30 Ways to Clean Naturally
Skip harsh cleaning products—your pantry already has everything you need to keep a tidy home
Erin Renzas ON Nov 4, 2010 at 6:50PM
Ketchup: Shine Your Copper
How to do it: Apply the ketchup to a rag and rub onto tarnished copper or brass cookware. Let sit for a minute, and then buff clean and rinse. The acidity of the ketchup will help lift and remove tarnish and return pots to their shiny state.
Vodka: Keep Aphids Away
How to do it: Don’t let little aphids torture your houseplants. Wipe down plans with a water-soaked cloth. Next, soak a cotton ball in vodka (not the good stuff—save that for your martini). Gently dab leaves with the vodka for an aphid-free plant.
Apple Peels: Clean Discolored Aluminum Saucepans
How to do it: Start by peeling two apples. Place the peels in the saucepan and add enough water to cover the peels. Bring the water and peels to boil for several minutes until the stain begins to lift. Turn off the pot and let the water cool. Discard the water and peels, dry the pan and voila!
Leftover Wine: Keep Fruit Flies Away
How to do it: Fill a wine bottle or other narrow-necked bottle with two inches of wine. Add three drops of liquid dish soap. Create a funnels out of paper, leaving a small hole at the tip. Secure funnel seam with tape, and tape it to the top of the bottle. Leave it where you notice the fruit flies and it will quickly decrease their numbers!
Mayonnaise: Remove Crayon from Wood Furniture
How to do it: Sure, the thought of slathering your household wares with mayonnaise may be less than appealing, but some people swear by it. Did your tot get a little carried away while coloring? Remove crayon marks from wood furniture by rubbing a dab of mayo on the mark. Let it sit for five minutes and wipe it away with a damp cOil and Lemon Juice: Shine Your Wood Furniture
How to do it: Mix oil and lemon juice two parts to one and use the solution to give furniture an extra polish.
Vinegar: Clean the Microwave
How to do it: Combine 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup distilled vinegar in a microwave-safe mug or bowl. Microwave for two minutes and wipe clean. The vinegar helps to lift baked-on food and stains.
Salt: Clean a Glass Coffeepot
How to do it: Fill the coffeepot with 1/4 cup table salt and a dozen ice cubes. Swish the mixture around, let it sit for half an hour, fill it with cold water and rinse.
Salt and Vinegar: Clean Tarnished Copper
How to do it: Fill a 16-ounce spray bottle with hot white vinegar and three tablespoons of salt. Spray it onto the copper, let it sit briefly, and then rub clean. (Don’t do this to lacquered copper.)
Salt: Pick Up a Dropped Egg
How to do it: If an egg breaks on the kitchen floor, sprinkle salt on the mess and leave it there for 20 minutes. You’ll be able to wipe it right up
Salt and Lemon Juice: Clean Brass and Pewter
How to do it: Sprinkle salt on to the cut side of half a lemon. Rub down the metal, rinse and buff dry. The same process can also be used to remove rust stains.
Salt and Rubbing Alcohol: Clean Up a Grease Stain
How to do it: Got a grease stain on your favorite carpet? Try this! Mix salt and rubbing alcohol one part to four. Rub into the stain, going the same direction as the nap of the carpet. Let dry and vacuum up excess salt.
Salt: Treat Red Wine Stains
How to do it: Blot fabric or carpet to remove excess wine. Sprinkle with salt and let sit for a few minutes. Rinse with cold water and repeat if necessary.
Baking Soda: Clean Children’s Toys Safely
How to do it: Combine four tablespoons baking soda with one quart of water. Use the solution to wipe off toys.
Baking Soda: Clean Bathroom Grout
How to do it: Make a paste of water and baking soda. Using a small brush or toothbrush, rub the paste onto stained or dirty grout. Let sit for three minutes and rinse.
Baking Soda: Clean the Dishwasher
How to do it: If your dishwasher has a funky scent, try this: Empty all dishes. Clean out the food filter. Next, fill the detergent well with baking soda and run on empty.
Salt: Drip-Proof Your Candles
How to do it: Everyone loves the soft glow of candlelight—but not the icky stains they can leave behind when they drip on your favorite tablecloth. To prevent this, soak candles in a saltwater solution for several hours and dry thoroughly before lighting.
Baking Soda: Clean and Deodorize the Refrigerator
How to do it: Sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge and scrub down the inside of your refrigerator. Rinse the sponge and wipe down with fresh water.
Vinegar: Remove Gunk from Base of Faucets
How to do it: Soak a towel or paper towel with white vinegar. Wrap around the base of the faucet and let sit for 25 minutes. Remove towels and wipe clean.
Vinegar: Remove Stickers, Labels and Price Tags
How to do it: Soak a cloth in vinegar and press to sticker for several minutes. Lift and the sticker should peel easily away.
Vinegar: Remove Mineral Deposits from Shower Heads
How to do it: Heat white vinegar in large pot, but do not boil. Place showerhead in pot and allow it to soak for one hour. Remove and rinse.
Cornmeal: Remove Dust from Silk Flowers
How to do it: Place one large paper grocery bag inside another. Place flowers inside and add two handfuls of coarsely ground cornmeal. Close bags tightly and shake vigorously.
Vinegar: Wash the Windows
How to do it: Combine equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle and go to town!
Baking Soda: Clean Baked-On Oven Spills
How to do it: Make a paste of three parts baking soda to one part water. Apply to the spill and let sit overnight. Wipe clean with a wet sponge.
Baking Soda: Clean Baked-On Oven Spills
How to do it: Make a paste of three parts baking soda to one part water. Apply to the spill and let sit overnight. Wipe clean with a wet sponge.
Baking Soda and Vinegar: Unclog the Drain
How to do it: Sprinkle 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain. Chase with 1/2 cup vinegar and close drain (or try covering with this universal drain stop). Let the fizzing baking soda break up the clog for 15 minutes and flush with hot water.
Toothpaste: Nix Stubborn Water Rings from Wood Furniture
How to do it: With a slightly damp, soft cloth, rub a pea-sized amount of toothpaste into the stain. Wipe off excess paste with a clean cloth. Repeat if necessary.
Mayonnaise: Clean Yellowed, Dull Piano Keys
How to do it: Apply a small amount of mayonnaise to the keys. Wait two to three minutes. Wipe off and buff with a soft, clean cloth.
Tea Tree Oil: Disinfect Your Counters
How to do it: Combine 15 drops of the essential oil with one quart of water in a spray bottle. Use as you would any disinfectant.
Toothpaste: Remove Scratches from Acrylic Home Decor
How to do it: Buff a pea-sized amount of toothpaste into the scratches until they begin to fade. Wipe clean.
Vegetable Oil: Prevent Rattan and Wicker Furniture from Cracking
How to do it: Use a soft, clean cloth to apply a coating of vegetable oil to furniture. Wipe off any excess for shiny, beautiful furniture.
Lemon Juice: Disinfect and Clean a Cutting Board
How to do it: Scrub the cut side of a lemon along the board. Let sit for 20 minutes and rinse with hot water.
MY THOUGHTS
i am so tempted to drop an egg on the floor just to test if the salt works. i have so many things to try. i hope you try some too and let me know if it works.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Cleaning Tips that Prevent Colds
Cleaning Tips That Prevent Colds
Kick germs to the curb this cold and flu season with these simple cleaning strategies
Christine Coppa ON Dec 6, 2010 at 1:11PM
Launder Communal Blankets and Pillows
Cold winter days mean lots of family togetherness on the couch, snacking and watching movies. With the heat turned up and various bodies sharing blankets, pillows and cushions, remember to clean that cozy spot. "Wash shared blankets twice a month using your washer's hot cycle. Wash pillowcases at least biweekly, also in the hot cycle," suggests Julie Edelman, author of The Ultimate Accidental Housewife.
You can't throw the whole couch in the wash (bummer!), so clean it with a HEPA-filter vacuum; this type of filter works by trapping even the smallest air particles. The best part is that a HEPA filter doesn't blow soiled air from vents; only clean air comes out. This will keep dust and mites at bay.
Disinfect Your Cell Phone
Did you know that your cell phone is dirtier than a toilet seat or the soles of your shoes? Even worse, "Germs love the heat generated by your cell phone and multiply when combined with the moisture from your breath," says Edelman. To combat this, wipe your phone with an antibacterial wipe that contains alcohol and benzethonium chloride—a combination that is effective against killing staph and salmonella. Wipe down TV remotes, too.
