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Ask Unclutterer: Selling something with an unknown value

Reader Allison submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

This question may be slightly outside the range of uncluttering, but I thought I’d give it a shot. I have a wooden chair that was designed around (his picture is painted on it) and autographed by a well-known rock musician. It’s a really cool piece, but having a piece of furniture I don’t use seems really silly to me now.

I purchased it at a charity auction several years ago. I am curious about trying to sell it. The problem I have is that I can no longer find the certificate of authenticity. I suspect I didn’t keep it as I didn’t think I would ever EVER want to get rid of the chair. I paid a fairly significant price and if I sell it, I would at least like to break even. Do you have any suggestions for how to go about selling such an item? I’m concerned that people won’t pay much without some guarantee that it’s authentic.

The charity that sponsored the auction seems to no longer exist, but I am still trying to make a few calls.

Thanks for any advice you can provide!

Allison, your question is a lot of fun — and its answer is relevant to more people than you might imagine.

Irrespective of if you have the paperwork or get in touch with someone from the original auction house, you should take the chair to an appraiser who can check it out and let you know it’s worth. If you don’t know an appraiser, I recommend checking out the American Society of Appraisers website’s Find an Appraiser search tool. Even if you aren’t in the US, they have resources beyond our borders.

Contacting a reputable appraiser is always a good idea. Many Unclutterer readers contact me about being responsible for sorting through a loved one’s things after a death and wonder how to handle the estate. The first thing to do, before neighbors and siblings and extended family members start loading things into a truck, is to have an appraiser come in and talk to you about what is there. Appraisers are good people to know.

Thank you, Allison, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column. I hope that you are successful in getting rid of your chair for a fair price. Also, I hope that in the future, you keep your hands on the paper documentation because the paperwork often improves the amount you can get for something and helps when having an object’s value determined for insurance coverage.

Do you have a question relating to organizing, cleaning, home and office projects, productivity, or any problems you think the Unclutterer team could help you solve? To submit your questions to Ask Unclutterer, go to our contact page and type your question in the content field. Please list the subject of your e-mail as “Ask Unclutterer.” If you feel comfortable sharing images of the spaces that trouble you, let us know about them. The more information we have about your specific issue, the better.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Posted by Erin on Nov 6, 2009 | 9 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: CD storage

Reader Christy submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

I use iTunes and have burned all my CDs to iTunes. I also have a huge box in my basement of all the hardcopy CDs.

Is there any reason I would need to keep them (computer crash or something), or am I safe to start giving them away?

Christy, the idealist in me says that if you have burned all of your CDs in a lossless format and you have your computer backed up to a secure online location, you should be fine getting rid of your physical CDs. However, the pragmatist in me has to admit that there is a box of CDs in my basement and I wouldn’t even do what I just suggested.

Also, from a legal standpoint, you aren’t supposed to have a digital copy of a CD without also having the physical copy.

I guess when it comes down to it, my official advice would be to simply get rid of the jewel cases (they can be recycled in most communities) and store all of your hardcopy CDs in a CD Notebook. If you do this, you won’t have to pay the fees to store all of your lossless music data online and you’ll cover your arse if the RIAA ever comes knocking at your door.

Thank you, Christy, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Posted by Erin on Oct 30, 2009 | 51 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: Overflowing child’s closet

Reader Miriam submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

How do I get a handle on children’s clothing (shorts, school clothes, skirts, pants, capris, short sleeve shirts, long sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, sweaters…etc. etc)? I am awash in laundry with little closet space! And I’ve tried to think of it in terms of how many days of clothing (2 weeks) might be ideal yet am still overwhelmed (I’ve two girls who wear the same size!) … HELP!

I recommend starting this process by sorting your daughters’ clothing into warm and cool weather piles. Put all the summer-appropriate things in one pile, and the winter-appropriate things in another. You may also have a third pile for multiple-weather items, like jeans, socks, and underwear.

Assuming that your daughters are under 14, you can now get rid of all of the summer items and, if they’re in good shape, give them to charity. There is no way that your daughters will be wearing the same size next summer, so clear out these items permanently. If your daughters are high school age and have finished their growth spurt, sort the summer clothes into keep and purge piles. Put the keep items into pest-proof storage for the winter and, if they’re in good shape, pass the purge items onto charity.

Once you have the summer clothes out of the way, you will hopefully begin to feel a sense of relief and won’t be too overwhelmed with the rest of this process.

Next, immediately purge any items that are ill-fitting, damaged, or out-of-style. (Your daughters will be able to tell you what’s “not cool” in their closets, even if they’re as young as kindergarten.)

After this, look at what is left and decide if you need to continue. If you need to keep cutting clutter out of their closets, I recommend sorting by purpose — your kids might have school clothes, dress-up clothes, play in the mud clothes, and uniforms for clubs or teams. Once these purpose piles are created, bring each down to a manageable size. As you suggested in your question, two weeks worth of school clothes sounds like a good idea to me. Each girl probably doesn’t need more than three or four dress-up outfits, one or two play-in-the-mud pieces, and, if applicable, just one or two uniforms per club or team. Look at your family’s schedule, though, to get these numbers right for your needs.

