What is a Clutter-er? A clutter-er is someone who is not necessarily emotionally attached to their clutter. They can throw things out, they may just need the motivation or push to organize and clean. They will often welcome help to clean, and they wouldn’t complain if someone offered to clean for them.

What is a Hoarder? A hoarder feels an emotional attachment towards their stuff. They may feel compelled to keep buying or saving things. They may feel empty or lost when they throw things out because they feel happier when they have their “stuff”. If someone else tries to clean or move their stuff, they experience a strong emotional reaction.

Often disorganized people need help with time management as they are often running around to get things done in the moment, and don’t spend time with long-term planning. Sometimes, a Clutter-er can become a Hoarder if they can’t get control of their organizational systems.

What type of “messy” person are you? What is your action plan to gain control of your stuff? Choose one small action to start getting organized. Once you can master that technique or system, add another one, then another. Soon you will lead an organized and happy life.

For more inspiration to clean start new organizational systems, watch the TV show “Hoarders” on TVtropolis and I’m sure you’ll be extra motivated!

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Here are a few things to keep an eye on in their home:

1. Piles of unopened mail or unpaid bills
2. Stuff cluttering walkways and living spaces making it difficult for them to walk
3. Expired food in the refrigerator
4. Jammed closets and drawers

Also look for these characteristics in your elderly family members:

1. Frustration when trying to organize
2. Difficulty managing daily activities
3. Compulsive shopping
4. Difficulty deciding which items to discard
5. Loneliness
6. Increasing health problems

If you start to notice any of these characteristics in your senior family members or in their home they may need some help. Consider setting aside some time each week to work with them to keep and stay organized or hire them a professional organizer.

A clean and organized home is a healthier environment for all your family members.

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Here are the details of this year’s fundraiser:
When: April 20, 2010 @ 5:30pm
Where: Birks Flagship Location, 698 West Hastings St.

Tickets are $125 (a $75 tax receipt is available upon request) and can be purchased through www.supportdfsvan.org.

This year, they will be raffling off a delicate 18kt white gold diamond circle pendant necklace from the Birks Circle of Life Collection valued at $2,620. Raffle tickets are 1 for $20 or 3 for $50.

Don’t miss this year’s event. For more details about Dress for Success Vancouver, visit www.dressforsuccess.org

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Tip #1: Develop a simple folder system:
The simplest way to organize paperwork you’ll need for your taxes is to develop and use a folder filing system. You can have folders for each person and sub-folders for each type of document (bank statements, visa bills, healthcare receipts, doctors receipts, past-year notice of assessments…etc

Tip #2: Know what to keep:
You don’t have to keep every piece of paperwork you get in the mail. Talk with an accountant to see what receipts and statements you need to keep (it can be different for everyone).

Tip #3: Use the shredder:
To avoid identity theft, sny documents that contain your address or any account or personal information should ALWAYS be shredded before it’s thrown in the garbage. For the most sensitive documents throw them away in several bags, or over several weeks to be extra safe.

Tip #4: Use a safety deposit box:
Store your most sensitive documents in a bank safety deposit box or a fire-safe in your home. Use large envelopes and label them so you know exactly what’s inside each one.

These four simple tips will help get you organized for filing your taxes this year. Keep them organized like this throughout the year to save you time when it’s tax time again next year. Your accountant will surely thank you!

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Tip #1: Move medications out of the bathroom
Most people keep medications in the bathroom, but in fact this is not the best place to keep them. The bathroom tends to be very damp and can spoil medications. Consider keeping medicines in a clear box with a lid in a kitchen cabinet or hall closet. If you have kids, make sure to keep these out of reach!

Tip #2: Check Expiry Dates
Pretty much everything has an expiry date, do a quick check of all medicines, toothpastes, and other bathroom products and make sure they have not passed their expiration date. If they have, toss it out! If they are close to expiring, consider placing it in somewhere clear view so you remember to use it up before it expires.

Tip #3: Safely Dispose of Medicines
Did you know that it’s not safe to throw medicines down the toilet, drain or even in the garbage? Take all old, expired pills to your local pharmacy for safe disposal.

Tip #4: Organize What’s Left
Finally, take all your loose first aid supplies (band-aids, gauze…etc), medicines and prescriptions, make-up and any other bathroom supplies and organize them in boxes or drawers. Consider visiting the dollar store for some inexpensive box organizers.

