Archives for July 2007

Taming Book Clutter

The biggest part of my recent uncluttering project was gaining control of, and undoing the damage from, my impulsive book buying habit. Over the years, I had acquired somewhere near 850 books, mostly stored away in boxes and bins throughout my apartment.

Much of the book clutter I’d accumulated consisted of outdated technical references and one-reads that I’d likely never pick up again. As such, these books were doing nothing more than taking up space, and adding unnecessary clutter to my life.

This post over at Zen Habits offers a set of tips and tools for getting rid of old books, and cutting back on the expense of buying new ones. I used several of these tools to eliminate nearly three quarters of my book clutter!

The most important tool mentioned, of course, is a library card. Once you get over the compulsive need to own every book you’ve read, it’s quite liberating to have only those books that you’re currently reading. You’ll suddenly find yourself with more money in your pocket, less clutter in your life, and you may even notice that you read more frequently, because the books you’ve borrowed must soon be returned.

Posted by Brian on Jul 19, 2007 | 28 Comments | Tweet This

Ten things to do in 10 minutes

I get frustrated when I work for eight hours straight and then finish the day feeling like I haven’t accomplished anything. It is as if I have been a hamster in a wheel, running nowhere. It’s times like these when I seek out small tasks that I can finish quickly to feel some sense of productivity. Often, too, small tasks are all that I can handle because I’m exhausted.

If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, feel welcome to tackle one (or more) of the following 10 uncluttering tasks you can do in 10 minutes:

  • Organize your sock drawer. Get rid of socks that are hole-ridden, stained, or without mates.
  • Clean out the cupboard under your kitchen sink. I’m not sure why, but in my home this is where all of my “I don’t want to deal with this right now” kitchen items land.
  • Round up all of your pet’s toys. My cats like to swat their toys under dressers and into closets. Once a week, I walk around the house with a yard stick, retrieve all of their toys, and return them to their toy basket.

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Posted by Erin on Jul 19, 2007 | 20 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: Asparagus pot

I never realized what a treasure trove of unitaskers Williams-Sonoma offers. Just a quick scan through their site and I came across quite a few that will surely keep the unitasker posts coming well into the new year.

The first one I decided to post is the All-Clad Stainless-Steel Asparagus Pot. Apparently, preparing asparagus has become so difficult and confusing that the need for a specific pot is crucial in getting it prepared just right.

And if you need to drain your asparagus, Williams-Sonoma also offers the Pillivuyt Asparagus Plate with Drainer for a mere $89.

But how exactly does one handle those crazy greens when you are preparing them? Williams-Sonoma also has you covered there with Asparagus Tools. If you purchase all these very specific kitchen gadgets, you’ll need a whole cabinet cupboard to house them.

Thanks to Williams-Sonoma for such a great line of unitasker products.

Note: Like all Unitasker Wednesday posts, this one is written fully in jest with ample amounts of sarcasm.

Posted by Matt on Jul 18, 2007 | 16 Comments | Tweet This

Furniture line hides cable-clutter out of sight

Whenever I watch Family Guy, I often find myself nodding in agreement whenever the talking dog opines on either aesthetics or design. He’s usually spot on.

So it came as no surprise when I tuned in one Sunday night and heard him dryly deliver a statement of preference that I too shared, but had been keeping to myself for several years. It’s an opinion that might be considered subversive or even possibly heretical in most parts of this country:

“I don’t care for Pottery Barn.”

The overstuffed and oversized furniture they sell only contributes to the trend toward ever-larger dwellings. Scale issues notwithstanding, my modernist tendencies generally keep me from finding anything redeemable in the design aspects of their offerings.

I am, however, somewhat intrigued by their new “Smart Technology” line of furniture, which features an emphasis on the elimination of visible cable-clutter.

The inexpensive Leah Desk features an integrated powerstrip as well as ports for network connections.

Leah Desk

The Bedford Smart Recharge Station provides a central location for the charging of portable electronic devices.

Smart Recharge Station

They also offer a CPU pedestal that looks like a library card catalog.

Posted by PJ on Jul 18, 2007 | 15 Comments | Tweet This

Packing tips

I’m heading out for a summer vacation, but I’m not doing the packing. My more organized better half takes care of those duties. I’m always amazed at the amount of stuff she fits into a modest-size bag for the both of us. I picked her brain so she could enlighten us on how to pack.

  • Make a list. First and foremost you must make a list. Otherwise, you are likely to forget something or pack too much.
  • Check the weather. Make sure you know the forecast for where you are headed and pack accordingly.
  • Pack less, but be versatile. Pack clothing that can be worn in just about any combination and don’t fret about wearing the same item more than once.
  • Folding is key. My wife is great at smashing things into our luggage, but she also folds everything into a meticulously small size.