Clean the Computer Keyboard
The keyboard of your family's computer—where you check email and your children play games—is another germ hot spot. Here's Edelman's tip for cleaning it properly: First, power down the computer and unplug the keyboard. Then stand over the garbage can or sink and gently smack the keyboard's back (this will loosen up dirt, crumbs and other debris that have fallen between the keys). Use a blow-dryer on cool to gently blow away remaining debris from the keyboard. Then grab an antibacterial wipe that is damp (not dripping) and gently wipe down computer's surfaces to kill germs.
Tip: Use a Q-tip dampened with rubbing alcohol to get at the gunk between the keys and the crevices. Because alcohol is 70 percent isopropanol (a disinfectant) and 30 percent water, it combats germs in a safe, nonabrasive way.
Wash Those Toys
Plastic toys—like trucks, dolls, cars and blocks—need to be cleaned weekly to prevent the spread of germs. Fill the kitchen sink or a big basin with two parts hot water and one part white vinegar (which has acetic properties that not only work as an antiseptic, but also kill germs). "Let the toys soak for 15 minutes," says Edelman. "Then, rinse with hot water and towel dry."
And don't be fooled by bath toys—just because your kid is getting clean in the tub doesn't mean the stacking cups, ducks and boats are squeaky clean, too! Edelman suggests investing in a net bag that can hang on a shower rack. After bath time, quickly rinse all of the toys with hot water and throw them into the net to air dry. If you notice that rubber toys are filled with trapped water, it's time to toss 'em, because they're also likely filled with mold.
Use Disinfectant Wipes
Disinfectant wipes are your best friend at this time of year. "I like to leave containers of disinfectant wipes around the house, so when I'm chatting on the phone, I can just grab and wipe," says Edelman. "Doorknobs, the refrigerator handle, light switches and toilet flushers are hot zones, meaning they are highly trafficked—wipe them down a couple of times per week with little or no effort. If people in your home are sick, wipe them down daily." Look for wipes, like these from Seventh Generation, that are effective against the influenza A virus.
Steam Clean the Floors
The floor in your entryway is likely crawling with germs because it's highly trafficked. "Surfaces like tile and hardwood floors are breeding grounds for infections, particularly in the winter, when people are cooped indoors with the heat pumped high," notes Andrew Sagan, M.D., the medical director of pediatric services at Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago. Send these germs packing by steam cleaning with a product like the Shark Vac-Then-Steam. When steam is forced onto a surface, the very small vapor molecules penetrate pores in the surface. The vapor molecules quickly expand to force out and kill bacteria. "Steam is proven to eliminate 99 percent of germs and bacteria—including the virus that causes H1N1," says Dr. Sagan.
Scrub Sippy Cups
Germs multiply and move quickly, especially on items that are in regular contact with your child's hot mouth. Some sippy cups, like the ones with straws, come in parts and need to be disassembled and sanitized after each use to prevent the spread of germs. "Rinse sippy cups, pacifiers and bottles with hot water in the sink immediately after use, then wash in the dishwasher using the high-heat cycle and allow items to air dry," says Edelman. "And make sure your kids aren't sharing their pacifiers and cups."
Clean Heat and AC Vents
Vents that cool and heat the home need extra attention during cold and flu season. The debris inside may look like plain old dust, but it's really harboring things like pet hair, allergens and germs—and therefore blowing this into the open air when the heat is functioning. The solution: Remove vent covers and vacuum inside ducts with a HEPA filter.
Launder Shared Bathroom Towels
The pretty hand towel in the bathroom remains there for days at a time. But it should be washed in the hot cycle daily to prevent colds. (Germs can live for several hours on cloth towels.) If that's too much for you, consider using paper towels or bathroom napkins for hand washing.
MY THOUGHTS
too much effort? not if you love your kids. or yourself. common colds can still bring a lot of discomfort. and you don't want to spend on medicine what you could spend for something else. i never really thought of disinfecting my cell phone or my keyboard. now i know better.
Kick germs to the curb this cold and flu season with these simple cleaning strategies
Christine Coppa ON Dec 6, 2010 at 1:11PM
Launder Communal Blankets and Pillows
Cold winter days mean lots of family togetherness on the couch, snacking and watching movies. With the heat turned up and various bodies sharing blankets, pillows and cushions, remember to clean that cozy spot. "Wash shared blankets twice a month using your washer's hot cycle. Wash pillowcases at least biweekly, also in the hot cycle," suggests Julie Edelman, author of The Ultimate Accidental Housewife.
You can't throw the whole couch in the wash (bummer!), so clean it with a HEPA-filter vacuum; this type of filter works by trapping even the smallest air particles. The best part is that a HEPA filter doesn't blow soiled air from vents; only clean air comes out. This will keep dust and mites at bay.
Disinfect Your Cell Phone
Did you know that your cell phone is dirtier than a toilet seat or the soles of your shoes? Even worse, "Germs love the heat generated by your cell phone and multiply when combined with the moisture from your breath," says Edelman. To combat this, wipe your phone with an antibacterial wipe that contains alcohol and benzethonium chloride—a combination that is effective against killing staph and salmonella. Wipe down TV remotes, too.
Clean the Computer Keyboard
The keyboard of your family's computer—where you check email and your children play games—is another germ hot spot. Here's Edelman's tip for cleaning it properly: First, power down the computer and unplug the keyboard. Then stand over the garbage can or sink and gently smack the keyboard's back (this will loosen up dirt, crumbs and other debris that have fallen between the keys). Use a blow-dryer on cool to gently blow away remaining debris from the keyboard. Then grab an antibacterial wipe that is damp (not dripping) and gently wipe down computer's surfaces to kill germs.
Tip: Use a Q-tip dampened with rubbing alcohol to get at the gunk between the keys and the crevices. Because alcohol is 70 percent isopropanol (a disinfectant) and 30 percent water, it combats germs in a safe, nonabrasive way.
Wash Those Toys
Plastic toys—like trucks, dolls, cars and blocks—need to be cleaned weekly to prevent the spread of germs. Fill the kitchen sink or a big basin with two parts hot water and one part white vinegar (which has acetic properties that not only work as an antiseptic, but also kill germs). "Let the toys soak for 15 minutes," says Edelman. "Then, rinse with hot water and towel dry."
And don't be fooled by bath toys—just because your kid is getting clean in the tub doesn't mean the stacking cups, ducks and boats are squeaky clean, too! Edelman suggests investing in a net bag that can hang on a shower rack. After bath time, quickly rinse all of the toys with hot water and throw them into the net to air dry. If you notice that rubber toys are filled with trapped water, it's time to toss 'em, because they're also likely filled with mold.
Use Disinfectant Wipes
Disinfectant wipes are your best friend at this time of year. "I like to leave containers of disinfectant wipes around the house, so when I'm chatting on the phone, I can just grab and wipe," says Edelman. "Doorknobs, the refrigerator handle, light switches and toilet flushers are hot zones, meaning they are highly trafficked—wipe them down a couple of times per week with little or no effort. If people in your home are sick, wipe them down daily." Look for wipes, like these from Seventh Generation, that are effective against the influenza A virus.
Steam Clean the Floors
The floor in your entryway is likely crawling with germs because it's highly trafficked. "Surfaces like tile and hardwood floors are breeding grounds for infections, particularly in the winter, when people are cooped indoors with the heat pumped high," notes Andrew Sagan, M.D., the medical director of pediatric services at Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago. Send these germs packing by steam cleaning with a product like the Shark Vac-Then-Steam. When steam is forced onto a surface, the very small vapor molecules penetrate pores in the surface. The vapor molecules quickly expand to force out and kill bacteria. "Steam is proven to eliminate 99 percent of germs and bacteria—including the virus that causes H1N1," says Dr. Sagan.
Scrub Sippy Cups
Germs multiply and move quickly, especially on items that are in regular contact with your child's hot mouth. Some sippy cups, like the ones with straws, come in parts and need to be disassembled and sanitized after each use to prevent the spread of germs. "Rinse sippy cups, pacifiers and bottles with hot water in the sink immediately after use, then wash in the dishwasher using the high-heat cycle and allow items to air dry," says Edelman. "And make sure your kids aren't sharing their pacifiers and cups."
