You got me!!
Other than occasionally acting like a big kid, or taking care of someone else’s on a temporary basis, I personally don't have any children and can only imagine the true experience of having to care for them full-time. Yet, what I do have to share is some tips and strategies that I have picked up during my quest to learn more about organizing. And since this week’s topic is residential solutions, I thought I would include a few strategies in helping to organize kids spaces too.Let’s talk strategy first, after all these little ‘Mini Me's’ learn fast and they learn from you so keep in mind five little tips: - Set an example. If your space is tidy they can learn from it.
- Talk straight. How are they going to know what your expectations are if you don’t tell them.
- Make play out of it. Have a race, have a prize, and have fun!
- Make them your partner. Ask their opinions and get them involved.
- Stick to your guns. If you don’t enforce rules they soon learn there aren't any.
As for making it easy for kids to stay organized, consider these tips:
- Provide low level closet rods so kids can reach their clothes and put them away.
- Put mostly used items on lower levels.
- Use big, bold and colorful labels and pictures to grab their attention.
- Remove closet doors and obstacles from their path.
- Rotate and store out-of-season clothes and less-used toys.
- Set limits on number of toys and clothes so they can focus, rather than get distracted by too many choices.
As you see, many of the basic organizing principals apply for kids too. Keep 'hot' items close, make things easy to put away, limit the amount of things and label well.Lastly, give the little ones a special hug for me! Michelle
 Are you pulling your hair out trying to figure why you just can't seem to control the little things that keep piling up in corners and on shelves? Is your home an obstacle course?
If your clutter is making you feel like a basket case, it may be a case for baskets.
There are several organizing mistakes that are quite common; not having a place for things is definitely one of them. It really makes it a lot harder to know where to put something when it doesn’t have a home.
Now baskets are not the answer to everything, for example you would not put your action files in them. Yet baskets can make great homes for a large variety of items, such as cables & game controllers, gloves & scarves, towels & linens, toiletries, pens & pencils, CD collections, kid’s toys, and many more.
Baskets can be added to shelves to hold smaller items and give the room a less cluttered, more decorative look. They are also very easy to put things into. Remember; having things easier to put away than to take out, is a key principal to staying organized.
Some great ideas for baskets include using plastic stackable ones to hold smaller toiletries under the bathroom sink or loose bags of spices and small items in the kitchen cupboard. For items like slippers, shoes, pet leashes, empty bottles and anything else that can leave dust behind, the larger baskets with washable cloth linings can be a great option to consider.
Wire, plastic, cloth, cardboard or metal, baskets are inexpensive and easy to find. I would aslo suggest that you try to coordinate them in each area to keep a tidy and more consistent look. For baskets in view, it is preferable they fit into your décor and color scheme.
You can even find great looking baskets with lids on them. For small items to keep at arms length, like keys, eyewear, wallets, and other daily used items try a little basket on the hallway table or kitchen counter to drop these into. They keep these types of things close, nicely contained, yet out of site.
Remember to label baskets well. There is no such thing as too many labels. Labels make it easier to stay organized. They take a lot of the ‘thinking’ out of finding the right place, and serve to remind you that the container you’ve chosen has set limits on the amount of items in it, thus keeping you from building up clutter. Label, Label, Label!
So if you’re feeling like a ‘Basket Case’ and want to be more organized, take a look around and consider how a few, well placed decorative or functional baskets can make your life easier.
Spring is in the air, it’s time to clean up and make a little more room for happy to sunshine in and bring new life to your home.
Don’t try to do it all in a day. Start in one area, finish, and then move on. Getting even just one small area done will have a great impact and leave you feeling like you accomplished something.
