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Showing posts with the label Organizing Tips

9 Things Professional Organizers Do Every Day

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Simon Watson We're not sure if organizing pros are born or made, but good news: Tova Weinstock (aka "Tidy Tova") bets on the latter. The professional organizer says that anyone can make a few tiny changes to their everyday routine to get (and keep) their house in order. "It's important to take baby steps when getting organized, otherwise the process can feel daunting and overwhelming," Weinstock explains. Steal these daily habits of organizing pros to get started:  1. They make their beds. "Arguably the most important activity of the day, there's really no excusing this one. Bed making promotes productivity throughout the day and will pave the way for an organized lifestyle. Plus, it's a pleasure to get into a made bed at the end of a long day." 2. They write out a to-do list. "Take a few minutes in the morning to jot down your goals for the day. Having a concrete list will keep you on track throughout the day and give you a s...

12 Ideas That Prove Everyone Needs an IKEA Raskog Cart

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The popular piece is useful in literally every room of the house. IKEA Store Pantry Items Cabinet overflow can be a problem for big families, so tuck your everyday pantry staples into the easy-grab caddies. You can roll the cart to the counter for prep, barely removing food containers from their home. Hampton SC Corral Cookware The open design is handy for storing cooking supplies, too — and wheels help make a less-than-functional kitchen layout more manageable. Chez Larsson Stock the Bar The Raskog comes in a sleek gray hue (and takes spray paint well, too), so it works well as an understated, Mad Men-esque bar cart in the living room. Heart Handmade Create a Craft Corner Of course, the light blue shade is the perfect base for a cheery craft cart — this one is stocked with a bevy of crochet supplies. DIY Inspired Try a Sewing Station We can't all have rooms devoted to our hobbies, but the cute cart turns any corner into a place to sew. Feeling hack-y? Flip the t...

9 Things Parents With Tidy Playrooms Do Every Day

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Getty There's a reason why kids love the playroom, but so many parents despise it: Somehow, no matter how often you pick it up, it's always a mess. If we just hit a nerve with you, try these tricks that people with neat playrooms do every day:  1. They make picking up post-dinner a family affair.  Including everyone helps kids gain instruction and encouragement from parents — plus, there's a better chance all the toys will actually end up in their proper place. "We sing silly clean-up songs that we make up on the fly or come up with funny stories about the toys," says Krista Miller, Executive Director of the non-profit Partners in Parenting in Austin. "It turns cleaning into less of a chore and more of bonding time." 2. They treat cleaning like it's the last game of the day.  Try Savannah Williams from Mom Bliss' favorite game, Tornado: Just set a timer for 3 to...

10 Things You Can Toss Without Thinking Twice

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Getty We get it: Getting rid of your stuff is hard . Not only does it take time and effort, but then there are so many emotional connections to contend with, too. But some things are so trivial, they're not worth saving. So if you crave more space, but aren't game for some soul-searching, ditch these easy-to-purge items first. 1. All Those Unused Hangers Admit it. You've got way more than you need, and the sight of them makes your closet seem even messier. Let your clothes breath by ditching most of the hangers you don't use (especially those wire dry-cleaning ones, which leave dents in your favorite blouse). If you need to restock, it's not a pricey investment, and you can buy the sturdier, tidier kind. We like Huggable Hangers, a Good Housekeeping Seal holder, for their slim, non-slip design. 2. That Pile of Unopened Bank Statements These days, all important information can be accessed online, and it's not great to leave sensitive documents lying around. A...

These New "Smart Sheets" Will Forever Change How You Make Your Bed

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via Smart Bedding We all tend to toss and turn in our sleep, which only ends up creating a tangled mess of our flat sheets by dawn. So if you've spent countless mornings struggling to smooth out the sheets that inevitably end up in a ball at the foot of the bed, you'll be excited to see that this problem has finally been solved, thanks to the geniuses at Smart Bedding. via Smart Bedding Instead of designing separate sheets and comforters, the brains behind these new smart sheets created linens that actually snap together to form one cohesive (and cuddly) bedding set. Now, making your bed will be as easy as straightening out your comforter. Sadly, as nifty as these neutral-colored, French linen sheets are, they cost a pretty penny. According to Mashable, the bedding sets come with two pillowcases, a fitted sheet, and a snappable top sheet and duvet. The full- and queen-sized sets are $$$, while the king-sized set is $$...

9 Storage Tools Pro Organizers NEVER Use

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Getty When it comes to tidying up your home, you might assume that any organizer is better than none at all. Pros have the tools they swear by, but other not-so-helpful items can actually thwart your efforts. We asked professional organizers which storage solutions they'd beg their clients to ditch forever. 1. Stacked plastic drawers "These may be cheap, but they just don't last; I always find that they break. They also get dirty very easily, and can be difficult to open. The ease of your organizers is the most important factor for sticking with your system. Invest in sturdier drawers instead." — Rachel Rosenthal, professional organizer at Rachel and Company 2. Wooden hangers "People choose these because they look pretty, but I hardly ever use them for everyday items. They're so bulky, and clothes tend to slip off easily. I use slim felt-covered hangers instead, which take up much less space and keep clothes secure." — Rachel Rosenthal 3. Free-standi...

10 Ways to Organize All of Your Cleaning Supplies

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Trust us, this will make your chore list so much easier to tackle. By Stephanie Lynn Throw Them On a Cart This rolling cart means you can pull your products with you from room to room — instead of having to take multiple trips to corral all your essentials. Even better: You can stash it out of sight when you're done. The 36th Avenue Get Creative Sure, this organizer was designed for shoes, but it's just as savvy when used for spray bottles and hand brushes. It'll also free up some shelves in an already-cramped linen closet. Teal + Lime Go Higher When in doubt, add a few shelves. Then label tubs by room (bathroom, kitchen, you get the picture) so you don't have to sort through multiple containers to find the cleaner you need. A Thousand Words Try a Tension Rod The handles on spray bottles will sit on top of a rod without falling over. Plus, this savvy idea basically doubles the number of cleaners you can fit under your sink. Clean & Scentsible Make Use of a...

9 Tricks to Make a Tiny Fridge Way More Tolerable

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Pack in all your groceries — and then actually find them again — with these clever ideas. Courtesy of One Good Thing By Jillee Buy Sliding Bins With Handles When you're forced to jam groceries into even the farthest corner, it's a total hassle to retrieve them later. Deep bins mean you can pull out sections of stuff in one quick movement — and avoid the daily excavation at dinnertime. . Courtesy of The Social Home Label Everything Because when items have specific homes, less clutter collects. And if you're feeling especially motivated, transfer store-bought foods, like hummus and salsa, into matching labeled jars for easier stacking and identifying. . Courtesy of Craig Lloyd Add a Bonus Shelf Instead of storing tall items like juice standing up, lay them on their side so you can add an extra shelf above them for more storage. . Courtesy of Adam Pash Try a Binder Clip Trick Stacking is essential in a tiny space, but can get messy. Prevent items like beer bottle...