Donna Smallin Kuper's Blog: The One-Minute Organizer Blog, page 10

Emergency Preparedness Plan from a Non-survivalist

September is National Preparedness Month, did you know? What if you had to make an emergency exit from your home? Are you prepared? Guest blogger, Jeanne Leffingwell, shares her emergency preparedness plan for various scenarios. Enjoy. 

photo credit: Space Escape Grunge Sign via photopin (license)

I’ve had some dark thoughts lately. It’s related to feeling overwhelmed again, with too much stuff and too many obligations. That’s what prompted me to think up this little exercise – a slight variation of my occasional rumination, “Okay, if I was gonna die tomorrow, is this really what I’d be doing?”

I decided to make a list called “What I would grab if I had to get out of this house right now?”

The first scenario: “FIRE!” Only a few seconds? That’s easy: my husband, any other humans, the dog, and a leash so she won’t freak and run away completely. Five extra seconds? Then shoes and jacket.

In my second scenario, a nuclear cloud is approaching and I have 15 minutes to load a backpack and evacuate. So I’d grab all of the above plus: an extra pair of socks, my eyeglasses, toothbrush, a big bag of nuts and our dried plums, a pencil, notebook, Swiss Army knife, matches, lip gloss, sunscreen, bandana (I could write a book on 1001 uses for a bandana), as large a water bottle as I could stuff in, and please let there be room for my thermal cup and a baggie of tea. Oh, yes, plus extra Ziplock® bags and Duct® tape! My bike would be better than the car, which would just run out of gas. I’d make up the speed difference while weaving in and out of jammed traffic. (Glad the dog’s on a leash.)

Let’s call my third scenario “One hour to pack the car and run for our lives to an isolated and as-yet-unknown destination.”

In addition to the previous items, I’d take the car keys plus the little tin of seed packets (spinach, chard, even zucchini), needles and thread (pretty hard to fix shelter or clothes without these), my knitting (calms the nerves… plus extra socks), our Pendleton blanket, some wire, rope, and a couple spoons and forks from the silver my mother gave me. (Why not? I hate plastic.) I think I’d throw in my Zulu necklace with all its glass beads. In case there’ll be other refugees, I could barter them (remember Sacajawea?) and teach lost skills.

After listing these practical things, I walked around the house noting other things I’d grab if I had any time left. I was surprised. They were purely sentimental: a wedding snapshot, an early family photo and one with our 20-something kids laughing with each other. A small drawing of pencils by our daughter and a sculpture our son made. A Palouse watercolor by a friend and a Mexican embroidery I’ve framed (maybe ditch the frame.) I’d grab one of my husband’s guitars if it were not already in the car – he can pack for any occasion in under 9 minutes.

If there was any room left around the dog’s nest in the back seat: a couple more blankets and towels and changes of clothes, deck of cards, some candles, a plate, cup, cooking pan, spare tube of lip gloss and my favorite useful book of all time, A Pattern Language. I’d yell at my husband to grab some aspirin and tweezers. We could stash water jugs and more food into any remaining nooks and finally, hopefully, load both bikes on the carrier. Knowing this exercise might seem tactless to anyone who’s currently living out of a car, I apologize in advance for any offensiveness, but perhaps you have additional advice?

I’ve thought about this list several times, and think I’ll tack a copy up inside the front closet for emergency preparedness. Plus a convenient and friendly reminder: When the proverbial crap hits the fan, it’s really only the first scenario that matters, minus the shoes and coat even.

Jeanne Leffingwell is an artist with enough art supplies to last three lifetimes, but she’s working on paring down. She writes a regular column for her local newspaper, the Moscow Pullman Daily News,  called “Lightening Up: Downsizing without moving or dying,” a humorous blow-by-blow from the trenches. Learn more about Jeanne and her work at www.jeanneleffingwell.com. 

 

 

The post Emergency Preparedness Plan from a Non-survivalist appeared first on Declutter Your Life with Donna Smallin Kuper.

Organizing Tips Newsletter – August/September 2016

ORGANIZING PLAIN & SIMPLE MONTHLY

Tips & Inspiration for Organizing a Simpler Life

August/September 2016 – Vol. 15 No. 7

The only way to get started is to quit talking and start doing. ~Walt Disney

To keep or toss?

photo credit: Shurgard via photopin (license)

I was asked recently for “practical, actionable tips to help people separate the keepsakes/must-haves from the clutter” for this Consumer Reports article. The article is about the high cost of renting storage space.

When we sold our home and moved into our motor home, we chose not to store anything. If we didn’t love it or need it – and have room for it – we let it go. Last winter, we met up with another full-time RVing couple who decided, after eight years of paying to store their stuff, that they didn’t want or need any of it. (I gave them a copy of my book How to Declutter and Make Money Now with tips on how to turn their clutter into cash.)

Anyway, whether you pay for storage or not, there are some questions you can ask yourself to help you decide what to keep and what to toss.

My favorite question is: Would I buy this today? Think about clothing you haven’t worn for ages because it doesn’t fit. Would you buy clothing today that is three sizes too small? No. Would you buy a bread maker even though you now know that you’ll probably never use it? No.

What’s the worst possible thing that could happen if you let these things go? Well, you might lose weight and be able to fit back into those clothes. I actually did that a couple of years ago and there are a few things I wish I had saved. But the rest? I prefer my new skinny clothes. Even if you live on a limited income, think about this…

Could you get another pretty easily and inexpensively IF you need it? My rule is that if I can replace an item for under $20 and in 20 minutes or less, I let it go. Keep in mind that you may be able to purchase a used item for significantly less than the cost of new. Or simply borrow it from a friend or neighbor and give it back when you’re done with it.

If you have to think more than a few seconds about whether or not to keep something, what does that tell you? It’s probably not that important to you. By letting it go, you’ll create more space in your home for the things you love and use. And isn’t that what you want? Less clutter, more space?

To keep clutter from accumulating, apply the one in/one out rule: When you bring a new item in the front door, send at least one thing packing out the back door. Give it away, donate or sell it. Donating is the quickest, easiest way to get things out of your home. I recommend keeping a donation bag or box in your closet and another one in a central location for household items. When the bag or box gets full, drop it off at your favorite charity. Don’t forget to get a receipt so you can take a tax deduction for your non-cash donations if qualified.

Question your purchases. Do you have something at home that will work just as well? Do you have a place to put this new item? Are you buying to satisfy a want or need? There’s nothing wrong with buying something you want. But knowing that it’s a want might make you think twice about it.

If the reason your home is filled with excess stuff is because you’re a shopaholic, try buying only necessities for 30 days to break the habit of spending. Go shopping with a list and stick to it. If your purchases have created debt, make the commitment to pay cash for everything you buy.

Remember that the most important things in life are not things. Instead of spending money today on stuff that becomes tomorrow’s clutter, spend time with the people you love, doing things you love doing.

