Archive for category: Misc

Labels can be an organizer’s best friend. Whether you are a professional organizer or you are just fed up with not find, stay organized and find things easier. The challenge is finding the right label that will work for you and get the job done.

Here are some of my favourites I have used and come across.

Chalkboard labels

Chalkboard labels and tags can be a life saver when you are changing your containers to hold different items. These labels are just like the description implies – write on them, erase and use them again.

They come in a variety of styles that can be attached in many different ways.

Cable ties and tags

In our home my husband drives me crazy with the number of wires that are behind the cabinet that holds our entertainment equipment. We have the TV, sound system, DVD player and cable box wires all running behind the cabinet not to mention the speaker wires for 5 speakers and a sub woofer.

Occasionally we have to access the wires for whatever reason and then the curse words can be heard until that is, I had him tag the wires so he knows exactly at a glance which wire belongs to which piece of equipment with having to play the guessing game.

Now we know exactly which cord or wire to access using tags with the name of each piece of equipment labelled directly on it. Even something as easy as those bread tags with the plastic clips on the end that you find at supermarkets will do the trick.

Clothing labels

Do you have children at home of similar size, or perhaps even twins? I found these no iron clothing tags that are laundry safe for up to 20 cycles.

Great to label clothing so there is no confusion or fighting, over who the item belongs to.

They are also great for backpacks and jackets so there is no confusion at school or camp.

Textured labels

For the artistic people who like to make gifts and give them at birthdays or Christmas there are textured labels that you can run through your home printer (or write on them) after selecting the script you want to use.

How nice would it be to receive a homemade gift with a professionally finished label?

Whatever the need there is an endless supply of labels out there to help you get and stay organized.

Contact us now for a free telephone consultation and for assistance to get you organized for life!

George Carlin once said “All I need is a place for my stuff”. True enough and we have become a society that enjoys our possessions. We all need a place for our stuff or we won’t be able to get around our “place”. But exactly how much stuff is enough?

There have been a lot of articles and blogs written about this.

But when you get to the point where you realize that you have too much “stuff” and are ready to do something about it, here are some tips to assist you through the project.

 

Look objectively

Look at things objectively. When looking at your belongings take a good look at them. When was the last time you used it? Are you holding on to it in the hopes that you may someday use it or someone else may need it? Ask the same question of all items whether they are clothing items, dishes or whatever.

Every day is special

If you know me, I will always suggest that the “special” dishes be used every day if you want to keep them because, after all, shouldn’t every day be special?

If you think someone else could benefit from an item that you have and rarely, if ever, used it why not make their day and give or gift it to them?

If you can’t remember the last time something was used it is probably time to go.

 

One in one out

If you love clothes, and let’s face it – who doesn’t, I like to use the one in and one out rule. In fact, if you are climbing over stuff in your home, maybe even make it one in, two out!

When you come home with a new piece of clothing go through your wardrobe and let something go to make room for the new piece. Clothing is an area where most people can make additional room in the house. Your local shelter or community re-purpose charity will thank you for any clothing donations that you can make.

Collections and technology

Are you a collector of books, records or CD’s? With today’s new technology a lot of these entertainment items are now stored digitally and can be accessed anywhere. The days of having a wall of books or CD’s to access is long gone.

Services such as I-tunes and many e readers changed that a while ago and now services like Next Issue allow you to store and read magazines on your digital device.

But let’s not preach minimalism. “Stuff” does represent who we are, what we enjoy and what successes we have had. There is nothing wrong with holding onto possessions that we are proud of and that shows to others who we are. Just don’t let “stuff” overtake your life.

Contact us now for a free telephone consultation and for assistance to downsize your possessions for an organized, stress free lifestyle!

Organizing the bathroom can be a real challenge. Generally they are much smaller in space than any other room in the house yet they have so many items that we need to have and use on a daily basis. We have all gone into a “friends” bathroom where it looks like a hurricane has gone through.

Hairbrushes and toothbrushes strewn across the bathroom counter. Wash clothes and towels hanging over the back of the door and tub.

Admit it, you have opened at least one of the drawers and thought – how do they find anything in there?

Containers and labels

If you read my blogs you know I am one for containers and labeling. One of my bathroom drawers is for my husband’s essentials where I have purchased a variety of small and inexpensive open top containers where he keeps his dental needs, shaving equipment and hair products separated.

Open the drawer and voila! No need to rifle through a lot of messy stuff to find what you are looking for.

 

The same for the drawer designated for my needs.

All of my hair products, nail polishes, lip sticks and make up are separated into inexpensive containers for easy access and put away. That big clunky hairdryer can be hung on the inside of a cabinet door rather than thrown under the sink or left on the counter to get in the way each day.

Decorative baskets do the trick

Do you have limited space for towels and wash clothes?

Decorative wicker baskets to sit on the floor, on the back of the toilet or on the edge of the tub will do the trick. Fold them in half or thirds and then roll them up for a nicer touch.

These baskets can also work for keeping extra rolls of toilet paper, baby wipes or any other supplies that frequently run low.

A spot for everyone

For those of you with a busy bathroom (one bathroom, many users) try a shelf or cabinet on the wall where each family member can have their own space for toiletries. Just be careful where you place the shelf or someone will be retrieving things out of the toilet.

