Wednesday, January 8, 2014

My Favorite Organizing Products

By 

My clients often need products for us to complete their organizing project. I have some favorites that I use consistently because they work in many of my client's spaces and I use them in my own home.
For storage, I recommend clear plastic totes. It is easy to see what is inside and they are available at a numerous stores across the country. Most stores have sales on them consistently so they are very affordable. Why plastic over a plain cardboard box? Critters like cardboard and will make a mess of your treasures especially if they have any type of material. Plastic eliminates the chances of this happening. Depending on where you have them stored, if a pipe bursts, water would ruin whatever is in a cardboard box where plastic would keep your treasures dry.
When it comes to shelving for the basement or other areas where installing is not needed or wanted, I use the metal shelving sometimes referred to as metro shelving. They are available in many stores and in 3, 4, and 5 shelf sizes. They are great for the basement for holiday decorations, appliances used occasionally, and other items you store in your basement. I have also used them in closets and kitchens.
For filing larger amounts of paper in one file, I use expandable hanging folders. You can get them in a couple different expanding sizes based on your needs and they have sides on them to keep small papers from falling out. I recommend getting colored hanging folders just to keep your filing a little more festive because the standard green can be very boring. These are available in office supply stores and large stores with an office supply area.
For taxes, I like the expandable folder so you can place all your tax information in as it arrives in January.
For the coat closet, I use the clear hanging shoe holder. Gloves, hats, scarves and other coat closet items fit so well and smaller members of the house can put their belongings away too. These clear hanging holders can also be used for small toys, crafts and bathroom items in homes that have small storage space.
Many of my clients have linens or off season clothes they would like to keep and the Ziploc tote is a great solution. It has a real zipper and the top has small breathe holes to keep the fabric from mildew and to keep the critters out.
Busy moms love to have snacks their kids can grab for school and lunch. I use the mesh CD holders sold in many office supply stores. It keeps the snacks from falling all over the cupboard and you can fit a box of them in one container.
To organize the drawers in the kitchen, bathroom or office, I use the clear organizers. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes perfect for any size drawer. They keep things looking neat and organized.
Children need a place to keep their toys, crafts, and assorted play things and I use the fabric tote sold in many stores in a large array of colors. They can be placed in specially designed shelving or on any book shelf. They are easy to label for kids to learn the easy way to pick up and put away their belongings.
Be careful not to buy an organizing product because it looks neat, be sure you have a specific plan and need for the item.
Julie Riber has been a Professional Organizer since 2004 and is a Golden Circle member with National Association of Professional Organizers. She helps her clients in their homes and in their businesses get their clutter out and their lives back. Visit her website for weekly tips http://www.transformare.net

No comments:

Post a Comment