5 ways to prevent laundry pile-up

I “borrowed” the quote at right from a post I saw on Facebook. It made me chuckle. And it got me thinking about ways to keep laundry from piling up. Here’s what I came up with…

Re-wear clothing. Obviously, socks and underwear should be washed after every wearing. The same goes for sweaty clothing as well that shirt that you spilled spaghetti sauce on. But if you throw everything you wear into the dirty clothes hamper after wearing it just once, you’re making more work for yourself. You’re also wearing out your clothes with too frequent washings. Re-wearing even once will double the life of your garments.
Sort as you go. Rather than tossing all of your dirty laundry into one big pile, separate it into wash types. I used to sort into whites, darks and lights. Now I sort into white/lights, darks, and exercise clothing (which does not get fabric softener) because I wash everything in cold water. I’m using Tide PurClean* HE detergent which is the first USDA-certified bio-based laundry detergent. It’s designed to wash as well in cold water as hot and I love the honey lavender scent. I also love the fact that it’s more effective than many so-called “natural” detergents that are mostly water.
Do laundry more often. One of my “clean smarter, not harder” strategies is to clean more often. It’s far easier to keep up than it is to catch up. When I see one basket of sorted dirty laundry starting to get full, I know that it’s time to start a load of wash. By the way, this is the laundry basket I use . The hands-free shoulder strap makes it easy to carry even when it’s full, which makes it a great choice for carrying laundry up and down stairs or to the Laundromat.
Time it right. Often the reason for laundry piling up – whether it’s dirty laundry or clean laundry that needs to be folded – is that by the time it’s done, you don’t have the time or energy to deal with it. So think about what’s the best time for you to start a wash so that when it’s done, you can transfer it to the dryer. And when’s the best time for a load of clothes to come out of the dryer? Plan accordingly. If you have a tendency to forget that you started a wash, set a kitchen timer or reminder on your phone for when it should be done.
Stop folding. I mentioned that folding can cause laundry pile-up. So why not take folding out of the process? I don’t fold underwear or exercise clothing. I also don’t fold sheets and pillowcases – I just put them back on the bed. I hang most of my clothes so I keep hangers at the ready and hang clothes as I take them out of the dryer. That leaves just a few things that need to be folded – and less to iron! In fact, I don’t own an iron. I do all my ironing in the dryer!

What are your best methods for preventing laundry pile-up? Please share in the comments section at the end of this post!

*I am a fabric care ambassador for Tide so of course I’m going to recommend this brand. But for the record, I grew up with Tide and would use and recommend it even if I was not a fabric care ambassador for the brand.

Favorite products and resources

As a professional organizer and certified House Cleaning Technician, I’ve used and recommended a lot of products, services and resources over the years. Every month in this column, I share new and old favorites.

Last month, I told you about one of my favorite places to sell used books and make some extra cash. SellBackBooks is one of the options I recommend in my book How to Declutter and Make Money Now. What I love about SellBackBooks (and the reason why I recommend this company) is because in addition to paying some of the highest prices for books, they make it easy to get an instant quote. Just download their app for Android or iPhone and you can scan the barcode of each book instead of manually entering those long ISBN codes. What have you got to lose? Give it a whirl, free up some shelf space, and pocket some extra cash. They even pay for shipping and offer direct deposit! Click here to get started.

This month’s product recommendation is my favorite computer back-up system, Carbonite. I had the bad luck of having my first-ever hard drive crash a few weeks ago. And I am embarrassed to say that I hadn’t backed up my files in over a year. Wait…what? Yes. I have a hard drive that I bought for the purpose of backing up. But I kept putting it off, which is what I love about Carbonite…it automatically backs up your data as you create it so you never have to remember. So why wasn’t I using it? As a full-time traveler, I no longer have unlimited high-speed Internet connectivity. But you probably do and for $60 a year, Carbonite will back up all of your photos and other files. So if your computer crashes, you can retrieve all of your data. Don’t do as I do. Do as I say and go check it out.

Shameless promotion: Up, up, and away!

I am writing to you today from Colorado Springs where the top of Pikes Peak is covered with snow. We’ve been on the move all summer long – Oregon in June, Washington in July, and then Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado in August. That’s why you haven’t heard from me in a while. Well, that and the fact that my laptop crashed. But I have some interesting posts lined up for this month and next and for the rest of the year.

Meanwhile, if you’d like to follow our travels, you might want to subscribe to email updates at FlyingTheKoop.com. The reason we are currently in Colorado Springs is because we volunteered to crew for a hot air balloon team that we crewed for at last year’s Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. They told us then that they would be in Colorado Springs for the Labor Day Lift Off and we told them we would come and help. We had a great weekend. And guess who got to go up in the balloon today? That’s me in the orange shirt with my back to the camera. (You can click on the photo to enlarge it.)

Imagine my disappointment when I discovered that the camera app on my phone was not working. I thought maybe the memory was full so I deleted two apps and about 20 photos. Still no luck. So I decided to “let it go” and put my phone away and enjoyed the ride.

That’s all for this month. Until next month, keep it simple.

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FULL DISCLOSURE: Some links in this organizing tips newsletter may be affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, I will earn a small commission. These earnings go toward the continuation of this complimentary newsletter which is free to you, but does cost to distribute. Please know that I only recommend products that I would recommend whether I got paid or not.

The post Organizing Tips Newsletter – August/September 2016 appeared first on Declutter Your Life with Donna Smallin Kuper.

Organizing Tips Newsletter – July 2016

ORGANIZING PLAIN & SIMPLE MONTHLY

Tips & Inspiration for Organizing a Simpler Life

July 2016 – Vol. 15 No. 6

The things you own end up owning you. ~ Chuck Palaniuk (Fight Club)

How (and why) to properly dispose of medicine

photo credit: [mb] Medicine Cabinet via photopin (license)

Whenever I’m asked about how to declutter, inevitably I’m asked, “Where’s the best place to start?” I often recommend starting with a small project like cleaning out your medicine cabinet.

If you’re like most people, you hang on to unused and expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines because you don’t know how to safely and responsibly dispose of medicine and unwanted drugs.

The ideal way to dispose of medicine is to look for an authorized collection center which might be your local pharmacy or a hospital or clinic pharmacy. Local law enforcement agencies may also offer a take-back program.

Additionally, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration sponsors the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Make a note on your calendar that this annual take-back event falls on October 22 this year. Keep your eyes and ears open for news of this program in your area.

No take-back program in your area? You can safely dispose of medicine in your household trash. Pour liquids into a sealable plastic bag and mix with dirt, kitty litter, or coffee grounds. Do the same with medicines in pill or capsule form, adding water to dissolve. Then dump the sealed bag in your household trash.

NOTE: Be sure to keep your personal information safe. Before recycling the bottle, remove the label or scratch off your name, doctor’s name and Rx number.

When you properly dispose of medicine, you help prevent accidental poisoning of children and pets. It also limits the chance of you taking the wrong medication or one that is ineffective. And it keeps drugs from leaching into our rivers, streams, and other sources of drinking water.

DO NOT flush medications unless directed to do on the label or instructions which may be the case for chemo drugs and fentanyl pain patches. Click here for a list of medicines recommended for disposal by flushing.

