Rubbermaid - Adventures in Organization

Q&A with a Professional Organizer - Julie Bestry

Julie Bestry, CPO® – Chattanooga, TN – www.juliebestry.com

1.  How long have you been a professional organizer?
I started Best Results Organizing in January 2002, about 7 years ago. However, I began consulting with small southeastern television stations on operational issues, including organizing, in the late 1990's.

2. What inspired you to become a  professional organizer?
Although I'd been organizing others since the age of four (when I wouldn't join in games until I sorted the toys in my neighbor's playroom), I wasn't inspired to start Best Results Organizing until I'd neared the end of a long career as a television program director.  Broadcasting is a high-paced environment in which strong organizational skills and systems are paramount for keeping things running smoothly - a little bit of disorganization can lead to dead air, disappointed viewers and lost revenue.

As clichéd as it sounds, September 11th, 2001 was the catalyst for starting my company.  Like so many of my colleagues at other television stations and in broadcast syndication, the 9/11 made me really examine my path and determine that life is too short to settle.  I craved a professional opportunity that allowed me to use my skills to inspire change and help people achieve their dreams--in an environment where my goofy sense of humor wouldn't be to anyone's disadvantage.

I'd had no idea that professional organizing existed until I read an entry about the National Association of Professional Organizers in the book "Cool Careers for Dummies" and then attended a NAPO-Georgia chapter meeting in Atlanta.  I was struck with the realization that the consulting work I'd been doing for years, combined with my habit of idly decluttering friends' homes and offices without realizing it, was actually a recognized profession.  It was like finding out George Clooney had secretly been in love with me for decades!  By the end of 2001, I'd "retired" from television and started Best Results Organizing, and I've never looked back.

3. What is the most common organizing project you're hired to do?
Home office and small business clients contact me to help them gain control over the tsunamis of paper clutter and create better plans for work flow and time management.

Most residential clients contact me because they are "overwhelmed" and don't know where to start to overhaul their generally cluttered lives.  This usually involves decluttering and building new systems for the whole house, from kitchen to closets to bedroom and laundry rooms.

4. What is the most common organizing challenge people have?
Failing to adapt to life's changes. Disorganization comes from a mismatch between the skills and systems people are using and the actual current demands that life and work place on them.  People keep trying to do the same quick fixes, even when life speeds up and demands become more pressing (a la Lucy and Ethel in the chocolate factory).  When people find that their old solutions no longer work, their clutter and dissatisfaction grow in tandem until they become paralyzed.  They need to recognize that systems and skills much change and adapt and demands change.

5. If you had to pick 'your' biggest organizing challenge, what would it be?
I'm pretty set with organizing tangible items, but in terms of time management, my biggest challenge is perfectionist procrastination.  I love to write--I write weekly blog posts and articles, and am concurrently writing two books to add to my ebooks that I sell on my website ("Tickle Yourself Organized" and "Simplify the Season & Save Your Sanity").  But it's very hard for me to get myself to start, because I want it to be perfect from the outset.  I have to work hard to give myself the same types of advice I give my clients--to just write for five minutes, to brainstorm as if I'm writing a letter to a friend, and to visualize the end-result before starting.

6. What one tips would you give to people who are trying to get organized?
Let go of any guilt or embarrassment you feel about what has happened (or NOT happened) in the past.  All that matters is today.  My company motto is "Don't apologize.  Organize."  Just focus on keeping only the items that serve the life you live (or want to live) today, rather than becoming the curator of the Museum of Who You Used To Be.  Live for now to make your life happier and easier in the future, too!

7. What secrets do professional organizers know that the general public doesn't?
The keys to organizing are the things we've been told all our lives, but professional organizers can help you find new ways to look at things and achieve clarity.  For example, your grandma was right about "A place for everything and everything in its place", but there's more to it.

I tell my clients pretty much the same thing--everything should have a HOME, but NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO LIVE WITH YOU.  If something isn't age-appropriate, size-appropriate and life-style appropriate, you're probably already not using it or wearing it.  People tend to hold on to clutter because they fear they might need it again someday, whether it's an ugly, itchy sweater or an out-of-date reference book.

