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
by Natalie Morey | Sep 14, 2012 | Home Organisation, Tips
Organised Shoes
Shoes are a girls best friend. We love them and you can never have enough of them.
There are some great products on the market for organising your shoes. The right product for you will be totally dependent on the amount of storage you have, how many shoes you have and how often your wear your shoes. Here are a couple of my favourite storage options.
Original Shoe Boxes
Some people like to keep their shoes in their original shoe box. They then take a photo of the shoes and stick them on the outside of the shoe box. That way it’s easy to see which shoes are in which boxes. Depending on the number of shoe boxes you have, you may also like to do a register, listing all your shoes with a corresponding image.
See Through Shoe Boxes
You can replace your cardboard shoe boxes with see through shoe boxes.
Fabric Shoe Holders
Whilst they may not look that great, you can use a fabric shoe holder which clips over your wardrobe pole and hangs down. However, this is not a good option if you don’t have a lot of hanging space.
Shoe Racks – Great For Organising Shoes
There is quite a range of wooden and metal shoe racks out there. Checkout places like Ikea, Kmart and Howard storage and see their range. The extendable ones are good option.
Custom Made Shoe Racks
Now, if you are a serious shoe collector, then it may be worth having custom made shoe storage created.
There are lots of other shoe storage options out there. When selecting a storage product, you really need to assess how many shoes you have and the space available. So what are you waiting for. Its the perfect time to do a declutter and cull and organise your shoes. Then once you have organised the shoe collection, you can start on other areas of the house – perhaps your makeup draw. For some handy tips on decluttering your make up draw you can review to declutter your makeup draw another blog designed to give you some tips and inspiration.
Until next time, happy organising.
By Natalie Morey, Professional Organiser
by Natalie Morey | Sep 13, 2012 | Declutter tips, Home Organisation, Tips |
Did you know that just like other products, cosmetics have an expiry date? When was the last time you decluttered your cosmetics draw?
I am fanatical about use by dates on food and I apply the same principle when it comes to cosmetics.
In Europe, cosmetics have a use by date on them, however, interestingly in Australia cosmetics don’t. Given you are putting product on your face and eye area, you can never be too careful. When working with clients to organise their home, I regularly find old perfumes and moisturisers in the back of their cupboards that have been there for years and years. When organizing and decluttering bathrooms, I like client’s to get involved in reviewing the product, as they know how long they have had things for.
What is the average period after opening (PAO) expiry date for standard makeup?
Reference: Better Homes and Gardens, October 2012
Declutter your Makeup
Professional Organising Tip:
- As soon as I open new mascara, I purchase another one, and pop it in the bathroom.
- Strawberrynet.com. is a great online store that sells premium brands at competitive prices. It is worth a look if you want to update your cosmetics.
Good luck with decluttering your cosmetic draw!
Until next time, Happy Organising.
By Natalie Morey, Professional Organiser
by Natalie Morey | Sep 12, 2012 | Tips
Papers, Papers, Papers
The dream of a paperless desk is still light years away for many of us. In the meantime, we need to devise a way to reduce the paper on our desk and organize it. Here are some decluttering tips.
Declutter your Desk
Start with a declutter and remove all the things that don’t belong on your desk.
For big items that need to be kept on or near your desk, you can use a range of boxes to keep the items sorted and grouped together. There are some lovely colours out there, so you can have fun and make your office look stylish too.
Set up an In-tray
Papers need a “home” when they arrive on your desk. Remember to label your in-tray too.
Set up a Filing System
When filing or creating a filing system, remember that you are doing this to make your life easier. Make sure your system makes sense and that anyone coming into your office would be able to find what they need quickly. Don’t forget to label it as well. Lever arch folders also work well when you want to file documents.
Organize your Drawers
Group similar items in each drawer. For example, put all of your office supplies in one drawer, stationery and notepads in another. That way, it’s organised and you won’t waste time trying to find items.
Now if you need some more inspiration on how to organise your desk, then checkout tips-to-organise-your-office, a previous blog that outlines 14 easy tips to help organise your desk. Start at the top and work your way down the list and before long your desk will be looking totally different.
Until next time, happy organising.
By Natalie Morey, Professional Organiser
