Archives for July 2008

Tiny landing strip for tiny spaces

The landing strip is an important area for one to have upon entry into one’s home. A traditional landing strip may be difficult to accommodate in smaller spaces. A wall mounted option might be a necessary alternative, like the one pictured here from Tiny Living. It has room for keys, mail, cellphone, and wallet.

This solution can serve as a landing strip in any home, but is especially useful for people in smaller spaces. Now tiny apartment dwellers don’t have to sacrifice floor space for a landing strip table.

(via Apartment Therapy)

Posted by Matt on Jul 22, 2008 | 16 Comments | Tweet This | Tags: ,

Inbox zero

A quick overview of my two email inboxes shows that I have 2,200 emails in one and just under 400 in the other. Why am I holding on to all of these messages? I’m not sure, but I’ll go out on a limb here and guess that some of you also have ridiculously high message counts.

Inbox clutter is definitely a issue I have yet to conquer and the problem is not taking care of itself. Over at 43 Folders, Merlin Mann has quite the series on emptying your inbox. It is called Inbox Zero. The series is extensive and also includes an hour long video of Mr. Mann’s Inbox Zero presentation.

From the introduction:

Clearly, the problem of email overload is taking a toll on all our time, productivity, and sanity, mainly because most of us lack a cohesive system for processing our messages and converting them into appropriate actions as quickly as possible.

Just as with any clutter, inbox clutter effects focus and takes away from the task at hand. Holding onto messages for no reason other than the fact that you “may need them one day.” Sounds like the excuse for clutter that takes up space in your basement, attic, or garage.

Posted by Matt on Jul 21, 2008 | 22 Comments | Tweet This | Tags: , , ,

iPhone 3G reduces pocket clutter

At 5:45 a.m. Friday, July 11, I was standing in a 17-person line at my local AT&T store. By 7:00 there were more than 100 people in line, and at 8:00 the line wrapped completely around the corner and down another block.

Being the seventeenth person in line had its advantages; I was able to purchase a 16 gig iPhone before the store ran out of merchandise. The process did not go smoothly, but by 4:15 that afternoon I had a fully functioning iPhone 3G in my pocket. The last time I upgraded my cell phone was four years ago and I think the word brick aptly describes what I had been toting around in my pocket before my conversion to the iPhone 3G.

Last summer, Jerry wrote a review about his experiences with the first generation iPhone. At the time, he didn’t see it as being a clutter-reducing device:

Because it’s a phone, a camera, an iPod, and an internet communicator, you’d think you could consolidate all of your devices. But as good as it is, it’s not going to replace a proper digital camera, a laptop, or even an iPod.

The new generation of the iPhone, however, eliminates most needs to carry an iPod or a laptop, and the camera is great for candid images. With 16 gigs of hard drive space, you can fit a great deal more of your iTunes music collection on the phone. The headphone jack was retooled between the first generation and this model, so it works now with all standard headsets. With the Airplane Mode, you can turn off wireless capabilities and watch a film on a flight. The camera is still just 2.0 megapixels, but allows for geotagging. The 3G network is significantly faster than the Edge network, and you can open Word, Excel, and Adobe PDF documents (you can’t alter these documents, but you can view them).

One of my personal favorite features is the GPS system that provides searching for area businesses and landmarks. Want to find the closest pet store? Search for “pet store,” and contact information and directions will appear for how to get from your current location to the store. It’s better than other handheld GPS device I’ve used, but since it doesn’t talk, it’s not as effective in the car. You can view turn-by-turn directions, but it won’t call them out to you as you drive:

I wish that it had a SSH client and the ability to edit Word and Excel documents, but overall it has significantly decreased the amount of items I take with me when I’m on the go. Tomorrow, I’ll review my favorite iPhone applications and how they further reduce the need to carry objects with you like a notebook, membership cards, and other pocket clutter. Are any of you new converts to the iPhone? What is your response to it and all of its hype?

