Rubbermaid - Adventures in Organization

Q&A with Laura Leist, CPO, CRTS

Laura Leist, CPO, CRTS – Snohomish, WA – www.eliminatechaos.com, President – National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), Author – Eliminate Chaos: The 10-Step Process to Organize Your Home & Life

1) How long have you been a professional organizer?
Going on 10 years.

2) What inspired you to become a CPO?
I wanted our clients to know that I take my profession seriously and invest in continuing education.  I also wanted to set a good example for our employees who I hoped would also sit for the CPO exam.  Today, three of our employees are also CPO’s.

3) What is the most common organizing project you’re hired to do?
I don’t think there is necessarily one common project we are hired for.  We work on a wide variety of projects, based on the skill-sets of our team of Organizing Consultants.  Each consultant has their own niche and therefore each have their own type of common projects.  For example, one of our consultants specializes in craft/hobby rooms as well as scrapbooking projects.  Kitchen design for a remodel or new kitchen is a common project for another one of our consultants.  Working with clients that hoard are common and typical projects for yet another consultant.

4) What is the most common organizing challenge people have?
I think one of the biggest challenges for people is how to organize information – whether electronic or on paper.  There are so many ways to organize and store information and people get overwhelmed by all of the options.

5) If you had to pick ‘your’ biggest organizing challenge, what would it be?
My biggest organizing challenge is trying to convince my significant other how important it is to keep the garage organized.

6) What one tips would you give to people who are trying to get organized?
Don’t lose sight of the fact that the project you are working on may have taken a long time to get to the point where you decided it needed to be organized.  Don’t get frustrated with how much time your project will take – just break it down into pieces and try to accomplish a little bit each day.  Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day!

7) How can potential clients get in touch with you?
425.670.2551 | www.eliminatechaos.com | request.information@eliminatechaos.com

Airing out Sports Equipment

In any thorough ranking of unpleasant smells, recently used hockey gloves must be near the top of the list. Closely followed by shoulder pads. To be honest all sports equipment smells disgusting after the game / practice. It needs to be aired out.

When I was a kid my mother set up a wire hanging tree in our furnace room in the basement. As I moved into apartments I alternated between enclosed closets (which became hazardous zones) and balconies. For the last two years I returned to my roots with a hanging tree in the basement.

As you can see from the picture this is not an ideal solution. First off, they don’t make wire hanging trees like they used to….mine is really flimsy and bends like its trying to make it under a limbo stick. Secondly, it’s not big enough for all my adult-sized gear so I end up overlapping items, which isn’t ideal for airing things out.

Well this past weekend I solved the problem…see below.

I used left over Configurations (HomeFree) pieces I had from my closet installations and put them to use on the basement wall. In Canada you can go to Home Depot or RONA (Lowes in the US) to get the missing open stock pieces you need for the install. I also bought three sliding baskets.

The result is a functional wall with ventilated wire shelving that’s ideal for airing out the equipment. I designed it using our design tool so that every piece of equipment has its own spot without touching anything else. Once I started installing, however, I moved things around on the track to better suit my actual hockey equipment.

This just reinforces the versatility of the Configurations system. My suggestion to all of you who have sports equipment to air out and have been putting off a closet makeover is this: buy a Configurations kit and redo your closet(s). With left over pieces (as there almost always will be) build a sports equipment airing wall in your basement, your garage or anywhere else that’s away from most human activity.

As I mentioned you can round out the pieces you need at above-mentioned retailers to make sure there is zero waste. I like it….. save waste, save money, save space and most importantly save your marriage. Hockey gloves really stink.

Being Organized to be a Grocery Deal Hunter

I recently found out that September is National Coupon Month.   What a reason to celebrate!  Those who know me realize I LOVE coupons and deals. So, in honor of this holiday, I dedicate today's post.

My love for grocery coupons started about 5 years ago when I started working on advertising for Rubbermaid and was learning how to plan and drop coupons in the Sunday newspaper for our food storage [Fun Fact - Officially, those are called FSIs - Free Standing Inserts].   So, I started to get the paper and look at it on Sunday to learn more about it, and soon became addicted to looking for myself!  It is now something I look forward to on Sundays - a good cup of coffee and my newspaper!

Just last night, I went to my local Harris Teeter and saved $27 on a $47 purchase.  So, I only paid $20 for my groceries.

I know there are a lot of experts out there (check out Jill Cataldo, she is my new favorite), but wanted to share my personal tips and tricks for how I stay organized to be a grocery deal hunter. 

1) ORGANIZE WHEN YOU CLIP

I have found this helps me to refrain from buying items I don't need.  For instance, I recently had to throw out 3 cartons of broth I had bought with coupons.  However, in the summer, not making soups, they expired and I ended up losing money by being overly coupon zealous.

Above is a photo of my organizer which is sorted:

a) By store. 

The front is for grocery. 

