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In my travels, I have seen some great organizing ideas and products. Most of them can be created using items you already own. Save money, have fun and create a solution to an organizing problem.
Re-purpose an item and use it in a new way
On my trip to Vancouver, I learned about this idea. Here is a silver chest.
Re-purpose an old silver chest and make it into a make-up organizer
It now holds makeup. My daughter-in-law invented this creative solution.
The brushes nicely fit where the cutlery used to be stored.
Stack 2 tables to create a great look
I travelled to Iceland with my 92 year old Father. A coffee shop had these versatile coffee tables.
Stacking coffee tables
They can be easily separated to give more tables, slide over top of each other to leave more floor space and provide 2 different height tables at the same seating space. Imagine how you could create this look at your home with 2 tables.
Use stacking bins for laundry
When I was in Yellowknife I saw these great stacking laundry bins
Any stacking bins could be used for your laundry
They use vertical space so take up less floor space and can easily be separated to take to the laundry room. The thing I liked is that you can put items into the bottom bin without removing the top bin. If you have some bins around the house try using them for your laundry. You may need to set one across the other in an X pattern to be able to stack them.
1 in 4 garbage can
While staying in a hotel in Ontario I noticed this great recycling idea.
Each section of the garbage can holds a different type of trash
It made recycling very easy. It was all in one place, the corners were labelled so you knew where to put your cans, paper, garbage and glass. You can easily make dividers for the garbage cans for bedrooms. It would make collecting the garbage easy, only one container, and it would be sorted and ready to add to the larger containers going out to the curb.
Shoe Organizers are Versatile
When I was in Bermuda I saw one in a bookstore used to organize maps. The pockets are large and the organizer can be hung over a door, mounted on a hanger and put in a closet or fastened to a wall.
Shoe organizers can be used to organizer lots of things, hats, mitts, first aid supplies,cleaning supplies and maps
Re-purpose a piece of furniture
Using furniture in a new way can be fun. Use old furniture as storage and save money not buying bins. Back at home, this used to be a buffet.
Use old furniture to store items.
It holds our CD collection perfectly. I knew I would not have room to use it in the eating area but it keeps the entertainment equipment CDs and gaming equipment neat and organized.
I went to the Canadian National Home Show, check out this blog post for more creative organizing ideas. What’s new at the home show?
Share your creative organizing solutions in the comments below.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of physical activity to reduce clutter, in your home and office. She guides and supports you in managing your time. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
The computer swallowed Grandpa,
Yes, honestly it’s true!
· He pressed ‘control and ‘enter’
· And disappeared from view.
·
· It devoured him completely,
· The thought just makes me squirm.
· He must have caught a virus
· Or been eaten by a worm.
·
· I’ve searched through the recycle bin
· And files of every kind;
· I’ve even used the Internet,
· But nothing did I find.
·
· In desperation, I asked Mr. Google
· My searches to refine.
· The reply from him was negative,
· Not a thing was found ‘online.’
·
· So, if inside your ‘Inbox,’
·· My Grandpa you should see,
· Please ‘Copy, Scan’ and ‘Paste’ him,
· And send him back to me.
··· This is a tribute to all the Grandmas & Grandpas, Nannas & Pops, who have been fearless and learned to use the Computer………
· They are the greatest!!!
·
We do not stop playing because we grow old;
We grow old because we stop playing …
NEVER Be The First To Get Old!
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home, office, mind and time. She guides and supports you to be accountable for your time, to complete projects and to reach your goals. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
At -A glace contacted me with this infographic. It clearly outlines a few things to do to use your time wisely to help you reach your goals.
Thanks to Jesus a Content Marketing Manager for At-A-Glance , a company that helps individuals and businesses with planning, organizing and learning this information.
I also find productivity increases when the number of distractions decreases. No emails, no social media, no texting, no phone calls, simply no multitasking. Set aside a specific amount of time and work only on one project until it is done or the time is up. It is amazing how much you can get done when your focus is on one task at a time.
Share what you do to make yourself more productive.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situation. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home, office, mind and time. She guides and supports you to be accountable for your time, to complete projects and reach your goals. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Click here to learn more about her online course Create an Organized Home.
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Clutter is different for everyone but most people have some clutter in their lives. There are many reason why it can be hard to let go of things. Let’s look at 4 scenarios.
Scenario 1: Fear
Perhaps it is fear that causes you to hold onto things
- What if I need it someday – fear of scarcity
- I’ll keep it just in case – fear of uncertainly and doubt
- I can’t give that away it was a gift – fear of rejection
- I can’t decide so I’ll keep it and what if it is worth something someday – fear of making mistakes
In an article by Hellen Buttigieg, she talks about Steps to eliminate your fears and conquer the clutter
- As you sort through your items notice the thoughts that come up and begin to acknowledge them, say okay now you’ve got my attention.
