Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at Every Which Way Organization!

We hope you and your family have a safe and happy week together!
Once you have recovered from all the turkey, check back here next week for a special blog on getting your Christmas or Hanukkah decorations in order!


Happy Holidays!

It's Almost That Time of Year...

With the Holidays right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about organizing the one room where you will be investing a lot of your time. The Kitchen!

Starting to organize your kitchen is truly a cabinet by cabinet process. You will follow many of the same basic rules as organizing any part of your house.

1.       Start from the end of your kitchen and work your way around moving bottom to top with the cabinets.

2.       Give yourself a clear counter space to work with. An island top is ideal, but if you do not have one, try a large counter space or place a blanket on the floor to work with for the bottom cabinets.

3.       Open the cabinet and take everything out (it won’t be as scary as it sounds promise!)

4.       Begin creating categories for like items i.e. pots together, Tupperware together et. The purpose of this will be to make sure all like items are grouped in the same cabinet. So when you are re-shelving, make sure that only like items are placed back on the shelf. Has you work your way around the kitchen you may find more of the same items in other areas, these can then be placed with their counterparts in the same cabinet.

5.       Try to shelve according to usage. If you have items that you use on a daily basis, make sure that those are easily accessible to you. Any items that are not used often can be top shelved i.e. Fine China et.

6.       Organize things in a way that will be easy to maintain. Your organizing does not have to look perfect; it just has to be functional for you. Keeping everything grouped is the main key to finding everything easily.

7.       Keep up your organization. The best way to keep up your kitchen organization is to maintain your organization every time you do the dishes. When going through the organizing process involve your family, so that they know where things should go.

Another great company I have found for kitchen organization is Shelf Genie. They provide you with custom made glide out shelving for your kitchen. This is a great investment if you have deep kitchen cabinets that make it hard to reach all your items. They also supply great Glide Out drawers for your pantry as well!

This weeks reccommended link!

http://www.wikihow.com/Organize-a-Kitchen

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Product Review & Contest-Sweater Compartment Bags

Function: Attaches to existing closet rods to hold sweaters, t-shirts or handbags.

What’s Included:  Just an easy to assemble nylon mesh fold out compartment bag. The bag has a Velcro fastener on the top to attach to your closet rod.

Price Point: $19.99 

Pros:  

1. Easy to assemble.  
2. Helps keep sweaters organized and neat for those who do not like to hang sweaters, or do not have the space to store them on shelves.  
3. These are also great for “Winter Closets” to store sweaters in small spaces until Winter.  
4. Better solution to storing on top shelves where finding an individual sweater may be difficult.    
5. Can hold up to 24 sweaters.

Cons: There really are no cons. The price point creates a less expensive alternative to adding shelves to your closet

Overall Review: 5/5 stars Great price point, easy to use and makes it easier to access your clothes!

Find out more about this product here

Would you like to win this product? Email us at everyww@gmail.com with the word "contest" to enter!

Contest ends Wednesday September 30th.
     

Transforming a Junk Drawer

We all have one, whether it is in your bathroom, kitchen or office.

That faithful drawer that collects all of those knickknacks we don't know what to do with.

Getting your junk drawer organized may be easier than you would expect. We will give you some step by step instructions for getting it organized, and some products that will help you keep it clean!

1. Take everything out of your drawer. If you have a lot of trash or small pieces it is best to use an old blanket or towel to place items on while separating them.
2. Start Separating. Create categories from the pieces you find. “Office Items”, “Tools”, et. Keep all of these categories separated; use post-it notes if necessary.
3. Don’t be afraid to throw things away! When categorizing, if something comes up that you can’t categorize, or can’t figure out where you would use it toss it out! Your categories should be specific and there is no use keeping something you have no clue when you would use it, “Just in case”.
4. How to organize it all. I highly recommend using in drawer organizers if you don’t have another designated, organized, area to put your new categories into. It is very important to make sure this drawer does not turn into another junk drawer. Just keep everything in order and place them into the designated areas.

Here are some suggestions from the Container Store:

Clear Divided Drawer Organizer

Silver Mesh Drawer Organizer

Happy Organizing!

Have an organizing question? Email us at everyww@gmail.com

Ask Every Which Way

Dear EWWO,

 In the past few months I have noticed that my bedroom closet has turned into more of a storage area. My clothes are hidden behind boxes and other items.  I just can’t keep it clean because I don’t understand what to NOT put in there. I know it seems like a simple enough question, but having a walk in closet is becoming more annoying than exciting.

                                                                                     Jane R.

                                                                                  Marietta, Ga

 Dear Jane ,

My rules on what should be in a bedroom closet are very bare minimum:

1. In season clothes you are currently wearing including tops, jeans, underwear et
2. Labeled plastic storage Containers for out of season clothes (if no space is available in another closet)
3. Linen for your bed
4. Shoes you currently wear, placed neatly on a shoe rack or on built in shelves
5. Hats, if neatly placed in hatboxes or displayed on shelves neatly
6. Good quality extra Hangers

That’s it.

Yes that’s it. Doesn’t seem like a lot does it? Well here are some of the things that should never be stored in a bedroom closet.

• Boxes- The items in tese should be placed in clear storage containers and labeled. Then put into a storage area or cloeset.
  
• Clothes you never wear- If you have clothes that you simply never wear there is no use in keeping them another day! Donate any clothing items you have not worn in a year or more.
  
• Photo Albums & Cards- If you use these items for scrapbooking they should be stored where you actually use them, in an office or desk area. These items should also be stored in storage containers and labeled.
  
• Those old dry cleaner hangers- I know, I know. I have heard it all when it comes to why people keep these around. But the truth is they are not good for your clothes and they are just plain unattractive! Invest in some good quality plastic hangers for your closet and or wooden hangers for your suits and dresses.

Have a question for EWWO? Email us at everywhichwayorg@yahoo.com

For more tips on keeping your bedroom closet organized, visit this weeks recommended link !

http://www.msstate.edu/web/news/nycu/closet.htm

Ask Every Which Way!

Do you have an Organizing or Decorating question?
Email us at everyww@gmail.com with your question and we will write a blog dedicated to you for our featured
"Question of the Week"!