The back is for Target items like toiletries and cleaning supplies that are most efficiently bought at Target.   Even with tripling, Harris Teeter can be more expensive than the every day Target price on these items.  Every time I am going to Target, I take a look to see if I need anything that is in that section soon.

b) By Type of Purchase

Triple Coupons - Within grocery, there is a section for items to only buy when there are triple coupons at Harris Teeter.  For instance, I do not use mayonaise daily. But I sometimes use it for recipes. If there is a $.75 coupon (worth $2.25 on triple coupon times) and mayonaise costs $1.89, I will save it to get it for free in case I need it.

Everyday Shopping - There is also a section by area of the store - so when I plan my shopping list, I can quickly see if I have coupons

2) UTILIZE ONLINE SITES

A few of my favorites are SmartSource and Coupons.com for which you can sign up for weekly emails.  I like it being delivered to me because then I don't have to plan to take time to look for the savings.

3) ALIGN YOUR MEALS WITH STORE SPECIALS

I am so impressed with Harris Teeter.  They have an eVic program that you can sign up for weekly.  Every Wednesday, I receive an email with the items I frequently buy that are on sale and also what is on sale in the entire store.  It also alerts you if it is Triple Coupon Week.  I spend 5 minutes to plan my shopping and meals for the week.  I look for:

a) Things I already buy and have no preference on switching.  For instance, I eat fruit daily and yogurt for breakfast every morning.  When shopping, I switch between blueberries / strawberries / grapes as well as yogurt brands depending on the deal that week.

b) BOGOs.  For instance, this week, London Broil and Turkey Burgers are Buy One Get One Free.  So, I plan to incorporate those into my meals this weekend.

I hope you find my tips beneficial.  Please leave comments with any additional tips you may have for Organizing Coupons and Savings.

Packing Adventure

I am back from a little hiatus from work doing a construction mission trip in the Dominican Republic.  

Of course, I was looking for organization everywhere [ ok, maybe not all of the time :) ] but wanted to share some things I learned from the experience, especially with regards to packing:

1.  Organization is not as important in this area of the world -- Since they don't have a lot of belongings like we do in North America, the storage of things isn't as prevalent.  Hmmm...maybe if we had less stuff we would be less stressed about it!!

2. How to pack a suitcase in an organized fashion for a trip like this -- This packing recommendation was given to me in advance of my trip, courtesy of Megan Murphy who is a product manager in Food Storage.  Since I was concerned about "creatures" crawling in my suitcase, I packed daily outfits in plastic bags with zip tops.  The bonus was that with the lack of electricty, while everyone else rummaged through their suitcase every morning with a flashlight, I had a perfectly packed outfit every day by just pulling out the bag, complete with socks, etc..  If anyone is doing a trip like this, I would highly recommend it! 

BEFORE - a very disorganized pile

AFTER - an organized packed duffel

3. My most valuable item -- I am slightly embarrased to admit this, but my most valuable item that I packed after bug spray was my fanny pack.  It was newly purchased for the trip [ from Amazon.com for only $6! ] with concern about how i would keep my passport secure, but it honestly was a source of organization on the trip. 

I carried:
-chapstick
-sunscreen
-bug wipes
-camera
-money
-facial cleansing wipes

It was invaluable to have while we were working since we didn't have a secure place at the worksite for our stuff, plus it saved time not having to go back to the vehicle everytime someone needed a clean up or we wanted to snap a shot.

You can see the fashionable lavendar pack here....

We would be interested in seeing if anyone had any packing tips, either for a normal weekend trip or anything out of the ordinary??

Closet Installation Tip - Wall End Brackets

Working in Consumer Services for Rubbermaid I get to hear about all the different types of questions you have regarding our products. So I put together a tip on installing the Wall End Brackets on closet systems. I hope you find it helpful.

For installation of the wall end brackets, below are tips on how to measure the holes for insertion.  These instructions are for ½” drywall only.
 
Wall End Brackets (for Linen, Tight Mesh, and Wardrobe)

1. On side wall, mark a hole location where the lip of the shelf is (ie. 12”, 16”, or 20” – this is the same height level as the back clips).  Mark another hole 2 ¾” below first mark.
2. Drill (2) 1/4 “ diameter holes, insert stems of bracket all the way into the wall and drive pin by tapping with hammer until seated (do not hammer harder than necessary). 
3. Secure shelf to back wall with back clips.
4. Drop shelf down and nest front wires into bracket.

FreeSlide Wall End Bracket

1. On side wall, mark a hole location where the lip of the shelf is (ie. 12”, 16”, or 20” – this is the same height level as the back clips).  Mark another hole 3 ¾” below first mark.
2. Drill (2) 1/4 “ diameter holes, insert stems of bracket all the way into the wall and drive pin by tapping with hammer until seated (do not hammer harder than necessary). 
3. Secure shelf to back wall with back clips.
4. Drop shelf down and nest front wires into bracket.

FreeSlide Wall End Bracket

Q&A with Bonnie Joy Dewkett – The Joyful Organizer®

Bonnie Joy Dewkett – The Joyful Organizer® - Ridgefield, Connecticut – www.thejoyfulorganizer.com

1) How long have you been a professional organizer?
I’ve really spent my whole life organizing!  It started out with organizing my toys and our kitchen pantry as a child, and evolved into organizing friends and co-workers as I got older.  As more and more people sought my help to get them as organized as I was, I decided to make it a full time career. I started my company, The Joyful Organizer®, three years ago.

