Organization Quest

How to Fit As Much As Possible In A Given Space: A Step-by-Step Example

When you utilize the Just-The-Right-Fit storage strategy, you'll be amazed by how very much you can store in the smallest spaces.  Take this example:  Here is an empty shelf in one of our 19" PAX units.  After measuring the biggest item we had to store there--the picnic basket--I adjusted the shelf for 12-1/2" of vertical clearance:

 

While centering an item on a shelf looks attractive, you get more storage mileage when you push an item all the way over to one side as I did with the picnic basket above; this gives you the biggest possible space to store items alongside the first item.  I was able to fit in two cookie tins to the side, followed by another sizable basket full of infrequently-used computer cables:

   

I then fit a box on top of the picnic basket.  This was tricky, because in order to fit the second basket, the handles of the picnic basket had to be raised, thus restricting what could go on top of the basket.  After experimenting with several boxes, I found one low enough to fit. Satisfied that I could fit everything I could on top of the picnic basket, I found a small bag of embroidery floss that fit nicely on top of the second basket:

   

A cookie tin fit nicely on top of the front half of the second basket.  Then I began to fill the wedge to the right of the picnic basket, starting with a box of candles:

   

There was still room for even smaller boxes:  a Chinese scroll that's currently rotated out and some rarely-used incense:

   

I was able to fit a couple boxes of holiday cards on top of the cookie tin, and there was enough room in front of the picnic basket to accommodate a good-sized box of bath supplies:

   

There was room for two small wooden box on top of the bath supply box.  I'd tried to fit both of these boxes on top of the picnic basket in the fifth picture above but both were too bulky to fit in that spot. 

     

Assessing the space, I found I could fit another box of holiday cards on top of the wooden boxes and and a smaller holiday box to the side.  I then finished up by tucking a tiny box in an available crevice.

   

Not bad for a space that's only 19" wide x 22" deep x 12-1/2" high!

Give Me An Inch (Or Two) And I'll Show You What You Can Do With It

Yesterday we saw just how much sports and camping equipment could be stored in just 4 inches of space.  But what if you have only a couple of inches to spare?  Can anything be done with just an inch or two?

Before installing the closets a few years ago, I carefully noted what exactly needed to be stored and took measurements accordingly.  Once I fit in the main items for which I'd planned, it was time to get out the tape measure again and note just how much extra room I had--an inch here, a couple inches there.  Then I assessed everything that still needed homes. While it may be fairly easy to find a place--any place--to just shove things into, one of the main principles of organizing is finding the right place for things, so you can find things quickly and easily, so things don't get damaged, and so the items you frequently use are in easy reach. 

I found the perfect place to store one of my favorite board games, for instance, after discovering a little over two inches on an eye-level shelf in the front hall closet:

 

Another example: We have various large sketchbooks, over-sized manila envelopes, x-rays, and MRI films, none of which can be bent.  But where to put them so they're accessible when we need them (which isn't often) and won't get damaged?

I found the perfect place: there is 2-1/2" between the bottom of a 39" PAX unit and its lowest drawer--plenty enough to store all the over-sized and rarely-used flat items.

 
Above:the crack below the lowest PAX drawer.  Below:the notebooks, over-sized envelopes, x-rays, and MRI films stored there.

 

Below: view of items stored in the space.

Storing Sports And Camping Gear In 4 Inches Of Space

I'm a big believer in making use of waste space--those odd little places that take up room but are too small or too awkwardly-shaped to do much with, at first glance.  The 4" of floor-to-ceiling space we were left with after installing four, 19" IKEA PAX units in the master closet is an example of such a space.  What can you possibly do with a space like this?

Above: the 4" area between the wall and last IKEA PAX unit in the master bedroom.

In figuring out storage solutions, sometimes you start with the stuff; other times you start with the space. In the case above, the unplanned gap practically begged for creative solution as to what to do with it. 

Obviously, this isn't the place to store craft supplies, jewelry, or cosmetics.  But why, exactly, is that? It's a matter of accessibility.  Sure, you could store a boatload of craft items in this area, for instance, but what would be the point? Can you imagine what a nightmare it would be to dig through several feet of itty-bitty parts to find embroidery floss, embossing powder, or tubes of watercolor?