Clean Heat and AC Vents
Vents that cool and heat the home need extra attention during cold and flu season. The debris inside may look like plain old dust, but it's really harboring things like pet hair, allergens and germs—and therefore blowing this into the open air when the heat is functioning. The solution: Remove vent covers and vacuum inside ducts with a HEPA filter.
Launder Shared Bathroom Towels
The pretty hand towel in the bathroom remains there for days at a time. But it should be washed in the hot cycle daily to prevent colds. (Germs can live for several hours on cloth towels.) If that's too much for you, consider using paper towels or bathroom napkins for hand washing.
MY THOUGHTS
too much effort? not if you love your kids. or yourself. common colds can still bring a lot of discomfort. and you don't want to spend on medicine what you could spend for something else. i never really thought of disinfecting my cell phone or my keyboard. now i know better.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Closet organizing: Ways to Declutter
Ten Ways to Declutter Your Home
By Peter Walsh
The Oprah Winfrey Show
February 07, 2007
Is clutter taking over your home? Peter Walsh has 10 easy ways you can de-clutter your home and your life today.
How to Keep Your House Clutter-Free
•Tackle messes one room at a time.
•When you buy something new, practice the "in-out rule:" For every one new item, get rid of an old one.
•Create intimacy in the master bedroom. Remember that improvements in one room can spread to the rest of the house.
•Make cleaning up fun for your kids.
•Create a vision for the room you're cleaning.
•Teach your kids how to sort.
•Use a hanger system to determine which clothes you wear most.
•Ask yourself if you really need something. If you hesitate, you don't.
•Establish a "magic triangle" in your kitchen between the stove, refrigerator and the sink. Keep the items you use most in that area.
•Identify useful utensils with the cardboard box test.
MY THOUGHTS
i will challenge myself to practice the "in-out rule". which means that i shouldn't buy anything until after i've done a lot of "outs". i've no problme with my place in the city. my room in the province is another matter. it's such a mess i can't locate things anymore. time. i need time.
By Peter Walsh
The Oprah Winfrey Show
February 07, 2007
Is clutter taking over your home? Peter Walsh has 10 easy ways you can de-clutter your home and your life today.
How to Keep Your House Clutter-Free
•Tackle messes one room at a time.
•When you buy something new, practice the "in-out rule:" For every one new item, get rid of an old one.
•Create intimacy in the master bedroom. Remember that improvements in one room can spread to the rest of the house.
•Make cleaning up fun for your kids.
•Create a vision for the room you're cleaning.
•Teach your kids how to sort.
•Use a hanger system to determine which clothes you wear most.
•Ask yourself if you really need something. If you hesitate, you don't.
•Establish a "magic triangle" in your kitchen between the stove, refrigerator and the sink. Keep the items you use most in that area.
•Identify useful utensils with the cardboard box test.
MY THOUGHTS
i will challenge myself to practice the "in-out rule". which means that i shouldn't buy anything until after i've done a lot of "outs". i've no problme with my place in the city. my room in the province is another matter. it's such a mess i can't locate things anymore. time. i need time.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Closet organizing: conquer clutter
Conquering Clutter
.By Peter Walsh
The Oprah Winfrey Show
January 01, 2006
If you had to step over piles of clothes, papers and unidentifiable "stuff" just to get to your computer, you're not alone. Organizational guru Peter Walsh, host of TLC's hit show Clean Sweep, says millions of Americans are drowning in clutter.
Studies show that although families are smaller, homes are larger than ever. Even with more square feet of living space, many Americans still fill attics, basements and storage units with stuff. Peter blames overstuffed spaces on our super-size mentality. "We're in a culture that says more is better," he says. "We've been led to believe that things bring us happiness."
For more than 10 years, Peter has helped pack rats organize their homes and reclaim their lives. His techniques go well beyond color-coded boxes and plastic storage bins. Peter says he helps people uncover what's really going on underneath all that junk, which often leads to life-changing breakthroughs.
"[Stuff] robs people of so much," he says. "If your house is full of stuff, all the blessings that could fill your house can't get in. The stuff takes over. It robs you psychologically. You can't be at peace."
Don't distress over your mess—learn to conquer your clutter one room at a time.
Tip 1: Tackle one room at a time.
Don't let a manicured lawn fool you. Behind closed doors, many families are living with massive clutter. The Gavitt family hopes Peter can help them reclaim their Texas home.
Janet, a busy wife and mother of four, says the clutter started to get out of control when her twin daughters were born eight years ago. Now, with a 5-year-old and a baby to care for, she says she and her husband, Charlton, just can't keep up.
When Peter first arrived at the Gavitts' home, he noticed children's toys and clothes scattered throughout the house...even in the family room. "It doesn't look like a house that the parents run," Peter tells Janet. "You and Charlton have to get back in the driving seat."
Although Janet says she tells her daughters to put their things away, there's no designated place to put them. Plus, there are simply too many things to keep track of. Janet isn't lacking organizational skills. In fact, she works for The Container Store, a retail chain that specializes in space and storage solutions. "Talk about feeling like a fraud," she says.
Janet isn't the only person feeling the effects of the clutter. The mess is also starting to take a toll on Charlton. "I can't do the things I want to do with my children because there's stuff everywhere," he says. "I can't help them with their homework because there's not a place to do it. My job as a father is being compromised by the amount of clutter that we have in our house."
Everything's bigger in Texas...even messes. That didn't stop Peter from transforming the Gavitts' family room into a real living room in just 72 hours.
With the floor free of toys, the Gavitts' space looks more spacious and inviting. "We would actually use this room," Charlton says.
New furniture also doubles as organizational tools. Inside the leather footstools, the children discover board games. A coatrack in the entryway also has shelves for additional storage.
The papers that once covered the dining table are gone, and finally, the family can sit and enjoy a meal together. "I totally have gotten that now that we don't need the [stuff]-the stuff was hurting us," Janet says. "We need each other."
Tip 2: Follow the "in-out rule."
Peter and Janet tackle piles of the girls' clothes, which are scattered throughout the house. Peter says the secret is to take everything out of each room first and then sort it in a separate location.
All the clothing is placed on a tarp in the front yard. Now, it's up to Janet to sort the clothes into two categories—items to keep and items to give away. Each daughter gets a set number of bins, and once they are full, Janet must move on.
To avoid clutter, Peter says every shopper should follow the "in-out rule." Every time you buy a new piece of clothing, you should get rid of an old piece. He also makes Janet promise that she will not buy her daughters any new clothes for six months
Tip 3: Build intimacy.
When Peter sees Janet and Charlton's bedroom, he knows just what they need more of: intimacy. "When you are intimate, when your relationship is powering along, that will feed the rest of the house," he says.
With junk everywhere, Charlton says there's just no room to be romantic in the master bedroom. "You'd roll over onto a pile of clothes or a pile of toys and so we tried to take it to other rooms, but they were just as bad," he says. "There was no place to be us."
When asked what sort of bedroom they want, Janet says she'd like a romantic space, while Charlton wants a room that's just for him and his wife. Now that they have a shared vision, they can begin to declutter.
Peter tells the couple if they haven't used it in 12 months, it needs to go. That includes the dingy sweatpants Janet's been hanging onto since high school. "If it doesn't fit the vision you have for your space, it's got to go," Peter says.
Now, Janet and Charlton's bedroom oozes with intimacy. Soft lighting and a fresh coat of paint give the room a new look and feel. "There's a floor!" Janet says. "I feel a thousand pounds lighter. I feel like we can breathe now."
Peter designated a small space for their baby, Julia, and completely reorganized their closets.
Tip 4: Make cleanup fun.
Even though Miranda, Katharine and Audrey are young, Peter says they can learn to pick up after themselves. All it takes is a little creativity. Peter makes cleaning fun by turning it into a game. Each girl is given a type of thing—clothes, toys or books—to be responsible for. At the count of three, the girls scramble to fill bins with their items.
Miranda, Janet and Charlton's 8-year-old daughter, said she was embarrassed to bring friends over to her messy house...but not anymore! The once chaotic playroom is now an orderly place for the girls and their friends to read, play and paint.
Peter has designated a place for everything. There are bins for toys, cubbies for art supplies, and shelves for books and games.