Finally, it may be time to have your daughters start to do their own laundry. By fifth or sixth grade, children can be responsible for taking care of their wardrobe. If you can teach them how to take care of their things, you won’t be swimming in laundry any longer. Good luck!

Thank you, Miriam, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Posted by Erin on Oct 23, 2009 | 27 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: Overwhelmed with clutter

Reader Jennifer submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

What is your advice for a seriously organizationally challenged family?

Our house looks like it should be on one of those messy house shows, the kids homework is all over, the daddy (coaches the boys baseball team) lost a check for $500 from a new baseball family, and the mommy (me) is just a hot mess.

I’ve ordered your book but I don’t know if our family can wait until November at this point.

My daughter’s birthday is in two days and I’ll have grandparents in my house doing that heavy sigh “at least they seem happy” thing … I guess I am looking for a band aid before the transfusion that is your book.

Thanks for being here, wish I found you earlier.

Jennifer, let me start by suggesting that you find a comfortable chair, take a deep breath, and close your eyes for a few minutes. You deserve some calm before the whirlwind birthday adventure begins, so go ahead and take it now.

Next, remember that even the most organized people in the world feel anxiety before their parents and in-laws come to visit. It’s natural. I know I regularly freak out before they come.

This visit, however, is a great opportunity for you. Let all of the grandparents see the mess. Don’t hide it, don’t try to find a band aid, just let it shine in its glorious disorder. Let them get a solid understanding of your “before” status, like the television cameras capture on the organizing shows you referenced. This way, after you get your home organized in the coming weeks, they will truly appreciate all of the hard work you did. They will know how far you have come, and they will be in awe of your “after.”

If letting it all hang out is too much and you still want to grab a cardboard box and toss some things into it before the majority of the party guests arrive, do it. Just don’t let this box become a permanent solution. But, if it puts your mind at ease in the short term, I don’t see the harm in it. Get your daughter to help, too. If she’s old enough to have a birthday party, she’s old enough to help with an emergency clutter pick up.

Also, try not to focus on the stuff and instead focus on your daughter and the people who come for her party. Clutter or no clutter, the people in your life are worth more than the stuff.

Finally, between now and when the book arrives, think about why you want to get the clutter out of your life. What do you want to permanently focus on instead of the clutter? Figure out what matters most to you, and this will help you significantly when it comes time to purge the clutter from your life.

Good luck and have fun! Happy birthday, too, to your daughter. Thank you, Jennifer, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Posted by Erin on Oct 16, 2009 | 34 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: Managing a wardrobe of many sizes

Reader Petra submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

Uncluttering is not a huge problem for me — with one exception: my wardrobe. I’m a stress-eater and easily gain weight, nevertheless I try to get rid of the extra kilos whenever possible. Those ups and downs expand sometimes over periods of a year.

My clothes are of high quality and just prime, timeless wear. Due to my weight problem I have every item needed in three to four different sizes. How can I unclutter this huge amount of clothes without the need to shop whenever my weight changes ? (Yes, I know I should do something about the weight problem permanently…) I would love to hear from you.

To begin, I want you to know that you are doing two things right already — your wardrobe is full of well-made and classic clothing. You will get many years of use from your clothing and won’t have to replace what you will ultimately decide to keep. You’re definitely on the right track.

Next, I recommend going through all of your sizes and identifying the pieces that look best on you at each size. You know these pieces because they make you feel good when you wear them, people compliment you when you wear them, and you never hesitate to put them on when they’re clean. These items should go into your keep pile.

If you still have some space in your closet, I recommend keeping your most classic pieces — for instance, a black suit that can be worn to a meeting, dressed up to attend a dinner party, and is also appropriate for a funeral. These extremely versatile, classic items will be fine to keep in all of your sizes. I call these items the basic wardrobe, and you should create one that best meets your needs.

Beyond these two types of clothes, you won’t really need much else. You may find, however, that you want to increase your accessories — scarves, jewelry, shoes, and drapey cardigans that can be worn at any size. Use these items to give color, spice, and a trend to the current to all of your outfits. Fortunately, (well, except for the shoes) these items are considerably easier to store.

Thank you, Petra, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Posted by Erin on Oct 9, 2009 | 37 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: Partner’s messy desk

Reader Montse submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

I’ve been living with my boyfriend for 3 years now. We live in a flat, not very big. I’m really worried about his stuff. He is a computer technician and although he’s really tidy with the stuff that he stores in the computer (pictures, scanned documents, etc.) he’s not so organized with the things (clutter) that are all over his desk. He can’t toss any old item (hard disks, cables, routers, etc.), as he is able to fix them quite frequently. He has all of this stuff widespread on his desk. I do not know what to do and how to convince him to keep them organized.

I would like to buy him some plastic drawers to keep his stuff. If I do so it is to help him to put those thingies in a place. I even can help him labeling the drawers with a labelmaker (that indeed he gave to me as a gift). His stuff will be at least out of sight but still available on his desk. However, I know that this does not solve the problem. Once the drawers are full, he will conquer the desk again, as he has done with some of the drawers from the closet that I emptied for him. I did so in order to avoid seeing his stuff on the desk, but that drawer is full now. So, the problem is not buying more storage as the room is not very big (just 8 m2). I would like to know if you have any clue about what type of storage would be the ideal one for this kind of stuff, and also if you have any piece of advice on how to let his things go and how to keep this type of things organized.