Once I realized that the space would most suitably work for large items that could be easily identified, I  assessed my storage needs and that the space was perfect for storing sports and camping gear:

Above: The stuff:  skis, poles, kite, backpack, fishing rod and reel, and net. 

I started with the skis, because their length made them the trickiest to fit in the space.  I placed them on the floor at the very back, then fit in the backpack next to the skis on the floor.  From there I fit in the kite, the fishing net, and the ski poles, adjusting things as need be.  I finished up with the rod and reel, which is also the item that Alpay uses the most.

 
Above: The stuff in the space (Snapdragon not included)

When It Comes To Storage, Think Outside The Box

I once had a roommate whose mother was an organization genius, and she took my friend to task for not utilizing the room in her shoes when packing for college.  "You pack socks in shoes," her mother said.  "Everybody knows that." 

In fact, I didn't know that then, but I've remembered it ever since.  So last summer when the 12-compartment sock drawer I designed for Alpay started to get a little over-loaded, I took my friend's mother's advice and was amazed I could fit six pairs of winter socks into a pair of snow boots, thus freeing up a good quarter or more of the space in the sock drawer.

You Don't Need Special Containers For Attractive Storage

 

You don't need special containers to store stuff; almost any hollow object can do the job.  The trick is finding a container that's the right scale for what you want to store. In the example above, decorative pots work great for storing bath supplies.  Below: a small Turkish tea glass is just the right size for storing these whimsical ceramic tea spoons, which had a tendency to break when stored with regular cutlery.

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.

Storage Strategy 101

Creating practical storage solutions is a bit of a balancing act: functional and attractive options are, of course, ideal, but the sheer volume of stuff can make such a model a pretty tall order. While I'm adept at using every square inch of storage space available, such an approach can actually create more chaos in the long run if an entire closet has to be dismantled to get at some needed supply, thus the need to develop a comprehensive storage strategy.

First and Foremost: Toss As Much As You Can

I know: you don't want to hear that.  Believe me, neither do I. And yet, it really is so much better to have the things that you really like, need, and use organized and on hand, rather than to hoard a quantity of stuff that doesn't really suit you or serve a function in your life. Getting rid of anything lightens the load--whether it's packaging, old clothes or files, outdated electronics or broken appliances.  Donating just a few books can make a difference; as we'll see later in the week, even 2 inches of space can be utilized for storage. 

Utilize "Just The Right Fit" Arrangements

In business, there's a concept called Just-in-Time inventory management, the idea being that you order exactly what you need rather than order a surplus that has to be stored, maintained, and may spoil, expire, or get damaged before you get a chance to use it.  The concept of taking what you need--and no more--is one I think of whenever I'm setting up a new storage space.  Whenever I get new shelves or a new piece of storage furniture, for instance, I take the inside measurements and note any adjustable parts.  I write this down and bring it with me when I go shopping, so I can be on the lookout for containers that will be an exact fit, which is how I found the awesome sea grass baskets like the one pictured above.

When it comes to shelves, the more adjustable the better, in my opinion.  I've re-configured the chrome InterMetro shelves in my study on numerous occasions to fit ever-evolving storage needs.  

Keep Like With Like

A key distinction between merely cramming a space to capacity and creating a logical what-goes-where system lies in keeping like items together: tools with tools, holiday stuff with holiday stuff, etc.  Designating specific areas, whether a box or storage container, a closet, or a room, for any given category of things takes the guesswork out of putting things away: you figure it out once and for all and then you're good to go.

Make It Convenient

Keep the items you use the most on hand and within easy reach. In general, the optimal height for storage is between your knees and shoulders, so reserve this area for the things you use the most often.  The next step is to identify those items you don't anticipate needing anytime soon: holiday or seasonal stuff, nostalgia items, etc. and designate out-of-the-way places for their storage.

I've found that it also helps to label boxes, drawers, and shelves with a key word or phrase to help remember what-went-where.  This is especially helpful for the items deep-sixed in the back of a drawer or on a high shelf.

