Around the House

Organizing Books

Books become a part of our lives from the time we grab our first cloth page filled with colorful pictures. And some of us never let go of that attachment. Organizing books can then become a problem.

I realize I am treading on sacred ground when I suggest there should be a limit to the number of books we keep. Like everything else, you can only have as many books as you have space to store them. If you have 500 feet of shelving space, you can have many more books than someone with only 50 feet of shelving. And as a side note, it is not a good idea to store them in boxes in the attic since heat will deteriorate the bindings and pages. Besides, what is the point of having the books if you cannot readily use them.

Don't misunderstand my discussion here. I buy books, read books and love books. In fact I wrote one. (Check out my website listed below.) And I think you should buy as many books as you want and can afford. The issue is why you keep them and that keeping too many of them can create organizing problems. It is important to make wise choices in those we save.

Each of us need to seriously consider why we keep books after we have read them. If it is for reference, the information stored in them is most likely outdated by the time they are published. While historical books can remain accurate (until some researcher finds differently) that information is easily obtained online or at a local library. Everything from the mating habits of mallards to recipes for exotic meals can be located in seconds with online search engines . Some even include audio and video. What book can do that? So if it is information you need, be very selective in those you keep.

If it is the enjoyment of reading fiction, then it is unlikely you will reread those again. There are too many new books being published that will consume your attention and time. While some are classics, it is doubtful that you will go back to them and storing them on a shelf will not help you remember what is in them. Your brain does that. I will admit recall can be difficult, especially with age and I speak from experience, but you never really forget what you read. Some things you just remember better.

If it is a famous line or quote, putting even part of it on Google will bring up the entire passage. I have found entire poems of Robert Frost that I learned as a child. Refrain from printing these as you will add to your paper clutter!

Displaying more books does not make you appear more intelligent. Your speech does that. But once you have been very selective in the books you save, you want to store and display them on shelves or in bookcases. And it is a good idea to group them by categories. You may choose to group by topic, by color, alphabetically or with the Dewey Decimal system. The categories should be whatever makes sense to you. If you have a large collection, you may want to consider creating a file or database for them. One participant in a presentation I gave had over 2000 books and after listing them learned he had many duplicate copies. Keeping track of what you have is a good idea for many reasons.

Allow open space on the shelves. This makes a more attractive design. Inserting pictures, plants or other collectibles on the shelves makes a more interesting display. Some books may need to be placed flat on the shelves if they are too large to stand upright. Put those items together to make a stack of 3 or more so the arrangement is more visually pleasing. If your space eventually becomes full and you want to continue to buy new books, consider replacing an older book with the new one. Or you may choose to visit your local library to see what they offer.

Those books you choose not to keep can be donated to family members, local hospitals, nursing homes,schools, libraries or favorite charities. Keep receipts for tax deductions. They may also be sold at yard sales or through online outlets and auctions. You will be doing yourself and others a favor by moving them on to those who will use and appreciate them.

In the future, electronic books may become the major source of reading, but I personally think we will always have printed books to enjoy. Consumer choice will be the deciding factor. This does not mean you should save every book as it may be so valuable you can send a kid to college or retire early with the proceeds from them. Antiques Roadshow has convinced many unwise souls their possessions are unique and valuable. (eBay can quickly unravel such thinking).

Being willing to let go of excess of anything including books is a basic principle in organizing. The more you do it, the easier it gets. You experience freedom and more space. It is a good example for your children or grandchildren, too. Buy and read books for enjoyment, relaxation, information and inspiration but save only those that are special enough to take up your valuable space.

More organizng information and my book can be found at my website: www.orderlyplaces.com and you can sign up for my monthly organizing checklist by email: maryfrances@orderlyplaces.com

Organizing the Morning Rush

Mornings can be hectic for anyone. Regardless of the launching time, the number of people or the activities to follow, getting out of the house with as little hassel as possible is a goal for all of us. There are some strategies that can help turn the morning madness into somewhat more of a morning gladness.

If possible do as much as possible the night before. If you are a morning person, perhaps getting up a little earlier will allow you to do the planning necessary before everyone else is up and running. It is a good idea to review the day's schedule for everyone involved, to set out clothing for younger ones, to check book bags, pack lunches and set out the non-refrigerated breakfast items.

Creating an area for items to go out the door will insure everyone knows where to find what they need for the day. Hooks on the walls near the door or inside a closet can hold backpacks, purses, keys and anything with a strap. Shelves, racks or baskets can be used for shoes and other items.

