Professional Organizer | Clearing Clutter | Motivational Speaker | Salt Lake City, Utah

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Keeping Our Home Safe When We Are Away

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009 by admin

Pantha from the UK shares these tips about what to do before leaving home on a vacation: When we go away on vacation packing just the right things are not the only responsibilities we have before heading out”.

“We always switch off the answering machine. That way anyone who phones up will not be expecting a call back!

I have timed lamps in various rooms in the house for evenings and 2 radios timed to go on for an hour in the morning and evening. Hopefully our sons will cut the grass at the front of the house. Otherwise, it will be like a jungle when we get back”.

Marilyn: If you don’t have a relative to cut the grass, hire someone. Also stop the newspaper if you take it or ask a reliable neighbor to bring it in for you along with the mail.

“All our neighbors are quite elderly so I leave them a note saying when we are going etc with my friend’s telephone number and what her car looks like in case they get worried”.

Marilyn: Even if your neighbors aren’t elderly, tell them you will be gone and ask them to keep an eye on your house while you are away.

“We are trying to “eat the freezer” and cupboard – rather than buy before we go. And my friend has instructions to raid the fridge and take anything perishable left over when we have left. She also gets a few basics in for us when we get back like fresh milk and bread….yes she is a great friend. I do the same for her.”

Marilyn: What a nice arrangement to have with a friend. Thank you for these great organizing tips for my blog readers.

What do you do when you go away on vacation to make sure your home is safe while you are away–even if it is just for a weekend?

Posted in Vacation Tips | 2 Comments »

Clearing Clutter In The Kitchen Is As Easy as 1-2-3

Monday, March 30th, 2009 by admin

My daughter can’t stand a wet kitchen counter. Her roommates in college would splash water on the counters and then never wipe it up. This would really gripe her. What I don’t like is a sink full of dishes or dishes left all over the counter. It looks so messy.

One simple way to make clearing clutter a breeze in the kitchen is to keep the counters and sink free of dishes. Of course this sounds easy, but is it easy to do? After using a dish, load it in the dishwasher instead of putting it in the sink. By keeping the dishwasher unloaded everyone can load their own plates and this helps keep clearing clutter to a minimum.

Do you have a trick to clearing clutter off your counter?

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Clearing Clutter In Your Kitchen

Saturday, March 28th, 2009 by admin

As a professional organizer I work with women and seniors clearing clutter in their kitchens. This is a problem room for many people. Clearing clutter can be done pretty easy.

Some ideas that work well in clearing clutter in kitchens is to have a place for everything and put things back after using them in their “homes”.

Another idea in clearing clutter in the kitchen is to start in one small space instead of going cupboard to cupboard trying to organize everything at once.

Let’s start with the silverware drawer. Take everything out and wipe out the divider. Look at everything in the drawer; does it still work for you? Are there rusted pieces or bent pieces? If so, toss them. Are there other cooking gadgets in the drawer? If there is, is there room for containers for them to live in so they don’t just roll around? When they are contained they will seem to take up less space and they will stay where you want them to live.

After it is organized the way you want it; it will be easy to keep it this way by taking a few moments once a month and take a look at it to make sure it is working for you.

What tips do you have for clearing clutter in your kitchen?

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Clearing Clutter In The Kitchen Pantry

Friday, March 27th, 2009 by admin

Since clearing clutter in kitchens is such a big problem for so many of us I will give several tips about it for the next few days.

Clearing clutter is less work if it is done a little at a time. If you have a pantry, cupboards in an island and cupboards all around the walls start in just one place. Let’s start in the pantry today.

Something as easy as labeling the shelves may help clearing clutter less work. Cluter won’t pile up if family members know where items are to be put back. Things that need to go back into the pantry won’t be chucked in corners and on top of things.

Only store things there that you use regularly. Things you don’t use very often either keep on the top shelf or in another storage area. This frees up space for the things you use and makes them easy to reach and to replace.

Do you have a favorite tip for clearing clutter in the pantry?

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Clutter Clearing Old Files

Thursday, March 26th, 2009 by admin

We are now a few days into Spring and I am looking out my window at the beautiful Spring weather—it is snowing. This weather makes me want to organize.

I have been clutter clearing in my home office. My files are in one filing drawer and they haven’t felt friendly as there is not quite enough space so it has been a tad hard to get into them.

I decided to do some clutter clearing in a drawer where paper has lived for over three years instead of being filed (photo above). I took out all the papers and put them on a table. As I sorted I made new files and tabs. The filing system I use for clearing clutter is Freedom Filer and I really can find anything in just a few seconds. (I have timed myself just for fun).

When all my clearing clutter was done my files were neatly arranged and I had a drawer where I could move my permanent files to which gives me the room I need. It sure feels good.

Are you in the mood to do some clutter clearing? What have you been working on?

