Blog | Bella - San Francisco Bay Area Professional Organizers

Week 17 | Jackets & Sweaters | 52 Weeks to Downsize & Minimalize

Post author By Bella Organizing
Post date April 24, 2017

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Join me this week to downsize & minimalize the amount of jackets and sweaters taking up closet and drawer space.

Who has TONS of jackets and sweaters they hardly wear? EVERYONE. These things are big, they are bulky, and they take up too much space. Make room in your closet and chest of drawers this week and let go of the excess jackets and sweaters you didn’t wear during the past fall and winter.

Clothing declutter tips very much apply to Jackets and Sweaters!
https://bellaorganizing.com/how-to-declutter-clothes/

Imagine the free, open space you will create…

Isabella Guajardo, founder and owner of Bella Organizing, is a San Francisco Bay Area professional organizer offering home organizing, interior redesign, and residential move management services throughout the Greater San Francisco Bay Area. Call (510) 229-7321 or email info@bellaorganizing.com for more information. Gift certificates are available.

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How Much Should You Tip Movers? Tipping Etiquette for Moving Companies

Post author By Bella Organizing
Post date April 19, 2017

What is the tipping etiquette for movers?

Movers are entrusted with your personal belongings and do a lot of heavy lifting. Many times they need to carefully and strategically maneuver furniture and boxes up and down stairs, through narrow corridors, and even out second story windows. For this reason, some people feel obligated to give these service-based workers extra recognition for their hard work. Movers don’t expect a tip, but surely welcome them.

Please tip your movers for a job well-done if you are happy with your move. If you decide to tip, divide the cash equally and hand each mover the same amount individually.

Of course, if the moving service was sub-par, you are not obligated to provide a tip.

“Tipping is not expected and is up to the customer,” said John Bisney, a spokesman for the American Moving and Storage Association.

How Much Should You Tip Movers?

If you think your movers deserve a tip, here are some ideas. There is no set rule.

“Opinions on [tipping] are varied,” Bisney said. “One mover said the industry standard was 5%, which is pretty reasonable—if a crew of two movers move you for $500-$750, you might tip a total of $25 to $40, or $10 to $20 for each mover depending on the quality of the move,” Bisney said.

The quality of the move should factor into your decision on how much to tip. Assess how carefully your items were moved and adjust your tip up or down depending on the level of service you received.

Read more about moving day etiquette from the American Moving and Storage Association.

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Tags etiquette, how much to tip, how to tip movers, jays moves, moving, san francisco moving companies, tip your movers, tipping

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Week 16 | Pet Hair | 52 Weeks to Downsize & Minimalize

Post author By Bella Organizing
Post date April 18, 2017

Looking to reduce the amount of pet hair in your home? Do you love your dog or cat so much that you don’t notice the hair anymore? LOOK CLOSELY. Your guests see (and smell) it.

Owning a pet is a wonderful experience that tends to result in sacrificing the cleanliness of the home, but it doesn’t have to. It’s time to become conscious of the pet hair all over the furniture, floor, in the rug, on your clothing, and also how it makes the house smell in ways you’ve probably become so accustomed to, you no longer notice it. Oh my!

Here are tips and tricks to downsize and minimalize the amount of pet hair around the house:

Sweep and vacuum weekly, including the furniture. This sounds like common sense, but sense is not common to everyone. Life is busy, and it’s easy to let time slip away and forget to sweep and vacuum regularly, allowing pet hair to build up fast. Make it a weekly habit whether or not you think you see the hair.
Use a roll of packing tape. Keep a pair of scissors or a tape dispenser handy, and cut off a long one to two foot piece to gather up hair on clothing, furniture, curtains, and other fabric and surfaces that won’t get damaged by tape. It’s sticky, extremely effective, and costs less than the expensive sticky paper rollers made specifically for pet hair.
Brush your pets weekly (outside). If makes them feel good, it’s a bonding experience, and gets rid of excess pet hair that won’t fall out in the house.
Use products such as the FURminator.
Use a soft cloth and furniture polish or anti-static dusting spray on wooden furniture. The spray will eliminate the electric charge and help remove pet hair easier.
Use a rubber glove or clean sponge lightly dampened with water to remove pet hair from upholstery. Run your rubber gloved hand or the sponge over the surface to gather pet hair. Rinse the glove or sponge when covered and repeat. Be sure to catch the hair in a sink strainer and don’t let it clog the pipes.
Use an electrostatic or microfiber dry mop on bare floors. Regular vacuum cleaners tend to blow hair around on hardwood, laminate, or other bare floors versus gather it in one spot. Electrostatic and microfiber attracts hair, just what you want to get things nice and clean.

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Week 15 | Cords & Wires | 52 Weeks to Downsize & Minimalize

Post author By Bella Organizing
Post date April 10, 2017

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Continue to disconnect this Spring by letting go of electronic cords and wires that have been hanging around for eons unused.

old telephone and fax machine cords
electronic adaptors to who knows what
extra printer cords
old extension cords that you’re weary of catching fire if plugged in
multiple router cables
broken cell phone chargers

What other cords and wires can you downsize this week?

Label what you need to keep (use a label maker or masking tape & a fine-point marker) and responsibly recycle the rest. Go to Earth911.org to find out where you can drop them off locally.

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Week 14 | Work Load | 52 Weeks to Downsize & Minimalize

Post author By Bella Organizing
Post date April 3, 2017

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Join me and let go of some of the work load this week.

The weather is great in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, and hopefully your part of the world! Spring is a great time to take time for yourself and enjoy it without working so hard. Here are a few ideas for letting go of the work load this week:

Take a personal day off. Let HR call in the sub or temp, and take that personal day you deserve and have coming to you.
Eat out one day this week. Skip making dinner at home and take yourself and the family out for a fun dining experience, and let the restaurant staff do the dishes.
Call in the babysitter. Who says date night can’t be on a week night? Or schedule the sitter now for this coming weekend!
Drop the laundry off to be washed professionally. Someone else can wash and fold for once.

Can’t take time off this week? Download a Pomodoro App and work smart while getting in healthy, well-deserved breaks.

Read more about the Pomordoro Technique here:
http://www.meighanotoole.com/pomodoro-timer-saves-time-keeps-focused

https://zapier.com/blog/best-pomodoro-apps/

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