Assign morning chores or tasks for everyone. Even small children can help clear the table or put food in the pet bowl. Structure helps kids feel more secure and small chores can inhance their self worth and importance in the family. When appropriate, these can be rotated or changed if needed.

Develop a morning ritual or routine. This can be as simple as who goes in the shower first or where to leave the morning paper. The larger the family, the more important is the routine. It creates a climate of order and establishes expectations for everyone.

Keep a checklist of morning tasks in the message center or near the door. Before leaving give it a quick scan to be sure nothing has been forgotten that day. It may include remembering the lunches, snacks, permission slips, homework sign off, etc. Make it personal to the needs of the family.

No system is perfect, but thinking ahead about the responsibilities for each morning and taking steps to see they are fulfilled is one way to make it better. As the strategies are tried, changes may need to occur. Being flexible in accommodating them can make the morning rush a little more peaceful.

 

My Top Ten List Item #8

Thank goodness, our weather has broken a little lately.  This wonderful, not hot, not cold, somewhere in the perfect middle temperature.  This is the perfect time to head into your attic.  Any other time of the year and it would be unbearable.  Right now, before the temperatures climb into the upper 90’s again outside and into the 140’s in your attic, Get into your attic and let’s assess the situation.  Do you even have insulation in your attic?  I see a lot of attics and you would be surprised how many attics have no insulation or at least none in a portion of their attic.  Do you have blown in insulation?  Take a 12” ruler with you and push it down into the insulation beside a ceiling joist.  How many inches do you have?  You need at least 13” to just meet code and we all know that code is just the bare minimum.  Chances are you have a lot less because insulation compresses over time and loses some of it’s ability to protect you from the extreme temperatures in your attic.  The picture above shows insulation that was blown off of the bathroom ceiling from ahigh winds through the eave vent.  Do you have batt type insulation?  Is it everywhere?  Are there portions missing or pushed out of the way? 

The sad fact is that most houses that we inspect are missing insulation or the insulation is compromised in some way.  If you don’t know enough about insulation to know if what you have is enough or if it is functioning the way it should, call an energy auditor to come and make a quick evaluation.  A little professional advice to help you evaluate and decide if you need more insulation may help keep you from making some costly mistakes.   The most important decision when adding insulation to your attic is to purchase the right type.  Don’t know what kind of insulation would work best in your attic?  Get an Energy Audit.  Have the whole house and the insulation evaluated and ask for a written report.  The report should explain in detail what needs to be addressed and how to address it. 

So take advantage of the next few days and head to your attic and take a look.  Find something that concerns you, send me a picture, I’d love to help you out. E.guinn@DanGuinnHomes.com

Paper Organizing at the Door

We were lured into the world of computers thinking it would save us from so much paper but we soon came to realize it did not. Before we became so addicted to e-mail messages (that we now print--God forbid!) we had telephone calls that required no paper. And paper arrives at our door in the form of mail, school papers, church bulletins and newsletters, garden club calendars, handouts from conferences, etc.

All of thses require time to sort and decisions to make about each piece. Do we keep it, do we read it now if we keep it, how should we let it go or where do we keep it, and will we be able to find it again if we let it go? If papers are allowed to stack on the counters or tables, they have a way of mutating into other things. Before long a science project, the girl's scout notebook, a bookbag, etc. are added to the pile and the bill that was supposed to be paid today is lost in the stacks. Sound familiar? I see it as the most frequent organizing problem my clients face.

The most successful way to organize papers is to tackle them as they come in the door. Granted, you may have to turn off the alarm system, let the dog out and answer a ringing phone, but if you have papers in your possession, you should not delay in dealing with them. To make this process easier, I recommend having a container specifically for them close to where you enter or where you normally set them down.

While a basket or any other container will be helpful, the best system is to have an attractive file box with hanging folders labeled for the categories of papers that arrive. I suggest the first folder be Bills, then To Do/Respond (wedding invitation, reminder for dental appointment), To File (insurance policy, pool regulations), To Read (newsletters, personal correspondence,zoning update), Receipts, Coupons (if you save them), and then the names of specific activities (church, garden club, etc.) or the names of family members who get and handle their own mail and papers.

This is a temporary storage system to help you sort the important papers to keep. You should immediately recycle any flyers and mail that do not have your name on it. The words occupant, neighbor, friends, etc. is a signal to recycle. This includes sales flyers and coupon offers unless you have a coupon system. Trust me, the pizza offer will be there when you call for delivery. All you have to do is ask about the current specials.

