Latest news with #Organize2Harmonize
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
These under-$20 products pro organizers swear by are even cheaper for Amazon Prime Day
We independently evaluate the products we review. When you buy via links on our site, we may receive compensation. Read more about how we vet products and deals. It's that time of year — you know, when Amazon Prime Day (in this case, week!) rolls around, presenting the perfect opportunity for you to get the mountains of stuff in your home under control and in their proper place. As a longtime editor who tests housewares for a living, I'm very familiar with the myriad storage solutions on the market. But I'm also someone who struggles with organization, so I reached out to the experts for big takeaway? Professional organizers say you don't have to toss everything you own — or spend a ton of money — to organize as well as they do. All of these bins, baskets and other finds will cost you less than pizza delivery, and now they're even cheaper thanks to Prime Day. Order in the house! "Plastic shoe boxes are my go-to for every room in the home. Not only do I use them for shoes in a closet, because they stack evenly and can hold more than sandals or flip-flops, but they're also great for small toys like Legos, figurines and cars, as well as craft supplies, office supplies, cookie cutters, tools in the garage, makeup and much, much more." — Robyn Reynolds, owner, Organize2Harmonize (Reynolds's go-to boxes are no longer available, but we found this clear, stackable pack of 12 at Amazon on sale for under 30 bucks!) "I always recommend a lazy Susan to my clients for the kitchen. It's great for maximizing space in cabinets, refrigerators and shelves and making items more accessible. Its versatility makes it a must-have for any kitchen, and it's also affordable. This one comes in convenient sizes, and it has a nice lip edge to prevent items from falling off." — Ritsuko Nakajima, owner, After Declutter "One of my must-have organizing products is purse hanger hooks. They are perfect for floppy bags that don't sit upright on a shelf. They can also be used in a coat closet for totes and sports bags. We even use them for organizing belts and scarves. Twelve hooks are $10, making these a major must-have!" — Katrina Teeple, founder, Operation Organization "This $10 adhesive paper towel holder is a genius way to declutter your counters! You can even use them inside a cabinet door." — Jennifer Johnson, owner, The Orderly Space "My favorite organizing item under $20 is an acrylic stackable drawer. You can find this product at Amazon, The Container Store and various other department stores. I love this product because of its multiuse function. I've used it in several spaces, such as under the kitchen or bathroom sink. I have also used it in linen closets to categorize the small items we own such as eye care, dental care and feminine products. I just love how you can stack them side by side and the space looks great. I also love the upgraded look of labeling each drawer so my clients can find their things easier and also put things away much quicker." — Tamar Bazin, owner, Tidee Living "Everyone has baseball caps, but could they be better organized? They're usually found on a shelf, stacked so high they look like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. A game-changer storage solution for ball caps are these hat stands that will hold up to seven hats each. Better yet, they come in a pack of two, so you can fit 14 hats for only a $16 investment! They are acrylic, hold hats by the bill and make your baseball hat collection look chic, all while saving space!" — Katrina Teeple "Paper organizing is one of my specialties, so I'm going to have to go with a desktop file box. Any kind of file box or plastic crate with rails can hold hanging folders and serve to organize your papers in lieu of investing in a filing cabinet or a desk with file drawers. But a desktop file box helps you organize a smaller subset of papers and takes up less real estate when you need to collate some essential items. For example: In the kitchen, keep folders of clipped recipes, takeout menus, coupons, and those little manuals for kitchen appliances. On your desk, organize your action-item papers (like the paper forms you need to fill out and bring to the doctor's office or accountant), monthly bills, insurance policy papers and vital documents. Opt for something pretty to make you more inclined to file away loose pieces of paper." — Julie Bestry, owner, Best Results Organizing "Shelf risers are my go-to products for organizing kitchen cabinets! No matter what type of kitchen you have, they are simple and guaranteed to add more storage space and make it easier to access your mugs, plates and more." —Hannah Goetz, owner, Hannah Goetz Organizing
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ready to tackle the clutter? Experts say these tips will see you through to the end
