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A
Place for Everything, and Everything in its
Place
Don't you hate it when
the things you own suddenly seem to begin to
own you... and your house, and your car, and
your yard, and.... Possessions seem to attract
each other, and before you know it, you've got
a real mess on your hands. What can you do?
Step
1 -- Get Back In Control
Experts on the subject
of simplifying your life start right where you
live -- and they don't fool around. Their advice:
- Eliminate
the unnecessary. If you haven't
used something in a year, get rid of it.
Don't keep collecting things you might use
"some day."
- Label
everything. How many times
have you opened a box you opened before, and
discovered the same stuff in it you discovered
last time??? Put a label on it. That way
others can find it, too.
- Become
cluster-phobic. No, it's
not a new disease! Learn to cluster things
that are similar in one storage area -- like
putting all the baking items in one cupboard,
or storing nails and hammer near the step-stool.
Things that get used together should be stored
together.
- Have
a "clearing out day" at least twice a year
so that clutter doesn't build up and make
the job unmanageable. Get the whole family
involved. It's a great time to throw together
a yard sale to make it a profitable time,
too!
Step
2: What Have You Got Left?
Once you've gotten
rid of all the stuff you don't use or need,
this is an ideal time to do a home inventory.
Go through every room and write down EVERYTHING
that is in each. Take photos or video the rooms,
too. Attach any purchase receipts that you
have, as well. Then store this vital information
somewhere other than your home so you can access
it should you have a catastrophe or a break-in.
What you will gain in insurance settlement will
more than make up for the time you spend on
this -- and remember to keep your inventory
up to date.
Step
3: Getting It Out of Sight
Before you dive in
and begin packing things up and shoving them
into every nook and crannie you can find, stop
and think first. There are four basic types
of storage, and it will make things easier if
you know what kind you're using for each item.
- Open
Storage -- like bookcases,
shelves, hooks, glass-fronted cabinets, tabletops,
and coat trees. In other words, storing things
in plain sight. Usually, this is the kind
of storage you want for things that are attractive.
If you need easy access to something that's
not so pretty, put it inside a closed container
like a decorative box, and arrange the boxes
in an interesting way on a shelf or table.
- Closed
Storage -- such as closets,
chests, sideboards, armoires, drawers, file
cabinets, and storage boxes. This is ideal
for those things that look like clutter no
matter what you do -- like crafts projects,
desk supplies, cooking equipment or clothes.
Turn open storage into closed storage by putting
skirting around a table to hide the items
stacked underneath.
- Convenient
Storage -- areas readily accessible
within the room, like closets or inside furniture.
Any storage located within a room would be
convenient for items needed in that room.
For instance, clothes in the closet is convenient.
Pots and pans in the closet (not in the kitchen)
is not convenient! Place frequently-used
items in the most convenient area.
- Remote
Storage -- closets in other
parts of the house, storage lockers, attic,
basement, garage. In other words, any place
that you think twice before getting up and
going to rummage in! Use this kind of space
for items only used on a seasonal basis or
for archiving files and other things you must
keep but don't want to access regularly.
Step
4: Storage Space is Literally Everywhere!
No matter how small
your home, there are places you've not tapped
to store things in. Walls can have shelves
installed. Things can hang from the ceiling.
Look behind and between pieces of furniture
for overlooked storage areas. Look for furniture
that is dual purpose -- like a foot stool or
bench that has a top that lifts for storing
things inside. And under the bed was always
your favorite when you were a kid, wasn't it?
It's a big space.
In the garage, the
walls and ceiling are a natural area to add
storage. Hang bicycles from the rafters to
get them out of the way. Put tools on peg boards
and organize odds and ends in margerine tubs
or other household containers on shelves. Check
garage sales for old dressers -- they make great
garage organizers!
A
Word About Your Clothes
You don't wear everything
in every season. That's a given. But don't
be lazy -- when you want to change out the winter
clothes for the spring clothes, clean those
clothes you will be storing. Even if they look
and smell clean, if they've been worn they have
body oils and possible hidden food spills.
Those can eat into the fibers and weaken them
while they're in storage -- and they can encourage
bugs to eat into the fibers, too! If it's washable,
wash it. If it requires drycleaning, bring
it to us. We'll give it back to you ready to
store. And never store your clothes in areas
of high humidity or temperature changes -- that
means no basements or attics. An inside closet
is best, and leave room for the clothes to "breathe"
to maintain them at their best.
Furs are another item
that can suffer if exposed to poor environmental
conditions. Consider storing your furs when
not using them. The cost is usually nominal,
considering the investment you have in the garment,
and you'll be assured that they'll be ready
to go when you are.
More
Help -- everything but someone to come do it
for you!
If you want ideas about
how to organize your home, living room, bathroom,
bedroom, kitchen, garage, home office, paperwork
or children's rooms, there's help for you on
the web! Click on any of the links below to
get a head full of ideas. Then get organizing!
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