The Kitchen
___ CLEAN OUT AND ORGANIZE REFRIGERATOR
___ CLEAN INSIDE OF AND UNDER STOVE
___ CLEAN MICROWAVE
___ CLEAN TOASTER OVEN
___ CLEAN AND ORGANIZE PANTRY
___ CLEAN AND ORGANIZE FREEZER
___ WIPE DOWN INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF KITCHEN CUPBOARDS
The Bedroom
___ WASH OR DRYCLEAN BEDSPREADS
___ ORGANIZE/PURGE MASTER BEDROOM CLOSET
___ ORGANIZE/PURGE CHILDREN'S CLOSETS
___ ORGANIZE/PURGE CHILDREN'S TOYS
All Over
___ WIPE DOWN ALL DOORS; CLEAN DOOR HANDLES & MOLDINGS
___ WIPE OFF WINDOW SILLS
___ CLEAN INSIDE OF WINDOWS
___ WASH OR DRYCLEAN CURTAINS
___ DUST MINI-BLINDS
___ CLEAN SLIDING GLASS DOORS INSIDE AND OUT
___ REMOVE MARKS FROM WALLS; APPLY TOUCH UP PAINT
___ CLEAN WALL MOLDINGS
___ DUST CEILING FANS
___ DUST PICTURE FRAMES
___ DUST LAMP SHADES
___ STEAM CLEAN CARPETS
___ STEAM CLEAN FURNITURE
___ WASH OUT WASTEBASKETS
___ DUST ARTIFICIAL PLANTS
___ CHANGE BATTERIES IN SMOKE DETECTORS
___ ORGANIZE LINEN CLOSET
___ WIPE DOWN AND CLEAN UNDER WASHING MACHINE AND DRYER
On the Outside
___ CLEAN UP FLOWER BEDS
___ FINISH RAKING LEAVES
___ PREPARE PLANTERS FOR PLANTING
___ CLEAN AND FILL WATER FOUNTAINS
___ STRAIGHTEN STORAGE SHED
___ HOSE DOWN PATIO
___ CLEAN PATIO FURNITURE
___ CLEAN WINDOWS ON OUTSIDE
___ INSPECT AND REPAIR WINDOW SCREENS
___ WASH OUT GARBAGE CANS
___ CLEAN BARBECUE
As the rain comes and brings forth new life in the earth, the warmer breezes are coming in to push out the last of winter.
Along with our new season many are looking around to see how they can tidy up their space, inside and out, to meet spring with a fresh face.
Even I spent a good portion of last weekend to do a little spring cleaning. I flipped my wardrobe from Winter to Spring, I freshened up and thinned out some kitchen counter clutter, and I even did away with a few nic-nac's that I decided I just didn't need anymore. It felt great!
Several people I have met lately are sharing with me the same thoughts. When you let go of things you don't need and that don't bring value to your life, it just feels amazing. 'Lighter' and 'Younger' are two good words to describe it.
Letting go and clearing clutter and making your space something you love to be in, and that serves your needs really is like making room for happy.
To help you get started on some Spring Time chores, I made a quick chore checklist. Welcome Spring to an organized home!
I am going to quote something a friend of mine wrote, because today I want to touch on one of the important aspects to organizing, which is 'Finding out what works.'"When it comes to problems, we often get fixated on what we don't like. It's like a trance that keeps us stuck! One of the best ways to take a fresh look at your problems is to ask. "What does work here?" By tuning the mind in to a different channel, we see things we never saw before."Judi Clark M.Ed, PCC http://judiclark.ca/blog.html/focus-on-the-positive Judi has a really good point here, and you can learn more by following the link to her site, yet before you do, let's think about this concept in a organizing capacity for a moment too...When someone is up to their eyeballs in clutter, they may look around and say "Nothing Works!" out of sheer frustration. Yet this is just a first impression, because no matter how bad it seems there is usually something that works. There is always an area that for some reason is under control. Let's start by identifying what that is.
As they say "Don't fix what aint broke."The next time you are looking to organize a space in your home or your office, take a close look at what works and ask yourself why. Look at 'what works' and try to see how you can create other systems for other areas that appeal to you in the same way. If for example when you come home, you like to 'just drop everything' in the front hallway and although you have a desk there to neatly catch your purse and keys, your shoes and jacket just get thrown on the stairs because opening the closet and hanging them up just doesn't appeal to you as you just walk in. In this case you can consider a better landing pad for your coats and shoes, like perhaps a coat rack and a large basket under the desk to catch the shoes.Try to work with your natural tendencies; it's much easier than fighting them. Recognize when something works, and that you did something right too. Give yourself credit when it is due when you do find that thing that works, celebrate! You're on the way!
Running out of room in the closet?
Finding that you have more stuff than space?
There is a growing need to utilize or maximize your hidden space and the closet area is a good place to start. That standard "one rod and shelf" just does not cut it. It lacks function and reduces your available cubic space by 25% to 40%.
Step1 - Maximize your space. Closet organizers give you a significant increase in functionality in these important hidden areas. Installing one, you will be amazed by the transformation. My suggestion is to go with quality, and I have just the man to help you get one at factory direct prices too.Step2 - Decide what stays in this new "prime real estate" area of your home.