Posted by Erin on Jul 21, 2008 | 31 Comments | Tweet This

A year ago on Unclutterer

Posted by PJ on Jul 20, 2008 | Comments Off | Tweet This

Help Evan find the perfect desk

Reader Evan sent us the following question:

I’m an engineering student, with tons of books and papers, so I love having a big open desk to work on, but I won’t have the space in my new flat. I have an idea of using a folding desk so that when it’s not in use, it’s not in the way. Plus, it’ll force me to put away all my junk! The problem is, I can’t find anything that seems to fit the bill — all I see are cheap card tables! Can you help me find something functional, yet attractive? Of course, if you have any other tips, I’d be delighted to hear them!

I immediately thought of numerous possibilities for Evan … and then noticed he said “flat.” An inquiry proved that he, in fact, is in London. Not a single one of the options that came to my mind could be found in the UK.

Instead of sending him a reply of “sorry, I can’t help,” I thought I would open up the comments to our European readers to lend Evan a hand. What suggestions do those of you across the pond have for him? Evan and I are interested in seeing your responses!

Posted by Erin on Jul 19, 2008 | 32 Comments | Tweet This

Replace large, home gym equipment with a Wii Fit

I dislike exercising in a gym full of workout equipment. I prefer to play competitive sports in the Big Blue Room instead of puffing away on a treadmill to nowhere. Unfortunately, this means that most winters I’ll add five to 10 pounds to my weight because the weather doesn’t always want to cooperate with my outdoor sports preferences.

I’m also obsessed with video games.

So, you can imagine my delight when I started reading rumor sites about a year ago that were discussing Nintendo’s Wii Fit. I could play video games! I could get a workout indoors! Win! Win!

Now that I’ve had one in my home for a while, I think it’s safe to say that I’m smitten with it. The balance and aerobic games are immensely more entertaining than the strength and yoga activities, but my opinion of this is again tied to my disdain for gym-style workouts. The virtual “trainers” in the game also creep me out a little. Their mouths don’t move and the male and female have the same pony tail hairstyle (envision Tim Robbins’ character in High Fidelity).

Overall, though, the game is a huge hit in our home. We’ve tossed our old bathroom scales because the sensor board has one built-in. I’ve Craigslisted my six-piece-set hand weights and our other home workout equipment that wasn’t being used. I also want to add that my husband and I have lost some excess weight–another form of unnecessary clutter. Plus, the sensor board works with We Ski and hopefully more upcoming games.

If you have a competitive spirit and aren’t using your gym membership or any of your exercise equipment, consider getting yourself a Wii and a Wii Fit. The money you get from selling off your workout equipment or stop paying to your gym in membership fees will more than make up for the price of the sensor board. Additionally, we store our sensor board on the floor underneath the media center where it takes up considerably less space than all of the workout equipment we had. The Wii Fit is my uncluttered workout solution.

Images courtesy of Amazon because I couldn’t get up the nerve to post pictures of myself in workout clothing.

Posted by Erin on Jul 18, 2008 | 35 Comments | Tweet This

Workspace of the Week: Organized Pixar wall

This week’s Workspace of the Week is hotrocket’s Pixar desk:

Seeing that Wall-E was released a couple weeks ago, I wanted to highlight this organized Pixar wall, and the very empty desk that sits in front of the shrine. This reminds me of the very organized memorabilia office we featured a while back. If you have a collection of something that you truly find inspiring, it is possible to find a way to display them so they do not overtake your workspace.

Want to have your own workspace featured in Workspace of the Week? Submit a picture to the Unclutterer flickr pool. Check it out because we have a nice little community brewing there. Also, don’t forget that workspaces aren’t just desks. If you’re a cook, it’s a kitchen; if you’re a carpenter, it’s your workbench.

Posted by Matt on Jul 18, 2008 | 5 Comments | Tweet This | Tags: ,

Organizing and preserving written letters

The couple who lived in the house next door to me when I was growing up owned their home for more than 50 years. Helen and Richard raised their children there and stayed in the house until they passed away in their late 80s. After they left the house, a younger couple moved in and started raising a family of their own.

On a Saturday afternoon while doing repair work on the house, the new owners discovered a stack of love letters behind a loose plank in a bedroom wall. After reading “To my dearest Helen” at the top of one of the letters, they brought them to my mother so that she might be able to pass them along to Helen and Richard’s children.

