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Newsletter Archives
December 2011
Fresh Start
November 2011
Organizing for a Flight
October 2011
Closet Organizing
September 2011
Organizing for Retirement
August 2011
Warning Signs of Disorganization
July 2011
Essential Organizing Tools
June 2011
Where Do I Start?
May 2011
Reclaim the Garage
April 2011
In Case of Emergency
March 2011
Organizing for Dementia
February 2011
Organizing for Guests
January 2011
Paper Overwhelm
December 2010
Top Ten Causes of Disorganization Revisited
November 2010
Just in Case…Organizing for Death
October 2010
Kitchen Organizing
September 2010
Photo Organizing
August 2010
It’s the Small Things
July 2010
Procrastination
June 2010
Expert Organizing Tips
May 2010
Tips from my Clients
April 2010
Tips for Setting Up a Garage Sale
March 2010
Unusual Ways to Organize
February 2010
Staging your Home for Sale
January 2010
Favorite Places to Buy Organizing Products
December 2009
Wrapping It Up
November 2009
Prepare the Pantry
October 2009
Costumes & Decorations
September 2009
Enough
August 2009
Help for the Home Office
July 2009
Getting Crafty
June 2009
A Better Bedroom
May 2009
Eco Organizing
April 2009
Getting Ready to Garden
March 2009
The Path To Clutter
February 2009
Easing Into Downsizing
January 2009
Organizing For Renovation
December 2008
Organizing For Next Year
November 2008
More Of My Favorite Organizing Tools
October 2008
Making Life Easier
September 2008
Clearing The Closet
August 2008
How To Let Go Of Stuff
July 2008
Managing Medical Records
June 2008
Road Trip Organizing
May 2008
Collections Instead of Clutter
April 2008
Getting Ready for Tax Time
March 2008
Where to Begin
February 2008
When You Want to Help
January 2008
Top Ten Causes of Disorganization
December 2007
Organize for Air Travel
November 2007
Organize for Small Spaces
October 2007
When Life Happens, Reorganize
September 2007
Bathroom Organizing
August 2007
Paper Organizing
July 2007
Uncluttered Kids' Rooms
June 2007
Top Ten Organizing Tools
May 2007
Grapple The Garage
April 2007
Managing Your Time
March 2007
Spring Organizing
February 2007
Help for Caregivers of Aging Parents
January 2007
National Get Organized Month
December 2006
Year End Organizing
November 2006
Give Thanks for Being Organized
October 2006
Holiday Kitchen Organization
September 2006
In Case of a Weather Emergency - Organize!
August 2006
Back to School Organizing
July 2006
Declare your Independence from Summer Clutter
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ORGANIZING TIPS OF THE MONTH: May 2011
Reclaim the Garage
The garage is often the garbage bin of the home. Things we clear out of the house, but don’t really use, end up in the garage. The garage is also an easy place to dump stuff we want to avoid putting away. Grapple the garage and gain useable space.
- Start with a clean slate: Choose a good weather day because the first step in garage organization is to take everything out onto the driveway. Sweep the floor, wash the windows.
- Decide on zones for your stuff: Use painter’s tape to attach signs to garage walls to label areas for the things you store in the garage--gardening, auto care, bulk purchases, sports equipment.
- Purge and sort: Measure your storage areas. Do not keep more than will fit in shelves, cabinets, and wall systems. The middle of the garage floor is off limits to everything except the car.
- Gather the organization products: Once you know what you are keeping and where, it is time to decide on the best organization tool to use to conveniently store everything. Hook systems for long-handled garden tools, shelves for bulk purchases, metal wall baskets for sports equipment—there are a variety of organizing products to best fit your needs.
- Deter rodents: Store birdseed and pet food in metal containers with tight lids. Rodents chew through plastic bins.
- Store safely: Place heavy items on lower shelves. Put toxic items up high or in locked cabinets. Secure shelves to walls.
- Group small stuff: Use clear containers with bold labels to hold small items such as gloves, tape, and picture hooks.
- Store wisely: Only store items not adversely affected by temperature change and humidity. The garage is not the place for photos, papers, and out of season clothing.
- Go vertical: Install high shelves for coolers, hooks for beach chairs, wall racks for bikes. There are a variety of garage storage systems, such as Rubbermaid ® FastTrack, Elfa ®, and Garage Tek ® which get your stuff off the floor and onto the walls.
- Put your car in the garage: It is one of your most expensive and useful purchases. Protect it by putting it in a storage container—the garage.
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