Archive for closet

Take a Fresh Look

June 12, 2010 at 5:01 pm · Filed under Garages, Mail, Spring Cleaning, closet, decluttering, kids and toys


Life is moving fast and throwing lots of stuff at us everyday.  We can be neat, orderly and even organized, but the stuff keeps coming at us and often will get ahead of us.  Emails, mail, phone calls, shopping, permission slips, registration forms, seminar and meeting notes…the list goes on.  The point is no one is expected to be perfect all the time.
We are working so hard and fast to keep up that we lose track of what is happening.  Here is an idea that might help you step back and take a small moment to see what is going on.
The idea of “take a Fresh Look” is based on re-looking at your space, home or office, as others see it.  In-other-words, you are blowing right by things and not looking at all.
Go out your front door (or office door) and come back in with a renewed focus.

LOOK, I mean really LOOK at what is there…
what do you see?

  • Post-it’s littered all over.
  • Toys strewn all around.
  • Coffee mugs and glasses all over the counter.
  • Piles of mail, magazines and catalogs that have been sitting for week’s.
Now you get a clear picture of what is really going on.  You see your space as a guest, colleague or client sees it.

To address the issues use the “Power De-Cluttering” that I mentioned a few weeks ago.  5 quick minutes might be all you need to sort through one pile of mail on the coffee table.   5 minutes will let you consolidate all those loose Post-its to one list.  I bet a bunch will get tossed out too.  Clear off the mugs and glasses and the counter looks neat.

Give it a try.

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Power De-Cluttering

June 12, 2010 at 4:56 pm · Filed under Mail, closet, decluttering, kids and toys

POWER DE-CLUTTERING

Piles of stuff here, there and everywhere.  It seems exhausting and over-whelming just looking at it all.  How are you ever going to get started let alone get it done?

I love to suggest the “break it down to its parts” theory.  You know this from project management skills at work.  Well bring it home.  After all, cleaning, organizing, storing, purging…it is a project.

POWER DE-CLUTTERING is the idea of taking small parts and attacking them one little part at a time.

Let’s say your dining room table or desk is buried under piles of paper, up-opened mail, kids schoolwork, your work, phone messages, old newspapers…well you get the picture.  It sounds overwhelming.  Don’t look at the total pile.  Instead commit 15 minutes and start grabbing papers that are ready to be recycled.  With a bin or bag at your side, just grab and toss.

Here is why this is easier.  You committed to a short period of time (15 minutes) and you are only making one decision (keep or recycle).  In just 15 minutes you will have made the first dent in that big pile and it wasn’t so over the top….

Tomorrow, try another 15 minute stint.

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Use it or Lose it.

May 25, 2010 at 3:25 am · Filed under Spring Cleaning, closet, decluttering

Something I see allot of as I work with people is the “save it for a special occasion”  thing. Someone gives you a lovely gift and you think it is so precious you will save it for a special occasion.

Bah Humbug! What are you waiting for? Holding it for “someday” means the item is just clutter.

Get out that great smelling soap, wear that silk scarf, and treat your feet to those special extra fuzzy slippers. The gift was meant to indulge you, not your guests and relatives. Seriously, a closet full of “for someday” is just not useful. Reward yourself for all your efforts and enjoy those gifts of indulgence for yourself.


Here’s to looking, feeling, and smelling great this week.

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Making Donation Decisions

April 30, 2010 at 5:34 pm · Filed under Spring Cleaning, closet, decluttering

Are your closets stuffed full?  You want to de-clutter but are having a tough time making decisions?  Consider this idea.

Set up a “Ready to Let Go” Lay-A-Way.

The idea is to use time to help you make decisions.

Take those items that have you waffling and put the in a box. At the end of your time de-clutering close up the box, label with with today’s date and put it out of the way (like the garage). If in a month you can’t remember what is in the box, you know these items are ready to go. You might cheat a little and have a look inside, but be super critical and make sure that you remind yourself that you already forgot about these things…it is time for them to go.

Having trouble making these decisions yourself?

Get an organizing buddy.  This could be a friend or relative,  but be sure it is someone who will be kind and objective.
This is what I do as a Professional Organizer.  Give me a call if you are stuck.  I will help you make your decisions in a gentle and kind manner.
510-482-1619

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Managing Closet Donations

April 30, 2010 at 5:33 pm · Filed under Spring Cleaning, closet, decluttering

It is the beginning of a new season and time to re-organize the closet.  It feels great to move the heavy sweaters out of the way and bring out the tank tops and sundresses.   It is not fun to do this if your closet is stuffed full.  Here’s a simple tip for everyone to help you de-clutter your over-flowing closet.

Keep a bag, box, bin or hamper in your closet and drop in clothes you no longer want.  This is your donation bin.

This is a really great idea because it asks you to continue to process of editing all year.


The change of season is the perfect time to review your wardrobe and make some edits.  You can do it all at once, or better yet, a little everyday.

No room in your closet?  Put your container in the laundry room.

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An Easy way to Make Space in your Closet

March 12, 2009 at 3:52 am · Filed under closet

Make Space in your Closet with One Easy Step

If you do only one thing to make more room in your closet, this is it. Take out all the empty hangers.

Seriously, I can’t tell you how many closets I have overhauled only to start with bags and bags of empty hangers that just eat up precious space.

Check the rods, the floor, the hamper…everywhere. Return wire hangers to your Dry Cleaner. Put good plastic or wood hangers in a bag or basket to use when you need them.

I bet you just made all your other clothes hang straighter.

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