Ironically, the main reason why drug residues are being found in our water systems is not because people are flushing them, but because they are being excreted by our own bodies! Raanan Bloom, Ph.D., an environmental assessment expert at the Food & Drug Administration, says, “Many drugs are not completely absorbed or metabolized by the body and can enter the environment after passing through wastewater treatment plants.”

Scary, isn’t it?

One final caution about medicines: According to Safe Kids Worldwide, in 2012, more than 64,000 kids were treated in an emergency room for medicine poisoning. That’s one child every eight minutes. In three out of four of these cases, the medicine belonged to a parent or grandparent.

Keep all medicine up and away when young children are around – even medicine you take every day.
Be alert to medicines stored in other locations, like pills in purses, vitamins on counters, and medicines in or on nightstands. 
Store children’s medicine in an out-of-reach place, including between doses.
Choose child-resistant caps for medicine bottles, if you’re able to. If pill boxes or non-child resistant caps are the only option, it’s even more important to store these containers high and out of sight when caring for kids.

What I learned over my summer vacation…

While in Portland last month, I attended a two-day carpet cleaning technician’s class that you would agree was very interesting if you’re a cleaning geek like me.

Did you know…?

Leading carpet manufacturers like Shaw and Mohawk will invalidate your carpet warranty if you do not have your carpets cleaned regularly by an approved carpet cleaner.
Wool carpets can hold up to one pound of soil per square foot.
Decaf coffee stains are harder to remove then caffeinated coffee stains because decaf coffee has dye added to it during processing
Pouring salt or cat litter on a red wine spill may effectively absorb the wine and make the stain disappear (or you can try removing with white wine or vodka but only if that is the FIRST stain removal method you attempt).
There’s a Seal of Approval program for vacuums and stain removing products that you should check out before you buy.

Favorite products and resources

As a professional organizer and certified House Cleaning Technician, I’ve used and recommended a lot of products, services and resources over the years. Every month in this column, I share new and old favorites.

Last month, I told you about the really well-designed kitchen organizers I discovered at the National Hardware Show last month. YouCopia makes an innovative line of products designed to maximize space in even the tiniest of kitchens.

YouCopia’s Classic Spice Stack lets you store up to 24 full size bottles (or 48 half-size bottles) in a set of three drawers. Hello, easy spice organizing!  I also love YouCopia’s Store More Shelf Riser. What makes this shelf riser different from any other I’ve seen is that the legs are adjustable. So you can customize it to your needs. Keep your eye out for this shelf riser…it will be coming soon to a store near you.

Check out the full line of YouCopia kitchen organizers here, including adjustable pot lid organizers, coffee pod organizers, food wrap organizers and more.

This month, I want to give you a good reason to pare down your overflowing book collection – extra cash! SellBackYourBook is one of the options I recommend in my book How to Declutter and Make Money Now.

From what I understand, now is one of the best times to sell books because they need books for the upcoming fall semester. My contact at SellBackYourBook says they are paying “ridiculous prices” for some books because they don’t have enough for the back-to-school rush. They also say they buy more old editions than anyone else. If you happen to have a graphing calculator, they buy those too!

What I love about SellBackYourBook (and the reason why I recommend this company) is because in addition to paying some of the highest prices for books, they make it easy to get an instant quote. Just download their app for Android or iPhone and you can scan the barcode of each book instead of manually entering those long ISBN codes. What have you got to lose? Give it a whirl, free up some shelf space, and pocket some extra cash. They even pay for shipping and offer direct deposit! Click here to get started.

Shameless promotion: I did it!

On my birthday this year, I made a wish and pledged to raise $250 and ride 250 miles in the Great Cycle Challenge to help fight kid’s cancer. Getting the miles in proved challenging but I managed to squeak out my last 12 miles on June 30. And I’m proud to announce that I raised more than $900 for the cause.

Also in June, I was asked to write these guest blog posts you might enjoy reading:

Tips for Living Large in a Smaller Home
Organized Travel with Electronic Devices
Organize Your Home with Re-purposed Junk

And I was interviewed for this terrific Reader’s Digest article on signs that your house is stressing you out and for this post about household chores you should stop doing that was published on Trulia’s blog.

We spent the month of June in Oregon and will be in the beautiful state of Washington for all of July. We’re currently parked on the banks of the Columbia River near Quincy, Washington. But come August 1, we’ll be on the move again.

Maybe we can meet up somewhere along the way! I’ve been known to give tours of our home on wheels and chat about what it’s like to downsize from 3,500 square feet to 350 square feet. I’m also open to doing a brown bag lunch talk at your workplace or perhaps speak to a local group or organization.

We’re still undecided about our exact route but in August, we plan to make our way across southern Idaho (possibly coming through Idaho Falls) to the Grand Tetons in Montana. Then we’ll continue east through southern Montana into Wyoming and down the eastern side of Colorado. We know for sure that we will be in Colorado Springs over Labor Day weekend.

From Colorado Springs, we’ll continue south into northern New Mexico with a stop in Santa Fe for sure and then to Albuquerque where we will crew for our favorite hot air balloon team at the annual fiesta there. Once that event is over, we’ll hightail it to San Diego where we will spend the rest of the year.

I realize that’s all pretty vague – such is the life of a full-time traveler – but if you think we might be passing through your town (or you can tell us why we should!), please comment below.

That’s all for this month. Until next month, keep it simple.

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FULL DISCLOSURE: Some links in this organizing tips newsletter may be affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, I will earn a small commission. These earnings go toward the continuation of this complimentary newsletter which is free to you, but does cost to distribute. Please know that I only recommend products that I would recommend whether I got paid or not.

The post Organizing Tips Newsletter – July 2016 appeared first on Declutter Your Life with Donna Smallin Kuper.

Organizing Tips Newsletter – June 2016

ORGANIZING PLAIN & SIMPLE MONTHLY

Tips & Inspiration for Organizing a Simpler Life

June 2016 – Vol. 15 No. 5

The more you have, the more you are occupied…But the less you have the more free you are. ~Mother Teresa

A different kind of to-do list

CalendarAs an organizing expert, I’m big on making all kinds of list from lists of things to do to grocery lists and packing lists. , and lists of things to do. But today I want to write about a different kind of list – a bucket list. You know what that is, right? It’s a list of things you want to experience or achieve before you die.

Since hitting the road as full-time travelers in our motor home, many people have told us that we are living their dream. I got to thinking about how some people say they would love to do this or that thing someday but for one reason or another never do. I have to confess that I’m one of them! I’ve been saying for years that I want to write a novel (historical fiction) that becomes a major motion picture. But time keeps on ticking and I am no closer to making that dream a reality.

That said, I have checked many things off my bucket list. And I’m making progress toward others. What I want to share today are my top three strategies for improving the chances that you will do what you say you want to do while you still can!

Write it down. That’s step one. Numerous studies have proven that writing your goals increases the odds of achieving them. So whenever I think of something I want to do or achieve before I die, I add it to my list which I keep in an electronic file. Some say that writing your list with pen on paper is even more powerful. Whichever you choose to do, keep your bucket list where you’ll see it often and consider it a friendly reminder that life is short.