My mother was delighted by her new neighbor’s discovery, and snuck a peek at the letter at the top of the pile. The letter spoke of being off at war and the uncertainty that existed in every moment. The letter’s author longed to be with Helen again and missed her dearly. Then, my mother looked at the signature, and the name wasn’t Richard’s.

When my mother passed the stack of letters along to Helen and Richard’s eldest son, she carefully chose her words. The son explained to my mother that Helen had been married to a man who died in World War II. She must not have been able to part with the letters from her first husband, and so she hid them behind the secret panel in her bedroom. The son didn’t know if she had meant to leave them or had forgotten about them over time. But, he was glad that she had kept them so that he could learn about a time in his mother’s life that she had rarely mentioned to him while she was alive.

My mother relayed the story to me minutes after Helen and Richard’s son pulled out of her driveway. We agreed that it was a beautiful story, the kind that movie plots or Nicholas Spark novels are based.

I scan most of the letters and cards I receive from family and friends and keep them only in digital format, but I have never been able to scan and toss the love letters my husband has given to me. They’re currently wrapped with a ribbon and kept in a bureau drawer. The irony is that if my house were ever destroyed, I’d have a backup copy of all of my other correspondence but lose the precious love letters from my husband.

I don’t think after hearing this story from my mother that I will ever be able to toss the love letters from my husband, even if I scan them first. Instead, I’m going to preserve the letters the best way I can:

  1. Scan the letters. In worst case scenario circumstances, a scan is better than nothing.
  2. Lightly dust the letters with a clean, dry cloth.
  3. Order the letters by date.
  4. Insert the letters into archival 8.5 x 11 pocket. The sleeves will help to protect the letters from deterioration.
  5. Store pages in an archival box:

The hidden panel in the bedroom is a romantic gesture, but if I’m going to keep the letters I would rather them be as protected as possible. If you have shunned our advice in the past to scan correspondence, you might want to consider the process I’ve just described as an alternative. I really like the idea of my children being able to see the love letters my husband shared with me.

Posted by Erin on Jul 17, 2008 | 23 Comments | Tweet This

In-store and online sale at The Container Store

The Container Store is having a summer sale between now and September 1. The sale applies to all of the store locations, as well as online. Here are a couple of my favorite items featured in the sale:

If you’re a crafty type or have a home workbench that needs some organizing help, I recommend checking out the Clip ‘N Go Craft Caddy. It’s currently $5 off its regular price and perfect for buttons or nails.

Two Elfa file carts also are on sale. The Plantinum Mesh File Cart and White Mesh File Cart are $20 off their regular prices. If you’re in need of extra file support in your home or office, these carts might be perfect for you.

(Although, we still recommend that you avoid the unitasker Squeasy Tea Bag Squeezer.)

Posted by Erin on Jul 17, 2008 | 7 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: The Ultimate Professional Drink Maker

What does one do when a craving strikes for a delicious slushy or smoothie? You can head over to your favorite smoothie joint and partake in their wide variety of flavors or you can invest in the Ultimate Professional Drink Maker. That’s right, now you can have your very own icy concoction 24/7. No need to travel out of your home to enjoy that fruity sensation. You also can use it to make some alcoholic drinks in the form of a tasty margarita or daiquiri.

So what is the catch? C’mon, you knew there had to be a catch. First off, the size of this unit is not very small. Weighing in at 55 pounds and measuring 13″ x 17″ x 30″, it has a pretty hefty footprint. The other catch is the price tag. It will set you back $2000. You must really like your homemade smoothies to own this monster!

Thanks to reader Samir for bringing this unitasker to our attention.

**Each week, the Unitasker Wednesday column humorously pokes fun at the unnecessary, single-use items that manage to find their way into our homes.

Posted by Matt on Jul 16, 2008 | 16 Comments | Tweet This | Tags: , , , ,

A year ago on Unclutterer

Posted by PJ on Jul 16, 2008 | 7 Comments | Tweet This

Unitaskers we love

Each Wednesday, when we make fun of unitaskers, we usually report on the most ridiculous items we can find. Cat wigs! Large, electrical martini shakers! Monogrammed branding irons for your steaks!

