Page 6 - VAN WIG & ASSOCIATES ALAMITOS HEIGHTS NEWSLETTER ~ JULY 2020

organizing
IN THE HOME

by Kathryn Weber

he kitchen is the busiest
room in the house, the most
T used and the one room that
everyone interacts with every day. It’s
also the room that is often the most
cluttered.
Because there’s usually more
horizontal space, lots of things find
their way onto the counters until
the surface almost disappears. If that
describes your kitchen, you’ll be glad
to know you can make a counter
attack that will declutter your kitchen
and make it seem larger.

CLEAR THE WINDOWSILL OR
SINK COUNTER
If you have a kitchen window or
a counter above the sink, you know
that this spot attracts all manner of 7 COUNTER ATTACKS
flotsam and jetsam from jewelry to
hand lotion, twist ties and rubber TO CLEAR CLUTTER IN THE KITCHEN
bands, medicine bottles and small
tchotchkes. Clean this off for a clear
view. CONSIDER STORING TOASTER front door to handle all the mail. Or, and tablets while they charge
AND COFFEE MAKER IF try hanging wall pockets on a door (www.legrand.us/adorne).
PUT AWAY CAN OPENERS UNUSED REGULARLY or inside the pantry to get the visual
Unless you open multiple cans a There are some hardcore clutter confined to a home and off ORGANIZE THE PANTRY
day, this appliance doesn’t need to counter clutter enthusiasts who say the counters. AND DRAWERS
be on the counter and can be placed all counters should be completely One reason counters collect things is
in a cabinet. Or, you can ditch this clear, but if you make coffee or ROUND UP THE ELECTRIC CORDS because there isn’t enough organization
appliance altogether and get a good toast frequently during the week, The kitchen counter has also elsewhere. That means that some items
quality hand-turned can opener. taking these appliances in and out of become the central location for are missing a “home.” For example,
cabinets is cumbersome. Leave these charging cellphones and tablets. prescription pill bottles and other types
STORE THE MIXER AND on the counter if you use them four It’s important to get these items of medicine often pile up on counters.
FOOD PROCESSOR or more times a week. up and off the counters, because Use small, shallow baskets to hold them
These appliances are mostly used liquids could inadvertently get the and store in a drawer or a designated
on an occasional basis, so clearing DESIGNATE A SPOT FOR MAIL electronics wet. The adorne modular cabinet/pantry shelf. n
them off the counter will give you Counters collect homework, bills, under-cabinet system is an electric
lots of space and a clean, uncluttered pizza flyers and the like. Create a track system that has multiple plugs ©2020 Kathryn Weber Distributed
look. mail spot in your home near the and cradles to hold cellphones by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

by Kathryn Weber

W Even if you have a large bathroom,
hen your bathroom is small,
clutter is an ever-present enemy.

chances are good it could use some
re-organizing. Once you do create a sense of
order, whatever the size of your bathroom, it
will open up and feel larger.

TAKE IT OUTSIDE
Just because it’s a bathroom doesn’t mean
everything medically related needs to be
stored there. First aid items are often needed
closer to the back door or kitchen. Instead
of stashing them in the medicine cabinet
or a bathroom closet, pack these items in a
portable tackle box. Everything you need will
be in one convenient place, and you can even
grab the box to take along on trips, hikes,
or park it in the back yard for barbecues or
family campouts.
Move medicines you use only occasionally,
such as cold remedies or those for stomach
upset, to a cabinet closer to the kitchen or
laundry room. Keep daily medications in the
bathroom, where you’ll see them every day. ORGANIZE YOUR SMALL BATHROOM

SHELVE IT
The most serious cause of bathroom
clutter is lack of vertical storage space. TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE SPACE
Expansive countertops and mirrored walls
are nice, but these require stooping and
bending to retrieve items used daily. To for a double towel bar that allows you to Susan to help you get to find them quickly a foot of wall space, add Ikea’s Lillangen
correct this, install some decorative wall hang two towels in the same space as one (www.amazon.com). mirrored cabinet. At only 11-3/4 inches
shelves or cabinets. This way, you can store (www.bedbathandbeyond.com). Pick up some office desk organizers for wide, this storage workhorse can hold a large
frequently used items at eye level and make Limit shower items to what will fit into a makeup and remove make up from bathroom number of items in a very narrow space.
using—and perhaps, more importantly— single organizer. Forget shower caddies that drawers and counters. Don’t overlook your bathroom cabinet
putting them back, more convenient. are small, rickety and, frankly, annoying. doors. Install door shelves to hold bottles and
When storage is only below waist height, Instead, use a three-tier standing corner QUICK TIPS
more items end up on the counter, eating up shower organizer (www.wayfair.com). This Use organizers to separate dental floss, pill items such as toothbrush holders.
precious space and creating visual clutter. handy device holds more items neatly and is bottles and other bathroom essentials. Utilize A little organization can open up a lot of
more convenient to use. even the smallest spaces by using hairspray space you never knew you had! n
DOUBLE UP Add shelf organizers inside bathroom caps to store dental picks, swabs, tweezers or
A single towel bar holds a single towel. cabinets to double your storage space, and bobby pins. ©2020 Kathryn Weber Distributed by
Get double the drying power by opting place items you use the most on a Lazy Add an over-the-sink shelf; or if you have Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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