Purge Weekly

The High Point of Your Closet

Are you maximizing the storage at the top of your closet? Storage bins and baskets are the key to mastering the upper parts of your closet.

Measure the height of your closet shelf and choose wisely - smaller stackable storage bins or tall baskets that can hold hats, sweaters, or miscellaneous personal stuff that wouldn't normally work on a shelf. Not only will this look much nicer than the hodge podge of stuff you have crammed up at the top of your closet, but you'll be able to fit more up there too!

A great closet organization tip: label your bins clearly so you don't have to pull each one down to assess the contents.

Bathroom Storage 101

Bathrooms and their supplies frequently get away from us because all of those bottles, tubes and towels take up a lot of space and are really awkwardly shaped. Its not as simple as buying like sized containers to get the most out of your storage closet, in this case you need to create storage that can absorb your supplies and linens. In some cases, you may not even have a linen closet to work with, so you need to work with what you have.

The first step is to assess your supplies - any duplications of supplies like shampoos, conditioners, hand lotions and the like should be tossed, and make sure you don't have anything more that about a year old. If you haven't used it, chances are you won't - so don't hold on to the clutter. As for your linens, assess the depth and width of your storage area - fold all of your items, sheets and towels alike in shape so that you use the most of your space - cut cardboard pieces as a guide if you must. Try to keep piles of like items and make sure the colors are visible on the outside so you can see what you have available.

Home Office Organization

Don't Overlook the Toilet, Look Over the Toilet

In considering bathroom storage, the space above the toilet tank is frequently overlooked in terms of storage options. For instance, many people hang art above their toilet, but why use the space for that when it could become a valuable storage option. A bathroom etagere is a great storage solution, especially when well designed.

If you choose a cabinet that is deep enough, it can be used for towels and linens - especially hand towels for your guests. This is another great opportunity to use baskets for small item storage - perhaps your manicure set or hair care products? You need to think a lot about what you want to store where in your bathroom.

A bathroom storage tip: If you want to keep certain supplies private, a basket in your linen closet or your bathroom hutch will do the trick. Keep items you don't mind people seeing in your étagère.

Playroom Storage 101

Audio Wire Storage

Yard Sales 101

When you are finally ready to purge, you should consider making a profit from all of your hard work and hold a yard sale. All you need to do is set aside a set of bins or boxes for the things you decide you can do without.

• Set a date for your yard sale by looking for local events that may bring in extra people to your town.
• Assess the best traffic area for signage.
• Run on over to your town hall and get a permit if you need to think about renting tables if you don't have enough in your house.
• The week before, take a bin into your TV room each night and gradually price all of your items. (You may think just having a $1.00 table would be easier, but folks are less apt to buy when items aren't individually priced.)
• Schedule an early morning for your sale day - post your signs and set up your tables.

Remember - if you put an ad in the paper, expect early birds - the most avid yard-sailors always hit the sales early looking for the best bargains!

Using Your Desk

When you decide it is time to organize your home office, one of the most important things to consider if you have enough space. Many people are opting for office armoires or space saving smaller desks, but this elimination of desk surface working space can really be counter productive. Yes, in some cases, the more space you have, the more you will use, but if you want to get organized, having sufficient working space and keeping it clean is part of the drill.

A quick office organization tip: choose the right desk! First, make sure your desk has a keyboard drawer - this will preserve the space in front of the computer for papers, notebooks etc. Second, consider a corner oriented desk or a taller desk depending on the space you have to use. Finally, keep your computer tower under your desk. As long as you keep the PC free of dust, no harm will come to your tower and you will free up valuable desk space.

Storage Sheds

If you don't have a garage or a sizeable and accessible basement, you need to think about getting a storage shed for your back yard. This can hold your lawn mower, weed whacker, bikes, gardening tools and everything else that doesn't need a climate controlled area.

By creating an organized space for all of these items you are going to maintain them in better repair and it will be easier to find whatever you need. Good storage sheds will also come with extra shelving for smaller items and tools. Keep all of your utility items in one place and you are more likely to use them - and you can use your valuable basement storage space for other items.

Pot Racks

A simple and incredibly effective space saver is always the pot rack. Kitchens come in all shapes and sizes, and in many cases there is not sufficient storage for the pots and pans we use on a daily basis.

Rather than keeping your cooking implements in a cabinet where they will most likely be stacked and difficult to access, why not consider grabbing yourself a proper pot rack? They come wall mounted or ceiling mounted and you can get them large enough to hold every pot and pan in your kitchen or small enough to hold around 5 or 6 of your favorites.

Now, if you decide to take the plunge and grab a rack, make sure you don't scrimp. Your pot rack needs to be sturdy, made with solid materials like cast iron, steel and strong wood. You also need to measure your space and make sure you choose the right option. By really thinking about your organizational choice before you buy, you'll ensure that you find the right piece and it will make all the difference in your kitchen organization.