Category: Professional-Organizer

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Professional-Organizer

How To Let Go of Clothes That Clutter Your Closet & Your Life

When I acquire new clothing, I have a rule to let go of as many as I bring in to make room for the new and stay uncluttered. I reinforce this rule by only owning a certain amount of hangers (I hang up EVERYTHING.) How to decide what to let go? Here are tips I use myself.

I let go of clothing when:

  1. I’ve worn it to the point that it is fading, pilling, stretching, or tearing.
  2. I have not worn it for an entire year.
  3. It is no longer my color, size, or style.

 

skirts on hangers
Two of these five skirts have recently gone bye bye because they are no longer my style.

To elaborate…

I let go of clothing when:

  1. I’ve worn it to the point that it is fading, pilling, stretching, or tearing. Why stroll around in public with a shirt that’s old and raggedy? The only old T to own should be for events such as gardening or changing the oil. And if there’s something waiting to be mended and it’s been waiting a LONG time, I need to either GET IT DONE or GET RID OF IT.
  2. I have not worn it for an entire year. If I have not bedazzled my body with a certain piece of clothing during the last winter, spring, summer, nor fall, I likely never will. This includes my “skinny” clothes…the things I keep telling myself one day I will fit into.
  3. It is no longer my color, size, or style. Why wear something I get annoyed with every time I put it on? Not my color? Not tailored for my body? Just a little too tight or baggy? If it doesn’t make me feel fabulous nor fit just right, I get rid of it.

 

Common Questions from Clients

I cannot throw away things that mean a lot to me. What should I do about sentimental clothes I don’t wear?

Take a picture to preserve the memory or limit yourself to one or two pieces for the memorabilia box.

All my clothes look great and I’ve paid a lot for them. Why should I get rid of them?

Try everything on. Do not look at something and keep it because it’s cute. It must be cute on YOU, not the hanger. You also should be absolutely comfortable in it…which means you should be wearing it often enough to make it worth what you paid.

We’re thinking about having another baby and want to hold onto our child’s old clothes until we do. Should we just get rid of them?

Good for you for thinking about reusing and recycling! Go ahead and hold onto the best of it for now (be sure to box and label) and donate the rest to charity.

Thinking about letting go of clothes that are still in new or near new condition? It’s possible to make money back by consigning. Read up on some of my favorite north and east bay furniture and clothing consignment shops in the San Francisco Bay Area. Are your clothes being rejected by consignors? Simply Google “Places to donate clothes in [your city]” and plenty will pop up.  My recent favorite online clothing, shoes, and accessory consignment resources are Thredup.com (low to medium-end) and TheRealReal.com (high-end).

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Ready for more? Call (510) 229-7321 today to schedule a complimentary estimate for your wardrobe and closet downsize & organize goals. Gift certificates are available.

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Professional-Organizer

Getting Ready for Winter: Wardrobe Organizing Tips for Cold Weather

scarves_declutter_decluttering_organize_bella
Roll scarves and place them in a hanging bin, basket, or drawer for easy access.

When it’s time to get organized for the changing season…

scarves_declutter_decluttering_organize_bella
Roll scarves and place them in a hanging bin, basket, or drawer for easy access.

If you’re like most of us and have limited closet space, you may need to store seasonal clothing. In preparation for cold weather, you might consider storing away the summery things and bringing out what you’ll need to stay warm and comfortable. It’s also a good time to purge.

Purging Tips

Say “goodbye” to clothing, shoes, and accessories when:

  • You have worn or used it to the point of fading, pilling, stains, stretching, or tearing
  • You have not worn or used it for an entire year or two
  • It is no longer your color, size, or style

 How to store off-season items.

  • Use containers with lids or large storage bags; cover to protect from dust, dirt, fluctuating temperatures, and little critters.
  • Treat them well. Clean, de-wrinkle, and fold or nicely hang before storing. Cared for clothing lasts longer, takes up less space, and can be worn immediately when it’s time.
  • Store items in a temperature-controlled environment, particularly natural materials such as leather, wool, and silk. Never store clothing in damp places that tend to breed mold or mildew, nor in extreme hot or cold temperatures.
  • Label bins or bags with a description of contents and store under the bed, high on a top shelf, in the guest room closet, on a garage shelf, or on a covered rolling rack.

