Quick Organising Projects

Try our quick and easy organising projects to help you get started on the way to an organised and clutter free life style.

  
Clean Your Handbag Out - A handbag clear out will help you keep better track of your phone, purse and keys and will also help cut down the amount that you need to lug around.  For some quick handbag tips, see our post here

Wrangle Your Cord Clutter
Clear the tangled mess of cords behind your computer, tv and gaming consoles.  This only takes a few moments and there are loads of cord control products out there that can help keep your cords neat and organised.  Don't forget to label the cord near the power point end which will help you save more time when you are moving appliances around.  Another great tips is to use an over the door shoe hanger for spare cables ,charges and cords.

 Organise Your Junk Drawer
This is a great quick project for you to do when you have a spare half hour.  See our previous blog post here for some fantastic tips.  You never know what you'll find. 

A recent client of mine found some serious cash that she had stashed in her drawer.  A lovely surprise for her.  What are you waiting for - hop to it!


Other Quick Organising Projects:

• Clean out your medicine cabinet - dispose of any expired medications.
•  Clean out your recipe folder
•  Clean out your sock and underwear drawer
• Clean out your linen cupboard

Bathroom Organising Tips

Step One: Clean It Out 

•  Begin by pulling EVERYTHING out of the bathroom – this will make your sorting and cleaning process easier. 
•  Clean drawers and shelving. 
• Dispose of creams, make up, hair products & various other products that you haven’t used for six months or more or have expired. 
• Dispose (or take to your local pharmacy) of medications that have expired. 
• Dispose of old razors and other items that you simply do not use any more.

Step Two: Create Extra Storage

• Only store what you use on a daily basis on (or near) the basin counter.
• Keep only what you absolutely need in the bathroom.
• Use a magazine rack for magazines.
•  It can be a good idea if you have the space to assign a shelf, drawer or container for each family member to store their personal items in.

Step Three: Organise Your Space

• Group similar items together.  For example, toothpaste, mouth wash, spare tooth brushes together; cosmetics, etc
• Make use of a shower caddy for your shower items such as body wash, shampoo, conditioner, etc.
• Hang your hair dryer on a hook to save on space
• Use wall mounted cabinets for extra storage space
•  If you are short on space you can use shooks on the back of the bathroom door for bathrobes and towels
• Dedicate a drawer or make up container for your cosmetics.

Tips on How to Organise Your Computer

If you have a lot of documents, music, pictures and other files you will know that it's easy for them to become very unorganised.  Stop spending hours trying to find that file that you know you've saved *somewhere* on the computer and get your computer organised!

Below I have set out some tips that will help you obtain a well organised computer.  Please note that these tips are for Windows users - but other systems should be similar.

Create Folders
Your files and folders should be similar to the same categories as your paper/hardcopy filing system (providing that it is organsied).  Create folders, and sub folders.  

For example
Category Folder - Financial
Financial - Budgets; Expenses,
And so on...

Transfer your current files to the appropriate areas.

Delete Old Files
Delete old files that you do not use anymore.  Just be sure that if you are using a shared computer that others do not need those files.

File Emails
File your emails the same way that you file your hard copy correspondence.  Set up folders for different organisations, mailing lists, topics, and friends.  Check your email on a daily basis to avoid email's from accumulating. 

Don't subscribe to online newsletters unless you are going to have the time to read them.

Only save emails that you need to follow up or are important. 

Organise Digital Music
Storing music on your computer is a fantastic way to store your music.  There are many media programs that are available that help you to organise your media into folders - such as by the artist or title.  


Keep your music organised by removing songs that you don't like - this will free up space and make it a whole lot easier to find the songs that you *do* like.


Organise Your Photos
Storing your photos on your computer saves space and money and there are so many options and ways to store your photos.  Follow the above rules and store them in folders - such as events, family, work, etc.  Whatever works best for you. You may also like to file them according to year.

Don't forget to always back up your files so you don't lose them in a crash!


Organise Your Bookmarks
Keep your bookmarks organised into folders as well - and make sure that you go through these on a regular basis to delete the ones that you do not use anymore.  

Why Use A Professional Organiser?

A professional organsier can help you in getting your home, office and life organised and under control by de-cluttering your space and assisting you in reorganising it.

We can help you identify the cause of your clutter and organising problems and support you through the process.

We can provide long term solutions and have many ideas on how you can best use your space and what storage and organising systems will best work for you. 