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Posted by Matt on Jul 18, 2007 | 13 Comments | Tweet This

So you think you’re uncluttered?

In the past 10 years, I have not rearranged a single room of furniture in my home. I equate rearranging furniture with moving, and I hate moving. Noting this, it was quite shocking to me that on Friday evening I found myself pushing a dresser across my bedroom. I had accidentally rammed the sharp corner of it into my thigh one too many times, and I needed a new layout.

Halfway through the process, I realized that my bedroom was not as uncluttered as I had previously thought. In addition to finding items that were out of place (books, cat toys, battery adapters), I also realized that I had two extra side tables, a lamp, and a magazine rack in the room that I didn’t really have space to accommodate. No wonder I was bruising my leg on the dresser — there was too much furniture in the room!

If you’re looking to check your uncluttered status, you might want to try rearranging the furniture in a room. Even if you end up putting your furniture back in its starting space, the act of handling an item can help you to evaluate it. Plus, you may find the single sock that you’ve been missing or your dog’s favorite chew toy.

Posted by Erin on Jul 17, 2007 | 7 Comments | Tweet This

Reader question: How to dispose of old electronics?

Reader Alicia asked the following question:

What’s the best way to dispose of broken electronics? I have a drawerful of old cameras, Discmans, earbuds, etc. – can I just throw them out or is there a better way to get rid of the clutter?

Great question, Alicia! Your notion to keep the electronics out of your trash can is correct. Electronics should be donated to charity or recycled–not sent to take up space in a landfill.

Listed below is a small collection of resources for what you can do with old electronics. This list is obviously not exhaustive, so hopefully people will add some additional ideas into the comments section. Also, a search of your local government’s website with the terms “tech recycle” or “electronic recycle” will likely yield a number of results specific to your community.

Before I get to the list of disposal and recycling services, I would like to remind you that if you are getting rid of a computer or any electronic device with a hard drive (like an iPod) that you should properly delete the contents of the drive first. To do this, check out the following programs:

Now, on with the list for disposing of old electronics:

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Posted by Erin on Jul 17, 2007 | 14 Comments | Tweet This

Extreme minimalism Monday: Rock out

We’ve never really been a fan of the extreme minimalist’s guitar playing. Truth be told, he makes Robert Fripp’s music sound like pop by comparison.

He had been perfectly content playing a headless Steinberger GLB-2S. Recently, however, he came across pictures of a rare Gittler guitar from the 1970s.

It was love at first sight.

He just won’t stop talking about this guitar. For the last two weeks he’s been making phone calls and scouring the Net in a vain attempt to track down a Gittler of his very own.

So if you happen to come across one, please let us know and we’ll pass the info along.

Posted by PJ on Jul 16, 2007 | 2 Comments | Tweet This

Before and after: Stockholm project case

One of the most problematic clutter areas for me is my desk. Typically, I have many projects going, but can only really work on one at a time. The result is usually a small valley of workspace nestled among mountains of project clutter.

My solution is to use project cases. A project case is basically a magazine file with a lid that I leave open on my desk while working from it, then store away somewhere when I move to the next project.

It doesn’t matter what kind of stuff I’m working with — magazines, books, notebooks, CDs, DVDs, photos, or anything else that will fit — the project case takes the piles of stuff that would normally exist on my desktop and gets them out of the way so I can focus and get work done.

The best ones I’ve found so far are the Stockholm Project Cases from The Container Store. Made from recycled fiberboard, and finished with heavy paper exterior and interior and a reinforced hinge, they’re durable. The Stockholm cases are a bit larger than most of the other project cases I’ve found, so they easily accommodate not only letter sized paper, but larger items such as magazines and sketchbooks.

Project Case

Posted by Brian on Jul 16, 2007 | 15 Comments | Tweet This

Gallery hanging systems can solve artwork clutter

My father is a wildlife photographer. As his daughter, I have free access to his always expanding portfolio. I do not, however, have an always expanding supply of wall space to display my collection of his work.

To solve my conundrum and to keep my collection from getting out of control, I decided to turn the walls of the first floor of my house into an art gallery.

I started the project by installing an art gallery hanging system along the top of my walls. Cables slide into the tracks, and pictures hang from hooks that attach to the cables. I can hang multiple photographs on the wall at once, in any configuration, without having to hammer a single nail.

I currently have enough of his photographs that I can change the artwork on the first floor of my house three times a year. It does take some time to switch out the frames–I only have one set of frames that I use–but on the whole it is a pretty quick process. When the photos are not hanging on the walls, I store them in glassine envelopes inside an aluminum storage box. Having a limited number of pictures out at a time and the others stored safely in a small storage container keeps my collection of my father’s artwork uncluttered.