How will they keep it tidy? "If we put everything back where it belongs," Miranda says. The Gavitt girls promise Peter that they'll keep the room neat and clutter-free
Tip 5: Create a vision.
Peter's method for attacking a messy garage is what he calls a "kick-start"—a high-speed, easy purge. Although it took years for the Gavitts to fill their garage with junk, it should only take them minutes to decide what they need to keep.
Peter says they need to create a vision and asks the Gavitts what they want from their garage. Charlton names four things: somewhere to work, park the car, refuge and storage. Now, they must rely on split-second decision making to identify the items that stay and the items that go. "You have to be tough as nails," Peter says.
Before Peter stepped in, Janet and Charlton hadn't been able to park in their garage for six years. After sorting through hundreds of items, Janet and Charlton drastically reduced the amount of stuff in their garage. Now, there is ample parking space thanks to new shelving units and clearly marked storage boxes.
"Incredible!" Janet says. Janet and Charlton say Peter's help has transformed their lives. "We knew we weren't happy," Janet says. "We knew it was something, but what?"
Now, Janet and Charlton have stopped hiding their home and started entertaining again. "We've had friends over several nights in a row for drinks because we can. So that's incredible," Janet says.
Peter's philosophies have even carried into different aspect of Charlton's life. He says he even decluttered his appearance by shaving his beard and cutting his ponytail! Charlton's also organized his work life. "I've cleaned out my office at school and it's going go even further," he says. "I teach theater so the prop room is next and we're going to purge all the stuff there, and I've been sharing it with everyone that I can talk to."
Although their home is clean and tidy now, Charlton says he fears things could go back to the way they were. "It's a big fear, and I won't live like that again," he says.
Tip 6: Teach your kids how to sort.
Just like millions of other moms, Ella, a Chicago wife and mother, has a few organizational problem areas in her house. She says her husband, Alberto, and her two sons, Ellington and Chandler, are the main clutter creators.
Peter says the secret to having clutter-free kids starts with teaching them how to sort. He gives Ella's boys one trash bag and two boxes. He tells them to fill the bag with garbage, and put anything they want to sell at a yard sale in one box and charitable donations in the other.
Peter also encourages Ellington and Chandler to make cleaning fun—even boring chores like putting away clothes. "Here's what you have to do every night before you go to bed," Peter says. "You have to shoot baskets with your clothes." The boys also get a lesson in using baskets and containers to organize their things and learn the important "in-out rule." With their very own label maker in hand and bins at their disposal, the boys start sorting!
After the boys did their jobs, Peter and his team work some magic of their own in the room to give the kids a fresh start. Bookshelves were placed in one section of the room to act as a library, and Ellington and Chandler organized bins for photos, toy cars and bags.
"You see how it's so clean now?" Ellington says.
"It's clean. Oh, my goodness! I am so proud of you. It looks absolutely beautiful," Ella says.
Tip 7: Use a hanger system to determine which clothes you wear most.
Peter says the single biggest problem he sees in homes is closet organization. Many of Ella's issues stemmed from having too many clothes, some with the tags still on. "I always tell her that there's always going to be a sale and not every sale you need to participate in," Alberto says
Peter says we actually only wear 20 percent of our clothes 80 percent of the time, and that there's a simple test to see which ones you wear most. "What you should do is take all of your clothes and hang them in the closet [facing one] way," he says. "And then every time you wear an article of clothing, you put it back in [the opposite way]."
After six months, Peter says to go through everything that's still hanging in its original position. "Ask yourself, 'Do I ever wear that?' Go through and anything that you haven't worn in 12 months, no longer fits, out of fashion, that you don't love, use as an opportunity to get rid of it," Peter says.
Peter's team organized both closets. Ella's happy to see those unworn deals cleared away and donated. Alberto is amazed at the hanging row of suits and shelves with neatly folded shirts.
"I can actually see what I want to wear before I even reach for it," Alberto says.
Tip 8: Ask yourself if you really need something. If you hesitate, you don't.
Now it's time to purge the rest of Ella's closet, which is overrun by shoes. "We have to do a quick run on shoes," Peter says. Peter forces Ella to make snap yes or no decisions on the shoes she wants to keep. "I'm telling you, if you pause for one moment, it's gone," he says as he holds up pair after pair.
As Peter flushes out unwanted shoes, Ella has a breakthrough. "I am certainly willing to make a change. I didn't realize how much I was going to be affected by the change, though," she says.
The blame, Ella realizes, doesn't just fall on her husband and children. She's also responsible for the clutter. "I have to look at myself as well and be very honest about my impact on this whole equation of things," she says.
After parting with many pairs of shoes, Ella leaves the master bedroom so Peter and his team can finish the transformation in her closet. The mountain of shoe boxes is gone, with a neatly organized shoe rack in its place. Ella and Alberto are amazed. "You just don't realize that things have accumulated and it just became overwhelming," Ella says.
"This looks good," Alberto says. "This looks great."
Ella says Peter's makeover has opened new doors for her family. "I didn't realize how many of my friends and family members had not been upstairs until after I decluttered mentally, physically and emotionally," she says. "Then I was able to open the door to the bedroom and open the door to my home."
Alberto says the family makes an effort to keep the house looking like it did when Peter and his team left. It's even carried over to Alberto's work. "The next week I went into my office and rearranged my office," he says.
The boys are even keeping their own rooms clean! "It just teaches all, it's [easy] after 20 years of marriage [to] accumulate a lot of stuff around the house," Alberto says
Peter believes that an organized kitchen can help you lose weight! It all comes down to the way you choose to live, he says. "You can't be a lean person if your house, especially your kitchen, is full of fat. And so as the master bedroom drives the house, the kitchen nourishes the house. Not just in terms of food but in terms of your whole mental outlook," he says. "I don't believe you can separate how you live from the vision you have for the life you want."
Tip 9: Establish a "magic triangle" in your kitchen.
There are two strategies for keeping your kitchen lean and clean, Peter says. The first is to establish a "magic triangle" in your kitchen between the stove, your refrigerator and your sink. "Anything you use most often, keep it in the triangle," he says. "Anything you use less often, outside the triangle. It will save you a ton of time."
Tip 10: Identify useful utensils with the cardboard box test.
If you want to see what utensils you're really using, Peter recommends the cardboard box test. "Take all the utensils out of your drawers, put them in a cardboard box," he says. "For the next month, whenever you use one of these utensils, put it back in the drawer. If after four weeks it's still in the box, you don't need it."
Declutter your home in only six months! Join Peter's Clutter Crew.
Find more organizing tips from Peter Walsh.
MY THOUGHTS
i'm so happy. i already have the magic triangle in the kitchen! that's all you can have when you live in a very small condo. in fact, i do not even have a stove. a microwave is the 3rd in that triangle. other than that, i have made the decision to follow 3 tips-the hanger principle, the "in-out" strategy and the vision. this will be easy to do with my stuff. with my mom's stuff, it's a prayer item. she doesn't mind her clutter.
.By Peter Walsh
The Oprah Winfrey Show
January 01, 2006
If you had to step over piles of clothes, papers and unidentifiable "stuff" just to get to your computer, you're not alone. Organizational guru Peter Walsh, host of TLC's hit show Clean Sweep, says millions of Americans are drowning in clutter.
Studies show that although families are smaller, homes are larger than ever. Even with more square feet of living space, many Americans still fill attics, basements and storage units with stuff. Peter blames overstuffed spaces on our super-size mentality. "We're in a culture that says more is better," he says. "We've been led to believe that things bring us happiness."
For more than 10 years, Peter has helped pack rats organize their homes and reclaim their lives. His techniques go well beyond color-coded boxes and plastic storage bins. Peter says he helps people uncover what's really going on underneath all that junk, which often leads to life-changing breakthroughs.
"[Stuff] robs people of so much," he says. "If your house is full of stuff, all the blessings that could fill your house can't get in. The stuff takes over. It robs you psychologically. You can't be at peace."
Don't distress over your mess—learn to conquer your clutter one room at a time.
Tip 1: Tackle one room at a time.
Don't let a manicured lawn fool you. Behind closed doors, many families are living with massive clutter. The Gavitt family hopes Peter can help them reclaim their Texas home.
Janet, a busy wife and mother of four, says the clutter started to get out of control when her twin daughters were born eight years ago. Now, with a 5-year-old and a baby to care for, she says she and her husband, Charlton, just can't keep up.