- Notice where you feel the fear in your body, stomach, chest headache?
- Analyze the fear and try to understand where it’s coming from then thank it and move on
- Replace fear with trust
- What if I need it someday replace it with all my needs are abundantly supplied
- I’ll keep it just in case – replace it with what are the odds I’ll ever need to replace it?
- I can’t give that away it was a gift – replace it with my real friends always love and support me
- I can’t decide so I’ll just keep it – replace it with I’ll make a decision and trust that everything will be okay
- What if it’s worth something someday – replace it with it will never be more valuable than joy, health, friendships etc
Scenario 2: Sentimentality
I have clients who if they touch an object they will automatically keep it, so I hold up the object and don’t let them touch it when they are deciding to keep it or give it away. Other clients need to touch an item before they can donate it, it is like saying goodbye to it.
The sentimentality we feel towards an object can be associated with:
- Someone you loved gave it to you or
- Someone you once loved used or
- The object is associated with a time when you were happy. ( memorabilia)
Being able to separate an object from a person or event can be difficult. Learning that you can still have the memory and the corresponding feeling without having the object will help you to be able to let go of items.
Scenario 3: Control / Personality
Clients will hire me and want me to do their plans. As I work with them and make a few suggestions about alternative ways to organize things generally they say no and then at our next appointment they usually say I thought about your idea, let’s try it.
Control
- People want to have control over their decisions and environment. Avoiding power struggles over decisions about what stays and what goes makes decluttering easier.
Scenario 4: The cost of getting rid of stuff
I have clients who want to make lots of money selling their stuff. Sometimes it is possible and sometimes it isn’t. They will hold onto stuff for garage sales, to put on Kijiji or EBay. Sometimes they hold onto it for so long that it has lost its value. They think, “I paid good money for it.”
PSSST: The money is already spent…..
Just because it was costly to purchase does not mean that it’s valuable today! Items change in value. What’s important is whether you are using what you have now or, if what you have is distracting you from the lifestyle you want. If you are not loving, using and enjoying your things, reconsider their ‘value’.
The important thing is to discover what reasons make it hard for you to let go of things and change those mindsets.
There are 3 things that are true
- We all have too much stuff
- It is hard to let go of our own stuff
- One day we will part with our stuff.
Join my Facebook Group Organizing Mind and Space
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She enjoys working with her clients to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She reduces clutter, streamlines processes and manages time to help her clients be more effective in reaching their goals. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Update 2022
It would be wonderful if there was a way to recycle VHS tapes. I have not been able to connect with Project Get Reel. I don’t think they are in business. If you need information about recycling and donating items ask your questions in the comments or contact me. at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
I first published this blog in May 2015. I have been notified that Project Get Reel has received their e-waste license and is up and running.
VHS tapes are 80% recyclable but most end up in landfills. It is a labour intensive job to dismantle the tapes into their component parts. “Project Get Reel is giving people an environmentally safe way to dispose of tapes while providing employment to people who may face barriers to securing a job.” They launched this business on April 9,2015. View the video on this site to learn more about recycling VHS tapes. Watch for more news about this business trying to help the environment and provide sustainable employment for residents in Ontario Canada
Photo by Rob Pearce
Let me know some of the great places you take your donations and recycling to.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of physical activity to reduce clutter, in your home and office. She guides and supports you in managing your time. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
A reader sent me this link to a great article on cleaning, Alyson Voss a Freelance Writer – Lifestyle. I hope you enjoy these tips on how to keep your house clean.
In the day-to-day hustle and bustle, keeping the house clean can seem about as likely as winning the lottery—but it doesn’t have to consume hours of your daily time. Aside from the occasional in-depth cleaning sessions, you can stay on top of daily dirt and grime in just 30 minutes a day (or less!). With just a little organization and pre-planning, you’ll breeze through basic cleaning tasks in no time.
Follow this checklist to get your home in tip-top shape in just 30 minutes.
Set the stage
- Conquer clutter: Keep random objects out of your way by assigning each family member a “collection station” (use a large laundry basket or unused trash can) for corralling things that don’t have a home. Everyone is responsible for emptying their stations once they’re full.
- Gather your weapons: Use a cleaning caddy to bring your main supplies from room to room as you clean. Stock it with Lysol Disinfectant Spray, disinfecting wipes, cleaning cloths, and any other necessities. If your home has multiple levels, create one full caddy for each.
- Map out your route: Systematic patterns can shave serious time off your cleaning. One recommended method is to start each room at the top, to the left of the doorway, and move clockwise and down. Use a logical room-to-room path with no backtracking to save even more time.