 
Above:inside the sea grass basket is all the non-digital camera stuff--cases, lenses, filters, portable tripod and more. As photography is one of Alpay's hobbies but he's more inclined to digital photography at the moment, we keep the gear accessible but on slightly less-than-prime shelf at ankle height.

This Week On The Quest: Finding Room When You Have No Room

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about finally putting away all the extra cookie tins from my cookie extravaganza in November.  I'm sure many readers were puzzled as to why this was such a big deal, and why it took me months to to do something about it. How hard could it be to put away a few cookie tins, for goodness sake! But you see, that's the problem: when you live in a condo, with no basement, no attic, no shed or garage or cellar or carport or storage area, the only storage you have is what's in your place.  And that's not very much.

I did end up finding a place for all the tins.  It required a bit of finagling, but in the end everything was as neat and tidy as can be.  In the process, I started thinking about how to utilize space to get the most out of it.  This is the one area of organizing that I actually excel in:  I know how to pack stuff in, believe me.  So I thought this week we'd go over tips and techniques to make use of every spare inch you have.  In the process, we'll explore double-duty storage solutions and consider the possibilities of even the smallest containers.  We'll also touch on storing sports and camping gear with you-gotta-see-this pictures, and I'll walk you through my own process of maximizing space so that you will never look at four--or even two and a half--inches the same way again.

My Home Improvement Experiment: Lessons Learned

This weekend we finally started the Great Spring Home Improvement Project to repair the walls and paint everything anew.  I know, I said we were starting last weekend.  Only somebody (okay, it was me) was supposed to call the contractor on Thursday or Friday to confirm and did so on . . . Saturday instead.  Oops!

After begging forgiveness and a second chance from the contractor, things finally got underway this Saturday.  As of Sunday evening, the living room/dining room, entry, hall, and master closet are all done.  The bedroom is halfway there, leaving Alpay's study, my study, the bathrooms, the kitchen, and the doors and frames left to do.  As I'll be going on vacation later this week, the rest of the work will have to wait until I return, but that's okay.  After two solid days of chaos, I'm ready for breather to re-group and consider the Lessons Learned from this project so far.

Lesson #1:  Home Improvement Projects Always Take More Time Than You Think They Will

Everyone knows this, and yet: how very shocking it is to discover that after you have made your best time estimate and then doubled it for good measure, you're still behind schedule. 

I gave our project two days.  I then doubled it to four just to be safe, but now it's looking more like five.  Since I won't be around this weekend, that's five days spread over a month's worth of weekends--and that's hoping everything from here on out goes smooth.  The upshot:  Don't get yourself into a time crunch.  If you have a reason to get your home improvement project done--whether before holidays, for special guests or for a surprise--give yourself p-l-e-n-t-y of time.  And don't be surprised if it's still not enough.

Lesson #2:  Home Improvement Projects Always Cost More Than You Think They Will

At this point, I know what you're thinking:  you call these revelations?  Again, I thought I was being so careful.  Again, I was caught by surprise.  In this case, Lesson #1 has a direct impact, in that if the project takes 8 more hours than expected, that's 8 hours of wages to be paid.  I'm delighted with the results so far and it's well worth saving my back and my marriage by contracting the job out, but next time, I think I'll try tripling my estimates instead of just doubling them.

Lesson #3:  Dread Not: It Actually Doesn't Take That Much Time To Prepare For The Work

One of the reasons why I put off the repairs for so long (i.e. almost two years) is because I thought it would Just Be Too Hard to pull my bookcase and couch a few feet from the wall and to take down some pictures.  The biggest danger of overestimating dread is procrastination.  In fact, it took me all of a half hour to prepare for the contractor yesterday morning.  I spent another forty-five minutes in the paint store with the contractor buying supplies because up to the last minute I kept changing my mind about what color blue I wanted ("Upward!"  "No, Misty!"  "No Upward!"  "No, Pool house!  Really!") This leads us to:

Lesson #4: Indecision Is Expensive

Those forty-five minutes in the store with the contractor were forty-five minutes the contractor could have spent actually painting, had I picked up the supplies like I was supposed to.  Furthermore, each color tried and rejected added up as well.  Finally, there is the potential for missed opportunities due to indecision:  sales and promotions missed, not to mention fractured relationships--and possible late-cancellation fees--from contractors.