When Peter first arrived at the Gavitts' home, he noticed children's toys and clothes scattered throughout the house...even in the family room. "It doesn't look like a house that the parents run," Peter tells Janet. "You and Charlton have to get back in the driving seat."
Although Janet says she tells her daughters to put their things away, there's no designated place to put them. Plus, there are simply too many things to keep track of. Janet isn't lacking organizational skills. In fact, she works for The Container Store, a retail chain that specializes in space and storage solutions. "Talk about feeling like a fraud," she says.
Janet isn't the only person feeling the effects of the clutter. The mess is also starting to take a toll on Charlton. "I can't do the things I want to do with my children because there's stuff everywhere," he says. "I can't help them with their homework because there's not a place to do it. My job as a father is being compromised by the amount of clutter that we have in our house."
Everything's bigger in Texas...even messes. That didn't stop Peter from transforming the Gavitts' family room into a real living room in just 72 hours.
With the floor free of toys, the Gavitts' space looks more spacious and inviting. "We would actually use this room," Charlton says.
New furniture also doubles as organizational tools. Inside the leather footstools, the children discover board games. A coatrack in the entryway also has shelves for additional storage.
The papers that once covered the dining table are gone, and finally, the family can sit and enjoy a meal together. "I totally have gotten that now that we don't need the [stuff]-the stuff was hurting us," Janet says. "We need each other."
Tip 2: Follow the "in-out rule."
Peter and Janet tackle piles of the girls' clothes, which are scattered throughout the house. Peter says the secret is to take everything out of each room first and then sort it in a separate location.
All the clothing is placed on a tarp in the front yard. Now, it's up to Janet to sort the clothes into two categories—items to keep and items to give away. Each daughter gets a set number of bins, and once they are full, Janet must move on.
To avoid clutter, Peter says every shopper should follow the "in-out rule." Every time you buy a new piece of clothing, you should get rid of an old piece. He also makes Janet promise that she will not buy her daughters any new clothes for six months
Tip 3: Build intimacy.
When Peter sees Janet and Charlton's bedroom, he knows just what they need more of: intimacy. "When you are intimate, when your relationship is powering along, that will feed the rest of the house," he says.
With junk everywhere, Charlton says there's just no room to be romantic in the master bedroom. "You'd roll over onto a pile of clothes or a pile of toys and so we tried to take it to other rooms, but they were just as bad," he says. "There was no place to be us."
When asked what sort of bedroom they want, Janet says she'd like a romantic space, while Charlton wants a room that's just for him and his wife. Now that they have a shared vision, they can begin to declutter.
Peter tells the couple if they haven't used it in 12 months, it needs to go. That includes the dingy sweatpants Janet's been hanging onto since high school. "If it doesn't fit the vision you have for your space, it's got to go," Peter says.
Now, Janet and Charlton's bedroom oozes with intimacy. Soft lighting and a fresh coat of paint give the room a new look and feel. "There's a floor!" Janet says. "I feel a thousand pounds lighter. I feel like we can breathe now."
Peter designated a small space for their baby, Julia, and completely reorganized their closets.
Tip 4: Make cleanup fun.
Even though Miranda, Katharine and Audrey are young, Peter says they can learn to pick up after themselves. All it takes is a little creativity. Peter makes cleaning fun by turning it into a game. Each girl is given a type of thing—clothes, toys or books—to be responsible for. At the count of three, the girls scramble to fill bins with their items.
Miranda, Janet and Charlton's 8-year-old daughter, said she was embarrassed to bring friends over to her messy house...but not anymore! The once chaotic playroom is now an orderly place for the girls and their friends to read, play and paint.
Peter has designated a place for everything. There are bins for toys, cubbies for art supplies, and shelves for books and games.
How will they keep it tidy? "If we put everything back where it belongs," Miranda says. The Gavitt girls promise Peter that they'll keep the room neat and clutter-free
Tip 5: Create a vision.
Peter's method for attacking a messy garage is what he calls a "kick-start"—a high-speed, easy purge. Although it took years for the Gavitts to fill their garage with junk, it should only take them minutes to decide what they need to keep.
Peter says they need to create a vision and asks the Gavitts what they want from their garage. Charlton names four things: somewhere to work, park the car, refuge and storage. Now, they must rely on split-second decision making to identify the items that stay and the items that go. "You have to be tough as nails," Peter says.
Before Peter stepped in, Janet and Charlton hadn't been able to park in their garage for six years. After sorting through hundreds of items, Janet and Charlton drastically reduced the amount of stuff in their garage. Now, there is ample parking space thanks to new shelving units and clearly marked storage boxes.
"Incredible!" Janet says. Janet and Charlton say Peter's help has transformed their lives. "We knew we weren't happy," Janet says. "We knew it was something, but what?"
Now, Janet and Charlton have stopped hiding their home and started entertaining again. "We've had friends over several nights in a row for drinks because we can. So that's incredible," Janet says.
Peter's philosophies have even carried into different aspect of Charlton's life. He says he even decluttered his appearance by shaving his beard and cutting his ponytail! Charlton's also organized his work life. "I've cleaned out my office at school and it's going go even further," he says. "I teach theater so the prop room is next and we're going to purge all the stuff there, and I've been sharing it with everyone that I can talk to."
Although their home is clean and tidy now, Charlton says he fears things could go back to the way they were. "It's a big fear, and I won't live like that again," he says.
Tip 6: Teach your kids how to sort.
Just like millions of other moms, Ella, a Chicago wife and mother, has a few organizational problem areas in her house. She says her husband, Alberto, and her two sons, Ellington and Chandler, are the main clutter creators.
Peter says the secret to having clutter-free kids starts with teaching them how to sort. He gives Ella's boys one trash bag and two boxes. He tells them to fill the bag with garbage, and put anything they want to sell at a yard sale in one box and charitable donations in the other.
Peter also encourages Ellington and Chandler to make cleaning fun—even boring chores like putting away clothes. "Here's what you have to do every night before you go to bed," Peter says. "You have to shoot baskets with your clothes." The boys also get a lesson in using baskets and containers to organize their things and learn the important "in-out rule." With their very own label maker in hand and bins at their disposal, the boys start sorting!
After the boys did their jobs, Peter and his team work some magic of their own in the room to give the kids a fresh start. Bookshelves were placed in one section of the room to act as a library, and Ellington and Chandler organized bins for photos, toy cars and bags.
"You see how it's so clean now?" Ellington says.
"It's clean. Oh, my goodness! I am so proud of you. It looks absolutely beautiful," Ella says.
Tip 7: Use a hanger system to determine which clothes you wear most.
Peter says the single biggest problem he sees in homes is closet organization. Many of Ella's issues stemmed from having too many clothes, some with the tags still on. "I always tell her that there's always going to be a sale and not every sale you need to participate in," Alberto says
Peter says we actually only wear 20 percent of our clothes 80 percent of the time, and that there's a simple test to see which ones you wear most. "What you should do is take all of your clothes and hang them in the closet [facing one] way," he says. "And then every time you wear an article of clothing, you put it back in [the opposite way]."
After six months, Peter says to go through everything that's still hanging in its original position. "Ask yourself, 'Do I ever wear that?' Go through and anything that you haven't worn in 12 months, no longer fits, out of fashion, that you don't love, use as an opportunity to get rid of it," Peter says.
Peter's team organized both closets. Ella's happy to see those unworn deals cleared away and donated. Alberto is amazed at the hanging row of suits and shelves with neatly folded shirts.
"I can actually see what I want to wear before I even reach for it," Alberto says.
Tip 8: Ask yourself if you really need something. If you hesitate, you don't.
Now it's time to purge the rest of Ella's closet, which is overrun by shoes. "We have to do a quick run on shoes," Peter says. Peter forces Ella to make snap yes or no decisions on the shoes she wants to keep. "I'm telling you, if you pause for one moment, it's gone," he says as he holds up pair after pair.
As Peter flushes out unwanted shoes, Ella has a breakthrough. "I am certainly willing to make a change. I didn't realize how much I was going to be affected by the change, though," she says.
The blame, Ella realizes, doesn't just fall on her husband and children. She's also responsible for the clutter. "I have to look at myself as well and be very honest about my impact on this whole equation of things," she says.
