Ducks 'n a Row

storage

Never Lose A Lid Again – Organize Your Plastic Containers For Good

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Tonight was the last straw! We were having a lovely family get together and there were lots of leftovers to send home with my guests. Do you think I could find containers with lids? Nope. Lots of bottoms and all the wrong tops. It was crazy! And I blog about organizing?  I should be ashamed of myself.

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Never lose another lid #tips

As I was rifling through my cupboards, my lovely daughter-in-law said that she got fed up and replaced all of her mismatched plastic containers with a new style that attaches to the bottom of the container for storage. They call them “easy find lids” and they are designed for nesting, too. She is one smart cookie and I catch on quick. Soon as I learned of her discovery, I made a quality decision…I am going for it!

Does this scene look familiar? Me, last night, looking for lids! LOL

I searched Amazon (shopping is so easy and quick, especially when you have prime*) and found that Rubbermaid makes them. I love their products so this took no thought at all …  I ordered this set. It will be here in 2 days. I can hardly wait to pitch all the old ones and start new. How about you?

 

Enjoy!



10 essentials for the kitchen #ad

How To Fold a T-Shirt

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T-shirts  are casual wear that can be worn when you change the oil in your car or clean the garage. It is also fashionable to wear them when you go out for a dinner date. No longer are they restricted to “dress down.” T-shirt fabric wrinkles easily. Here is a simple way to fold and store them so that you will always look nice. 
organizing clothes, clothes care
These particular t-shirts are actually old t-shirts that I had brought home from school to launder. We use them as smocks in preschool so they are not in tip-top shape to begin with. I rolled them for easy storage but this technique works to keep your good t-shirts neat and ready to wear.
*It is a great way to pack them when you are going on vacation, as well.
t-shirt, clothes, folding clothes, organizing clothes
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This blog contains Amazon affiliate links.❤️

How To Fold a T-Shirt

1. Lay the t-shirt out on a flat surface.
2. Fold in half, length-wise.
3. Fold in half, again, bringing the top to the bottom.
4. Fold the sleeves onto the body of the shirt.
5.Roll the shirt into a tube shape, starting with the straight edge.
Done!
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Declutter your way to success book
Flashback:  Wish I had discovered this technique a LONG time ago! It is so easy. When my son was little, I used to iron his t-shirts for school. How’d that get started?
Well… I worked at a theatrical supply company where everyone wore t-shirts and jeans. No problem. But one of our most talented, successful employees often came to work in a t-shirt that looked like he had slept in it. It probably didn’t matter to our customers but it bugged me. Seemed like he should care more about how he looked for work.
That’s when I decided to iron all of our t-shirts at home and hang them in the closet. It was a LOT of work! This method is so much better and faster. I just roll them and keep them in a dresser drawer.

 
 
 

Another solution? 
Buy a T-Shirt Folding Board.

Enjoy!

PET HAIR PROBLEMS?

*Before I found my dream vacuum, the BEST pet hair vacuum❤️, I actually had one catch on fire.  I kid you not!
The best pet hair vacuum


Shark Upright Vacuum, Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe with Large Dust Cup Capacity, HEPA Filter, Swivel Steering, Upholstery Tool & Crevice Tool, Blue, NV360




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Drop It! Create a Family Drop Zone and Stop Clutter In Its Tracks

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By Sinea Pies

drop zone; command center; organizing; decluttering

 

“Stuff” taking over? Where does clutter just overrun you? In most cases, it is where people (or dogs) first enter your home. The foyer. The kitchen. The hallway. The nearest table. Where is your “hot spot?”

