Happy Earth Day

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I wanted to share some eco-friendly habits that I’ve personally initiated in the past few years.  I added them gradually to my life, so they didn’t seem drastic or overwhelming.  Maybe you’ve done the same or something similar.  Please share.  If you’d like more details, please just ask.
Eco-Friendly Habits:
1.  Recycle more – it’s so easy to do, especially since my town offers all-in-one curbside weekly
 pick up.
2.  Stopped buying water bottles.  Instead I use  Tupperware refillable bottles.
3.  Stopped buying paper napkins.  Instead I use cloth napkins.  My nieces and nephews love it, and it’s usually their first exposure to cloth napkins.
4.  Use reusable shopping bags more often.  I used to just use them at the grocery store.  Now I use them everywhere, when I remember, but the more I do it the more I remember.
5.  Use reusable produce bags.
6.  Stopped buying saran wrap.  Hate the stuff.  Instead I use my reusable produce bags.
7.  Started a compost bin.  I purchased it from my town hall.
8.  Use rain barrels.  I also purchased them from my town hall.
9.  Use the water that collects in my de-humidifier to water my plants.

10.  Use on-line bill pay and went paperless with as many bills and statements that I could.

Some times it’s the little things that have the most impact.

Organizing Junk Drawers

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Tip:  The best way to organize a junk drawer is to follow the guidelines listed below and to use utensil or desk drawer divided trays.  You can find these products at kitchen supply stores, office supply stores, department stores and the Container Store.

  • Keep the junk drawer(s) organized by compartmentalizing the items.
  • Keep like items together in divided compartments.
  • Label the compartments on the bottom of the tray.
  • Don’t allow every drawer you have to be filled with random items that don’t make sense to be stored together.
  • Limit the number of junk drawers you have to one.  If that is not possible, have no more than two.

 

smile bucket

Spring Cleaning

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smile bucketBy combining efforts of organizing and spring cleaning the benefits will be twofold. Here are four ways you can combine your efforts.

1. While you’re getting out your spring and summer clothes purge those items that you didn’t wear last year and any items that are a bit too snug.  Donate to a local charity or look into a consignment shop.
2. While getting out your grilling tools and uncovering your grill,  weed out and pare down your recipes and cookbooks.   Pick a number and only save that many, and make a vow not to print any more from the internet.
3. While tackling your spring yard work, sort through your lawn and garden tools. Get rid of rusty tools and duplicates. Keep only the ones that you really use.
4. While airing out the house, sort through your linens. You only need three sets of sheets per bed and three sets of towels per person. Donate any extra to an animal shelter.

© March 2013 Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organizer®.  All rights reserved

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Organizing with a Maximum Number

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Tip:  Choose a maximum number to have on hand and let that be your organizing guideline.  For example:

  • 2 sets of bath towels per person
  • 3 coffee mugs per person
  • 2 sets of sheets per bed
  • 1 kitchen hand towel per day of week
  • 4 open bottles of cleaning products at a time
  • 2 sets of pot holders
  • 1 vacuum per floor
  • 1 opened bar or bottle of soap per sink

Organizing With Labels

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Tip:  Use labels to learn and remember the designated home for items.  The label will reinforce the action of putting an item back in it’s designated home.  Use quality labels that are clear and legible.  A label doesn’t have to be just words, especially in a toy room.  You can use stickers, photos, or magazine clippings.