Be creative

Lastly, here is a tip I recently saw that I love. We all have extra terra cotta pots hanging around the house. You know those small planters that we put begonias or similar small plants in? Buy a can of spray paint to match your décor and paint the pots. When dry use them to store brushes, soaps, Q tips or similar needs on your bathroom counter. Decorative and affordable.

You don’t need to spend a lot to transform your bathroom.

Contact us now for a free telephone consultation and for assistance to get your bathrooms organized for a stress free morning routine!

Moving is always an important time in your life, but it can also cause a lot of stress. Here are 5 tips to make moving day go a lot smoother.

Choose the right box

Carefully choose the right size of box when packing. The wrong size of box can create too much space inside the box and no matter how carefully you pack and protect those precious memories you will not want things rattling around.

 

Too much space can also lead to a heavier box on top crushing the contents of the box below. And don’t forget to seal the boxes properly. Use shipping tape instead of folding the flaps so the contents do not fall out when the box is lifted.

Label

For an organized move it’s important that you label all boxes so you know which room they go into upon arrival to the new home and so that you know what is inside the box.

Too much time will be spent going through boxes at the other end if they are not labelled, so make sure you have a permanent marker handy.  Once they are in the room you can now unpack in the order that you choose and save time going through a lot of boxes looking for items.

Like with Like

Now that you are labeling the boxes do not pack items from two separate rooms into one box. With the boxes labelled and in the room they are supposed to be unpacked in there will be no time wasted running from room to room putting away items belonging in the kitchen that you found in the master bedroom box.

Protective wrap

Make sure your dishes and other breakables are packed well. Sounds obvious but there is a lot of movement on the trucks and when being picked up and put down. Dishes should be stacked in piles of like dishes – large plates on top of large plates – with a couple of sheets of protective paper, newspaper or bubble wrap between each plate.

After packing 4 to 6 dishes wrap them together with more paper and start again. When packing cups or mugs those boxes at liquor stores make for great packing. You may not want to go to the expense of purchasing packing supplies but for your dishes and other breakables you may want to make an exception.

Emergency and “Open Me First”

Just like traveling on vacation you may want an “emergency” pack prepared especially if you are moving a long distance or don’t expect to unpack the same day.

Something with a change of clothes, a facecloth and towel and a toothbrush for each member of the family, toilet paper, paper towel, prescription medications and toiletries.

Again, this is all about saving time and avoiding stress at the other end after a long day.

It’s also a good idea to have a “Open Me First” box containing items such as bed sheets and some basic non-perishable food snacks supplies so you can make it through the first day and night.

Door stops, a steep stool, garbage bags, box cutters, scissors, plastic utensils and cups and cleaning products are other important items to have for a “Open Me First” box.  And don’t forget your pets……a pet food dish, a serving of food and their bedding will be important for the first night.

Moving can be a very stressful time in your life. Following these simple tips can avoid a lot of that stress.

Good luck on your move! And remember, if you need packing or unpacking and settling in assistance so that your move is stress free, organized and a great experience, we are only a phone call away or email at info@clutterbgone.ca.

With another year of college getting underway shortly it’s time to think about being organized and prepared for that first week of college rather than scrambling after classes have begun.

This is especially important for the first time college student as post-secondary education is a big change from high school with more demands put on your time and attention.

Put the phone away

The best advice you can give to a college student is put the phone away. I know, easier said than done, but pretty much all colleges now have relaxed their rules on the use of cell phones in class. Many are allowing them to be carried into the classroom but obviously not used… But let’s face it, cell phones are a distraction to all of us and when that email or text message comes through it is hard to resist the temptation to look at the message and respond.

Not only will you lose focus on the class but you are probably distracting a few people around you as well.

Laptop notifications a no go

If you are bringing a laptop or tablet to class for taking notes, make sure the notifications are turned off for email and other communications and focus on the lesson. Set a couple of times each day dedicated to returning calls or messages and that will keep you on task for the remainder of your day.

Put your best book forward

Have you got your books yet? No? Hmm, put that off did we? Now you may be spending a lot of your first week standing in line or scouring the Internet looking for the books you need. Depending on popularity of the class, the books may not be readily available either. Don’t be without your cherished reference material for the first few classes and end up playing catch up right out of the gate.

Check your schools book store now or start your internet search right away for delivery in time for the start of classes. There are plenty of resources for used books out there too.

Colour code your note books

Keep your notes and reference materials for one class separate from the others. Use different coloured note books or note pads for each class or create and utilize a separate file folder on your laptop if you keep electronic notes.

Carve out your work space

When you do sit down to study you don’t want to have to spend the first 15 to 30 minutes trying to find notes or getting everything together. And keep a neat study area. A clear, uncluttered work surface is more appealing than a cluttered desk with everything thrown about.

It’s a good idea to keep a study area separate from where you would normally relax to listen to music or play on-line games.

Advance planning pays off

Finally, plan in advance. You know when the exams are coming and when the assignments are due. We have all seen the movies with the student who is cramming for the exams late into the night before the exam. He or she ends up coming into class completely dishevelled and freaking out causing himself great anxiety and increasing the chance of an “F”. Manage your time to fit study and prep time into your schedule. Arrive ready and rested and you will ace it!

College is a big step and these bits of advice will help you be prepared for it. If you are feeling overwhelmed about this next big transition in your life we are only a phone call away to help you out