Keep sweaters, jackets, scarves, warm hats & socks, cozy boots, gloves, and an umbrella within reach.

  • Sweaters keep their shape best when folded and stacked in dresser drawers or on reachable shelves. Lightweight sweaters do well hung as long as you wear often enough to retain their shape.
  • Roll winter scarves and place in a slim hanging canvas organizer  in the entry closet (which I also like for small purses, hats & beanies, gloves, compact umbrellas, and other accessories,) or stack them in a dresser drawer or bin on a shelf.
  • Keep gloves close to scarves or within coat pockets. I buy several sets of $1 gloves at CVS or Target and store a pair in the pocket of each jacket. They’re always there when I need them.
  • Keep long socks, thermal underwear, and cold-weather leggings together. More tips to organize tights, leggings, and long socks here.

Take the time to organize your closet and wardrobe for the changing season, and you’ll have what you need in a cold-weather flash.

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Ready for more? Call (510) 229-7321 today to schedule a complimentary estimate for your wardrobe and closet organizing goals. Gift certificates are available.

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Professional-Organizer

Tips to Declutter Before the Move

clutter_car_get_organized
Don't take the clutter with you.

Moving soon? Now’s a good time to shed unwanted items…don’t pay to pack and ship them. Start a few weeks to a few months in advance (depending on the size of your home and time off work,) go at it one room at a time, and beat the clutter.

Bella Organizing Downsize Project – When spaces are too challenging for you to tackle alone, we’re here for you.

Start with an easy room. 

This is an area that won’t slow you down to reminisce and in which you are less likely to get overwhelmed. Bookcases and clothing closets are good places to start, the kitchen (old food, dishes, and cooking utensils you never use) or with nic nacs around the house. Leave paperwork and photos for later; they can be a time and energy stealer, better saved for last.

Set up three boxes and label Give Away, Sell, and Donate.

1) The Give Away box is for things you want to give a friend or loved one.

2) The Sell box is for yard sale, consignment shop, or online sale items.

3) The Donate box is for charity. If all you need is a Donate box, more power to you!

Set up Trash, Recycle, and Shred bags.

You are likely to come across plastic, paper, cardboard, and non-recyclables to place in the trash. Have bags ready to declutter these items.

Don’t know what’s junk and what’s worth keeping? Read tips on how to decide.

Having trouble deciding which clothes to purge? Read more here.

Hazardous and e-waste disposal

Paint, light bulbs, used batteries, cell phones, engine oil, broken electronics including anything with cords and wires, refrigeration, televisions, computers and monitors should not be put in the trash. They are considered hazardous or e-waste and need to be disposed of properly. Community organizations commonly hold free e-waste drop-off events on weekends, and many cities have daily drive-through and drop-off options. Visit Earth 911 to find a location near you.

Interested in making cash off your unwanted items? Read more on how to here.

Tip: Don’t take a chance on identity theft. While decluttering the office, set aside paperwork to shred.

Got paper clutter?

Don’t take a chance on identity theft. While sorting through the office, set aside paperwork to shred including documents with names, address & contact information, account numbers, social security numbers, and other information you prefer no one get their hands on in a recycle bin. Shred tons of paper at a time quickly and inexpensively at a local office supply store such as UPS, or with a shredding specialty company such as Berkeley Shreds.

Considering using donations as a tax write off?

Play it safe, take photos and make an itemized list with estimated fair market or appraised value of each item (see Salvation Army Donation Valuation Guide here). Save this and donation receipts for tax records. In the case of an audit, you may need these as proof of donation. A high-value donation write-off can be a red flag for audit at tax time. Refer to the IRS website for the latest rules on tax-deductible donations.

Isabella Guajardo has provided professional home organizing and residential move management services since 2007. She has worked with hundreds of individuals and families from all walks of life including single parents, public school teachers, college professors, lawyers, doctors, Pulitzer Prize winners, and CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. The thing 90% of them had in common? They had too much clutter and needed to downsize and reorganize.

Call (510) 229-7321 to schedule a complimentary telephone consultation.