I know many people will disagree with me on this, but I’m of the opinion that his desk is his domain. If he wants it to be messy while he’s working, he should be allowed to keep it messy. As long as no one except for the two of you are coming and going in your flat, a little mess on his desk is okay — especially when he’s using it.

When he’s not working or if you’re having guests over to your place, then you need to decide how much the mess truly bothers you. Constantly nagging him to clean up his space can create animosity in your relationship. Would the benefits you gain from his desk being clear in front of guests be worth the anger and frustration that he feels toward you for constantly bothering him about it? You’ll have to weigh both sides and determine which route to take.

Simply put, you can’t force someone to become organized. A person has to choose this way of living for himself. Have you talked to him about why you want his desk to be organized? Has he explained why he prefers it to be disorganized? Would he be okay with being messy sometimes but having a clean-up plan in place for when other people come into your space? Would you be okay with that? Talking about it will likely help you both to better understand how the other person feels.

If you can give a little and be okay with him having some mess on his desk while he’s working or just when the two of you are in the flat, then hopefully he’ll agree to cleaning up his desk when guests come to visit. The two of you can acquire a box or bins or large anti-static bags for his things that he can quickly put parts into and easily remove them when he’s ready to get back to work. He knows how best these things should be stored, so talk with him about what you can give him. Don’t just buy things without his input because it will make him feel like you don’t respect the repair work that he does.

I hope that the two of you find a solution that you both can live with. Good luck!

Thank you, Montse, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Posted by Erin on Oct 2, 2009 | 33 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: Graduation garb

Reader Eri submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

As a recent graduate, I am stuck with a graduation gown that will definitely not be worn again (the school is changing the gown colors next year, so no luck in passing it on down). I also have my high school gown tucked away somewhere. What is the best approach to get rid of these things? Are there places that accepts gowns to remake new gowns or something else? I have found the tassel to be a small and simple ornament. And the hat? Not sure what to do with that either.

You have the traditional three options: sell it, recycle it, or throw it away.

To try and sell it, pair it with the hat and throw it up on eBay. In March or April you might find someone at a different school with the same colors who might need one on the cheap.

If you want to recycle it, I would suggest contacting a local preschool and asking if they want it. They could use it in their dress-up and imagination stashes. Local theaters might also have a need in their costume departments. If the fabric is of decent quality, you could cut it up and repurpose a little of it into a quilt or garment. Another idea might be to simply give it to a friend with kids who might enjoy using it for dress-up at home. Check out the comments for even more recycling ideas from our readers — they always have great ideas for repurposing items.

Finally, you could just throw it away. Take a photograph of it (if you don’t already have a picture of you wearing it during your graduation ceremony) and then put it in the trash. Most graduation gowns are made of extremely cheap fabric that will quickly decay.

Thank you, Eri, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column. Congratulations on your recent graduation!

Popularity: 9% [?]

Posted by Erin on Sep 25, 2009 | 42 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: What is clutter?

Reader Jennifer submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

Why do so many people seem to think that if something is small, it isn’t clutter? Is the clutter in most people’s houses composed of large items? Just what kinds of things do most people consider to be “clutter”?

My definition of clutter has nothing to do with size. Clutter is any distraction that gets in the way of a remarkable life. Clutter doesn’t have to be physical — you can have time clutter or mental clutter or even bad processes that qualify as clutter. I think most of us have had toxic relationships that have been clutter in our lives. Stuff definitely can be clutter, but it’s not the only form.

That being said, most physical clutter that I have encountered in people’s homes and offices is small stuff. Spaces just can’t hold a lot of big items. So, in terms of quantity, it’s the small stuff that takes the title.

One thing that is also important to distinguish is that clutter and disorganization aren’t the same thing. If an item is useful and used or is inspiring to you, it isn’t clutter. However, if that useful or inspiring item is without a proper storage place (a place for everything and everything in its place) then you will be distracted by it the same as if it were clutter. The lack of an organized solution is clutter, not the object.

Additionally, what constitutes clutter for one person isn’t necessarily clutter for someone else. And, people have different thresholds for how much clutter they can have to achieve their remarkable lives. I don’t organize or regularly unclutter my sock drawer, and I’m okay with that. To focus on what matters most to me in life, I don’t need to have a pristine sock drawer. I rarely wear socks, so I just don’t come into contact with this drawer much at all. A drawer full of hole-ridden socks in complete disarray, however, might drive someone else batty and waste a great deal of their time. We’re different, and that is magnificent.

I’m also interested in reading other people’s definitions of clutter, so I hope that this post receives many comments. Your question was thought provoking and a good one to ask. I believe that formulating your own definition of clutter can go a long way in helping get it under control. Thank you, Jennifer, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Posted by Erin on Sep 18, 2009 | 29 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: Trinket overload

Reader Nick submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

My full name is Nicholas, and so ever since I was a little kid, my family has been buying me figurines of St. Nicholas, Santa Claus. Large Santas, small Santas, fragile Santas, expensive Santas, cheap Santas, and of course some ugly Santas.