We can help you take control of your surroundings, your time and your life!

We don't make you throw anything away without your permission.

We don't judge you - we are professionals.

Professional Organisers can offer many services from management of  your paperwork and computer files to planning a major move.  We help by coaching not controlling.

We have the ability to ask the right questions to understand what a client needs and wants, and we can teach clients organisational skills.  We won't overwhelm you by demanding that you need to get rid of everything - we break the process down into manageable steps.

Most importantly of all - we provide support.

Clutter Busting Ideas

Clutter has such a way of getting out of control and away from us at times.  We've come up with some great practical clutter busting ideas to help you get started.

Keys: Avoid losing or misplacing your keys by allocating a certain place for them.  As soon as you walk through the door - place them on the designated hook or in a designated bowl.  You will never have the frustration of not being able to find them when you need them again.

Desk Drawers: It is easy to stash items in desk drawers so you do not have to deal with them --- out of sight, out of mind!  Try to keep your drawers as organised as possible by storing only what you need in them.


Umbrellas: Umbrellas can make a mess when it's been raining and you're eager to get inside where it is nice and dry.  Store umbrellas standing up in a stand to avoid mess - this also allows the umbrella to dry more effectively.


Bed Storage: Most beds have the provision for underneath storage which can save you valuable space and clutter. You can store pillows, sheets, doona's toys in containers underneath while using a bed shirt to conceal the storage.  This is a fantastic idea if you are running low on storage space.

Cooking Station:Putting implements and ingredients that you use on a regular basis when cooking can make your life a lot easier in the kitchen.  There are plenty of items that you can use for this such as a Lazy Susan, spice racks and many other products that you can easily find in any Ikea store.  Just be sure to leave enough surface space for meal preparation.

Pots And Pans: Pot and pan clutter can be a never ending battle in some kitchens.  A great idea is to store one pot inside a larger one which can save on the amount of space that they can take up in cupboards.  There are many great pot and pan storage utilities available now which helps keep your cookware accessable AND organised at the same time.

Kitchen Tables:  Tables can be a huge place for clutter - where everyone dumps everything that they can't be bothered putting away.  Dining tables are for eating at, not dumping paperwork or doing homework.  Create a central area in the  middle of the table where you can store items that are used on a regular basis - such as napkins, salt and pepper.

Shower Storage:  Items such as body wash, shampoo, conditioner, washcloths should be stored in a shower caddy or shelving installed in the shower to avoid clutter on the bottom of the shower or around the bathtub.  There are so many shower storage systems available which are effective and reasonably priced - you have no excuse left!

Laundry:  If you have a large family or if you need to pre-sort, having more than one laundry hamper is a great idea.  This ensures that clothes are never thrown on the floor and that washing is easier to sort.  Use a cupboard or shelving to keep your laundry items such as fabric softener,detergent and bleach all together and out of reach of little hands and paws.  If your laundry is large enough, it is a fantastic idea to also designate a folding station which will help reduce clothes becoming clutter in the bedroom or lounge. 

Car:  Keep your car organised by only keeping what you may need while travelling.  Sunglasses, cd's, maps, manuals, registrationd documents, etc.  If you don't have enough storage in the glovebox, use a visor organiser.    Remember, it is always a good idea to keep emergency supplies like jumper leads, a spare blanket and first aid kit in the boot.  I always keep a travel umbrella and spare pair of shoes in car as well - I can't tell you how many times I have needed this.

Now it's your turn --- Brash and Sassy would love to hear some of your clutter busting ideas. 

5 Minute Organising Tips...

Overwhelmed by the hours ahead that it may take you to free you from clutter and get yourself organised?  Stop stressing and start small.  Try these easy five minute organising tips to help you get started...

• Clean our your handbag - dispose of all the junk, file those receipts
• Take out the rubbish
• Put a load of washing on
• Fold a load of washing up & put it away
• Clean the bathroom sink
• Clean the toilet
• Sweep the floors
• Make the bed
• Pay some bills
• Clean out the fridge
• Load/unload the dishwasher
• Water the pot plants
• Recycle old magazines and newspapers
• Put your shoes away
• Dust the living room
• Write a shopping list
• Clean out your junk drawer (okay, this may take you more than 5 mins - but see how much you can get done in that time frame, you'll be surprised)
• Sweep the floors
• Reorganise a cupboard or drawer

What can you achieve in five minutes?  We'd love to hear *your* five minute tips....  You have five minutes --- now GO!