Home Organization in Long Beach has been a real pleasure. Customers I have had in Long Beach seem to be the most relaxed and appreciative homeowners that I have worked with. Since starting my organizing business I have created so many home organization ideas that help people not only get organized, but stay organized. Here are some of my favorite things I have found to be helpful.
1. Separate the tops and bottoms of Tupperware by shapes. So all round tops go with round tops, square with square and rectangle with rectangle. Put each shape into different zip lock bags, so they stay separated and they are easy to see and access. Then the bottoms fit into each other nicely without their tops. I love how easy it is to store them without having to worry about a matching set. Find your bottom first and then reach into a zip lock for the top. It is a space saver too.
2. All like items with like items. Having all of your dental products with dental, all hair with hair products, all makeup with makeup, all feminine / masculine stuff together, all medical with medical supplies, vitamins with vitamins, pet stuff together in one spot. Sort each category into a clear plastic bin container that fits the category so all the stuff does not get mixed up again with other stuff, and it is easy to see. Create a bin for for light bulbs, batteries are good in a zip lock and keys too. Pens can be distributed into different rooms but all contained in zip locks or containers. Papers, well papers always stick together, but in a large basket. When you categories are all kept separate and contained it is easy to find them and you always know where they are.
3. Use baskets or bins or bowls throughout the house to catch your categories that have left their home. Then when the containers fill up, take them and disperse your items back to their home. Do Not leave stuff all over the counters and in piles on your floor. My two rules as an organizer are nothing on the floor and nothing on the surfaces except furniture and rugs on floor, baskets, pots, and decor and regular things you would find on surfaces such as coffee pot, toaster, basket of fruity, pen holders, decor etc…
4. Don’t push things under the bed (bad Feng Shui), into closets randomly, behind doors and into the garage. Use a basket, bin or bowl system for over-flow and then when the basket, bin or bowl over-flow then it’s time to get everything back to the designated home.
5. Each category has a separate home. So all light bulbs go in one spot, not all over, even if it is tempting to leave some down stairs, just in case. When categories start spreading around it leads to confusion, and the light bulbs left in a bathroom versus the upstairs laundry room (the home) will get lonely for their home. All money, change, business cards, items from work, children’s papers, all must have separate homes and in some type of containment, whether is is a baggie, box, bin, bowl, organizer etc… Toilet paper, toiletries, shampoo, paper towels and tissues can go in every bathroom, but they all have an actual home for the reserve. Your reserve area for toiletries, detergents, soaps, water, bulk items can be in a laundry room or a shelf in the garage. Nothing ever leaves it’s designated home unless it is going to be used and then it goes back home, or into a container when you are finished with it. Stop putting stuff on chairs, on the floor and on tables or surfaces. I don’t care if you have to have several large baskets throughout the home to catch all your stuff.
6. Don’t think you “Need” a thing in your home. You don’t “Need” any of the stuff you own. You either want it or you don’t want the stuff. Needs are food, water, air, sunlight, shelter, elimination, sleep and the things that keep us alive.
7. Be disciplined to get things back to their home when you make a big mess. Keep paper in a big tall attractive basket so you always know where every all your incoming papers are. Then go through the basket daily, weekly or monthly to make sure you know what papers you have. Keep only the papers that are important, useful, invitations, receipts for taxes, articles you will read, notices, bills (better on-line), and start to write notes in one large notebook, and separate magazines into a magazine rack. Toss clutter papers away quickly and don’t bring junk mail into the house ever. Bring junk mail directly to the trash.
8. Move your furniture around and your decor every 3-6 months just to freshen up and change your environment. When furniture and artwork and decor stay stagnant you will too. If you are “Decor Challenged” as I like to call it, then get some professional help. There is a company called “Decor and More For Less” at www.orangecountydecorators.com
They are really inexpensive, and they will use what you own and add a few “green shopping” ideas in, and your home will look like a whole new and decorated home.
9. Keep the home Clean! If you do not know how to clean, learn how, or hire a Professional Housecleaner. Cleaning is obviously not rocket science, but if it makes you sick to think about cleaning a toilet or a shower, then get some help.
A Green housecleaner will be a good option if you don’t like to smell chemicals. Cleaning starts with dusting. Wet a dry rag and then go and dust, continuing to rinse out the rag. Then you sweep and or vacuum the floors and then wash the floors with whatever is appropriate for your floor type. For wood Bono is a great product and for tile just water and vinegar. Clean all the kitchens and bathrooms with the vinegar solution to prevent mold and germs.
