by Natalie Morey | Sep 20, 2012 | Declutter tips, Home Organisation, Tips
It’s Time to Clear The Clutter and Organise
The infamous second draw (or the utensils draw) often causes havoc in most clients’ homes. It is always jam packed, cluttered and you can never find what you are looking for.
Firstly, you need to decide if you really need to keep every utensil.
Tip 1: For the next month when you use an item from the utensils draw, place it in a separate draw, or a canister on your kitchen bench. You will be surprised at just how few items you actually use. Then:
i. Decide if you really need to keep the other utensils.
ii. Research the right storage product for the space.
iii. Declutter and organise the space
iv. This is how it should look once you have finished your decluttering.
Organise your kitchen, pantry and cupboards
Until next time, happy organising.
Natalie Morey, Professional Organiser
by Natalie Morey | Sep 18, 2012 | Declutter tips, Home Organisation, Office Organising, Tips
Creating a Filing Structure For Your Home Office
Do you just save stuff anywhere on your computer?
It will save you time (and I mean lots of time) if you have an organised filing structure. You will need to create (and write up) a simple filing structure. I hear you say, but where do I start. A good strategy is to decide on two main categories that all your files will fit into. For example it might be “Household” and “Personal”. Then create as many folders as you require under each of the household and personal categories. Keep it simple to be effective.
Simple Filing Structure
The most effective filing system is simple and easily achievable. It’s the one that is written down on paper and agreed to. Whatever structure you implement in your home office it will work best when it’s consistent and followed by everyone in your business/family.
Replicate Your Filing Structure
To take it one step further – mirror/copy your computer systems filing and replicate it in your hard copy system. Type up a list of your filing system, print it out and hang it in view of your computer and files. You will have organised paper work and consistent filing systems in both electronic and hard copy in no time at all.
Another issue that is really important with regards to computers is security. It another blog article I wrote about setting up and managing your home computer.
Internet Security and Virus Protection
Internet security and virus protection is just as important on home computers as it is on business computers. If you get a virus on your computer and it deletes all your files off, then you won’t need to worry about a filing structure. So our goal is to avoid this situation.
Make sure it is current and working correctly. There are some cost effective virus protection programs on the market such as AVG, Norton. We use Trend PC Cillon which I find to be really reliable. If you need some assistance, then organise for your IT technician to purchase and install one for you. At The Lifestylers Group, we work with a range of computer technicians that do this sort of thing, so if you need some assistance, then we are only a call away.
Don’t learn the hard way. It is essential that your virus protection is working.
If you have wireless internet connection at home (or in the office) it is vital that the network is locked down so no one else can access it. If it is unlocked people in the surrounding neighborhood can log onto your internet connection and use your internet. Unsecure networks makes it easy for people to hack into network and access data such as bank account log in details.
Suspect Emails
It’s also really important to have a policy for how you handle suspect emails. This becomes particularly important when there are different family members using the same computer and receiving emails. If you see a suspect email “doing the rounds” let the other uses know not to open it, and delete it straight off the computer.
Always be wary of files that have the following wording EXC after the file name. These files are called executable files and often contain virus. Organising your home security is such an important part of owning a computer.
So do you need to check your internet security and virus protection after reading this article.
By Melissa Morey, Professional Organiser
by Natalie Morey | Sep 17, 2012 | Declutter tips, Home Organisation, Tips
Help? My Desk Needs Some Serious Decluttering and Sorting
Some days I look at my desk and think the amount of papers must have multiplied overnight. I’m sure it didn’t look that messy yesterday. I just want a clean and organised desk and maybe if I just click my fingers, the papers will shuffle into order. I wish!
One handy tip I’ve learned is to set up a filing tray, because I know that I don’t put my papers away immediately. At least this organises part of the roaming papers that clutter my desk.
Storage Ideas to Clear The Clutter On My Desk
Note to self – I must get a toast rack type filing stand for my desk. If I do that, it can house my active files when I’m not actually using them. As it stands upright, this will give me a more clear desk space. Finally, I feel like I’m winning the paper war and might actually get a tidy desk.
Now, lastly, what does your desk look like? Can I even see it under the bulk of papers?
Until I implemented a paper management system in the office, I frequently had piles of papers stacked up neatly on the floor.
Set Up an In- Tray
We spend enough time at the office as it is. Don’t waste time trying to find your files. Set up a couple of filing trays. Clearly label them. Also label your folders and hanging pockets, which are placed in your toaster rack. It will make the office run just that bit smoother.
It doesn’t take long to set up a paper management system for your home office. Trust me – it will save you time in the long run. The obstacles on the floor of course disappear into your system. How many things do you have to walk around or over to get to your desk? Now is the time to organize your office.
If your desk is overwhelming and needs some decluttering and sorting, then the first thing you need to do is write a list and make a plan as to how you are going to organise it. In a previous blog article, we wrote about get organized and write a to do list. It really does help if you write it down on paper. Once I have a list written down, I automatically feel more organised. I feel more focussed and it is great as I can tick things off the list as I complete them.
