What Can I do to Help?
June 17, 2019
Have you ever heard the phrase, or uttered it yourself, “What can I do to help?” Or, “Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.” How many times have you taken people at their word? It’s hard to ask for your help! We feel guilty for taking up someone’s time or pulling them away from important things of their own. Or sometimes we even feel bad about ourselves, because we should be able to handle it on our own.
One thing we need to remember is: people wouldn’t ask if they did not want to help! And you should not feel bad about asking for help: everyone needs help from time to time. Especially when you are going through a challenging time in your life. Have you recently had a baby? Lost a loved one? Taken ill or received an injury? These are all times when it is OK, and even necessary, to call in the cavalry to take some of the pressure off you.
Keep reading for some helpful tips and favors you can ask of your friends OR you can do for someone else who is struggling with a major life change.
1. Bring a meal
The best thing you can ever bring someone, is a hot meal. The best meals come in a single pot or pan, are freezable, and make good leftovers. This ensures your friend or family member can enjoy your generosity long after you leave. Tip: Make sure to label your container if you need it back!
2. Buy groceries
Is your loved one able to make their own meals but they are too busy to go shopping? Stop by the store and pick up the essentials such as milk, bread, eggs, and other everyday staples.
If you are nervous about buying food directly, you can get them a gift card so they can shop online and have their preferred food delivered directly to their doorstep.
3. Do dishes
Oh, how I would love for someone to come in and do my dishes! If you are visiting a friend or family member in need and notice a dirty kitchen, pick up a towel and sponge and get to work! And for the other side of the fence, don’t be afraid to ask! Washing the dishes is a quick and inexpensive chore that won’t put a huge strain one anyone’s time or budget.
4. Do laundry
Laundry is never ending, so there is always some waiting for their turn. Throw in a load of laundry for your friend while you visit and switch it over before you leave. This can be a game-changer, especially for new mothers/fathers who may be surprised at the number of outfits their little one owns, and has proceeded to spit-up on.
5. Address and stamp envelopes
I
n the event of a new life being, a life passing away, or even illness or injury, everyone loves to send cards. Help your friend respond to their well-wishers by addressing, stamping, and yes, even licking (yuck) envelopes.
Responding to get-well cards, congratulations cards, or condolence cards can be overwhelming, so help your friend with this important task.
6. Walk the dog
Pets are often the first to pick up on changing human emotions and events, and this can be upsetting for them. So conspire with your pet-loving friend to make sure their pets get all the attention they need! From going to the dog park to trailing some string for the kitty, make sure your friend’s four-legged companion doesn’t get forgotten in all the confusion.
7. Babysit children
Children are a blessing straight from the Angels, 
but sometimes parents need some time away to recharge or tackle large tasks and chores. Watch your friend’s little ones for an hour or two so their caregivers can take a well deserved nap, go to a doctor’s appointment, or even clean out the fridge. An afternoon at the zoo or other fun activity may just make both your days while giving your friend a well earned rest.
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How to Care for Everything in Your Closet
June 10, 2019
Guest blog by Kacey Mya, the blogger behind The Drifter Collective
Whether you hate shopping or you’re already on your way to the mall, you probably spend a decent chunk of money buying clothes. In 2012, the average American family spent $1,736 on apparel like shirts, pants, shoes and much more.
An investment that significant deserves care. Learn how to take care of your clothing so you can extend their use and save money.
Jeans
Until the early 1970s, all jeans were made of raw denim, which you shouldn’t wash for at least six months. It takes time for the material to break in and properly conform to your body. If you wash too soon, you’ll lose the shape.
Today, most jeans are pre-washed, meaning they can handle more wear and tear. But you still shouldn’t wash after each use. When washing is necessary, turn the jeans inside out and choose a delicate cycle. While machine drying is not ideal, if you must, use the lowest temperature setting.
Swimwear
When you finish swimming or lounging in the sun, you should rinse your swimsuit with clean, cool water to remove any dirt or sweat. Like most clothing, you don’t have to wash swimwear after each use.
Though we’ve all been guilty, you shouldn’t put your bathing suit out in the sun to dry. Doing so causes the fabric to wear down and fade. If possible, dry your suit indoors or in the shade. A couple of times a year, like at the end of summer, you should wash your swimsuit by hand in the sink, using about a teaspoon of detergent.
Formal Wear
Formal wear is delicate, and you should only wash it when needed, not after each use. Dry cleaning, which presses 500 degrees of heat on the garment, can cause even the best suits to lose shape and break down, especially over repeated visits.
When they are not in use, always hang your suits on a sturdy, wooden hanger. Leaving them lying around leads to excessive wrinkling. You should also keep the jacket and pants together, even when hanging, to ensure they receive the same amount of wear and continue to match.
Lingerie
Materials used to make lingerie — like silk, which comes from silkworm cocoons — is thin and gauzy, and can suffer damage when tossed in the washing machine. Always hand-wash with a small amount of detergent, being sure to separate lights and darks to prevent bleeding, especially with hand-dyed garments. Avoid the dryer and lay each item flat on a towel to dry.