Commit to one thing. Pick one thing from your bucket list – maybe the easiest or the least expensive. Give yourself a time frame for completion. Put it on your calendar. Tell people what you are going to do. And then take a step, even if it’s just a baby step, in the direction of your goal. Let’s use that novel of mine as an example. November is National Novel Writing Month. If I chose to put this goal first, I could commit to writing 50,000 words in the annual NaNoMoWr challenge. (I included the link in the event that “write a novel” is on your bucket list, too!)

Check your spending. I don’t know about you, but some things I would love to do someday are pricey like taking a cruise to Alaska. So I have consciously chosen to spend less and save more. I think twice about everything I buy. I ask myself, “Do I really need this? Or do I already have something that will do?” When it makes sense, I buy clothing and other things secondhand. And when I’m ready to part with things I no longer love or use, I sell them on Craigslist or with the OfferUp app. (You’ll find some more ideas on how to turn clutter into cash fast in my book How to De-clutter and Make Money Now along with instructions for how to re-sell the book when you’re finished with it!)

Now it’s your turn to share. What’s on your bucket list?

Your “cleaner, happier home” reading list

If you missed the last newsletter, you missed my winning decluttering strategy. Here it is: Organizing Tips Newsletter – April-May 2016.

And if you need extra motivation to declutter and clean house, here are three guest blog posts I wrote to help you out:

Inhabitant.com – 7 Ways to Clean House Like It’s Earth Month Every Month

QuickandDirtyTips.com – 3 Ways to Get Rid of Your Junk

1800GotJunk Blog – 9 Habits of Organized People That Will Simplify Your Life

And this article is a must-read for parents (and grandparents) – Home Alone: 6 Free Safety Apps Help Kids in Case of Emergency 

Finally, if you haven’t already, I recommend reading my latest book. Clear the Clutter, Find Happiness is jam-packed with quick tips for a cleaner, happier home. One Amazon reviewer called it a “pocket sized wonder” that delivers “pocket sized happiness” and went on to say: “Each page takes a few moments to read, and the actions suggested are equally as easy. It’s a great way to find your inspiration and make the changes you’ve been putting off.”

Favorite products and resources  

As a professional organizer and certified House Cleaning Technician, I’ve used and recommended a lot of products, services and resources over the years. Every month in this column, I share new and old favorites.

Last month, I told you about a way to declutter your coffee table.  offers unlimited access to your favorite magazines – and all their back issues. Once you install the Texture app, you can on your phone, tablet or computer – anytime, anywhere. It’s a great way to get rid of magazine clutter and yet, always have reading material handy.

If you and your family members currently pay for more than a few subscriptions, you’ll actually save money every month because with one account, everyone in your family can access their favorite magazines (on up to 5 devices). There’s a so you can see what you think and decide if it’s right for you. If not, just cancel your subscription.

You may recall that I attended the National Hardware Show last month. As I was walking the aisles of the housewares section, I spotted some kitchen organizers and stopped to take a closer look. I could see right away that these are not your same old, same old kitchen organizers. Let me introduce you to YouCopia. This company makes an innovative line of products designed to maximize space in even the tiniest of kitchens.

YouCopia’s Classic Spice Stack lets you store up to 24 full size bottles (or 48 half-size bottles) in a set of three drawers. Simply pull out a drawer and it drops down for easy viewing of your spices. It includes 96 removable drawer labels to make it easy-peasy to organize your spices. (You know how much I love labeling!)

One of the things I often see is wasted space in upper cabinets. The solution? YouCopia’s Store More Shelf Riser. What makes this shelf riser different from any other I’ve seen is that the legs are adjustable. So you can customize it to your needs. Keep your eye out for this shelf riser…it will be coming soon to a store near you.

As if the well-designed functionality is not enough, all YouCopia organizing products can be quickly put to use in your kitchen with no assembly or installation required. Check out the full line of YouCopia kitchen organizers here, including adjustable pot lid organizers, coffee pod organizers, food wrap organizers and more.

Shameless promotion: Happy birthday to me! 

I celebrated my birthday on May 27. And I had just one wish – I asked my friends and family to support me in the Great Cycle Challenge to help fight kid’s cancer.

My goal is to ride 250 miles this month and raise $500 and I will be pedaling as hard as I can to reach my target. Why am I doing this? Because 38 children die of cancer every week.

This challenge will be tough, but it’s nothing compared to what these brave kids face every day of their lives as they battle this terrible disease. Kids should be living life, not fighting for it. And so I am taking on this personal challenge to raise funds to fight kids’ cancer and give these kids the brighter futures that they deserve.

If you are able, I hope that you will support my challenge and join me in the fight to end childhood cancer by making a donation through my fundraising page. Just click here.  All funds raised will support Children’s Cancer Research Fund to continue their work to develop innovative treatments and find a cure for childhood cancer. Thank you for your support!

That’s all for this month. Until next month, keep it simple.

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FULL DISCLOSURE: Some links in this organizing tips newsletter may be affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, I will earn a small commission. These earnings go toward the continuation of this complimentary newsletter which is free to you, but does cost to distribute. Please know that I only recommend products that I would recommend whether I got paid or not.

The post Organizing Tips Newsletter – June 2016 appeared first on Declutter Your Life with Donna Smallin Kuper.

Organizing Tips Newsletter – April-May 2016

ORGANIZING PLAIN & SIMPLE MONTHLY

Tips & Inspiration for Organizing a Simpler Life

April-May 2016 – Vol. 15 No. 4


Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most. ~ Buddha 
A winning decluttering strategy

photo credit: Nikies via photopin (license)

I took up running again recently. I try to run a couple of times a week for anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour. I enjoy running. But that wasn’t the case when I first started running.

I’d be gasping for breath. I’d get side aches. And because it was such a challenging physical activity for me, I was always one step away from quitting. But I kept at it. I even signed up to run a marathon.

Okay, so what’s running got to do with decluttering? Strategy! It occurred to me today (on a run, of course), that you can apply the same strategy that got me to the finish line of my first marathon to decluttering your home. Here goes…

Visualize a strong finish. My goal was to finish the race. So I pictured myself crossing the finish line to a cheering crowd. What does “decluttered” look like to you? That’s your finish line. Visualize opening the door and walking into your newly decluttered, more organized home. How will it look? How will it make you feel?

Track your progress. I kept a running log back then. By keeping track of my miles, I could see that I was on track to meet my goal. Consider taking before, during and after photos to track your progress. Also take photos of the bags and boxes of stuff you remove from your home.

Commit to a schedule. To go from running 3 miles to running 26.2 miles, I had to gradually increase my distance over time. That meant that I had to commit to a schedule – 3 short runs during the week and one long run on the weekend. Commit to a decluttering schedule that is doable for you, even if that means only 15 minutes three times during the week and a longer session on a weekend day.