In theory, decluttering is a wonderful idea: Pare down what you have so you can live a more organized and less stressed life. In practice? Well, when was the last time you tried to declutter your home? For many of us, this task feels overwhelming, if not downright impossible. But it's not, I promise! How do I know? I'll use myself as an example: As a home editor and cleaning products tester, I like my space to look tidy. But I also consider myself a "collector" of beautiful things (okay, if I'm honest, "hoarder" might be more accurate). What I'm saying is that I love stuff and have a lot of it, so I understand the desire to declutter — and the paralysis that desire can create. After interviewing a small army of professional organizers for this story, I decided to put their tips for decluttering into practice. I found that the secret is starting small — you don't have to do it all in a day. And once you start organizing, set up a system that's easy to maintain (are you going to follow that complicated filing system? If not, skip it). Because in the end, consistency is what'll keep even us avid "collectors" organized for the long haul. Black and white garbage bags Heavy-duty tote bags (for bringing things to a donation center) Storage bins Sticky notes or painter's tape (for labeling categories) "What space is bothering you the most? Start with the most disorganized spot because once you get through it, everything will feel easier," says professional organizer Aly Finkelstein. The exception: areas that contain lots of sentimental items or collections you feel attached to, advises Marissa Hagmeyer, NEAT Method co-founder and author of The NEAT Method Organizing Recipe Book. Before tackling them, get into the groove with a spot like the pantry, where you can toss obviously old or expired food with minimal guilt. And write it down! "Treat decluttering like any other important task on your to-do list," says Rachel Rosenthal, an organizational expert and Post-it Brand ambassador. Allot a few hours per room, and spread the sessions over a few weeks, if needed, so you're not doing the entire house in one day. If a few hours feels like too much, "break it down into bite-sized chunks," Rosenthal says. "Set a timer for 15 minutes, and focus on just one area, drawer or shelf at a time. This way, you're not overwhelmed, and you'll start seeing progress quickly — no matter how small the task feels." Another trick for short decluttering sessions: Turn them into a game! Jennifer Johnson, owner of The Orderly Space, likes the "one song challenge" (declutter as much as you can during one song) and the "toss 10 challenge" (find 10 things to donate or trash ASAP). If you're decluttering with someone else like a spouse, set a timer and see who can declutter the most in that period, suggests Robyn Reynolds, owner of Organize2Harmonize. "The competition will help you get it done." Before you start the actual decluttering, create a system. Designate an area for each of the following categories: donate, recycle, toss and relocate. "Anything in good condition should go to local donation centers (Goodwill, shelters, or even Buy Nothing groups). Selling? Make it easy — Facebook Marketplace or consignment stores work best for quick cash. For items beyond repair, check out to find proper recycling centers," says Johnson. Set up trash bags for items you'll throw out or recycle, heavy-duty totes (or different color trash bags) for donated items, and bins for stuff you're keeping. Finkelstein, for example, uses black garbage bags for trash and white ones for donations. Label everything. Time to get down to business! Pick a spot to declutter and take everything out so you can sort it into the categories above, one by one, says Finkelstein. Organize items by type, which will allow you to quickly identify unnecessary duplicates within the same category. "Do you have three pizza cutters? That's probably an indicator that you could say goodbye to two of them," says Hagmeyer. When deciding what to part with, keep in mind this simple mantra from Rosenthal: "If it doesn't make your life easier or better, it doesn't need to take up space in your home." "Decluttering can be tough because it forces us to acknowledge when something no longer serves us — even if it once did," she adds. "Trust yourself to know when it's time to let go." That means releasing any guilt you feel for donating an expensive purchase, a family memento or a gift someone gave you. "Remember, you're not erasing memories by decluttering. It's about creating space for the memories that matter now, not holding onto things 'just because,'" she says. Reynolds calls this the "one-day syndrome." She explains, "So many people hold onto things thinking they will need them one day. The problem is that one day rarely comes and if it does, is it worth having held onto that item for years waiting for it to happen? Probably not." The bottom line is it's just stuff. And if you really can't decide what to do, let your house do it for you. "The biggest piece of advice I would give is let your space dictate the volume of stuff you have," says Finkelstein. Once you've made the hard decisions, don't let the items you're parting with sit around. "Generally it's best to remove them from your environment ASAP," says Anne Mooney, a professional organizer for TaskRabbit. "If you are donating, choose the easiest, closest place to donate, and place items in an opaque container or bag so that you don't take a second look before you drop off. This helps you from second-guessing your decisions." Can't get to the donation center right away? Move that pile to a less visible spot and carve out time in the near future for a drop-off. "Make it a habit to drop off donations regularly so you're not holding onto things longer than necessary. It'll make decluttering feel less like a chore and more like a natural part of your routine!" suggests Rosenthal. As tempting as it is to grab bins, baskets and pretty storage solutions before you've started decluttering, resist the urge, says Rosenthal. Declutter first, organize second. "Once you've cleared the space, then you can see exactly what you need to store things effectively."