If you’re someone in a small space or who has a large artwork collection, you might want to consider installing an art gallery hanging system in your home. The system certainly worked for me.

Posted by Erin on Jul 16, 2007 | 4 Comments | Tweet This

Gadgetry clutter

So the new must-have gadget is the iPhone. It may have been the most hyped new gadget ever, but that doesn’t mean that it put an end to gadget madness. Everyone knows someone that must have the newest and most cutting edge technology out there and they won’t stop until they have it. The problem is technology never stops and there will always be a new gadget on the horizon for them to sink their teeth into.

This BBC article states:

Gadgets are no longer just about functionality, they’re a statement about you; hi-tech jewelry that beckons you to touch, try, buy and stake your place in the Stuff Lust society.

A gadget addict may have a problem if they constantly drool over the next best thing, but most of us can control our consumer frenzy and be happy with our two-year-old cell phones that doesn’t have internet access. When your time becomes cluttered with gadget envy and the continuous pursuit of the end-all of gadgetry, then you may want to think of why you pursue them so aggressively.

Posted by Matt on Jul 15, 2007 | 11 Comments | Tweet This

Corrective lenses are clutter

I’ve had to wear glasses or corrective lenses since I was in the third grade. At first, I thought they were cool. I had the lenses that tinted when exposed to sunlight. The novelty wore off after about a year or two and the quest for contact lenses began. I didn’t get contacts until I was in the eighth grade and I was happy to get them. The glasses just got in the way when playing baseball and basketball.

Unfortunately, I still wear contact lenses and on occasion I wear my glasses (only in my house). I’ve been looking into laser eye surgery for quite some time and I have to admit I’m bit freaked out by the process, but the clutter that my lenses add to my bathroom drawer is a bit more than I’d like. My drawer includes: my year supply of lenses (I wear disposables), my large container of saline solution, my glasses, and my contact case. So almost half of my tiny drawer is taken up with products to help me see.

The ability to see when I wake up is definitely the highest priority, but also I’m tired of keeping my drawer stocked with lenses and solutions. So, should I be freaked out by laser eye surgery or should I go ahead with the procedure? I checked to see if I was a good Lasik candidate and it turns out that it doesn’t look like a problem. Now if I could only figure out how to pay for it?

Posted by Matt on Jul 14, 2007 | 39 Comments | Tweet This

Gamer clutter

I must admit, I’m not much of a gamer. The last console I owned was the Nintendo 64, but a few of my friends live for gaming. They own multiple systems and they usually have controllers scattered around the floor that I always almost crush while heading to get a beer.

If you are a gamer, try and keep your entertainment system under control and the gaming clutter to a minimum. Here are some tips I’ve come up with:

  • Go wireless. All the most current gaming systems have the option of wireless controls. Some XBox 360 controllers have wires, but they also offer wireless. The Nintendo Wii and the Playstation 3 don’t even offer wired controllers, but if you are living in the stone-age and you have a PS2, you go can also go wireless. This way your friends won’t trip and kill themselves when they are trying to get a beer.
  • Put it away. I know I sound like a parent yelling down into your dark and dingy gaming basement, but when you’re not playing the game simply put it away.

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Posted by Matt on Jul 13, 2007 | 32 Comments | Tweet This

Handling inherited clutter, part 1

Inherited clutter can come in many forms, but usually it is accumulated in one of two ways:

  1. After the loss of a loved one, or
  2. When someone is moved into a smaller living space, such as a nursing home.

I have dealt with both situations, and can attest to their emotional strain. When my maternal grandparents suddenly passed away, everyone was stunned and grieving. Sorting through their out-dated coupons, years of saved wrapping paper, and my grandmother’s childhood doll collection was the last thing anyone in the family wanted to do. The next year, we had to move my paternal grandmother into an assisted living center, and the repercussions were just as severe. Lifetimes of possessions seemed to compound the grief, stress, anxiety, sadness, and seemingly endless waves of other emotions for everyone in the family.

In the coming days, I’m going to present a series of posts on the topic of inherited clutter. By no standard will these posts be completely exhaustive of the subject. Additionally, they won’t answer questions about funeral or nursing home arrangements. These posts will simply discuss objects that legally come into your possession or responsibility after one of the two above situations has occurred.