And, what kind of stuff are you dealing with? Gloves, hats, sunglasses, keys, the mail, leashes, toys, school books, the newspaper, loose change, toys? Best clutter-busting practice is to corral the clutter as it first invades your territory. Confine it to small, usable space.  Create a “drop zone.” Here are three types that work great.

drop zone, organizing, command center, Ducks n a Row

1. The Quick Drop
Place a tray, decorative plate or shallow basket on the table or counter-top nearest that entry. It will be the drop zone for small items. It is movable, so cleaning is a breeze. It looks nice (if not piled high) so things can remain in it till they go out the door again.

organizing plan; baskets, shelving, declutter

2. The Sweep

Baskets with purpose can be attractive containers to “sweep” stuff into when it is too much for a little tray. If you have a table that allows enough space underneath, you can free up the table top by stashing your clutter below. Now,the storage unit above utilizes an entire wall but you can put the principal into action using the space underneath a bench or hallway table. If you have toddlers or puppies, this will be tempting for mischief. You will be re-sweeping regularly….counter productive. If you can find baskets with lids that seal shut? Then you have a perfect solution.
organizing, command center, drop zone

3. The Hang Up

Hooks are a wonderful thing. My favorite use is as a replacement for a mudroom. You can label each hook for the family member to which it belongs and they will hang up their jackets, scarves and/or bags.  

Clutter hot spots? No more! Yipee!

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Where is YOUR clutter hot-spot?
Tell us about it!!!


 
        


Photo Credits:

  • Frustrated by noego on Flickr Creative Commons
  • Drop basket by Sinea Pies on Ducks ‘n a Row
  • Wall Organizer with baskets by Josh & Melanie Rosenthal on Flickr Creative Commons
  • Hallway Command Center from It’s For The Home blog
Note: this author is an Amazon affiliate. Anything you purchase from Amazon through Ducks n a Row may result in a small commission for me. In advance, “thank you.” .. Sinea

How To Organize A Dresser

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Organize your dresser drawers! #organize

Make An Organizing Plan

Before you dig into this dresser drawer organizing project, consider your surroundings. Are you sharing your dresser with somebody else? If so, which drawers are closer to his side of the bed and which are closer to yours? Assign drawers accordingly.
Top: Fill the top drawers with items you use most often, such as socks and undergarments. Why reach to a bottom drawer more than you have to?
Middle: Drawers halfway down can hold tops that you frequently wear.
Bottom: Use lower drawers for items that are for special occasions and not everyday such as dressy tops and sweaters.
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How To Organize A Dresser Step-By-Step

  • Make A Work Space: Use your bed as a work-space You’ll want it to be flat so either make the bed or take the sheets and blankets off. Either way, you’ll need a large space on which to put your belongings.
  • Move Your Clothes: Remove everything from each drawer and lay it out on the bed. Have a box on hand for clothes in that won’t be sticking around. You can take it right to the car when you’re finished, ready to donate to Good Will.
  • You also may find that some things need laundered, especially if they have acquired many wrinkles. Put them in a laundry basket or get them ready to go to the dry cleaners. Be sure to leave space for them to go back in the drawer afterward.
  • Label Your Drawers: Use sticky notes to temporarily label the drawers according to what they will now hold. Remove them soon as the job is done. Love labels? Try permanently labeling your drawers. It can look great when it’s done right.
  • Fold And Put Away: Starting with the top drawers, fold the garments and put them away. Socks should be matched and either knotted together or folded inside one another to prevent them from separating. Fold sweaters and shirts so that they can be removed from the drawer without disturbing the other clothes. Store them side by side.
  • Tip: the key to neatness is in the fold. Check out this excellent video showing you just how to do it!

Tools: drawer dividers do help to keep your drawers organized.

Keep Like-Clothes Together: if socks and under garments will be sharing the same drawer, set up sections. One side will be socks and the other underwear. You may want to color-code them as well, keeping white athletic socks in one area, dark trouser socks in another, etc.
Shirts and sweaters can also be on different sides of the same drawer or in separate drawers.
Tip: if you live in a region with seasonal changes that require a different wardrobe, organize your dresser when it’s time to move from winter to summer clothes, or vice versa.

