Tag: marie kondo

Declutter Mail & Email Lists

Post author By Bella Organizing
Post date December 19, 2016

Are paper catalogs, credit card offers, donation requests, and junk ads cluttering your mail box? Are email and newsletters tormenting your inbox? It’s time to get removed from mailing lists.

Step One

Get off email lists

Go to your inbox. Find email from companies you want to remove from your inbox permanently. Scroll to the bottom of the email, click the “unsubscribe” link, and follow steps to be removed. By law, companies must include this link at the bottom of marketing email. If they do not include a link, go to the company’s website and follow procedures to unsubscribe. Contact the company by email or phone if an easy way to unsubscribe through the email or their website is not available.

Step Two

Get off paper mail lists

Gather junk mail from around the house.
Visit Catalog Choice for information on how their program gets your name and address removed from marketing lists or download the Paper Karma mobile app and snap away, then recycle or shred the junk mail.
Respond to Privacy Act inserts in billing statements. Companies include these to inform consumers of their rights and are a great way to opt out of information sharing which leads to more junk mail.
Select the best “Optout” registration method that meets your needs. Register with the Direct Marketing Association or Mail Preference Service. Registered names are placed in a “do not contact” database.
Enter opt-out requests for deceased family members. Use the same procedures as above to submit the request.
Contact major credit reporting bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian) directly to be removed from credit card offer lists.
- TransUnion – (888) 567-8688, Name Removal Option, P.O. Box 505, Woodlyn, PA 19094
- Equifax Options, Marketing Decision Systems,(888)567-8688; Equifax Credit Information Services Inc., P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374
- Experian Marketing Lists – (402) 458- 5247, Experian Consumer Services, West Bond St., Lincoln, NE 68521
- To opt out permanently all at once, go to optoutprescreen.com or call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688) to start the process.

Step Three

Be patient for the mailings to decrease. The process can take a few months. After this time, you will notice a sizable decrease in pre-approved offers, flyers, and magazines flooding your mailbox. Unwanted email should stop immediately.
Prevent getting on lists in the future. When making online purchases for which you include a mailing or email address, you are often opting in to the company’s newsletters and special offer mailings. If you want to avoid this, carefully uncheck boxes that give the company permission to place you on their list. When you accept a credit card offer or make a donation to a cause, your name and address often gets sold sold to marketing lists, and more offers come rolling in. While opening new accounts or donating to an organization for the first time, stress to them how you do not want your information shared with marketing lists and if you prefer email to paper correspondence about your donations.

Follow these steps and you will be free from unwanted paper and email clutter.

Bella_Organizing_Best_Professional_Organizers_San_Francisco_Oakland_Berkeley_silicon_valley_monterey

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

Tags Bella Organizing, declutter, how to get off email lists, how to get off mailing lists, junk mail, marie kondo, martha stewart, opt in, opt out, paperless, professional organizer

Professional-Organizer

Declutter Paperwork

Post author By Bella Organizing
Post date December 18, 2016
Sticky post

Paperwork organizing can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. Take control of paperwork and deal with it as soon as you walk in the door.

For today’s paper decluttering task, choose paperwork that challenges you most, the stuff you’ve been holding off on for a while and letting pile up. You don’t need to worry about organizing it to perfection today, the goal for the day is declutter – GET RID OF – what has no business in your home. And after today, don’t let it enter your life again.

Here’s How

Recycle paperwork as soon as you enter the house with it. Go straight to the recycle bin and drop in whatever you don’t need. Toss in that junk mail. Open mail and immediately recycle envelopes and inserts, this way you filter out most paper clutter before it hits a surface.
Immediately place bills and correspondence on a designated work area, such as you desk or a command center you work at regularly, instead of on the kitchen or living room table. Is the kitchen or living room your work area? Oi vey! Work on creating an alternative paperwork space if your goal is to keep these areas free of paper clutter.

I’m concerned about my name and address going into the recycle bin, so I tear off and shred it. I also have an identity theft protection rubber stamp that I use at my desk, like this one pictured from Solutions.com ~ you can also get it on Amazon. Or simply use a black marker.

identity theft protection stamp — Identity Theft Protection Stamp

If you receive a lot of junk paper, go a step further and have Catalog Choice or Paper Karma get you off mailing lists. You’ll receive less paper mail, which means less clutter to deal with later.

