Archives for October 2008

Reader suggestion: Use pant hangers and binder clips for boot storage

Reader Lisa sent us the following simple suggestion:

I have a lot of winter boots but I could never store them in a way that I could easily see or access my choices. With pant hangers (locking rod type) and binder clips, I have hung five pair of boots per hanger — easy to view, and easy to access. Put a piece of cloth in between the teeth of the clip to prevent damage to your boots!

If you have the closet space, this is really a terrific solution. Check out the photos that appear below to see exactly how Lisa made her boot storage system.

Thanks, Lisa, for sharing your idea with us!

Posted by Erin on Oct 21, 2008 | 18 Comments | Tweet This

Repurpose that changing table

In a past post I wrote that a changing table is not a must have and that parents can make due by using the top of a dresser instead.

If you find yourself with a changing table and don’t know what to do with it once it outlives its usefulness in your child’s room, you may be able to repurpose it into something more useful. Over at Ohdeedoh, they highlight a rather nice media center that was made out of a child’s changing table. The changing table pictured originally cost $1650, so I completely understand why its owners would want to find multiple uses for the piece of furniture.

Do any of our readers have examples of repurposed changing tables? Use the comments section to share your ideas.

Posted by Matt on Oct 21, 2008 | 28 Comments | Tweet This | Tags: ,

JBL module makes any speaker wireless

The JBL WEM-1 Wireless Expansion Module promises to extend your speakers wirelessly up to 70 feet. You hook one module up to your A/V receiver and then you hook your speakers into the amplifier module. The price is a bit steep in my opinion ($359 currently $253 on Amazon), but the concept helps cut down on cable clutter while extending your speakers’ reach.

When it comes to wireless speakers, the quality is not quite there and the offerings are few and far between. Even this JBL offering only offers up 50 watts per channel, but this is a decent step in the right direction. 

(Via Engadget)

Posted by Matt on Oct 20, 2008 | 9 Comments | Tweet This | Tags: , ,

Opting to stay in a small urban space

The New York Times recently published the article “Move Up? Move Out? Families Squeeze In” on the topic of middle-class families choosing to live in small urban spaces.

“There seems to be a large contingent who don’t move to the suburbs anymore,” Mr. [Andrew A.] Beveridge [a demographer at Queens College of the City University of New York] said. “Oftentimes both parents are working and have lives in the city and don’t want to commute in and then worry about having to get back home. There is a much bigger traction to city life.”

The article looks at families in New York City and San Francisco who live in one bedroom apartments with at least one child. Clutter and stuff in general is eschewed since there simply isn’t space for it.

Setting up a one-bedroom home for a family of four is not easy. In the making-space-out-of-nothing department, Dina Weiss and Jason Severs are master illusionists. A walk-in closet in their one-bedroom co-op on the Lower East Side was converted to a nursery in 2005, when their son, Sam, was born. But when their daughter, Matilda, followed 19 months later, they gave up their master bedroom for the children to share.

“We don’t feel like we’ve compromised,” Ms. Weiss, 35, a part-time teacher, said on a recent tour of their bright, clutter-free home. The couple sleep in the 8-by-9-foot former closet that housed their first baby. It is now a cozy cabin with a wall of built-ins and a queen-size bed tucked into the shelves. “We’d rather have another bathroom,” she added. “In New York people will do anything to have an extra bathroom.”

The article is inspiring and does a nice job exploring the possibilities of small-space living.

Image by Tina Fineberg for The New York Times.

Posted by Erin on Oct 20, 2008 | 26 Comments | Tweet This

A year ago on Unclutterer

Posted by PJ on Oct 19, 2008 | 1 Comment | Tweet This

Litter box hideaway

The October/November issue of Ready Made magazine has a great do-it-yourself project for a Litter Box Hideaway:

If you have been looking for a way to get your cat’s litter box out of the way or hidden from sight, this could be your perfect solution. The Norrebo box they used for the project has enough space in it that you could also use it to store other pet-related items (not food, but things like fur brushes). And, you could use the top of the box for seating or storage.