Lesson #5:  Dread Plenty:  It Actually Takes Six Times Longer To Put Things Back After The Work Is Finished

I have actual metrics on this one:  30 minutes prep work vs. three hours to put things away.  Part of the reason for this is because once things are so thoroughly torn up, it's nice to clean before putting things back.  In our case, it meant sweeping, dusting, wiping down surfaces, mopping, folding, tossing, and organizing.  And so, yeah, that's going to take longer than just tossing everything in a pile to begin with.  Or maybe the lesson here actually is:

Lesson #6: You Can Run But You Can't Hide

Chores left undone are chores that will come back to bite you.  The last time some of the clocks in my collection got a good dusting was . . . when they were put up.  That was nine years ago. 

The top of the giant cat painting; the tops of door frames.  The tops of the medicine cabinets and lights in the bathroom.  The ventilation duct near the ceiling. Apparently any dusting that requires a step stool is dusting unlikely to get done.  Ever.  Obviously this is something that has to change. 

When You Don't Feel Like Doing Anything, You Might As Well Clean

A day after I was down for the count with a migraine, I was still dragging myself about and not inclined to do much of anything, even something fun.  What to do when you don't feel like doing anything?  I've noticed that lolling about or otherwise indulging a mood usually makes you feel worse.  Forcing oneself to do something fun--go to cafe or a movie, for instance--seems to have a 50-50 success/failure ratio.  For me, the one surefire way out of the doldrums is to make progress, no matter how small, on some project, especially one I've been avoiding.  Scrubbing down the bathroom, going through a handful of receipts that has collected in my pockets or my purse, getting the mysterious gunk that collects behind the facet--these all qualify as baby-step moves to a better mood.  When you don't feel like doing anything, you might as well clean.

Why?  The principle works on several different levels. For many people, cleaning seems like A Huge Drag, an unfortunate but necessary requirement of adult life, like submitting taxes or learning not to ask about people's sex lives, even when you're dying to know.  According to the Cleaning Is A Huge Drag principle, any time spent cleaning is time wasted, so you might as well clean when you're in a bad mood anyway. 

Once you've made a bit of progress, however, a magical switch occurs:  just as cleaning when you're in a good mood can put you in a bad mood, cleaning when you're in a bad mood most often puts you in a good mood.  Don't ask me why; philosophy isn't my strong suit.  I just know that if you get moving and start doing anything--clear a drawer or counter, wipe the sink or stove, vacuum a room or sweep up a corner, one thing leads to another and oftentimes you surprise yourself by just how much you accomplish.  With a nice, cleaned-or-cleared space, your mood lifts, motivation rebounds, and the day is saved.  Now go out and enjoy it!

Oprah.com is offering 25% Off At The Container Store!

Today I happened to click on Oprah's website and what did I see but a coupon for 25% off at the Container Store!  Now normally I figure Oprah doesn't need the help of little old me to generate traffic to her site, but this offer is too good not to pass along.  The only other whole-store sale of this type I've seen at the Container Store in recent memory was in November--also through Oprah--and that time the discount was 20%, I believe.  So if you've been working on a Container Store wish list, now might be a good time to pull it out.  The coupon works online as well as in-store, although the discount doesn't apply to delivery charges.  While I'm pretty much set up in terms of supplies, I might not be able to resist getting another Semikolon document box or the photo box--which I use to organize receipts.  The coupon is good through April 13, 1009, so I have a little time to plot and plan and maybe set some goals with a sweet little reward in mind.

Sample Paint: The Importance Of Trying Before Buying Gallons

Last week I wrote about my plan to paint my place two colors:  a nice warm white overall with a few accent walls in blue. 

Of the two colors, the one I was worried about was the white one.  Would it look warm or just dirty?  Or worse: once on the wall would it morph into some overpowering yellow?

I decided to go ahead and buy sample sizes in the two colors.  Yes, this meant parting with $4.95 for each, not including tax, an amount that could bring a tightwad like me to her knees.  But better $4.95 for a pint I decide not to use than to buy several gallons and decide the color was Just Not Right sometime after most of the place had been painted.

