Organization Quest

On Time All The Time: The Trick To Never Being Late

There’s only one thing you need to know to avoid being late: In order to be “on time” you have to get there early.

I know:  it’s not fair.  And it’s not much of a “trick” either, even if it’s fail-proof.

The truth is, if any kind of commute is involved, you simply can’t time things to the minute, in part because there are so many variables.  Driving is just part of the equation; parking and walking from where you’ve parked takes time that is easily overlooked.  Depending on where you are going, security checks, unanticipated lines, and waiting for the elevator can be factors, never mind the glitches that happen when trying to find a place for the first time.

I generally give myself 25% more time than I think it will take to get me where I’m going.  That sounds like a lot of time, but it really isn’t, considering it’s only an extra fifteen minutes for an hour’s journey. I usually end up just a few minutes early, because invariably the trip takes longer than it “should.” For very little “wasted time” you, too, can give yourself a calm and peaceful commute knowing you’ll truly arrive on time.

More Inspiration for Countertops

"Surfaces are quick, easy, and very visible, so they provide more 'bang for the buck' than emptying an entire closet or sorting through the stuff in your basement," writes Sarah Coffey for the wonderful Apartment Therapy website. 

The article includes pix from five "real homes" like the one above and appeared under Apartment Therapy's "Weekend Inspiration" column.  Indeed, clearing off a countertop is an easy, low-pressure weekend project and is a great way to kick-start some organizing momentum.

Photo credit: Faith Durand.

More Organization Breakthroughs: Small Changes, Big Impact

Earlier in the week, I wrote about my Big Organization Breakthrough, which involved re-configuring the space for three rooms:  moving the floor-to-ceiling PAX shelving units from a small bedroom to the living room; moving the master bedroom to the small bedroom; and creating a studio/den out of the master bedroom.  These changes took a lot of time, a lot of energy, and were not without expense.  But another change has likewise made a huge impact in our day-to-day lives and not only is it super simple, it doesn’t cost a cent.

 

We run our dishwasher every night.  And we unload it every morning.

 

I don’t know why this didn’t occur to us before:  it just seemed sort of wasteful to run the dishwasher unless it was completely full.  But we weren’t very good at gauging just how much we could fit in the washer, so inevitably we would have an overflow of dirty dishes, and then while we ran the washer more dishes would pile up, so that by the time we got around to unloading it,  we’d have an overflow of dishes again. 

 

Now we run the washer even if it’s half (or less than half!) full.  We do this at night, after dinner.  In the morning, in-between feeding the cats and making the morning tea, we (okay, Alpay) unloads the washer.  The empty washer makes it easy to put in any dishes that accumulate during the day, keeping the kitchen tidy, clean, and presentable.  The only downside is that the whole are-the-dishes-dirty-or-are-they-clean? rigamarole we used to engage in on a daily basis no longer takes place, and after 20 years, I’d sort of gotten used to it.  If anyone has any ideas on how we can annoy each other anew, I’m open for suggestions.

Cheap, Easy, and Fast: The Perfect Fall Dinner

I don't know about you, but few phrases get on my nerves more than, "What's for dinner?" I always want to respond: "I don't know.  What is for dinner?" Nevermind the asker may be my friend's five year-old.  I figure if she's old enough to ask, then she's old enough to pony up some suggestions. 

One of the nice things about this time of year is that crisp autumn days are perfect for soup-making.  My favorite fall soup to make is roasted garlic and eggplant, but practically any vegetable lends itself to being roasted:  potatoes, tomatoes; bell peppers of any color; mushrooms.  Carrots.  Most arromatic vegetables (onions, garlic, shallots) are lovely roasted.  I like using eggplant because it's both delicious and easy: just slice in half, drizzle on some olive oil, grind on some sea salt, and roast at 450 degrees for a half hour or so. The eggplants are done when the insides are soft when inserted with a knife.  It's easy to separate the insides from the skin, unlike with peppers or tomatoes which are a little trickier.  Then just add some stock  (I use either homemade vegetable stock or chicken stock or a half-half mixture of the two) and blend.