Posted by Erin on Oct 18, 2008 | 11 Comments | Tweet This

Workspace of the Week: Simple secretary

This week’s Workspace of the Week is Brave Little Soul’s classic secretary:

I like this office because when it’s not in use, only the chair proclaims that the space is used for work. All office supplies are contained in the cabinet next to the desk, and the computer and printer rest inside the fold-up desk. When work is done, the office disappears. Additionally, the desk itself is free of clutter and provides optimal workspace for its user. This setup is serene and inviting — I would love to work here.

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 Oct 17, 2008 | 10 Comments | Tweet This

Overwhelmed by online social networks?

Recently, Erin was interviewed by the Washington Business Journal for the article “Social Organizer,” which hit newsstands Friday, Oct. 3. The article addresses how an employee can get the benefits from these social networks without seeing a drop in their productivity and work product.

With so many new distractions, new discipline is required. To help, there are now Web sites designed to do all the login and password remembering and organizing for you. There are also some easy tricks to harness the online social flood.

Pick just one

“I think that the same principles that you address in any project, definitely apply to your online relationships,” says Erin Doland, editor-in-chief of Unclutterer.com, a Reston-based Web site that focuses on home and office organization. “You have to start by picking and choosing. You have to make choices about what you do.”

Take Twitter, for example. The social networking site, which enables users to send short messages about their activities, has competitors that you can use, such as Pounce.com and Plurk.com. But do you really need them all?

“For most people, you can’t have three blenders,” Doland says. “At some point, you have to decide which blender you’re going to buy.”

The article has numerous tips and tricks to help you keep your social networking behavior under control. What additional advice would you give?

Posted by Erin on Oct 17, 2008 | 11 Comments | Tweet This

Fun idea for reducing vacation mementos

Have you ever gone on vacation and felt obligated to bring something home? Perhaps you were thinking about someone who didn’t travel with you? Or, maybe you feel guilty for missing a little league game because of a business trip? How can you avoid cluttering up your home when you travel frequently?

Instead of bringing lots of trinkets home with you, take something with you and photograph it at the different locations you visit. Credit for this idea goes to AT&T’s Sweet Pea commercial. In the commercial, the dad takes his daughter’s stuffed animal and sends her pictures of it wherever he goes. Rather than having a box full of junk from Dad’s 30 business trips, she has an online scrapbook of all the places her stuffed animal has traveled with Daddy.

This can work for you even if you’re not leaving someone at home and you want to avoid bringing knick-knacks into your house. Choose an item that goes with you on all of your trips. And, if you don’t travel often, see if friends or family would want to share an item. I have some friends who like to pass around a miniature referee. After returning from a trip, share the pictures of your item at the various destinations you visited. It makes vacation pictures interesting and uncluttered!

Posted by Teri on Oct 16, 2008 | 44 Comments | Tweet This

Real Simple premieres new show on TLC

Tomorrow night at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT is the premiere of the new show Real Simple. Real Life. on the TLC network. The show is best described as a makeover program, and it helps people makeover their finances, design, organizing, fitness, style, beauty, and cooking (think of it as the sections of Real Simple magazine in a television format). Each week features a different woman who faces many challenges and is in need of Real Simple’s group of experts’ help.

Real Simple. Real Life. is just one of many programs airing in the organizing and cleaning television market. Here is a listing of all of the organizing and cleaning programs currently on the air in the U.S.:

Posted by Erin on Oct 16, 2008 | 20 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: Zing! Catapult Spoon

When the first kid put a spit soaked piece of paper in a straw, a formidable school yard battle was born. In retaliation, kids used the spoon as a make-shift catapult for years. The normal spoon was lacking in power. That lack of power was a problem … until now. Enter the Zing! Catapult Spoon. The Zing! is a spring action spoon that can really fling food like a catapult should. 

I’m not sure why a parent wouldn’t indulge their children with an item like this?! Is there a downside to such a fun product? Now just sit back and watch the vegetables fly across the room as you enjoy the laughter of the little ones! Your kids will thank you while pelting you with their peas and carrots. You will probably be able to spend some more time with them when they are sent home from school for starting an epic food fight during lunch. This product’s positives far outweigh the negatives, for sure.

