A few weeks ago my friend’s father had to go to the hospital. My friend went to his home (he is a widower) to pick up a few things. The place, although clean was disorganized with paper all over the dining room table. It seemed paper was everywhere and you could hardly step around it without knocking something down. I’m turning 60 next year, (my husband died a few years ago) and do not want the same thing to happen when it is my time. What can I do?
Michelle
Dear Michelle:
This is a great question and the easy answer is:Make sure everyone in the family knows your parents’ wishes…and please don’t fight over the blender. But the more difficult answer is: When someone dies, your emotions are highed and the guilt of doing too much, not enough or just enough is also heightened…and decisions are made with these high emotions. These are some ways to not have the guilt and emotion ruin your relationships with family members over the mundane items in your house.
Have a family meeting where you are in control of everything and ask each child what they want in the house. If there are the same answers to different items, YOU choose who gets it. But, I would write it all in a will. Make sure you also have given one of your children powers of attorney and please sign a living will. Remember it’s just stuff as the great Peter Walsh, professional organizer says. If there are important items you want certain children to have, leave it in your will or give the possessions to the people now.
Also, contact a lawyer and put everything in writing. You and your family will be glad you did.
Good Luck!
Dear Les Is More:
Recently, I was looking in my mother’s attic and found a large group of drawings. My mother told me to take them-but what do I do with them? They are not my taste and I feel bad if I just tossed them away.
Sincerely, Shaun
Dear Shaun:
I would find out who the artist is and look up what the drawings are worth. I fyou cannot find anything on the internet that gives you this; I would call a local museum and speak to the curator. Either photo graph the drawings or if you live close enough make an appointment and bring the drawings with you. This way you can make an informed decision since you will have all of the facts. You might be surprised by finding a treasure…you just never know.
]]>How do you make time to organize with two little ones at home and a full time job?
Anne
Dear Anne:
Teach your children to pick up after themselves and to keep their room tidy. If you get your children involved they might not have problems with clutter as they grow older. Make this part of their chores and give them a special treat for doing it well. Also, when you bring something into the home, take something out. There is just so much space in a home and if you need to “let go” of items-then let them go.
Have an Organized Day!
Dear Les Is More
My pressing problem is how to hide mail clutter. I've tried different tactics but it always end up on my kitchen table in a mess!
Dawn
Dear Dawn
Why are you trying to hide it? Buy a shredder and shred it. You need to go through the mail every day and sort it. If you are into piles- get some baskets and label them into “bills”, “magazines” and “newspapers.” Give every member of the family their own basket and sort the mail that way. Set it up in a corner of the kitchen or another room and you will never have a kitchen table that is a mess again.
Have an Organized Day.
]]>I do not have the time to clean my closet, but is there one thing that I can do now?
Thanks! Anne
Dear Anne:
Congrats on wanting to get organized. Yes, there is a very easy way to start. I want you to put a laundry basket on the floor of your closet. When you are getting ready in the morning or any other time and trying on clothes and you try on something you do not like, or does not fit anymore put it in the basket. When the basket is filled, put in a large garbage bag, write down what is in there—and deliver to Salvation Army. Keep doing this until you have the closet of your dreams. Good Luck.
Dear Les Is More:
My uncle just died and my cousins and I are responsible for all of his stuff—what do we do with it?
Bill
Dear Bill:
My condolences to you and your family. I would go through everything and decide who wants it. Then, when you all have your items separated—then you need decide what to do with them. Pick a few of the pieces you love and he loved or anything you two shared. Next, I would do research on what you are left with, and decide if you want to sell it, donate it or pack it up and put it in your attic. If you pack it up for at least a year, it will hurt less when you are ready to let it go. Good Luck. Have an Organized Day.
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How can you become organized if your brain isn't?
Maureen
Dear Maureen:
Our brain can be trained to be organized if you know the tools and tricks to do it. First, if you have a lot of worries that you think are cluttering your brain-then write them all down. Besides the worries, write down the ways you think you can stop them. If you worry about money, then do not spend as much and give to charity instead of shopping to you drop.
Then, take one step at a time. Want to organize your kitchen? Do it one drawer at a time. You did not just jump from the womb to walking-it took time. Allow yourself time to get organized and to not do it in one day.
Have an Organized Day!
Les Is More
Dear Les Is More: What is a good way to start sorting through items when one is downsizing a home?
Thank you,
Carol
Dear Carol: First, think of the new house and the day you are moving as survival and pack a survival kit. This kit includes sheets for every bed and that will be slept in on moving night and enough kitchen items to make breakfast. Pack these first and label them survival kit and have this the last thing you put on the truck and the first thing that gets un packed. Then, go through the furniture and pick out what you are keeping and what you are either selling or donating and put in one room. This will be the room you are using as either donation or tag sale before the move room.
Then, as you pack belongings and decide what to keep and what to donate you just put it in the room.
Start with one room and finish that room before you move to the next room. Each person should have a survival kit of all their items they will need for the first week of living in the new house.
Remember, as you pack if you don’t LOVE it—donate it. This will be a perfect excuse to get rid of everything you don’t love and if anyone asks, “It must have been lost in the move.”