Chances are, you operate your life according to the Pareto Rule, or 80/20 Rule, such that most of the time, you're wearing the same 20% of your wardrobe and your kids are playing with the same 20% of their toys. So, letting go of something by giving it to charity, selling it at consignment or auctioning it on eBay works for everyone.  You get more space for the life you lead now, the new owners get something they actually want, and your possessions get to lead a useful second life.

8. What's the biggest mistake most people make when trying to get organized?
I think the biggest mistake, from at least an economic point of view, is that people go out and buy storage containers FIRST, without assessing their needs, sorting their categories and paring down the clutter.  There are FABULOUS products (wink, wink, Rubbermaid!) out there, but before you can assess the styles and sizes of storage tools you need for your kitchen or garage or closets, you need to be a bit ruthless in purging out what you don't need and categorizing what you'll keep.  Otherwise, it's like buying an outfit to wear to an unknown event, in an as-yet-undetermined season, when you still have 50 pounds to shed.  Sort, organize and *then* select your storage containers.

9. How can potential clients get in touch with you?
They can email me at the address listed on my website www.juliebestry.com, where they can also find my articles on a wide variety of organizing subjects, from organizing to prevent identity theft, to finding motivation to achieve your goals

They can also write comments on my "Paper Doll" blog at OnlineOrganizing.com via www.juliebestry.com/organizing or the "blog" link on my website.

Holiday Leftover Safety Tips

Below are just a few simple Holiday leftover tips.  If you have any additional tips please feel free to add using the comments button below.  Happy Thanksgiving!

• Use Refrigerator Thermometer to make sure refrigerator is set at 40 degrees F or lower.
  
• Refrigerate leftovers within two hours of purchase or use.
  
• Never defrost at room temperature. Thaw food in containers in the refrigerator. For quick thaw, submerge in cold water in an airtight container.
  
• Separate large amounts of leftovers into small shallow containers for quicker cooling.
  
• Avoid overstuffing your refrigerator. Cold air must circulate to keep food safe.
  
• Hot food can be placed directly into the refrigerator, but it must be divided into shallow to allow for quicker cooling.
  
• Refrigeration DOES NOT prevent bacterial growth!

Thanksgiving Tips for your Holiday Meal

It doesn’t matter if it is your first time hosting Thanksgiving or your twentieth, with all the food and family in one place getting dinner together can be stressful.  This is especially true when trying to impress your guests.  Here are a few tips to keep in mind when preparing for the big meal:

1. White turkey meat can be notoriously dry even if it is basted frequently.  A simple trick to keep the bird moist is to cook it breast meat down.  Since dark meat has extra fat, its juices will naturally sink into the breast area without the risk of drying out the thighs and legs.  This little change will turn dark meat enthusiasts into white meat fans.
   
2. Worried that your stuffing may not cook thoroughly inside the turkey?  Avoid this stress by cooking the dressing outside of the turkey either on the stove or in the oven, depending on the recipe.  To preserve the moistness without stuffing, cut apples and oranges into quarters (peels included) and stuff them into the bird’s cavity along with fresh rosemary, thyme, and sage.  The herbs will complement the flavor of the turkey, and the fruit juices will help keep the meat extra moist.
   
3. Run out of pumpkin for the pie?  Don’t fret, most any starchy, orange-colored vegetable like carrots or sweet potatoes can replace pumpkin.  Simply cook the substitute until soft, then place it in a blender or food processor to make a purée.  Line a colander with a coffee filter to allow the liquid in the mashed carrot or sweet potato to drain (about two hours).  It is now ready to use in any pumpkin pie recipe.
   
4. The food will taste so heavenly that your guests will want to take home leftovers.  Rubbermaid TakeAlongs containers are perfect for storing holiday foods, and they are value priced so you won’t mind if the containers go home with your guests!   

Thanksgiving Leftovers Safety

Let’s face it, the only thing better than Thanksgiving’s turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and veggies, is the leftovers the next day (sometimes enough to last us through the week!).