After parting with many pairs of shoes, Ella leaves the master bedroom so Peter and his team can finish the transformation in her closet. The mountain of shoe boxes is gone, with a neatly organized shoe rack in its place. Ella and Alberto are amazed. "You just don't realize that things have accumulated and it just became overwhelming," Ella says.
"This looks good," Alberto says. "This looks great."
Ella says Peter's makeover has opened new doors for her family. "I didn't realize how many of my friends and family members had not been upstairs until after I decluttered mentally, physically and emotionally," she says. "Then I was able to open the door to the bedroom and open the door to my home."
Alberto says the family makes an effort to keep the house looking like it did when Peter and his team left. It's even carried over to Alberto's work. "The next week I went into my office and rearranged my office," he says.
The boys are even keeping their own rooms clean! "It just teaches all, it's [easy] after 20 years of marriage [to] accumulate a lot of stuff around the house," Alberto says
Peter believes that an organized kitchen can help you lose weight! It all comes down to the way you choose to live, he says. "You can't be a lean person if your house, especially your kitchen, is full of fat. And so as the master bedroom drives the house, the kitchen nourishes the house. Not just in terms of food but in terms of your whole mental outlook," he says. "I don't believe you can separate how you live from the vision you have for the life you want."
Tip 9: Establish a "magic triangle" in your kitchen.
There are two strategies for keeping your kitchen lean and clean, Peter says. The first is to establish a "magic triangle" in your kitchen between the stove, your refrigerator and your sink. "Anything you use most often, keep it in the triangle," he says. "Anything you use less often, outside the triangle. It will save you a ton of time."
Tip 10: Identify useful utensils with the cardboard box test.
If you want to see what utensils you're really using, Peter recommends the cardboard box test. "Take all the utensils out of your drawers, put them in a cardboard box," he says. "For the next month, whenever you use one of these utensils, put it back in the drawer. If after four weeks it's still in the box, you don't need it."
Declutter your home in only six months! Join Peter's Clutter Crew.
Find more organizing tips from Peter Walsh.
MY THOUGHTS
i'm so happy. i already have the magic triangle in the kitchen! that's all you can have when you live in a very small condo. in fact, i do not even have a stove. a microwave is the 3rd in that triangle. other than that, i have made the decision to follow 3 tips-the hanger principle, the "in-out" strategy and the vision. this will be easy to do with my stuff. with my mom's stuff, it's a prayer item. she doesn't mind her clutter.
Monday, November 1, 2010
closet organizing: put order
Order in the Closet
Clothing-obsessed celebs such as Mariah Carey and Paris Hilton are famous for their luxurious closets with shelves of shoes that seem to stretch on for miles and boutique-like racks of designer apparel. While most of us have neither the square footage (nor the desire) to create our own wardrobe wonders, we could still strive for what those divas have perfected: the well-organized storage space.
"Every type of person" struggles with closet clutter, says Alejandra Costello, a co-founder of Arlington-based professional organizing service Color-Coded (866-612-6567). But learning to store your belongings in a neat, easy-to-maintain manner can help you spend less time searching for shoes and more time showing off the perfect outfit.
Even chaotic hallway closets can benefit from a face-lift; nobody wants to be digging through piles of first-aid supplies when they have a migraine or be assaulted from above by improperly stashed winter scarves.
Those "I've created a monster in my closet!" moments are just when professional organizers can swoop in to help. The pros charge between $50 and $100 per hour for their expertise, and their closet makeovers can take between six and 15 hours, depending on the size of the project, Costello says. But she's convinced this type of investment reaps long-term rewards.
"I always tell my clients, 'If you're going to spend money getting organized, you want to set up a system one time and do it right, instead of having to keep tweaking the system,'" Costello says.
Rehabbing your closet starts with an empty — not overloaded — space. "It's a lot easier to take everything out and go from there," Costello says. Color-Coded organizers often push clients to toss items that aren't in heavy rotation, in order to free up more space in small apartments or houses.
"We'll sort everything and go through each individual item asking, 'When was the last time you used this? Is it still good? Is it outdated?'" Costello says. After repurposing or donating any unwanted items, a complete makeover can commence.
We asked Costello to share some of her top tips for reorganizing any closet.
1) Shelve Your Issues
If blank walls make up a portion of your closet, consider adding custom shelving. While it's pricey, Color-Coded's Costello believes the installation is worth the money. She recommends the Elfa system, which is sold at The Container Store, because of its flexibility. "Once you install the shelving, you can always move shelves higher or lower depending on what you're storing," Costello says. "You can change a shelf into a hanging rod or a hanging rod into a shelf. You can add a basket. It's just very flexible."
2) Get More From Your Door
The back of your door — the side that faces the interior of your closet — is precious real estate. Hang up a door rack containing hooks or baskets to create a few extra storage nooks. Costello recommends using Elfa's Door and Wall Rack ($107) and attaching a few movable baskets. The installation is made for kitchens and living spaces but works equally well in closets, Costello says. "I love to use the baskets to store flip-flops, slippers, sunglasses, cosmetic bags and anything that you want to toss in, pull out or make easily accessible," she says. Another option to hang on your door: fabric pockets or shoe bag organizers. Try Christy Designs' versatile "Organizer" Gear Pocket ($35).
3) It's All About the Visuals
Sorting keeps a closet user-friendly. But all that order can get dull. Add intrigue with colored tabs that attach to the top of hangers. Costello recommends using the colored hanger snaps sold by Carlson JPM Store Fixtures ($3 for a bag of 50). "The more color you have in your space, the easier it is to organize," Costello says. "If you take a dress off a hanger that has a purple hanger snap, it's easy to say 'Purple belongs to dresses' and associate that hanger with the dress."
4) Label Liberally
If you have items to stash on shelves or in bins, keep track of everything with homemade labels. That's right, Costello recommends actually writing out "running shoes" for a bin holding your sneaks. It might be old-school, but "it makes a difference," she says. "A lot of people just put things back [into their closets] in a random order. If each item has a home in its section, I find that it's easier to maintain." Use pieces of Duct tape (in fancy new colors and patterns such as paisley and polka dots, such as the rolls above, sold by The Spoon Sisters; $9 per roll), covered with clear packing tape. Write what's inside each container or on each shelf using dry-erase markers — that way, you can re-label areas when you move things around.
5) Aim for Lots Of the Same
Most people amass a wide variety of hangers — it's hard to pass up free wire "We Love Our Customers" hangers from the dry cleaner — but an assortment of shapes and sizes encourages chaos. "Using uniform hangers is an absolute must in the closet," Costello says. She recommends sticking to wooden hangers ("The clothes hang off them really nicely," she says). Pick up a few sets at Ikea (five for $2).
MY THOUGHTS
good advice. i will need this in a couple of weeks as i attack my closets in my mom's house.
Clothing-obsessed celebs such as Mariah Carey and Paris Hilton are famous for their luxurious closets with shelves of shoes that seem to stretch on for miles and boutique-like racks of designer apparel. While most of us have neither the square footage (nor the desire) to create our own wardrobe wonders, we could still strive for what those divas have perfected: the well-organized storage space.
"Every type of person" struggles with closet clutter, says Alejandra Costello, a co-founder of Arlington-based professional organizing service Color-Coded (866-612-6567). But learning to store your belongings in a neat, easy-to-maintain manner can help you spend less time searching for shoes and more time showing off the perfect outfit.
Even chaotic hallway closets can benefit from a face-lift; nobody wants to be digging through piles of first-aid supplies when they have a migraine or be assaulted from above by improperly stashed winter scarves.
Those "I've created a monster in my closet!" moments are just when professional organizers can swoop in to help. The pros charge between $50 and $100 per hour for their expertise, and their closet makeovers can take between six and 15 hours, depending on the size of the project, Costello says. But she's convinced this type of investment reaps long-term rewards.
"I always tell my clients, 'If you're going to spend money getting organized, you want to set up a system one time and do it right, instead of having to keep tweaking the system,'" Costello says.
Rehabbing your closet starts with an empty — not overloaded — space. "It's a lot easier to take everything out and go from there," Costello says. Color-Coded organizers often push clients to toss items that aren't in heavy rotation, in order to free up more space in small apartments or houses.
"We'll sort everything and go through each individual item asking, 'When was the last time you used this? Is it still good? Is it outdated?'" Costello says. After repurposing or donating any unwanted items, a complete makeover can commence.