As I painted a large rectangle on a wall in the living room, I found I couldn't see the difference between the new, warm white and the old, super-white shade on the wall.  This was troubling.

 
Can you see the difference?  To the right is the new warmer color; the to left the old.

Disappointed, I went to the couch to sit down and consider my options. And a magical thing happened: I could see the color and how it really looked on the wall.  And it was perfect!  Just a little warm, but not overwhelming.  I just needed to stand back to see it.

 
The lighter areas are the places with the wet paint.

Thus cheered, I moved to the bedroom to try out Sleepy Blue, a color I was certain was the one and only choice for the bedroom and bathroom accent walls.  And it would be a perfectly acceptable color if I happened to be painting, say, an interrogation room.  But the cold-but-oddly-quease-inducing affect wasn't the one I'd been going for.

Back to Sherwin-Williams, this time for a soft periwinkle.  While in the can it looked very light--and suspiciously similar to the failed Sleepy Blue--on the wall it was a lovely lavender gray.  It's not what we had in mind, but after painting samples on several walls and observing it under various lighting conditions including bright sunlight, daylight shade, and incandescent light at night, we've found that we like it quite a bit, despite the silly and thoroughly ambiguous name.  I mean, who calls a color "Upward"?

 
To the left: the awful Sleepy Blue.  Right: "Upward". If the shade is right, you just have to ignore the stupid name.

 
Light and shadow study of "Upward".  I also think it's helpful to paint behind the furniture that will be positioned against the wall, to get an idea for how the colors work together.

Gratuitous Picture of Snapdragon

Why does Lickity Split gets all the attention on the Quest? Several Snapdragon fans have written me wanting to know, and I don't blame them: the coverage does appear to be slanted in the Splitster's favor.  This isn't to say the Dragon is not equally adorable or equally naughty.  It's just that Snapdragon's particular brand of naughtiness, which includes relentless pleas for butter (yes!  butter!), scratching the closet door where treats are stored, and dragging his rat-on-a-string toy everywhere, plopping it down at our feet, and mewing plaintively until we pick it up and swing it around for him--are not particularly photogenic or germane to organizing.  So here's a recent picture of the Dragon in his beloved cat tree.  Unlike certain other kitties, Snapdragon is not much prone to hiding and is happy to nap in conventional places.

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.

House Painting Directions: Indicating What Goes Where

Perhaps because I secretly miss the rigors of design school drafting classes, I used the excuse of the upcoming repairs and house painting project to draft up a plan of our condo and create a paint schedule. Because I'll be using four different colors for the walls--and some walls aren't going to be painted at all--I wanted to make it easy for the contractor to know what to paint where. 

While I enjoyed the excuse to use my drafting table and parallel rule, making a sketch of your place needn't be elaborate; a simple line drawing will do.  Indicate which paints go where with arrows, and create a simple symbol, such as a circle with a letter or number in it--for each color.  Having such a floor plan, as well as written directions, is enormously useful to anyone helping you out.

There is, of course, the down-and-dirty Post-it method, by which you scribble out the color or an abbreviation on a Post-it and slap it to the wall.  Just make sure you stick around to answer any questions in the (almost certain) event the Post-its fall.

 
Don't you just love this clock?  My sister gave it to me.  Kind of looks like Lickity Split, don't you think?

This Weekend: Getting Ready for Painting and Repairs

What's on your plate this weekend?  Having secured help to do some much-needed repairs, I'm mostly going to be getting things ready: taking down decorations, pulling furniture away from the walls, buying supplies, that sort of thing.  After some serious indecision regarding paint color, I've decided to go ahead and buy a few trial-size cans to test out before investing in several gallons of what could be the wrong color. 

   
The plan: Dover White, above left, with Sleepy Blue, above right, for accent walls in the bedroom and bathrooms.  I don't see how such pretty colors could morph into something awful as soon as they hit the wall, but I've been surprised before.

Online Color Visualizers for Help in Choosing Paint Colors

Maybe there are people out there who aren't traumatized by the prospect of choosing paint color; I'm not one of them. I never cease being surprised that the perfect color on a color swatch half the size of a business card turns into some ghastly hue once painted over an entire wall.  A lovely, neutral taupe inexplicably turned a sickly pink; cool, refreshing lavender appeared circus-bright. and a subtle peach looked merely dirty. Looking ahead at this spring's home improvement project, we're looking at the biggest painting job since we've moved in nine years ago. Suffice to say I'm a little worried.