Have an organized day.
]]>I have kitchen issues! Do you have any suggestions on keeping school lunches cold and instead of using post it notes or writing on tape how to keep dates on your food? I’ve looked for new products but do not know which ones to trust.
Kim
Dear Kim:
I am always trying out new products, so you have come to the right place. First, if you want to bring salad with the dressing in a separate container—you need to try the GLAD with interlocking lids. It comes with a small container that locks into the lid (hence the name) when you put the lid on your glad ware. This is great for nuts, sauce or anything small in size and it works wonders.
I also love the E-Z Freeze stayfit snack stackers with the freezer gel already in the container…freeze it and it keeps your food cold and fresh.
The last one I love is the digital day counter with attaches to a varity of surfaces and it lets you know how many days you did what you did to the food you are storing. Did you ground the coffee when? Did you store the baby food on Monday or was it Wednesday? With this little counter you will never have to worry again. Oh and it was on the Oprah Show…when Oprah was on. (www.howmanydaysago.com)
I have discovered a kitchen rug that is wonderful on your feet and makes washing dishes easier on your legs. It’s called the Microdry Kitchen Mat (www.mindsinsync.com) and it uses memory foam and I have two to give away. Email me at Lesliefjacobs@yahoo.com and ask me a question about organizing and the best question will win the Mat.
Have an Organized Day!
Dear Les Is More:
I have loads of photos and really don’t want them sitting in a drawer and there is no way I am going to scrapbook them –ever. I used your idea of putting them in a bowl but I want them more organized—any ideas?
Lisa
Dear Lisa:
Glad you liked the bowl idea (fill a large bowl with photos and leave it on your coffee table instant- ice- breaker).
I recently tried out a photo tray with built in frames from KangaRoom storage. This lovely leather tray holds 440 4x6 photos and looks great on a coffee or side table. It also can be stacked if you buy one for your family and friends and one for your travels. Its makes looking for a photo quite lovely. Check it out at www.greatusefulstuff.com
Have an organized day.
]]>If you live in a disorderly environment, your emotions can become unfocused and heavy. However, if you take these important steps in three weeks you will be more organized, less cluttered, happier and a little richer. I promise you!
Three weeks before the sale:
Pick a date for your tag sale. Call your friends and family to tell them of the date and to get some needed assistance. Remember, do not have a tag sale over a three day weekend…everyone goes away.
Clean out a designated space to make room for the sale items. Pick a room that will make it easy to bring items outside, or the day before the sale. (I always go for the garage)
Start amassing your inventory for the sale. Stand in each room in your house and look at every possession your own. What don’t you love? What have you kept because it was a gift, but you no longer want, need or life? Move these items to the designated storage space and do not re-think your choice, or you will never be able to get rid of anything.
You may want to get each family member involved with this process, but if you have a “pack-rat” be careful of the “but I may need it someday” mantra. Someday is today and you won’t need it. Move-on to the next room while imagining your home clutter-free.
Two weeks before the sale:
Call your newspaper for information on placing a tag sale ad most newspapers now offers both print and online editions. Also, do an Internet search for other ad placement options. Make your ad enticing with a list of your best items. These items are going to bring in your customers. Make large signs to distribute them throughout your neighborhood. (Be sure to remove them after the tag sale.)
Take photos of the large and heavy items you are selling and tack these to a bulletin board or screen. This is an easy way to show your tag sale clients your inventory without having to move the heavy pieces outdoors. Interested clients can then accompany a friend or family member into the house for a personal viewing. If no one buys these items you can put them on craigslist after the sale.
If you are selling a lot of pierced earrings, attach them to a board or put them in individual plastic bags. (You can buy these at any arts and crafts store)
One week before the sale:
Continue collecting items.
Make sure your ad will be in the newspaper.
Go to an office supply store and pick up price tags or design them on your computer. It makes a tag sale look more professional and you do not have to be asked a hundred times, “How much is this?”
With all of your items for the tag sale in one place, you will have to price them. If you do not want to do individual prices for each item—then have tables for 1, 5, 10 dollars and even one table for .50 or 25. Cents. People will want to negotiate for the lowest possible price. Familiarize yourself with the market through on line auctions such as eBay.
Remember, to be flexible—you want to make money but you also want to get rid of everything.
The Week of:
A clean item is worth more than the dirty one, so clean, clean, and clean. Wash the glasses, polish the silver and dust the pocketbooks. Never skip this step. If you have an original box for anything you are selling—use it.
Group all of your like items together. If you are like me, you have amassed quite a few of exercise videos and equipment. I use my exercise equipment everyday—they make sure my clothes are no one the floor. Give yourself a break and sell what you don’t use, and invest in a good pair of sneakers for walking—they take up less space.
The Day Before:
Arrange table in an attractive display which will promote easy circulation for your customers. Use tablecloths or sheets to make your tables look neat and tidy.
Park your cars off your street to allow more parking for your customers.
Your customers are the most important people of the day, so get them to browse and buy. Hire a babysitter for your young children (under 10) and hired the older ones to help you. Have them make a lemonade stand and donate the proceeds to charity. Have one person in charge of the money, including the cash box, another person to run errands, such as brining customers to see the furniture and a third to help load the items into the customers’ car.