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Professional-Organizer Tips

10 Ways to Get Organized for Biodiversity and the Planet

Reuse a large glass food jar and keep it on the countertop for scrap collection. The lid keeps the smell at bay and having the jar near the cutting board makes it easy to chop scraps into small pieces before placing inside, which helps with faster composting.

If there’s any information I feel is most important to share with my clients, it is ways to get organized at home that help care for humankind, biodiversity, and the planet. A lot changes and evolves as time passes, and as technologies improve, it’s important to stay on top of what’s current. I’ve recently updated this information for you.

Lets get started:

1. Update your recycling, composting, and conservation skills annually.

Read the materials provided by your local waste and recycling management company. Many facilities provide tours where you can see it in action. The City of San Francisco offers free online recycling education for San Francisco residents to learn how to waste less and conserve natural resources at home. Contact your local city waste and recycling center to see what they have to offer.

tour

2. Start a counter top compost bin.

All you need is two large glass food containers with lid. Compostable BioBags are not needed. Place meat/dairy/egg shelf scraps in one and fruit and veggie scraps in the other. When the containers are full, place all food scraps in the green curbside bin for trash day, or create your own garden compost bin in which to toss the compost with fruit & veggies scraps only (meat/dairy/egg should always go into the green curbside bin), then rinse out the containers, and reuse. The result: fresh nutrients for the garden in just a few weeks and/or less environmentally-damaging clutter in the landfill. Read more about why it’s important to compost and why you should keep meat/dairy/egg scraps out of your backyard compost and only put fruit & veggie scraps into the backyard compost.

Reuse a large glass food jar and keep it on the countertop for scrap collection. The lid keeps the smell at bay and having the jar near the cutting board makes it easy to chop scraps into small pieces before placing inside, which helps with faster composting.

3. Grow your own food.

Start small, as with kitchen countertop herbs in pots, on a window sill, or on a front or back porch. Work your way up to a garden box. Growing your own food can be an eye-opening experience and yields delicious, nutritious food that is convenient to have around, fresh, and tastes better than what you find in the store. It is also recommended during draughts, as large commercial farming wastes much more water than edible plant gardening at home.

Fresh mint ready for picking.

4. Collect rain water.

Invest in a rain barrel , it is an easy way to save water to use for indoor and outdoor ornamental plants during dry months. A second food-grade water barrel can be used to store drinkable water for you and your family in the case of an emergency. Do you have enough drinking water in your emergency kit? Avoid small, disposable bottles which need to be rotated out every six months and invest in a food-grade barrel you can store water in for up to 5 years at a time in the yard.

Rain-Barrel

5. Start going paperless.

You don’t have to do it all at once; try it with a bill or two to get the hang of it. Get too much junk mail? Contact Catalog Choice and get help cutting down on the amount you receive. The Story of Stuff in Berkeley acquired Catalog Choice in March 2015.

paperless

6. Be cautious about what you put down the drain and toilet.

Use earth-friendly, bio-degradable soaps and cleaners, don’t put anything plastic or chemical down the drain, or anything other than toilet paper down toilet. Remember, things that go down the sink, tub drain, and toilet eventually go into the ocean. Sewage treatment plants chemically treat our discards then send the water back into our local water systems and eventually to the ocean. Do you believe that the treatment process is 100% full-proof or healthy for the environment? If you’re feeling nerdy, read this.

DRAIN

7. Eat organic food.

Organic farmers grow food more responsibility, with high consideration to the health of the earth and the health of humans. Buy from your local organic farmer’s market. Costco has recently collaborated with local organic farmers and organic food companies to offer tons of bulk options at an affordable price. If organic food is too expensive, start with a few items such as strawberries, grapes, and other fruit with fragile membranes that are easily contaminated and penetrated by pesticides used in non-organic farming.

fresh-kale-2

8. Go for a hike once a week.

Whether in your city park, state park, national park, or a walk around a tree-lined block, spending time in nature is good for health and grows our appreciation of it. The more we learn to appreciate nature, the harder we work to keep it protected.

henry-coe-state-park-hiking-trails-isabella

9. Support local earth activists.

Stop and listen to what they have to say. Consider signing their petitions. If you cannot donate time to a cause, donate money or a signature. Most organizations are non-profit’s with activists working hard because they have passion, time, and choose to make it their work.

