Blog – Page 24 – ReSolutions – The link to your organized future

3 Things to Get Rid of While Spring Cleaning

Posted on April 11, 2018 by

Dawn Link Posted in Cleaning, Products, Spring — No Comments ↓

We’re still waiting for the arrival of warmer weather in New England, but we’ve officially entered spring cleaning season. Have you started yours yet? In order to do a bang-up job, you may realize that some of your cleaning supplies and tools need some sprucing up. Your cleaning is much less effective when you don’t have the proper equipment.

When you grab for your tools, take a closer look at these items to see if they need replacement:

Mops and brooms– In my opinion, a dirty old mop is about as effective as a bladeless knife. It is hard to clean when the mop itself is the problem. Have you considered a mop that uses a microfiber cloth instead of the type that needs wringing out? It may be time to rethink the type of mop you are using. You can also save time and space by not having a separate bucket to wring out your mop. Additionally, keep in mind the type of flooring that you will you be cleaning. Make sure the mop matches your floor type.
Buckets– Most households have two buckets – one for carrying cleaning supplies and the other for cleaning solution. If your bucket handle is falling apart, it’s time to buy a new one! If you use your bucket only to make a water-based solution and the bucket is cracked or dirty looking, it’s time to buy a new one. Ensure these buckets are functional in advance, saving yourself frustration and time once you finally do get down to the nitty gritty of the actual cleaning!
Cleaning Gloves – Let’s face it – no one wants to be touching dirty, dusty, yucky places, right? Using gloves is one way to make sure your hands do NOT touch the gross areas. However, are your cleaning gloves also gross? If they could be classified as a biohazard, well, it’s time to get rid of them, too, and buy some new ones. If you (and your budget) are in the mood for some fancy gloves, check out these gloves. This purchase just might make the whole spring cleaning task more palatable if you can look at something pretty and whimsical while tolling away to beautify your home!

It’s a good practice to take a monthly inspection of your cleaning items to double check that they’re ready for proper use. By staying on top of your tools, you can ensure a streamlined cleaning experience in the future.

Image: The Container Store

PURGE: 5 Things to Get Rid of In Storage Before You Die

Posted on March 27, 2018 by

Dawn Link Posted in Books, Children, Downsizing, Estate Planning, Family, Moving, Storage — No Comments ↓

I don’t want to sound morbid, but it’s important to broach this topic. Have you thought about what is going to happen to the boxes of untouched items in your attic when you pass? Most people use their basements or attics to store family artifacts, unused home items and more, but when the time comes for you to journey to the other side, someone in your family will be responsible for managing, donating or throwing away those items. Let’s start by talking about the 5 things to get rid of in storage before you die.

I know, I know. You’re saving these items for your children…and their children. Those cute baby clothes? Oh yes, your daughter who is now six-years-old will certainly dress her future child in them, right? While it is a sweet sentiment, it’s important to be realistic. What will your children or grandchildren not appreciate?

Here is a list of items that are currently of no value in the marketplace other than your sentimental heart. This is a great place to start when thinking of downsizing and not leaving it to your children.

China – When was the last time you used your own china when entertaining? If you use it, it is usually at a holiday dinner. The millennials do not want your china or your Grandmother’s china. Sad as it may be, they are not a sentimental generation. When was the last time you saw china listed on a bridal register? The bride and groom may list everyday dishes, but a formal china pattern is not usually listed.
Brown Furniture – The ornate, heavy, real wood furniture that we grew up with is like an anchor to your children. They would rather shop at IKEA than have the kind of furniture they grew up with.
Silver – As sad as it is, this is another category that no one wants. If it is real silver, you may consider selling it for its silver value and lighten your load.
Toys – Look at eBay to see what heirloom toys are worth. Trends change, and what was once a popular toy (hello, Beanie Babies!), may be of no value today.
Books – They weigh you down. Everyone has different taste in books so why keep them? Yes, sentimental ones or first editions of a book you do re-read can be kept, but I am talking about your college textbooks, or books you read once. Pass those on and either use your kindle or borrow a book from the library.

What else can you downsize and not leave as a burden to your children? They will love you all the more!

Photo: Real Simple

5 New Products You Need to Organize Your Home

Posted on March 19, 2018 by

Dawn Link Posted in Bathroom, Bedroom, Gifts, Kitchen, Products — No Comments ↓

Smell that? That’s the smell of springtime in New England. Okay, okay, it’s March, and we all know we’ll likely have a few more storms, but we can at least get excited for spring cleaning! There’s no better way to celebrate the (almost) arrival of this season than to stock up on organizing products. Here are five of my favorite products you need to organize your home that you can order from Amazon with the touch of a button.

