Tips & Tricks for Organizing Your Garage by Kenny Pedersen at Organized Garage Solutions

After years of using your garage, you have likely accumulated a lot of unnecessary and unneeded items. It is easy for this to happen because like the quote “out of sight, out of mind” we typically forget the things we do not see every day. Going through your garage and organizing it will give you peace of mind and even more space for things like your car!

●     Remove Everything

This is usually the most difficult part because it takes the most effort to start. After you start removing everything from your garage, you will see how good it feels to see the walls again as well as everything else you had forgotten. This will most likely take you a few hours just to get everything removed so make sure you give yourself enough time.

●     Clean Everything

You will most likely encounter a few spiders and bugs in your garage, so make sure you are using pesticides and proper cleaning equipment to keep them out. You will also want to wipe down all the walls and really clean your floors to make sure your garage gets a fresh start.

●     Install Organizers

This step is not a necessity, but it will help you create an organized atmosphere in your garage. You will want to start with solid cabinets, shelving, and matching totes. These will help you get everything off the floor and onto the walls. You will also find space for seasonal items, random tools that were forgotten, auto cleaners, and even your sports equipment.

●     Organize

This is my personal favorite part as you get to organize all your items and make your garage looks amazing again. Make sure to designate each area for your supplies so you don’t run into disorganization again.

After each step is completed you will simply need to maintain your organized garage by running through it a few times a week. You are now on your way to an organized, amazing garage!

This post was written by Kenny Pedersen at Organized Garage Solutions. He enjoys playing sports, having out with his wife, and finding great music to listen to.

10 Organizing Project Under 10 Minutes

The kids are back in school and the holidays will be here before we know it. Let's head into that busy time of year a little more organized. By just taking 10 minutes each day to organizing one of these spaces in your home, you will feel more in control of your home and ready to tackle whatever comes your way.

• Pantry - Start by throwing out any food that has expired. Make a bag of anything that is still good, but your family will not use and drop it by your local food pantry. Put like items together and organize so that you can easily locate what you need. 
• Sock Drawer - Throw out any socks that don't have matches or are tattered and torn. Straighten by color and style so that you can easily grab what you are looking for.
• Cabinet Under Kitchen Sink - Under the kitchen sink can be a scary space where things hide. Pull everything out and get rid of what you no longer need. Organized cleaners and other supplies stored there by categories in simple plastic shoe boxes (without the lids).
• Magazines - Decide how long you want to keep magazines (1-3 months is recommended). Take what you don't want to keep and tear out any articles you wish to read, put them in a file and take them with you next time you know you will be waiting with nothing to do (waiting at car shop, doctor's office, DMV).
• Junk Drawer - Everyone needs a junk drawer but it need to be organized to be useful. Empty the contents on the counter. Grab some basic bins to divide out the space and put things back by category in bins. Get rid of or put away elsewhere anything that doesn't belong in this drawer.
• Books - Scan thru your bookshelves and pull out any books that you feel you will never read again or refer to. Bag them up and take them to your local library. Straighten the remaining books. 
• Refrigerator - Pull out anything that needs to be tossed. Arrange what is left by category. Dressings go together into one shelf, condiments in another, leftovers on the top shelf, meat and cheese in a designated drawer, etc.
• Movies - Most of the movies we watch are digital now. Scan through your stack of DVD's and pull out anything you haven't watch in a while. Donate them to the library or local charity. If for some reason you still have VHS and no way of playing them, these definitely need to go. Have family movies transferred to digital or DVD.
• Medicine Cabinet - Empty the contents onto the counter top. Discard any medicines that are expired or you no longer need. Put back what you do need neatly by category (cold medicines, medicines for digestion, etc. 
• Purse -  Dump everything out of your purse. Decide what really needs to go back (keep in mind a lighter purse is better for your back and posture). Use any compartments purposefully. Place like items in baggies or cosmetic bags so that you can more easily find them. Throw out or put away anything that doesn't belong. 

I hope by the end of the month, you have had a chance to organize these and other areas in your home that need organizing. If there are projects around the house that still need to be done, but tend to be a little too overwhelming please contact us for a free organizing needs analysis where we can discuss your needs and how we can help. (909)307-4862.

Organize Your Linen Closet

Do you have more linens than you'll ever use? Many of us have this same problem, causing our linen storage areas to get cluttered and disorganized. Finding what you need becomes an impossible chore, generating frustrating and wasting time. Let's banish these everyday woes and make changing the sheets a more bearable task again!

PURGE - Grab a large garbage bag or two in which you can put sheets you want to donate. Then pull out all of your linens, and separate them one by one into two piles – Those you'll use and those you won't use. Any sheets and linens can be thrown into the donation pile, no matter what their condition is like. Items that are too worn or old for donation centers are often sent to animal shelters and used for animal bedding.

ORGANIZE - Place similar items together – For instance, place towels on one shelf, sheets on another, and blankets on another. Organize each type of linen by size as well. Neatly fold each item in order to maximize space. You may even consider labeling the shelves so you don't forget where to put an item each time you do laundry.

MAINTAIN - Each time you do laundry, make sure each item is neatly folded and put away in its proper place. Never let baskets of clean linens sit for too long; Instead, take the next step and put them away immediately.

We hope we've helped you de-clutter and organize your laundry and linen areas this week! Don't forget to post photos of your newly organized spaces on Twitterusing the hashtag #SimplifyIn40Days, and on our Facebook page.

Happy organizing!

Simple Ways to Take Control of Your Laundry and Linens

Happy February!

