The Expert Guide to Organizing Your Closet
Runway / News
by Sharon Feiereisen
August 02, 2011
http://www.thefashionspot.com/runway-news/news/168261-the-expert-guide-to-organizing-your-closet
I live in a duplex apartment with incredibly high ceilings, I have three closets, two of which are floor-to-ceiling and one of which takes up an entire wall. You’d think with all of that closet space I’d have ample room for my sartorial indulgences, but unfortunately, at least in my case, room breeds clutter. After returning from Super Saturday in the Hamptons with four new dresses, three new pairs of shoes, two new tops, two pairs of pants, and a to-die-for Zimmermann bathing suit, I decided it was time to clean out my closets. My boyfriend, whose “closet” has been relegated to two plastic bins underneath the bed, was thrilled. Before tackling my wardrobe, I spoke to two experts in the field to get their tips on how to best go about organizing closet spaces.
Myclean.com, a New York-based website which offers users the ability to schedule customized cleaning appointments, home repairs, and personal organization sessions just brought professional organizer Lisa Jacobs on board and she outlined her must-dos for us:
Remove all items from closet space. [note: this can be scary! If you’re like me and haven’t done this in years be prepared for dust tumbleweeds.]
Purchase slim velvet hangers; choose a color that coordinates with the room's color scheme.
Sort through all items to eliminate the unnecessary, so the necessary can speak. [note: this was the hardest for me — there’s nothing worse than getting rid of something with the price tags still hanging on, but if you’re never going to wear it, there really is little point in keeping it.]
Shelves above rod ought to be outfitted with containers to stack from shelf to ceiling and can be in a variety of sizes.
Left side of shelf ought be stacked with containers, right side with risers to maximize shelf space by creating double shelf. Use the area for handbags and larger items.
Purchase shoe rack for floor space. No clothes should be placed on the floor.
Discard all shoe boxes and handbag bags. [note: this one I have to politely disagree with; accessories should be protected and while dust bags and shoe boxes may not be space efficient, in my opinion, they’re essential for long wear.]
Purchase plastic cart on wheels with drawers, remove any clothing on the floor and place this cart in its place to serve as dresser. Use for smaller items, random toiletries and papers.
Purchase hanging bag with canvas shelves for t-shirts and sweaters.
If there are closet doors, maximize space on inside doors, hanging bag for random shoes, accessories, pocketed canvas bag.
Barbara Reich, of Resourceful Consultants, was also kind enough to share some of her tips for eliminating clutter. Reich has appeared on the Today Show, has been featured in the New York Times and New York Post, among other publications, and has been in the de-cluttering business for over a decade. She suggests:
Take it out and shake it out.
Take out all heavy winter coats and sweaters.
Take out any clothes/shoes that you didn’t wear last year and can’t see yourself wearing this year.
Take out any clothes/shoes that don’t fit, are in poor condition, will never fit, and are no longer in style. Be ruthless…
Maintain and move.
Assess whether any clothing maintenance is required on winter coats and sweaters…do buttons need tightening, do the coats need to be washed or professionally cleaned, are the sweaters pilled?
Consider moving heavy clothing to another closet (rack in basement, another closet under bed storage).
Make piles to donate, discard, take to cleaners, wash.
Group like things together.
Put all of your spring/summer sweaters together. Fold or hang by color.
Do the same for pants, short sleeve tops, long sleeve tops.
Hang as much as possible, it’s the easiest way to see what you have.
Put what you wear most in “Prime Real Estate.”
That means the things you wear most should be in the place that’s most accessible and easiest to reach.
Make a list.
Never buy without a plan.
Did you discard something that needs to be replaced (i.e. white button down that was looking gray, white cardigan)?
Is there something you really need?
Getting organized is a big commitment, but staying organized takes 10 minutes or less a day.
Take the time to fold clothes properly before putting them away in your drawers or closet. [note: this is a major problem for me because I tend to be lax with folding and ironing, but this is truly crucial – there’s nothing worse than rushing only to realize the outfit you wanted to wear is too wrinkled to be seen in.]
When you take something off a hanger, put the hanger at the front of your closet. That way you know where all of the empty hangers are, and you’re more like to hang clothes when you can easily find a hanger.
Maintain your clothes. Note when a button needs to be sewn or when a garment needs to be cleaned.
When you buy new clothes, edit what you have to see if there’s anything that can be eliminated.
If you’ve put something on twice and decided not to wear it twice, it’s time to say goodbye.
The floor is not a place to store things. Try to avoid having anything on the floor of your closet.
Now the big question – who’s going to help me take all of my discarded clothes to the Salvation Army?