Once you have selected the closet organizer it is time to take a look at what you are going to keep and what you can do with out. That is where a professional organizer can help.
Sorting and purging are important steps to getting organized and staying organized. We all hold onto items we will never use or wear again but are afraid to let go. An objective view can be a big help when working through our belongings and having to make the right choices about what we really need or ads value and meaning to our home, and what is just holding us down like dead weight.
Organizing takes a little time, it takes effort and it can be overwhelming, yet we are here to help you so don't worry you don't have to do it alone anymore. Get your closets and your home organized, you will be glad that you did!
To learn more about finding just the right closet organizer, see www.arbutus.com and talk to Neil Magee. You can also reach him by email at neil@arbutus.comor call 604 734 1949.
To book a no-cost consultation to see how Michelle can help you organize call 778-866-6942.Wow ..what a feeling going into your closet finding exactly what you need ..JUST PURRRR-FECT!
Opportunities are always available when you keep an eye out for them. When it comes to your living space here are some ways to build in a little extra room where you may need it most.
- In the Kitchen, try expanding your counter space buy using an open drawer to rest a cutting board across the runners. You can also try placing a board across the sink. Use this extra space when cooking to hold prepared foods while you cook.
- Another idea to help find more space in your kitchen is to use cup hooks under the upper shelf of a kitchen cabinet. Great for small teacups, coffee mugs, small utensils and can even help out in a work room to hold small tools etc.
- In the Closet, try adding a closet organizer that will allow you to hang twice as many clothes. Shirts and tops only need half the height as long items so why try using the same space for both? Maximize!
- For those deep, oddly placed cabinets you just can't seem to reach the back of, try extending our reach by using a lazy Susan or a pullout shelf to access its full depth.
- Try to get more than one function out of your furniture. Consider furnishings that perform more than one function. For example; an entry bench that doubles as a storage container or has shelving underneath. You multitask, so why no your furniture?
- And keep in mind this last tip. In just about any room you can ad shelf space for keepsakes, books and more by positioning a shelf just a foot and a half below the ceiling.
Holding onto something and your not even sure why? Can’t seem to let go of that old file of phone bills from 2008 or earlier? Stuck with that broken down toaster that was a wedding present from 10 years ago? Or maybe you still have every piece of artwork your child ever made, yet they’re grown up and out of the home?
Come on, it’s ok to toss that book you promised your friend you would read 3 years ago. If it’s just collecting dust on a crowded bookshelf, it’s not adding to your life is it? Maybe that box of “skinny” clothes haunting you in your closet, or cases of old bottles you trip over in the garage ‘cause “one day” you’re going to start making wine, are just taking up valuable space and energy.
Don’t get me wrong, sure there could be some things that you really need and have a plan to use soon. And maybe you’re keeping some old paperwork because they relate to a business and you need it for tax reasons.
Yet, what I have learned from by being a professional organizer is this… for the most part clutter is simply “postponed decisions.” So today to help those that need to learn to be more objective and really take an honest look at what their keeping and why, I have my ultimate TOSS LIST. A series of questions to ask yourself in relation to your “Stuff” that will give you that objective edge you might be missing.
Let's take a moment to consider how to make your life and work space better by eliminating the excess now. Just because things are interesting to you is not a good enough reason to keep them around. For example, everything that could in theory be used at the right time, under the right conditions, sometime between this ‘very’ moment and the time you plan to retire, should be tossed. To help you determine what those items are, here are the questions to ask yourself.
I am going to lay them out by category to make it that much easier:
When it comes to Paper:
Is it a duplicate?
Is it current?
How often will I refer to it?
Is it relevant to my work/life?
Will it add something new to what I already have?
Can I get it elsewhere if I need it?
Do I have time to read it?
Do I want, or truly need this?
In addition to making decisions on what to toss, the following 6 guidelines are important to deciding what not to toss. Review these so you know when it’s time to keep things:
Replication would be very difficult.
There is only the one copy available.
It is a vital piece of a project or client file.
The document is your original creation.
The information will be needed again soon.
The law requires you to keep it.
For items you are required to keep for legal reasons, I have found that there is an abundance of information on the internet. Yet, if you run across something you're just not sure about, my advice is to speak with your accountant or tax professional before making the final toss.
Tip: Remember to protect yourself. Shred documents containing personal or confidential information on you or your company.
When it comes to Clutter:
Now we may be treading into an emotional area, as we discuss personal possessions. For personal belongings and keepsakes I am going to provide two things. First, the ‘TOSS LIST’ questions, then, another way to help determine what category the “Keepers” fall into.
