That's Neat! Blog

When sorting papers or dealing with mail, my clients often put aside requests from non-profit organizations, arts groups, and schools to make an “end of the year gift.”  The folder or pile grows and grows.

Well, the end of the year is around the corner!  Now is the time to pull out that folder or get to that pile of requests, and make your decisions.

Here’s what to do:

• Find your folder or stack of donation requests.
• Grab your checkbook, or your laptop if you pay online.
• Sort requests by organization/group, and throw out multiple requests from the same place.
• If you write checks, keep a list with the organization’s name and the amount you gave this year.  Use this list to be sure you get all the acknowledgement letters.
• If you pay online, you should receive an email confirmation. Set up a file in your email program and file all the confirmation emails here.

With a few simple steps you’ll make your donations and be ready for tax time.

When my family set out on our drive to see relatives for Thanksgiving, we actually left on time! Exactly on time, not 10 or 30 or 60 minutes late, which is usually what happens. We sailed along traffic-free and had a great drive to grandma’s house.

What happened so that we got out of the door at the appointed hour?

• Got out our bags a few days before the trip.
• Made a list of random things we had to bring – a wedding gift, a stack of books to return to my mom.
• Packed as much as possible the night before; generally I say I will do this but don’t really pack everything – this time I did it!
• Used bags to organize: I created a “car” bag for all the random last minute things that need to go in – GPS, camera, snacks, baseball hat.
• Set up the cereal, bowls and glasses on the counter the night before; this made breakfast easier in the morning.
• Let everyone in the family know my expectations: when we planned to leave, that we’ll need your help packing the car, etc.

What are your secrets for starting a car trip on time?

Do you have friends or family coming to visit this summer? Here are some tips to help get you organized.

Put the visits on your calendar, so you know who is coming when! I love to use Google calendar that is shared with my husband.

Create a quick “cheat sheet” for your home with key information for guests: how to get on the wireless network, how to work the TV, and any quirks about how to lock the house or where you keep the extra keys.

If you are short on space or don’t have a dedicated guest room, you can still create an inviting space for guests:

• Have your inflatable mattress or bed ready to go, or sleeping bags for kids.
• Be sure to have some extra linens and towels on hand, and have them out and ready, so your guests don’t have to go searching through your linen closet to find what they need.
• Create a guest supply station in a cabinet or closet shelf. (For more tips on creating this station, see the tips for June in my 12 Months of Organizing Calendar…on sale for 50% off!)

My daughter just made her First Communion and looked so beautiful in her new dress. But the dress has been hanging in my bedroom for weeks now and I want to preserve it correctly. So I turned to my friend, archivist and professional organizer, Gabby Burgman of Claiming Space.

Her guest post is the final installment of our Preserving Treasures series on the That’s Neat! Blog. Read the first posts, Preserving Paper and Preserving Photos.

It’s the time of year for momentous events: First Holy Communion, prom, weddings. You could say it is also your dry cleaner's favorite time of the year as hundreds of dresses pass through their shops.

But before you follow the old advice of having your special garment sealed in a box for posterity, there are a few things to know in order for your dress (or suit) to last a few decades. I'll go through the don'ts first so that you avoid making mistakes that will actually shorten the lifespan of your garment.

Do Not:

1. 1. Leave your garment in a plastic bag unclean for months or years.
2. 2. Have your dress/suit vacuum sealed in a box after it has been dry cleaned.
3. 3. Store your garment in a cedar chest or closet or pack it in moth balls.

What? Aren't these the tried and true ways of preserving garments? Yes, these are tried methods but they have been found to be not true.

Garments stored in vacuum sealed boxes after dry cleaning have been found, once opened, to have yellowed, permanently creased, and become brittle. Why? The off gassing of the dry cleaning chemicals, the lack of oxygen, and the stationary storage of the garment all lead to deterioration of the garment. Garments stored in cedar chests/closets or moth balls end up breaking down due to the acids in the cedar and the off gassing from the moth balls.

The main culprits that shorten the lifespan of your garments are:

• Light
• Temperature/Humidity
• Dust/dirt
• Acidic environment
• Lack of oxygen

The best way to think about how you want to store your garments is to think about the environment most of us like: not direct sunlight, ambient temperatures that do not fluctuate, low humidity, and a clean environment, with plenty of oxygen. This is what your garments need to survive long term storage.

What you should do:

1. 1. Have your garment dry cleaned. Try to get it cleaned within a few weeks of wearing it, especially if there is a stain or a drink (even clear liquids) spilled/dried on it.
2. 2. As soon as you bring the garment home, remove it from the plastic bag and the wire hanger.
3. 3. Decide how you want to store it: Hanging up or folded in a box

To hang:

• Make sure you hang the garment on a padded hanger; unbleached muslin is preferred so dye is not transferred.
• Use the twill tape loops that were included as part of the garment to hang it on the hanger. These loops help distribute the weight of the garment and alleviate the strain on the shoulder seam stitches.
• Store the garment in a cotton bag like this one from The Container Store.
• Put this bag in a bedroom closet that is kept in a room that is kept at an even temperature.

To box up:

• Purchase an Acid-free, buffered* card board box along with acid free tissue paper. You can usually buy kits that sell these items together. *Note that if you are storing wools, silks, leather, fur, & feathers, you need to purchase an un-buffered box.
• Working on a flat surface with no jewelry and clean hands, lay out your garment. For each fold you want to make in the garment, create a roll of tissue paper to act as a cushion to put in-between each fold. This is going to help prevent hard creases in your garment and reduce the strain on the fabric.
• Once you have finished folding the garment to the box size, put it in the box but do not tape it shut. Put the box in a bedroom closet that is kept at an even temperature.
• If you have the desire to store your hanging or boxed garment in a basement or attic, STOP! If this is a sentimental garment that has value, you should be willing to store it in the appropriate space. You don't tend to store valuable jewelry in the basement or attic and you shouldn't store your sentimentally valuable garments there either.

1. 4. Schedule a date with your garment 6 months from now. If you hung the garment, take it out and make sure that it is doing okay. Check for mold, moth holes, or stains. Make sure the shoulder seams are holding up and are not molded to the hanger. If you have to, replace the padded hanger.
2. Once everything checks out, put the garment back in the closet and make another date for 6 months from now. The same routine will happen for your boxed garments except that you will need to refold the garment in a different direction so as to reduce the wear and tear the original folds experienced in the first 6 months of storage.

Follow the directions above and you will have a garment to proudly show off and lend to children and grandchildren.

With Teacher Appreciation Week, graduations, weddings, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day…you may have a long gift list this time of year.

Forget the mugs, ties, and crystal bowls. Give a gift that shows you care AND that doesn’t clutter the kitchen or end up in the attic.

Here are my favorite choices:

Consumables: I’ve written before about the benefits of consumable gifts. This is especially a good idea for teachers, moms and dads. (Of course, always check to be sure the recipient has any food allergies.) Even a wedding gift can include consumables if the couple loves to cook. Check out the Wedding Crate from Penzy’s Spices or the vinegars and oils from Williams Sonoma.

Experiences: Ideas here include theater tickets, movie tickets, day at the spa, hot air balloon ride, cooking class, car detailing (my personal favorite for Mother’s Day), museum pass, or even a walk/hike together.

Hand-made Artwork or other Craft: For teachers, parents or grandparents, a drawing or card from a child can be a keepsake. For wedding gifts, I’ve had friends who painted me a one-of-a-kind picture and made a quilt. These gifts are not only useful but meaningful.

What are you favorite non-clutter gift ideas?