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
How to organize your pantry like a pro with 5 easy tips
Why is it so hard to find anything in the pantry? Somehow, food container lids always seem to go missing, the canned goods live in multiple places and that packet of taco seasoning for tonight's dinner is nowhere to be found — but there are three jars of peanut butter. Keeping those shelves tidy can feel like a never-ending task, so we consulted with the pros on how to organize your pantry in a few easy steps. Most organizers agree that the first step to decluttering the pantry is taking everything out of the pantry — and we do mean everything. Then, review expiration dates and toss stuff you haven't used in a while. If you haven't eaten pickled asparagus in a year, odds are you're never going to. As for non-food items like food storage containers, water bottles and appliances, take stock of what you use daily versus what you rarely use. Relegate holiday serving pieces and other items you only pull out a few times a year to top shelves or other storage areas outside of the kitchen. Whether you need a few tweaks or a complete pantry overhaul, we've got expert tips and products to help. (For more kitchen organization, check out our expert-sourced list of the best kitchen cabinet organizers and our guide to the best kitchen organizers of 2025). The pantry can be a big pain point, says Robyn Reynolds, owner of Organize2Harmonize. "With no organization, you don't know what you have and you end up buying more and more of the same." To better keep track, she advises creating zones: baking, breakfast, sauces, grains, snacks, canned goods, drinks and so on. Use baskets or bins to keep zoned items together. Once you've identified your pantry zones, use labels on containers where you can't see the contents — but also on shelves and in drawers so everyone in the house knows what goes where, no questions asked. "Even if creating a label for where you keep the cooking spoons seems silly, do it anyway," says Katrina Teeple, owner of Operation Organization. "Labels keep us honest with ourselves. They also support family members in putting things back where they belong! You can't argue with a label. It says what it says!" "Take small containers and packets out of bulky boxes. You'll save space and keep food fresh," says Elia Wolberger, a chef and meal prep expert in New York City. This also helps you locate smaller items easily. Once items are out of all their packaging, you can corral them in clear drawers. If you have deep shelves, look for long, clear bins to make the most of the space. And don't forget to group like with like! "I love a turntable," says Marlena Masitto, owner of Philly Neat Freaks. "It helps with visibility for sauces, especially. Plastic ones are easier to clean, and I like a bit of a lip so things don't fly off. Open formats are often better than ones with compartments, which can be too limiting in terms of the size of items." "It's easy to create more storage inside cabinets with risers because they take advantage of unused vertical space," explains professional organizer Zeenat Siman. She recommends measuring your tallest items, then adjusting the shelves accordingly. If you can't adjust the shelves (or don't have enough), pick up some stackable or adjustable risers.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Professional organizers say everyone should own these under-$20 products
We independently evaluate the products we review. When you buy via links on our site, we may receive compensation. Read more about how we vet products and deals. It's that time of year — you know, when you start looking at the mountains of stuff in your house and resolve, once and for all, to get organized. This is a great first step but you're probably wondering — where to begin? We can all agree that keeping a house neat isn't always easy. Unless you're vigilant about decluttering or have a ton of storage space, things can quickly get out of hand. I'm a longtime editor who tests housewares for a living, so I'm very familiar with the myriad storage solutions on the market. But I'm also someone who struggles with organization, which is why I reached out to the experts for pointers. What I discovered is that you don't have to toss everything you own — or spend a ton of money — to organize like a professional. And let's be clear: I'm not recommending you buy more stuff just for the heck of it. These pro-approved organization products are thoughtfully designed to help you maximize your space and keep your belongings neat and easy to access. Scroll on for our under-$20 finds, then get to it! Read more: Pro tips for organizing your kitchen Bathroom storage hacks Editor-approved fridge organizers "These plastic shoe boxes are my go-to for every room in the home. Not only do I use them for shoes in a closet, because they stack evenly and can hold more than sandals or flip-flops, but they're also great for small toys like Legos, figurines and cars, as well as craft supplies, office supplies, cookie cutters, tools in the garage, makeup and much, much more." — Robyn Reynolds, owner, Organize2Harmonize "I always recommend a lazy Susan to my clients for the kitchen. It's great for maximizing space in cabinets, refrigerators and shelves and making items more accessible. Its versatility makes it a must-have for any kitchen, and it's also affordable. This one comes in convenient sizes, and it has a nice lip edge to prevent items from falling off." — Ritsuko Nakajima, owner, After Declutter "One of my must-have organizing products is purse hanger