How I handle paperwork at Casa Bella.

Each day I sit at my desk for 15 minutes and file away what little I actually need to keep and shred or recycle the rest. 15 minutes per day works miracles!

I use a cork board on the wall in front of my desk to pin small notes and important reminders. I take down and recycle weekly anything that no longer applies. Here’s an example of a cute DIY cork board from Apartment Therapy, with a link to how to make one yourself.

corkboard paperwork organizing — DIY Corkboard from Apartment

Get it off the desk, but don’t let bills and important correspondence get out of sight, out of mind. Create a neat place where you can see and access bills daily, such as standing upright in a desktop file folder, or pinned to a cork board on the wall by your work area. Highlight or circle due dates on bills.

desktop_file_paperwork_organizing_bella — Desktop file holder from Containerstore.com

It’s a good idea to keep

Adoption paperwork, birth certificates, marriage license, divorce documents
Car titles, repair and maintenance receipts.
Personal identification, social security statements.
Educational degrees and certifications.
Home improvement paperwork and receipts.
Insurance documents for current policies.
Medical receipts and reports.
Warranties and manuals you cannot find online.
Receipts for high value home or office furniture, computers, electronic equipment, household goods, art, anything you may one day want to sell or may need for value reference in the case of a home or renters insurance claim.
If you’re holding onto department store receipts in case you need to make a return, and the return date is expired, do you still need to keep the receipt? Probably not.
Tax documents. When the year is up and it does not need to live in my active files, I store tax documents with that years tax return in a closet designated specifically for this kind of storage.

More ways to prevent paper pile up

Go paperless wherever you can. NOW is the time. Get online and learn how to receive statements, bills and receipts via email. Learn how easy it is to download and store them on your computer as a digital document. If you ever need a paper copy, simply print from your digital storage file. Banks allow you to log onto your account and glance at your statements from years back. So convenient! Consider going paperless with one or two minor bills. If this works for you, do more. A little at a time steadily builds great paperless bill-paying habits.
Don’t sign up for notices and special offers via paper mail. When ordering online, do not check boxes that allow the business to send you paper mailings. It’s easier to remove yourself from email than mailing lists.
Download the Stop Junk Mail Kit created by the Bay Area Recycling Outreach Coalition for numbers to call and websites to visit to be removed from Direct Marketing lists, Credit Card offer lists, Sweepstakes, Shopping Flyers, Junk Faxes, Catalogs and more.

We have individual needs to consider when it comes to dealing with paperwork. For this reason, I suggest consulting with your CPA or legal advisor about what you should be keeping vs. recycling. From my own home office and that of clients I have worked with over the years, what I have found is this: we are quite more similar than different. So do not feel alone with your paper clutter. Deal with it at least 15 minutes a day. If you’re not going to hire a professional organizer or personal assistant to come in weekly and do it for you, learning to self-maintain is key. Like good habits, getting organized with paperwork is something that can be learned.

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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Tags Bella Organizing, declutter, get organized, marie kondo, martha stewart, paperwork organizing tips, professional organizer

Professional-Organizer

Declutter the Kids Room

Post author By Bella Organizing
Post date December 17, 2016

declutter

to remove mess or clutter from (a place)
to organize and prioritize (one’s commitments, material possessions, etc.)
to let it go

I work with parents every week to tackle clutter in the kids room and around the house. Some parents have rules for a dedicated toy storage space, such as the kids room or playroom, but most homes I visit have a naturally evolving system of everything everywhere… toys, books, shoes, backpacks in the living room, on the kitchen table, under mom and dad’s bedsheets. I’ve seen it all…

A little before we get started:

Why does the kid stuff get out of control? Common answers:

Parents plan to have another child soon and want to save everything to reuse (makes total sense!)
Parents want the most for their kids
Grandma wants the most for the grandkids
Friends of the parents want the most for their friend’s kids

Everybody is so giving!

There comes a point when enough is enough…

How much is too much with toys, books, clothing, artwork, and memorabilia? The answer lies within YOU, parent or guardian. Here’s a hint: the less there is, the less you have to clean up, sort through, put into storage, and the easier it will be to find things.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the kids simply picked up after themselves?

