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Newsletter Archives
December 2009
Wrapping It Up
November 2009
Prepare the Pantry
October 2009
Costumes & Decorations
September 2009
Enough
August 2009
Help for the Home Office
July 2009
Getting Crafty
June 2009
A Better Bedroom
May 2009
Eco Organizing
April 2009
Getting Ready to Garden
March 2009
The Path To Clutter
February 2009
Easing Into Downsizing
January 2009
Organizing For Renovation
December 2008
Organizing For Next Year
November 2008
More Of My Favorite Organizing Tools
October 2008
Making Life Easier
September 2008
Clearing The Closet
August 2008
How To Let Go Of Stuff
July 2008
Managing Medical Records
June 2008
Road Trip Organizing
May 2008
Collections Instead of Clutter
April 2008
Getting Ready for Tax Time
March 2008
Where to Begin
February 2008
When You Want to Help
January 2008
Top Ten Causes of Disorganization
December 2007
Organize for Air Travel
November 2007
Organize for Small Spaces
October 2007
When Life Happens, Reorganize
September 2007
Bathroom Organizing
August 2007
Paper Organizing
July 2007
Uncluttered Kids' Rooms
June 2007
Top Ten Organizing Tools
May 2007
Grapple The Garage
April 2007
Managing Your Time
March 2007
Spring Organizing
February 2007
Help for Caregivers of Aging Parents
January 2007
National Get Organized Month
December 2006
Year End Organizing
November 2006
Give Thanks for Being Organized
October 2006
Holiday Kitchen Organization
September 2006
In Case of a Weather Emergency - Organize!
August 2006
Back to School Organizing
July 2006
Declare your Independence from Summer Clutter
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ORGANIZING TIPS OF THE MONTH: MAY 2009
Eco Organizing
Be environmentally friendly as you bring order to your home. There are a number of organizing products made from recycled or renewable sources. And you can do your part to reduce, reuse, and recycle as you reduce your clutter. Contact me for ideas and resources to use.
- Donate your Useable Items: By taking things you no longer want to a local charity, you directly recycle those items without any further industrial processing other than transport. Donate clothing in season; charities do not have room to store out of season goods. You can also go to www.freecycle.org to list free items to be picked up by interested parties. (Follow the safety precautions on the website.)
- Get Rid of Toxic Materials in a Responsible Way: If you have paint, pesticides, motor oil, cleaners, etc. you will not use, visit www.earth911.com for guidelines for safe disposal.
- Re-purpose Supplies You Have as Organizing Tools: Food storage containers are perfect to hold makeup, small office supplies, and toys with lots of parts. Cover shoe boxes with leftover wallpaper or wrapping paper to hold craft supplies, clothing accessories, DVDs and CDs. Use old laundry baskets to hold outdoor toys.
- Pause before Purchasing: Stop clutter and waste before it enters your home. When you eye something cute or on sale, ask yourself two questions—is it something you will use; where will you put it? If you hesitate with answers, do not buy. You have just reduced your clutter.
- Use Eco Friendly Gift Wrap: Reuse brown paper bags as a rather chic wrap when tied with raffia or twine, especially when tie-ons such as pinecones or twigs are added. Even better, use those inexpensive re-useable bags found at the checkout of most grocery stores and discount stores as gift bags. They are cheaper than paper gift bags, are generously sized, and are gifts in themselves.
- Make Wise Choices in Purchasing Organizing Products: Look for storage containers made with post consumer waste. Also shop for items made from quickly renewable resources, such as bamboo. The Container Store; Bed, Bath, and Beyond; and Target all carry these items.
- When You Toss, Recycle: As you organize, you may generate a lot of paper trash. Organize responsibly by recycling your newspapers, office paper and magazines. Even the paper from your shredder can be recycled with the office paper.
- Glass or Plastic: Reduce waste when you store leftovers. Instead of using disposable wraps, put food in glass or plastic containers with lids.
- Don’t Flush the Meds: When people organizer their medicines, they often think the safest way to dispose of expired medicine is to flush it down the toilet. Truth is, medicine pollutes our drinking water. Antibiotics and hormones are not always filtered out at the water treatment plant. Dispose of medicine in the trash. Contaminate it first by mixing it into coffee grounds or kitty litter.
- Blank Space is Good: You have reduced, reused, and recycled as you organized and now you have some clear space on your shelves, tables, and closets. Uncomfortable? Live with the openness. No need to fill the void with stuff. You will grow to embrace the calm of cleared spaces.
©All Sorted Out, 2009 All Rights Reserved
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