Believe you can. Time and again, I’d convince myself that I could not run another step and sure enough, I could not. Then I realized that if I told myself, “You’re doing great! Keep it up!”, I could run farther than I thought was possible. If you start to think that you’ll never get your home decluttered, think to yourself, “No. Not true. Look at how far I’ve come! I can do this.” Don’t let the little devil on your left shoulder tell you otherwise!

Find a buddy. I discovered that those long weekend runs were a lot more enjoyable (okay, more tolerable) when I ran with others. We’d get to chatting and before I knew it, we’d be done. I also knew that I had to get out of bed early on Saturday morning because they would be waiting for me! Who do you know who talks about wanting to declutter? Maybe you can take turns helping each other. Or at least check in with each other to share your accomplishments each week.

Focus. At the start line, 26.2 miles seemed a very long way to run. (It is.) But I remember thinking, “All you have to do today is put one foot in front of the other.” And suddenly, it seemed possible. Focus on decluttering one room or even one small space at a time. Don’t worry about the rest of your home. You’ll get there eventually.

Reward yourself. When I crossed the finish line, I was given a medal. But the real reward was knowing that I had just accomplished what seemed like the impossible. In fact, for weeks and months later, I would be driving in my car from Point A to Point B and think, “My goodness. I ran this entire distance!” You, too, will find your reward in your achievement. But there’s nothing to stop you from giving yourself a physical reward – maybe buy yourself some flowers, take yourself out to dinner, or get a massage to celebrate crossing the finish line.

Of course, even the best decluttering strategy is pointless unless you start. So lace up those running shoes and get going. I’ll be cheering for you!

Favorite products and resources 

As a professional organizer and certified House Cleaning Technician, I’ve used and recommended a lot of products, services and resources over the years. Every month in this column, I share new and old favorites.

Last month, I told you about a service that I wholeheartedly recommend for anyone who could use some professional help to get organized, but maybe don’t have it in your budget to pay for the services of a professional organizer.

The Clutter Diet is an online membership service created by my colleague and friend Lorie Marrero, a Certified Professional Organizer. For as little as 54 cents a day, you get a weekly project plan, monthly Q & A call, unlimited access to articles, videos and more from Lorie’s team of experts. And you can try it free for 7 days. Or grab a copy of Lorie’s book by the same name.

This month, I want to share something that will help you declutter your coffee table.  offers unlimited access to your favorite magazines – and all their back issues – in full color. The experience is not only beautiful, but interactive at the same time.

What that means is (are you ready for this?) you can do things like email articles and save articles to the Evernote app (another great app for reducing digital clutter.) Plus, as a subscriber, you get access to digital-only features available through some magazines, including downloadable playlists, embedded videos and extended photo slideshows.

Once you install Texture, you can on your phone, tablet or computer – anytime, anywhere. It’s a great way to get rid of magazine clutter and yet, always have reading material handy. You can sign up with for a free, 30-day trial. After that, you’ll be billed $14.99 a month. If you and your family members currently pay for more than a few subscriptions, you’ll actually save money every month because with one account, everyone in your family can access their favorite magazines (on up to 5 devices).

There’s a so you can see what you think and decide if it’s right for you. If not, just cancel your subscription.

NOTE: If this all sounds a little familiar, you might be remembering the NextIssue app I wrote about a few years back. In October 2015, NextIssue became and now includes some nifty new features like a Highlights page that includes New & Noteworthy stories.

Shameless promotion: What happens in Vegas…

As you know, my husband and I downsized and simplified our lives about three years ago to become full-time travelers. We were recently in Las Vegas where it rained two out of three days. I don’t think I’ve ever been to Vegas when it was not sunny and HOT.

Anyway, we went to Vegas to attend the 2016 National Hardware Show. I found some cool cleaning or organizing products that I plan to share with you in an upcoming blog post. But shhhh…don’t tell anyone because, as I’m sure you’ve heard, what happens in Vegas is supposed to stay in Vegas.

By the way, what happened to the month of April? Seems like I was just saying, “April Fools!” and now it’s May. Actually, April was a busy month for me. I was asked to write some blog posts and between that and being on the move again, the days flew by which is why I decided to combine my April and May issues of the newsletter. I hope that’s okay.

Missed the last newsletter? Here it is: Organizing Tips Newsletter – March 2016 (I share 11 tips for faster, easier spring cleaning among other things.) You might also enjoy reading this guest blog post about how to Un-invite Junk from Your Home. (This is one of the guest blog posts I wrote this past month.) And here’s a Glamour magazine article with Must-Know Cleaning Tips from Professional Housekeepers that includes a few tips from me.

That’s all for this month. Until next month, keep it simple.

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FULL DISCLOSURE: Some links in this organizing tips newsletter may be affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, I will earn a small commission. These earnings go toward the continuation of this complimentary newsletter which is free to you, but does cost to distribute. Please know that I only recommend products that I would recommend whether I got paid or not.

The post Organizing Tips Newsletter – April-May 2016 appeared first on Declutter Your Life with Donna Smallin Kuper.

[Today Only] Get free access to this Uncluttered course!

Are you familiar with Joshua Becker? He writes the Becoming Minimalist blog. He’s also got a new book entitled The More of Less: Finding the Life Your Want Under Everything Your Own. 

I mention him because he just emailed to remind me that today, May 2, 2016, is the last chance to register for his 12-week Uncluttered online course.

His course includes videos, interviews with guest experts, webinars, articles, weekly challenges, accountability, and community engagement with Joshua and fellow participants.

In Joshua’s words: It’s strategically packaged for one purpose: to unclutter your home, own less stuff, and find space to live the life you want.

You can’t beat the price. It’s free – well, almost free. Joshua is offering access to this course for free when you pre-order his new book by May 2 from Amazon or your favorite online retailer. Then all you have to do is visit the Uncluttered Registration page and enter the order number on your receipt to register.

You’ll notice on the registration page that there’s an option to pay $89 for the course. But why do that when you can pre-order Joshua’s book and get access for less than $12?!

Not sure if this course is for you? Click here for more details including testimonials from people who took the course when he offered back in January and watch the quick video clip of Joshua telling the story of how and why this course was developed – and why it might be just what you need.

I met Joshua a few years ago when I was visiting Phoenix. He’s passionate about helping people dig out from under to free up time, energy, and money for living life. It’s just like him to offer this course at no charge to his readers. Get the book. Register for the course. I guarantee you’ll be glad you did.

The post [Today Only] Get free access to this Uncluttered course! appeared first on Declutter Your Life with Donna Smallin Kuper.

Organizing Tips Newsletter – March 2016

ORGANIZING PLAIN & SIMPLE MONTHLY

Tips & Inspiration for Organizing a Simpler Life

March 2016 – Vol. 15 No. 3


If you have to buy stuff to store stuff, you might have too much stuff. ~Courtney Carver

12 tips for faster, easier spring cleaning 

photo credit: Goodyear-7584 via photopin (license)

Happy spring! You know what that means…time to start your spring cleaning. Now, you’ve heard me say this before and I’ll say it again: I’m all for cleaning smarter, not harder.

That’s why I came up with this list of 12 tips that will help you get your home in tip-top shape fast – so you can get out there and enjoy the beautiful weather coming your way!