While leftovers are a delicious holiday tradition, it is important to store and handle them properly to avoid contamination. Here are a few tips for healthy Thanksgiving leftovers:

1. It is unsafe to store food in large amounts that can't cool quickly enough. Immediately after your meal, remove stuffing from the turkey cavity and refrigerate stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and other vegetables in separate shallow containers for quick cooling in the refrigerator.
2. Refrigerate or freeze perishables, prepared foods and leftovers as soon as possible after serving.
3. Do not over-pack the refrigerator. Cool air should circulate around the containers to keep food safe. Cut turkey into thin slices and store separately from stuffing, gravy, and vegetables in shallow containers.
4. Use refrigerated leftover turkey and stuffing within three days; gravy within one to two days.
5. Do not cross-contaminate. Never place cooked food in a container that previously held raw meat, poultry or seafood.
6. Check the refrigeration temperature. It is important to keep the fridge at 34 to 40° F degrees at all times.
7. Reheat any leftovers thoroughly to a temperature of 165 ° F or until hot and steaming.

Rubbermaid food storage containers are ideal for storing leftovers and eliminating kitchen clutter. They are available in a variety of sizes and feature adjustable capacity. Most Rubbermaid food storage containers are backed by a lifetime warranty and are safe for use in the microwave, freezer or dishwasher.

And what happens when you would like to send your guests home with food? Pick up Rubbermaid TakeAlongs food storage containers. Available in several shapes and sizes, you will find the perfect fit for every food, and every guest.

Maximizing Limited Closet Space

Let’s face it; the average person's storage space is no match for the amount of stuff they want to store. The problem is especially hard for urban dwellers like myself. Are we then all sentenced to a life of clutter?

No. As it is often the case, the answer lies in creativity, a little forethought and the right organizational tools. I’ll use my personal challenge to illustrate the point. My wife and I don’t have the benefit of a front hall closet. We live in a beautiful old Victorian home that’s high on charm and low on practicality. Beyond the ones in the bedrooms, we only have one closet that has to serve as a linen/pantry space.

What we've done is used the Configurations Closet System to give us a flexible space that can change with the seasons. In the non-winter months (which are quickly abandoning us) we have no need for winter jackets so they are stored on a garment rack in our basement. This allows us to use the entire hallway closet for linens and extra food supplies while still housing our (my wife's) overflow footwear at the bottom.

Now that the colder weather is back some of the jackets need to rise from the basement and sit in the closet. Thanks to the Configurations system I'm able to remove half of the shelves and replace them with rod hangers and a rod so that they I can hang the jackets (see picture 1). The extra food supplies now move to our sun room (also know as the "situation room"). This space is a great reading/conversation nook in the summer but lies useless in the winter months. I've used the new Steel Reinforced Shelving to keep this area organized just like my grandfather's old cold room or cantina. (see picture 2).

This little "rotation" is specific to my very peculiar space issues and opportunities. A lot of you will have more then one hallway closet and may not have the luxury of a "situation room." That said I'm sure you all have storage problems that could be solved/eased with some version of the seasonal rotation.

The first step is to use the Configurations Closet system so that you have the flexibility to tailor your design to changing needs…..then find some extra spaces.

Does anyone have any other examples of how they change their storage spots to meet seasonal needs? I'd love to hear them.

Alternative uses for Food Storage containers

As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, in my laundry room I have a bunch of small Rubbermaid totes to store and organize a wide variety items.

One of the things I keep in my totes (since I don't have a garage) are nuts, bolts, screws and nails sorted and stored inside of Rubbermaid Premier food storage containers.

Not only is Premier great for storing food, I have found it to be an awesome way to organize small hardware.

Do you have any alternative uses for food storage containers? We would love to hear your ideas.

Rubbermaid Scavenger Hunt Sweepstakes

Recently I was talking to Deb Lee, a professional organizer, about Rubbermaid and the Newell Rubbermaid brands.  She was not aware that Dymo and Endicia were also part of the Newell Rubbermaid family of brands.  That sparked an idea.

Why not do a quick scavenger hunt / sweepstakes related to the Newell Rubbermaid brands and some of our online blogs and websites.

So here's the challenge.  Read the questions below and provide correct answers using the comments feature of the blog.  When submitting your answers/comments, please be sure to include your email address (It will only be used to contact the winner).