Start your engines
- Focus, grasshopper: When you’re ready to start speed-cleaning, focus on the task at hand by putting down the phone and turning off the television. If you can’t stand the silence or need motivation, tune into your favourite radio station or kick up your most energetic iPod playlist.
- Skip the little things: Give yourself permission to ignore tedious, time-consuming tasks that don’t need to be performed daily. Extend tasks like dusting off knick-knacks, scouring spice racks, rearranging shelves, and wiping down window treatments to once a month.
- Wipe away germs: Instead of breaking out the spray and scrubber for every surface, use Lysol disinfecting wipes to quickly clean frequently touched or trafficked surfaces that are already relatively clean. You’ll save time, and you can give these areas a proper weekly cleaning with Lysol Disinfectant Spray to maintain pristine conditions.
- Banish the broom: If you vacuum carpets but sweep hard flooring, save time and energy by leaving the broom in the closet and vacuuming everything. It’s just as effective and eliminates one bulky tool. Invest in a 50-foot extension cord, and you can vacuum room to room without unplugging and re-plugging.
- Finish with a refreshing scent: As a final touch for each room, use an air freshener. Your home will look and smell amazing.
The more often you follow your speed-cleaning checklist, the easier and faster it will be. You’ll save hours of time, and the dirt, germs, and odours won’t have a fighting chance.
Need help getting your home organized so it is easier to clean? Contact Mind over Clutter to help simplify things to make cleaning easier.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She enjoys working with her clients to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She reduces clutter, streamlines processes and manages time to help her clients be more effective in reaching their goals. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
In May many families are raising money to help find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. This video shows one family’s motivation and determination.
Learn more about Cystic Fibrosis and how you can help.
Please share your stories in the comments below.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She enjoys working with her clients to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She reduces clutter, streamlines processes and manages time to help her clients be more effective in reaching their goals. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Near the end of May is National Multiple Sclerosis Day. I have met a wonderful lady who has this disease and conquers it every day. She has written a book about her life. It is an amazing story by Eva Marsh called Black Patent Shoes Dancing with MS. Go to her website and order it. It will make you laugh and cry and rejoice with her. You will learn a lot about this disease in a fun, entertaining way. If you need a speaker for your group she is the lady for you, always upbeat, insightful and fun.
If you need help organizing because your health may make some tasks difficult, call me and let me be of service to you.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, in person and virtually. She enjoys working with her clients to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She reduces clutter, streamlines processes and manages time to help her clients be more effective in reaching their goals. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Listen to this Ted Talk with MC Abdominal and his Mom about the rap song they wrote and performed together. Moms aren’t prefect but they give you inspiration. Remember to remember your mom.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She enjoys working with her clients to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She reduces clutter, streamlines processes and manages time to help her clients be more effective in reaching their goals. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Organizing Challenges Unraveled – Recycling and Donating
OES Ontario Electronic Stewardship
If you are looking for locations to recycle your computers, TV, printers, fax machines, etc., this website will help you find a location near you.
Highlight Consumer/Retailers then click on Recycle your electronic
Go to the bottom of the page and type in the name of your city in Ontario and it will give you a list of locations
Books
If you have books you would like to donate, libraries and used bookstores may take them. There is a new organization that is able to put books into prisons. It is called Books to Bars. It is dedicated to promoting literacy, creativity and functionality in correctional facilities.
Clothing
Clothing can be donated to women’s shelters as well as Salvation Army, Value Village, and New Horizons Store on James St, Hamilton ON. There is a children’s store called Once Apon a Child and a teen and young adult store called Plato located at Guelph Line and Upper Middle Road, Burlington ON. They are not consignment stores. You bring in your clothes and they buy them (what they want) on the spot and give you the money right away.
Building Supplies
Habitat for Humanity Restores will take building supplies. Call ahead to see if they need the items that you wish to donate.
Antique Stores
Some antique stores will take window frames, furniture etc. I have an artist who is looking for antique items to use in her craft business.
Decore on a Dime
This store is located in Hamilton, ON and will take some stylish home furnishings on consignment.
Orange Drop
Check out this website to learn locations to drop off your corrosive, flammable, explosive and toxic items.
Single Use Batteries
Rechargeable batteries can be dropped off with your electronics but they will not take single use batteries. Try contacting your local stores to see if there is a collection depot for single use batteries.
Please go to www.mindoverclutter.ca and click on the links page for more ideas about recycling and donating good used items. If you have any questions or other great recycling and donating ideas click on the contact page, I’d love to hear from you.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home, office, mind and time. She guides and supports you to be accountable for your time, to complete projects and to reach your goals. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