Zoom, zoom. Remove clutter from floors, coffee tables, and other horizontal surfaces before you start cleaning so you can zoom through each room. (See the Favorite Products and Resources section below for my favorite clutter-clearing tool.)

Skip it. Spot clean visible dirt and smudges – skip cleaning entire walls, inside windows, hardwood floors if they look okay. What I love for spot cleaning scuff marks on baseboards and removing crayon and grease from painted walls – Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. The “magic” is actually a melamine foam that works like fine sandpaper. Always test it on an inconspicuous place, especially when cleaning a counter or flat-painted surface.

Call in the pros. Consider hiring out carpet, window and screen cleaning. Pros do it faster, better and for less than you might think. A few years ago, I had all of the windows in a two-story house cleaned inside and out for $125 and that included cleaning the screens!

Start high. Remove cobwebs from ceiling fans and corners, door and window moldings, and lighting fixtures with a long-handled duster or broom. Now would be a good time to remove and clean those lighting fixtures if you can see insects in there. While you’re at it, give (cool) light bulbs a wipe  to remove grime. FACT: A dirty light bulb emits 20% less light than a clean one.

Believe in miracles. Wet a microfiber cloth and wring it out completely – or spritz it with water. Use to wipe all mirrors and glass surfaces for a streak-free clean. I use microfiber cloths designed specifically for glass for that job. For larger jobs like kitchen and bathroom, I use larger microfiber cloths to get the job done quicker. Use different color cloths for bathroom and kitchen to avoid introducing germs from one room to the other. Microfiber cloths are also my choice for dusting and cleaning everything from computers and cell phones to window blinds and chair legs.

Walk away. When it comes to cleaning the shower/tub, bathroom sinks and toilet, let cleaning products do the hard work for you. Spray cleaning product and let sit for 5-10 minutes to loosen soils. To clean a dirty microwave, set a microwaveable bowl of water in your oven and heat on high for 5 minutes. The steam produced will soften hardened-on gunk, making it easier to wipe clean.

Follow the one-tool rule. Grab what you need to tackle a specific cleaning project throughout a room or even your entire home. Done? Put that tool away. Grab the next. So, for example, do all of your dusting, then all of your wet cleaning chores (think kitchen and bath), and then finish up by vacuuming.

Clean while you sleep. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to wake up to a clean house? You can – sort of. Before going to bed, set your oven to self-clean. Pour toilet cleaner in toilet bowls, then just brush and flush in the morning.

Get moving. Move furniture and large appliances so you can vacuum underneath and behind. Roll up large area rugs and vacuum underneath. Don’t forget to get after those dust bunnies under your bed! Those “critters” only sound cute – they’re actually made up of a mixture of tiny fibers shed from feathers and fabrics, pet dander, food particles, bacteria, mold and fungus spores, and insect parts. Dust bunnies also contain dust mites, the microscopic creatures that feed on dust, and their waste products. Yuck.

Give me 30. If you want to dedicated an entire day or weekend to your spring cleaning, go for it. Otherwise, plan to clean for just 30 minutes a day until the job’s done.

Reward yourself. Treat yourself to fresh flowers for your table, a massage or pedicure, or dinner at your favorite restaurant when you’ve spring cleaned your home to your satisfaction.

More help with your spring cleaning…

I had the honor of testing a slew of new cleaning products for the April issue of Family Circle. If you’ve got that issue, turn to page 49. If not, here’s the link to that article on FamilyCircle.com  – 50 Best New Cleaning Products.

Got pets? We adopted a stray kitten last summer. I’d forgotten how much mess they make! Check out this Care.com article that I contributed tips to – 7 Pet Cleaning Hacks That Will Blow You Away.

Here are some more ideas I suggested in the Trulia.com article for spring cleaning – Spring Forward: 8 Smart Tasks to Do Every Daylight Savings Day.

Like a good neighbor…I contributed tips to State Farm’s Good Neighbor magazine (Spring issue) – Spring Cleaning.

Enter to win a $2,500 gift card!

Did you know? Three million households with children under 4 keep containers of liquid laundry pacs on the washing machine. And 1 in 4 parents place laundry pacs on the washer or dryer while they do laundry. I am partnering with Tide and the American Cleaning Institute to spread this important safety message:

Please keep laundry pacs out of reach of children. KEEP THEM UP. KEEP THEM CLOSED. KEEP THEM SAFE.

I encourage you to take the KEY Pledge for laundry safety. When you do, you’re automatically entered for a chance to win a $2,500 gift card.* Even if you took the pledge in 2015, you can take the Pledge again in 2016!

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Ends on December 31, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Open to legal residents of 50 U.S. and DC, 21 and older. Void where prohibited. For Official Rules, go to http://www.keypledge.com/Keypledge/TermsConditions.html

Favorite products and resources 

As a professional organizer and certified House Cleaning Technician, I’ve used and recommended a lot of products, services and resources over the years. Every month in this column, I share new and old favorites.

Last month, I shared a product that I discovered several years ago at the International Home & Housewares Association Show in Chicago. It’s a hands-free laundry tote – a flexible plastic basket with a shoulder strap. I often recommend using a laundry basket for fast and easy clutter clean-up. The shoulder strap on this basket means you have both hands free to clean up twice as quick! There are so many ways you can use this basket around your home. I have two – one that I use as a laundry hamper and another for storing beach and pool gear.

This month, I’d like to remind you of a service that I wholeheartedly recommend for anyone who could use some professional help to get organized, but maybe don’t have it in your budget to pay for the services of a professional organizer. The Clutter Diet is an online membership service created by my colleague and friend Lorie Marrero, a Certified Professional Organizer. For as little as 54 cents a day, you get a weekly project plan, monthly Q & A call, unlimited access to articles, videos and more from Lorie’s team of experts. And you can try it free for 7 days. Or grab a copy of Lorie’s book by the same name.

Shameless promotion: Conquering laundry challenges together  

Did you know that 70% of laundry soils are invisible? Or that there’s a science behind the beauty and care of fabrics that goes beyond cleaning? These are just a few of many interesting facts gleaned while touring Procter & Gamble’s Ivorydale Technical Center in Cincinnati earlier this month.

Me in P&G’s Microsopy & Imaging lab

Like many of my readers, I grew up with P & G brands and I was honored when they asked me to be a fabric care ambassador for Tide and Downy. Now, I’ve done a lot of research and writing on the subject of laundry and I’m frequently tapped by magazine editors for tips. But even I – a laundry care expert – came home from my tour of P & G’s innovation labs with 11 pages of notes!

I’ve decided to include in this monthly newsletter a series of Fabric Care 101 articles to help you conquer your laundry challenges. By the time you read the last article, you’ll know how to make your clothes whiter and brighter, smell fresher, and last longer.

Missed my last post? Here you go: Organizing Tips Newsletter – February 2016 (I share my 7-step paper clutter clearing plan plus a video with 5 easy ways to organize your closet.) You might also enjoy reading The Cost of Clutter. (Be sure the read the comments as well!)