We're kicking off the Simplify Challenge's final week by helping you organize two areas that often go hand-in-hand – Your laundry room and linen closet. Although doing laundry might not be the most romantic of tasks, it is nonetheless a necessary one we often do for those we love. This utilitarian chore is much easier if your space is organized and de-cluttered. You'll maximize your efficiency and also save time, meaning you'll have more of it to spend with your loved ones this Valentine's day and beyond!

As always, if you need help at any point during this process, feel free to contact us. We have a team of awesome professional organizers who are always happy to help!

Organize Your Laundry Room

Is your laundry room cluttered with things that don't belong there? Clutter simply creates added stress to an often dreaded task, causing us to procrastinate while piles of dirty laundry build. This space should instead be functional and minimalistic, making it easier to focus on decreasing those dirty piles. Let's get to work!

PURGE – Get out a trash bag and boxes in which you can place items that don't belong in the laundry room. Sort through each item in the room individually, placing items you want to donate, or those that belong in another part of the house, in the boxes. Next, put items that belong in another part of the house away in their proper places. Get rid of anything you know you won't use. Old cleaning supplies can be dropped off at a hazardous waste collection site; Call your city to find out where the closest site is located.

ORGANIZE - Organize cleaning supplies by category on shelves or in cabinets. Keep those you use more often in easy to reach spots, and those you use less often in harder to reach areas. Also, keep cleaning supplies used for laundry close to where they'll be used – so detergent, softeners, and bleach should go above the washer, and dryer sheets above the dryer, etc. If you store mops and brooms in this room, save space by hanging them on the wall and off of the ground.

MAINTAIN - Each time you use an item, put it back in its proper space. It'll be easier to find and help ensure the room stays clutter-free!

Simple Ways to Organize Your Bathroom

Whether you have several luxuriously large bathrooms, or just a single, small one, these spaces are often less than the tranquil places they should be. Too often, our bathrooms instead hold cluttered jumbles of makeup and medicines well past their expiration dates, an excess of hair products, and stacks of towels crammed into limited storage space. That's why for week five of our Simplify Challenge, we're going to help you de-clutter and streamline your bathrooms, transforming them into tranquil, inspiring places to begin and end your day.

As always, if you need help at any point during this process, feel free to contact us. We have a team of awesome professional organizers who are always happy to help!

Organize Your Master Bathroom

The master bathroom is likely where you spend most of your time getting ready for the day ahead.

Clutter and disorganization have a tendency to become overwhelming here, making your routine longer and more frustrating. Let's de-clutter and organize to add functionality to this space and save you time and energy for whatever your day holds!

PURGE - We all purchase items we think are going to solve all of our beauty dilemmas. However, these products are often worthless. We hold on to them because they were too expensive to just throw away, even if they don't work. But if you haven't used these products in months or years, it's time to let them go and use that valuable space for products you do use on a daily basis. Get out your trash bag and go through every item individually, being honest with yourself about what you use and don't use. Check for expired medicines and get rid of those, too.

ORGANIZE – Maximize your space by using size-appropriate containers to organize, store, and separate the goods you've decided to keep. Group items by category (for instance, hair products go with other hair products), or by when you or your spouse uses them. Use baskets or bins you already have around your house to organize items, and drawer dividers for smaller items like makeup, nail polish, and whatever else you need at your fingerprints while getting ready. You may also want install a shelf to store larger items like towels. In addition to organizing, the main goal here is to clear surfaces so that the bathroom is easy to clean and use daily.

MAINTAIN – Keeping items in storage bins and baskets will make it easier for you to maintain order in your bathroom. As always, the key is putting items back after you use them. Taking the extra step to put items in their proper places rather than setting them on the counter top will keep your area functional and clean, ultimately saving you time and energy.

Organize Your Guest Bathroom

If you only have one bathroom, lucky you! You have one less place to organize. But if you have kids or are used to entertaining guests, that extra bathroom is a necessity. Keeping it de-cluttered will help keep it clean and fresh for whoever is using it.

PURGE - Go through each item in every cabinet and drawer, and get rid of any out of date medicines

and products you won't use. Don't forget surface areas as well! If your kids or spouse use the bathroom regularly, have them go through items with you.

ORGANIZE - Think of this bathroom's function and purpose. Is it for your kids, guests, or your spouse? Clarifying its purpose will dictate how this bathroom is organized. Use baskets or bins you already have around your house to organize items, and drawer dividers for smaller items. Store your containers of choice out of sight below the sink. If guests are mainly using this space, only keep items they'll find useful on hand, like soap, clean towels, and extra toiletries. Try to keep some empty space for their items as well.

MAINTAIN – As always, putting items back in their proper areas after each use is key to maintaining the order you've created. If this bathroom is for your child or children, you'll need to give them frequent reminders to keep this area de-cluttered. Not only will these reminders lessen your workload, they'll also help them form important, lifelong organizational habits.

Bathroom Storage Ideas

If your bathroom is small, storage space can be a huge challenge. Finding creative ways to store items you need can not only maximize your space and minimize your clutter, but also add some 

personality. Here are a few quick DIY ideas:

• Use a wine rack as a towel holder

• Wrap a rustic brown rope or twine around old coffee tins to store hand soap and lotion bottles

• Keep small items like toothbrushes and nail polish in clear vases or jars

• Use (cleaned) vintage planters from the garden to hold soap bars and sponges

• Repurpose a clear umbrella stand to store toilet paper rolls

Do you have more organizing and storage ideas? Let us know and post photos of your organized bathroom on Twitter using the hashtag #SimplifyIn40Days, and on our Facebook page.

Until next week, happy organizing!