
• You will be environmentally-friendly because you are using what you already have rather than consuming more.
• You will save yourself the stress of running out of products because it will be simple to keep inventory of what you have.
• Should you decide to donate your excess, you will be helping out someone in need which is good for your soul.

Remember – share your thoughts!!! We all want to hear what you did, how it went, challenges you faced, etc. Good luck and have fun!!

Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Organizing Challenge - Week 2

Welcome to week 2 of the Spring Organizing Challenge!! How did last week’s challenge go?? Comments? Questions? Issues??

This week you are challenged to focus on your gift stockpile. You know, the bags of or piles or gifts that you purchased for someone else? If you don’t have one, read on, you might want to start one. I work with so many clients who, as we organize their homes, find items they purchased for loved ones, but then lost in the chaos. This seems to be a common issue as people don’t have a storage plan for this type of item. If this sounds familiar, read on:

1. Designate a space in your house for gift storage. Use a shelf in your closet, a section or your garage of a part of your basement.
2. Make a list of all the people you buy gifts for throughout the year.
3. Measure your space and divide that by the number of people you buy for. You can use paper bags, plastic containers or whatever works for your space. Label each bag/box with the name of one of your recipients. Don’t forget to leave an extra box/bag for miscellaneous gifts. These would be random hostess gifts, children’s birthday gifts, etc.
4. Walk around your house and garage and collect all the gifts that you have purchased for others. 99% of my clients have these scattered around. You know, the great book you found on sale that you know your mother will love for her birthday? Or the cute toy you found on clearance that you can use for someone’s special day.
5. Now put the gifts in the appropriate bags. If you have items left over that you no longer see as appropriate, make a pile for donating.
6. Get yourself in the habit of putting any items purchased in their bag/box immediately. When the holidays or birthdays roll around, all you have to do is go to that person’s box and wrap up what you have for them.

Here are the benefits:

• You will reduce clutter around your house by keeping all these items in one, organized area.
• You will save money because you will not forget that you already had something for Aunt Mildred and buy a second gift. You will also not overbuy for an individual because you will know exactly what you have for them.
• You will be environmentally-friendly because you are using what you already have rather than consuming more.
• You will save yourself a lot of last minute stress when holidays and birthdays come up because you will know exactly where all the gifts you purchased are.

Remember – share your thoughts!!! We all want to hear what you did, how it went, challenges you faced, etc. Good luck and have fun!!

Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Spring Organizing Challenge - Week 1

Welcome to week 1 of the May Spring Organizing Challenge!! This week you are challenged to focus on your pantry and food stock. This is what I want you to do:

1. Gather your family, roommate, partner or whomever you share meals with.
2. Open up your cupboards, pantry, freezer, or refrigerator – wherever you store food.
3. Take inventory.
4. Now take a piece of paper and write out the days of the month (you can even print a blank calendar off your computer).
5. You and your committee are going to plan meals for the month using up the items that you have in your pantry or fridge.
6. Once your menu is complete, make a list of the ingredients that you do not already have in stock. Put those on a list and shop for them.
7. Now post the menu on the fridge or on a cupboard door.
8. Did you stumble across ingredients that you have no idea how to use? Either look up recipes you can use on www.epicurious.com or donate them to the local food bank.

Here are the benefits:

• You will have less excess food in your cupboards, making them less messy and making it easier to keep tabs on your inventory.
• You will save money on groceries because you are using what you already have.
• You will not be wasting food that will expire if not used in a timely manner.
• You will be environmentally-friendly because you are consuming what you already have.
• You will save money and be healthier because you should eat out less. Having meals planned out and having the ingredients on hand make it easier to cook at home.

Remember – share your thoughts!!! We all want to hear what you did, how it went, challenges you faced, etc. Feel free to email me photos of your newly organized pantries as well. Good luck and have fun!!

Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Spring Organizing Challenge - Week 1

Welcome to week 1 of the May Spring Organizing Challenge!! This week you are challenged to focus on your pantry and food stock. This is what I want you to do:

1. Gather your family, roommate, partner or whomever you share meals with.
2. Open up your cupboards, pantry, freezer, or refrigerator – wherever you store food.
3. Take inventory.
4. Now take a piece of paper and write out the days of the month (you can even print a blank calendar off your computer).
5. You and your committee are going to plan meals for the month using up the items that you have in your pantry or fridge.
6. Once your menu is complete, make a list of the ingredients that you do not already have in stock. Put those on a list and shop for them.
7. Now post the menu on the fridge or on a cupboard door.
8. Did you stumble across ingredients that you have no idea how to use? Either look up recipes you can use on www.epicurious.com or donate them to the local food bank.

Here are the benefits:

• You will have less excess food in your cupboards, making them less messy and making it easier to keep tabs on your inventory.
• You will save money on groceries because you are using what you already have.
• You will not be wasting food that will expire if not used in a timely manner.
• You will be environmentally-friendly because you are consuming what you already have.
• You will save money and be healthier because you should eat out less. Having meals planned out and having the ingredients on hand make it easier to cook at home.

Remember – share your thoughts!!! We all want to hear what you did, how it went, challenges you faced, etc. Feel free to email me photos of your newly organized pantries as well. Good luck and have fun!!

Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Clear the Clutter Spring Organizing Challenge!

It is finally warming up and spring is in full swing. With spring comes the desire to open up your windows, get outside and do some spring cleaning. In light of all this, I am starting the spring organizing challenge. Each week during the month of May, I will post a challenge to all my readers. Each week, you will be challenged to get a section of your home organized. I will be asking for lots of feedback – I want to hear about what went well, tips that you came up with, or challenges you faced. We can all learn from each other.

The areas that I am picking will offer other benefits in addition to getting organized. You will be encouraged to use what you have, which will reduce consumption, making this earth friendly as well. Reducing consumption also helps you financially. In these tough economic times, who can afford to waste? This challenge will help you keep money in your pocket by using what you have rather than buying more. Finally, you can make this a lesson for your entire family. Get everyone involved in the challenge to teach your children better organizational/life skills.

Look for the first challenge on May 1. Get ready to get organized!!!!!!!!!

Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Product Tip

Lazy susans or turntables, whatever you choose to call them, can be found at any store like Wal Mart or Target. They are inexpensive and oh-so-handy. Here are 5 uses for them:

• Spice rack
• Hair products
• Medicines
• Vitamins
• Cleaning products

I could go on all day, but you get the point. Go pick a few up now and get those cabinets organized!

Not sure what in the world I am talking about? Follow this link to view the product - http://www.rubbermaid.com/rubbermaid/product/product.jhtml?prodId=HPProd100112



Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Come join me for a class on basic organizing!!

I am teaching a class called Organizing Basics. This two hour class will take place on Thursday, May 21 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at Park Place Middle School in Monroe. This class will inspire you as you learn great ways to break down the task of organizing into simple, easy to do steps. Tips on how to inspire your kids to be more organized will also be discussed.

For information on how to register, call (360) 804-2570. I hope to see you there!

Going on Vacation?

Going on vacation is something we all look forward to, yet it can cause quite a bit of stress during the preparation. Here are some quick tips to make the process of preparing for vacation go more smoothly:

• Packing List – type up a general packing list for each member of the family. Save it as a document in your computer. When preparing to leave, print them up and hand them out. This way no one will forget toothbrushes or special medicines.
• To-Do List – as long as you are typing up that packing list, type up a to-do list for vacation preparation as well. Include things like “put newspaper on hold” or “ask neighbor to feed fish.” Again, every time you are preparing to leave, you print this up and check off the items.
• Contact List – Keep a vacation contact list on file as well. Include emergency contact numbers, addresses for postcards, etc.
• Big Trip Preparation – if you are going away for an extended vacation or you are traveling internationally, there will be more things to do to prepare. Make a complete list of all that needs to be done (passport update, money exchange, etc). Open your calendar and break down the items so you only have a few things to do each week, leading up to your vacation. For example, passport updates should be handled 6 months out so there is no stress or rush. Money exchange can be done a few weeks out so you aren’t running to the bank the day before you leave. Plan ahead so you aren’t completely frazzled the week of your departure.