If it is a solicitation for credit cards or any other financial offers, shred those. And remember, catalogues are simply printed commercials. You know how much you hate to watch them on television, so why should you waste time on the paper version. Do not keep papers if the information can be found elsewhere such as the Internet. Don't take the time to read through each paper, sort first and then go back.

On a regular interval, this paper file or inbox should be sorted and items no longer needed removed. This might be a regular set day, when bills are removed to be paid, or at a time you are waiting for coffee to perk or on hold on the phone. Once you are in the habit of always sorting the incoming papers, you will become more efficient in what to save and you will always know where the papers you need are stored.

My Top Ten List Item #7

Since you have been using your dryer so much more now, it’s time to do a little maintenance on your dryer.  While it is unplugged, go ahead and pull it out and disconnect that dryer vent.  Get yourself a long handled duster like a swiffer and start at the dryer end and  clean out the hose.  Go as far as you can from the inside then head outside.  Take of the cover on the outside and clean from the outside end as well.  Dryer vents should not be too long so you should be able to get to the entire line by cleaning from both ends.  Depending on which kind of dryer vent pipe you have, the job will either be an easy one or a hard one. 

The best type of dryer vent pipe is the hard metal pipe.  The smooth interior surface makes this kind of pipe a cinch to clean out.  The lint will simply wipe away and fall out.  The flexible type of dryer piping is not so easy to clean.  If this is what you have, and most people do, you will have to wipe it several times and keep checking to see if you got it all.  Keep at it, dryer lint is a tremendous fire hazard, and is especially a problem in the flexible type of piping since is much more flammable.  You may even find some little critters in your vent when you reach in from the outside, they need to relocate as well. 

Check yours frequently, we check them when we do audits and it’s rare that we find one that isn’t at least partially clogged up.  Cleaning your dryer vent helps to improve the efficiency of the unit, that is, when you turn it back on right?  I would love to see a picture of what you found in your dryer!  Share your picture with me at e.guinn@DanGuinnHomes.com or attach it here.

Organizing Laundry Tasks

Just like dirty dishes, there is never an end to the laundry pile. Managing it so that it doesn't take over you life a a worthwhile and attainable goal. Here are a few tips to help make it a little easier.

Use as few hampers as possible but be sure they are convenient to children so these little ones aren't tempted to throw their clothing on the floor. And remember, if it is not in the hamper, it will not be washed. Stick to that rule for everyone who knows what the hamper is.

Maximize any space you have for doing the laundry by limiting its function to only laundry related activities. Use shelves, cabinets, hooks and racks to hold supplies and clothing. Installing cabinets or shelves above the appliances should provide adequate storage for detergents and other laundry products. If that space is not available, consider narrow rolling shelves that are designed to go between or on the side of the washer and dryer. Some of these units also have a high bar for hanging clothing temporarily as they come out of the dryer.

If there is space, install a permanent rod for hanging clothing. A tension shower rod will fit above the washer and dryer in some spaces. Closet dowels can also be cut to fit that space or other adjoining walls. If a door is available, an over the door rack for hanging clothing could be used.

Store small bottles of spot removers, etc. together in containers for better organization. Guides for stain removal can be placed in the containers, posted on the inside of cabinet doors or hung on the wall if necessary.

Sort clothes near the washer when you have all you plan to wash. Use several laundery baskets to keep the loads separate. You can color code these baskets if it helps separate the clothing types and/or colors. If large enough, consider loads containing only one or two persons clothing. Of course you are free to run small loads if your machines have adjustable levels and cycles.

Wash loads where clothing wrinkles won't matter first. Underwear is good for this. If these items sit for a while before folding, nothing is lost. Setting a timer to monitor the loads is a good idea if none exixts on your machines.

Remove items from the dryer as soon as possible. Sort itmes to be folded in to laundry baskets labeled with the name of each person in the family. Let children who are old enough fold their own clothing. Leave the basket of clean clothing in their room and have them return the empty basket to the machines.

If you must fold the clothing, deliver it to the appropriate room and allow each person to put them away. Even young children can put away folded clothing if their drawerw are labeled with pictures. If items must be hung, keep hangers near the dryer and place the clothing on them immediately. Place them on temporary rods if available.

Older children can be taught how to do their own laundry. If they can read and are tall enough, they can do it. Give them specific times in the weekly schedule for doing it. This is a wonderful life skill for them to learn and it will keep your teenager from getting upset because YOU haven't washed that special outfit when they needed it. (Speaking from experience here.)

Try to provide enough underwear, wash cloths, etc., so that laundry activities do not have to be done so often. If the laundry tasks are limited to a couple of times during the week, it won't be such a consuming activity. It will always be there, but it can be managed.