Michael's Mess

For this weeks post I decided to share an article that combined three of my loves- organizing (duh), mental illness (it’s the social worker in me), and my hometown (article is from the Washington Post). It is an eloquently written piece that allows the reader a glimpse into the life of a compulsive hoarder. This honest yet funny portrayal of a man who cannot bear to get rid of anything (even a copy of a book he already owns!)  is any organizers nightmare. However, he discusses the issue that this might in fact be a genetic condition and not just a case of laziness or messiness. I’m not going to give a whole summary here because really, it speaks for itself. So without further ado,

Click me!

(h/t -I finally learned what that means!!- A.S.)

Also, please leave comments as I am curious to hear what others think of this issue. Do you believe it is in fact a true psychological disorder? Or do you think people are using that as an excuse to be slobs? Post here!

Underwear Upheaval

Since starting my own blog I have begun doing some “research” and checking out other blogs. What I have come to find is that people get pretty personal. We’re talking marital problems, mental illness, and details about wiping the snot off their kids noses (ew).  What is it that compels some to reveal the innermost thoughts of their brain? And why do others enjoy regaling readers with the minutest detail of their day? Furthermore, why do the rest of us read this stuff?

So taking a proverbial page from my fellow bloggers I decided to get a bit personal myself. And no, this doesn’t mean I am going to start sharing my bathroom adventures. What I am going to do is give readers a peek into my underwear drawer. 

If any of you are like me, then you know how stuffed up an underwear drawer can get. Sometimes, it won’t even close (as pictured below). I decided to finally tackle this problem once and for all.


As usual, step # 1 is to take everything out of the drawer and clean the inside. Then sort through the items and get rid of things you’re not wearing.  One thing that is different about undergarments than other clothing is this rule: PLEASE do NOT donate them!! Nobody wants your old panties, trust me. However, you don’t have to throw them out either. Check out Tip #642 for a “green” way to reuse old undies.

Once the items for keeping have been decided upon, it’s time to figure out a better way of getting them all into the drawer. I decided to use drawer dividers, and obviously, I chose to get some at The Container Store. Other places sell them too so pick something that makes you happy. I picked one with two sections (for my bras) and then one with no sections (for the undies). At first I had hoped they would fit vertically in the drawer but I hadn’t measured before hand so they ended up going in horizontally. That was fine because then I just used the space in the back to fold up my tank tops.



What is important to remember is “easy access”—you want the things you wear on a daily basis to be the easiest to get to. So put those in the drawer, and the undershirt that only matches that one outfit, or those tank tops you reserved for wear at the beach- those can all find another home where they won’t be clogging up vital drawer space.






And now you can go ahead and enjoy the fact that your drawer can open and close without any extra arm strength needed.

                                                                     BEFORE:                                                               

AFTER:

Paper Pileup- Part Deux

Here it is the long awaited paper sequel. (My apologies for being so long to post.) To start with, I just want to reiterate what my mother pointed out in her earlier comment. Getting some sort of bin or basket to keep near the door or in another prime spot is a great idea when it comes to sorting mail. Some people even opt for a filing system you can put right on the wall. This way as soon as you get something in the mail (a bill, an invitation, letter from a charity organization, etc.) you can file it in the appropriate slot, bin, or folder. My apartment building actually has a great system: they have a recycling bin right next to the mailboxes which is great because when I get junk mail, I don’t even have to bring it into my apartment- I just toss it in the bin and say bye bye!

Another great idea is to invest in a paper shredder (Good Housekeeping recommends a cross-cut one) so you can toss items with personal info on it without any worry about identity theft.

To quote an article in Redbook magazine (April, 2010), a paper problem is not even an organizing problem; it has more to do with time management. Most mail that comes in is something to be read and then dealt with. Make sure you set aside time to deal with it. You can allot a few minutes every day, or focus on it on the weekends. But the key is not letting it build up to the point of becoming overwhelming, or worse, not paying bills on time.

(Side note: throughout my blog I will take tips and quotes from other sources but I will try my best to always cite them- it may not be APA style but it’ll have to do!)

Hopefully after this your mail will now be sorted, bills paid, invitations replied to, and your counter tops will be free and clear!