By Melissa Morey, Professional Organiser
by Natalie Morey | Sep 16, 2012 | Tips
As professional organizers we see it all. The trash and the treasure, especially in garages!
We recently did a massive garage declutter for one of our clients. It took over 20 hours to clear out the garage, work out what was to be kept, what should be donated and what should be thrown out. It was a big job which was very dusty with lots of spiders and other crawly things running around the garage.
Who know that this was part of the job of a professional organizer! However, it was well worth the hard work and the space looked amazing. Now that the space is cleared, we are having new shelves installed and are purchasing customized storage solutions for the garage space, as the client wants to convert the space into a home office.
As part of the decluttering process, we donated lots of goods to charity, sold some on eBay and recycled as much as possible. I thought I would share with you a few of our favorite recycling tips.
Ebay
You can use Ebay for so much more than making money. For certain goods, you can put them on Ebay and get rid of them. You may not make a lot of money, but it serves another very useful purpose. We recently sold a client’s old drinks fridge for $10. Now we certainly weren’t doing it for the money. Rather, the client didn’t have to worry about moving it and it also meant that we could hire a smaller and cheaper skip, as we didn’t have to put the fridge in it. The lucky buyer got a good drinks fridge, and we didn’t add another item to landfill.
Mobile Phones Recycling
Rather than throw them in the rubbish you can recycle them. Mobile Muster is the official recycling program for the mobile phone industry. Check out http://www.mobilemuster.com.au for locations of where you can drop off your mobile phone. Or, as a more convenient option, you can download a Mobile Muster address label from http://www.mobilemuster.com.au, stick it on address and mail it off. Too easy!
Old Books
We use this recycling tip all the time, when we are doing major home organizing and declutter jobs client’s homes and have loads of books to dispose of. Select library’s will take them, sell them and use the money to purchase new books.
Plastic Bags
Get rid of those piles of plastic shopping bags, by using them as bin liners. Don’t forget that most supermarkets will recycle plastic bags as well, so return them when you go shopping.
Children’s Drawings
Now we all love kids paintings and drawings, but there comes a time when you have run out of space and then there’s the issue of what to do with them. A great idea is to “re-‘use the drawings as wrapping paper. It makes for a special gift and they are used again.
Freecycle – “Recycle”
Freecycle is an online network that allows you to offer belongings you no longer need to others, rather than throw things out (your trash may be their treasure!). There are groups all around the world exchanging everything from furniture to computer equipment, and toys to magazines, so visit the site for your nearest group. www.freecycle.org
Stitch In Time
Donate your sewing machine to combat poverty.
World Vision has partnered with Spotlight to create the Stitch in Time program. To give people the tools they need to start their own tailoring business and work their way out of poverty, you can donate your old working sewing machines and overlockers to your nearest Spotlight store.
http://spotlight.com.au/departments/dressmaking/stitch_in_time
Bicycle Recycling
Finding a second life for your two wheels
http://www.ourcommunity.com.au/giving/giving_article.jsp?articleId=2121
Donations of bikes can make a great difference too many community organisations and individuals, such as refugees. Visit the site to find your nearest donation center.
Until next time, Happy Organising
Natalie Morey, Professional Organiser
by Natalie Morey | Sep 15, 2012 | Declutter tips, Home Organisation, Tips
It’s that time again – Spring Cleaning Season.
September and October are a great excuse to do that annual Spring Clean. Your place looks great, it feels fresh, you feel great and it provides the perfect time to get rid of all that clutter that has built up over the past 12 months. Of course there is the usual carpet and window cleaning, wall washing, balcony cleaning and rubbish removal. However, a Spring Clean also provides the opportunity to go through those old piles of magazines and papers and throw them out.
Here are some other tips which makes spring cleaning and organising quicker and easier… and we all like that!
Natural Cleaning Products
I love natural cleaning products. I often wonder with all those smells and chemicals that we are spraying into our house, what are we doing to our environment and more importantly, what are we breathing in.
My all time favorite cleaning product is Bicard (sodium bicarbonate baking soda). When mixed with Vinegar it becomes a fantastic cleaner and sanitizer. They say that cider vinegar is best on hard surfaces and that white vinegar is good to use on white marble and fabrics.
Shower Heads
If sediment has built up on your shower head and is blocking the spray of your water flow, then it’s easily fixed. Unblock the head of your shower by placing some vinegar and bicard soda in a plastic zip lock bag, put it over the shower head, zip up and leave overnight.
Window cleaning
Methylated spirits and water in a spray pack works a treat on your windows.
Chandelier cleaning
Did you know that there are professional chandelier cleaners that you can hire to do this.
Spring cleaning and decluttering the wardobe and need to donate old work clothes
Of course there are the well known places like St Vinnie’s and The Red Cross, but did you know there is a great organisation called Fitted for Work, www.fittedforwork.org. They collect old and unwanted suits and give them to disadvantaged women who are trying to enter the workforce. It’s a great concept and one worth supporting.
Until next time, Happy Organising.
By Natalie Morey, Professional Organiser
