Spring / Summer Newsletter 2007
Prioritize 2 Organize

Do you still feel the sting of losing that “extra hour” last month? Are you overwhelmed with the piles that tend to remain in stacks in your home? Don’t despair; there are solutions to every organizing problem.

In my Organizing Business I consult with clients about the top ten piles all of our homes tend to have. I have also included easy steps to rectify the clutter that stresses us all. The objective of organizing is not perfection but function. Many clients tell me that they would be happy with Organized Chaos.

TOP TEN PILES WE ALL TEND TO ACCUMULATE:

1. Pictures in drawers, envelopes, and stacks
   Solution:
   •  www.affordablescans.com can electronically archive everything from personal documents to cherished photos.
   •  www.shoeboxreprints.com can scan 1000 photos for $50.00 and send you the DVD.
   •  www.mycmsite.com/tracimc at Creative Memories has a picture sorter that houses 2,400 photos. The lid also converts into storage for larger pictures.
   •  There are many stylish photo albums that can contain 400+ 4X6 photos.




2. Out of Date Medication
   •  Toss all expired medication as it will lose efficacy and can prove dangerous if mixed with other drugs.
   •  Avoid buying large bottles at Warehouse Stores. I throw out a lot of expired Equate Brand OTC drugs. It’s not cost effective if you don’t use it all.
   •  Sort bottles of medication by ailment such as wound management, cough and cold, pain relief, etc. Then place in individual bins. This makes it faster to locate and avoids buying duplicates.



3. Electronic Items such as power cords, key boards, phone cords, etc.
   •  Create an Electronic “Lost and Found”. This plastic box needs to be large enough to grow but small enough to not lose everything in the bottom. Label with a plastic label. Dymo is an excellent brand for under $20.00. Just be sure to buy the plastic tape, not the paper cassette. Also, keep the Electronic Lost and Found somewhere in your home as opposed to the harsh atmosphere of the garage. Trust me on this one!



4. Burned and Mismatched Plastic Containers for food storage.
   •  Toss anything misshapen and without a lid. Replace with containerized organizers such as the Rubbermaid product that houses lids in the front with two different size square/circular bowls underneath it. The one size fits all lids and keeps the area organized and easy to reach. The square size is the most efficient use of space in the refrigerator. The spinning organizers for smaller containers work on the same principal. These products can be found at Wal-Mart /Target type of stores.



5. Electronic Items Where it is more Expensive to Buy a replacement part such as a battery than replace the entire unit. Cordless phones are an example of this dilemma. Recycle or dispose of this type of product since it can’t be donated and of little use to anyone else.



6. Clothing That You Have not Worn in the Past 12 Months.
   Studies have shown that we wear only 20% of the clothes in our closet.
   •  Flip all your hangers in your closet to the opposite way they are hanging now. In a matter of weeks you will see the clothes you are wearing, as the remaining clothes will still be in the backward position.
   •  Have a party with friends and family and have everyone bring 10 pieces of clothing that they are tired of but are stylish and in good repair. This will force you to inventory your closet and weed out the 80% that you are not wearing now.
   •  Every time you buy something new to wear, donate an older item in your closet. Then start a box in your closet or garage for clothes that need to be donated to charity. Drop off or call for pick up on a quarterly basis. This will assist you in maintaining order.



7. Spices Can Linger in Our Kitchen Cabinet for Years
   According to McCormick Spices, spices begin deteriorating at 6 months. If you own a McCormick rectangle metal box (except for black pepper) or the label says, Baltimore, MD, your spice is at least 15 years old. Spices don’t have expiration dates like drugs do, so it’s easy to never check the freshness. Read more »



8. Junk Mail is named that for a reason. Your name is not Mrs. Resident. Don't allow Marketers to steal your precious time and sell you products that just create more clutter.
   •  Open mail over the trash can or shredder. Make a decision to discard or save. Create a file for urgent attention, and another area designed as a file pile, and last create a reading basket for those items you want to read someday…



9. Pantry Items That No One in Your Family Will consume
   Donate to a food pantry if not expired. If you can't remember why you bought it you won't use it. This will help create extra room in your pantry for products that you actually use.



10. Socks Without a Mate
    •  Create a simple sox box for retrieval. A plastic box located in the laundry room works flawlessly. Empty it into the lost and found on a quarterly basis for drop off to your favorite charity or toss mate-less socks.

Disorganization is the direct result of not making a decision. A well organized home takes 40% less time to clean. Start the spring season with a physiological lift that simplifying your life can provide.

I'd like to dedicate this newsletter to my brother-in-law Paul. He has become Mom and Dad to his children as my sister recovers from a serious accident. He has taken pride in organizing their home and managing the many tasks his wife juggles. He has been an inspiration these past six weeks.

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