Now go ahead and start off your vacation in a more relaxed state of mind. Enjoy!


Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

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Getting your affairs in order

I have been sick with the flu for a week now. I went from feeling fine to being bed-ridden and exhausted. Does this story sound familiar? Thank goodness my husband was not sick and able to pick up the slack. Even more than that, thank goodness we have a life organizer filled with all our crucial information. The flu or other illness can hit you suddenly at any time. Are your affairs organized in such a way that your spouse, good friend or family member can easily step in and take care of things for you? If not, read on….

Every family should have a life organizer. You can make it or buy one (check out the Savvy Senior Organizer at www.colorfulimages.com – not just for seniors!!). A life organizer is a notebook or file that contains all the most important information needed to manage your household. Information about medical, insurance, bill paying, children’s school, pet’s needs, passwords, etc should be included. Having all this information in a safe, central location will save your loved ones a lot of grief at a time when they need to focus on getting things handled. Life organizers are an invaluable gift.

Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Photo management

Do you have boxes of photos that either you took over your life time or that you inherited from a parent or grandparent? Or maybe the photos are in an album, but one of those old magnetic page albums that is now browning. Either way, there are two issues – space and preservation.

I am a firm believer in photo history, but it is only useful if those looking at the photos actually know who they are looking at. With photo scanning so incredibly inexpensive these days, there is no reason not to do it. Companies like www.scanmyphotos.com professionally scan your photos for 4 cents a shot. Once you have them on disk, you have the option of organizing them into folders by person or event or, if you love scrapbooking, you can put them into a digital scrapbook. Either way, you can easily label the photos so future generations will know who is in the photo.

Getting your photos scanned will protect them for generations to come as well as save significant space in your home or garage. And for the future, try using digital photo preservation rather than getting photos developed. If you really want an album to hold, check out the photo books at www.Snapfish.com. These books are personally made with your photos, but are much smaller than a photo album. Either way, you have saved you and your children or grandchildren space, time and memories.


Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Organizing Class

Come join me for a class on Organizing Basics. In this class you will get inspired as you learn great ways to break down the task of organizing into simple, easy to do steps. Tips on how to inspire your kids to be more organized will be discussed as well. For more information or to register, please go to http://www.monroe.wednet.edu/COMMUNITY_SCHOOLS/Spring&SummerClasses.pdf or call 360)804-2570. Come join me on Thursday, May 21 from 6:30 - 8:30 PM. Cost is $15.

Organizing your tax information

Tax season can be stressful on many levels. While this article won’t help you pay any potential bill, it will help to alleviate the stress that comes along with tax preparation. Do you find yourself in a mountain of paperwork this time of year or running around trying to find receipts or figure out miles that you can deduct? If so, follow these easy steps to making the tax preparation go more smoothly you and/or your accountant:

1. Set up a tax file. If you own a business or have business related expenses, you should have two sub folders for home and business. Everything tax related will go in this file.
2. Put envelopes inside these folders. The envelopes should be labeled with items that you claim on your taxes. Examples of this would be medical deductions, advertising expenses, donations, etc.
3. Throughout the year, file your receipts as they come in. Having them organized in such a manner will make it easy to prepare them. It will save you time and money (if you are paying your accountant to organize them).
4. If you are able to deduct miles (volunteer, business, medical, etc), put a small notebook in your car right next to the drivers seat. Attach a pen to it so you always have it ready. Use sticky notes to make dividers in the notebook for all the categories that you get to deduct. For example, I have a volunteer miles section and a business miles section. Every time you drive for one of these purposes, record the miles. When tax season rolls around, all you will have to do is tally the total.

Following these easy steps will save you time, money and anxiety. Tax preparation does not need to be stressful or overly time consuming. Refuse to be that person who has to drive to the post office at midnight on tax day.



Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Economical and Eco-Friendly Organizing

One of the biggest mistakes that people make in trying to get organized is by purchasing organizational supplies before reducing what they have. Another catch in this process is the price of all those cute and handy supplies. If you have ever really looked at how much all that stuff costs, you know what I mean. In this economic climate, being creative can save you big money, yet still achieve the same organizational result. You can be economical and eco-friendly by reusing household items to organize your space.

Gallon Milk Jug – I still get the plastic grocery bags because I re-use them for picking up dog waste. They can be neatly stored in a washed out gallon milk jug or orange juice jug. Make sure it is clean and dry and then stuff it with plastic bags and easily pull them out when you need them.

Empty Egg Carton – this can be used to house anything small. Some ideas are jewelry, hair clips, nails, screws, etc.

Shoe Box – A large shoe box is the perfect size to hold your extra supply of greeting cards. You can even take it a step farther and make cardboard dividers to really keep those cards organized.

Behind the door shoe holder – these have multiple uses. While they are great to organize shoes, they also make a great office supply organizer, kids art supply divider or Barbie holder. Don’t throw it away – re-use it!

Coffee Canisters – These are perfect for holding things like tapes, hooks, seed packets, etc in the garage. They stack well too. Just keep them neatly labeled so you remember what you have.

I hope these ideas inspire you to get organized, save money and re-use what you already have. We all benefit from this practice.







Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Organizing your bathroom

Even bathrooms need to be kept organized. Here are some tips on how to do it:

• Take regular inventory of medications. Medications have an expiration date which should be followed. When they expire, be sure to put them in the trash and not down the toilet.
• Keep inventory organized. All your extra tubes of tooth paste should be next to each other as should the extra toilet paper, shampoo, etc. This will help you to know at a glance how much you have of everything. When you are down to your last shampoo, put it on the list to get more. This keeps you from running out or having too much in stock.
• Throw away old make up. Make up has a shelf life. If you haven’t used it in a while, toss it. Or if you have been using the same mascara for a year, it may be time to replace it. Keep your skin healthy by using fresh make up. Keep your bathroom organized by throwing away what you don’t use.
• If you aren’t sure about certain items, use the box trick. Get a box and put all the items you aren’t sure about in it. If you have to go into the box to use something, put it back into its proper place (do not put it back in the box). After one month, whatever is left in the box is unnecessary. It can be donated or thrown out (if expired or old).
• Have you been collecting hotel soaps, shampoos and lotions? Or do you have several make up samples that you will never use? If so, either use them now or donate them to a women’s shelter. They are always in need of toiletries.




Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/

Keeping Clutter Out

How about this for a New Year’s resolution – keep the clutter out. You should guard your home against clutter like you guard it against dirt. People worry about keeping their home clean, yet they don’t hesitate to fill it full of un-necessary stuff. Here are some tips for safeguarding your home:

1- Don’t buy it. How often do you find yourself in a store’s clearance aisle thinking “I am not sure what I could do with this, but at this price, I will think of something!” Stop right there. Why are you willing to pay (even if it is only 75 cents) to add to your clutter??? Walk away.
2- Don’t keep it. It is during the holidays that we get so much stuff – often stuff we don’t need, won’t use or just don’t like. Return it if you can. Give it to Goodwill or have a garage sale. Or you can even make it fun and have an exchange with friends where everyone brings stuff they don’t want and swap with each other. No matter how you do it, get it out of your house. If you put it away, chances are really high that it will stay there, taking up valuable storage space and a small piece of your sanity.
3- Give it a temporary home. If you get a gift that you just don’t want/need, but you feel like you owe it to the giver to hold on to it, give it a temporary space in your home. For example, if your mother-in-law gave you a sweater that you just don’t like/doesn’t fit, but you feel like you need to keep it, only do so for the season. After sweater season is over, you can clean out your sweaters and let it go. She won’t expect to see you in it in July and by the following year, she will be focused on what she gave you this year, not last.

The bottom line is that you are in charge of what lives in your home and takes up your valuable space. Don’t be afraid to be selective.


Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com. Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com/