Thanks to reader Christine 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 Oct 15, 2008 | 19 Comments | Tweet This | Tags: ,

A year ago on Unclutterer

Posted by PJ on Oct 15, 2008 | 8 Comments | Tweet This

Blog Action Day 2008: Poverty

For the second year in a row, Unclutterer is participating in Blog Action Day. This year’s theme is Poverty, and we’re excited to be adding our voice to the discussion.

My friend Clark, at first glance, is an all-American man. He’s a little over six feet tall, physically fit, clean shaven, and always dressed in a pressed Oxford shirt and khaki pants. He has a master’s of finance degree from the top-ranked college for such degrees, and if you saw him you would guess he’s 25 instead of 32.

Clark used to have a job where he made a hefty six-figure salary and was extremely good at crunching numbers. Then, one day five years ago, he walked into his boss’ office and resigned.

A few weeks after he resigned from his job, he donated most of his possessions to charity. He decided he wanted to dedicate his life to helping the impoverished in his community. He only kept a few of pieces of clothing, two pairs of shoes, a few hygiene items, a Bible, and a notebook.

Clark found a homeless shelter that needed a day manager, broke his lease on his apartment, and officially changed his residence.

A year later, he started a charity in southeast Washington, D.C., and he moved into one of the most crime-ridden, impoverished neighborhoods in the city.

Clark and I often have very candid conversations. I asked him once if he thinks a large influx of money would solve the problems in his community. He agreed that it would help some people, but he added that financial poverty is just one of many contributing factors to the current conditions.

According to Clark, the people he helps are “impoverished in many ways.”

With time, I’ve come to see what he means by this statement. The people Clark helps on a daily basis have problems that are more complex than needing extra money. Mental illness, drug addiction, failed schools, and hundreds more factors contribute to the problems of impoverishment in the United States.

Quitting your job, giving up all of your possessions, and moving into a homeless shelter to work as its day manager is not the path for everyone. It is obviously not the path I have chosen to follow. But, all of us can still find ways to help those in need. We can donate clothing and new or lightly used goods to charity, we can volunteer our time to after-school programs, we can financially support organizations that are helping impoverished communities, and we can ask others to do the same.

Posted by Erin on Oct 15, 2008 | 17 Comments | Tweet This

Bare bones baby buying guide

Yesterday, I gave some advice for ways new parents can avoid becoming overwhelmed by baby-related clutter. Today, I want to discuss what I see to be the essential items that are always useful to new parents. Think of this as the bare-bones guide to stocking a nursery.

(Note: I don’t have any clothing, bibs, or blankets on this list because these are the items people will most likely give to you as gifts. If you’ve decided to go without a baby shower, then you’ll want to add a few of these to your acquisition list.)

Baby Essentials:

  • Portable crib with bassinet attachment. I recommend using a Pack’N Play with a portable bassinet attachment instead of a traditional crib. You can take this with you when you visit the grandparents, you can wheel it next to your bed when the child is sick so that you can keep a watchful eye, and you can do a hundred other things with it that you can’t do with a permanently located crib. Oh, and you’ll likely want two pair of corresponding sheets.
  • Convertible car seat. Buy new, and get a “permanent” convertible seat that can be both back and forward facing as your child grows. I do not recommend buying a separate infant car seat because then you have to purchase a second car seat when the child gets too big for the infant seat. Also, I don’t like the models that snap in and out for dual use between the car and a stroller. Their unused parts are bothersome to store, they are more expensive over the long term, and I’ve found the safety ratings are usually higher on the permanent models. I know some people swear by the snap-in-and-out models, though, so use what is best for you.
  • Stroller. I recommend buying the safest you can find that will grow with your child. I do not recommend getting a frame that snaps in an infant carrier for its seat for the reasons I mentioned in the car-seat entry. If you plan on taking paved trail walks with your child, strongly consider getting a sturdy exercise stroller with good maneuverability. Some of my friends are foregoing the stroller and only using a sling/backpack carrier, but by the time their kids are two years old, I think they’ll want the stroller.
  • High chair or booster seat (based on preference). We’ve recently discussed this topic in detail on Unclutterer. The comments to the linked post are very informative.
  • Food service items. These may include a breast pump and assemblies (if applicable), bottles, and formula (if applicable). Make sure that the bottles have age- and purpose-specific nipples so that they serve your child’s growing needs. Also, you will probably want a baby bottle parts cage for the top rack of your dishwasher (you can buy one or make one out of two clean plastic berry baskets and twist ties). This will keep your bottle nipples and sealant rings from flying about the top shelf of your dishwasher. If you don’t own a dishwasher, then boil all parts of the bottle. Also, if you don’t have a dishwasher, you’ll probably want a bottle cleaning brush.
  • Diapers and wipes. Whether you choose to use disposable or cloth, you need them before the baby arrives. Even if you go the disposable route, you will also want cloth diapers and wipes on hand for burping rags and spills. If you use cloth diapers and wipes, you will probably want a diaper pail (like the Diaper Champ that uses regular trash bags) or a trash can with a lid.
  • Home safety items. These may include baby gate, window stops, drawer locks, knob covers, electrical outlet covers, fire ladder (if not on the ground floor) and baby monitor.
  • Hygiene items. Baby nail clippers and/or emery boards, baby-safe body wash and shampoo, Vaseline, and a nasal aspirator.
  • Health items. Baby digital thermometer, a baby pain reliever/fever reducer, infant sunscreen, gripe water (if your baby has colic), pure lanolin (for mommy, if breastfeeding), and a diaper rash cream.

Additional considerations:

  • Child carrier. You might consider a front/backpack or sling, especially if you’ll often be in spaces where a stroller is cumbersome. The packs that range from infant to toddler will give you the most bang for your buck.
  • Comfortable chair. You probably already have one, but if you don’t, you’ll want someplace comfortable where you can sit for more than half an hour.
  • Electric fan. The New York Times recently reported that a fan in an infants’ room reduces the risk of SIDS by 72 percent. If you don’t already have a fan, it might be worth it to get one.
  • Diaper service. New parents have enough to do, and outsourcing the washing of stinky diapers to a service sounds like a sane idea to me. I’ve often considered this as a gift I can give to new parents.

My friend Krystal also recommends checking out the Baby and Kids pages on Craigslist to find out what you won’t need. The items most available are often the clutter-prone items.

Consumer Reports recommends buying car seats, cribs, baby gates, strollers, and breast pumps new since you don’t know the history of used items. The rest of the items on this list, excluding the consumable hygiene and health items, are great to find on the cheap over Craigslist or Freecycle.

Finally, by no means is this list the law. Think of it as a reference and as nothing more. Once you have your baby home, you may discover that he or she loves the neighbor’s bouncy seat and so you’ll want to bring one into your home, too. For some people, this will be all they have, and for others it will be a starting point.

Posted by Erin on Oct 14, 2008 | 73 Comments | Tweet This

Share and store files using Dropbox


Dropbox is an incredibly useful file sharing application that can be added to your Mac or PC (and even a Linux operating system). If you are looking for a way to share or store files on the web, and are averse to using Google Docs, this may be the application for you. It is incredibly easy to use and your files can be accessed from any computer via your Dropbox account. Here is a quick overview on the basics:

  • No complicated interfaces to learn. Dropbox runs in the background on your desktop.
  • Sync your files automatically to your computers and the web.
  • Sign in and access your files from any browser or mobile device.
  • Sharing files with your friends and family is just two clicks away.
  • View your photos in a gallery and share them easily with anyone.

This is what Apple’s iDisk should be, but isn’t. Dropbox offers a superior product that is easy to use and runs in the background. For a video tour of the application in action go to Dropbox and watch the informative presentation.

Posted by Matt on Oct 14, 2008 | 17 Comments | Tweet This | Tags: , , ,

Junk drawers as art

Photographer Paho Mann has an interesting photography project of people’s junk drawers and medicine cabinets. Since 2000, he has photographed a series of junk drawers and medicine cabinets in an attempt to capture peoples desire to collect. From the artist’s site:

I have photographed Junk Drawers and Medicine Cabinets on and off since 2000. My work explores the persistent mark of individuality in a culture that brands, packages, and relentlessly promotes conformity. Even among those who attempt to fit into society, there is an amazing wealth of information each individual reveals in near-privacy, spaces such as junk-drawers and medicine cabinets. The near-private nature of these spaces force the viewer to contend with the natural desire of humans to collect, categorize, and by doing so, manage to give clues about their personality and identity.