Of the people who submit all the correct answers I will randomly draw a winner. The winner can choose between (1) one Easy Find Lids 24 piece set OR (2) Rubbermaid Premier 12 piece sets.  All answers must be received by 4:00pm Eastern on Friday November 21, 2008.

QUESTIONS

1. List 8 Newell Rubbermaid brands: Visit www.newellco.com to see the list.
2. What Newell Rubbermaid brand powers Dymo Stamps®? Endicia
3. What is the web address for the Sharpie® and Graco® blogs? blog.sharpie.com & blog.gracobaby.com
4. What is the name of the Rubbermaid Twitter account? @rubbermaid
5. When I did my Garage Makeover, how many posts were in the series? 5

NOTE: As I receive the answers/comments. I will review them and edit the comment to only show if the answers were correct or not. I wouldn't want to post all the answers for people to see :)

An Organized Pantry – It wasn’t so hard

I don’t know if you remember but back on September 24 I wrote a post about how I needed to organize my pantry.  Well... time flies. It took nearly 2 months to get around to starting the project but I finally found some time and it’s now complete.  Honestly, I wasn’t putting it off. Between swim meets, soccer games, family visiting, etc. I just didn’t have the time or energy.  But anyway, it’s done now and I’m very happy with the results.

Let me recap some of the issues I had with my pantry. I had plenty of space and lots of shelf space.  There was just no rhyme or reason to how stuff was arranged and (this is a big one) I had a bunch of stuff I didn’t need cluttering everything up.  Clutter… my arch enemy.

The first step I took in my Saturday pantry organizing project was to assess the situation. For me I walked into the pantry, took a good look at everything in there, made mental notes about what we used frequently, what we never used, what worked, what didn’t work and how I might be able to improve the usability of the space.

Step two, which was probably the most important step, was to take a deep breath, walk away, and make myself a cappuccino (I’m a vanilla soy milk fan).

With a double shot cappuccino in hand I then began pulling everything out of the pantry and placed it in related piles.  Pulling everything out and sorting allowed me to see exactly what I had.  This was a very eye opening step. Why exactly did I need seven lunch boxes?  Was it really important to keep all of the kindergarten and 1st grade art projects in the pantry?  The answer is… I don’t need seven lunch boxes and there is no reason to keep art projects in the pantry.

The sorting and purging process is an extremely important step. This is where you need to really dig down deep and determine if you really need to keep all the ‘stuff’.   During my purging process and got rid of nearly 50% of the stuff in my pantry.  Some of it I put away elsewhere and some of it got tossed.  For example all of the kid’s art projects got stored away in a single Rubbermaid tote in my attic. That’s where all the kids school memories stuff go.  Numerous half used candles got tossed.  Appliance instruction manuals got stored in a small tote with all the other home warranty information.  Old magazine, recycled. Some of the lunch boxes went to Goodwill.  Fortunately for me my wife was out of the house when I did this. Otherwise I may not have been able to be so generous with the purging.

A key takeaway from this process is… “The pantry is not a storage area”.  It’s a working area of the home that should be used for as intended. I have plenty of other areas for ‘storage’.

Moving into the final step of the project was to take note of what was left and determine the best way to organize the pantry.  A couple things I took into consideration were: how my children utilize the space, the most frequently used/accessed items, the least frequently used items, and the groups of items that needed to be put back away.

I started with the stuff the kids needed to access. I decided to use three large Rubbermaid dishpans to hold the random snacks (granola bars, pudding, chips, etc) they kids grab.  I knew they would help in keeping the pantry organized so this method will allow them to be disorganized within a confined, organized space.  I also placed the dishpans on a low shelf so they had no problem reaching them.

Then I moved onto the pasta and rice items. To store these items I transferred all of the pasta and rice into nice storage canisters. This allows for easy organization. I decided to keep part of the label in the canister so the cooking directions were always at hand (in case I actually needed to cook it myself).

The canned goods went on two lazy susan turntables in the corner of the pantry. Now we can spin the turntables for easy access to all items.  Cereals also went down low for the kids to have easy access.