 

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Land Of Nod: Design for Kids and People That Used to be Kids

The Wonderful World of Laundry Baskets and Hampers

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By Sinea Pies

Laundry baskets aren’t just for laundry anymore. They can double as organizing tools, transporting devices and storage space. In the laundry world, there are even special styles of baskets that serve different functions. Laundry hampers, baskets, sorters and bags have each been designed for a slightly different use.

Laundry baskets, hampers, bags, sorters #organizing #laundry Ducks 'n a Row

It is no secret that I love laundry baskets. As a teacher at a “school on wheels,” I am ever so grateful for them. My preschool classroom supplies fit nicely in two plastic baskets with a couple of items on the side. Every school morning I pack the car up. End of day, repack and cart it all home. They make it so easy!

Hampers: Laundry hampers are best placed the bedroom where most dirty clothes are removed. Following a hard day’s work or play, a shower and change of clothes are in order. The soiled clothes can be conveniently tossed into the hamper before you go on with the rest of your day. Laundry hampers seldom leave the room. That is where the handy laundry basket comes into play.

Baskets: Laundry baskets are light-weight, portable, even stackable. They are designed with travel in mind. Pile them up with dirty clothes, plus other soiled items such as linens, and carry them to the washing machine. These containers will be used again to cart your brilliantly-clean wardrobe, neatly folded of course, back to its proper place in the closet, shelves and drawers for the next wearing. Other uses: store toys for kids and pets, create a fort or “car” for your little one to play in! 

The many fun uses of laundry baskets! #laundry #organizing Ducks 'n a Row

Sorters: Laundry sorters are great organizing tools for the laundry room. Keep one or two of them near the washing machine to separate the dirty laundry prior to washing. The sorters have several compartments in which you can separate your clothes: whites warm-wash, colors warm-wash, whites cold-wash, colors cold-wash, delicates needing extra care, and so forth. However you want to divide them, you will be able to quickly identify the necessary care and put in a load when that part of the sorter is full.

 
Bags: Mesh or canvas laundry bags are very useful, especially for college students, soldiers or athletes. Stuff them with clothes, sling them over your shoulder and take the contents wherever you want it to be. Teens and guys gravitate to the bag-method. Caution: if you use a trash bag for laundry. your clothes could accidentally wind up at the curb!

 
Many Styles to Choose From
Laundry baskets come in a variety of styles. The most common is a curved plastic design with easy-to-carry handles on each side. More decorative styles are woven and made of wicker or rattan, shades of their ancient counterparts. Some with lids, others without.
Yes, baskets have been tools for carrying and storage for centuries. The Bible tells that, as a baby, Moses’ life was spared when his mother put him in a basket and floated him down the Nile. Was it a laundry basket? Could be!

Robust Baskets For Tough Challenges
Over-sized versions of the laundry basket are a “laundry hero” for families with tough jobs. These jumbo sized containers work well for athletic families whose soccer, baseball, or football gear come back in desperate need. Have your kids shed their grimy uniforms first, in the garage or mud-room, before they enter. Keep a jumbo hamper or basket right there, where it will be needed the most. Send your sports-stars for a quick run to the shower. When they are squeaky clean they can get a regular-sized laundry basket and haul their uniforms to the washing machine. Sound like a plan?
Decluttering? Use laundry baskets to speed things up!
What area of your home magnetically collects “stuff”? Start there. It may be a table or counter-top. Miscellaneous clothes, junk mail, keys, books, dog leashes, gum wrappers, loose change…you name it and it just goes to die there! Tackle that “hot-spot” first.
  1. First, identify where the items do belong. Think regionally. Put every item that should go in the bedrooms into your empty laundry basket. Take it to the bedrooms and leave the items there. If the items belong to you, quickly put them away. Don’t spend a lot of time. You need to get back to your “crime scene”.
  2. Now, return with the empty basket to bring the next load to it’s proper destination. After everything that doesn’t belong there has been cleared, then remove everything else to clean and shine it.
  3. Finally, put something decorative, like a vase of flowers or some knickknacks, on display as a visual statement to you and the rest of the family that silently says “do not touch”. It will look so good that no one will want to be the first to mess it up.
Laundry Baskets For Kids
Establish good habits early in life. Give your children each a laundry hamper in their own room. Laundry hampers and baskets are sold with cute designs, sports figures and action heroes. If there isn’t one with the exact theme of your child’s room, pick brilliant complimentary colors that fit. Most importantly, teach them what the hamper is for and what to do when it gets full!
Bright Colored Bongo Buckets  (pictured below)
Related Posts…
LaundryPiling Up? Organize It Today
Cart It – Don’t Carry It
How To Fold a Fitted Sheet

