Tag: storage bins

Build a Wardrobe That Changes With the Seasons

Posted on by Jordank

#Fall arrived a bit early at The Organizing Blog’s headquarters last week. Rain blew in, and the daily high temperatures quickly tumbled from the 80s to the 60s, just in time for the official first day of #autumn.

While it’s offering a pleasant enough respite from the #summer heat, the sudden change had many of us scrambling for the sweaters, jackets and flannel sheets. Were we really ready for summer to be over — and are we equipped to handle the cooler weather?

One thing that can help cope with #seasonal changes in the weather is a wardrobe that converts easily to the climate realities outside your door. When you can #streamline the contents of your closets, #drawers and #storage bins, it becomes much simpler to dress for the weather.

A “capsule” wardrobe made up of a small number of versatile garments can help, says Charlie B. Concentrate on quality staples that work year-round — five pairs of pants, two pairs of shorts, five sweaters, 10 tops, three jackets and a warm winter coat is a good start.

“The key is balance — enough variety so you don’t feel bored, but not so much that your closet becomes overwhelming. Each piece should be able to mix and match, giving you casual and dressy looks without requiring constant shopping or seasonal overhauls.”

Layer and accessorize to cover multiple seasons and all kinds of occasions. You’ll soon find that much of the #clothing in your closet is redundant — and that you need to buy fewer items when you concentrate and high-quality, versatile pieces.

Granted, you may need to #declutter before you can go full-on #minimal. As you bring more fall items into the rotation, says Living a Life More Organized, take Marie Kondo’s advice and examine one category of clothing at a time: coats, knits, pants, dresses, etc.

Does each item still meet your needs, or is it too worn, loose, tight, boring or trendy? Do you have other things like it that you enjoy more? Did you wear it in the last year? Is it just taking up closet space, or does it truly “spark joy”?

Let go of the also-rans by #donating them to ClothingDonations.org, and you will instantly create #space for your ideal capsule wardrobe and personal style while helping the nation’s #veterans. And you’ll face fewer #fashion dilemmas with a wardrobe that changes just as fast as the seasons!

Why Storing Your Extra Stuff Isn’t Always the Answer

Posted on by Jordank

Storage is big business. A wide variety of “storage solutions” on the market promise to help you #organize your #stuff by purpose and season, from the underbed box of out-of-season sweaters to the huge green bins designed to hold holiday lights and decorations.

What’s more, about 10% of U.S. households lease a #storage unit to contain bins, boxes, boats, cars and other #things they just can’t cram into their current homes. Self-storage is a $44 billion industry in the U.S., and it’s growing fast.

But storage is rarely the answer to one’s #decluttering and #organizing needs. “Just because it’s out of sight doesn’t mean it’s out of mind,” says Miss Minimalist. “Your clutter is still there, hanging over your head, piled beneath your feet, lurking in the dark corners of your home.”

#Storage systems can help people #organize. You #sort items into a brand-new box or bin, label it and put it on a shelf. If you return to that bin knowing that it holds what you’re looking for, so much the better! But if you don’t, all you’ve done is hide your junk.

The same goes for a self-storage unit. You likely overestimated the value of the goods stored and/or the likelihood of using those things again. And you’ll do anything to avoid making a decision about that stuff, including continuing to pay the monthly fee.

Self-storage units can be useful in the short term if you’re transitioning between homes or downsizing. But most units are just a replacement for #decluttering. Reconsider renting if you don’t really need most of what you want to put in there.

“Because your #clutter is stored in an off-site location, there’s a greater chance you just won’t bother dealing with it,” says Garage Living. “Before you know it, years will have passed, the #junk in your storage unit will collect more dust, [and] your bank account will be emptier.”

Before you waste money on a bunch of new organizers or a self-storage unit, #declutter. Figure out what you aren’t using now and how likely that is to change. Reduce the sentimental items to only most treasured and put them in a truly safe place.

Then, contact ClothingDonations.org for a #free #donation #picukup. On the appointed day, a driver will pick up the things you no longer need and help you reclaim space in your cleaner, more streamlined home.

Marking the Milestone of Graduation

Posted on by Jordank

May and June are #graduation season. The academic calendar is coming to an end, and those in their senior years of high school and college will make the transition out of their respective schools and take the next steps in their lives. Many schools and families take note of middle and elementary school graduations, too.

The first thing on the minds of many #graduates and their #parents (after the ceremonies) is a #celebration. Graduation parties tend to be low-key, multigenerational affairs, gifts optional. If you plan one, ask the honoree what kind of gathering they would like to have, who should be on the guest list and what kind of refreshments might be served, says Emily Post.

However you #elebrate, graduation marks important milestone in life. The end of high school and college often carries bittersweet connotations, because the student will soon be saying goodbye to friends, accepting more adult responsibilities, and perhaps moving and/or entering a profession for the first time. Many will be seeking meaning or a new goal in life.

The reason many ceremonies are referred to as commencements is that while graduation is the end of one phase, it’s also new beginning — the culmination of years of work and a window into the great unknown. It can be an unsettling and emotional period; be prepared to help your gradate (or yourself) cope with new and unfamiliar demands.

One thing you can do to get the graduate’s next phase off on the right foot is to help them #edit and store the artifacts of those school years. With few exceptions, your high school grad isn’t going to need most of souvenirs of the previous four years for college or career, and college grads won’t need dorm-room trappings following them to their next homes.

Encourage your #grad to weed through their documents and keep the essentials — transcripts, writing samples, portfolios — in digital formats to save space. They can return textbooks and #organize #keepsakes in bins or boxes, PODS says. They can get rid of #clothing that won’t suit their next phase, along with extra appliances, dinnerware and other furnishings. Anything that doesn’t make the cut can go to ClothingDonations.org with a #free #donation #pickup.

Graduation is a milestone — and all milestones are an opportunity for reflection and goal-setting. #Decluttering can help graduates recognize and appreciate where their journey has taken them and move forward to the next big thing. Congratulations to all the grads!

Keep Your Car Organized on a Road Trip

Posted on by Jordank

#Organization is the name of the game if you want to keep your car #clean during an extended #road trip with family and friends. The glove compartment should be your command center, a story in Rochester Local says, and contain a cord case; a pouch of sanitizing wipes, over-the-counter medications and first aid supplies; a file of insurance documents and important travel confirmation information; and a flashlight. In the main cabin and boot, uses suitcases and bins to sort the #stuff you’re bringing on the trip; remember, you can often find good lightly used luggage, bins, coolers and other containers for cheap at the #thrift stores supplied by generous #donations to ClothingDonations.org. #SummerRoadTrip

Trick Yourself Into Decluttering Effectively

Posted on by Jordank

If you’re eager to #declutter and get #organized in the new year but haven’t been successful in the past, Apartment Therapy offers five tricks you can use to make the process easier: (1) Invite guests over, forcing you to #clean; (2) Pretend you’re #moving and eliminate anything you wouldn’t pack; (3) Take a photo of the room and examine it to find what’s out of place; (4) Ask a Type-A friend to help; and (5) Turn off your phone notifications and set a timer for 15 minutes of power-decluttering. Then, contact ClothingDonations.org for a free #donation #pickup. #NewYearNewlyOrganized.