Another paper issue people struggle with (myself very much included) is old papers- old cards, school work, etc. For this my recommendation would be a filing cabinet. If you have a small amount of stuff you can just get a small file folder, like the one pictured (from Container Store). If you have years worth of paper accumulation that you just can’t part with, a larger filing cabinet might be what you need. But before you go shoving all your old papers in there, take the time to sort through them and ask yourself “why do I want to keep this?”


Most likely the English paper you have from high school won’t do you or even your kids much good, so it’s not worth saving. Same goes for pretty much all old school work unless it is something you are really so super duper proud of you cant bare to see it go in the trash. Also, what is the likelihood you are even going to look at any of this stuff again? My advice: chuck it.

Cards and other items of sentimental value are more appropriate to keep. But again, really think about it before you save it- is this something worth keeping; will you ever look at it again? Maybe it makes you happy, reminds you of a time long gone—sometimes old notes and letters are just as valuable as old pictures and definitely worth saving. Everyone is different though so what one person might feel they need to keep another might have no problem parting with. Just take the time to think about, and then come up with a filing system that works best for you.

I hope this post helped all you paper hoarders out there, but as always, please don’t hesitate to post a comment or question!

Quick Tip #642

Here are a couple of “Go Green” tips from a variety of sources. Credit is given where credit is due.

Tip #1 (courtesy of my Mother): Instead of just throwing out old underwear or undershirts, use them as rags! [Clean] undies make great cloths to clean up spills, dust shelves, and for every day wipe ups around the house.  And before you wrinkle your nose and go “ew” just think of all the paper towels you will save! Cut off the elastic, use the pair a couple of times, and once they’ve served their full use, then you can chuck ‘em.

Tip #2 (courtesy of Good Housekeeping magazine, April 2010): When you’re done reading the latest issue of US Weekly, use those scandalous celebs to hold your boots up. Roll the magazine and stuff it into your boots in order to help maintain the shape and to keep them from flopping over and creating more mess on your closet floor. (My take: I did this, and it required more than just one magazine, so you might have to use your latest People mag in there too. So long Brangelina- enjoy holding my shoes up!)

Tip #3 (I came up with this one in college): Have a ton of spare change and don’t know where to keep it? Cut the top off of an old water bottle and start dumping it in there. Then when it’s full, take it to a machine that transforms change into cash (you’ll feel like you just won the jackpot! Or wait, no, that’s the other way around, isn’t it?) Well either way, you’ll feel like you made some extra cash, when really it was sitting there all along! And if you’re feeling Martha Stewart-ish, you can even get some ribbon or fabric to tie around the bottle giving it a fancier look.

Paper Pileup

I was recently asked to do a post on papers. Oy, where do I begin? Papers truly are everywhere, from your bills, to old birthday cards, to the A+ history paper you wrote in 7th grade. So the question is: what kind of papers are we dealing with? Because depending on the paper predicament there will be different solutions. Due to my tendency for lengthy posts I am going to go ahead and split this paper palooza in half, based on category of papers. So let’s start with the papers we’re dealing with on a daily basis…

BILLS: This is the easiest kind of paper to get rid of. Do ‘em online! Nowadays everyone is obsessed with “going green” and doing bills online is one great way to join the trend. Some companies will even give you discounts if you do online bill pay to encourage less paper waste. Not only will you be doing something helpful for the environment, but you’ll also get rid of all the extra papers that are taking up space in your life. Done and done!

COUPONS AND RECEIPTS: These are also pretty easy to contain. Pick up a cute (or manly) coupon organizer, like this one pictured from Amazon and then you can sort out the coupons so they are easily accessible. Also, I always recommend using coupons as soon as you get them so that way you don’t shove them into your purse and then by the time you find them they are expired. Another thing I like to do is clip coupons to my fridge. That way they are in sight so I don’t forget I have them but they aren’t taking up space on my counters or drawers.

When it comes to receipts, if you know you aren’t going to return something, get rid of the receipt. There is no need to save it. For questionable items, or in case of breakage, file them away but don’t keep them for more than a couple of weeks. Again, you can buy a cheap small file folder and reserve a spot in a drawer for it. But make sure you clean it out every two weeks or so. My fave:

Stay tuned for part 2, plus more tricks and tips for containing paper piles!