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Posted by Erin on Jul 13, 2007 | 17 Comments | Tweet This

The tried and true Swiss Army Knife

I’ll take a break from discussing unitaskers and follow Erin’s lead by talking about multi-taskers. The classic Victorinox Swiss Army Ranger Pocket Knife measures in at 3.5 inches and weighs a miniscule 4.8 ounces as it packs a whopping 20 different tools including:

  • Large and small knife blade
  • Corkscrew
  • Can opener
  • Bottle opener
  • Cap lifter
  • Screwdriver
  • Wire stripper
  • Reamer, punch
  • Multi-purpose hook
  • Nail file
  • Nail cleaner
  • Scissors
  • Metal file
  • Fine screwdriver
  • Wood saw
  • Toothpick
  • Tweezers
  • Key ring (ok, so this isn’t really a tool)

You can’t take it on an airplane, but around your house it has endless possibilities. This is the gold standard of multi-taskers. A Leatherman Multitool is the only multi-tasker that plays in the same league. Go get your MacGyver on!

Posted by Matt on Jul 12, 2007 | 13 Comments | Tweet This

Everyday things: Are you buying quality or quantity?

I recently stumbled across the April 2005 article “101 New Uses for Everyday Things” on the Real Simple Magazine website. The article is a bit folksy, but I like its underlying premise: Items you already own can serve multiple purposes and save you from having to buy even more stuff.

If you own olive oil, do you also need to own wood polish?

Knowing about the potential of what you already own can keep you from having to acquire even more things. What are some everyday things in your home that can serve double-duty? Let us hear your suggstions in the comments.

Posted by Erin on Jul 12, 2007 | 10 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: The Towel-matic paper towel dispenser

**How many times have you reached over for one piece of a paper towel only to find yourself under an avalanche of ever flowing paper towels? The Towel-matic paper towel dispenser can save you from that very problem, forever! If you only want one piece of paper towel, it gives you exactly one. If you want a half of a piece, it gives you half. Pretty amazing.

Now you can live a stress free life without having to worry about the dangers of getting crushed by a paper towel avalanche. Thank you iTouchless, this product will surely “make your life a lot easier at home.”

Would you like to see this amazing product in action? You know you do:

**Note: Like all Unitasker Wednesday posts, this one is written fully in jest with ample amounts of sarcasm.

Posted by Matt on Jul 11, 2007 | 19 Comments | Tweet This

Reader question: Dealing with a cluttery significant other

Reader Jennifer sends in this question:

I wonder if you can address what to do when one person in a relationship is content to be a clutterer, and the other person desires to be clutter-free. Obviously, I relate to this problem. I’d really like to get rid of a lot of the crap we never use (especially since we’re moving soon). However, my partner freaks at the suggestion of throwing stuff out, and I don’t want to dictate which Shiny New Gadgets he can and cannot buy. I’m really averse to preaching.

Jennifer, I feel your pain. I am in an otherwise blissful relationship with someone who is, shall we say, less neat than I am, and we’re moving in together soon. I’m very lucky because she is very understanding and accepting of my OCPD. That’s wonderful, but it does little to address the number of shoes in the apartment.

So what do we neat-freaks do? My first instinct is to nag, but that’s not very fair since it’s our obsession as much as anything else that causes the conflict. Your aversion to preaching is probably right because I don’t think you can ever command someone to stop being how they are. Something you learn in management 101 is that if you want someone to follow a course of action, you can’t just command them, you have to convince them that it’s the right course. You have to have “buy-in.” Otherwise you’ll just get lip service and resentment.

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Posted by Jerry on Jul 11, 2007 | 25 Comments | Tweet This

My umbrella has wifi!

Temptation to buy clutter is relentless. Objects like this wifi-enabled Ambient Umbrella will indicate if there is rain, drizzle, snow, or thunderstorms in your local forecast by emitting a blue glow. It’s cool. It’s sleek. You could be the envy of all of your gadget toting brethren. But, like many objects, it is just a little minx luring you to waste your money ($100) and add to your clutter. Run far, far away from these types of temptations.

Put your gadget consumerism to rest and download any number of free weather forecast widgets for your computer’s desktop, web browser, or PDA. Heck, just try looking out the window before leaving your house, and then examine your gadget buying problem.

Posted by Matt on Jul 10, 2007 | 8 Comments | Tweet This

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

My undergraduate degree is in journalism. One of my favorite smells in life is that of a fresh morning newspaper. Some of the best writing in America, I believe, comes from reporters on a regular beat. So, please know that it is with great consternation that I offer up the following advice:

Cancel your daily print newspaper subscription.

I understand that there is comfort in holding a newspaper in your hands. I know that routines are difficult to break. I also know that newspapers cause horrific amounts of clutter.

You’re reading this post on a computer, so I will assume that you are tech savvy enough to direct your browser to a newspaper’s website. If you don’t know the specific link, check out the following sites to find your favorite local and national papers online: http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/ and http://www.refdesk.com/paper.html.

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Posted by Erin on Jul 10, 2007 | 17 Comments | Tweet This