We’ve found that there are so many outrageous possibilities for sale that we can avoid writing about the more common unitaskers that grace our homes. It’s safe to assume, however, that anyone with a kitchen has at least one prized unitasker in his or her collection. For example, my friend Ann swears by her egg timer, which does nothing except sit in the water while she hard boils eggs. (Ann may have had an incident once involving eggs shooting out of a pan and exploding because she fell asleep while making them. Maybe. And, if that is the case, I think her egg timer is a perfect unitasker for her and those of us who may get near her kitchen.)

In a fun tribute to less outrageous unitaskers, I thought today would be a good day to sing the praises of the unitaskers we love and make space for in our homes. Here are my additions, and I look forward to reading your unitaskers in the comments:

Fire extinguisher. I have to agree with Alton Brown on this one, and admit that my fire extinguisher serves an important, but solitary purpose in my home. If you don’t have one of these, you should get one (or more) and keep it handy.

Ice cream maker. Much to Matt’s disdain, I love my ice cream maker. I fill it with fresh cream from my farmer’s market and invent sweet creations on a weekly basis. I can’t imagine living without this unitasker.

Lever-style wine opener. It takes up an absurd amount of space in our cabinet, but I can’t get a cork out of a wine bottle any other way. I can pretend to be effective with a fully manual style, but then I have to strain cork out of the wine before I drink it. When we got this contraption for a wedding present, I did a dance of joy.

Tomato knife. I don’t own one of these, but my food-guru friend Kim is in love with hers and insists that I mention it as a cannot-live-without item. In theory, you can use it on tomatoes AND bagels, but Kim won’t support any of that multiple use talk. If you eat tomatoes all summer long, then apparently this is the unitasker to woo your heart.

Are you a fan of the cherry pitter? Are you like Ann and love your hard boiled egg timer or Kim and her tomato knife? Sing the praises of your favorite unitasker in the comments!

Posted by Erin on Jul 16, 2008 | 90 Comments | Tweet This

The endowment effect

Several Unclutterer readers directed us to the article “It’s mine, I tell you” from the June 19 issue of The Economist. The article discusses the physiological, psychological, and economically irrational attachments people have with objects they own. And, to take it one step further, why it’s difficult to part with our possessions:

From basketball tickets to waterfowl-hunting rights to classic albums, once someone owns something, he places a higher value on it than he did when he acquired it—an observation first called “the endowment effect” about 28 years ago by Richard Thaler, who these days works at the University of Chicago.

The endowment effect was controversial for years. The idea that a squishy, irrational bit of human behaviour could affect the cold, clean and rational world of markets was a challenge to neoclassical economists. Their assumption had always been that individuals act to maximise their welfare (the defining characteristic of economic man, or Homo economicus). The value someone puts on something should not, therefore, depend on whether he actually owns it. But the endowment effect has been seen in hundreds of experiments, the most famous of which found that students were surprisingly reluctant to trade a coffee mug they had been given for a bar of chocolate, even though they did not prefer coffee mugs to chocolate when given a straight choice between the two.

My only problem with the author’s explanation of the endowment effect is that it doesn’t acknowledge that people (like the trader in the article) will part with goods. Obviously, it happens or my neighborhood’s Freecycle list wouldn’t exist and there wouldn’t be garage sales. There is a point, as with any transaction (barter or financial), when it is worth getting rid of an object. I’m interested in hearing more about the elements that must exist for that transaction to take place. If I were to guess, I would say that basic understanding of the endowment fallacy would make such a transaction easier. Therefore, let me suggest that everyone read the full article and make it easier to part with clutter in our homes!

Posted by Erin on Jul 15, 2008 | 13 Comments | Tweet This

What oddity lurks in your clutter?

Clutter can take many forms, but there may be some instances when clearing out a closet, basement, or attic leads you to a dumbfounding discovery. In this Guardian article, a “clutter consultant” reviews some of the odd things she has come across while clearing out other people’s homes. Among the most freaky things she has found are a pickled monkey and a stuffed crocodile.