MY THOUGHTS
Believe me-truing out these tips in closet organizing is more than just a challenge. Closet organizing is a test. It's a test of what you value the most. I've always been a stickler for closet organizing. I believe I have acquired the skills for making space available. But my real problem was not the lack of ability to organize closets. My problem has always been filling them up. It's so easy to buy and shop and load up your house with things. Giving them up is not as easy as that. There is one thing I tell myself when taking on the task of closet organizing- someone else can have better use of whatever it is I have not used for a long time.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
SIGNS THAT YOU ARE A HOARDER?
From the Article 'Too Much Stuff? It Could Be Compulsive Hoarding'
Learn Whether Your Messy Habits Are Those of A Compulsive Hoarder
By Stephanie Schorow, Special to Lifescript
Published August 9, 2011
From www.lifescript.com
10 Signs You Could Be a Hoarder
Could you, or someone you love, have a hoarding problem? Watch out for these red flags. (These were adopted in part from the workbook “Compulsive Hoarding and Acquiring” by Steketee and Frost.)
1. Acquiring objects brings a rush. Many hoarders report feeling powerful joy from finding a bargain or rescuing what they perceive as a useful item from the trash.
2. You have trouble finding things. Hoarders often can’t locate items or even enjoy them. Sometimes they don’t take purchases out of the bag.
3. Throwing things out upsets you. Hoarders let items pile up to avoid the emotional distress of discarding them.
4. Fix-it projects pile up faster than you can repair them. Hoarders intend to mend broken items but never get to them.
5. You avoid having visitors. Many compulsive hoarders find excuses for keeping guests out of their homes.
6. You put off repairs because your house is a mess. Hoarders are often too embarrassed to open their door to a plumber, carpenter or landlord.
7. You’re saving items because they might be useful or valuable someday. Hoarders place value on items that are worthless or of little value.
8. You’ve maxed out credit cards. Hoarders can’t resist sales and bargains – even for non-essential or frivolous items – and will spend themselves into bankruptcy.
9. You’re afraid to throw out old newspapers or magazines because you might miss something important. Hoarders often convince themselves that they need to save every publication that comes into their home. Or they save articles they think will interest others but never get around to sharing them. (This often leads to dangerous piles of combustible material.)
10. You can’t use rooms in your house because of clutter. If you can’t cook in your kitchen because of all the items stored in it or sleep in your bed because it’s covered with clothes, you’re entering hoarding territory.
Stephanie Schorow is a Boston-based freelance writer.
For more information, visit our Mental Health Center.
MY THOUGHTS
I'm so happy I am way past this stage. It's a sick way of living. Can you imagine buying things you cannot enjoy because you can't find them?
Learn Whether Your Messy Habits Are Those of A Compulsive Hoarder
By Stephanie Schorow, Special to Lifescript
Published August 9, 2011
From www.lifescript.com
10 Signs You Could Be a Hoarder
Could you, or someone you love, have a hoarding problem? Watch out for these red flags. (These were adopted in part from the workbook “Compulsive Hoarding and Acquiring” by Steketee and Frost.)
1. Acquiring objects brings a rush. Many hoarders report feeling powerful joy from finding a bargain or rescuing what they perceive as a useful item from the trash.
2. You have trouble finding things. Hoarders often can’t locate items or even enjoy them. Sometimes they don’t take purchases out of the bag.
3. Throwing things out upsets you. Hoarders let items pile up to avoid the emotional distress of discarding them.
4. Fix-it projects pile up faster than you can repair them. Hoarders intend to mend broken items but never get to them.
5. You avoid having visitors. Many compulsive hoarders find excuses for keeping guests out of their homes.
6. You put off repairs because your house is a mess. Hoarders are often too embarrassed to open their door to a plumber, carpenter or landlord.
7. You’re saving items because they might be useful or valuable someday. Hoarders place value on items that are worthless or of little value.
8. You’ve maxed out credit cards. Hoarders can’t resist sales and bargains – even for non-essential or frivolous items – and will spend themselves into bankruptcy.
9. You’re afraid to throw out old newspapers or magazines because you might miss something important. Hoarders often convince themselves that they need to save every publication that comes into their home. Or they save articles they think will interest others but never get around to sharing them. (This often leads to dangerous piles of combustible material.)
10. You can’t use rooms in your house because of clutter. If you can’t cook in your kitchen because of all the items stored in it or sleep in your bed because it’s covered with clothes, you’re entering hoarding territory.
Stephanie Schorow is a Boston-based freelance writer.
For more information, visit our Mental Health Center.
MY THOUGHTS
I'm so happy I am way past this stage. It's a sick way of living. Can you imagine buying things you cannot enjoy because you can't find them?
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Organizing your Bookshelves
How to Tame Your Overstuffed Bookshelves in 48 Hours
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the September 2010 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
There comes a time, in every library, when a purge is required. What do you keep? What do you toss? When is it time to get rid of that unopened copy of the complete works of Emily Dickinson? Sara Nelson, O's books editor, says you have to be both careful and ruthless as you cull. Gather your tomes around you, she advises, and ask the following questions:
1. Have you owned it without reading it for less than two years? Then move it to a probationary shelf, where it can remain for another 12 months. But if it has been hanging around unread since the Clinton administration, out it goes.