Note: this author is an Amazon affiliate. Purchases made from Amazon through this blog will result in a small commission for me. In advance, “thank you!”  …Sinea 

      
Storage ideas for the home #organizing Ducks 'n a Row

Photo Credits:
  • Laundry by Hyena Reality on Freedigital Photos
  • Crying Baby by Raoul Snyman  on Flickr Creative Commons
  • Baby Gets a Ride by Bryce Edwards  on Flickr Creative Commons
  • Kitty in Basket by Jacob Davies on Flickr Creative Commons


How To Stay Organized In A Studio Apartment

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Several individuals live in studio apartments.  These small spaces make sense for various reasons.  They are usually cost effective for expensive city living, and they are great for single people who do not spend a lot of time in their actual homes.  Even better, they are usually conveniently located.  However, they can be a challenge when it comes to storage and organization.  Therefore, the following suggestions can help all studio residents to stay organized in their space. 
Develop A System For Storing Your Clothing
First, one of the best ways to stay organized in a studio is to come up with a solution for storing your clothing. Most people own more clothing than they can possibly store in the small space provided by their studio apartment.  Therefore, they need to come up with back up storage alternatives or get rid of the clothes they do not need.  
Some people store their seasonal clothes to free up space.  For example, they use a fur coat storage service to store their fur coats.  Others use their parent’s homes as an additional form of storage.  Some people rent storage units.  Regardless of which storage solution you choose, it is important to use one if you do not plan on throwing away or donating your clothing.  Otherwise, your small space will be a cluttered mess.

Layout Your Furniture Properly

Next, it is important to layout your furniture properly to provide the most space in your apartment.  This will allow you to stay organized and help the area to feel open.  Many people make the mistake of shoving their bed against the wall in a studio apartment.  This is not always necessary.  Instead, they can sometimes blend the bedroom and living room together to create a nice open area.  This leaves room for bookcases, shelves, and bins that can be organized properly.  It also helps the space to look less cluttered.

Use Storage Solutions

Furthermore, there are many helpful tools available that will make it easier for you to store your belongings.  For example, a bin or shelving unit can be used to store some of your belongings.  One of the great aspects of these options is that they are often decorative.  Therefore, you can use them to enhance the
hanging baskets, wicker baskets, storage bins

visual appearance of your home.  Additionally, you might want to consider adding hooks, cabinets, and built-in shelves to your closet area.  This will make it more functional and also help you to store more of your belongings.

Get Rid Of Waste

Finally, it is extremely important to get rid of waste.  Most likely, there are things in your possession that you no longer need.  Although you may want to hold on to sentimental items, you should be willing to part with the ones that are simply taking up space.  This way you do not have to figure out where to store them, and you can live a cleaner, stress free live. 
Remember, when you are organized in your environment, you create an atmosphere that is enjoyable and comfortable to live in.  Therefore, organization should be a priority.  Although it is more difficult in a smaller space, it is not impossible with these suggestions.

                      

Photo Credits:
Blonde in a Fur Coat by marin on Freedigital Photos
Hanging Wall Baskets by Wickerfurniture on Flickr Creative Commons