Click on this link to access the Organizing Tips: Laundry Extras – January 2011 newsletter

PROBLEM – I have a very small kitchen
and not a lot of counter space. My family
rarely makes enough dishes dirty in one
day to run the dishwasher. I actually prefer
to wash dishes by hand but there isn’t really
room for a drainer. If I do wash dishes by
hand I feel frustrated by all the wasted space
in the dishwasher.

SOLUTION – Use the dishwasher as the drainer.
Wash the dishes by hand let them air dry in the
dishwasher.  (I can’t take credit, this was my
client’s idea.)

SIDE NOTE – It probably makes sense to keep
the door open for a chunk of time so the dishes can
dry.  Running the dishwasher every once in a while
might be a good idea.  *This idea has  not yet been
approved by the dishwasher association.  :)

PROBLEM – I have a high cabinet in my kitchen.  I
know that ideally I should put infrequently used items
up there and the lighter the better.  The things I need
to put up there aren’t light and they are awkward. Is
there a way to store them so I don’t hurt myself when
I try to get them down?

SOLUTION –  One option is to place them with enough
space to move the items around, like one of those old
sliding block puzzles.   You can move one thing over
and then slide the back thing to the front.

PROBLEM – I’m always losing my keys.
It takes me at least an extra five minutes
to leave my house because I can never
remember where I put them.

SOLUTION – Establish a home for your
keys. It can be a basket, hook, drawer,
or purse. It is important to choose a  
home that works for you as you enter
and exit your house.

HINT – It takes some time to establish
new habits. You may need to remind
yourself many times to put your keys
in their home. But in the long run, it
could save you time and lower your
frustration.

EDUCATION

Organizing Training and Involvements

•completed The Organizing Specialists Training/Mentor Program

•participates in NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers)

•chairs a program of NAPO Southeast Michigan Chapter

•takes ICD (Institute for Challenging Disorganization) classes

•Chronic Disorganization Specialist

•certificate of study in Basic ADD Issues with the CD client

B.A. and Masters

•B.A. in Elementary Education with a Kindergarten Endorsement from

Goshen College

•MA in Integrated Teaching and Learning from The Ohio State

University

PROBLEM – I don’t like to file my papers but
I still want to organize them.

SOLUTION – A three ring binder can be a good
alternative to files. You can have categories inside
one binder or have a binder for each different
category. There are many different category options:
financial, household appliances, children, health, etc.
Within each binder you can make subcategories using
dividers.

HINT – Plastic sheet protectors are useful to use with
binders because you don’t need to punch holes in
the papers, papers are easily visible and accessible,
and the sheet protector allows for all sorts of items
to be included because the protector is a pocket.