Roasting garlic or onions to add to the soup is easy and great for achieving a rich, full-bodied taste.  I put a few cloves of garlic on a square of foil, drizzle on a little olive oil, add salt, then close up the foil package, which protects the cloves from getting burned, and toss it on the roasting pan, next to the vegetables. 

Yesterday's soup used two eggplants, maybe four cloves of garlic, a small can of stock and some of my own stock, and produced enough to generously feed four for just a few dollars.  Not counting the roasting time, the whole process took less than 10 minutes.  Add a salad and some nice, crusty bread, and you have an answer as to what's for dinner!

So versatile: add roasted garlic to mayonaise for a gourmet spread, blend with lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and fresh herbs for a nice salad dressing, or spread directly on crackers.  Roasting makes the garlic mild and sweet; you lose the stink factor.

Quick Tip: Getting the Most out of Powder Cosmetics

Back in the original Makeup Week that ran in April/May, several posts featured cosmetic safety, including expiration dates and avoiding microbial contamination.  The latter post detailed why such makeup-extending practices as adding water to the original product is not a good idea, as the introduction of foreign material increases the likelihood of product contamination.  But there is at least one way to be frugal that isn't an infection risk: when loading cosmetics onto a brush or applicator, start with the corners of the pan and work inward, thus avoiding the ubiquitous dip-in-the-center syndrome. Why bother? Because when you dip into the middle, you push product to the sides, where it is hard to reach the last little bits without breakage and waste. 

Quick Tip: Washing Cosmetic Brushes

Brushes are great for applying any number of products, from foundation and face powder to blush, eye shadow, eyeliner, and even lipstick.  To keep brushes clean, just wash with anti-bacterial soap and warm water and air-dry.

 

Quick Tips for Speeding up Your Beauty Routine

Tuesday is my Monday, the first day of the week I have to be on site at work.  And so after a lazy, cosmetic-free weekend that spills over onto my work-at-home Monday, I'm often tempted to throw caution to the wind and shun makeup Tuesday morning, quite as if I simply can't spare the 30 seconds it takes to line my eyes or put on a little lip gloss, nevermind that whenever I go into the office bare-faced, there's always someone who will wonder--loudly and often--if I'm sick.

I came across "50 Ways to Speed up Your Beauty Routine" on Oprah's site a while back.  Because saving time and  streamlining routines is a big part of being organized, I thought it would make a good post for the Quest.  I've tested  most of the makeup tips and a good quarter of the hair and general grooming tips, and I have to say I'm both surprised and pleased with the tips I've tried.  I may not switch to a tinted moisturizer for foundation or use a light dusting of blush in place of eyeshadow every day of the week, but it in a pinch both techniques seem to work well enough and they do make good on their promise of saving time. 

Filing Pet Papers

If you're thinking:  oh, come on, how much paperwork could a pet possibly generate, then all I can say is: obviously you've never had a pet.

Medical records. The receipt for rabies tags.  Prescription history.  Health care instructions.  Information about medical conditions.  The names and numbers of vets, kennels, sitters, day care services, walkers, groomers, emergency veterinary services, and poison control.  Microchip information.  Bloodwork and test records.  Adoption papers and agreements.  Pet insurance. Vaccination schedule. And so on:

 

Once upon a time, I used to agonize over what to do with such stuff.  Does the adoption contract go under my "Contracts" file?  What should I do with the rabies tag?  Since The Boys are indoor-only kitties, I don't bother with collars.  Should I store the tags . . . in the junk drawer?  In a box?  My jewelry box?  And what about all those pamphlets?  I guess I could copy down the information and put it all in my organizer/address book, but I hate to junk things up with items I rarely if ever use.

If there is a rule to filing, I think it should be: file like with like in a place where you would look for it.  So it really wouldn't make sense to file the pet insurance brochure under "Insurance"--because that's not where I would look for it.  What I needed was a single file for all pet-related stuff.  And so I made a file (simply labeled "The Boys") and tuck anything related to them inside for an easy, quick, organization solution.