I liked this article so much that I think we should start an Unclutterer feature that highlights some of our reader’s more bizarre discoveries. Whether it be an unidentifiable lump of mystery mold, a monkey’s paw that grants wishes, or a ridiculous old album that you are embarrassed to own, we want your submissions.

Just send us a description and a photo of your freakish find through our Contact page and we will try and feature it here. The more bizarre (but tasteful) the better. We’re looking forward to your submissions. Also, feel welcome to comment to this post about some things you may have come across in the past but didn’t think to photograph!

Posted by Matt on Jul 15, 2008 | 40 Comments | Tweet This | Tags: ,

Work life creeping into personal life? Try a battery-only weekend

I want to start this post by professing my love for the Internet, my computer, and my job. I love the digital age and this blog, and shiver with fear at the thought of living without Internet access.

That being said, I spend a significant amount of time on my computer beyond normal work hours doing non-critical work things. It’s a safe estimate that on a weekday I’ll spend one to two hours behind my laptop in the evenings. On a weekend day, bump that number up to three or four hours. Seeing as I officially work somewhere between nine and twelve hours a weekday, I’m surprised I want anything to do with a computer or work in my free time–let alone HOURS more.

On July 3, I decided that I was going to take a break from my laptop and from work for the three-day holiday weekend. Unfortunately, I had a few small tasks I needed to do over the weekend, so I knew I couldn’t go cold turkey. I decided instead to unplug my computer at the end of the workday on Thursday and not plug my computer back in until showing up for work Monday morning.

I would survive for the holiday only using my laptop’s battery power and nothing else.

I was able to finish the majority of my work on Friday morning and was confident that I would be able to get through the weekend fine. I opened up my laptop a few times throughout the rest of the day, but I didn’t think anything of it since the numbers were in the 70s, then the 60s, then the 50s. Saturday morning, however, when I checked my work e-mail, I noticed I only had 35 percent power left.

I was a little stunned that my Saturday morning number was 35 percent. My first thought was that I must have a lame battery. A good battery wouldn’t be on 35 percent in just a day! Except, when I stopped to calculate my usage on Friday, I realized I had easily spent three hours on my laptop. My battery was working fine, it was user consumption that was to blame.

On Sunday, I opened my laptop and saw 8 percent. About half an hour into checking my e-mail and other little site tasks, I got a message on my screen announcing that my computer was operating on reserve power. I immediately closed my laptop and decided to save the last bits of remaining energy in case of a work emergency.

The only problem is that it takes energy to power-up a laptop after its lid has been closed. I discovered this truth after lunch, when I thought I could eek out a few seconds of power just to see if the website was doing okay. But, all I got was a blank screen.

My computer officially died with 20 hours to go before work started on Monday.

I don’t like the idea that I used all of my computer’s battery power before the three-day weekend had come to a close. What I took from it is that I’m having difficulty drawing the line between work and free time. I think about work constantly and would like to be able to turn those thoughts off and relax at least once in a while.

So, for the duration of the month, I’m going to have battery-powered laptop weekends. Work matters a great deal to me, but so does taking advantage of my free time. I hope that this process helps me to better prioritize my time away from work and relax and rejuvenate to make my official work time more productive. Clutter comes in all forms, and, right now, it’s in the form of working through my weekends. If you’re in a similar position, consider joining me in the battery-powered challenge.

Posted by Erin on Jul 14, 2008 | 42 Comments | Tweet This

It’s new and improved!

Every time I’m at the grocery store, I find myself putting at least one “new” product into my cart. Why do I do this? What is the allure of these new products? A reporter over at Neuromarketing has recently been discussing studies that suggest humans are hardwired to find “new products (and even repackaged old products) attractive.” From the article:

Marketers know there are potent words in advertising, like “Free” and “New.” Neuroscientists have now determined that the appeal of “new” is hard-wired into our brains. Novelty activates our brain’s reward center, which may have been an evolutionary advantage to our ancestors as they encountered new food sources or other elements of survival.