2) What inspired you to become a CPO?
Growing up in a family of teachers, I am a true believer in lifelong learning and development.  I am constantly reading books to help me become a better organizer and successful business owner.  The CPO certification is a way that I can show my Customers that I am committed to excellence, and being on the cutting edge of my profession.  I will be taking the CPO exam in October.

3) What is the most common organizing project you’re hired to do?
The most common organizing project I’m hired to do is to help people tame their closets.  Closets and clothes are part of our daily lives, and without a neat and functional closet, every day is going to start with anxiety.  I love it when my Customers tell me, “I completely forgot I had that!” 

4) What is the most common organizing challenge people have?
I have found that the biggest organizing challenge people have is that they don’t have a permanent place for all of their belongings to “live”.  Everything should have a “home” within your home.  When you are cleaning up everything goes back to where it belongs, the clutter is quickly removed, and you know where to look for things the next time you need to use them.  My motto is: If it’s not put away, then it’s in the way!

5) If you had to pick ‘your’ biggest organizing challenge, what would it be?
My biggest organizational challenge is trying to fit too much into every day.  I often create very lofty to do lists the evening before!  Sometimes as an organizer you think you can fit everything in because you live a life of efficiency.  Sometimes life has other plans! 

6) What one tips would you give to people who are trying to get organized?
Get rid of the excess!  If you don’t love it and use it—move it out!  It is really as simple as that.  Recycle it, sell it, or donate it….let the item live a better life outside of your home.  Once you have done that, it is easier to find a place for everything else to “live.”  Let your home breathe!

7) How can potential clients get in touch with you?

• Clients can contact me by phone at 203-731-4651
• Email: Bonnie@thejoyfulorganizer.com
• Website: http://www.thejoyfulorganizer.com
• Blog: http://blog.thejoyfulorganizer.com
• Facebook: http://www.facebook/thejoyfulorganizer
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/thejoyfulorg

Purse Solution

Erin -I empathize with your purse storage problems!   I have used canvas Configurations baskets to organize my purses.  One contains medium sized, and the other keeps small clutches.

If you have any that you are tired of wearing, I would also suggest having either a purse swap where your friends bring all the ones they are also tired of, and you go "shopping" for each others purses as a way to freshen up your wardrobe & accessories.  I have never done this, but sounds fun!

Purses, Suitcases, and Bags...OH MY!

So I have a problem. I do not buy shoes or really own that many clothes. Instead I buy bags and jewelry. I have a TON of bags and purses. I have waaaay to many earrings and necklaces (I'm starting to really like braclets too!!!). Over the years of living in extremely small places...like one room or hey sharing a room smaller than my bedroom with another person (yay college)...I have found some extremely interesting ways to organize my jewelry and bags.

Today we're focusing on how I organize my bags, purses, and suitcase (oh my!).  

I have a really nice, HUGE suitcase that I use to travel on week long vacations (usually these "vacations" are just going to my parents house). I have previous stored this in my closet and that worked well. Now it is housed under my bed which works even better because I hardly ever use it.

Inside my suitcase, I store all my extra bags that I travel with or use just occassinally (aka the ones in the above picture). Why just keep the suitcase empy? It's a huge hollow thing that takes up room. Put stuff in there baby!

My purses have always presented more of an organizational challenge. Here are some things I have tried:

• In my apartment in Athens, I used them as wall decorations. I placed command hooks on my wall and hung my purses on the hook. It was an extremely easy and convient storage method but not very decorative.
• In my last apartment, I used over the door hooks. The problem with this is I had too many purses. They stuck out and the door wouldn't open even half-way.
• My mom's kitchen counter which has always ended with one purse in the trash can and me digging through the trash to find my wallet. Convienent but not practical.

I think I have finally found the solution. It is an over the door hanger that I found at Target. It is so great...and has room for more purses!!! Shopping here I come :)

How do you organize your purses, bags, or suitcases?

A Year Ago on Adventures In Organization - September 2008

I'm going to start this post by admitting I got too busy in August to create the 'A Year Ago in August 2008' post. But I'm back for September.

Once again I get a kick out of looking through our posts from last year. We had posts from guest bloggers, our consumer services team, product managers and even a post about Lorie Marrero, a professional organizer.

Enough with the intro. Let's just dive into some of my favorite posts.

Food Storage Drawer: Before & After by guest blogger & twitter follower @benag
In this post you'll see how the Easy Find Lids food storage containers were used to organizer a kitchen storage drawer.

 

Under-the-Sink Recycling Storage
Do you need a convenient way to keep recycling under you sink? Here's one way to tackle the problem.

Organizing the Attic & Preserving Memories
Here's a post with numerous comments on how to keep your attic organized and how to keep precious memories safe.

Other Popular Uses for Trash Cans
Trash cans aren't just for trash. They can even be used as a Halloween costume.

 

Those are just a few of my favorites.  Be sure to check out the whole group because there are lot's of good posts. I hope you enjoy browsing them.