2. Was it a gift, inscribed by an old friend or boyfriend or even the author? Don't give a book like this away, ever; it's a diary, a literary road map to your past.
3. Would you recommend the book to a friend? If so, it's okay to keep one copy for yourself and one to give away. I used to be like a squirrel in winter: I'd have one book to keep, one to lend, and one just in case I lost the other two. What I've learned—books are not nuts. Don't do that.
4. Will you really read Jude the Obscure? Right. Toss. Ditto all that other homework. And guess what? Your teenager couldn't care less about the collegiate scribblings in your Signet Shakespeares, however charming you think they are. (And anybody can read all about Henry IV for free on Google Books these days.) Having loved something in school is not justification for clutter.
5. Does it complete an author's body of work? If so, you might want to keep the family together. But if you're letting a title stay only because of what you think (or hope) it says about you, forget it. Books, like clothes, cars, and homes, are reflections of ourselves—so the first step to making over your library is looking not on the shelves but in the mirror.
MY THOUGHTS
Another project in the making. I'm sure I have several books that I bought years ago but had not had the time to read. But that's not my real problem. My real concern is my lack of desire to throw away books that I've already read. Time to let go.
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the September 2010 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
There comes a time, in every library, when a purge is required. What do you keep? What do you toss? When is it time to get rid of that unopened copy of the complete works of Emily Dickinson? Sara Nelson, O's books editor, says you have to be both careful and ruthless as you cull. Gather your tomes around you, she advises, and ask the following questions:
1. Have you owned it without reading it for less than two years? Then move it to a probationary shelf, where it can remain for another 12 months. But if it has been hanging around unread since the Clinton administration, out it goes.
2. Was it a gift, inscribed by an old friend or boyfriend or even the author? Don't give a book like this away, ever; it's a diary, a literary road map to your past.
3. Would you recommend the book to a friend? If so, it's okay to keep one copy for yourself and one to give away. I used to be like a squirrel in winter: I'd have one book to keep, one to lend, and one just in case I lost the other two. What I've learned—books are not nuts. Don't do that.
4. Will you really read Jude the Obscure? Right. Toss. Ditto all that other homework. And guess what? Your teenager couldn't care less about the collegiate scribblings in your Signet Shakespeares, however charming you think they are. (And anybody can read all about Henry IV for free on Google Books these days.) Having loved something in school is not justification for clutter.
5. Does it complete an author's body of work? If so, you might want to keep the family together. But if you're letting a title stay only because of what you think (or hope) it says about you, forget it. Books, like clothes, cars, and homes, are reflections of ourselves—so the first step to making over your library is looking not on the shelves but in the mirror.
MY THOUGHTS
Another project in the making. I'm sure I have several books that I bought years ago but had not had the time to read. But that's not my real problem. My real concern is my lack of desire to throw away books that I've already read. Time to let go.
Monday, June 6, 2011
GET A GRIP ON YOUR EMAIL
GET A GRIP ON YOUR EMAIL
from the article - 'How to Get and Stay on Top of Your Email Easily by Dealing with It Tomorrow'
By Heinz Tschabitscher , About.com Guide
f you have more than a day's worth of messages...
...in your inbox, the "deal with every message the moment it arrives"-approach is not working for you.
It's not your fault. This approach can only work for those whose only job is to answer emails as fast as possible.
Fortunately, a slightly different avenue lets you work uninterrupted by email, still reply within a reasonable time, have no emails overdue by months and get rid of the email backlog, too.
Get and Stay on Top of Your Email Easily by Dealing with It Tomorrow
To get a grip on your email:
Take your eyes off the inbox.
Make sure automatic mail checking and new mail announcements are turned off.
Deal with all mail that arrived yesterday, in as many batches as you see fit.
The fewer batches, the better. If you treat all of yesterday's mail in one go, chances are you have spent the least time and effort on it.
Schedule time for your email processing.
Deal with the messages in order.
If a message requires research, schedule that research for tomorrow, and let the sender know you'll get back to them. If more work is required, schedule over a longer period.
Make sure you can find the original message when the work is done.
The sender and, most importantly, date noted together with the task should be enough. In Mac OS X Mail, you could also use LinkABoo.
You can use a smart folder that displays only the messages arrived yesterday, apply flags (label days in alternating colors, for example), or rely on sorting by date of arrival.
You can check your inbox periodically for any emails requiring urgent action.
If your work demands it, process mail more often than daily — three times a day, for instance. Whatever period you choose, the crucial element is that the list of emails is closed to new entries while you work on it.
