Subscribe to our FREE Newsletter
|
|
Share our Newsletter
|
|
|
|
Each month in this newsletter I share organizing tips to use in your
home. Try some projects alone or ask for help from our friendly
professional staff.
We have great ideas for improving the use of all sizes of spaces.
Cheers!
Pierrette Ashcroft |
LINEN CLOSETS
|
|
Making Room For Other Needs
 Linen Closets deserve a new name.
Few
have enough closets to devote one entirely to linens. Often there is
the need to make space for bathroom supplies, toiletry items, cleaning
supplies plus the must-have variety among towels and bedding.
A
rule of thumb is having two sets of sheets for each bed and two sets of
towels for each resident. As you replace towels, donate the old set to
a veterinarian, who needs lots of fabric for the comfort and cleanup
regarding ill, visiting pets.
Extra blankets and comforters are
too bulky for closets. Put them in a chest in the bedroom, in underbed
storage or storage bins in the attic or basement.
Buy stacking
containers for small bottles of toiletries and medications and label
each bin. Store relevant cleaning supplies in a plastic tote, making it
easy to take to cleaning tasks. Put bins on high shelves if children
should not touch them. |
|
ASK PIERRETTE: A Teen Clutter Challenge
|
|
| Question:
I
cannot get my teenage daughter to organize her room. Her jewelry ends
up in tangled piles on a desk, a dresser and even the floor. Do you
have a good tip?
Pierrette:
Her horizontal space seems rare, so how about creating vertical space?
Use
a bulletin board or make one. Choose fabric that goes with the room and
wrap a sheet of it around Styrofoam, Homasote board or even corrugated
cardboard. Use hot glue or staples to fasten the material.
Sort
all the jewelry into categories: necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings,
etc. After you mount everything in categories, your daughter easily can
see what she has and where it should be returned. Extra-long decorative
sewing pins or ribbons make good holders for everything.
|
| E-MAIL SORTING
|
|
Quick Processing Is Key
 Many of us fall into two categories with daily e-mails: "skim and keep" or "read and process."
Instead
of letting your Inbox totals rise into huge numbers, consider the very
possible goal of keeping the Inbox empty on a regular basis.
Here's
how: dedicate one or more times per day to read and process. First,
turn off any alert for new messages; that just distracts you repeatedly
during the day.
Next, mentally sort incoming e-mails into three
categories: Junk, which should be deleted immediately (and filtered as
"junk" to divert it if it appears again), Action Required (respond
immediately or soon or delegate right away to another person) and
Reference (save in a well-named file for easy finding in the future).
For
notes needing a response, but you do not have time to answer
immediately, make a to-do list on a legal pad with a deadline to
follow-up.
If you receive too many low-priority notices from
listservs or other accounts, either set up another free e-mail account
to receive only those kinds of messages or fix a "rule" in the e-mail
account to send those messages to their own separate folder.
|
|
EARTH DAY
|
|
Ways To Expand Your Recycling
 With Earth Day nearing (April 22), it is timely to ponder how to recycle more items that routinely are trashed.
… Computer printer ink cartridges -- Some national office supply stores not only accept them but will give you rewards toward future purchases.
… Rechargeable batteries -- Look closely at hardware and electronics store aisles for collection containers for safe disposal.
… Old motor oil
-- Many service stations and city/county collection centers accept oil
for recycling. The latter also may accept old motor vehicle batteries.
… Fluorescent light bulbs, which contain hazardous mercury -- Ikea stores and certain government collection sites accept them for safe disposal.
… Cell phones
are welcome at selected post offices or cell provider retail stores --
and by certain charities, which recondition them for a needy consumer.
… Certain electronics -- computers, TVs, music players -- are accepted by electronics stores or government collection sites.
|
Gift Certificates
Available
|
Are
you trying to shop for that hard-to-find recipient? Or do you need a
gift for a new mom, a housewarming gift or have anyone on your list who
could use an extra set of hands? What would be more appreciated than a
gift certificate for help from a professional organizer? You decide the
dollar amount and the recipient can decide the services that they want.
|
|
A gift for others... peace of mind
|
|
Pierrette Ashcroft, founder of getOrganizedDC, has more than 20 years
of business experience organizing events and providing innovative
solutions in homes and offices. In 2007 she was in the first group to
receive credentials as a Certified Professional Organizer, CPOÆ,
earning her a top distinction in the organizing industry. She continues
her education and training and in 2009 became a Certified Relocation
and Transitions Specialist (CRTS™). As a senior move manager she takes
the worry and work out of the move process by helping seniors and their
families with their needs for a seamless and successful transition.
To
learn more, call or write for a free telephone consultation at:
202-537-9705 or pierrette@getorganizeddc.com. Or visit our Web site.
The
hardest part of organizing is developing an attractive plan. We are
happy to help you with challenges large or small. Expect efficient and
reliable service from our staff, who promise to keep your personal
information confidential. Read what our clients are saying about us.
Enjoy your organizing projects this spring! |
|
|
