As a Certified Professional Organizer®️, we’ve pretty much seen it all. In Part One, we shared a few of our “Frustrations & Fixes” home dwellers can attend to on their own. You’d be surprised how a few little tweaks can brighten your day and make life Smartly Organized. In Part Two, we’re sharing how to make the most of those “hidden treasures” we all have in our homes.
Hidden Treasures: Check the Purses, Bags, and Pockets
Our clients routinely purge unwanted handbags and clothing. Before we bag up and remove items we check interiors and pockets. We regularly find lost items and money. For one male client who was donating large quantities of suits and coats we accumulated over $2,000 in cash tucked in various pockets. It became a game to see who found the most money in one jacket. For another client we found a high end watch that she’d had repaired but then “lost.” It was in a purse that she’d switched out for the season but hadn’t emptied. Imagine finding one of these “hidden treasures” in your home!
What the Smartly Organized Crew Says:
It’s a minor inconvenience for all of us to check these items but it’s really not good to leave designer handbags or clothing with loose items inside – these items can ruin the lining, invite unwanted guests, and just make swapping handbags a chore.
How Many Is Too Many?
Mugs, Tupperware, vases, cooking utensils, water bottles, pots and pans. These items build up over the years. Basic math will dictate how many of each you really need. No one uses every piece of Tupperware at once, or 50 coffee mugs in a day. And, if you’re planning a party for 50 people, I’m willing to bet you’re buying disposable.
What the Smartly Organized Crew Says:
Actually take the time to count out what you have. Decide what makes sense, get rid of the excess, and then apply a simple rule: one in – one out. Keeps the status quo.
Snap, Measure, Then Roll – Your Rugs
At Smartly Organized, we specialize in moving and relocation so it’s common for clients to ask me to repurpose rugs in different spaces or sell or consign rugs they no longer want. Unfortunately, most often, these rugs have been rolled up by movers, wrapped in plastic, before you’ve had the chance to take photos or measurements.
What the Smartly Organized Crew Says:
If you find yourself wanting to move or sell the rug, or simply to move the rug to another location, please take various photos in good lighting from various angles, and measure every rug you have before you roll it up or store it.