Why Daily Processing?
Unless you must deal with mail more frequently, I invite you to try daily processing, though. It has additional benefits:
You do not haphazardly set the precedent of replying immediately, a commitment that cannot be met.
A daily schedule is easy to keep and remember.
You can choose the perfect time of day for each type of message.
Easiest First!
Even if this is not normally your style, do experiment with getting the easiest messages out of the way first.
Once you get to the more challenging emails, the steady progress has tamed them a bit already. If you quickly scanned the complicated before venturing forth with the easy, you've spent some time coming up with solutions, too.
What If I Miss a Day?
If you miss a few days due to traveling or holidays, that's no big deal.
Deal with the emails as if they had arrived yesterday.
Often, going through two days or even a week of email does not take all that more time and effort than handling one day.
If the pile of emails is so high that you cannot deal with it in one day, let another strategy help you:
MY THOUGHTS
Just like everything else, anything that piles will require more time. If you've got tons of mail, deal with it now.
from the article - 'How to Get and Stay on Top of Your Email Easily by Dealing with It Tomorrow'
By Heinz Tschabitscher , About.com Guide
f you have more than a day's worth of messages...
...in your inbox, the "deal with every message the moment it arrives"-approach is not working for you.
It's not your fault. This approach can only work for those whose only job is to answer emails as fast as possible.
Fortunately, a slightly different avenue lets you work uninterrupted by email, still reply within a reasonable time, have no emails overdue by months and get rid of the email backlog, too.
Get and Stay on Top of Your Email Easily by Dealing with It Tomorrow
To get a grip on your email:
Take your eyes off the inbox.
Make sure automatic mail checking and new mail announcements are turned off.
Deal with all mail that arrived yesterday, in as many batches as you see fit.
The fewer batches, the better. If you treat all of yesterday's mail in one go, chances are you have spent the least time and effort on it.
Schedule time for your email processing.
Deal with the messages in order.
If a message requires research, schedule that research for tomorrow, and let the sender know you'll get back to them. If more work is required, schedule over a longer period.
Make sure you can find the original message when the work is done.
The sender and, most importantly, date noted together with the task should be enough. In Mac OS X Mail, you could also use LinkABoo.
You can use a smart folder that displays only the messages arrived yesterday, apply flags (label days in alternating colors, for example), or rely on sorting by date of arrival.
You can check your inbox periodically for any emails requiring urgent action.
If your work demands it, process mail more often than daily — three times a day, for instance. Whatever period you choose, the crucial element is that the list of emails is closed to new entries while you work on it.
Why Daily Processing?
Unless you must deal with mail more frequently, I invite you to try daily processing, though. It has additional benefits:
You do not haphazardly set the precedent of replying immediately, a commitment that cannot be met.
A daily schedule is easy to keep and remember.
You can choose the perfect time of day for each type of message.
Easiest First!
Even if this is not normally your style, do experiment with getting the easiest messages out of the way first.
Once you get to the more challenging emails, the steady progress has tamed them a bit already. If you quickly scanned the complicated before venturing forth with the easy, you've spent some time coming up with solutions, too.
What If I Miss a Day?
If you miss a few days due to traveling or holidays, that's no big deal.
Deal with the emails as if they had arrived yesterday.
Often, going through two days or even a week of email does not take all that more time and effort than handling one day.
If the pile of emails is so high that you cannot deal with it in one day, let another strategy help you:
MY THOUGHTS
Just like everything else, anything that piles will require more time. If you've got tons of mail, deal with it now.
Monday, May 30, 2011
THE URGE TO PURGE
The Urge to Purge
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the January 2007 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
Organize Your Stuff!
You know those closets and drawers and cupboards that are so full, they won't quite close?
It turns out they could be bad for your health: Every time you look around and feel anxious that the mess is getting out of hand, your body releases cortisol, one of the classic stress hormones, says Steven Maier, PhD, a neuroscience professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Arianne Cohen, the author of Help, It's Broken! A Fix-It Bible for the Repair-Impaired, asked top organizing experts to help us get a grip.
Keep Your Kitchen Clean
Purging: Even Emeril doesn't need six spatulas and four whisks; two of each will do, so start by tossing extras. While you're at it, check expiration dates on foodstuffs and pitch anything that's past its prime. Next, tackle seldom-used appliances like cappuccino and bread makers. "Those things don't need to live in the kitchen," says Ellen Kosloff, senior professional organizer at TaskMasters New York. "Put up a rack in the garage, or store them on a hallway closet shelf."
Prevention: The number one rule: Keep the counters clear. "Counter space is only for items you use daily," says Barry Izsak, president of the National Association of Professional Organizers. "Everything else can be stored in a cabinet or pantry."
Dust Off That Desk!
