A is for Area

Grab a notebook or a notepad or a piece of paper! Go around the house and write down the problem areas in each room. Write down in all CAPS or put an asterick (*) next to the parts of the room that really bug you, or that your family finds impossible to keep neat -- for example, piles of shoes, mail or coats in your entryway. As you survey the "area", don't forget about dreaded areas such as junk drawers, closets, storage spaces and the garage. 

After you have complied your list, begin to set goals and plans to tackle the areas. If you need assistance, contact your local Professional Organizer. 


thesuperorganizer.com

ONE Great Shower Tip!

To organize your bathtub/shower, place your soaps, body wash, shampoos and conditioners in shower caddies. Many different kinds of organizers are available at both discount and department stores -- including those that hang from the shower head pipe and others that have several shelves attached to a long pole you put in the corner of the tub.

And you still have room for that bubble bath!

2 Items That Are Useful In The Bathroom

Use drawer organizers for makeup, jewelry, ponytail holders and other loose items. (Plastic silverware trays, found in the kitchen aisle, are inexpensive and work as well.)

To help keep your shower doors clean, buy a water squeegee (like you use on your windows) and keep it in the shower. When you are done taking a shower, just wipe down the doors with the squeegee for a clean and dry shower door. Many of the squeegees come with a hole in the handle, which is convenient for hanging it up in the shower with a suction cup. 

3 Common Things You Can Do To Save Time

1. Place your purse, briefcase, cell phone and keys in a designated area every day so you always know where they are.
2.  Decide on a breakfast menu the night before. If the family is to have cereal, set out the cereal boxes, bowls and spoons.
3.  Fill the gas tank the day before so you won't have to worry about getting gas if you are running late the next morning.

4 Ways To Organize Art Supplies At Home

To keep things organized, safe and accessible, use a combination of storage ideas:

• Use wall-mounted hanging organization to maximize table space
• Re-use baby food jars or other jars mounted under a shelf for items that you want to contain with a lid
• Use see-through storage boxes for things such as paint and paintbrushes, stamps and inkpads. When you're ready to use, grab the entire kit and go
• Create a quick and easy place to display artwork. This wooden pant hanger on a hook is a great way to quickly display your child's artwork as soon as he's finished.

5 Tips For Garage Organization

Decide what your minimum objective is in organizing and make sure you at least make that happen.  So if your objective is to make sure that one car can fit into the garage (or one more), then make sure that you plan to clear enough space to achieve that goal. 

1. Don’t buy items that have a low probability that you will be using them.  For instance that treadmill, elliptical machine, or exercise bike that you were eyeing.  Those things are generally always destined to join the junk in the garage (if you can carry them out there).  They are large and eventually just a pain to keep moving around in the garage.  


2. Unpack the boxes that are currently in your garage and use a very basic rule.  If you haven’t used something in the last year, you don’t need it.  Put it in a garage sale or donation pile (or the dumpster if it truly cannot be used by any other human).  If it’s a collectible take it into the house where it belongs or simply sell it as the garage is not where collectibles belong.


3. Don’t store large amounts of gasoline, propane, or other highly combustible materials in your garage.  These are a known fire hazard and they also are floor or shelf space hogs  Another basic rule for garage items is that if it is not SAFE, then fine a proper way to dispose of it.  The ideal scenario is that you keep chemicals and flammable items to an absolute minimum.


4. You know that old desk, entertainment center, and book shelf is really NEVER going to go back into the house.  Do everyone a favor and donate that to a local charity, individual, or Goodwill.  It’s eventually just going to fall apart outside and then be destined for the junkyard.


5. Bicycles should be hung using bicycle hooks or racks.  They take up a shocking amount of floor space and generally never end up back where they started from (especially with kids).  If you have a designated spot (hook) and enforce it then this will save you a lot of grief.

6 Tips For Your Life In The Kitchen

1.  Don’t buy “single-use” kitchen utensils (e.g. egg separator), only “multi-tasking” cooking implements!
2.  I use mason jars (quarts and 1/2 gallon) to store dried goods. they double as decorative elements
3.  Store all plasticware lids in one deep drawer standing up like a file system.
4. Have 3 cutting boards: Plastic  for raw meat & 2 wooden, 1 for vegetables & the other is for stinky things like garlic, onions and cilantro.
5. If you have deep cupboards, use containers of varying heights and place tall in the back so you can still see them from the front.
6.  Store cutting boards on top of the refrigerator or microwave for quick, yet out of the way access.