Monthly Archives: October 2020

Recently I was tasked with a supply and copy room in an office building.  The manager wisely emptied out the entire room of all boxes, bins, piles and her employees sorted it out in a large empty room.  When it was my turn, I had a clean slate with which to work… shelves, cabinets, drawers.  I knew all the items in front of me were to be kept and it was a snap to put it all together in an organized fashion using drawer organizers and a label maker, I had the supply room looking pristine in no time. 

This method is perfect for anyone, anywhere.  Home, office, garage… empty, sort and organize.  Always better to start with a clean slate. 

Like wine?  Belong to a few wine clubs?  Shop wine sales?  Collect fine wines?  I see many homes where wine is abundant and everywhere throughout the kitchen, pantry, countertops.  Some dusty, some open, some standing and some laying.  While wine is meant to be enjoyed, corral the cheer and invest in a wine refrigerator or a rack and then organize the wines! 

Organized by vintage, varietal or both works well.  Take it one step further… with a silver, Sharpie marker on the bottom of the bottle write the year it is to be opened or a small dot means this bottle is not your Tuesday night dinner wine, but a special birthday or anniversary wine.  With this done, a toast to you!  

Your home or office didn’t get this way overnight!  Perhaps you had to move in a hurry and threw everything randomly in boxes.  Those boxes sat in a garage or corner until now. Maybe, you inherited items from a relative who has passed away.  You used to be organized and then the twins arrived.  Health problems arose and you don’t have the energy or physical ability to deal with the piles. 

Whatever the reason… decluttering is a process.  Peel the onion one layer at a time. One drawer, one closet, one shelf at a time. Set aside two hours of de-clutter time and set a timer. STOP when it goes off and you won’t “hit that wall”. 

When you decide to donate or throw… follow through.  Be careful of putting it in another pile, like “to be donated”… take it to the drop box the day you purge. 

There are professionals who can help, like organiZare and sometimes it takes that extra shove.

Follow these tips and you will stay inspired and push ahead with the process. 

Is someone living in your basement?  Someone you potty-trained?  According to a Pew Research Center analysis, adults who are 18-34 years old are more likely to be living with their parents than with a spouse or partner.  Whatever the reason, set up boundaries:

~  Bed made every morning. 

~  If you can’t use it or properly display it, don’t move it in.

~  Provide a multi-purpose cleaner and room freshener

~ Do your own laundry – often!

~ Go in together on a storage unit if necessary, you still need to park two cars in the garage.

~ Love your child through the tough transition and you will be loved back forever.