Purging: Begin by throwing away the no-brainers, including junk mail, expired coupons, brochures, and catalogs. Next, create desk zones. "Have a bill-paying zone, a stationery zone, a mail zone, and a reading zone," says Kosloff. "Keep everything you need for each activity in neat containers."
Prevention: Tackle your zones weekly, particularly bills and mail. For incoming papers such as children's art or tax information, keep one folder or container for each category, and at the end of the year (or month, if things really pile up fast), choose the keepers and purge the rest.
Liberate Your Library
Purging: Some people would consider it a sacrilege to ever get rid of a book, but if you've decided it's time to winnow, donate all books that don't meet any of these three criteria: books you love, books you read regularly, books whose content can't be found on the Internet.
Prevention: Librarian's rules: No stacking or double shelving allowed. "Group your books into categories like fiction, nonfiction, and travel, so you can see what you have," says Chris McKenry of Get It Together LA. And good news: "Regifting is perfectly acceptable with books."
Tossing Tchotchkes
Purging "You should own nothing that is not useful, beautiful, or loved," says Izsak. If a tchotchke can't pass this test, out it goes.
Prevention: When a new tchotchke comes in, Kosloff suggests immediately rejecting it if you already own something similar. Keep only the little objects you'll use (a vase, a pretty bowl) or that are uniquely meaningful (a handmade gift or travel memento).
A Picture Perfect System
Purging: Keep the gems, toss the rest. "Throw away or delete all the blurry, unflattering, redundant, or bad shots," says Julie Morgenstern, author of Never Check E-mail in the Morning. This strategy is especially effective if you or your partner is a lousy photographer.
Prevention: Don't feel compelled to label every photo. Instead, organize them into broad categories such as "Venice vacation" or "work events," and store them in a labeled photo box or digital folder. Weed out new shots as you take them or as soon as you receive prints.
Reclaim Your Garage
The Garage
Purging: The garage is not a warehouse! Begin by attacking one shelf or corner at a time, and tossing or donating all items you no longer use. Sports equipment your kids have outgrown, the gardening tools for the yard you no longer use—out! Then arrange items by category. "Your garage should be zoned," says McKenry. "You might have a zone for car equipment and a sports zone."
Prevention: Never pile items on the floor; buy new shelves or wall hooks as needed. Kosloff suggests keeping a large donation bin so that family members always have a place to put unused belongings.
Sort Through Makeup
Purging: "Sort through all your half-empty bottles of shampoo, lotion, and makeup, and toss anything you haven't used in six months," Morgenstern says. Group what's left in containers of like products (i.e., rather than having 18 kinds of makeup sitting out on the counter, put it all in one easily accessible container). Morgenstern also uses extra toiletries (unopened, of course) to make hostess baskets for overnight guests.
Prevention: Avoid impulse purchases by buying products only to replace those you're done with.
Cleanse Your Closet
Purging: "Remember that 80 percent of the time, we wear only 20 percent of our clothes," says McKenry. So go through your wardrobe and jettison anything that's one of the four S's: stretched, small, smelly (ew!), or stained (sure, you could clean the stained and smelly pieces, but the idea is to let things go). Another great tip: Turn all your hangers in one direction, and for the next six months, flip the hanger (and leave it flipped) when you wear something. Donate the untouched clothes.
Prevention: "The rule of thumb," says Izsak, "is that when something new comes in, at least one thing—preferably two—must go. And be realistic. If you're a size 10, hold on to the 8s but not the 6s."
MY THOUGHTS
Remember- purge only what you own!
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the January 2007 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
Organize Your Stuff!
You know those closets and drawers and cupboards that are so full, they won't quite close?
It turns out they could be bad for your health: Every time you look around and feel anxious that the mess is getting out of hand, your body releases cortisol, one of the classic stress hormones, says Steven Maier, PhD, a neuroscience professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Arianne Cohen, the author of Help, It's Broken! A Fix-It Bible for the Repair-Impaired, asked top organizing experts to help us get a grip.
Keep Your Kitchen Clean
Purging: Even Emeril doesn't need six spatulas and four whisks; two of each will do, so start by tossing extras. While you're at it, check expiration dates on foodstuffs and pitch anything that's past its prime. Next, tackle seldom-used appliances like cappuccino and bread makers. "Those things don't need to live in the kitchen," says Ellen Kosloff, senior professional organizer at TaskMasters New York. "Put up a rack in the garage, or store them on a hallway closet shelf."
Prevention: The number one rule: Keep the counters clear. "Counter space is only for items you use daily," says Barry Izsak, president of the National Association of Professional Organizers. "Everything else can be stored in a cabinet or pantry."
Dust Off That Desk!
Purging: Begin by throwing away the no-brainers, including junk mail, expired coupons, brochures, and catalogs. Next, create desk zones. "Have a bill-paying zone, a stationery zone, a mail zone, and a reading zone," says Kosloff. "Keep everything you need for each activity in neat containers."