Outlet Shelf – What if you could perch any small electronic device on a shelf in your bathroom and keep it off the bathroom counter? I love this product. Best of all, no additional hardware to install as it uses your vertical single outlet as a way to mount it. This beauty comes in white, almond, and black.
Broom Holder – I LOVE this product. The thought of wet mops sitting on floor or carpet is really gross. I love that this holder has hooks to give you more options of hanging various cleaning items.
Pull Out Storage Container Drawer – The pullout drawer is one of my favorite ways to really maximize storage space in the kitchen. This drawer is great for customizing the drawer to best contain your food storage tops and bottoms.
Bedside Caddy – This is a perfect graduation gift for a college bound freshman. They can keep all their stuff that would normally go in/on a bedside table in this caddy attached to either their headboard or side rail. You can also use this to store item you use in the living room like a remote control, knitting needles or tissue.
Gift Wrapping Hanging Organizer – Wouldn’t it be great to have one organizer that can hold most of your gift wrapping items? The simply luxury of having the wrapping paper off the floor and kept neat for your next use is a huge reason to love this organizer!

What are some of your favorite Amazon products that you can’t live without to keep you organized?

Photo: Amazon.com

Do or Don’t: Storage Units

Posted on March 8, 2018 by

Dawn Link Posted in Moving, Storage — No Comments ↓

Storage units and facilities are a growing segment. Think about how many storage facilities you see on a daily basis. Do you think they would keep opening more and more if there wasn’t a need? I don’t think so.

Here’s the truth: I do think storage units are useful, if used properly. They shouldn’t be a spot to dump your things, and then never, ever, ever think about them again. It’s not only a terrible habit, but it’s a huge waste of your money each month!

Below are a few scenarios when you might actually need a storage unit.

A temporary storage solution when you’re selling your home…

If you’re selling your home and need to store overflow items, this might be a great solution. You want your home to be free of excess items, so it looks bigger. However, if you’re never planning to retrieve these items after you sell your home, this is not a good idea.

Storage for a small apartment…

I rented a small storage unit for a few years because I was living in a small, one-bedroom apartment. I had no place to store my holiday decorations. I knew this was a temporary situation, and I did go to the storage unit at Christmas and retrieve bins and bins of decorations. I would prune through the items each year, and when the holiday was over, the items returned to storage. I did end up moving to a larger home, and then I finally emptied and got rid of my storage unit!

A place to gather items after a death in the family…

After a family member passes, it can be hard to go through their items in a timely manner, especially if you have to sell their home quickly, or are dealing with an expiring lease. Placing items in a storage unit can be a great place to temporary store these items as the family sorts through what needs to be kept, and what needs to be purged.

The general rule of thumb is this: If you are actively using it, then it is okay to utilize a storage unit. I have worked with many clients who have no idea what is in their storage unit and find it easier to pay the monthly fee versus spending the time going through the contents.

If you need to use a storage unit, take inventory of what you put in it, and better yet, take photos. Also, be sure to read my last blog post about items that aren’t worth storing for your children, and perhaps this will help guide your decision.

Remember, these fees add up, and the money you could spend on a storage unit can be better used on a vacation or other family activities. Memories are worth more than any material object!

Photo: Move.org

What I First Notice When I Walk In a Home

Posted on February 21, 2018 by

Dawn Link Posted in Bathroom, Bedroom, Clothes, Kitchen, Laundry, Office, Paper Management, Storage — No Comments ↓

Before I officially start this post, I want to state that I am in no way judgmental when I enter a client’s home. I do not put on my organizers glasses unless you are paying for my services. That said, if you are a client, there are a few areas that I first notice when I walk in a home and as we tour your home for the first time that you may or may not point out to me.

Front Entry – This tends to be the drop point for many items. Are there a lot of coats and shoes in the entryway? It could mean that the home has no front hall coat closet, or there is no mudroom. It could also mean that there are just too many items stored in the entry for each person, and we may want to find additional solutions for the collection.
Kitchen Counters – Are the counters clear? Or is there too much stored on the counter? This may indicate a storage issue or someone that is a very visual person. There are things we can do to work on this!
Random Piles – Perhaps there is a stack of bills on the kitchen counter. Or cosmetics on the dresser. Sometimes this indicates that the person likes to do an activity in an area that isn’t supported with a storage solution for this activity, so the items just land in a pile. This can lead to clutter, and there are great storage solutions for this, if one doesn’t want to change their habits.
Desk Clutter – I’ve written extensively about clearing off desk clutter. The thought is this: physical clutter can lead to mental clutter! If you are a visual person, and need papers on your desk to remind you of tasks, this is fine, but it’s important to systemize this to ensure items don’t start piling up.
Clothes in the bedroom – Usually if there are a lot of clothes on the floor, and they are clean, the person either has too many clothes for their existing situation, or they are visual and can’t have them in drawers. If the clothes are dirty, I ask if there is a laundry hamper in the room. Often times there is but it has a cover on it and the person doesn’t want to take the time to lift the cover to put the dirty clothes IN the hamper. Again, there are easy solutions for helping every personality type stay organized!