10. Keep your garden and the outside of the home in great shape. The outside is what people see first, so if your lawn is yellow and dry and there are cobwebs about, people will just think Yuk. So get some sunshine and get to work.
1. Separate the tops and bottoms of Tupperware by shapes. So all round tops go with round tops, square with square and rectangle with rectangle. Put each shape into different zip lock bags, so they stay separated and they are easy to see and access. Then the bottoms fit into each other nicely without their tops. I love how easy it is to store them without having to worry about a matching set. Find your bottom first and then reach into a zip lock for the top. It is a space saver too.
2. All like items with like items. Having all of your dental products with dental, all hair with hair products, all makeup with makeup, all feminine / masculine stuff together, all medical with medical supplies, vitamins with vitamins, pet stuff together in one spot. Sort each category into a clear plastic bin container that fits the category so all the stuff does not get mixed up again with other stuff, and it is easy to see. Create a bin for for light bulbs, batteries are good in a zip lock and keys too. Pens can be distributed into different rooms but all contained in zip locks or containers. Papers, well papers always stick together, but in a large basket. When you categories are all kept separate and contained it is easy to find them and you always know where they are.
3. Use baskets or bins or bowls throughout the house to catch your categories that have left their home. Then when the containers fill up, take them and disperse your items back to their home. Do Not leave stuff all over the counters and in piles on your floor. My two rules as an organizer are nothing on the floor and nothing on the surfaces except furniture and rugs on floor, baskets, pots, and decor and regular things you would find on surfaces such as coffee pot, toaster, basket of fruity, pen holders, decor etc…
4. Don’t push things under the bed (bad Feng Shui), into closets randomly, behind doors and into the garage. Use a basket, bin or bowl system for over-flow and then when the basket, bin or bowl over-flow then it’s time to get everything back to the designated home.
5. Each category has a separate home. So all light bulbs go in one spot, not all over, even if it is tempting to leave some down stairs, just in case. When categories start spreading around it leads to confusion, and the light bulbs left in a bathroom versus the upstairs laundry room (the home) will get lonely for their home. All money, change, business cards, items from work, children’s papers, all must have separate homes and in some type of containment, whether is is a baggie, box, bin, bowl, organizer etc… Toilet paper, toiletries, shampoo, paper towels and tissues can go in every bathroom, but they all have an actual home for the reserve. Your reserve area for toiletries, detergents, soaps, water, bulk items can be in a laundry room or a shelf in the garage. Nothing ever leaves it’s designated home unless it is going to be used and then it goes back home, or into a container when you are finished with it. Stop putting stuff on chairs, on the floor and on tables or surfaces. I don’t care if you have to have several large baskets throughout the home to catch all your stuff.
6. Don’t think you “Need” a thing in your home. You don’t “Need” any of the stuff you own. You either want it or you don’t want the stuff. Needs are food, water, air, sunlight, shelter, elimination, sleep and the things that keep us alive.
7. Be disciplined to get things back to their home when you make a big mess. Keep paper in a big tall attractive basket so you always know where every all your incoming papers are. Then go through the basket daily, weekly or monthly to make sure you know what papers you have. Keep only the papers that are important, useful, invitations, receipts for taxes, articles you will read, notices, bills (better on-line), and start to write notes in one large notebook, and separate magazines into a magazine rack. Toss clutter papers away quickly and don’t bring junk mail into the house ever. Bring junk mail directly to the trash.
8. Move your furniture around and your decor every 3-6 months just to freshen up and change your environment. When furniture and artwork and decor stay stagnant you will too. If you are “Decor Challenged” as I like to call it, then get some professional help. There is a company called “Decor and More For Less” at www.orangecountydecorators.com
They are really inexpensive, and they will use what you own and add a few “green shopping” ideas in, and your home will look like a whole new and decorated home.
9. Keep the home Clean! If you do not know how to clean, learn how, or hire a Professional Housecleaner. Cleaning is obviously not rocket science, but if it makes you sick to think about cleaning a toilet or a shower, then get some help.
A Green housecleaner will be a good option if you don’t like to smell chemicals. Cleaning starts with dusting. Wet a dry rag and then go and dust, continuing to rinse out the rag. Then you sweep and or vacuum the floors and then wash the floors with whatever is appropriate for your floor type. For wood Bono is a great product and for tile just water and vinegar. Clean all the kitchens and bathrooms with the vinegar solution to prevent mold and germs.
10. Keep your garden and the outside of the home in great shape. The outside is what people see first, so if your lawn is yellow and dry and there are cobwebs about, people will just think Yuk. So get some sunshine and get to work.