In general most of the food items where placed on the wall you immediately see when you open the pantry.  The non-food items such as batteries, light bulbs, wraps & bags, etc. were placed on the left side of the pantry.  The small appliances such as crock pots, bread makers and waffle makers were placed on below the shelving.

All-in-all I consider this to be a very successful project.  For me, a successful organizing project comes down to a few important steps.  The first is to assess the space, then sort & purge, and finally organize in a way that makes sense for how you live.  Oh… I can’t forget the maintenance part of the puzzle.  Staying organized is an ongoing process. You can’t just organize and forget about it. You need to stay on top of it. Five minutes here and there will ensure your space stays clutter-free and organized.

- View the complete photo gallery on Flickr
- View the videos on YouTube

Q&A with a Professional Organizer - Scott Roewer

Scott Roewer, CPO – Washington, DC Metro – www.solutionsbyscott.com or www.declutteryou.com

1. How long have you been a professional organizer?
Friends have often joked, that I’ve been organizing people since I could say the word container.  Although that may be a tad extreme, as a child I was always good at puzzles.  I approach each new client like they have a new puzzle for me to solve.  The puzzle is disorganization.  Solutions by Scott was started in 2003 after I moved to Washington, DC.  It was part time venture that turned into a full-time career quickly. It’s critical that in these busy times, we find ways to make our lives at home and at the office easier to navigate.

2. What inspired you to become a CPO?
There are a few different reasons.  First, my goal to earn the CPO® credential was so I could push myself to gather and learn more information that would be helpful while working with clients.  Secondly, our marketplace is being flooded with individuals who are starting a business overnight, without any client experience or body of knowledge. Having the CPO® designation has given my clients reassurance that I’m the right organizer to hire, and they understand I have the skills and I’m serious about the work I do.

Finally, I have found that having professional credentials, particularly the broader-spectrum CPO®, enhanced my standing with clients. Living in Washington, D.C. where it seems everyone has advanced degrees and initials after their name, it was only appropriate that I should, too.  As more organizers enter the profession, consumers will continue to ask about certifications and experience.  This certification shows my clients that I have the experience, has taken time to become educated on organizing principles, and is committed to the professional organizing industry. 

3. What is the most common organizing project you’re hired to do?
The overall theme with many of my clients’ organizing projects includes the goal of maximizing their space.  This may be in their closet, which requires us to downsize their wardrobe to what they actually wear or possibly redesign their closet based on their needs.  This may be about their kitchen so they can use their space wisely and efficiently for cooking.  There’s an art to cooking and to an organized kitchen.  We often look at space utilization in their home office, where the files are over flowing and their desktop is covered.  We need to maximize their space for storage, which often starts with a good purge of the paper and then tweaking their storage to work best for their needs.  Others need to maximize their storage space in their garage or basement.  We often install storage on walls, which are often under utilized or when clients lack the tools or resources to use their wall space.  We install shelving, wall racks, and hooks for our clients all the time.  In fact, the FastTrack® system by Rubbermaid works great in these spaces.

4. What is the most common organizing challenge people have?
Remember the philosophy of the paperless office?  It didn’t happen.  The reality is, with the use of technology we’ve increased the amount of paper we use.  We fax, print, copy material we already have in hard copy.  With technology, we’ve dramatically increased our paper consumption.   My recommendation is to not print emails or website articles unless it’s absolutely necessary.  Use a tool like delicious.com to track online information.  If you need to save a copy of it because you think it will disappear, print it as a PDF and save the article on your computer.  Use a desktop search tool like Google Desktop, X1 or Mac users can use Spotlight to find emails and information saved on their computer.  If junk mail is the problem, check out this post on ways to stop junk mail: http://www.declutteryou.com/2008/08/stop-junk-mail-i-dare-you/

5. If you had to pick ‘your’ biggest organizing challenge, what would it be?
I’m a visual person, and if I put something away that I’m working on, I’ll forget about it.  You can imagine that leaves a lot of loose paper around.  I’m sure this sounds familiar to you.  Miscellaneous things to do, calls to make, receipts, contacts, things to enter in the calendar, mail – it’s never ending!   Just like everyone else, I’ve had to implement tools and systems to help me.  For example, I have clear folders on my desk that hold my projects and tasks.  Three folders I’m usually working with include; “enter into computer”, “call these people”, “complete and mail”.  Each folder holds the task associated with the paper.  One thing to remember, it’s the tasks that need organizing, not just the paper.  When I come home late in the evening after a meeting, I don’t have to shuffle through the phone calls, I can move directly to the “enter into computer” folder, or the “complete and mail” tasks.  If I am going to have down time while I’m out with clients, I can grab my “call these people” folder and have everything in one spot.  This works great for me and for many of my clients who’ve adopted this same system.

