|
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
|
ORGANIZING TIPS OF THE MONTH: OCTOBER 2009
Costumes & Decorations
October begins a series of months when decorations and costumes come out of storage for celebrations. It is frustrating when you can’t find your favorite things or you forget about items you got on sale last year. Organization is the key to putting your hands on what you need, when you need it. For more ideas, send your emails to me.
- Keep It Clear: It is a basic of organizing, you can find what you can see. If you are storing decorations and costumes out of public view, make use of clear containers. Label the contents. Don’t mix holidays, even if the bin is not full.
- Stack in Order: Stack categories together. Put all costume bins together, group Christmas items in one place. If you have a designated area for holiday storage, you won’t have to search all over the house for what you need.
- Make a Note: If you must store items separate from the rest, make a note and put it in the main container. Candles or very fragile items may need to go in safer places than bulk storage.
- Keep It Clean: Inspect costumes before you put them away. Food stains and perspiration marks will only get worse if not treated promptly. Dust your decorations as you put them away, so they will be fresh for next year.
- Hang Them Up: Protect decorative bows and wreaths from getting crushed by hanging them in the attic, basement, or spare closet. Use clothespins to clip bows to a rope that hangs between two nails. Hang wreaths from nails. Cover bows and wreaths with plastic trash bags or lightweight cloths. There are also storage bags and bins available specifically for wreath storage.
- Outside/Inside: Store your indoor decorations in containers separate from your outdoor ones. This will simplify your decorating tasks and protect your indoor pieces from the harm of moisture and soil that may be on exterior items.
- Take Photos: Photos are timesavers in recording costumes and decor. With photos as a guide, it is easy to figure out what goes where when it is time to decorate or when you put your everyday things back in place. Photos also remind you what costumes and accessories go together.
- Purge as You Unload: As you go through costumes, pull out those that don’t fit, are missing pieces, or you don’t like. As you empty bins when you decorate for holidays, get rid of items you no longer want. Donate things in good shape now while they are in season. Charities do not have room to store out of season items.
- Scrap the Scraps: Many of us keep small bits of leftover wrapping paper and we re-use gift bags. Both are budget and eco-friendly habits, but only if the leftovers are in good condition. Too often bags and paper are stored rumpled in a large gift bag—not a great presentation when used to wrap a gift. Stand gift bags upright in size order in a sturdy container. Store scraps flat in a clear container. Toss crumpled bags and wrap.
- Bag Accessories: Place accessories in clear zip bags and label them with the name of the costume. Enclose a photo or picture cut from the package to show the complete costume.
©Cheryl Harrell, 2009 All Rights Reserved
|