Those are a few of my observations of what I notice when I first walk in a home and when I am touring the spaces with a first-time client. What is the first thing you notice when you walk into someone’s home?

Photo: Container Store

Tip Tuesday: The Right Way to Fold Your Clothes

Posted on February 13, 2018 by

Dawn Link Posted in Bedroom, Clothes, Laundry — No Comments ↓

There are two types of people. Those who love to fold clothes, and those who do not. Some find this process therapeutic, and others? Well, they could care less if their clothes were rolled up in a ball. While it does feel great to open a drawer to perfectly flat clothes, there is also a reason for this. It saves SPACE.

If you are like most of my clients, you are trying to fit a lot of clothes into your drawers. It’s time to learn how to fold so you can maximize this precious space.

You’ll find that when clothing is organized, you really can fit more in and it is so much easier to see and grab. Below are a few tips to properly folding and storing your clothing:

T-shirts – We’ve all seen the perfectly pressed and folded clothing at department stores. This is how you should be folding your own clothes. Once they’re folded, stack them vertically, so that you can see them rather than stacking them one on top of the other.

If you have shallow drawers, see if rolling your tops allows you to fit more in than just folding them. Again, having them stored vertically (or front to back) vs. horizontally will allow easier access and selection.

Bras – if you have all your bras lined up in a drawer with the cups nestled into each other, you not only can fit more it, but the bras will keep their shape longer.

Underwear – Instead of throwing them in a drawer, fold them into squares and line them up vertically. To do so, lay the underwear flat. Bring 1/3 of the underwear to the center and then bring the other 1/3 to the center. Fold up the bottom section and you should have a nice square. Bonus: if you put them in a box inside the drawer they will stand up better.

Socks – There are many different ways to fold socks. Some like to roll them tightly like they do in the military. Others fold the pair in half, while others will roll the cuffs back to keep the pair together. It really is a matter of preference. However, taking the time to pair them, will save you time in the morning!

If your drawers are in need of properly folded clothing, I challenge you to tackle one drawer a week this month. This is a realistic goal, and before you know it, you’ll have yourself an organized dresser. What other clothes do you fold and how does it save you space?

Photo: Real Simple

PURGE! Cleaning Out the Playroom

Posted on February 2, 2018 by

Dawn Link Posted in Children, Christmas, Family, Playroom — No Comments ↓

Christmastime is magical for kids, and a part of the magic is the toys that Santa brings. So now that Christmas is behind us – what is the state of your children’s playroom since the onslaught of new toys? It might be time to clean out the playroom! Below are three tips to make cleaning out the playroom process as easy and efficient as possible.

Check for broken toys – Are there toys with missing wheels, or items the dog has chewed? These can be tossed. I hate to put things in the landfill, but unless you can recycle any part of the toys, trash it.
Say goodbye to outgrown toys – If there are baby toys hanging around, and your kids are toddlers or older, it’s time for those to go. If you’re anticipating having more kids, you can put these items in storage. If you’re done having more children, donate them to your friends with younger kids. You can always see if organizations like your local fire department, hospital, shelter, social services division, or daycare are accepting donations. Salvation Army and Goodwill used to take all toys, but they are being more selective. Call or visit their donation site before bringing toys there.
Determine if you want your children to participate – There are advantages and disadvantages either way. The advantage of them not being there is that it will go a lot faster. The disadvantage is that you may get rid of one of their most treasured objects and have to listen to them cry. If you do this task with your children, you are teaching them life lessons on how to let go of items. You will also teach them that there are less fortunate children who can really use and love the toys that they either have outgrown or no long play with. Bringing them along to the donation location, if appropriate, will also show them the gratitude of those accepting their toys. A win, win situation for all!

Next year, try to clean out the playroom in advance of the new toy arrivals. You can involve your kids and have them make room for the new toys that Santa will bring. By doing this, you can donate the old toys around the holidays and make a child’s holiday a little more special.

Image: Real Simple

Tip Tuesday: How to Create a Vision Board

Posted on January 23, 2018 by

Dawn Link Posted in Apps, Goals — No Comments ↓

If you visualize the outcome, it will happen. This school of thought was made popular with the release of the book The Secret, and the idea of creating a vision board is now widespread and practiced by many. Have you ever seen or used a vision board? I have seen a few, and people swear by them. It keeps them focused on their dreams and goals. If you are a visual person – and believe this will hold you accountable – here are a few ways to get one started.

