That's Neat! Blog

While making a quick trip to Staples yesterday to pick up a few supplies for clients, I was pleasantly surprised to find a fun line of organizing products from Martha Stewart. There were journals, labels, binders, desktop accessories and file folders.

My favorites:

• I liked the desk top organizers and accessories. I ended up picking up a few open boxes to bring some organization to my desk drawer – all other desk organizers were too tall to fit my drawer, but not these!
• I love labels and there were all kinds for the kitchen, including larger white board and chalk board labels! I chose a small package of round removable labels. They were made for spice containers, but apparently are dishwasher and freezer safe…so I may use them for my daughter’s containers and water bottles for school.
• Some vertical file folders also caught my eye. Made to go into a magazine file, the folders had tabs at the top. I have a few clients that like to file in a magazine file and these might help bring a bit more order to their papers.

No compensation was received for this post.

I’m often asked, “so where do you get your containers? Is there a secret store that only Professional Organizers know about?” No, we don’t have an inside deal on containers, and I buy them at the same places you do…Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, and The Container Store.

But when it comes to clear shoe boxes and sweater boxes, I recommend the ones from The Container Store. Why you ask?

1. Clarity: Using a clear container for many things is a given. But The Container Store boxes are much clearer than other brands…and clearer than ones I had from years ago. I noticed this recently as I replaced my older large storage boxes with The Container Store sweater boxes. Using smaller boxes on my high closet shelf now makes it easier for me to bring down just the bin of sweaters I need…instead of pulling down the huge under-the-bed box I had been using.

2. Stackable: The Container Store clear boxes stack easily and kind of snap into place.

3. Sturdy: I like how the box lids snap on tightly, and the plastic is strong and durable.

4. Versatile: While The Container Store boxes are perfect for sweaters, boots and shoes as their names imply…I have also used them at clients homes to organize:

• office supplies
• craft supplies
• kids artwork
• pantry items
• basement shelves
• even food in the freezer!

Of course I received no compensation for this post…I just have come to love this product.

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to mean huge projects. I find that getting a few small—but often used—spaces into shape can have a big impact.

This week was my second quick Spring organizing project: the medicine cabinet. Here’s my process:

• First, I took everything out of the cabinet.
• Then I sorted the items into categories: first aid, basic skin care, eye care, and pain relievers.
• I purged a few items that had expired, and made a quick note of items we needed. (I keep a pad of sticky notes inside the cabinet – this makes it easy to jot down items as they run out.)
• Since the shelves were clear I took the opportunity to clean each one.
• Finally, I replaced the items keeping the categories together.

I was having trouble keeping small items together in the cabinet, so I tried a new product: a medicine cabinet shelf organizer. Usually I like to re-purpose items but in this case the container was made to fit on the narrow shelves. It worked perfectly and corralled all my skin care and nail care products…I might even get another one!

Follow these steps and in just 20 minutes your medicine cabinet can be clean and organized.

For another idea, check out my cousin Janna’s recent post that included how she organized her master bathroom cabinet.

Ah, the piles of masterpieces that your child creates! Now give them a proper display with new posters from Juxio.

Simply take photos of your child’s creations and upload them to Juxio. Then arrange in a template, and print or share. What could be easier!

Thanks to Gabby from Claiming Space for finding this new resource.

Just in time for the shopping season: organize those store club cards! It seems like every store gives out a preferred customer card. What to do with them all?

First, pare down the cards. Which ones do you really use when you shop? Keep only the ones you use the most, and lose the rest.

Now you need to find the cards easily. For some people, this means keeping them on their keys. That didn’t work for me, but I found a great product that does: the card wheel by Real Simple.

I’ve been using this little case for months now and it works; it keeps all the cards together and I only have to find the case in my bag. And the best part: the cards can be scanned right through the plastic sleeves so I don’t even have to take them out. The card wheel makes the cards easy to find and easy to use. Try it out, or share your way of clearing the card clutter in our comments.