We asked Costello to share some of her top tips for reorganizing any closet.
1) Shelve Your Issues
If blank walls make up a portion of your closet, consider adding custom shelving. While it's pricey, Color-Coded's Costello believes the installation is worth the money. She recommends the Elfa system, which is sold at The Container Store, because of its flexibility. "Once you install the shelving, you can always move shelves higher or lower depending on what you're storing," Costello says. "You can change a shelf into a hanging rod or a hanging rod into a shelf. You can add a basket. It's just very flexible."
2) Get More From Your Door
The back of your door — the side that faces the interior of your closet — is precious real estate. Hang up a door rack containing hooks or baskets to create a few extra storage nooks. Costello recommends using Elfa's Door and Wall Rack ($107) and attaching a few movable baskets. The installation is made for kitchens and living spaces but works equally well in closets, Costello says. "I love to use the baskets to store flip-flops, slippers, sunglasses, cosmetic bags and anything that you want to toss in, pull out or make easily accessible," she says. Another option to hang on your door: fabric pockets or shoe bag organizers. Try Christy Designs' versatile "Organizer" Gear Pocket ($35).
3) It's All About the Visuals
Sorting keeps a closet user-friendly. But all that order can get dull. Add intrigue with colored tabs that attach to the top of hangers. Costello recommends using the colored hanger snaps sold by Carlson JPM Store Fixtures ($3 for a bag of 50). "The more color you have in your space, the easier it is to organize," Costello says. "If you take a dress off a hanger that has a purple hanger snap, it's easy to say 'Purple belongs to dresses' and associate that hanger with the dress."
4) Label Liberally
If you have items to stash on shelves or in bins, keep track of everything with homemade labels. That's right, Costello recommends actually writing out "running shoes" for a bin holding your sneaks. It might be old-school, but "it makes a difference," she says. "A lot of people just put things back [into their closets] in a random order. If each item has a home in its section, I find that it's easier to maintain." Use pieces of Duct tape (in fancy new colors and patterns such as paisley and polka dots, such as the rolls above, sold by The Spoon Sisters; $9 per roll), covered with clear packing tape. Write what's inside each container or on each shelf using dry-erase markers — that way, you can re-label areas when you move things around.
5) Aim for Lots Of the Same
Most people amass a wide variety of hangers — it's hard to pass up free wire "We Love Our Customers" hangers from the dry cleaner — but an assortment of shapes and sizes encourages chaos. "Using uniform hangers is an absolute must in the closet," Costello says. She recommends sticking to wooden hangers ("The clothes hang off them really nicely," she says). Pick up a few sets at Ikea (five for $2).
MY THOUGHTS
good advice. i will need this in a couple of weeks as i attack my closets in my mom's house.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Bump up your wardrobe by 'shopping your closet'
Bump up your wardrobe by 'shopping your closet'
Published: Friday, September 24, 2010, 10:00 AM Updated: Friday, September 24, 2010, 2:59 PM
By Kiley Kievit
It’s a true moment of terror for women: You have a dinner party or wedding or trip to the grocery store to make, and nothing that will work in your closet. Oh, it’s not empty, but the degree of difficulty in finding the perfect outfit there might as well make it as desolate as the Sahara.
But with a less-than-booming economy, the idea of “shopping your closet” has captured the attention of consumers determined to be careful with their hard-earned cash, supplying countless segments for morning-show TV and newspaper and magazine articles.
Americans determined to kick their shopping “addiction” have signed on for campaigns like sixitemsorless.com, which challenges people to wear just six items of clothing (not counting shoes or underwear) for 30 days. There’s even been a book written about the shop-your-closet concept.
But how to decide what to donate? And what to do with what you keep?
Think classic
That’s not to say that every closet is laden with treasures, but there are key pieces to be found that will fit today’s styles. “There are things in your closet you can adapt to the current trends,” says Peggy Syrowik, manager of the Coldwater Creek store at the Crossroads Mall. “Boxy blazers are out — wearing a well-cut blazer instead can dress up jeans. Long, bangled jewelry is back. When looking through your closet, just be
savvy about what you have and how you can make it work for you.”
Jackets, belts, leggings and accessories can update a woman’s everyday look, and are versatile enough
to work with most anything. “Right now, the look that’s in is long and lean,” says Syrowik. “Pair a long sweater with leggings or ‘jeggings’ (denim leggings). Just make sure you’re comfortable and that everything fits you well.”
Style mavens suggest thinking classic, rather than trendy.
“I definitely think a man’s white button-down shirt is a great piece to have, because you can either dress it up or down with jeans or a skirt,” says Lauren Worgess, owner of Loved Consignment Boutique on E. South Street in Kalamazoo. She says that a black blazer is also a great item to hold on to, since it can be thrown on over a white shirt, T-shirt or tank top — items “everybody has.”
Another top pick to scrounge the closet for: A black dress.
“A black dress is a great thing to have,” Worgess says. She suggests kicking it up with a pair of funky shoes, a belt, long jewelry or a jacket over the top.
One warning: Don’t over-accessorize.
“I’m really not a fan of the matching handbag to shoes to shirt,” she says. “Also, in the past 10
years, trends have really been picking up, and you want to avoid putting too many together.”
‘Shopping your closet’
It’s one thing to know what to look for in the closet and how to use it to the best advantage. For some, it might be a whole different concept to actually find those items. The book “Shop Your Closet: The Ultimate Guide to Organizing Your Closet with Style,” by Melanie Charlton Fascitelli, touts the benefit of clearing out the clutter. Simply stated, clutter takes up valuable closet space, mashing the good with the bad and confusing any efforts to shop your closet successfully.
“Anything that doesn’t fit you well should go, as well as anything that’s really, really dated,”
Syrowik says. “Get rid of things you wouldn’t miss, things you never wear, and look at the things you’re holding on to. A lot of times women will keep things in their closet, thinking, ‘I’ll wear it someday,’ but think about why you’re not wearing it now. It probably either doesn’t fit well or doesn’t go with any of your other clothes and needs to go.” (Getting rid of it doesn’t have to mean tossing it in the trash. Depending on the condition, items can either be sold on consignment or donated to a charity such as the Salvation Army or Goodwill.)
By sorting through a closet’s inventory, you’ll be able to see what’s worth keeping — accessories, a
great black dress, a fabulous coat — and what needs to head out the door.
Get rid of anything kitschy: “Kitty-head sweaters, Christmas-tree sweaters — they need to go. Unless
you’re a kindergarten teacher ... get rid of them,” Syrowik says.
Anything that’s too small, too big, really out of style or damaged has no place in the closet. Keeping — or worse, wearing — clothes that do little for the body or self-esteem should be avoided at all costs.
Most important, women should feel good about their clothes, wearing items that are comfortable and a
good fit, Worgess says, and they should keep this in mind while shopping for future items — in their
closet or at a store.
“I’m a big fan of seeing clothes that fit,” she says. “I don’t think enough people tailor their clothes, and tailors can do amazing things.” She adds that tailoring pieces that fit a little big means one more item in the closet — almost as good as brand new.
Related topics: Kalamazoo Style, Kalamazoo Your Home
MY THOUGHTS
i promise to do this next week. make some sense out of my closet again. i have so many things to let go of. it's time.
Published: Friday, September 24, 2010, 10:00 AM Updated: Friday, September 24, 2010, 2:59 PM
By Kiley Kievit
It’s a true moment of terror for women: You have a dinner party or wedding or trip to the grocery store to make, and nothing that will work in your closet. Oh, it’s not empty, but the degree of difficulty in finding the perfect outfit there might as well make it as desolate as the Sahara.
But with a less-than-booming economy, the idea of “shopping your closet” has captured the attention of consumers determined to be careful with their hard-earned cash, supplying countless segments for morning-show TV and newspaper and magazine articles.
Americans determined to kick their shopping “addiction” have signed on for campaigns like sixitemsorless.com, which challenges people to wear just six items of clothing (not counting shoes or underwear) for 30 days. There’s even been a book written about the shop-your-closet concept.
But how to decide what to donate? And what to do with what you keep?