Happily, there are plenty of cool tools out there designed with the express purpose of helping DIYers  see the big picture, at least when it comes to paint colors.  Almost every major brand has color visualizers, which "paint" the walls of virtual rooms the colors that you choose.  Most visualizers offer virtual kitchens, living rooms, and bathrooms that are all furnished and accessorized in ways appropriate for the particular room, the better to see what a particular color looks like in different settings.  Among the visualizers available are:

• Sherwin Williams Color Visualizer 
   Sherwin Williams' Color Visualizer is one of the easiest on-line resources to use: just pick the room, choose your color, and point at the wall.  I like Sherwin Williams' paint and the store is just around the corner, so this is the brand I went with, but other brands have great on line resources as well.
  
• Benjamin Moore Paints Personal Color Viewer
  Another easy-to-use, point-and-click resource.  Benjamin Moore paint is a favorite with interior designers for its quality and selection of colors.
• Valspar at Lowes Paint Online
  Valspar's on-line visualizer is a little more complicated to use, but I like the way they have organized colors not only by color family but by description: "brights," "misted," "muted," "shaded," "neutral," and "whites" are among the categories used. The collection includes paint from Eddie Bauer, Martha Stewart, and Laura Ashley, among other designers.

 
Above: My first paint experiment in our condo, nine years ago.  I painted an accent wall in the bathroom light lemon yellow, then layered peach over it, followed by two shades of purple.  Then while everything was still wet, I took a fork and made squiggle patterns all over the place.  The pix above was the view in the round mirror above the sink.  To the right is the marble tile of the shower, to the left is my masterpiece.  "Oh my God," he said when I showed him. "It's awful." So much for getting creative on the bathroom wall!

Realtor-Ready: What Would A Buyer See If They Saw Your Place Right Now?

I've always thought that one of the goals of having an organized home is that it--and you--are ready for anything.  Like being able to find anything in a moment's notice or having closets and cupboards whose order makes you smile when you open them, one of the ideals in being organized is that your home is realtor-ready.  This means appliances are in working order, cracks are repaired, and walls are painted.  Things that need fixing are fixed: hinges, screens, plumbing, wiring.  Window and floor treatments are attractive and maintained.   

Looking at our place with fresh eyes, I see the drywall cracks that inevitably appear in high-rises; the paint on one of the bathroom ceilings is peeling a little, and no matter how much I scrub the wall behind the stove, there are grease stains that won't come off.  And there are all sorts of small repairs that need to be done: the hole where the soap dish pulled from the wall; a cracked tile in the bathroom; a place where the baseboard  prevented the closet door from closing, so I just tore the baseboard off. These are the things a buyer would notice on a tour through our condo. 

I've decided that one of my goals this spring is to get our place realtor-ready.  Since we're not planning on actually moving in the near future, the preparation is theoretical, which is just fine with me. After nearly nine years of living in our place, I like the idea of re-committing to making it nice--if only to better enjoy it ourselves.

The Great Stain Removing Guide

This morning while getting ready for work, I pulled out a light-colored sweater and noticed a small stain in the front.  And so I put it back.  Then I pulled out a nice silk top.  Oops, is that a stain?  Back it went into the closet.  By the time I got to the third stained item, I was ready to scream WHY IS EVERYTHING IN MY CLOSET STAINED at about the same time I realized the answers:

1) because apparently I'm a slob; and
2) because I keep putting clothes back in the closet, even though I know darn well I can't wear them. 

Time for a serious laundry day.  It probably won't happen until this weekend, but in the meantime, I found a cool interactive stain removal tool on the Real Simple website.  The stains are organized by category:  "Home and Nature," "Drink and Dessert," "Beauty and Health," "Arts and Crafts," and my personal favorite, "Sauce and Condiment" stains.  Click on the applicable stain for directions on its removal. Pretty neat!

Gosh Darnit! Where IS that kitten?!?