Quick Tip #357

While visiting my latest obsession, The Container Store, the sales lady made an excellent comment to me that I felt should go into this blog. As I was checking out I said, “I came in for one thing, and I am leaving with half the store!” She replied with a smile and the reminder to finish one project before I begin another. “It’s easy to just keep buying things, but you will feel so much better once you use what you bought to complete a task. Then you can reward yourself, with say, a cookie and be ready to go onto the next one.”

While the idea of rewarding myself with a cookie was not so appealing (what am I five?), I did like her one thing at a time approach. It seems pretty obvious and yet I found myself reflecting on my own apartment, cluttered with items I have bought to “get organized” that are instead collecting dust. Right then and there I resolved to pick a project and finish it this weekend. 

So my advice to you, fellow organizers, is this mantra: One step at a time. Try not to get overwhelmed by all the different tasks you have to do. Instead pick one, follow it through until completion and then give yourself a pat on the back. Or, if you prefer, a cookie.

Drawer Disorder

When I met my boyfriend this morning I was greeted with, “So, there’s a bunch of stuff I need you to do in my apartment today.”  While my first thought was “well hello to you too” and then “oh man and here I had planned to spend the day doing my own apartment projects” I took another look at his how-can-you-resist-me-smile and puppy-dog eyes and figured, oh what the heck! “Plus,” he added happily, “It can go in your blog!” 

Walking into his kitchen I knew immediately what the project would be. The Silverware Drawer. It was a disaster. He had the right equipment (divided tray), but he wasn’t actually using it. You can have all the right pieces, but if you aint putting them together, it won’t do you a lot of good.

So the first step, as all first steps go, was to empty the drawer.  After that we sorted all the different implements into various piles and I had him go through which items he actually used. We were able to get rid of a couple of things (a really rusty can opener, an old wine corker) and also found that some things in the drawer really belonged elsewhere (an apple corer and a trivet). The next step (as always) was to clean out the drawer, along with the silverware tray. 

Now we were faced with an empty drawer, a cleaned out silverware tray, and a variety of utensils that needed a home. 

After placing what we could back in the tray (without overcrowding!), we still had a bunch of items that were homeless. I suggested checking out The Container Store for some extra drawer organizers. He decided on the bamboo design and voila- his serving spoons, baking utensils, and other various instruments now have a pretty place to live!

The key with kitchen drawers is not overstuffing. You want to be able to easily get to items when you need them and then be able to actually close the drawer once you’ve gotten what was needed. It is also important to keep like utensils together; for example, having a section for your wooden spoons that are used for baking, and then another container for serving pieces. If you are so lucky as to have more than one drawer in the kitchen, group the silverware in one, baking utensils in another, and the miscellaneous kitchen tools (does anyone really use a garlic mincer??) in a third location. This makes it easier when cooking to know where to go, plus grouping like items together means fewer trips to different places within the kitchen. 

One more tip about drawers- liners give the space a nice fresh finish. Plus they are easier to clean and if they get really gross you can always replace them. Container Store even sells scented liners which add a cool touch (or smell, rather!).

Medicine Makeover

To start with, let’s tackle a relatively easy project that also won’t cost you a penny: The Medicine Cabinet. Now, this project will vary depending on the size of the cabinet, but there are certain items we can all agree on that belong in this elusive spot. Considering that the medicine cabinet is in a convenient location you will want to put the things you use most there. Other items, such as ace bandages, gauze tape, or the allergy medicine you only need 3 months out of the year can go elsewhere (think some other storage type place like a drawer or cupboard, or even under the sink). 

The point of a medicine cabinet is to create easy access to things you use frequently, such as simple first aid items (alcohol, band-aids, antibiotic cream), products surrounding oral hygiene (toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss) and then of course, the medicine itself (painkillers, prescription drugs, etc.). [Just be careful because some medications can be ruined by the humidity and changes in temperature that happens in a bathroom. Check with the doctor or pharmacist before storing certain medicines in the bathroom cabinet.] You may even have space for contact lens care, face wash, lotions, and other beauty products. This is great if you do because an emptier sink is a cleaner, nicer sink. However, if you don’t have the extra room, don’t worry- we will find a spot for everything! 