 

The 1/3 Rule: Cut Calories and Save Money, Too

I don't recall exactly how or when I came across the one-third rule, but I've been using it for years:  basically, almost anything with a liquid base (and even some things, like re-fried beans, which aren't liquid) can be diluted with plain old tap water by 1/3 without affecting taste or quality all that much.  Examples:  orange juice--in fact, I can barely drink the stuff straight from the carton anymore.  Soup.   Ketchup.  Salad dressing.  Balsamic vinegar.  By adding 33% more volume, you automatically reduce the calories/carbs by one third as well, for a save calories-save money, win-win proposition.

The 1/3 rule works for non-edibles as well:  Dishwasher liquid, laundry detergent, bleach, window cleaner, ammonia, body lotion, shampoo, conditioner--the 1/3 rule works with any number of common household, cleaning, and grooming products, and is a great way to painlessly reduce spending.

The Refrigerator and Pantry Makeover: How One Nutritionist Does It

One of the goals of any diet/lifestyle plan is to replace junky food choices with healthier ones.  Some people advocate clearing the fridge and pantry of all offending food if you can,  provided thatother members of the house won't be goaded into felanious acts of defense and revenge after you actually throw away perfectly good Cheez-Whiz.

 I myself favor the Clean Slate Approach, but then, moderation in thought and deed has never been my strong point.  There's something to be said for a reasonable, gradual replacement of junk food with nutrittrous choices:  for one, you waste less.  Second, you give yourself and your family time to adjust to a new way of eating. 

I especially like one nutritionist's strategy for creating awareness and preparing healthier habits: David Grotto, RD, LDN, and author of the book  101 Foods That Could Save Your Life  advocates a fun system of colored-coding the items in your refrigerator and pantry with stickers. "Food items that reinforce your health goals are tagged with green stickers and ones that should not be replaced are tagged with red stickers," Grotto explains on his website, nutritionhousecall.com.   Seeing the "red flag" foods in this way gives you time to reflect on your choices and come up with alternates with which to replace them.  In any case, Grotto's technique gives a new spin on pantry- and refrigerator-cleaning that makes the prospect of dieting almost kind of fun.

The Ultra Low-Cost, Ultra-Flexible, Multi-Purpose Cleaner: Baking Soda

Earlier in the week, WD-40 had its day in the sun, which got me thinking about my own favorite low-cost, multi-purpose cleaning product, baking soda.  Basically I use baking soda interchangeably for which I might use Comet or Ajax: scrubbing sinks, whether porcelain or stainless steel; getting the mysterious gunk that collects behind facets; scrubbing tubs or laminate counters.  The non-toxic composition of baking soda makes it especially suitable for cleaning the inside of a coffee pot, microwave or refrigerator, while its famous deodorizing ability accounts for the placement of open baking soda boxes in what must be billions of refrigerators worldwide.  I've had less success adding baking soda to litter boxes--the texture seemed to gum up after one use--and I'm skeptical of some uses sited on various online sources, such as using baking soda to clean jewelry or marble.  But one task at which baking soda really excels is removing coffee or tea stains from cups: just take a tablespoon or so, wet with water to make a paste, and wipe the stains clean away in a matter of seconds. 

2,000 Uses For WD-40?

A while back, I was talking to Stacy, the Designated Neatnik at work, and she told me her Dad told her that WD-40--a substance I've always regarded with vague suspicion (what is WD-40, anyway?  The manufacturers won't say) can be used to actually clean things.  "Like what?" I said, trying not to narrow my eyes because it's rude to do so and it's best not to alienate people at work in the event that, you know, you need to borrow their stapler or something down the line.  Still, I was skeptical.  As far as I knew, the sole purpose of WD-40 was to fix creaky door hinges.  "Like, it can clean shower doors," Stacy said.  "Oh come on," I said, but Stacy stuck to her guns.  "There's websites," she said.  "There's websites with hundreds and hundreds of things you can do with WD-40."