hooks. They are perfect for floppy bags that don't sit upright on a shelf. They can also be used in a coat closet for totes and sports bags. We even use them for organizing belts and scarves. Twelve hooks are $10, making these a major must-have!" — Katrina Teeple, founder, Operation Organization "This $10 adhesive paper towel holder is a genius way to declutter your counters! You can even use them inside a cabinet door." — Jennifer Johnson, owner, The Orderly Space "My favorite organizing item under $20 is an acrylic stackable drawer. You can find this product at Amazon, The Container Store and various other department stores. I love this product because of its multiuse function. I've used it in several spaces, such as under the kitchen or bathroom sink. I have also used it in linen closets to categorize the small items we own such as eye care, dental care and feminine products. I just love how you can stack them side by side and the space looks great. I also love the upgraded look of labeling each drawer so my clients can find their things easier and also put things away much quicker." — Tamar Bazin, owner, Tidee Living "Everyone has baseball caps, but could they be better organized? They're usually found on a shelf, stacked so high they look like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. A game-changer storage solution for ball caps are these hat stands that will hold up to seven hats each. Better yet, they come in a pack of two, so you can fit 14 hats for only a $16 investment! They are acrylic, hold hats by the bill and make your baseball hat collection look chic, all while saving space!" — Katrina Teeple "Paper organizing is one of my specialties, so I'm going to have to go with a desktop file box. Any kind of file box or plastic crate with rails can hold hanging folders and serve to organize your papers in lieu of investing in a filing cabinet or a desk with file drawers. But a desktop file box helps you organize a smaller subset of papers and takes up less real estate when you need to collate some essential items. For example: In the kitchen, keep folders of clipped recipes, takeout menus, coupons, and those little manuals for kitchen appliances. On your desk, organize your action-item papers (like the paper forms you need to fill out and bring to the doctor's office or accountant), monthly bills, insurance policy papers and vital documents. Opt for something pretty to make you more inclined to file away loose pieces of paper." — Julie Bestry, owner, Best Results Organizing "Shelf risers are my go-to products for organizing kitchen cabinets! No matter what type of kitchen you have, they are simple and guaranteed to add more storage space and make it easier to access your mugs, plates and more." —Hannah Goetz, owner, Hannah Goetz Organizing "Hooks are one of my top organizing tools because they're small, sturdy and wildly versatile. The classic Shaker peg rail can be hung in a closet, entry, mudroom, playroom or kitchen. Affordable and timeless, this workhorse item is perfect for hanging coats, hats, scarves, belts, bags, jewelry, oven mitts, aprons, brooms and more. Three cheers for this multiuse product!" — Shira Gill, author of Life Styled, Organized Living and Minimalista
NBC News
30-01-2025
- General
- NBC News
How to store important documents so they stay safe
We don't always have the answers, but we have some people on speed dial who do — which is why we present to you our series FYI where we have experts explain if lip balm is actually bad, how often should you wash your hair and more. Social security cards, birth certificates, marriage licenses, tax papers — we all have a number of documents in our home that it is important to keep safe. Safe from what? Several things, like unexpected disasters like floods and fires or simply misplacing these items in a messy room. 'It is so easy for them to be damaged, destroyed or lost when you don't have a system for preserving them,' says Ashley La Fond, founder of home organization company Of Space & Mind. 'Also, if you are ever subject to a weather event or fire, you won't be able to rescue documents if they aren't in one place.' Not having these documents when you need them can prevent you from being able to do important life things, such as renewing your driver's license or filing taxes. Not only that, replacing these things can be arduous and annoying. To ensure you always have these documents when you need them, we turned to top organization experts to find out what documents you should pay special attention to and how to store them so they stay safe. We also got product recommendations that can make that organization a bit easier. Why is it important to properly store documents? There are several reasons why it's crucial to store important documents properly. First, you want to be able to grab them quickly if you need them — whether it's because there's a sudden disaster or you need to do something quickly with them. 'People often waste a lot of time looking for important papers because they are not organized in any way,' says Robyn Reynolds, owner of the organization company Organize2Harmonize. 'Often, too much time is spent looking for things, which can lead to missing important deadlines.' Beyond that, not correctly storing your documents can leave you at risk for other potential issues — like losing them or, worse, having them stolen. 'Identity theft is a real issue and not having documents stored properly makes you an easier target.' says La Fond. 