When I moved out I managed to leave the majority of them at my parent’s house, but still have plenty.

How can I get rid of these things without offending my family?

When I was a child, I had intense phobias for tadpoles and frogs. The creek that ran through my grandparents’ farm was full of them, and my cousins thought my screams of horror upon encountering them were hysterical. So, up until recently, everyone in my family gave me frog stuff whenever they gave me gifts.

Like you, I didn’t want to offend anyone, so I kept all of the frog stuff. Which, of course, bred more frog stuff from people beyond my family. Friends would come over, see my collection of frogs, and then buy me frog things for gifts thinking I loved frogs.

This all ended abruptly when I got rid of the frogs.

My friends noticed immediately (since they’re in my house more often than my extended family members) and none of them has ever mentioned it or given me a frog since.

I openly told my family that I stopped collecting frogs and donated their years of gifts to my friend who is a biology teacher to display in her classroom. No one had any objections and I haven’t received a frog from any of them in years. I told them by showing them a “before” picture of my bathroom (where the frogs had been displayed) and then the “after” picture of my redecorated space.

In your situation, you could give your Santa Claus collection to someone who is obsessed with Christmas decorating or to a local store to use in a holiday window display. Take a picture of the collection in its new home so that your family can see that the gifts are still being loved by someone else.

I kept a few of my favorite frogs, but have them covertly displayed throughout the house so that they’re not obviously a collection to visitors. I also photographed the full collection before getting rid of it, so that I could remember who gave me what over the years. You could keep your favorite Santas in a small collection, too, and just bring them out at the holidays.

It’s the grand purge that seems to get people’s attention, however, and will let your family know that you’ve reached Santa Claus overload. Other people don’t want you to feel burdened by their gifts, so don’t worry about saying goodbye to something that is cluttering up your space. Also, get the Santas you left at your parents’ place out of their space — it’s never a good idea to make your clutter someone else’s responsibility.

Thank you, Nick, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column. Good luck to you on your Santa Claus purge! Also, check out the comments for more advice from our readers.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Posted by Erin on Sep 11, 2009 | 29 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: Too much storage space

Reader Marci submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

I am a fanatic unclutterer. Our kitchen is very organized. But we actually have too much storage space (tons and tons of drawers and cabinets). What should I do with these empty drawers?

My first instinct is to tell you to leave them empty. Think of them as Drawers of Possibility. At some point in the future you may take up a new cooking hobby or decide to use them for things not cooking related at all — and you’ll have the room to grow.

Have you wanted to learn to can your own vegetables? If you have, now you have the space to store the equipment. Have you wanted to learn to make amazing cakes like Duff on Ace of Cakes? Now you have space to store your supplies.

You could use them for paper files or get a puppy and store dog food in them. The possibilities are endless, and you will know what to use them for when those opportunities arise. Enjoy them as simply Drawers of Possibility in the present.

By the way, I am really envious of your situation. My two kitchen drawers are not cutting it right now. Also, check out the comments where readers will give you even more ideas for your storage space.

Thank you, Marci, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Posted by Erin on Sep 4, 2009 | 32 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: Can a bathtub be clutter?

Reader Kate S. submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

We have a lovely large whirlpool bathtub in our master bath that we never use. When we bought our house last year, it was a nice selling point, but now it just collects dust and goes unused. What should I do with the extra space? Or how can I minimize cleaning something I never use?

Kate, do you live in my house? Do you read minds? Honestly, this is the exact situation in my home. I have a stall shower that is used daily and a large, whirlpool bathtub that only is used when we bathe our cats. It takes a ridiculous amount of time and water to fill the bathtub to reach the whirlpool intake sensor, so we rarely use it.

In my case, I clean the tub immediately after I use it. The other times I just dust it with a dry cloth when I clean the bathroom.

I am at a loss for what to do with your situation otherwise. I hope that our readership chimes in the comments section and gives both of us advice for how to handle the situation. Like you, I feel that the whirlpool tub is clutter, but too expensive to remove (both in replacement cost and home value).

Thank you, Kate S., for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column. My apologies for not having a solution — but I’m sure checking out the comments will help both of us.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Posted by Erin on Aug 28, 2009 | 58 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: Organizing hair styling doo-dads

Reader Karey submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

I have a 9-yr-old girl with long hair. She has zillions of barrettes, headbands, clips, bobby pins, etc. and I need some good ideas how to organize these! Any suggestions??

Such a fun and direct question! I recommend using a tackle box. They’re usually less expensive than a container that is marketed for hair styling items, and they’re durable.

This small tackle box has room for all different kinds of items (barrettes, hair bands, combs) and can easily be transported from room-to-room or packed up for a slumber party.

Get a few stickers and Sharpies and let your daughter customize it if she isn’t fond of the bland exterior. I use a tackle box for my makeup, and it works great.

