Thursday, September 30, 2010, 08:55 AM
Once again, I seem to be hitting on a rash of clients who are preparing to move. If you read my previous blog entry on moving or pretending to move, you know that the process can do wonders for stalled decluttering projects! Among the areas that finally get some much-needed attention are the dreaded storage areas: the basement, attic & garage.
Here are some items I found during some recent basement decluttering/packing jobs: never-used wedding china and crystal, boxes and boxes of photographs, high school and college memorabilia, and discarded small appliances, gifts, and toys. These basements were crowded, dirty, and unappealing spaces, but they all had the potential to become really nice, usable spaces. Why does it take a move to get us into action? Because these spaces are out of sight and we have busy schedules. But, if you can spare the time to tackle them, you can literally add rooms to your house. Think about the items I've listed above and how you would handle the task of reducing them. It's not easy, but the payoff is worth it.
Moving on to the attic. Lots of people store clothing in this area. That's fine if you're storing out of season clothing, but not ok if you're storing clothing that's 20 years old or 3 sizes too small! For clients with children, this is where old cribs, strollers, etc. go to die. If you no longer need these items, bring them to a donation site if they're still in good condition.
Finally--the garage. Take a good look at how many shovels, rakes, and other gardening tools you have. Organize and store all chemicals. Donate abandoned tricycles, and toss old, abused outdoor toys.
These areas of the home can be tough to organize, but it's a shame to clog them with unwanted items. Do it BEFORE you move, so you can enjoy the space!!
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Wednesday, May 19, 2010, 04:00 PM
http://thejewishstate.net/may1410atwork.html
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Tuesday, March 9, 2010, 10:21 AM
Yikes! This winter was tough. I love the snow, but I've never been more ready for spring and some pre-spring organizing.
My schedule is crazy, so a big, long spring cleaning/organizing day just seems too overwhelming right now. Instead, I'm opting for quick, "spot" organizing session. Here's what I've accomplished in a relatively short amount of time.
SPOT #1: I opened my "junk drawer" recently and realized it was REALLY living up to its name! All I did was separate the contents into two categories: the stuff that actually belongs in the drawer--pens, pencils, a ruler, some refrigerator magnets--and all the stuff that doesn't belong--loose change, art supplies, junky little plastic toys, etc. In no time my drawer had regained its original purpose: to be a "command central" for homework supplies.
SPOT #2: My daughter came home from the circus this weekend with a brand new Ringling Brothers plastic water bottle. Right away, I knew I was in for a purging session because the cabinet where I keep plastic bottles and cups was MAXED OUT! Again, a quick fix was all it took. I simply tossed all the babyish cups and freebie, useless water bottles into the recycling bin and suddenly I had room for the circus bottle and the few other bottles and cups we actually use.
SPOT #3: This morning I tackled the shelf in my office. Within 20 minutes I had removed 28 books which I will donate later today. I would have sworn to you I needed those books, but a quick look at them convinced me otherwise. I'm thrilled with my newfound shelf space!
Which SPOTS will you tackle before Spring? Write to me and let me know...
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Sunday, January 3, 2010, 09:36 PM
December was a good month for The Uncluttered Home! I was featured in two articles, one in The Star Ledger and one on Forbes.com.
The Star Ledger article featured business-oriented holiday gifts, including an office organizing package from The Uncluttered Home.
http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/20 ... ted_g.html
The Forbes article focused on strategies for getting out of the office on time, and I contributed organizing tips.
http://www.forbes.com/2009/12/15/holida ... email.html
Happy Reading!
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Monday, December 7, 2009, 11:22 PM
Many people I speak to are under the impression that buying and using containers is the route to organization. In fact, some people call me and ask if I'll come to their home and tell them which containers to buy!
It's easy to see why this myth exists. After all, there are entire stores devoted exclusively to containers, and many magazine layouts feature beautifully organized rooms filled with colorful, attractive, well-labeled containers!
So what's the problem?
A large majority of the time, I walk into a home and find container after container filled with STUFF. Often, if I ask a client what's inside any given container, they're not even sure.
Containers have become our way of housing lots and lots of items we don't need. We feel that if it lives in a beautiful wicker basket, or colorful plastic bucket, then it's got a purpose.
So running out and buying containers is what I consider "backwards thinking". Before you ever purchase a container, ask yourself what you're storing. Lots of times, people's possessions are placed in containers never to be seen again. What's the point?
Guess what happens (most times) when I visit a home?! By the end of the day you'll find a tower of EMPTY containers. When my clients take the time to review what's inside their containers, it's a great opportunity to purge.
Got lots of containers? Take the time to open them up, look at the stuff, and decide whether it's worth hanging on to or not.
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