'Birth certificates, passports and immigration paperwork should be stored where they are protected from theft and can be easily reached in case of an emergency.' What documents are important to save and safely store? To some degree, what is considered an important document will vary by person or family. However, some documents are likely to be universally important to everyone. 'The most important types of documents are government-issued as they are the hardest to replace,' says La Fond. 'These are the things you will need in an emergency and having them scattered prevents you from a quick exit.' Below, experts told us these are some of the most important documents to store safely: Birth certificates Death certificates Passports Social security cards Marriage licenses Military service and discharge decrees Property deeds Vehicle titles Insurance policies Business licenses Current will and trust documents Tax documents Medical documentation What is the safest way to store important documents? When storing important documents, you'll first want to consider where they should be. 'Ideally, you want them to be in a centralized spot in your home so they're easy to get to,' says La Fond. 'At the same time, you want to avoid spots that are super obvious or near exits to safeguard against theft.' That means the drawer of your desk in your home office may not be such a great place. Instead, think about a closet that's easy to access or a special cabinet in a home library or bedroom. In terms of how to store them, La Fond suggests keeping everything together in a lockable, fireproof storage box. 'I always tell my clients to have what I call a 'grab-and-go box,' adds Reynolds. 'The idea is you want something you can quickly grab that has everything in it. Too many people store their documents in different folders in a filing cabinet, which isn't the best if you need to grab everything and leave at a moment's notice.' Storing important documents digitally Another option is to store certain documents digitally. While you need hard copies of things like social security cards and birth certificates, other things are too cumbersome to store physically. 'Financial documents and tax documents should be stored electronically unless your accountant tells you otherwise — nobody needs to be storing boxes and boxes of old documents,' says La Fond. It doesn't hurt to have a digital version, even for documents you need physical copies of. 'This way you always have a copy and can even reference it when you're not at home,' says La Fond. 'Scan passports, licenses and certificates and save them digitally with an easy-to-follow filing system. Don't overcomplicate it. If you have to think too hard to file something, then you're gone too far.' To store your documents electronically, you can download a scanner app and store them in a folder on your desktop or in the cloud. One thing to keep in mind: If you use a shared computer, it may not be a good idea to keep these items on your desktop, where other people can access them. Servers like DropBox and OneDrive are specifically created to keep these documents secure and out of the hands of cyber thieves or hackers. Products that help you organize your documents According to our experts, storing your documents in something fireproof that protects them from water is key. Our experts also agreed that it's important to store files in something quick and easy to grab should you need to leave the house quickly with them. DocSafe Document Bag with Lock This bag is bigger than a shoe box, zips shut and has a handle to make it easy to grab and go should you need to. It's both water and fire-resistant and has three zippered mesh pockets to hold passports or licenses or computer drives. The main compartment can hold several documents and it has a lock to keep everything secure. This bag has a 4.4-star average rating from over 9,000 reviews on Amazon. If you prefer more of a filing cabinet storage solution, consider this small document safe. It is fireproof and waterproof in liquid up to 8 inches. You can store documents in hanging folders to keep them organized and neat. One thing to note: This safe weighs just under 40 pounds, making it one of the heavier options on this list. It has a 4.6-star average rating from over 13,500 reviews on Amazon. This handle bag looks similar to a laptop bag and has a 12-pocket accordion file organizer inside to keep documents separate but together. It also has mesh pockets intended for things like passports, credit cards and other forms of identification and a zippered pocket on the front. It is waterproof and fireproof, according to the brand, and lightweight. This folder is a sleek and compact option for those with few documents to store. It closes with a zipper and will easily fit legal size documents. Inside, it has a 13-pocket accordion file folder to organize your papers. The outside is coated in silicone to keep it fireproof and waterproof, according to the brand. This option has a 4.6-star average rating from over 8,200 reviews on Amazon. Andyer Two Pockets Fireproof Document Bag Even smaller than the previous option, you can slide a handful of documents into this fireproof sleeve to protect them. It is also water resistant, according to the brand, and closes with a zipper. Along with papers, you can slide an iPad into it for safekeeping. This file folder has a 4.7-star average rating from over 7,650 reviews on Amazon. Meet our experts At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest. Why trust NBC Select? Bethany Heitman is a contributor at NBC Select and a journalist who regularly covers beauty, home and lifestyle. For this story, she interviewed experts on how to safely store important documents.