Thus filed under the category, Research When I'm Desperate For a Post Topic, I came upon the note I'd made and googled "cleaning with WD-40."  Imagine my astonishment when I saw a WD-40 fan club (!) listing not hundreds but two thousand uses for WD-40, many of them having to do with cleaning.  So what if most of us don't have a use for "cleaning gum from chicken feathers" and "removing peanutbutter from dog hair"? There's something for everyone here.  Among (many) other things, you can use the humble and hard-working spray to:

• Clean metal figurines
• Remove crayon from carpet
• Clean newspaper ink from tables
• Polish scratches on countertops
• Remove rollerblade marks from kitchen floors
• Remove grime from grout
• Remove petroleum stains from clothing
• Clean (I'm sure they mean remove) food stuck in and around refrigerator
• Remove glue from carpet
• Clean clogged inkjet nozzles
• Clean pigeon droppings from cars
• Clean Plexiglas
• Remove paint from windows
• Remove fingerprints from glossy magazines and book covers
• Clean dice
• Remove river sludge from boat hull
• Shine diamonds
• Clean gummed-up soap trays
• Pre-treat laundry to remove roofing tar stains

I owe Stacy--and Stacy's Dad!--an apology. I'm a WD-40 skeptic no more. 

Quick Tip: How to Get Free Shipping

Like taxes or people who talk on their cell phones in public restrooms, there's something about shipping charges that is inherently annoying. I think long and hard before forking over any amount for shipping charges, nevermind that it costs $2.25 each way to go downtown on the El.  So you can imagine my euphoria when I discovered the website, freeshipping.org, whose tagline reads  "free Shipping Coupons to 1501 Stores."  The actual deal offered ranges from extraordinarily good (free shipping + $30 off orders of $100 or more from Coldwater Creek) to non-deals ($8.75 for orders from PromGirl).  You can browse by store name, first initial, or category, and there's a special "My Favorite Coupon" function that allows you to create your own page featuring your favorite stores.  Be sure to check for any expiration dates or required conditions.

Here are some deals being offered as of tonight, May 8:

The Truly Good Deals

• Coldwater Creek (free shipping + $30 off orders of $100 or more (expires May 10)
• Ann Taylor (25% off--expires May 10)
• Brooks Brothers  (30% off (expires May 11)
• Britannica (free shipping + 10% off)
• Speedo (10% off one item + free shipping on orders of $75 or more)

Free Shipping on Any Order

• Saks Fifth Avenue
• Liz Caiborne
• Perfume Emporium

The Decent Deals

Free Shipping on Orders Under $100

• amazon.com (free shipping on orders over $25)
• Avon (free shipping on orders over $40)
• Office Depot (free next business day shipping on orders over $50)
• Chef's Catalog (free shipping on orders over $49)
• Petco (free shipping on orders over $60)
• Rocky Mountain Trail (free shipping on orders over $35)

The So-So Deals

Free Shipping on Orders More than $100

• Old Navy
• Gap
• Banana Republic
• Big Dogs
• Kohls
• Fossil

The Sort of Worthless Deals

Free Shipping on Gift Cards

• White and Black
• Bed Bath & Beyond

Other Non-Deals

• Toys R Us (free shipping on select items)
• PromGirl ($8.75 shipping on all orders)
• TeesForAll ($5.00 shipping on all orders)
• West Elm (free shipping on window panels)
• Copier Supply Store (free shipping on orders over $250)
• Staples (free shipping when you have your order sent to a local store)

Quick Tip: Store Items According To Function

 

A twist on keeping like with like is storing items according to function:  if you're an infrequent tea drinker, you might put tea bags in a tea pot, or stow picnic gear--napkins, blanket or spread, containers, disposable plants and cutlery--in a picnic basket.

Quick Tip: Make Your Own Wrinkle-Releaser, and Save Money, Too

There was a time I used clumsiness as an excuse for wrinkly clothes.  "I'm not coordinated enough to iron," I'd explain, brandishing a 2"-long scar on my left forearm as proof.  

But thena friend at work pulled me aside and told me about wrinkle releasers.  "They're made for people like you," she said.  While a 33 oz. bottle of name brand wrinkle releaser goes for $9.99 on Drugstore.com , my friend makes her own by putting 1/4 cup of liquid fabric softener in an empty 33-oz spray bottle, then filling it up with plain old tap water.  Just screw on the cap, give it a couple shakes, and you're good to go.  I've used the same recipe with great, wrinkle-free success, and wouldn't dream of throwing away ten bucks on the official product.

Minimal Effort for Maximum Effect

I had a PE teacher in jr. high who was fond of saying: results equal effort.  Then I grew up and found out that's not necessarily true.  But that's a story for another day.

