Go Garage Go May 2, 2013

Boy, if you have one, it is usually packed!  Do you space for your car?  Probably not is the norm.  If you have a 2-car garage, you are probably lucky to have space for one car.  Living in the Northeast, winter is LONG.  I know you want to have that car in the garage not only so you can avoid snow removal in the am but more than that have space for what is supposed to in there.

Tackling the garage is not an easy one.  It usually involves heavy lifting, getting really dirty and a lot of time.  So the key is planning it.

First, set aside a day and then pick a rain date!  Plan a fully day if it is really fully.  Enlist all family members and friends that love you.

Second, supplies.  For trash – make sure you get the contractor bags.  If you feel you will be dumpster trash level, order one to be delivered.  You will also need brooms, dustpans, leaf blower, cardboard boxes for recycling or donations., and some basic tools on hand and probably some new bins that stack well with lids.  You can always return them if you don’t use them but I find that they are needed for seasonal decorations, grouping items, storing misc items.

Third, park the cars on the street and take advantage of the driveway to create sorting stations.  You can either pick up an item and decide if it goes or stays and then place in a category or pick up an item, place in the category and then go through that category when all is sorted. The result is the same and you may do some of both.  Sometimes you need to see the large pile of gardening pots to realize you can’t keep them all and then you can pick the best ones out of the lot.

Here are some the categories you will have:

• Tools
• Chemicals
• Gardening
• Lawn Equipment
• Sports
• Toys
• Camping
• Seasonal
• Car Maintenance
• Bikes
• Recycling/Trash

After sorting it all, decide where the best spot in the garage is for each category depending on use and quantity.  This is when you may need to make a shopping list as you may realize you don’t have adequate shelving, hooks, bins or other.

Also, think about what may not have to live in the garage so you have room for the musts.  There also may be something you want to move in that isn’t – creating a mud room area or storage for paint, etc.  Get a visual on that amount so you can map a spot out for that.

Go vertical!  Take advantage of wall space and even ceiling space if you have the height.  There are tons of wall and ceiling solutions and specialized companies that do just this.

Label each closed bin!  And then label each section or shelf.  It may seem silly but it will really help with putting things back and maintaining the space.

Remember safety, chemicals are best away from pets and children and locked up.  And, adhere to proper disposal.

Last tip is to chalk out your car spot.  If this is the goal to maintain a clear spot or two, chalk it so you really see that you can’t infringe on that space.

So, go to your garage, go to work on it so your car can make a go of getting in there!  Good luck!

Spring has Sprung March 21, 2012

Spring is officially here, in date and in actuality!  Birds woke me up this am, how lovely.  I always feel rejuvenated in the Spring; an energy is there that wasn’t.  I also feel compelled to tidy up and bring order to all areas of the home, especially the outdoors.

Picking up the winter debris and hauling out the lawn furniture is a great time to take stock in what you have. First, inspect the home’s exterior for any damage that may have occurred during the winter months.  Make a list of anything that needs to be fixed, repaired or replaced and add those to the home to-do list in priority order.  If you can’t do the work yourself, start calling to get some estimates.

Then, as you clean up the yard and take out lawn furniture and lawn décor, inspect those for all the same things.  If something is broken, let it go.  If something won’t be used any more, let it go.  For children’s toys and sporting equipment, have they outgrown anything?  As you are pulling out all these items; clean them off as well as clean where they were stored.

Because I am an organizer, I would suggest you consider the storage outside.  Where do you put all of this stuff?  A shed? Under the deck?  In the garage? In an outdoor container?  Outdoor items need homes too.  This may be the same home you store all winter, but it may not be.  If you want your yard to look tidy, ample and sufficient storage is needed.  Even just deciding where you will park the lawn mower is important.

Here are some other tips:

• Cushions, if not waterproof, should  have a home – whether indoors or in a weatherproof outdoor storage bin.
• If hoses are out, mount to exterior  or place on hose wheel or in a hose pot.
• All items, tools and yard work  supplies that will get ruined if exposed to rain should be tarped or in a      bin.
• For sheds, utilize hooks, peg  boards, buckets, bins and more to manage all the stuff.
• For the kids – make sure there is a  home for all those shovels and pails, etc.
• Create a place to park outdoor  riding toys / bikes if not in the garage.
• Pool supplies should be kept safe –  away from children and pets.
• Entertaining items – think portable  and easy to clean (caddy’s and trays)
• Gardening pots, tools and buckets  should all be housed together either in a bin or a traditional gardening      bench.
• Create a caddy for citronella  candles, bug spray, wipes, sun tan lotion and more so you have it when you      need it.

So, once you get all this stuff out and organized, enjoy it!

Organizing closets April 20, 2011

Closets tend to be a hot spot of mess for most people.  I would be surprised if at one time in your life you haven’t opened a closet door and had something fall out onto you.  It is just that way.  When all else fails in dealing with an item, we open a closet door and shove it in.  Yes, again, the definition of clutter is a delayed decision.

So, with Spring finally here, it is time to de-clutter the winter clothes and streamline the summer ones.   As a professional organizer, when people ask, “Where should I start?”; I say tackle your closet.  Starting the day with a streamlined, organized and beautiful closet can only lead to a great day!

Some general rules for all closets:

• decide what should be in there and only keep those items in there
• each item needs a decision – keep, toss, repair, sell or donate
• place like items together – in one section or in one bin so it is easy to locate items
• invest in sturdy plastic or wooden hangers – metal hangers can be damaging to your garments
• only have 5 or so extra hangers in your closet, store the rest in a bin or hang them in your laundry area
• if you have a lot of belts/ties/scarves/baseball hats – invest in a specific organizer made especially for that item to keep them together, keep them in good condition and allow you to find what you are looking for when you want it
• if room allows, in every closet have a donate bag/bin for items that you find that can go out
•  have about 20% free space for some growth and ease in finding what you have

Now to get your clothing closet in order:

1. First, decide if you want your closet to hold both seasons of clothing or just the current season.  If you decide to only house the current season, make sure you use appropriate storage containers for the out of season clothing to prevent damage and label every box for easy retrieval.  Store all out of season clothing in one location for the entire family.