Think classic
That’s not to say that every closet is laden with treasures, but there are key pieces to be found that will fit today’s styles. “There are things in your closet you can adapt to the current trends,” says Peggy Syrowik, manager of the Coldwater Creek store at the Crossroads Mall. “Boxy blazers are out — wearing a well-cut blazer instead can dress up jeans. Long, bangled jewelry is back. When looking through your closet, just be
savvy about what you have and how you can make it work for you.”
Jackets, belts, leggings and accessories can update a woman’s everyday look, and are versatile enough
to work with most anything. “Right now, the look that’s in is long and lean,” says Syrowik. “Pair a long sweater with leggings or ‘jeggings’ (denim leggings). Just make sure you’re comfortable and that everything fits you well.”
Style mavens suggest thinking classic, rather than trendy.
“I definitely think a man’s white button-down shirt is a great piece to have, because you can either dress it up or down with jeans or a skirt,” says Lauren Worgess, owner of Loved Consignment Boutique on E. South Street in Kalamazoo. She says that a black blazer is also a great item to hold on to, since it can be thrown on over a white shirt, T-shirt or tank top — items “everybody has.”
Another top pick to scrounge the closet for: A black dress.
“A black dress is a great thing to have,” Worgess says. She suggests kicking it up with a pair of funky shoes, a belt, long jewelry or a jacket over the top.
One warning: Don’t over-accessorize.
“I’m really not a fan of the matching handbag to shoes to shirt,” she says. “Also, in the past 10
years, trends have really been picking up, and you want to avoid putting too many together.”
‘Shopping your closet’
It’s one thing to know what to look for in the closet and how to use it to the best advantage. For some, it might be a whole different concept to actually find those items. The book “Shop Your Closet: The Ultimate Guide to Organizing Your Closet with Style,” by Melanie Charlton Fascitelli, touts the benefit of clearing out the clutter. Simply stated, clutter takes up valuable closet space, mashing the good with the bad and confusing any efforts to shop your closet successfully.
“Anything that doesn’t fit you well should go, as well as anything that’s really, really dated,”
Syrowik says. “Get rid of things you wouldn’t miss, things you never wear, and look at the things you’re holding on to. A lot of times women will keep things in their closet, thinking, ‘I’ll wear it someday,’ but think about why you’re not wearing it now. It probably either doesn’t fit well or doesn’t go with any of your other clothes and needs to go.” (Getting rid of it doesn’t have to mean tossing it in the trash. Depending on the condition, items can either be sold on consignment or donated to a charity such as the Salvation Army or Goodwill.)
By sorting through a closet’s inventory, you’ll be able to see what’s worth keeping — accessories, a
great black dress, a fabulous coat — and what needs to head out the door.
Get rid of anything kitschy: “Kitty-head sweaters, Christmas-tree sweaters — they need to go. Unless
you’re a kindergarten teacher ... get rid of them,” Syrowik says.
Anything that’s too small, too big, really out of style or damaged has no place in the closet. Keeping — or worse, wearing — clothes that do little for the body or self-esteem should be avoided at all costs.
Most important, women should feel good about their clothes, wearing items that are comfortable and a
good fit, Worgess says, and they should keep this in mind while shopping for future items — in their
closet or at a store.
“I’m a big fan of seeing clothes that fit,” she says. “I don’t think enough people tailor their clothes, and tailors can do amazing things.” She adds that tailoring pieces that fit a little big means one more item in the closet — almost as good as brand new.
Related topics: Kalamazoo Style, Kalamazoo Your Home
MY THOUGHTS
i promise to do this next week. make some sense out of my closet again. i have so many things to let go of. it's time.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Stylish Storage Solutions for Shoe Hoarders
Stylish Storage Solutions for Shoe Hoarders
You owe it to your fabulous footwear!
If You're a Hoarder
Fashionista, no one's judging you. You can buy as many pairs of shoes as you'd like. Our only request: store them in a cart with wheels. Try the 40-Pair Shoe Roller Closet Organizer Storage Chest Cart ($49.75 at Amazon) for starters. With this shoe-fiend must-have, you won't bury and neglect valuable twosomes -- all will be in eyesight and within reach.
If You Have an Artistic Side
When we saw these Pure Nomade Hotel Boxes ($25.50 each at Pure Nomade), we fell in love. They're certainly worthy of housing your priceless pairs and can stand alone as works of art with their unique designs. Some of them might even be -- dare we say it? -- more beautiful than some shoes!
If You're Discreet
Although fabulous shoes should be shared -- even when they're not on feet -- you might want to keep them tucked away for decoration's sake. Try the Hemnes Shoe Cabinet with 2 Compartments ($129 at Ikea). It will house some of your most valuable pairs, and no one will be the wiser.
If You Stack Up
Style mavens, who need a shoe-storage system that they can grow with (one can never have too many pairs), should invest in these Large Shoe Boxes ($8.99 per box at The Container Store). Not only will these clear stackables help you organize and find your fabulous footwear, you can also showcase them for visitors to see like works of art.
If You Have a Space Issue
Strapped for space but won't sacrifice a single pair in your collection? Maybe this Natural Canvas 20-Pocket Over-the-Door Organizer ($26.99 at Space Savers) will do. If you have more than 20, have no fear -- you can hang one on every door in your home.
If You're On a Budget
Want to spend more money on shoes instead of splurging on shoe storage? There are wallet-friendly shoe-storage options out there that will do your shoes justice, like this Gearbox Sport Underbed Shoe Bag ($9.99 each at Bed Bath & Beyond). Buy as many as you can fit under your bed and couch!
If You're Offbeat
Want to store your funky and colorful pairs of flats and sneakers in something just as fun? We suggest you get the Shoe Wheel Shoe Storage and Organization ($59.95 at HSN). It spins so you can find the perfect pair for any given outfit, no problem.
If You Like the Basics
You can't go wrong with the ($23.99 at OrganizeIt.com). Whether you're a shoe hoarder who needs something versatile or a plain jane who just wants something simple, this shoe organizer has all of your bases covered. Just adjust to fit.
MY THOUGHTS
love them all! but my fave is the roller coaster organizer.
You owe it to your fabulous footwear!
If You're a Hoarder
Fashionista, no one's judging you. You can buy as many pairs of shoes as you'd like. Our only request: store them in a cart with wheels. Try the 40-Pair Shoe Roller Closet Organizer Storage Chest Cart ($49.75 at Amazon) for starters. With this shoe-fiend must-have, you won't bury and neglect valuable twosomes -- all will be in eyesight and within reach.
If You Have an Artistic Side
When we saw these Pure Nomade Hotel Boxes ($25.50 each at Pure Nomade), we fell in love. They're certainly worthy of housing your priceless pairs and can stand alone as works of art with their unique designs. Some of them might even be -- dare we say it? -- more beautiful than some shoes!
If You're Discreet
Although fabulous shoes should be shared -- even when they're not on feet -- you might want to keep them tucked away for decoration's sake. Try the Hemnes Shoe Cabinet with 2 Compartments ($129 at Ikea). It will house some of your most valuable pairs, and no one will be the wiser.
If You Stack Up
Style mavens, who need a shoe-storage system that they can grow with (one can never have too many pairs), should invest in these Large Shoe Boxes ($8.99 per box at The Container Store). Not only will these clear stackables help you organize and find your fabulous footwear, you can also showcase them for visitors to see like works of art.
If You Have a Space Issue
Strapped for space but won't sacrifice a single pair in your collection? Maybe this Natural Canvas 20-Pocket Over-the-Door Organizer ($26.99 at Space Savers) will do. If you have more than 20, have no fear -- you can hang one on every door in your home.
If You're On a Budget
Want to spend more money on shoes instead of splurging on shoe storage? There are wallet-friendly shoe-storage options out there that will do your shoes justice, like this Gearbox Sport Underbed Shoe Bag ($9.99 each at Bed Bath & Beyond). Buy as many as you can fit under your bed and couch!
If You're Offbeat
Want to store your funky and colorful pairs of flats and sneakers in something just as fun? We suggest you get the Shoe Wheel Shoe Storage and Organization ($59.95 at HSN). It spins so you can find the perfect pair for any given outfit, no problem.
If You Like the Basics
You can't go wrong with the ($23.99 at OrganizeIt.com). Whether you're a shoe hoarder who needs something versatile or a plain jane who just wants something simple, this shoe organizer has all of your bases covered. Just adjust to fit.
MY THOUGHTS
love them all! but my fave is the roller coaster organizer.
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