Sports equipment can get really out of hand. Whether if be for the grown ups or the kids, it can really become a nightmare when you are running out the door and need to gather it all to take with you. Get a special carrying bag for each sport. For example, if you play softball and basketball and your child plays soccer and field hockey, you should have four different bags. You could even color code them by the person. Keep all the equipment for that sport in that bag. Put it right back after it is used and teach your children to do the same. Keep those bags on hooks by the door or in the garage. When you are running out, you simply need to grab that bag and go. No more running around the house trying to find all the gear at the last minute.
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/
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Organizing your kitchen
Ah, the kitchen….. It is always the place where we just don’t have enough storage. As with any kind of organizing, the first suggestion is to get rid of that which is not truly needed. Here are some questions to honestly ask yourself as you embark on this project:
• Do I really need a rice cooker, or can I make rice just as easily in a saucepan? Specialized kitchen appliances are rarely used and suck up a ton of space. Most things can be cooked/prepared with a basic set of pots and pans. Unless you seriously use it on a regular basis, consider whether the same job could be achieved with a more versatile item.
• How much Tupperware does one family honestly use? How many shapes and sizes do you really need? I realize that you may have a lovely coordinating set, but if you aren’t using all the pieces, consider keeping only that which you do use. And, have you considered collapsible pieces? They work just as well and collapse into thin pieces which take up very little space (more information on these on my blog).
• Do you really entertain 50 people at a time? And will the drink be less refreshing if it is served in a different shaped glass? If not, then do you really need all that glassware? I will admit that when I got married, I registered for all those cute glass sets – margarita, high ball, martini, etc. After 12 years of marriage, I am down to water glasses and margarita glasses because those can be used for all types of drinks (and really, the margarita glasses could go too, but I use them enough to justify the space). Also, I went from sets of 12 to sets of 8. Glass wear sucks up storage space like no other, yet most of it goes completely unused.
Here is a suggestion: Pick a cupboard or drawer to start with. Get a box and pull everything from that space. Keep it in the box unless you use it. If you do use it, then put it away after. If you don’t use it, it stays in the box. Give it a month. At the end of the month if you have not used it, you probably don’t really need it.
Another quick thought is to keep any holiday or special occasion kitchen items in storage with your holiday items. For example, if you have a special Thanksgiving platter, keep it with your fall/Thanksgiving décor instead of the kitchen. It not only frees up space in the kitchen, but reminds you that you have it (and should use it) when you get out the holiday items.
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/
• Do I really need a rice cooker, or can I make rice just as easily in a saucepan? Specialized kitchen appliances are rarely used and suck up a ton of space. Most things can be cooked/prepared with a basic set of pots and pans. Unless you seriously use it on a regular basis, consider whether the same job could be achieved with a more versatile item.
• How much Tupperware does one family honestly use? How many shapes and sizes do you really need? I realize that you may have a lovely coordinating set, but if you aren’t using all the pieces, consider keeping only that which you do use. And, have you considered collapsible pieces? They work just as well and collapse into thin pieces which take up very little space (more information on these on my blog).
• Do you really entertain 50 people at a time? And will the drink be less refreshing if it is served in a different shaped glass? If not, then do you really need all that glassware? I will admit that when I got married, I registered for all those cute glass sets – margarita, high ball, martini, etc. After 12 years of marriage, I am down to water glasses and margarita glasses because those can be used for all types of drinks (and really, the margarita glasses could go too, but I use them enough to justify the space). Also, I went from sets of 12 to sets of 8. Glass wear sucks up storage space like no other, yet most of it goes completely unused.
Here is a suggestion: Pick a cupboard or drawer to start with. Get a box and pull everything from that space. Keep it in the box unless you use it. If you do use it, then put it away after. If you don’t use it, it stays in the box. Give it a month. At the end of the month if you have not used it, you probably don’t really need it.
Another quick thought is to keep any holiday or special occasion kitchen items in storage with your holiday items. For example, if you have a special Thanksgiving platter, keep it with your fall/Thanksgiving décor instead of the kitchen. It not only frees up space in the kitchen, but reminds you that you have it (and should use it) when you get out the holiday items.
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/
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Gift Giving With Clutter Reduction In Mind
Do you ever receive gifts that you simply do not want or can not use? Of course you do – we all do. I have worked with so many clients who have closets full of unusable/unwanted gifts. So what do you get for people that won’t become just more clutter in their homes? Read on for some ideas on how to be a gift giver who doesn’t add to clutter…..
Gift Certificates – People always say that they don’t like to give gift cards because they are not personal. However, I have yet to meet a single person who complained about receiving a gift card. What better gift than being able to get something you really want or need. A wonderful option is www.giftcertificates.com where you can issue a dollar amount for the recipient to apply to the store, restaurant or travel agency of their choice. Furthermore, you can go green and email it so no plastic changes hands.
Consumable Gifts – What better than to give a gift that can be used and doesn’t have to be stored. Food gifts and flowers are always a great option. Another idea is bath and body products. www.ezrioni.com makes high quality, earth friendly products that can be personalized as well. These make great gifts for adults as well as kids, who get a huge kick out of having bubble bath with their name on it. With these types of gifts, you are not only giving the recipient something they can use, but something that will not be a burden to their organizing efforts.