When it comes to organizing, some results come a little easier than others.  You can dust to your heart's content, but dirty socks on the floor will upstage polished bric-a-brac every time.  So here's a short list of things you can do, in short order, for maximum effect:

Close kitchen cabinet doors. One of my friends told me that when it came to quick clean-up strategies, she was a one-trick pony and shutting doors was her trick: it takes seconds and really does make the place look better, fast.  Same with closet doors, doors of medicine cabinets, etc.  A solid door is almost always tidier than whatever is inside.

Make tidy piles.  My natural inclination is to be a spread-it-out kind of girl.  It was only after working on a project with my friend Cassie that I realized that even though we had virtually the same quantity of stuff, Cassie's work area looked a lot more organized than mine.  How could that be, I asked her.  "Tidy piles," she answered, and showed me how much an impact you can make by taking less than a minute to gather things up. The less area consumed by clutter, the neater the appearance.

Create clear traffic ways. It may sound obvious, but when stuff is underfoot, if you have to turn or twist to get around something, it's not only a nuisance but a hazard.  While I'm not a fan of pushing things into corners, it's better than tripping over something.

Hang up coats, put away shoes.  Nothing clutters up a living room faster than coats and shoes everywhere, and how long can it possibly take to put away?  A minute?  If that?

Dirty laundry into hampers.  Okay, I admit:  I used to hang ambiguously-clean clothes--things I'd worn but hadn't decided if they were actually dirty--on the back of the bathroom door.  Imagine my surprise when Alpay informed me that the hooks I was using were intended for robes instead!  "Where do I put  my pantyhose?" I complained.  This was before wearing pantyhose was synonymous with the phrase unspeakably tacky.  Dirty laundry goes into hampers, Alpay explained.  "What if I only wore it once?" I wailed, but Alpay was adamant.  Thus weaned from a lifelong habit, I can finally say: what was I thinking? 

Toys into storage bins.  It's all the tiny, multi-colored pieces that make an otherwise clean floor look like a nightmare, but with a few convenient, open-topped mesh boxes or bins, toys are a breeze to put away.

Make the bed.  Because it's usually the largest piece of furniture in a bedroom, making the bed has an instant impact, packing a wallop of tidiness for very little effort.  Still, this is one thing I rarely manage to do myself.  But it's definitely on my list of resolutions for another year!

Yuck-free Sponge Storage and Sanitization

Years ago, before we bought our first car that didn't require duct tape to hold it together, I'd never heard of the particular model we ended up buying, perhaps because the idea of being able to distinguish the make and model of one car from another is only slightly more appealing than, I don't know, memorizing pro football stats. I mean, sure, a person could, but what would be the point? So it took me by surprise after we bought our car that I started seeing it everywhere, and moreover, that I should notice or care. Seemingly overnight, the world was populated by our car, although sometimes in a different color, and it seemed impossible that I hadn't noticed this before.

In the same way, it had never even occurred to me to second-guess my choice of using a sponge in the kitchen, until the conversation I had with Stacy the Designated Neatnik at work. Suddenly, it seemed all I heard about on the news or on the radio was microbial contamination this and potential food poisoning that, all pointing to the once-innocent-but-now-suspicious sponge. Troubled, I asked my officemate if he used a sponge in the kitchen. By his reaction, you would have thought I asked if he offers lead paint chips as snacks to toddlers. Shocked in turn by his reaction, I said, "well, I use a sponge." This made him shudder. "The chances you take," he said then.

Thus fascinated and incredulous in equal measure, I proceeded to quiz everyone I know on their sponge usage. It's one thing for my officemate and for Stacy the Designated Neatnik to be sponge-shy: everyone knows microbiologists are scardy-cats. But horrifyingly, person after otherwise normal person denied using a sponge. It was as if everyone had gotten the proverbial memo but me. When did this happen? When did the entire world decide that Sponges Are Not Our Friends? Even my friend Just Chewy--who is neither a microbiologist nor particularly delicate--even he doesn't use a sponge, but uses dishtowels, which are frequently washed.

Feeling a little cowed and not just a little freaked out, I bought some dishtowels and gave them a try. I hated them. Wet, sloppy, too big and unwieldy, my re-occurring thought while using them is: you're kidding, right? I couldn't take it. Guiltily, I went back to my beloved sponge.