Paho Mann also has a web based work where he created a photographic taxonomy of all the objects in his apartment. The project is titled Sort and can be explored here.

(via Kottke)

Posted by Matt on Oct 13, 2008 | 5 Comments | Tweet This | Tags: ,

Reader Question: How control pre-baby clutter?

Reader Zoe recently sent us the following question:

I’m expecting my first baby in December and I’m already worried about the impending cloud of clutter. My husband is unfortunately not devoted to de-cluttering like I am, so I suspect there will be struggles even between the two of us, not to mention the grandparents! I would love to see a post from you guys about how to deal with/prevent baby clutter before the baby even arrives. Has anyone created a list of baby clutter rules, for instance?

I currently have seven close friends who are pregnant and all of them have asked me versions of this question continuously over the course of the past eight months. So, to put it mildly, I have given this question a great deal of thought.

First things first, if you’re blessed to have generous friends and family, you need to accept that people will want to give you things. If you beg and plead with people not to give you things, they will either ignore you or get mad at you. It’s best just to come to terms with the fact that there will be stuff — and that it will probably be lots and lots of stuff.

This doesn’t mean that you need to throw in the towel and sit idly by while your home fills with baby clutter. You can be proactive and keep clutter out of your home with just a few actions on your part.

  1. Create a wish list. There are practical things that you will need when the baby comes: diapers, a car seat, a stroller and crib, for example. Research through Consumer Reports the safest products, learn about product features through reviews on websites with active communities, and go to baby stores to find what you like about what you see. Be an informed consumer and create a list of essential products that fit your needs. When your family or friends ask you what you need, show them your list. Let them know about the research you’ve done and why you have picked the specific products on your list. If you don’t find registries offensive (I don’t), then put these items on a registry — but ONLY put these essential items and nothing else. It’s best to have your list prepared before you go to the baby store so that you aren’t tempted to add extraneous items. Explain to your family and friends that these are the items you need, and people will gravitate toward them. (Tomorrow I’ll write a post about what I believe are these essential items.)
  2. Buy as you need, not in anticipation. Beyond the bare bones items, avoid buying (or acquiring through Freecycle or Craigslist) anything until you need it. People with children will give you a constant stream of advice that begins with the phrase, “You just HAVE to have …” Until your child arrives and you grow to understand his or her preferences, you won’t have any idea if your child really has to have specific things. Your neighbor’s child may have loved the vibrating child carrier, but yours might hate it. Their must-have items may very well be clutter in your home. Also, don’t buy any clothes or toys ahead of time, you’ll very likely receive lots of these as gifts.
  3. Don’t agree to a shower or only agree to a shower with a theme. You don’t have to have a baby shower. If you don’t want one, then don’t have one. If you’re okay with the idea of having one or have a super-excited family member chomping at the bit to throw you one, then ask for the shower to have a theme. Guests can bring their favorite childhood books or everyone can bring a pack of diapers. If you’re adopting, have a shower where you ask guests to bring gifts for the orphanage or foster care services, and give the presents to children who haven’t yet found homes. I’ve also heard of pamper the parents parties being a huge hit for keeping baby clutter at bay.
  4. Return unwanted items for wanted items. Products you don’t want that were purchased in stores can be returned. There is no law saying that you have to keep something you don’t want. Build up a store credit to help you purchase the items you really need.
  5. Donate unwanted items to charity or sell on Craigslist or eBay. If you receive four blankets, give two away to someone who needs/wants them.
  6. Don’t open items until you need them. It will be a lot easier to return items in their original packaging if you haven’t opened, assembled, and then dismantled the boxes.
  7. Immediately store items for when your child is older. You’ll inevitably receive items that you want to keep but that your child can’t play with or wear until he or she is older. Have inboxes ready to go in your nursery for these pieces. A plastic box labeled “clothes” and another labeled “toys” will provide you with space to immediately store these items out of the way.