Unfortunately the littles can only do so much on their own.

Helen Neville, a pediatric advice nurse at Kaiser Permanente for 35 years, gave an Ages and Stages in Early Childhood Development workshop that brings things to light. She specializes in inborn temperament and authors Is this a Phase? Child Development, Parent Strategies Birth to 6 Years, and other books on temperament, sleep, and potty training.

Q&A with Helen Neville

Question: At what age is it best to help kids clean their room?

Answer: Clean up with them ages 2-5. You have to help and make it fun and interesting.

Question: At what point is it easier to get kids to give up toys without being hurt by it?

Answer: 3-5 year olds forget what’s important to them, which can include toys. A 2-year old won’t care to lose toys, a 6-year old may start to miss them.

Grab the kids! It’s time to get their room in order.

Step One

When working with a child to declutter toys and books, tell them about places they can donate to kids in need, such as to homeless shelters and toy drives. Pick a place to donate together and follow through with it. ‘Tis always the season to give give give away!
Tackle clutter with the kids for as long as their attention can be held, they are having fun, and being productive with you.
Kids (as do adults) can get overwhelmed by choice. Allow them to make decisions on what to keep and what to donate for only a few things at a time. When their interest starts to wane…

Step Two

Set them free! Don’t get frustrated. It’s up to you, parent or guardian, to continue sorting, decluttering, and putting things away.
Put excess toys into labeled bins and store in the garage for 3 months. What the child remembers and asks for, bring out. What they forget, donate.

Tackle kids clutter on a regular basis. Downsize a little at a time together and instill great habits in everyone. Do not give up. Your kids clutter is your clutter. Set a regular schedule, find balance with the amount of stuff you are willing buy/accept/store/donate, and turn challenges into successes.

Prevent and Take Action on Toy Clutter

At your child’s next birthday party, make a themed gift donation box that everyone attending knows about in advance. Gifts received will go directly to charity, such as school supplies to a classroom in need.
What we hold off as a reward can be what kids are motivated toward. Find creative ways to get your child to let go of excess toys often, such as making it a house agreement during the weekly family meeting to only allow in a new toy or book if one or two goes out.

Tags Bella Organizing, declutter, decluttering, downsize, early childhood development, helen neville, kids room, kids room organizing, marie kondo, martha stewart, minimalize, professional organizer

Professional-Organizer

Declutter Jewelry, Purses, and Accessories

Post author By Bella Organizing
Post date December 16, 2016

declutter

1. to remove mess or clutter from (a place) 2. to organize and prioritize (one’s commitments, material possessions, etc.) 3. to let it go

Declutter Jewelry

that is broken and you have no intention to repair immediately
so outdated you haven’t worn it in years
the Ex gave you that makes you cry to see it
that hurts to wear in any way…those painful earrings!

Jewelry Organizing — Jewelry is a work of art. Care for, display, and wear it with pleasure.

Declutter Purses

that don’t fit the bare minimum of a wallet, cell phone, and keys
that make you look like a teeny bopper when you’re a grown adult
that are not functional no matter how cute
clean out purses filled with clutter. Do this every time you change handbags.

purse_organizing_declutter_decluttering — Fill purses with tissue paper to keep their shape. Shelf dividers keep them upright, in view, and accessible

Declutter Belts

that haven’t fit in eons
because your body has changed and shifted, and no longer wears them well
you use for spanking the kids – it’s bad karma and probably illegal these days

socks_organize_declutter_decluttering_bella — Roll belts and place in a drawer organizer to keep them in shape and looking good

Declutter Hats

with stains and sweat marks you cannot remove
with holes, rips, tears you will not repair immediately
too big or small for your head
no longer your color or style
no longer serving their purpose when on your head

cute_hat_organizing — Surprise, it’s me! In my favorite hat custom made by Elwin Crawford of O’Lover Hats in Oakland. I store it in a beautiful hat box that came with it.