Prevention: Tackle your zones weekly, particularly bills and mail. For incoming papers such as children's art or tax information, keep one folder or container for each category, and at the end of the year (or month, if things really pile up fast), choose the keepers and purge the rest.
Liberate Your Library
Purging: Some people would consider it a sacrilege to ever get rid of a book, but if you've decided it's time to winnow, donate all books that don't meet any of these three criteria: books you love, books you read regularly, books whose content can't be found on the Internet.
Prevention: Librarian's rules: No stacking or double shelving allowed. "Group your books into categories like fiction, nonfiction, and travel, so you can see what you have," says Chris McKenry of Get It Together LA. And good news: "Regifting is perfectly acceptable with books."
Tossing Tchotchkes
Purging "You should own nothing that is not useful, beautiful, or loved," says Izsak. If a tchotchke can't pass this test, out it goes.
Prevention: When a new tchotchke comes in, Kosloff suggests immediately rejecting it if you already own something similar. Keep only the little objects you'll use (a vase, a pretty bowl) or that are uniquely meaningful (a handmade gift or travel memento).
A Picture Perfect System
Purging: Keep the gems, toss the rest. "Throw away or delete all the blurry, unflattering, redundant, or bad shots," says Julie Morgenstern, author of Never Check E-mail in the Morning. This strategy is especially effective if you or your partner is a lousy photographer.
Prevention: Don't feel compelled to label every photo. Instead, organize them into broad categories such as "Venice vacation" or "work events," and store them in a labeled photo box or digital folder. Weed out new shots as you take them or as soon as you receive prints.
Reclaim Your Garage
The Garage
Purging: The garage is not a warehouse! Begin by attacking one shelf or corner at a time, and tossing or donating all items you no longer use. Sports equipment your kids have outgrown, the gardening tools for the yard you no longer use—out! Then arrange items by category. "Your garage should be zoned," says McKenry. "You might have a zone for car equipment and a sports zone."
Prevention: Never pile items on the floor; buy new shelves or wall hooks as needed. Kosloff suggests keeping a large donation bin so that family members always have a place to put unused belongings.
Sort Through Makeup
Purging: "Sort through all your half-empty bottles of shampoo, lotion, and makeup, and toss anything you haven't used in six months," Morgenstern says. Group what's left in containers of like products (i.e., rather than having 18 kinds of makeup sitting out on the counter, put it all in one easily accessible container). Morgenstern also uses extra toiletries (unopened, of course) to make hostess baskets for overnight guests.
Prevention: Avoid impulse purchases by buying products only to replace those you're done with.
Cleanse Your Closet
Purging: "Remember that 80 percent of the time, we wear only 20 percent of our clothes," says McKenry. So go through your wardrobe and jettison anything that's one of the four S's: stretched, small, smelly (ew!), or stained (sure, you could clean the stained and smelly pieces, but the idea is to let things go). Another great tip: Turn all your hangers in one direction, and for the next six months, flip the hanger (and leave it flipped) when you wear something. Donate the untouched clothes.
Prevention: "The rule of thumb," says Izsak, "is that when something new comes in, at least one thing—preferably two—must go. And be realistic. If you're a size 10, hold on to the 8s but not the 6s."
MY THOUGHTS
Remember- purge only what you own!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
DO BEDBUGS CARRY SUPERBUGS?
Do bedbugs carry superbugs?
Published May 12, 2011
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Researchers in Canada have found bedbugs carrying antibiotic-resistant superbugs, a surprise finding because scientists had thought the pests were not capable of spreading infections.
The study was done by a team in a poor corner of Vancouver, where both bedbug infestations and strains of antibiotic resistant bacteria are increasing.
Dr. Marc Romney, a medical microbiologist at St. Paul's Hospital/Providence Health Care in Vancouver, decided to see if the two were related.
Romney and colleagues removed five of the pests from the clothes and skin of infested patients and tested them.
They found bedbugs carrying two types of drug-resistant bacteria, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant enterococci.
"I was a little surprised. Historically, bedbugs have not been associated with infections," Romney said in a telephone interview.
He said scientists have tested bedbugs to see if they carry blood-borne diseases, such as hepatitis or HIV. But so far, they have not been reported to carry infection.
Infestations of the bloodsucking bugs, which can cause severe itching, have made a comeback in cities such as Paris and New York in recent years.
Romney said the strain of MRSA they found requires skin to be somewhat compromised, and he thinks the bedbugs are providing that as people scratch their bites.
"Maybe the bedbug's bite is breaking down the patient's skin," he said.
He said that some of these pests may be carrying MRSA and going from individual to individual.
"The data are preliminary, but it suggests maybe there is an association," Romney said.
"Even though they can't carry hepatitis B and HIV, maybe they can carry resistant bacteria."