It seems that products, particularly in grocery stores, have their packaging changed every other year. Whether it be a slight logo redesign or a new and improved taste, the object of these changes is to get the consumer to purchase the product. I must say I did recently buy a Milky Way candy bar partly because the package said it now has “more caramel.” Milky Ways are fairly far down on my list of all time favorite candy bars, but who can resist more caramel?

(Link via Guy Kawasaki)

Posted by Matt on Jul 14, 2008 | 19 Comments | Tweet This | Tags: ,

A year ago on Unclutterer

Posted by PJ on Jul 13, 2008 | 2 Comments | Tweet This

Wall-E: A fun film with an uncluttered message

If you haven’t already seen it, let me recommend that you head to the theater this weekend and watch the latest Pixar film Wall-E. In addition to being filled with adorable robots and impressive animation, the film carries a poignant message about the ills of over consumption.

A part of me left the theater wondering if the animator who was responsible for creating all of the images of trash became a minimalist during the process. I can’t imagine going into work every day for more than a year drawing and rendering piles and piles of trash.

My husband joked as we were leaving the theater that there will be great irony when Costco and Wall-Mart sell the film on DVD later this year.

Thank you, reader Lindsay, for the suggestion that I go and see it!

Posted by Erin on Jul 12, 2008 | 32 Comments | Tweet This

Curbing cables on a media center

My husband and I recently purchased a new media center. Our previous media center was damaged when we moved more than three years ago, and we finally reached our limit of staring at the broken piece.

We searched for more than two months for a replacement. We talked to a furniture designer about creating a custom media center, we searched Craigslist and the classifieds, we visited dozens of furniture stores, and we wasted many hours online looking for possible solutions.

Ultimately, we decided to go with Elfa Freestanding. We realized that as our family expands, our current office/television room will be moved to another part of the house or another house entirely. So, the media center needed to be easily portable and able to be repurposed as our requirements change. Plus, we rarely have visitors in our office/television room, so function outweighed form on our list of priorities.

The back of the unit is exposed, which meant that we had to get creative hiding equipment cables. We used two methods to corral the cables:

I’m pretty happy with the results except for the mess of cables under the media center near the surge protector/power strip. I’m going to let the equipment sit for another week to make sure that I like where everything is located, and then use velcro cable ties to get rid of the mess at the bottom of the unit. You can see a few cables behind the equipment, but they’re orderly and controlled.

All of the cable wrangling gear we picked up at our local Home Depot, and the Elfa Freestanding we purchased from The Container Store. I know that there will be multiple comments from people saying that we shouldn’t use plastic cable ties, but ultimately they were the best solution for us. The only cords we used them on are for our gaming equipment, and we haven’t experienced any interference or delay in play. We initially tried velcro ties on the gaming cables, but they slipped out of place and were distracting. The plastic ties stay in place and are virtually unnoticeable, which is what we wanted.

If you’re looking to curb cable clutter at the back of your media center, think about using kwik klips, and either velcro or plastic cable ties. They can supply order where chaos typically ensues.

Posted by Erin on Jul 11, 2008 | 24 Comments | Tweet This

Workspace of the Week: Pretty in pink

This week’s Workspace of the Week is Kelly Sue’s pink wonderland:

I chose this office because form and function work perfectly together in harmony. The clear file storage system on the wall allows the pink of the room to show when files aren’t present. The pink crate on the right holds her 43 Folders tickler system. Her phone is off the work surface but easily within reach, and the round desk has a minimal footprint on the rest of the room. I’m not into the color pink, so working in this space would overwhelm me — but if it were done similarly in colors I like better, I’d be totally game. Thank you, Kelly Sue, for submitting such a unique, inspiring, and organized space!

Want to have your own workspace featured in Workspace of the Week? Submit a picture to the Unclutterer flickr pool. Check it out because we have a nice little community brewing there. Also, don’t forget that workspaces aren’t just desks. If you’re a cook, it’s a kitchen; if you’re a carpenter, it’s your workbench.

Posted by Erin on Jul 11, 2008 | 4 Comments | Tweet This