Gift of Experience – Instead of giving an object, what about an experience? Take the recipient to a show or to a cool tourist spot they have never been. Or what about getting them a membership to a cool museum or getting season tickets to their favorite sports team? Instead of filling their closets, why not fill their heart with a fun time they will never forget. If you can’t be there to take them somewhere, why not get them an entertainment book so they can make their own experiences at a reduced price. At www.entertainment.com you can order an entertainment book for any zip code.
Gift of Service – Instead of filling someone’s cupboards, how about getting them de-cluttered! Give the gift of organizing with a gift certificate from Clear the Clutter! Or does your gift receipient always say that they would love to have an interior decorator come? How about a gift certificate from Distinctive Interior Designs (www.distinctiveinteriordesigns.net ) There are so many great ways to spoil your gift recipient through gifts of service. They will think of you and what a great gift giver you are for years to come as they enjoy their newly painted room or organized closets.
As the holiday season starts to slowly come upon us, keep these tips in mind. January is a time of de-cluttering households. You don’t want to spend your hard earned money on gifts that will just end up going out with the rest of that clutter.
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/
Gift Certificates – People always say that they don’t like to give gift cards because they are not personal. However, I have yet to meet a single person who complained about receiving a gift card. What better gift than being able to get something you really want or need. A wonderful option is www.giftcertificates.com where you can issue a dollar amount for the recipient to apply to the store, restaurant or travel agency of their choice. Furthermore, you can go green and email it so no plastic changes hands.
Consumable Gifts – What better than to give a gift that can be used and doesn’t have to be stored. Food gifts and flowers are always a great option. Another idea is bath and body products. www.ezrioni.com makes high quality, earth friendly products that can be personalized as well. These make great gifts for adults as well as kids, who get a huge kick out of having bubble bath with their name on it. With these types of gifts, you are not only giving the recipient something they can use, but something that will not be a burden to their organizing efforts.
Gift of Experience – Instead of giving an object, what about an experience? Take the recipient to a show or to a cool tourist spot they have never been. Or what about getting them a membership to a cool museum or getting season tickets to their favorite sports team? Instead of filling their closets, why not fill their heart with a fun time they will never forget. If you can’t be there to take them somewhere, why not get them an entertainment book so they can make their own experiences at a reduced price. At www.entertainment.com you can order an entertainment book for any zip code.
Gift of Service – Instead of filling someone’s cupboards, how about getting them de-cluttered! Give the gift of organizing with a gift certificate from Clear the Clutter! Or does your gift receipient always say that they would love to have an interior decorator come? How about a gift certificate from Distinctive Interior Designs (www.distinctiveinteriordesigns.net ) There are so many great ways to spoil your gift recipient through gifts of service. They will think of you and what a great gift giver you are for years to come as they enjoy their newly painted room or organized closets.
As the holiday season starts to slowly come upon us, keep these tips in mind. January is a time of de-cluttering households. You don’t want to spend your hard earned money on gifts that will just end up going out with the rest of that clutter.
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/
Friday, August 8, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Giving Directions
Here is a quick organizing tip for the day. If you entertain a lot or have recently moved, you probably have people asking for directions to your house on a regular basis. Simplify things by writing up a good set of directions in a word document. Save this on your computer. Every time someone needs directions, just email them the attachment. Quick and simple!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Organizing for Back to School
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/
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/
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Great Organizing Products
There are two areas that I hear about over and over again – the closet and the kitchen. Both seem to be perpetually too small. Since most people either can’t afford or don’t have the room to expand, I am always on the look out for ideas or products to solve this problem. Recently, I have come across a great product for each area.
Huggable Hangers - https://www.huggablehanger.com – These hangers are fabulous! They are thin so they take up much less space. They can be purchased at Target as well as online. They also offer graduated hangers to use the vertical space, rather than just horizontal.
Rubbermaid Collapsible Containers - http://www.rubbermaid.com – Collapsible Tupperware, who would have thought?? This stuff is GREAT! I recently purchased some and have tested the product. It collapses into thin pieces and pops right back out. Tupperware or storage containers are always such a huge space hog, but this stuff solves that issue. But before you go buy a huge box, please take a week and really pay attention to how much you really need/use. A trick to doing this is to pull out all of your current storable containers and set them on your counter (or in a bag in the kitchen). When you use a piece, clean and put it back in the cupboard it belongs in. After a week or two, look at the pieces you actually used (those back in their home) vs. those still in the bag or on the counter. Get rid of that which you did not use and replace that which you did use with the collapsible kind. Enjoy all the extra space you have!!
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/
Huggable Hangers - https://www.huggablehanger.com – These hangers are fabulous! They are thin so they take up much less space. They can be purchased at Target as well as online. They also offer graduated hangers to use the vertical space, rather than just horizontal.
Rubbermaid Collapsible Containers - http://www.rubbermaid.com – Collapsible Tupperware, who would have thought?? This stuff is GREAT! I recently purchased some and have tested the product. It collapses into thin pieces and pops right back out. Tupperware or storage containers are always such a huge space hog, but this stuff solves that issue. But before you go buy a huge box, please take a week and really pay attention to how much you really need/use. A trick to doing this is to pull out all of your current storable containers and set them on your counter (or in a bag in the kitchen). When you use a piece, clean and put it back in the cupboard it belongs in. After a week or two, look at the pieces you actually used (those back in their home) vs. those still in the bag or on the counter. Get rid of that which you did not use and replace that which you did use with the collapsible kind. Enjoy all the extra space you have!!
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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