Stay tuned for tomorrow when I’ll present my bare bones item list.

Posted by Erin on Oct 13, 2008 | 38 Comments | Tweet This

A year ago on Unclutterer

Posted by PJ on Oct 12, 2008 | Comments Off | Tweet This

Lofted bedrooms by Tumidei

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays when I’m not blogging over on Real Simple magazine’s website, my counterpart Holly from decor8 graces the community with her insights into the design world. Last week, she wrote about Tiramolla Loft Bedrooms, and I was awestruck.

The lofts are created by the Italian company Tumidei, are perfect for small spaces, and are incredibly inspiring:

Thank you, Holly, for the great post! All images are from the Tumidei website.

Posted by Erin on Oct 11, 2008 | 43 Comments | Tweet This

Uncluttered public speaking

I’m sure we’ve all attended memorable presentations — some are memorable because they inspire, others because they’re awful. (I’ll never forget my astronomy professor who droned on and on: “One may find that it’s intuitively obvious” and then he’d add a few incomprehensible points about celestial objects.)

If you freeze, stumble, or clutter up your talk with too much information or “um’s,” there may be reasons for that. Most commonly the reasons are: a) you’re not prepared, b) you’re scared, or c) both.

One inspiring speaker I enjoy is Guy Kawasaki — the marketing genius turned venture capitalist known for evangelizing the early Apple Computer. He makes public speaking look easy. What most people don’t realize is the sheer amount of preparation and practice it takes to deliver a good speech. Some natural talent will help, but you won’t win a five-star rating.

I do regular public speaking, and these are the things I’ve learned over the years that have taken me from a “wing it and hope for the best” approach to a system that leads to more quality, less cluttered talks.

Define the Purpose

What is the purpose for giving the speech? Is it to send off a newly married couple with good wishes? To update your department on the status of a project? Before you jump into writing and research, tap into the purpose first.

Know Who Will Be in the Room

Who will be listening to the talk? A group of inebriated wedding guests? A new client? Your boss and your boss’ boss? Knowing who is in the audience will help you to tailor the speech toward them with relevant examples.

Be Familiar with Your Topic

People generally don’t like to hear speeches that are read word-for-word. Make sure you know your material well enough that you can glance at a few bullet points on an index card or a PowerPoint slide. Research well, especially if you’ll be fielding questions.

Stick to One Main Topic

Cramming in every detail you know can lead to a cluttered talk. Keep it simple — center your presentation on one key theme supported by examples. What are the most important ideas to include? The tricky part is deciding what you’ll leave out, not what you’ll put into your speech.

Prepare

Preparation is a great fear reducer. Practice a new talk aloud at least three times. You’ll discover any rough spots that you don’t know well. Pay attention to filler words that you use, such as “um” and “and.” A simple pause can replace these words.

Be Ready to Go

Getting mentally and physically set to go the day of the event also will decrease fear. Practice your opening sentence on the way to the speech. Once you arrive at your speech location, do what you need to do to feel ready. I like to arrive early, drink water, take some deep breaths and go.

Check Out the Environment

It’s wise to check out the space before you speak if you previously haven’t been there. When it’s not possible to see it in advance, explore the environment when you arrive. Where will people be seated? Check the audio and visual equipment to make sure it’s on and working.

Use Clear, Simple Statements to Start and End Powerfully

The beginning and end of your talk are the bookends crucial to a good talk. You can begin with one fact about you, a compelling story or a statistic to draw people into your presentation. Avoid rambling and don’t apologize for being nervous — usually people won’t know.

Remember though, as Guy Kawasaki demonstrated in the clip I previously linked to, you don’t have to be perfect to deliver a good speech. When you’re live in front of a group, connect with the audience and the topic.

What tips do you use for effective, uncluttered public speaking?

Sue Brenner is a regular contributor to Unclutterer. She offers her own eZine at www.actionsymphony.com and if you want to hear her voice, she gives free, monthly goal-success tele-seminars.

Posted by Sue on Oct 10, 2008 | 19 Comments | Tweet This