6. What one tip would you give to people who are trying to get organize?
There are a few questions we always are asked when someone calls.  “How long is this going to take” is usually one of them.  People who are living with chronic clutter need to remember it didn’t become this way over night, so it’s not going to be undone over night.  Develop a plan you can live with and make sure it is realistic for you to maintain.  Start working in one area, or on one project and finish it before you move on to another space.  It may take you a while to finish that area, and that’s OK.  Start with small intervals of time 10-30 minutes if necessary.  I recommend setting a timer so you know when you started and when the ‘end’ arrives.  If you have more time and more energy, set the timer again.  If you work using this method, you’ll be done before you know it!

One more, quick tip for all you paper lovers.  If you often print drafts before you print a final copy, one way to keep them from getting mixed up is to print your drafts on a colored or recycled paper.  Don’t put the white paper or stationary paper in the printer until you know you’ve created a masterpiece.

7. What is a certified professional organizer® (CPO®)?
The CPO® certification is a voluntary effort that recognizes professionals who have met specific minimum standards, and proven through examination and client interaction that they possess the body of knowledge and experience required for certification.  The standards, examination and qualifications were developed by the Board of Certification for Professional Organizers, a self-governing organization formed in 2007 to recognize and raise industry standards, practices and ethics through independent certification of professional organizers.

While the CPO® designation is not an endorsement or recommendation, the public can rely on this certification to maximize the value received from the products and services provided by a CPO®.

8. How many CPOs® are there currently?
The inaugural examination was given in April of 2007.  Since then over 275 professionals have earned the right to be called a Certified Professional Organizer®.

9. Where do you see organizing as a profession in the future?
I think the industry will continue to grow as more people learn about our industry and how we can enhance their life.  I think society will learn we do more then what is seen on the dramatic before and after reveals on TV. We truly are a benefit to people and I hope everyone someone day will realize the value of what we do.

10. How can potential clients get in touch with you?
I encourage people to visit the Solutions by Scott website if they’re interested in hiring a professional organizer in Washington, DC, Maryland or Virginia. Others should check out the DeClutteryou.com blog where we provide organizing tips, introduce cool products and help readers solve common household organizing problems.  We can also be found on Twitter as @DeClutterYou or people can join our Facebook fan page.

Laundry Room Organization

When I moved, I did gain some extra indoor space but the one thing I lost was garage space. As a result, I had to maximize my laundry room to accommodate for laundry needs, as well as the items that were traditionally kept in the garage.  Below is what I did to make this space work for me.

Step 1: Laundry Area

Taking Configurations closet systems, I arranged 3 shelves above my washer / dryer.  Using Slide & Stack baskets, I grouped my laundry items into a few categories. The Slide & Stacks are great because it allows me to only pull out the basket I need at the time, such as: 

1. Handwashing (Woolite, etc.)
2. Ironing supplies, spray starch
3. Microfiber cloths for cleaning
4. General cleaning supplies
5. Stain removal, treatment
6. Accessories, such as dryer sheets, wrinkle releaser, etc.
7. Dryel & pads

Step 2: Stuff that was in the garage

I took Rubbermaid totes and placed them on Rubbermaid resin shelves to house a variety of garage items.  A few include:

1. Drill / charger
2. Common tools such as hammer, screwdrivers (a regular toolbox frustrated me because it took so much time to pull it out and find it in the general mass of random tools)
3. Nuts / bolts / screws / nails
4. Circular saw

All in all, while I miss the large amount of space I had in my garage, it has been a fairly good system to keep up with everything.  As always, if anyone has any ideas, send them my way!!