For bras and camisoles, keep them folded in drawers to help maintain shape and cup size. You should also rotate your bras, as they need 24 hours after wear to regain their shape.
Shoes
If you like to work out, even if it’s just a walk around the block, sprinkle a few teaspoons of baking soda in each shoe to absorb odors and moisture. Regular exercisers should replace athletic shoes at least every six months.
If the fabric of your shoes gets dirty and needs cleaning, mix a small amount of detergent with warm water, creating a heavily diluted solution. Use a soft towel to blot at the stains, removing as much dirt and detergent as possible. If necessary, you can also take out the laces and massage them with soap before rinsing them and placing them flat to dry.
Blankets
When washing blankets, be careful not to overuse detergent, which can cause residue to stick in the fibers, preventing it from fluffing up. If your blanket is extra dirty, stop the machine mid-wash and let it soak for an hour or so. To ensure all the soap gets rinsed out, run the blanket through a second wash cycle with just water.
With blankets, drying is a slow process because you can’t crank up the heat. High temperatures cause wear and tear, especially to blankets filled with down. Use low heat and, if your items are still damp after one cycle, turn the timer on again for another round.
How to Take Care of Your Clothing
Your clothing won’t last forever. In order to keep your clothing fresh and wrinkle-free, check out this guide from the unclutterer on the best clothes steamers that are known for removing bacteria, odors, and creases from clothing. After years of use, shirts fade, pants get stained and fabric rips. But you can get the most out of your clothes — and your budget — by caring for them properly. Follow the instructions above to learn how to care for each item in your closet.
Subscribe to the Organize-It blog for more organization tips and tricks. Learn more at Organize-It.com
5 Cheap Ways to Maximize Closet Space
June 5, 2019
Organizing your closet doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Read on to discoverer inexpensive ways to make a big impact in your space.
1. Shelf Dividers – Starting at $2.99
Add shelf dividers to the shelf above your closet rod to keep it neat and tidy. Shelf dividers help keep stacks of jeans, bed sheets, and other items neatly stored and separated. Organize-It offers shelf dividers to work with both wire or solid shelving, so you have no excuse for not organizing your shelf!
2. Clothes Hangers – Starting at $.99
Clothes hangers are often forgotten, yet they are perhaps the most important aspect to closet storage. You need standard plastic or velvet hangers of course. These are essential for the bulk of your clothing storage.
Specialty hangers allow you to hang up clothing accessories such as ties, belts, and scarves. This keeps everything you need stored right alongside your clothes.
Tiered hangers are a must have for your closet space. These clothes hangers allow you to store a handful of garments on one hanger by using vertical space. Tiered hangers are designed to store blouses, slacks, tank tops, camisoles, and even lingerie!
Need even more storage space? The Black Magic Hanger Holder is designed to store multiple clothes hangers vertically, which allows you to maximize the storage potential of your closet without stretching the budget.
3. Closet Valets – Starting at $5.99
Do you have a bare wall in your closet or bedroom? Closet valets are an inexpensive way to add temporary hanging space for clothes. Hanger holders make it easy to set out an outfit for the next day, hang up clothes while you’re sorting laundry, and so much more.
Add the same storage space to your closet with wall hooks. Wall-mounted hooks are a simple way to add style to your closet by giving your space a different, and sometimes unique, look. Add wall hooks to the closet, bedroom, bathroom, and elsewhere in your home to store bathrobes, jackets, and more.
4. Another Closet Rod – Starting at $3 per foot
You can never get enough hanging space in your closet. One way to double the available space in your closet is by adding another closet rod. Depending on the size of your closet and which finishes you choose, you can install a permanent closet rod for under $30.
Instantly double the space in your closet without taking on a major project with a closet doubler! This innovative product is designed to slide right onto your existing closet rod and hang down to serve as a second closet rod. This allows you to effectively double your closet space for a fraction of the price. You can add one to your space for under $15
5. Shoe Storage – Starting at $10.99
One of the most overlooked items in your closet is your shoes! Shoes have a tendency to clutter up your closet floor and ironically, get underfoot. Make sure you have a system to store your shoes and keep them neatly organized. Store dress shoes and other fancy footwear in shoe boxes to keep them tidy and safe from harm. Organize-it offers specially designed shoe boxes that are designed for men’s shoes, women’s shoes, and high boots.
Add a shoe rack below the closet rod to keep your everyday footwear neatly stored yet ready to wear. Organize-It offers several modular shoe racks that will fit neatly underneath a closet rod. If you have enough room in your closet or bedroom, a Floor to Ceiling Rotating Shoe Tree is perfect for keeping your shoes beautifully stored.
With just a few dollars, you can easily add organization to your bedroom closet! Organizing your space and your life starts with a single step, or in this case, a simple click of the mouse!
Subscribe to the Organize-It blog for more organization tips and tricks. Learn more at Organize-It.com