Start 2013 off right and make clutter a thing of the past. If getting organized was one of your New Year’s resolutions, this collection of ideas from The Family Handyman will help you get organized and stay that way. You’ll find sticking to your goals will not only supply a tidy home, but will also simplify day-to-day living.
"...sticking to your goals will not only supply a tidy home, but will also simplify day-to-day living."
So, keep your resolution and try these simple tips from The Family Handyman:
* Binder-clip cable catcher: If you haven’t run across this particular cable-organizing tip yet, it’s time you did, because it’s dirt simple and pure genius! Clamp a binder clip to the edge of your desk to holster USB cables. No more cables slipping behind your desk into the dusty darkness below.
* Put a lazy Susan next to your stove: Store often used cooking items and condiments in a neat lazy Susan besides the stove. This will prevent you from having to reach in to a cabinet drawer for frequently used oils, vinegars and sauces. Top off an attractive lazy Susan with a plastic mat for easy cleaning and you will eliminate the frantic searches while cooking dinner! Plus, it looks tidy and clean!
* DIY drawer dividers: There’s an easy way to make your own inexpensive drawer organizers. Simply attach thin strips of adhesive-backed, foam weather stripping to the inside of your drawers (either to the sides or to the front and back, depending on which way you want your drawers divided). Then set 1/4 in. plywood strips into the drawer with the ends pressed against the weather stripping. Add as many dividers as you need, and voilà—a perfectly organized drawer!
* Skinny laundry room cart: A lot of laundry rooms have a narrow wasted space either next to or between the washing machine and dryer, and it’s usually a hideout for socks and lint. To take advantage of this space, build a simple plywood cart on fixed casters to hold detergents and other laundry supplies. If you have similar areas around the home, try the same concept - the simple roll-out cart can fit almost any narrow space.
* Storage above windows and doors: The empty wall space above doors and windows is organizational gold! Hang a shelf there and use it for bathroom towels, toiletries, books, files, tablecloths—the list is endless.
* Keep your spray bottles in line: Hang them up! It can be hard to keep spray bottles from falling over and making a mess under your bathroom and kitchen sink. To keep them upright, hang them from a short tension rod (about $12 at discount stores) in your cabinet.
* Wire dispenser: A plastic crate is a great place to store anything on a spool. Just slip the spools onto a piece of metal conduit and secure the conduit with washers and bolts. There’s even space below the spools for tools or scraps of wire.
Please visit The Family Handyman for more easy organization tips that will simplify everyday living in the New Year.
See the slideshow for examples...
Photo Credit: Copyright © 2013 The Family Handyman magazine. All Rights Reserved.
About The Family Handyman:
The Family Handyman is one of the most respected media brands in home improvement. The magazine celebrates the process and pride of a project well done, and gives consumers the how-to and solutions they need to create the home and lifestyle of their dreams. The brand offers accurate, fully tested content by a staff of experts and former pros. A crew of more than 1,100 reader-volunteer Field Editors contributes to every issue. The Family Handyman content is available in print; in books; online at FamilyHandyman.com and Haven Home Media; via digital download for iPad, Nook, and Zinio; and Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
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