Thank you, Karey, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column. Check out the comments for additional suggestions from our readers.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Posted by Erin on Aug 21, 2009 | 32 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: Help for students with ADHD

Reader Clara submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

My 14-year-old son has ADHD like the girl you mentioned in [Tuesday's] post. I’m going to put in a request to the school to rent two sets of books this year because I think that will help him. Do you have more advice for organizing with ADHD? We’re looking for lots of ideas as he heads off to high school in two weeks. Thank you!

One of my greatest joys during my years of teaching was working with students who wanted to learn but had hit a figurative wall with their progression. Whether that was because of a learning disability, boredom with the material, or some other situation that was pulling their thoughts out of the classroom. These students helped me to be more creative, more inventive, and overall a better teacher. Finding solutions for their specific needs was a lot like solving a puzzle, and I loved it immensely. Plus, the students flourished once they made it through their walls, and it was wonderful to watch their transformations.

I mention this because what has worked for one of my students might not work for your son. Be creative, get his input all along the way, and use these ideas as a jumping-off point. Keep things upbeat and remember that you can find solutions — it just might take time.

Note-taking

If you haven’t already, check out the Cornell Note-taking System. Most students don’t follow the system exactly, but knowing about it and practicing it usually helps to improve whatever system ends up being used over the long-term. It also helps to get students to think like their teachers (which can improve test scores) and focused on writing down what the teacher is saying (which might not have been taking place previously).
Give your son many different types of paper to use for note-taking — plain, graph, wide ruled, narrow ruled — and ask him to try using all of the different types. Some students respond better to a blank sheet of paper where they can locate information as they see it. Others work better with the structure of writing on graph paper. Your son will know which paper works best for him.

Getting to class on time

Invest in a watch or cell phone that allows for multiple alarms to vibrate over the course of a day. Set the alarm to vibrate one to two minutes (based on distance he needs to travel) before his classes begin. I don’t suggest using an audible alarm because then his friends will hear it and then he has to explain and no kid wants that situation.
I recommend that he arrive to school at least 15 minutes before his first class begins. This way, he’ll have a nice amount of time to set up his locker for the day. Books and materials should be put into order for how he’ll attend his classes so that he won’t have to figure things out during the fast-pace class changes. A laminated copy of his schedule posted inside his locker will be helpful, and so will a second, reduced-size copy for his wallet.

Focusing during class

The truth of the matter is that not all teachers should be teaching your son. Talk with your son at the end of his first week of classes. If you notice dread in his voice about any of his teachers, explore that dread. It may be a sign that it isn’t a good fit and you may want to look into switching his section or hiring a tutor for that subject. I move around a lot when I lecture, and it bothered one student so much that she couldn’t take notes. We moved her into a different section and she flourished under the stand-behind-the-podium teacher.

Also, let me suggest that you seek out the help of a professional organizer who has gone through training with the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization. You can find referrals in your area through their website.

Thank you, Clara, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Posted by Erin on Aug 14, 2009 | 23 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: Mom the mailer

Reader Cate submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

My mom cuts articles out of my hometown newspaper and mails them to me. every. single. week! I read the clippings and then toss them into the recycling … She has a computer, internet connection, and email account, but she doesn’t use them. How can I encourage my mom to stop sending me clippings and email me links instead? I haven’t said anything to her. I don’t want to upset her but I hate that she is wasting money and energy mailing me clippings. Where do I start?

The first thing you should figure out is what would your mom do if she didn’t send you these newspaper clips. Would she continue to cut them out and keep them herself or for you the next time you visit? If so, I don’t know if I would put an end to the mailings. You might be a way for her to get rid of clutter from her home. She can justify sending you the clips, but she might not be able to throw them away if she doesn’t send them to you.

If she can easily get rid of clutter, I would have a talk and possible training session with her the next time you visit. Start by asking her why she sends you the clips. Maybe she enjoys the ritual of going to the post office once a week? Maybe her mother mailed her clips after she moved away from home? She’s obviously sending you these clips because she wants to share a part of her life with you, so let her share even more of her life with you.

Introduce the idea of e-mailing you links instead of sending clips and see how she responds. If she’s interested in learning how, sit down with her and show her how to do it. Explain how to search your hometown newspaper’s website, copy links, paste links into an e-mail, and e-mail you the clips.

After returning home, send her a couple of e-mails that contain links from your current city’s newspaper to encourage continued e-mail exchanges. Respond to her e-mails (either with an e-mail or by picking up the phone) so that there is more interaction online than what she was getting by mailing you clips.

Thank you, Cate, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column. Be sure to check out the comments to see if our readership has additional ideas.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Posted by Erin on Aug 7, 2009 | 77 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: Blog post ideas

Reader Gwen submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

How do you come up with something new to write every day?

Gwen, this is the question I get asked the most often. Unfortunately, the answer is a wee-bit complicated, so please bear with me on this journey.

First thing to know, Unclutterer.com is made up of seven people. I’m just the one steering the organized ship, so to speak. We have programmers and project managers and an intern (everyone say “hi” to Tim) and a publisher and me. Everyone except for me spends most of their time on other programming and design projects (things like Nest Unclutterer and building websites for corporate and non-profit clients), but I’m full-time on Unclutterer business.

Thirteen times a year, we have meetings to plan our content. Twelve of those meetings decide the content for the months and one of those meetings is a strategic planning meeting where we look at the whole of the next year.

