Sort It All Out

Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday October 23, 2008

Words Andrea Jones

Can't get organised? Use these tips from the professionals to get you in the mood for a good old spring clean.

There's a secret promise that many of us make to ourselves that one day we'll really clean up those messy shelves, cupboards and wardrobes. As if! Truth is, many of us lack the time and willpower to make it happen. Enter a whole new service industry dedicated to restoring order to our homes and our lives: that of the professional organiser. We asked some of Sydney's best to share their favourite life-changing storage tips.

Susanne Thiebe of LessMess

"Well-organised is not the same as excessively tidy," warns Thiebe, a trained interior architect turned professional organiser. "Even neat freaks come undone by setting the bar too high and getting too overwhelmed."

* Start now. Start small. If it all seems too much, start with a small project you can definitely finish. Did you know it takes just eight minutes to organise and clean one kitchen drawer?

* Always unpack the dishwasher. Then nobody has an excuse not to put the dirty dishes away. See it as a cupboard for dirty dishes - not for clean ones!

* Filing is about retrieving. If you just want to get rid of it, throw it in the bin.

* Flip your wardrobe. Even though Australia doesn't have a really huge difference between winter and summer clothing, your wardrobe needs a sort and a good clean every six months.

* Hire a professional organiser.

Sarah Cottman of Heavenly Order

As a reformed chaos agent, Cottman is evangelical about having a place for everything. "Every day we lose hours and hours trying to find lost files, phone numbers, permission notes and shoes. The stress this creates on relationships is enormous but it's easy to fix!"

* Get a cardboard box. Always deal with the mail/papers/catalogues in the same spot and have the cardboard box right next to you for recycling. As you go through the mail get into the habit of immediately recycling the old envelopes, advertising and correspondence that doesn't need your attention.

* Use zip-lock bags. In the office mini-zips are ideal for rubber bands and copy/fax stamps, larger ones for suspension file crystal tabs and larger again for separating samples or products. At home they're great for food, hardware drawer contents, make-up, children's toys, buttons and even earrings. My all time favourite is to use a larger-sized zip-lock to store borrowed books. The books don't get damaged at all and you can return them to your friends with a clear conscience.

* Get a pen holder. Ninety-five per cent of the clients I see do not have a designated place for pens and pencils. Keep your pens near your phone, which should also have a calendar or diary within arm's reach. Do not return a pen to its holder if it doesn't work.

* Invest in drawer dividers. They are not only great for ties and socks but also your bedside table for stray batteries/hand cream/eye drops/glasses. We always think about dividers in the cutlery drawer but why not use them in the second drawer to separate utensils, or the third drawer to separate out the zip-lock bags from the big garbage bags and tea towels? Even hardware drawers can benefit from dividers, with a place for every screw driver, fuse wire, hammer and adapter you can find.

* Buy a shoe hanger. More and more clients buy those clear boxes to store their shoes but find it's too much trouble to put them away, so they end up in the same mess. A shoe hanger takes up less space and you can simply throw your shoes in. It's a really cheap alternative to having a customised built-in.

Carol Posener of Get Organised

"People collect storage boxes and in-trays and create lots of collection devices but they usually end up as dumping grounds," says Posener. "Use only the storage containers that you actually need."

* Get your hands on a lateral filing system. I can't rave enough about the benefits - they save so much space, make filing much easier, eliminate misfiling and still retain a stylish and organised presentation.

* Buy a magazine box. Use them to store business magazines, catalogues or bulky paperwork. The range from kikki.K stationary stores will ensure your office looks chic.

* Don't discount the old toast rack. A toast rack is a great storage device to hold current work in progress. The best thing is it can be moved off the desk when not in use. Small portable desktop file boxes are also great, holding up to 10 hanging files and proving useful for storing bills and general household paperwork.

* Preserve and store your photos. Get a Zetta Florence Photo Treasure Box. Approved by the National Archives, these albums are designed to preserve artwork and photos for 500 years so you can pass your photos through generations. This box stores 1200 photos, comes with special envelopes and dividers to separate events and is the quickest way to organise all your loose photos. Visit zettaflorence.com, (03) 9416 2236.

* The 3M Flag Highlighter Pen is your friend. It looks like it's just a humble highlighter but I recommend this product because it will save you so much time. People collect stacks of newspapers and magazines because they think one day they might want a particular article. The pen allows you to highlight articles and tab pages in one go - you'll never have to go through the paper or magazine again.

Tricia Hales and Sally-Ann Dawking of A Good Sort

As well as their personal organising service, this savvy duo runs a handy monthly e-newsletter that offers a bonanza of smart organising hints. They've even launched their own handy organising folder and diary system, My Organiser, which is naturally their favourite storage item.

* Use a folder to organise paperwork. Get those school notes, invitations, sport draws and bills organised and your life will follow. Try purpose-built organisers like My Organiser, designed by us, to revolutionise the paper in your kitchen. Available at Officeworks.

* Use stackable storage containers. We all have so much stuff. Sort and store it in matching containers for a clutter-free look. For pantry and fridge condiments, invest in a plastic Lazy Susan available from Howards Storage World.

* Divide your drawers. The average house has more than 50 drawers all of which could benefit from dividing. There are many on the market so measure your drawer to ensure you buy the right one. Howards Storage World and Ikea have some good products. To get drawers organised we recommend "one-drawer-Wednesday". It's simple: every Wednesday tidy one drawer. Simple and effective - even the kids can do it. It keeps the task manageable and creates a sense of achievement.

* Store children's artwork. Once the exhibition is finished on the fridge, these treasures (usually enormous) need to be stored. Jasart has a great large folder which is also great for storing x-rays, house plans and the like. Available at all art stores and Officeworks.

* Label, label, label! To ensure all of the above remain in their correct place and your tidying is not in vain, we recommend labelling everything. Label containers on all sides as there's no guarantee as to how it will be put back on the shelf. Label shelves too - psychologically you won't put a towel on a shelf that's labelled sheets. There are many labellers on the market but you can also use pen and paper and cover with contact or sticky tape.

Need help? Get sorted here . . .

Tricia Hales and Sally Ann Dawking, 0416 279 515, agoodsort.com

Susanne Thiebe, Less Mess, 0407 772 663, lessmess.com.au

Sarah Cottman, Heavenly Order, 0414 209 771, horder.com.au

Carol Posener, Get Organised Pty Ltd, 1300 881 384 getorganised.com.au

The Australian Association of Professional Organisers, aapo.org.au

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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