Need some motivation and support to get organized?Join my organizing support group on Facebook (it’s a closed group so what gets posted in the group stays in the group – and there’s no cost to join.)

That’s all for this month. Until next month, keep it simple.

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FULL DISCLOSURE: Some links in this organizing tips newsletter may be affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, I will earn a small commission. These earnings go toward the continuation of this complimentary newsletter which is free to you, but does cost to distribute. Please know that I only recommend products that I would recommend whether I got paid or not.

The post Organizing Tips Newsletter – March 2016 appeared first on Declutter Your Life with Donna Smallin Kuper.

Organizing Tips Newsletter – February 2016

ORGANIZING PLAIN & SIMPLE MONTHLY

Tips & Inspiration for Organizing a Simpler Life

February 2016 – Vol. 15 No. 2


Hanging on to a bad buy will not redeem the purchase. ~ Terence Conran

7-step plan to reduce paper clutter 

photo credit: administration YRI_8459 via photopin (license)

She’s got paper clutter, he’s got paper clutter, we’ve all got paper clutter! You too? What you need is a paper plan – pronto. Here’s my plan for keeping paper clutter down.

Box it up. Clean off your desktop or kitchen counter by gathering and putting all your papers in a box for temporary storage. As you do that, toss anything that is clearly trash such as expired coupons and flyers for events that already took place. Meanwhile, if you are looking for something, you’ll know it’s in the box.

Set aside 15 minutes. Plan to spend 15 minutes daily to go through papers in your box. The best way to work it into your schedule is to do it right after something you always do like clean up after dinner or brush your teeth. Set a timer and get to it.

Question everything. When deciding what you need to save, ask yourself, “Do I need to save this for legal or tax reasons?” If the answer is yes, file it. If the answer is no, ask yourself, “Could I get this information again pretty easily if I needed it?” If so, toss it.

Clip and save. Rather than keeping entire magazines for selected articles, clip and save just the articles ad file them in binders by category; for example, home decorating ideas or recipes. Insert the articles into 3-hole-punched plastic sheet protectors. Use dividers to create subsections. Consider unsubscribing to magazines you don’t have time to read. Did you know that you can request a refund for the unused portion of your subscriptions?

Dump the junk. If you have piles of unopened junk mail offers, credit card solicitations, and catalogs, dump them. Don’t even give it a second thought because more of the same is already on its way to you! Request to get off these lists at www.dmachoice.org.

Shred when necessary. Be sure to shred pre-approved credit card offers and any papers with personally identifiable information such as account numbers to reduce the risk of identity theft.

Keep up with today’s stuff. Designate a basket for collecting incoming mail until you have a chance to look at it. Sort through mail daily and either toss or file. Opt for paper statements from your bank and other financial institutions and from your phone and utility companies and let them do the filing for you!

5 easy ways to organize your closet [VIDEO]

Last summer, I was invited to record some how-to videos for Better Homes and Gardens. Here’s the first video on how to organize your closet. Enjoy!

Favorite products and resources 

As a professional organizer and certified House Cleaning Technician, I’ve used and recommended a lot of products, services and resources over the years. Every month in this column, I share new and old favorites.

Last month, I suggested taking a look at the Freedom Filer system. I’ve tested a lot of filing systems over the years and this ready-made system is my favorite. It’s actually set up to be self-purging with email reminders about what to do at the end of each year. See how Freedom Filer makes it easy to file and retrieve your important papers from today forward. (Look for the Ready-Made Systems.)

This month, I thought I’d share a product that I discovered several years ago at the International Home & Housewares Association Show in Chicago. It’s a hands-free laundry tote – a flexible plastic basket with a shoulder strap. I often recommend using a laundry basket for fast and easy clutter clean-up. The shoulder strap on this basket means you have both hands free to clean up twice as quick! There are so many ways you can use this basket around your home. I have two – one that I use as a laundry hamper and another for storing beach and pool gear.

Funny story…a few weeks ago, I noticed that our cat had not used her litter box since I cleaned it the previous day. Concerned that she might have a bladder problem, I made an appointment with a local vet. (We were in Hemet, CA at the time.) Now, as you may or may not know, we don’t have a car – just a motorcycle. I didn’t think the cat would enjoy a ride on the motorcycle and according to the Google map, the vet was only a few miles away – or so we thought. I emptied the tote I use for my laundry and set the cat carrier inside. It fit perfectly. So off we went for what turned out to be a 4-mile walk! I figured that was enough exercise for the day and took a taxi home. (My husband blogged about my ordeal here in his blog.) Oh, and in case you are wondering, Ozark the Traveling Cat recovered quickly and is doing just fine.

Shameless promotion: Connect with me! 

In addition to writing this blog, I also contribute tips to other blogs and share those articles plus other articles I find interesting on my Twitter and Facebook author pages. Here are a few you might like reading:

Grandparents.com – 5 Ways to Organize Your Important Paper Clutter

HouseLogic – 14 Pro Organizer Tips That Make Moving Easier

Reader’s Digest – 9 Quick Kitchen Cleaning Tips

USA Today – Your Dishwasher Can Clean More Than Just Dishes

If you want to get more decluttering, organizing and cleaning tips, connect with me on social media!

Twitter | @donnasmallin
Facebook | DonnaSmallinKuperAuthor
Google+ | +DonnaSmallin

LinkedIn |  DonnaSmallinKuper
That’s all for this month. Until next month, keep it simple.

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FULL DISCLOSURE: Some links in this organizing tips newsletter may be affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, I will earn a small commission. These earnings go toward the continuation of this complimentary newsletter which is free to you, but does cost to distribute. Please know that I only recommend products that I would recommend whether I got paid or not.

The post Organizing Tips Newsletter – February 2016 appeared first on Declutter Your Life with Donna Smallin Kuper.

The Cost of Clutter

photo credit: $100 Money Lei via photopin (license)

Many of you have told me that you need help getting motivated to declutter. Okay, let’s take a look at the cost of clutter.

Harry Browne said, “Everything you want in life has a price connected to it. There’s a price to pay if you want to make things better, a price to pay just for leaving things as they are, a price for everything.”

Depending on the extent of clutter or disorganization in your home, you may be paying a very high price. “Leaving things as they are” is most likely costing you one or more of the following:

Space that could be put to better use
Time and energy lost in looking for misplaced things
Stress and overwhelm – maybe even strained relationships

And then there are the financial costs:

How many times have you bought something, only to realize later that you already had it?
How often have you ended up paying a bill late because you misplaced the bill?
How much credit card debt are you carrying on items purchased but no longer loved or used?
How many times have you purchased an item on sale (or on a whim) that ended up collecting dust?
Have you ever discovered that something you loved was ruined because it wasn’t stored properly?
Are you paying for a storage unit? For how long now? And for how much longer?
Are you considering a move into a larger home largely because you need more room for your stuff? How much will it cost to move? What will be the additional housing cost each year?
What items are you hanging on to that you could be resold at a garage sale, on eBay or Craigslist, or on consignment to recoup at least some of your initial investment? ( This book will show you how.)
What items could you donate to get a tax write-off? Do the math. If you are in a 18 percent tax bracket, you’re looking at $108 in tax savings for a $600 donation of stuff you’re no longer using.