We have these meetings during the second week of each month, so we planned for August in mid-July. Our planning isn’t necessarily specific, but it guides my writing. Take for example the plan for this past week as we planned it in mid-June:

Monday: Uncluttered speech, bathroom organizing
Tuesday: Update on photo scanning project, something from the news
Wednesday: Something book related, A Year Ago, Unitasker
Thursday: Closet organizing, something book or news related
Friday: Workspace of the Week, Ask Unclutterer

You’ll notice that not everything went exactly as planned (Thursday’s closet organizing piece became a piece on general uncluttering), but that is fine. The goal of the plan is to give me ideas, not a strict law that must be followed.

Everyone on the team has a different way of capturing their ideas (I use Evernote, some people just use pen and paper), and not everyone on the team participates in all of the planning meetings.

If you are looking for ways to generate ideas for your blog, I highly recommend the team approach. Get a group of friends together or find people who are interested in the same topic and brainstorm ideas. You can do it over the phone or in person, just get talking about your topic. Even if people don’t come to the meeting with prepared suggestions, they can still add ideas and feedback during the meeting. Our meetings are usually 15 minutes long and I wouldn’t be able to come up with so many ideas without them.

Readers e-mail, twitter, and save links to del.icio.us that give me ideas, too. I carry my iPhone with me everywhere I go and take pictures of things I think would make good posts. I’m a member of a couple professional organizations that have newsletters about industry trends. I re-read diary entries from when I was going through my transformation from a clutterbug into an unclutterer and get ideas from my notes. I read a lot of business and science journals. I have news searches saved on JSTOR and through Google news. I’m always on the lookout for ideas — I can’t turn it off.

Thank you, Gwen, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column. Be sure to check the comments for even more ideas from our readers about how they generate post ideas for their blogs.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Posted by Erin on Jul 31, 2009 | 25 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: Help me organize and build a bar

Reader Tyler submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

I graduated college in May. Moved to Chicago for a consulting job. Four days a week I’m in a different state and I fly back to Chicago on weekends. I have friends from college who also moved here. I like to have pre-going out parties on weekends at my place to build a social life. I want to put together a bar in my dining room. I want it to be a gentleman’s bar not something I would have done in college like a kegerator. I like being organized and prepared. Want to do it up right. Think GQ.

If you don’t already have a piece of furniture to act as a bar and you have room for it, I recommend you get something to act as your “gentleman’s bar.” This will give you a space to store the liquor you have out of direct light and your bar equipment as you acquire it (ice bucket, high ball glasses, etc.), plus you can use the top as a serving area when you do have a party. In our home, we use an Ikea Bjursta. We bought ours a few years ago and it looks a little different than the one they sell now (and I think ours was less expensive than this one), but you get the general idea. Check out Craigslist, garage sales, and second-hand shops for something more unique if that fits your style.

Once you have the furniture, your next step is to decide on a signature drink. (I’m thinking martinis, old fashions, Mary Pickfords, sidecars, Manhattans, etc.) You mentioned that you usually throw pre-parties, so let the bar you’re going to later be the one to offer a full-range of options. You just want to get the party started, and you don’t have to break the bank to do so. Find a drink recipe that you really like, and only store the ingredients for it. Change up your signature drink whenever you run through your ingredients to keep your guests interested and clutter out of your space.

Eventually, you will get nice bottles of liquor as gifts, and you can let those be your alternatives when someone isn’t a fan of your signature drink. I keep a bottle each of vodka, bourbon, gin, light rum, vermouth, and tequila in our home bar and a bottle of Khaluha, grenadine, and sweet and sour mix in the refrigerator. I also grow mint in our garden. We have friends and clients over for dinner and/or drinks four or five times a month, so we have more on hand than I think most people should. I don’t recommend storing more than what I’ve just listed. It becomes a pain to store and keep organized. As with most things, it’s about quality, not quantity. I’m trying to get back to a signature drink and get rid of some of the stuff we’re storing.

Oh, and as far as accoutrements are concerned, you honestly don’t need a lot. We have an ice bucket (you could use a bowl), a cocktail shaker, and eight high ball glasses (these are also our every day glasses when we’re not having parties).

Thank you, Tyler, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column. I hope that I helped! Check out the comments section for even more bar-organizing ideas.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Posted by Erin on Jul 24, 2009 | 14 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: Is something put away if it’s in cardboard?

Reader Ryan submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

My wife and I have an ongoing disagreement that we want you to settle. One of us has a cardboard box with stuff in it sitting against the wall in our shared home office. One of us thinks the objects are “put away” because they are in the box. Another of us thinks the stuff needs to be “put away” into a cabinet or in a drawer because a cardboard box is not “put away.” Which of us has it right?

Wow, an opportunity to be an arbitrator! I feel honored that you thought to turn to me for advice.

At Unclutterer, we say that there should be a place for everything and everything should be in its place. In your situation, one of you believes that the cardboard box is in its place against the wall and that the stuff inside of the box is in its place, too. The other of you believes that the cardboard box and the stuff inside of it are all out of place and they need new places to live. Which means both of you are “right” according to your personal perspectives. However, I only agree with one of you.