"Maybe it is yet another factor that could be responsible for this large increase in resistant bacteria in inner cities in North America," he said.
MY THOUGHTS
I hate bug bites. They're worse than mosquito bites. They take longer to heal. Even the scars from bug bites seem to take forever to fade. So, don't stop at organizing your closet. Air the bed. Change it if you must.
Published May 12, 2011
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Researchers in Canada have found bedbugs carrying antibiotic-resistant superbugs, a surprise finding because scientists had thought the pests were not capable of spreading infections.
The study was done by a team in a poor corner of Vancouver, where both bedbug infestations and strains of antibiotic resistant bacteria are increasing.
Dr. Marc Romney, a medical microbiologist at St. Paul's Hospital/Providence Health Care in Vancouver, decided to see if the two were related.
Romney and colleagues removed five of the pests from the clothes and skin of infested patients and tested them.
They found bedbugs carrying two types of drug-resistant bacteria, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant enterococci.
"I was a little surprised. Historically, bedbugs have not been associated with infections," Romney said in a telephone interview.
He said scientists have tested bedbugs to see if they carry blood-borne diseases, such as hepatitis or HIV. But so far, they have not been reported to carry infection.
Infestations of the bloodsucking bugs, which can cause severe itching, have made a comeback in cities such as Paris and New York in recent years.
Romney said the strain of MRSA they found requires skin to be somewhat compromised, and he thinks the bedbugs are providing that as people scratch their bites.
"Maybe the bedbug's bite is breaking down the patient's skin," he said.
He said that some of these pests may be carrying MRSA and going from individual to individual.
"The data are preliminary, but it suggests maybe there is an association," Romney said.
"Even though they can't carry hepatitis B and HIV, maybe they can carry resistant bacteria."
"Maybe it is yet another factor that could be responsible for this large increase in resistant bacteria in inner cities in North America," he said.
MY THOUGHTS
I hate bug bites. They're worse than mosquito bites. They take longer to heal. Even the scars from bug bites seem to take forever to fade. So, don't stop at organizing your closet. Air the bed. Change it if you must.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
TIPS FOR CLEARING CLUTTER
Clear clutter with tips from author Leah Ingram
1 comment by Katie Aberbach - Apr. 1, 2011 01:32 PM
Washington Post
It's easy to think of reasons to avoid spring cleaning (or cleaning and neatening at any time of the year, really): It's time-consuming, tiring and often frustrating. It reminds you that you've totally bailed on your New Year's resolution. It reminds you just how tiny your closet really is. But there are also reasons to embrace de-cluttering.
Leah Ingram's "Toss, Keep, Sell!" ($15, Adams Media) casts the eternal chore in a new light - a lucrative light, as a matter of fact. Filled with DIY tips for reducing junk, reorganizing essential belongings and selling the possessions you're ready to part with, Ingram's book reveals that even short bursts of cleaning can reap major payoffs. The New Hope, Pa.-based author and blogger (suddenlyfrugal.com) shared her clutter-clearing philosophies.
Question: Why do you recommend quick, intense cleaning sessions rather than a major overhaul?
Answer: The little steps will add up. You have to be nice to yourself and realize that you didn't create this clutter problem in 15 minutes, and you're not going to fix it in 15 minutes. But (spend) 15 minutes (cleaning) once or twice a day for a couple of weeks and you'll be shocked.
You go into it thinking, "I can't get anything done in 15 minutes." And then you come out on the other side and say, "Oh my gosh, I can't believe how much I got done in 15 minutes."
Q: Which common household items make good organizing tools?
A: Hooks. We transformed our mudroom from a dumping ground of sports bags and cleats and field-hockey sticks into a space that you can actually walk through, simply by putting up hooks on three walls. Just getting stuff up off the floor - even if it's not perfectly organized - can go a long way toward making a space act and look more organized.
Q: Which organizational supplies are worth spending money on?
A: A label maker, as silly as that seems, can really help get you organized because there's something about a neat and tidy label on the front of a bunch of boxes that makes things look better. My husband used a label maker to put labels on all of his dresser drawers. It makes putting away laundry a whole lot easier. It's not pretty, though - House Beautiful will probably never come to my house and do a photo shoot. Also, if you know that you're going to donate items on a regular basis or have a yard sale, invest in a couple of big Rubbermaid bins to hold things you're going to give away. You can keep them in your car. That way, they're not cluttering up your home.
Q: Do you recommend holding yard sales to get rid of clutter?
A: I recommend them with a caveat. It's very easy to spend a lot of time organizing a yard sale at your home or in your neighborhood - from setting up to pricing - but not (easy) to get a good return on your investment of time. So, I advocate finding an organized yard sale, flea market or antiques market where you can buy a table.