When was it last used?
Is there a specific date I will need this again in future?
Does it require action by me? (If yes, move to location for 'ACT' items)
How hard would it be to replace again if I needed it?
Is it recent enough to be useful?
How does it make my life more purposeful or better?
Is it beautiful or loved?
Does it reflect the person I am now?
What is worst case scenario if I toss it?
Now, if you struggle a bit with the questions above and/or still need a little help to decide where to put things, take a closer look at the ‘Toys, Tools, Treasures & Trash’ list below.
Basically, what you need to do is pick up each item and ask yourself two questions… 1. Does this item hold a high emotional value for me? 2. Does it have a high level of function in my home/office?
Here are the suggestions based on each possible answer:
High Emotion – High Function – TOYS – Keep close at hand and visible. Invest in good containment, making it easier to put away than to take out. (A basic organizing rule of thumb)
Low Emotion – High Function – TOOLS – Keep close at hand and accessible but out of site. Again, good functional containment is important. Label well also, as this helps remind you to put things back where they belong when you’re done using it.
High Emotion – Low Function – TREASURE – Keep displayed at a distance or store away. If you have treasured items, take a few of your best and put in a quality display. Store the rest if you really can’t part with them. Store things in good quality containment and review often. Tip: A collector enjoys and takes pride in their collection; they don’t treat their items poorly and leave them lying about unorganized where they can be damaged.
Low Emotion – Low Function – TRASH. Trash it, recycle it, or donate it, yet do it fast. Once the decision is made, get rid of the items quickly so you don’t go back on your decisions later.
If you find you still can’t do it, don’t have the energy or time, then I am here to help you. I will bring the tools, the process, the energy, the knowledge and a truly objective view.
I recognize the fact that in this world we are bombarded with paper, information and stuff and that getting overwhelmed by it all can be a hard barrier to break. Let me help you break past that and learn the way to simplify your life and your work today.
Warmly,
Michelle Panzlaff
7 Steps to a Functioning Closet
1. Consider visibility, accessibility ad flexibility when planning your closet design.
2. Measure carefully the height, depth, width, and also for the entrance to the closet too.
3. Inventory what you have and what you need more of. Hanging space, shelves, shoe racks, etc.
4. Remove the things you can do without and put seasonal clothes away, preferably in close and accessible storage.
5. Shop for what you need. Talk with a closet designer to get ideas and determine costs for special installations.
6. Put it back together, containerize and label any baskets or show boxes properly.
7. Respect it, maintain it and love it.
4 More for the Kitchen Drawers
1. Designate just one drawer to be a "Junk Drawer." For items like batteries, flashlights, tape measure, paper pad and a pen for example.
2. Sort and Purge the contents once every 6months to a year. Try to keep it for truly important things, not just a free-for-all junk collection as the name would suggest.
3. Use drawer organizers to separate and store "like" items.
4. Keep your flatware near the sink or dishwasher and your cooking utensils near the stove.
In today’s world recycling is such an important issue. In every home we have a steady stream of various materials such as cardboard, paper, newsprint, plastic, bottles and cans.
For some it is hard to keep up and the recycle bin can quickly become a big jumbled mess and make recycling a big chore that it just doesn’t need to be.
I know in my building when I go to the downstairs bins where we deposit this stuff I find myself disappointed in some of my neighbors as I find the bins all mixed up with the wrong items. I find paper in the containers bin, cardboard in the newsprint bin and sometimes plastics in with the paper.
I guess it is a hassle to stand down there and separate the items properly and so they just get tossed in any which bin is closest and it seems to me a bit of a shame.
Well to help solve this dilemma and make recycling easy and convenient try setting up a recycling centre in your home to properly sort materials quickly and make recycling a breeze.
What you’ll need:
* Space for it to go. (Decide where and take some measurements so you know what can fit there.)
* 3-5 wide, interlocking bins with open faces and tops to make sorting easy.
* Labels, or even better metal label holders which can be screwed to the front of each bin.
* A dolly, wide enough to hold the bins stacked on top. (Use utility drawer latches to secure the bottom bin to the dolly so it won’t slide off when moved.)
Now the whole bin can be kept in the garage or near the entrance, where it can easily be rolled out to the curb or down to the recycle room of your condo with minimal effort.
Keep in mind for condo living large wheels on dolly serve better to go over thresholds and elevator door cracks.
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