Monthly Archives: June 2012

Must-Have Organization Tools

1. Baskets: Baskets are great for keeping things separated. You can use them in the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, pretty much anywhere around the house. Baskets are inexpensive and are usually open on the top so that you can easily put things in and take things out. Use them for socks, wash cloths, art supplies, or anything else that needs organizing.

2. Storage Containers: Storage containers that close are great for stacking items that you need to store long-term in a closet, garage, or utility room. Large plastic containers are inexpensive and will last you for years. Store clothing that is out of season or that you’re waiting to pass down to someone. Store away photos, art supplies, craft supplies, computer components or anything else that you don’t use very often.

3. Over-the-Door Storage: When you’re looking for extra space around the house, don’t forget about the backs of your doors. The back of the bathroom door can be used to organize jewelry, bath supplies, cleaning supplies and more. The back of your closet door is a great place for organizing hats, jewelry, shoes, ties, belts and scarves.

4. Under-the-Bed Storage: This space is often wasted and can be very useful. You can purchase inexpensive plastic risers to lift your bed up even higher off of the ground creating storage space that you never knew you had. Store sweaters, books, shoes, computer equipment, photography equipment, art supplies, or whatever needs a good place to go. It’s easy to access and is hidden away from view.

5. Extra Shelves: Take advantage of wasted vertical space by using hanging baskets and extra shelves. Under the sink is a great place to add shelving. Inside of your cabinets and closets can also usually benefit from the extra shelves.

6. Combination Furniture: Choose furniture that doubles as storage. Couches and chairs can be bought with console-style storage areas underneath the arms. Choose a coffee table that opens up, like a chest. Ottomans, end tables and more can be used for storage.

7. Specialty Hangers: Save double or triple the space in your closet by using specialty clothes hangers. These hangers allow you to coordinate outfits, hang multiple items from one hanger, or you can even hang them from each other. Hangers like multi pant hangers can help you to make a lot of space. This makes room in your closet for other things that you need to store, or it can eliminate the need to store out of season clothing at all.

About the Author: Charlie Hafter is on the staff of Closet Hanger Factory, a leading online resource for clothes hangers. Get all of the closet and clothes hanger accessories you could need at http://www.closethangerfactory.com, which is recognized worldwide for their excellent quality hangers.

Closet Maintenance Ideas

Tackling the closet can be a lot of work, but it can also be very rewarding. Here are some tips on getting organized and staying organized. Once you figure out how easy a neat closet is to maintain, you will wonder why you did not do it long ago.

First, get everything out of the closet. Figure out what you can live without and get rid of it. Throw away stained or torn items. Give out-of-date shoes and clothes to a local charity. Anything that you have not worn in two years needs to go. If you have some items that you never wear but you still do not want to part with, consider taking pictures and keeping a scrap of the material before you give it away. The bottom line is that you need to get rid of unused items to relieve the hinges on your closet door.

Once you have only your best clothes left, take an inventory. Count how many pairs of shoes you have. Separate work clothes from casual ones. Store any out-of-season clothes in a large plastic container or collapsible bag. You may have other items that you keep in your closet that you will also need to account for. Luggage, blankets, jewelry and sports equipment are just a few things that most people store in their bedroom closet. If you can, get some of these things out and into a spare bedroom, basement or garage.

Come up with a plan to store the things that you have left in your closet. The important thing here is that you make sure that everything has a specific place to go. This is what is going to help you maintain the organization after you are done. You need to keep in mind that you will accumulate more clothing, shoes and other items as time goes on. Make sure you keep the opposite season’s wardrobe in mind, too. If you create a perfect space for your summer clothes, it could get cramped when you bring out your bulkier winter items.

Build shelves, use baskets, add drawers and attach hooks. Purses, belts, ties and other small items need to be hung where you can easily see them and get what you need without having to dig or dump out bins. You can use specialty hangers for ties and belts if you do not have a good place to put them.

Use other types of hangers that instantly make space. Cascading pants hangers, skirt hangers, dress hangers and drop hangers can keep your clothes from slipping, getting wrinkled or damaged. You can hang many items on one hanger by using cascading hooks or clips. Using this cascade technique will allow you to pair together shirts and tops with pants, skirts and suits. Not only will this save you a lot of space, but it will keep your clothing ready to grab and go. Maintaining your closet organization will be a snap when you are done!

About the Author: Charlie Hafter is on the staff of Closet Hanger Factory, a leading online resource for clothes hangers. Get all of the closet and clothes hanger accessories you could need at http://www.closethangerfactory.com, which is recognized worldwide for their excellent quality hangers.

Morning Routines that Work

Getting out the door in the morning can be a real hassle. Disorganization and a lack of planning can make the task all that much more difficult. The problems can quickly multiply if you have to rummage through your closet trying to find something to wear each day. You can greatly reduce your morning stress by organizing your home in a way that makes getting to work a breeze.

First, come up with a plan that fits your schedule. Of course, one option is to get up earlier, but most working people need as much sleep as they can get and do not want to sacrifice sleep for a more pleasant morning. So, start by organizing your bathroom and closets so that everything you could possibly need is always close at hand.

Most people start out their morning with a shower. This is a good idea because it wakes you up, improves your mood and really can keep you going on a hectic morning. Have your towel, razor, make-up and other essentials laid out the night before. This will save you precious time in the morning. When you get out of the shower, go ahead and complete all of the tasks that you will perform in the bathroom. Put on your make-up, fix your hair, brush your teeth and get on your way. Avoid the need to go back into a room that you have already left. This will help you save precious minutes every morning.

When you are putting away your laundry, hang your work clothes together by outfit. Put shirts, skirts and pants on cascading hangers so that your work clothes are ready to grab and go. This technique also keeps your closet from getting cluttered, making it very easy to pick out what you are going to wear. You will not waste a single minute rummaging through your closet, trying on and hanging them up again. Another small step that makes things easier is to also put coordinating shoes, socks and hose directly under each outfit.

Arrange the clothing in order according to the weather. If you listen to the radio while you are showering and getting ready, you will already know how hot or cold it will be that day. For example, when you step out of the bathroom, you will know that the outfit you are going to wear is either hanging on the warm weather left side, or the cold weather right side. Make sure that you keep light jackets or cardigans together so that you can easily grab a matching one for layering when needed.

Using the right kinds of hangers can make articles even easier to find and eliminate the need to iron in the morning. Pants hangers can be open ended so that you can easily reach in and pull the pants straight out without taking the hanger off of the bar. Dress hangers will ensure that your dresses do not slip off and end up on the floor in a wrinkled pile. Skirt hangers keep skirts from becoming wrinkled or creased and can easily be added to shirt hangers with a cascading hook to complete your outfit.

You can save so much time in the morning just by being prepared. Use skirt hangers, pants hangers, dress hangers, and cascading hooks to create space, clarity and organization in your closet. Eliminating the need to “find” your clothes in the morning can save you valuable time. When you lower your stress level in the morning, you will see that it keeps you in a happier, calmer mood for the entire day.

About the Author: Charlie Hafter is on the staff of Closet Hanger Factory, a leading online resource for clothes hangers. Get all of the closet and clothes hanger accessories you could need at http://www.closethangerfactory.com, which is recognized worldwide for their excellent quality hangers.