In my opinion, cardboard is a temporary storage solution. It can get damp, mold and mildew can grow in it, and you can’t see into it easily. Cardboard boxes are great for moving and for holding things over the short term that you’re considering purging, but not for keeping important things over a long period of time.

Since I don’t think that cardboard is a good long-term storage solution, I’m going to side with the person who believes that the things are out of place. I wouldn’t see any problem with replacing the cardboard box with a file cabinet or a cupboard to better protect the items inside the box. My view is that if you’ve made the decision that an object isn’t clutter and that it is worth being in your home, then you should respect that object and protect it (as best as you can, and within reason) from physical damage. Also, it’s easier to find things when you can see them. Usually when things are in boxes they’re all jumbled and it takes longer than necessary to find what you need.

Thank you, Ryan, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column. Be sure to check out the comments to this post to see our readers’ thoughts on your situation.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Posted by Erin on Jul 17, 2009 | 31 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: Having it all

Reader April asked the following question in the comments section of a recent post:

How do you have time for all of this – running a blog, writing a book, all of these musical activities & all the other stuff you seem to do?

At the time she posted the question, I responded that the answer can be found in my upcoming book — which, is true. However, I’ve felt like a punk ever since for essentially saying, “I have a secret and you can’t know it until November. Na na nee boo boo.”

Since my intention wasn’t to be annoying, April, here is the answer that I should have given to you the first time. The following is my system for living a remarkable life:

Purge clutter, downsize, and minimize. The less stuff you own, the less you have to clean, store, maintain, manage, protect, worry about, stress about, waste money on, forget, and pick up. Have the minimum amount of stuff for you to be comfortable. (This level is different for everyone and you’ll have to figure it out for yourself.)
Organize what you choose to own and use. Your home and office don’t need to be pristine museums, but you and the people who access the same space/items need to be able to easily find things when they’re needed. Order is better than chaos, and order saves you time and energy.
Commit to a streamlined routine for the mundane tasks in your life and be disciplined enough to maintain that routine. If you do 30 minutes of housework a day, your home is never chaotic. But, you have to be committed to these daily activities (dishes, laundry as needed, things put back in place when finished, kitty litter scooped, etc.) and not put them off for another day. The same is true for work; you have to stay on top of the necessary tasks or they will haunt you. I also think of this item as taking responsibility for the things you choose to own.
Determine what matters most to you. Make a list of the people, activities, and things in your life that mean the most to you and then spend the vast majority of your time focusing on these items. Be honest with yourself, though, and put on your list what really matters to you, not what you think should matter to you.
Remind yourself that even if you live to be 100, life is short. There is no better time to live your life than right now. My life’s motto is carpe vitam, Latin for seize life. It’s morbid to think about, but someday might not ever come. Stop putting things off until tomorrow.
Say “no” to what doesn’t matter. If an activity or responsibility isn’t on your list of what matters most to you, say “no” to it. Learn to say “no” in such a way as to not be a jerk, but say “no” when you need to. This is where I greatly differ from most people because I don’t feel guilty about protecting my time. And, as far as I know, most people don’t think I’m a jerk because I’m clear about why I’m declining offers and invitations. (”Taking a yoga class with you would be fun, but Wednesday nights are date night with my husband. Is there a similar class we can take together on another night?”)
Enjoy being industrious. Working provides us with the resources to take care of the things that matter most. Whatever you do for a career, make sure it is something that you enjoy (even if just minimally).
Get rid of everything that is toxic in your life because toxic things are clutter. Toxic people and habits suck up resources and energy. I was an avid smoker until I calculated how much of my money, time, and energy were going into my smoking addiction. No matter how gifted and talented, I avoid employing, working with, and spending time with people who are toxic. A toxic person can waste your time and mental energy faster than any other form of clutter.
Live within your means and save money for retirement, rainy days, and adventures. Get rid of your credit cards and only use cash or your debit card. Live on a budget even if you don’t need to be mindful of your spending habits. Have a retirement account, and two savings accounts — one for emergencies (refrigerator died, fender bender) and one for splurging on what matters most to you (vacation, rock climbing lessons, a camera to capture your child’s first steps). Buy quality instead of quantity. Be a smart consumer.
Take risks and be brazen. A second motto in my life is ad astra per aspera, which is loosely translated as to the stars through difficulty. (It’s also the Kansas state motto.) Great things might fall in your lap from time to time, but for the most part you have to get outside your comfort zone and initiate something new. Have you always wanted to learn to play the flute? Get your hands on a flute and start taking lessons. You’ll be really awful those first six months (or year or five), but you’ll never learn to play the flute if you don’t take the chance and try.
Get adequate sleep. Keep a sleep journal and find out how much sleep you need to function at your best. Then, make sure you get that amount of sleep every night. When you’re well rested, it’s easier to stay calm, be productive, and focus on what you need and want to do.

Thank you, April, for asking your question, and my apologies for not giving you a decent answer the first time. Also, I want to say that I struggle with some of the things on this list like everyone will (especially the sleep item). But, when it happens, it is usually because some type of clutter has crept back into my life and I need to focus again on #1 to get the other items back on track.