The Day of the sale:
Get up early the day of the sale. There will always be “early birds.” Even if your ad says no to the early birds there will be some.
Make sure you have plenty of cash on hand in singles and change.
Have grocery bags, tape, bubble wrap and boxes to wrap the items for your customers.
If you are selling anything electric, have an extension cord to test the items.
Put out coffee for your customers. It will allow them time to linger and may keep them from leaving empty handed.
Dress comfortably and let the joy of the tag sales begin. At the end of the day, enjoy the comfort of a less cluttered house and the beginning of a new more relaxed life.
]]>I am sick of my built in bookcases. They never look like bookcases do in magazines or on TV. Do you have any ideas what I can do?
Sincerely,Lucy
Dear Lucy:
Yes. I have plenty of ideas—thanks for writing in. However, you don’t tell me the room it is in, or what material it is made out of –so here are my suggestions in no particular order.
Good Luck with your design challenge and as a last resort, you might want to donate all of your books, take down the book case and buy a e-reader.
]]>I read your last article and noticed you wrote about handbags being organized, but are their bags that do the trick for you?
Karen
Dear Karen:
With Charlie Sheen in the news more than civil unrest in Libya, here in New Britain I have been testing handbags to come up with the best handbag that helps you get and stay organized. I also found out my friends have handbag envy with the array of bags I have touting around.
Although I have only tested a few hundred in the past year I feel as a professional organizer I can finally narrow it to one Handbag Company and one handbag system.
The first one is the handbag system called HeddyFreddy (www.heddyfreddy.com) and is designed to be a marriage of fashion and function. The core of the system is the HF module which is a purse organizer (or clutch) that glides into the handbag, purse or tote. It is the outside that is changed by YOU from a vast array of styles, leathers, buckles, trims and fabrics. You move the module to the handbag shell of your liking. Best of all, this is made in Waterbury, CT at Waterbury Leatherworks and its upscale look is less expensive than a designer bag—and it all original for you-not mass marketed like everything else. This idea is not new but the quality and ease in which this moves from handbag to tote makes this the most wonderful handbag system in the world.
The second bag is made by Ellington. (www.ellingtonhandbags.com) these bags are beautiful to look at, beautiful to use and make getting and KEEPING organized a snap. I tested the “Hannah tote” and found it to be almost too roomy. A great excuse to go shopping to fill up my bag. I also tested the “Amelia In flight tote.” What is amazing about this bag is I bought a heavier version of these 5 years ago and have used it for all of my travels since. It makes me feel more stylish then ever while using this bag. I love the new lighter version and it slips over the handle of your rolling luggage. I can hardly wait to fly again knowing I have the most perfect handbags around.
]]>Thanks, Trey
Dear Trey:
Every night I want you to take out that day’s trash. The McDonald wrappers and the Dunkin Donuts coffee cups get tossed away—but do not stop there—when you have a moment (and it really only takes a few of these moments) decide what you want from your car—is it a home office or a mode of transportation. If it’s your home office then go to Staples and buy any one of the Peter Walsh organizers to help you (I do like the small receipt binder with the pockets, and notepad) get organized. If you spend 1 minute a day being organized in your car it will not look like a reactor accident when you need it to be nice on a date. Have an Organized Day!
Dear LesIsMore: My hang bag is a mess. There are never enough zippers or spaces for everything I need—what can I do?
Sincerely, CeCe
Dear CeCe:
Do you clean it out nightly? What about cleaning it weekly? That is the first step to an organized handbag. Get rid of the trash. Stand over your trash can and purge, purge, purge. Now you are ready to put only the essentials in your handbag.
Now for people who think their handbag is an extension of their car and need to shoulder 30 pounds of stuff in it—there are extra pockets you can buy to put in the middle of the handbag. These are called “Purse Organizers” and there are quite a few of them. My favorites are the “pouchee” (www.pouchee.com) and Plaid Doctrine (www.plaiddoctrine.com) –Now you can change your handbag and be organized in seconds. Each one has many many pockets and you can use the extra space to find your cell phone, keys and wallet in a second instead of hunting through your bag—you can see everything-because everything is in a separate pocket. Genius- Have an Organized Day. Les Is More
]]>Dear Andrea:
Take the measurements of the inside of the drawers and go to a home improvement store and look around at what they have. There are many products on the market now that will help you divide and conquer that space. You can also go online to the containerstore.com and look at what they have. If all else fails, just store sweaters in there—that is what I do with my stove.
Have an Organized Day.
Dear Les Is More: I need serious help--SERIOUS FREAKIN' HELP-- organizing all of my files on my laptop. Thanks, John
Dear John:
This takes patience on your part—you will need to open every file on your hard drive and decide if you need to keep it. Then, the files that you need most often put on your desk top with a creative name. For every column I write, I put the date and the subject in the title. For photos, I put who is in the photo (Princess Cruise with friends or Nephews at Tom’s birthday party) –the more detail the better. It’s going to take you time, but in the end beginning organized saves you time. Good Luck.
Have an Organized Day.
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