And then fortune smiled upon me: I visited my friend Ingrid, who is no slouch in the SuperClean category herself. Imagine my delight when I saw a sponge in her kitchen! Exactly the type I use, with one side scruffy and one side soft. I mentioned to her my sponge story and she laughed. Her trick: she keeps both her sponge and her scrub brush in the dishwasher, which she runs using the Sanitize cycle. Sponge and scrub brush are thus cleaned and sanitized with each wash. Ingenious!

Above, left, the sponge-in-dishwasher storage method. Above, right: What is that in the dishwasher?

The Prioritization Method of Quick-Cleaning for Guests

Back in the day when Glamour magazine was more like Real Simple and less like CosmoGirl, they ran advice a person could really use. One such article was a list of things that are important--and those that aren't--when getting your house ready for guests.  While I no longer recall the exact advice, I think the idea of limiting preparations via prioritization is a useful one.

Priority Factor #1: Concentrate on where your guests will be

In our case, if we're having overnight guests, then the whole house pretty much needs attention, but if we're just having brunch or dinner guests, we can shut the doors to the bedroom, the master bath, and both of our studies, leaving the living room/dining room, kitchen, and guest bath as the focus for any last-minute cleaning-and-tidying effort. In a similar vein, one friend has an "upstairs/downstairs" rule:  upstairs is off-limits when she entertains, downstairs is accessible to all.  In your case, can you close off the basement or close the bedroom doors?

Priority Factor #2: Concentrate on what your guests will notice

Several of my friends are allergic to cats, so when they come over I make it a priority to rid the place of cat fur as much as possible.  If I'm going to be entertaining during the day, I might prioritize washing the sliding glass doors that go out to the balcony, the better to enjoy the view, while if I'm going to be entertaining at night, I would probably choose to concentrate my efforts elsewhere.

Priority Factor #3: Clean over de-clutter

My two priorities are always the guest bathroom and the kitchen--these need to be clean. Everything else is negotiable.

Priority Factor #4: Straighten over organize

If you're expecting guests in two hours--or even two days--it really isn't the time to dig into that organizing project you've been putting off for the last several months.  Focus on picking things up and putting things away, or at least putting them in the room where they belong. Get things off the floor.  Make tidy piles of what's left. 

When the doorbell rings remember:  Relax!  You're in the company of family and friends!

Holiday Shopping Quick Tip: Organizing Receipts For Easy Returns

Years ago, a friend with four kids shared with me her method of keeping track of her holiday purchases:  she keeps a ziplock bag in her purse, where she puts holiday receipts as she makes her purchases.  While standing at the counter, she'll make a quick note about the purchase right on the receipt , i.e. "Mary's sweater."  Since product itemization is not clear on many receipts--which often  contain baffling codes or abbreviations--such a note makes for easy identification later on, should you need to return an item.

When it's time for returns, my friend goes through her ziplock bag, selects the receipts needed, and puts those receipts in their own baggie that  accompanies her on her returns.  What I like to do is tape the receipt directly to the item, so that I don't have to dig through my wallet to find the receipt.

On a related note, when shopping for anyone besides Alpay, I always ask for a separate gift receipt, which I then tape on the inside of a box top or to the bottom of an item; that way, I have the original receipt for my records while enabling easy returns for the recipient.

Quick Tip: Keeping Tidy While Cooking

The problem:  where to put drippy, food-goopy spoons and utensils while cooking?  There are those spoon-shaped ceramic plates, which are adorable, sure, but who cooks with onespoon, which is about all you can fit on one of those things?  And what are you supposed to do with the measuring cups, whisks, knives, strainers, peelers, graters, spatulas, and other such utensils you use while cooking?  The diminutive little spoon-shaped plate just isn't going to cut it.

While I've developed a system of constant rinsing-and-washing of utensils while cooking (the trick:  unloading the dishwasher and dish drain first, to give yourself a clean slate), I do find it useful to have a place to put utensils in when I'm in the middle of cooking.  I like to use a plain old plate, as large or small as needed for the particular dish or meal that's being made.  Easy, practical, and it works great in containing food-prep mess.