I suggest weighing the price to pay for “leaving things as they are” against the price to pay if you want to “make things better.” Yes, you will need to invest some time and energy to get organized, but you don’t need to put your life on hold to do it.

Commit to spending 15 minutes a day organizing one area or task until it is done. Don’t get discouraged about how much remains to be done. Just focus every day on doing something toward your goal. Because even baby steps will eventually get you on the path to a less cluttered, more organized life.

Meanwhile, if the cost of clutter is more than you bargained for, think twice next time before buying. Go grab a coffee. Better yet, go home and sleep on it. Remember that today’s purchases, especially unplanned purchases, become tomorrow’s clutter.

 

The post The Cost of Clutter appeared first on Declutter Your Life with Donna Smallin Kuper.

Organizing Tips Newsletter – January 2016

ORGANIZING PLAIN & SIMPLE MONTHLY

Tips & Inspiration for Organizing a Simpler Life

January 2016 – Vol. 15 No. 1


Most people have no idea of the giant capacity we can immediately command when we focus all of our resources on mastering a single area of our lives. ~ Anthony Robbins
Did you make a New Year’s resolution to get organized?

Making resolutions is easy, but keeping resolutions can be challenging. Following are three tips to help you get organized once and for all this year.

Start small. Unclutter your life one drawer, one shelf, one space at a time. Empty the contents and then put back only those things you love and/or use.

Commit to your goal with a plan. You don’t have to put your life on hold to get organized. Just five minutes a day adds up to two hours and 20 minutes a month. You can accomplish quite a lot in two hours and 20 minutes! Or make an organizing appointment with yourself for one or more uncluttering sessions each week. Write these appointments in your calendar and honor them – just as you would any other appointment.

Be prepared to change some habits. As you unclutter and organize, think about the habits that have created disarray in your life – and what you can do differently to help maintain order. For example, if you have a lot of “stuff” that you are not using, try not to buy anything new for a month. If you tend to throw your coat when you come in the door, consciously retrain yourself to hang it up. Be patient with yourself. It takes a few weeks to establish new habits. Remember this: it’s a lot easier to keep up than to catch up.

Looking forward and back

Back in December, I sent you a link to a survey so you could help me decide what to write about in 2016. Thank you so much for your feedback! I received 876 responses and I am still reading through all of your wonderful suggestions.

I can tell you that the #1 topic requested is on overcoming procrastination. Other top answers included ideas for decluttering/simplifying daily life, timesaving tips for cleaning and organizing, organizing papers, dealing with emotional attachments to things, and getting motivated to get started.

It was no surprise to me that 96% of my readers are female. And I’m glad I asked for your age! I now know that 70% of you are age 55 years and older. I love that I am writing to my peers! (I will turn 56 years young in May.)

In case you missed them, here are the top 5 blog posts from 2015 (based on the most views):

Time to Do the Spring Fling (April 2015)

How to Organize Your Photos (March 2015)

A Happy Ending to Paper Clutter (January 2015)

9 Tips for Organizing a Home Office (March 2015)

Organizing Tips Newsletter (April 2015)

Unclutter vs. declutter

Are you more likely to use the word “unclutter” or “declutter?” While doing some research recently, I stumbled upon something I wish I had known 17 years ago.

Google Ngram, which charts the use of certain words in book titles, shows that the word “unclutter” showed up as early as 1918 and began rising in popularity in the early 1940s, shooting up to its peak in 2000 before beginning to fall off.

I registered the domain name Unclutter.com in 2000. And my first book Unclutter Your Home: 7 Simple Steps, 700 Tips & Ideas was published in 1999. (The ebook version, by the way, was completely updated and revised in 2015 and is available at your favorite ebook retailer. The paperback version is no longer available though you can still find used copies.)

The word “declutter” first came into use in the 1970s, its popularity shooting up through the ’80s, ’90s, and the first decade of the 21st century. According to Oxford University Press, the term was only added to the 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary in June 2015.

Interesting, no? In any event, whatever word you choose to use – unclutter or declutter – the meanings are the same. And if you need help, you’ve come to the right place!

Favorite products and resources 

As a professional organizer and certified House Cleaning Technician, I’ve used and recommended a lot of products, services and resources over the years. Every month in this column, I share new and old favorites.

Last month, I introduced you to the Scrigit Scraper. The Scrigit Scraper is a quick, safe and convenient way to remove small amounts of common substances such as food, candle wax, soap buildup, paint, adhesive labels, even bird droppings and pine tar from windshields.

It’s actually two scrapers in one. The flat edge at one end is best for flat surfaces, larger areas, tight edges, plumbing putty, and shower door tracks. The rounded edge is best for curved surfaces, smaller spots, crevices, sinks and toilets, labels and tape.

Congratulations to our three winners in the Scrigit Scraper giveaway!

This month (because you asked for help with paper organizing), I encourage you to consider the Freedom Filer system. I’ve tested a lot of filing systems over the years and this is my favorite. For one thing, It’s a ready-made system that you can implement immediately using the pre-printed file folder tab labels. It also comes with blank labels so you can customize your system to fit your needs.

What I love about this filing system is that it’s set up to be self-purging with email reminders from the company about what to do at the end of each year. Take a look and see for yourself what you think. Read what others say about it. Check out some of the videos to see it in action. And then maybe, just maybe, you’ll want to purchase Freedom Filer to organize your files in a way that makes it easy to file and retrieve your important papers from today forward. (Look for the Ready-Made Systems.)

Shameless promotion: 5-Day Clutter Cleanse 




























As you probably know, I am frequently asked by the media to share cleaning, decluttering and organizing tips. One of my favorite magazine editors sent this email recently:

The Spring 2016 issue of Better Homes and Gardens Storage magazine is now on sale. We’re super-excited about the “5-Day Clutter Cleanse” you helped us create and know that readers are going to love this story!


























He sent me a PDF of the magazine cover plus a spread from the story that features my cleaning advice . The complete story is 8 pages long and takes readers through a five-day clutter cleanse for your bath vanity, work space, entry, closet, and kitchen.

If you want to read the full story, you can pick up a copy of Storage Spring 2016 at your favorite newsstand or bookseller now through March 29, 2016. Or purchase the digital edition at BHGSpecials.zinio.com



There’s also a special page at BHG.com dedicated to the Clutter Cleanse: BHG.com/ClutterCleanse where you can watch cleaning videos, learn DIY recipes, and download free labels, charts, tags, and other goodies.


That’s all for this month. Until next month, keep it simple.

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FULL DISCLOSURE: Some links in this organizing tips newsletter may be affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission. These earnings go toward the continuation of this complimentary newsletter which is free to you, but does cost to distribute. Please note that I only recommend products that I would recommend whether I got paid or not.

The post Organizing Tips Newsletter – January 2016 appeared first on Declutter Your Life with Donna Smallin Kuper.