It sounds counterintuitive, but if you spend $10 or $20 to buy a table at a yard sale that somebody else has organized and somebody else has advertised, it is well worth your time. But be honest with yourself. If you're selling crap that's not going to bring you the $20 that you paid for the table, then just donate your things to a good cause and take the tax write-off.
Q: How does de-cluttering contribute to a home's value?
A: It's pretty simple: When your home is cluttered, when your closets are full, when your basement is packed to the rafters, it makes your home look smaller. It easily turns off would-be buyers because they don't want to know what you've stored in the basement, they don't want to know what kind of shoes you wear, they don't want to see pictures of your family; they almost want a clean slate. Paring down your belongings can be really tough, though.
Q: How do you convince a skeptic that it's worthwhile?
A: You have to think about the old adage, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Every house sells now on the Internet with lots of pictures. You have to make your home look good enough for the photographs that your real-estate agent is eventually going to want to take.
MY THOUGHTS
It is worthwhile. But it's very hard to convince people who have lived with clutter all their lives. In fact, they have no idea what clutter is. To de-clutter is to change a lifestyle. And people have to want to change before any de-cluttering can be done.
1 comment by Katie Aberbach - Apr. 1, 2011 01:32 PM
Washington Post
It's easy to think of reasons to avoid spring cleaning (or cleaning and neatening at any time of the year, really): It's time-consuming, tiring and often frustrating. It reminds you that you've totally bailed on your New Year's resolution. It reminds you just how tiny your closet really is. But there are also reasons to embrace de-cluttering.
Leah Ingram's "Toss, Keep, Sell!" ($15, Adams Media) casts the eternal chore in a new light - a lucrative light, as a matter of fact. Filled with DIY tips for reducing junk, reorganizing essential belongings and selling the possessions you're ready to part with, Ingram's book reveals that even short bursts of cleaning can reap major payoffs. The New Hope, Pa.-based author and blogger (suddenlyfrugal.com) shared her clutter-clearing philosophies.
Question: Why do you recommend quick, intense cleaning sessions rather than a major overhaul?
Answer: The little steps will add up. You have to be nice to yourself and realize that you didn't create this clutter problem in 15 minutes, and you're not going to fix it in 15 minutes. But (spend) 15 minutes (cleaning) once or twice a day for a couple of weeks and you'll be shocked.
You go into it thinking, "I can't get anything done in 15 minutes." And then you come out on the other side and say, "Oh my gosh, I can't believe how much I got done in 15 minutes."
Q: Which common household items make good organizing tools?
A: Hooks. We transformed our mudroom from a dumping ground of sports bags and cleats and field-hockey sticks into a space that you can actually walk through, simply by putting up hooks on three walls. Just getting stuff up off the floor - even if it's not perfectly organized - can go a long way toward making a space act and look more organized.
Q: Which organizational supplies are worth spending money on?
A: A label maker, as silly as that seems, can really help get you organized because there's something about a neat and tidy label on the front of a bunch of boxes that makes things look better. My husband used a label maker to put labels on all of his dresser drawers. It makes putting away laundry a whole lot easier. It's not pretty, though - House Beautiful will probably never come to my house and do a photo shoot. Also, if you know that you're going to donate items on a regular basis or have a yard sale, invest in a couple of big Rubbermaid bins to hold things you're going to give away. You can keep them in your car. That way, they're not cluttering up your home.
Q: Do you recommend holding yard sales to get rid of clutter?
A: I recommend them with a caveat. It's very easy to spend a lot of time organizing a yard sale at your home or in your neighborhood - from setting up to pricing - but not (easy) to get a good return on your investment of time. So, I advocate finding an organized yard sale, flea market or antiques market where you can buy a table.
It sounds counterintuitive, but if you spend $10 or $20 to buy a table at a yard sale that somebody else has organized and somebody else has advertised, it is well worth your time. But be honest with yourself. If you're selling crap that's not going to bring you the $20 that you paid for the table, then just donate your things to a good cause and take the tax write-off.
Q: How does de-cluttering contribute to a home's value?
A: It's pretty simple: When your home is cluttered, when your closets are full, when your basement is packed to the rafters, it makes your home look smaller. It easily turns off would-be buyers because they don't want to know what you've stored in the basement, they don't want to know what kind of shoes you wear, they don't want to see pictures of your family; they almost want a clean slate. Paring down your belongings can be really tough, though.
Q: How do you convince a skeptic that it's worthwhile?
A: You have to think about the old adage, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Every house sells now on the Internet with lots of pictures. You have to make your home look good enough for the photographs that your real-estate agent is eventually going to want to take.
MY THOUGHTS
It is worthwhile. But it's very hard to convince people who have lived with clutter all their lives. In fact, they have no idea what clutter is. To de-clutter is to change a lifestyle. And people have to want to change before any de-cluttering can be done.
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