Popularity: 27% [?]

Posted by Erin on Jul 10, 2009 | 80 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: Too much wine!

Reader Jules submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

I had a party and I bought a lot of wine for it–four cases–much more than I ended up needing. As guests arrived, they came bearing bottles of wine as hostess gifts–30 more bottles. Now I have more wine than I can store or possibly drink in a reasonable amount of time. I know a bit about wine, but a lot of the bottles I received as gifts aren’t ones I’ve tried before. How do I decide what to keep and what to get rid of? Also, what do I do with the bottles I don’t want to keep? I don’t want them sitting around my house cluttering up the kitchen, but I don’t want to waste them by throwing them away. I know it’s illegal for me to sell them. What should I do–oh gurus of simple living–with more than 60 bottles of wine?

Jules, you have yourself in an interesting predicament. Let me begin by answering your question about which bottles to keep and which bottles to get out of your home. Log onto The Wine Buyer or a similar site and learn about the bottles of wine your friends gifted to you. (Your friends are good friends, by the way. I recommend keeping your friends.) Check out the ratings and the descriptions of the flavor for each bottle of wine. If what you learn about a wine interests you, put the bottle in your “keep” pile. If it doesn’t interest you, put it in a “purge” pile. I also recommend that as you’re reading about the wine that you write some notes for yourself about the bottles. These notes will be helpful in the weeks and months to come when you’re deciding what bottle of wine to pair with a meal or event.

The bottles of wine that you bought for the party that you didn’t end up serving can most likely be returned to the store where you purchased them. Most stores will accept returns on any unopened reds and any unopened and unchilled whites (if you chilled it, it’s yours). Just be sure to take your receipt with you when you head back to the store.

The remaining wines that made it into your “purge” pile have many exciting opportunities for their future. You can have another party, serve the extra wine, and give each guest a parting wine bottle gift. (Name the party “Jules’ Wine Blowout!” and write things like “All wine must go!” on the invitations. Don’t forget to put “no gifts, please, especially wine” on the invite, too.)

You could encourage another friend to have a party and donate all of your wine to him/her for the celebration. You can head to a local harbor and start christening ships (this is a joke, don’t do this, people will get mad). You could go door-to-door in your neighborhood and give wine to your neighbors as “thank you” gifts for putting up with the noise from your party.

Dave, a knowledgeable gent who works at my local Total Wine, gave me a great suggestion for your “wounded soldiers” (those partially consumed bottles that are in the bar at the end of the party). Pour the remaining wine into ice cube trays, freeze, then pop the wine cubes out and store in ziptop plastic bags in your freezer. The next time a recipe calls for wine, drop in a frozen wine cube instead of opening a new bottle.

Our readers may have more suggestions for what to do with the excess wine, so be sure to check the comments for more ideas. I’m sure that this is a predicament that non-drinkers run into from time-to-time. Not being able to sell the wine bottles you received as hostess gifts really does make things more difficult. Thank you, Jules, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Posted by Erin on Jun 26, 2009 | 35 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: Me and My Unitaskers

Reader Wilhelm asked the following question of Unclutterer in the comments of a recent post:

If [the] Unclutterer staff owns some of these things, can we have photos of them with their Unitasker?

I immediately fell in love with this suggestion and then went through Unitasker Wednesday archives to find all of the ones I own. Turns out, all of my unitaskers are kitchen-related items:

The Ice Cream Maker. The inner canister is currently in the freezer, getting ready for my next batch. I’m of the opinion that if I’m going to consume calories from ice cream, they should at least be the best tasting calories I can get my hands on.

The Apple Peeler-Corer. I make pies, and apple pies are my specialty in the late summer and fall. The time this gadget saves me when I’m in apple-pie season is worth it the other months of the year.

The Garlic Roaster. Mine isn’t electric, but it still takes up a lot of space in my cupboards. I actually use it for tortillas instead of roasting garlic. I wouldn’t hold onto it, otherwise.

The Juicer. We buy lemons and limes by the bag full and then juice them up for drinks. Best of all, most all of the parts of this little guy can go in the dishwasher for fast and easy cleanup.

The Pickle Picker. I don’t know where this pickle fork came from, but it’s been a part of our kitchen for years. We don’t use it for pickles, though, we use it to open packaging, dig things out of small crevices around the stove, and use it as an all-purpose tiny tool. You can see that we’ve dented the tines a bit.

Now you know what Unitasker Wednesday items are in my collection! What Unitasker Wednesday items do you have in your cupboards? Share them with us in the comments. I’m encouraging the other Unclutterer staffers to do the same (let’s see if they step up to the plate).

Thank you, Wilhelm, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Posted by Erin on Jun 19, 2009 | 47 Comments | Tweet This

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Ask Unclutterer: Selling something with an unknown value

Ask Unclutterer: CD storage

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Ask Unclutterer: Blog post ideas

Ask Unclutterer: Help me organize and build a bar

Ask Unclutterer: Is something put away if it’s in cardboard?

Ask Unclutterer: Having it all

Ask Unclutterer: Too much wine!

Ask Unclutterer: Me and My Unitaskers