This full-service bathroom cabinet cleaning can be done once a year. Then you can feel confident you can always find what you need when you need it, and you’ll know exactly what you need to buy before you run out (nothing is worse than having run out of toothpaste in the morning before work)!

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• Simplifying Spring Cleaning

1. Make a list and schedule: Write down everything you want to clean, tidy, or organize. You can choose to spend a whole day cleaning, or break it down in to smaller 30 minutes blocks to fit your schedule. Cross items off your list as you complete them for a sense of accomplishment and motivation.
2. Outsource what you can: If you have the budget, outsource some cleaning projects to professionals. This could include carpet cleaning or window cleaning.
3. DIY Professional cleaning: If you’re a do-it-yourself person you can rent easy-to-use cleaning equipment like a carpet steam cleaner. (Tip: leave your floors until last as dust and dirt can accumulate on the floors when your cleaning other areas).
4. Pick 1 room: Start with a simple room, like a bedroom. Start by picking up the obvious clothes toys and loose objects, then move on to dusting shelves and other surfaces. While you’re cleaning, throw your bed linens in the wash!
5. Bathrooms don’t have to be gross: Of course you can go all out and clean every square inch of your bathrooms. You’ll be surprised how much of a difference a clean toilet and sink can make. If you have time, give the tub and floors a good wash down with a cleaner or disinfectant.

While you’re cleaning you may find you need some help organizing all your stuff. Next Monday we’ll share a few tips for Dollar Store finds that can help organize your life!

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Spring cleaning: This can be a daunting task. We’ll give you a few small, but essential projects to kick-start your spring cleaning project!

Dollar store organization magic: Learn how keeping organized doesn’t have to be expensive with your neighbourhood dollar store.

Lighting up your life: A few simple lighting tips for closets, under cupboards, and other places in your home to make finding your stuff easier.

Organizing your partner’s closet: Does your “better half” have a crazy closet? Here are a few tips to help clean it up!

We’ve got so much more planned. Stay tuned…

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A clothing swap is easy to organize and can be a lot of fun. First get a bunch of your closest friends together. Have each person bring their old, gently used clothes. At the party you can try on and swap clothes.

At the end of the evening, gather up the unwanted clothes and donate them to a local shelter or to an organization like Dress for Success (Dress for Success provides workplace clothing for disadvantaged women).

Don’t limit yourself to just clothing swaps. Here are a few other ideas of items you could organize a swap for:

- Toys
- Furniture
- Kitchenware
- Books

For even more fun, have a theme night and have your guest bring food and wine. Get a babysitter and make an evening of it!

One person’s junk is another person’s new wardrobe!

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Online you can find numerous videos and instructions on how to “properly” fold your t-shirts. Martha Stewart has her own instructions. View her instructions and video on How to Fold a T-shirt.

With your shirts neatly folded you can store more of them in one drawer, and spend less time looking for an appropriate shirt because you won’t have to unfold and refold until to find the one you want.

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Here are 6 ways to get some good use out of cloth shopping bags:
1. For Groceries: This was is obvious. Keep a few in your car, just in case you pick up a few items on your way home.

2. For Picnics or Potlucks: It may be a bit too cold now for a picnic, but you can definitely carry your potluck goodies in a cloth shopping bag, that way they are separate from your non-food goodies and you don’t accidentally spill potato salad all over your photo album that you brought to share.

3. For Work/School Lunches: If the traditional lunch bags are not big enough, consider bringing your lunch in the cloth bags. They are easy to carry, and can handle larger lunch containers than some lunch bags can.

4. One For the Car: Consider having one on the floor in the back of your car. Use it to store items like car chargers, emergency snacks, or anything else you normally keep in your car. They’re great as snack holders for road-trips too! It’ll help keep your car a little more organized!

5. For the Kid’s Toys: Use these bags for your child’s toys or books. This way they can be easily transported to another room, or to another house when visiting friends and family. That way you’re kids always have their favourite toys with them, and a easy/portable way to store them.

6. For Storing Other Cloth Bags: If you have TONS of cloth bags, consider carefully folding the smaller ones and storing them inside the largest one. The next time you need a bag as your running out the door, you just have to grab and go.

Halloween is coming up in less than a month, you could also use the bags for their Halloween candy (make sure they don’t get too heavy and break if they bring home too much candy).

What do you use cloth shopping bags for?

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