Petitions

10. Volunteer at a local community garden.

It’s a great way to learn to grow food and help a local community group or organization with much-needed people power. Take a look at what San Francisco’s Urban Sprouts is doing.

garden

Categories
Professional-Organizer

Organizing In Preparation For A Kitchen Remodel

Organizing in preparation for a kitchen remodel in berkeley and oakland

PREPARING FOR A KITCHEN REMODEL

You have the plan in hand, you’ve hired a contractor and now the day for beginning your remodeling project is quickly approaching. You need to clear the kitchen and organize the contents so that you and your family can have access to what you need with ease while the remodel takes place. If this seems overwhelming, follow these steps to simplify the process.

  • Gather supplies. You will need boxes or reusable storage bins, newspapers, packing materials, packing tape, quart and gallon size clear plastic storage bags, and markers for labeling. Avoid packing everything into one big box and having to dig through it later; use as many small 1.5 cubic foot boxes/bins as possible until you start getting to the larger and bulkier items such as pots, pans and platters.
  • Pull out items that you use every day such as the coffee maker, tea kettle, pots, skillets, rice cooker (a remodel lifesaver, especially when it comes with a vegetable steamer compartment), plates, bowls, cups, mixing bowls & cooking utensils, can opener, vegetable peelers, eating utensils. During the course of the remodel you will need these essentials. You can also use disposable/compostable cups, plates and dinnerware. Set aside storage containers for leftovers, food storage bags, foil and plastic wrap, lunch sacks. Also, make sure you have dishwashing and cleaning supplies on hand.
  • Pack eating utensils in gallon size zip-lock storage bags. Use a bag each for knives, forks and spoons. It will make it easy to access, and unpack these items once the kitchen is finished. Do the same with cooking utensils and small gadgets. Store utensils and gadgets in their own small box.
  • Pack glassware and dinnerware carefully. Even though you are packing these items for a short period of time, things can get broken in the process of carrying, stacking and storage. Wrap fragile items in newspaper or bubble wrap to protect them and seal your boxes with tape. Top the box with extra padding so the topside doesn’t sink down when the weight of another box is stacked on it…this can cause boxes to tumble and fall. Mark contents on the outside of each box.
  • Pack canned and dry foods in categories such as breakfast food, canned goods, sauces, pastas, spices, baking supplies, drinks, cooking oils, and pet food. Use small and shallow boxes to keep things organized, upright, and at-hand during the construction activity. Double check that tops are screwed on tightly before packing bottles and liquids upright.
  • Collect items you use infrequently such as holiday dinnerware, specialized bake ware, punchbowls, platters. Pack, mark and store these items in a closet, basement or garage.
  • Keep like items together when clearing out your cabinets. It’s worth taking the time to organize things now and prevent frustration later.
  • Set aside things you don’t use anymore for donation. Make a list and estimate the value before you take them to your local donation center. Throw out anything broken or unusable such as old plastic storage ware. This is a great time to reduce clutter.
  • Pack up cookbooks and recipes in their own box.
  • Take down blinds, curtains, rods and wall decorations. Place the hardware in clear plastic storage bags and label with a marker directly on the bag. Clean and dust these items if you will be using them again in the remodeled kitchen.
  • Cover computer and electronics to protect from dust. You may also want to cover furniture in adjacent rooms that may be affected by dust from the construction area.
  • Take down valuable pictures and wall hangings in adjacent rooms that can be knocked off the wall or damaged during the remodeling process.
  • Protect your pets. Keep them away from the work area.  Dogs and cats can be a danger to themselves and the work crew if they are underfoot. The best option is to keep them in a closed room away from all the work. You can also hire a pet sitter to look after your pets during an extensive remodel.

 

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READ MORE BELLA ORGANIZING TIPS, IDEAS & TRAVELS HERE.

Isabella Guajardo, also known as Girl With A Truck™, is a professional home organizer and a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). Living in Oakland and Monterey, she travels in her truck to work with clients throughout the SF Bay Area, East Bay, South Bay, Silicon Valley, Santa Cruz and Monterey Peninsula. She shares simple and creative ways to stay organized and stylish while reducing, recycling and re-purposing. Join Bella Organizing on Facebook. Gift certificates are available.

Call (510) 229-7321 to schedule a complimentary telephone consultation.