Pick up some poster board – It may sound like a school-age project, but cutting and pasting on poster board can be a great exercise for the brain. This is a fun and creative way to locate an image or word that represents your goals. By having it on a poster board and mounted near where you work, your mind is subconsciously aware of your goals. It is still important to actively look at it daily to see if the images and words still are part of your goals and to strive to achieve them.
Try a virtual app – If you operate better in a virtual world, there is an app for that! Since most of us spend so much time in front of either our phone, tablet, or computer, having the vision board on your device will allow you to keep it to yourself and access it all the time.
Keep it simple and journal – If pulling together images isn’t right for you, you can also do the same thing with words. Start off the year with a new journal with words or short phrases for the new year. Keep those in the front of the journal, and each time you pick up your journal to write, you will see your intentions for the year. The advantage of using a journal is that unlike the vision board, the journal can be used to focus on various aspects of your life. Each page can represent a different focal point such as job, health, career, and relationships.

It’s important to choose the method that works best for you so that you’ll follow through. Have you had success with vision boards? I’d love to hear your story!

Image: The Decorista

It’s National Clean Off Your Desk Day!

Posted on January 16, 2018 by

Dawn Link Posted in Desk, Office — No Comments ↓

There is a day for everything – National Puppy Day, Ice Cream Day, to name a couple – but this one is a favorite. Happy Clean Off Your Desk Day! As I mentioned in my previous post, the tidiness of your workspace directly correlates to the thoughts and clarity of your mental space.

If your desk is in need of an overhaul, be sure to tune in. If you’re fairly organized, but have some room for improvement, one or two of these tips might be right for you. Below are five tips to get your desk in clean and functional shape.

Clear the Desktop – Look to see if you have too many photos or do dads on your desk. Can you relocate them to a bookshelf? Just having these personal items on your desk will make your desk appear cluttered even if there is nothing else on the desk. If you want a family photo, consider making it your computer background or screensaver.
Tame Your Office Supplies – Tape, paper clips, post-it notes and other items that you don’t use often are meant to be inside a desk. Yes, the pen, stapler, or any item you use often can live on the desk, but the other items should be contained.
Shred or Recycle What You Don’t Need – Incoming papers can be sorted quickly if you have a shredder, garbage can, and recycling can right by your desk. With so much in the news about identity theft, why take the chance to not shred any personal papers that come across your desk. The remaining papers that need to be filed can be addressed later, but simply eliminating what is NOT needed clears a lot off your desk.
Organize the Paper you Need – This can be an entire blog! Be honest about what papers actually need to be out on your desk. You can only work on one project at a time, so keep the items associated with that project on your desk and the other projects gathered and organized in such a way that you can access them when you need them.
Tuck in Your Desk at Night – A clean desk is a sign of an organized person. Take the time each night before you leave for the day to reset your desk. When you arrive the next day, it will be in a clean, clear slate for you to begin your day.

These are just a few ways to keep a clean desk. What do you do to make sure your desk stays clean?

Image: Kaboompics.com

New Year, New You: 3 Actions to Take TODAY For A More Organized New Year

Posted on January 11, 2018 by

Dawn Link Posted in Goals — No Comments ↓

Clean start. That is what I love most about the new year. It’s time to purge any negative thoughts, create new goals, and get motivated for a stellar year. Why not start out the new year with a new you? It’s time to take control of your life! Below are three things you can do TODAY for a more organized and successful 2018.

Plan Your Week – This sounds like a no-brainer, but the truth is, many people I speak with don’t do this. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to know what your week looks like? I spend time on Sunday reviewing my upcoming week to see what I need to do to prepare for any upcoming appointments or meetings. It is so much more tolerable to know in advance rather than be scrambling the night or hour before!
Maintain a Clean and Organized Work Space – Your physical space is reflection of your mental space. I can’t tell you how often a client calls me because their workspace is so cluttered. By having a clean and organized work area, you can actually find an important item when you need them! What a concept, right? Are you a piler or filer? If you pile your papers, can you separate the papers by category? This may help you sort, and most importantly, find, what you need without having to go through the entire pile. Organizing your office supplies in a drawer or to the side of your desk will also make your desk less cluttered. It’s important to only keep what you absolutely use often on the desk.
Start the Day with Me Time – This sets the tone for the day! When was the last time you eased into your day? What would it feel like if you were able to spend at least 5 minutes enjoying a cup of tea or coffee? What if you were able to read or journal in those 5 minutes before you had to hit the ground running? How can you ensure that you savor just 5 minutes each day? A habit takes 28-35 days to form so don’t give up if you are struggling with this. You can do it!

I am especially excited for the new year, and I can’t wait to see what 2018 brings. What habits or resolutions do you hope to roll out for the new year?

Photo: Kaboompics.com