It is important to make sure that the cabinet is not overcrowded. Imagine this scenario and you’ll understand why: It’s a pleasant evening and you are cutting vegetables to go in your salad for dinner. Chop, chop, OW! You scream as the knife hits your index finger. Holding a paper towel around the bleeding finger you run to the medicine cabinet, push it open using your elbow and out comes flying creams, pills, bottles, boxes, hitting you in the face and falling into the sink. By now the paper towel has turned an eerie shade of red and a band-aid has yet to be found. 

If, however your cabinet is neatly sorted so that everything fits and you can see all that is in there, you will be able to open the door, locate the band-aid box and commence with stopping the blood flow before that nice carpet of yours gets a new red polka dotted pattern. 

So here is my tried and true step-by-step guide to cleaning out the medicine cabinet:

Step 1: Empty all the contents.

Step 2: Wipe down the counters. Cmon if you can see the dust circles from where that old bottle of Tylenol was, grab some disinfectant and a paper towel and clean this place up!

Step 3: Go through all the items that had been inside. Discard anything expired, or that follows the Cardinal Rule (hasn’t been used in 18 months, time to toss). *Side note: with creams and medications this might actually be a smaller time frame- if the tube is all gunky or sticky, it’s probably safer to just toss it. Bacteria can grow here and it’s not worth risking.

Step 4: Decide what you use on a daily or weekly basis. These things will go back into the cabinet. Everything else will find a new home. It also might be helpful to sort things out by category. Keep first-aid items together in one place, beauty products on a different shelf and so on. Some people even like to place like-items into other smaller containers or bags to help ensure their separation and prevent spills. This also could help if you find yourself “on-the-go” a lot and this way you won’t have to think much when it comes to packing. It will already be done for you! If this approach appeals to your senses, go for it. If you would rather have things free to just grab, that works too.

Step 5: Make sure there is enough space to fit everything so that you can get to it easily, without causing anything else to tumble out. If you find you cannot get it all in, revisit Step 4. 

Step 6: Enjoy your organized, neat, easy to access medicine cabinet! Open and shut the door a few times just to bask in your handiwork. 

Safety Note: If there are children in the home and the cabinet is in their reach, make sure NOT to store dangerous items such as pills, cleaning products, or nail scissors.

Welcome to Aliza's Closet!

I for one find it tough when it’s hard to spell something you love to do. For example, someone who loves playing Tennis but for whatever reason their mind has a mental block and every time they go to IM a friend to swing the old racket around it ends up coming out “tenis.” That’s frustrating. For me, it’s organizing. I find myself typing the word a lot and every time there is an “a” where it shouldn’t be, or an “I” where an “a” should be. Maybe I should come up with a different word to use instead. Like sorting, or arranging. Ordering is definitely easier to spell. But that sounds so harsh.

But I digress. The purpose of this blog is not to find new words to replace organize, but rather to pay tribute to everything that the word stands for. We all find ourselves in the midst of various messes. A closet full of shoes thrown haphazardly on the floor. A dresser drawer that refuses to shut, and now that you think of it, hasn’t been closed in five years, since you first bought the darn thing. Then there is the dreaded medicine cabinet, which is over stocked with things like your allergy medicine from 1972, along with half a bottle of sticky cough syrup, plus a handful of some loose painkillers that you keep on hand, “Just in case.”

This blog is going to tackle each of these projects one by one until we figure out how to clear the clutter for good! 

To begin, I am going to say the cardinal rule of organization, adapted to suit those of us who like to hang on to things just a little bit longer, and that is: If you haven’t used something, worn it, touched it, or even looked at it in 18 months, CHUCK IT. The only exception to this rule, and I mean ONLY is if it is of sentimental value. And that denim jacket that you wore on your first date fifteen years ago with a girl whose name you don’t remember does not count as sentimental. What you wore to your 8^th grade graduation could.

And by “chuck” I don’t necessarily mean throw away. This is a great opportunity for doing one of those good deeds you keep saying you want to do. Donate it. Places are always looking for lightly used clothes, such as the Salvation Army, synagogues and churches, or even a thrift shop. Not only will you feel great about helping those in need, your closet just got a little bit bigger to make room for those new jeans you’ve been eyeing.