Today's Organizing Tip

A place for organizing, simplifying, checklists, challenges and ta-das.
Indiana

Re: Today's Organizing Tip

Postby Indiana » Fri Oct 01, 2010 7:07 am

Keeping Lampshades Clean

Here's a bright idea: Keep your fabric lampshades dust-free with an adhesive lint roller. Hold the shade steady, and pass the roller over the exterior.

You can also dedicate a new paintbrush to use only for dusting lampshades.

Indiana

Re: Today's Organizing Tip

Postby Indiana » Fri Oct 01, 2010 7:08 am

Measuring Tricks

You've spotted a great coffee table, but you're not sure if its size is right. These tips can help. Use them to approximate dimensions (write them down on a card to keep in your wallet) so you'll never come up short.

Hands and Arms
A "hand" -- the measuring unit for horses -- is 4 inches, the approximate width of many a palm. Another trick: Measure the span from the tip of the pinky to the tip of the thumb; then you can "walk" your hand across a surface. Additionally, the span of your arms is roughly equal to your height, so you can measure with outstretched arms.

Credit Card
A typical card is about 2 by 3 1/2 inches. On the back, the distance between the magnetic strip and the opposite edge is 1 1/2 inches.

Quarter
It's about an inch in diameter, and its edge, rolled in a straight line, measures 3 inches (start and end with Washington's profile facing the same direction).

Feet
A man's size 10 1/2 shoe is about a foot long. A woman's size 8 is about 10 inches. Using the length of your shoe, you can measure a rug by traversing it heel to toe. For longer distances, count strides (to determine the length of your stride, walk through a puddle so you'll make footprints, and measure the distance between them).

Dollar Bill

U.S. currency is 2 1/2 by 6 inches. Paper money can wrap around objects, so it comes in handy for measuring small curved items (to mark the size, crimp the bill).

Indiana

Re: Today's Organizing Tip

Postby Indiana » Fri Oct 01, 2010 7:09 am

Envelope Funnel

When transferring dry ingredients to glass jars, use an envelope if you don't have a small funnel nearby. Cut a generous triangle from one end of the envelope, then snip tip off corner, and open into a cone. For large amounts, use big manila envelopes.

Indiana

Re: Today's Organizing Tip

Postby Indiana » Fri Oct 01, 2010 7:09 am

Decorative Jar Lids

Here's a way to decorate basic jam jars with lively fabric scraps. First, cut out a circle big enough to cover the lid -- including the lip, inside and out. Put the fabric face down, and apply spray adhesive. Center the lid on the fabric. Fold up a section of the fabric so it adheres to the outside of lid lip. Snip a slit every inch or so on the remaining unadhered fabric (make sure not to cut past the edge of the lid). Press flaps over so they adhere to the interior of the lip. Fill jar with sewing notions (or other miscellany), screw on the lid, and get inspired for your next

Indiana

Re: Today's Organizing Tip

Postby Indiana » Fri Oct 01, 2010 7:10 am

Garden Tool Container

A sand-filled trough will keep small garden tools from vanishing -- and keep them in good working order. Fill a trough or other container with sand to 1 inch from top. Pour in about 1/4 cup of motor oil (sand should have a slightly moist texture); stir. When returning tools to trough, wipe them with a rag. The sand will keep tools clean and sharp, and the oil will keep them rust-free.

Indiana

Re: Today's Organizing Tip

Postby Indiana » Fri Oct 01, 2010 7:11 am

Party Calculator for Alcohol

Follow this guide to determine how much to buy. The primary rule: Buy plenty.

Wine: One bottle per two people per hour
Beer: Two beers per person per hour
Spirits: One bottle per five people per hour
Mixers: Three bottles for each bottle of alcohol
Ice: At least one pound per person per hour

Indiana

Re: Today's Organizing Tip

Postby Indiana » Fri Oct 01, 2010 7:11 am

Car Organizer

Store everything you need for the road in a small accordion-file folder, registration and insurance information, emergency contact numbers, maps, and directions (file them instead of having to rewrite them every time).

Indiana

Re: Today's Organizing Tip

Postby Indiana » Fri Oct 01, 2010 7:12 am

Outdoor Clothesline

Take advantage of warm, breezy days by drying clothes the old-fashioned way. Line drying is remarkably effective and energy efficient -- and that clean, fresh smell is worth the extra effort. This removable clothesline can be kept coiled on the porch and rigged up in seconds.

Buy a clothesline long enough to span the distance between your porch and a nearby tree or post. On the porch end, thread the line through a metal eye hook, and wind it around a sailor's cleat installed about a foot below the hook. At the other end, screw another hook into the tree or post. Tie the clothesline to a snap shackle, which makes attaching and detaching the cord a breeze.

Ask Sadie, Harmony, and Kathryn (to name a few) on the virtues of an outdoor clothesline.

Indiana

Re: Today's Organizing Tip

Postby Indiana » Wed Oct 06, 2010 6:58 am

Plant Swatch

The next time you make a trip to the nursery to fill a gap in your garden, take along a bundle of clippings from the surrounding bed (bind the stems with a piece of twine). Having samples of your plants will help you choose new flora that fits right in.

Indiana

Re: Today's Organizing Tip

Postby Indiana » Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:08 am

Guest Basket

Make visitors feel welcome -- and help shield them from bites, burns, and other irritations -- by offering them a supply of summer sprays and ointments. Purchase bulk containers of assorted salves, including sunscreen, bug repellent, and aloe gel, and decant them into small plastic bottles, available at crafts stores and pharmacies. Label the bottles and stow them in a portable tray that will look good in a guest room.


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