Posted in Clutter Clearing | 2 Comments »

Organizing Tips For Traveling

Tuesday, March 24th, 2009 by admin

My friend in the UK is taking an extended 2 month trip and these are some organizing tips she uses while traveling:
She said: “I do certain things as they suit my way.”

Marilyn’s comment: that is just exactly how you should organize—whatever works for you is the right way.

“I have an ongoing list on my computer with several other lists inside: A ski list, a summer vacation list, a short break list. Some things are the same for each list like toiletries and cosmetics. I print it off and cut up into pages that fit into my mini organizer/diary (like a filofax). This also has my address list in it. During the time away I make notes on the back of one of the pages called ‘would have been useful!’

Marilyn: What a great idea rather than trying to remember what it was you wished you had had.

My husband always says I take everything but the kitchen sink. My friend bought me a mini dolls’ house kitchen sink which I did pack one time and that caused much hilarity!

Marilyn: I must have one of those!

I don’t seem to have trouble being good about clothes packing. It’s all the other stuff……. My husband says – do I really need a mini tool kit and duct tape? Well yes – My suitcase got damaged (not seriously) on a couple of trips and I taped it up with Duct tape!! This also made it easier to spot on the carousel”.

Marilyn: She would be the kind of friend to travel with—you could pack light as she would have everything you would need, including the kitchen sink.

What organizing tips do you have for traveling or going on vacation?

Posted in Vacation Tips | No Comments »

3 Timely Organizing Tips Before Buying Containers

Monday, March 23rd, 2009 by admin

I have a little cupboard in my half bath that is almost 10 inches wide. I keep a couple of vases, cat food and rags there. I thought it would be nice to have pull out drawers I saw in the store for this space.

Here are my organizing tips for the day.
1. Before buying containers, measure the space—the depth, width and height to make sure what you are buying will fit the space.
2. Save your receipt in case you decide you can’t use the container or want to return it for whatever reason.
3. Make sure to check the item to see if all the parts are with it before purchasing it.

Here is my experience—not using my very timely organizing tips:

I didn’t measure because I just knew it would fit. (Do as I do, not as I sometimes do). I got it home and started putting it together and realized the connectors weren’t there. (grrr, I had to go back to the store). But I did save my receipt.

Before I took it back I thought, “Measure to make sure it will fit. Oh no I tell myself with great confidence, it will fit”. But just to be sure I put one of the drawers in the cupboard and it did fit, (without the frame the drawers slide on).

I get the new one home with the extenders and put it together and slipped it in the cupboard. Guess what—It didn’t fit!! It was about one inch too long with it all assembled. (H-e-l-l-o, there is a reason I say to measure). My daughter returned it for me but by then I had tossed the receipt because I knew now that I had the extenders I would be needing it.

I won’t be making this mistake again! (At least I hadn’t better). Does this sound familiar to anyone else?

Posted in Sage Advice, Storage Places | No Comments »

Marilyn at Disney Land Just For Fun

Saturday, March 21st, 2009 by admin

Come with me to Disney Land and you can be “famous” to.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Organizing Tips On How To Set Up A Filing System As Seen On TV

Thursday, March 19th, 2009 by admin

Would you like to see how to set up a filing system? Then read on and watch the video. I had a great experience today. I was on Studio 5 on KSL TV in Salt Lake City, Utah. This is a morning show that is on five days a week. It was a lot of fun. I gave organizing tips on how to set up a filing system. Click here for more information on my favorite filing system.

Click here to view the entire segment:

Posted in Office/Paper Work | 3 Comments »

Clearing Clutter Can Change Your Life

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009 by admin

I get such great ideas from my blog readers. I just had to share this one with you. You’ll see why after reading it. (This is from a reader who had the Scentsy give away a few weeks ago).

“The other day, Rick was pulling out the last two of our Vlasic, Original Dill pickles when he noticed something floating in the jar. In fact, there were two or three something’s, bobbing around in the pickle juice. Yes, there were flies in our pickle juice.

It’s amazing how something so small can spoil something that otherwise would be so good.

Do you ever feel like the smallest things can ruin something great?
The pickles we had eaten were good, but once we discovered the flies, those last pickles were thrown away. What changed?

It’s so easy to focus our mind’s lens on what is wrong in life. And when we focus on just that, we let it spoil everything else”. (Vlasic was very apologetic and sent them 3 coupons for more pickles, but I bet they check their jars very carefully this time–I know I will).

This got me to thinking about organizing. Have you had a bad experience with organizing so you have just given up? I implore you to not give up. (Did you like that “big” word)? Clearing clutter can make a huge difference in your life and in the life of those around you. Make a goal right now that you are going to clear clutter in one room in your home. Set your timer for 15 minutes and work as fast as you can and then see how clearing clutter made you feel.

Please share your results with us!

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

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