Declutter Gloves

that are tattered, stretched, and no longer comfortably serving their purpose
too tight or large – give them to someone in need whom they will fit

gloves_declutter_decluttering_organize — Keep gloves together and within reach

Declutter Scarves

no longer your color or style
with rips and tears you cannot repair or hide
that no longer serve their purpose of keeping you warm or looking good

More Ideas

jewelry_declutter_organizing_bella — Creative jewelry display made from an old picture frame, mesh cloth, ribbon

jewelry_dislay_organizer_declutter_decluttering_bella_organizing — Display jewelry on a hanging tree

Tags declutter, decluttering, display scarves, home organizing, jewelry organizing, marie kondo, martha stewart, organizing idea, twelve days of decluttering

Professional-Organizer

Declutter Shoes

Post author By Bella Organizing
Post date December 15, 2016

Clear the old out and make room to breathe.

As with clothing, when I acquire shoes, I have a rule to let go of as many pairs as I bring in to make room for the new. It’s tough! But reality is, many of us only wear a few favorite pairs and let the others sit to gather dust.

Let ’em go when…

They are worn to the breaking point, the sole or heal is warped, torn, or coming off and you’re not willing to drop them off at a shoe repair shop this week to fix.
They have not bedazzled your feet for a year or two. Like clothes, if shoes are not worn over the last winter, spring, summer, nor fall, they probably never will be. Do you own a pair of special occasion shoes? Have you worn them lately? Are they covered with dust so thick you can no longer tell the color? Are they still in style?
They are no longer your color, size, style, or worth the pain. No longer your color? Are they a style from an era long past that you shouldn’t be revisiting? Has the size of your foot changed? Do they hurt your feet? There’s no such thing as a “break in period” with shoes, in my opinion. If they hurt on day one, they don’t belong on your body. Your feet are precious, and bad-fitting shoes can do serious damage.
They are ugly or dirty beyond cleaning. We are known to buy things we don’t truly like because it’s on sale, or keep something that was a gift and feel bad at the thought of getting rid of it. “What if Aunt Wanda comes over and doesn’t see me wearing them?” Aunt Wanda probably gave you the shoes she bought on sale for herself and realized she didn’t like them when she got home. “They just need to be shined and they will look great!” If so, now is the time to take out the polish and get the job done, or drop them off at the shoe repair shop this week for a professional cleaning.

When it’s time to let go…

Step One – Declutter

Take a “Before” photo of your shoe space.
Prepare the floor or a large nearby surface to place shoes onto. Use an old sheet or blanket you’re willing to get dirty if using the bed.
Have on hand plenty of bags for donations or consignments.
Grab a pen and pad of paper for notes or use the notepad on your cell phone (“Take shoes for cleaning and repairing.”)
Prep a bottle of all-purpose cleaner, a rag, broom, or vacuum cleaner.
Grab a shoe brush and the shoe polishing kit. Don’t have one? A clean, soft rag will do.
Go through each pair of shoes, and put what you no longer want in the “Donation” or “Consignment” bags. Set aside each pair you keep.

Step Two – Clean

Dust, sweep, mop, or vacuum the area where you will put the shoes back. So many dust bunnies! Dust is made up of dead skin cells, pet dander, dirt you’ve trekked in on your shoes, pollen, and other things from outside. This is a reason why so many people have “no shoes” rules in their homes.
Dust each pair of shoes thoroughly with a shoe brush or clean rag. Do this outside or out an open window. You can also gently vacuum dust from inside each shoe with an attachment hose.
If you have time, polish the shoes that need it most before putting them back. Or set those aside to be professionally cleaned, polished, or to repair.

Step Three – Organize

If going back onto a shelf, rack, or the floor, display shoes front forward as you find them in a department store.
If you need to maximize space, place one shoe forward and the other in the opposite direction, heel showing. This magically creates space both on shelves and in hanging shoe nooks. Try it!
Still not enough room? Place sandals and flats upright in a basket to store on a shelf or the floor.
Use an under-bed shoe organizer that zips closed and is easy to quickly slide out to grab what you need.
Roll up old magazines and place inside tall boots to help keep their shape.
Take an “After” photo of your fresh and organized shoe space.

Considering selling or consigning unwanted shoes? Read about my favorite places to do that!

Tags clean house, clean shoes, declutter, declutter shoes, downsize, fold clothes, get organized, home organizing, marie kondo, martha stewart, minimalize, organizing tips, professional organizer, shoe organizing, wardrobe organizing