By Jessica Kelly mom and blogger
http://themonkeysinmyhead.com/


I am a mom, a wife and an owner of two sock-stealing cats. Laundry day was a nightmare. It always starts with the treasure hunt of sock and shirt. The under the bed spelunking for a used towel the teenager had decided to toss there and the sniffing of all the clothes on the floor in my three year olds room.


Here is an image of her grabbing handfuls of clothes and throwing them in the air in a gleeful abandon then kicking them around with the dirty ones just to make it fun for mama.



Have you ever had that moment while precariously perched on your top stair where you know it’s either you or the extra large, ridiculously heavy laundry basket that’s making it through the next ten seconds? I have and I always sacrifice the basket.


Then came the lugging of the laundry up and down two flights of stairs with various attempts at laundry baskets. To do laundry I am hauling a family sized, weeks worth of dirty clothes, towels and sheets up two flights of stairs, often repeatedly. I have dropped, dragged, and sometimes thrown clothes down flights of stairs.


This is the story of my search for the perfect laundry basket.


At first I thought bigger was better, I grabbed the largest basket I could find. How could it not fit our messy lifestyle? IT HAD A LID! It also tried to pull me down the stairs more times than I can count. It was cumbersome and had no handles.


I put that death trap in the basement and went for two small ones. That worked out great for my cardio but not so much for efficiency. They too found themselves living in the basement.


Then there was the perfect sized wicker basket. It had handles and never once tried to trip me. It was a quick love affair though; it soon started to strain under the demand of our family. It left little pieces all over the house for unlucky feet to find. To the basement it went.




I NEEDED A SOLUTION!!!!!!


Then I found Neatfreak’s everfresh aluminum frame fabric basket. I’m going to say something I never thought I’d admit. I AM IN LOVE WITH MY LAUNDRY BASKET. It’s the perfect size for our needs. It carries almost a weeks worth of laundry solving the problem of multiple trips up and down the stairs. It’s lightweight and is easy to carry. There are handles on all sides, this is important as I am a fan of the hip carry..


There is one more thing I feel I should mention, it actually reduces odor! A feature none of the “ex baskets” could provide. This saves me from a fate worse than my husbands gym clothes.


This durable, large and lightweight basket and I have a long and bright future ahead of us.



So, now on to the three year old. I didn’t think pretty colours and convenient location was going to get us to our goal. That’s when I found the neatkids Pop Up Hamper


It’s fun. She says it looks like a caterpillar and it bounces! Oh, and its PINK! So, maybe I underestimated the importance of a pretty colour.


It’s hers alone so she feels like a big girl. Now she goes out of her way to “feed the caterpillar clothes” There are handles on each side so she can bring it out when it gets full and is beaming with pride that she can do this all on her own.



This along with the closet organizers we’ve added (that’s another post!) we have seen her entire floor for almost 2 weeks straight!
Who knew? All it took was the perfect laundry baskets and a rather frustrating chore became an easy task that now involves the cooperation of the entire family.


If only I could teach the cats to put the stolen socks in the laundry baskets.


Send your questions and comments to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Eleni Kakoyianni | Director Brand Communications and Marketing | Neatfreak Group Inc.
T.P.O Trained Professional Organizer and POC member

By Home Made Simple | February 7, 2012


If you’re like us and believe one can never have too many shoes, you’ve likely accumulated quite the collection. With our easy-to-try ideas, get it organized, whether you focus on heels, athletic shoes, or just seasonal footwear.


Ideas For All Shoes



• Under-the-bed drawers: Tossing an old dresser? Save the drawers and rest them under your bed as shoe storage. For extra mobility, add wheels to drawers.


• Crates: Stack crates to form a storage centre. Go rustic with wooden crates from farmers markets, or find plastic crates at most major retailers. Try grouping four crates together and sort shoes by the season.


• Trash bins: Don’t let the title fool you—purchased new from a store, medium-sized, cylinder-shaped trash bins can be horizontally clustered together, creating cubbies for shoes. Unused silver paint cans or even mailboxes work, too! 


Ideas For Heels



• Ladders: Leaned against a wall, a ladder can be used for hanging heels from each rung. Simply treat your shoes’ heels as if they’re hooks.


• Moulding: Mount strips of moulding to a closet or bedroom wall, creating a ledge heels can hang from. Just rest the tip of each heel on the ledge; gravity does the rest.


Grouping Ideas: Arrange heels by colour, material, occasion or frequency of wear.


Ideas For Out of Season Footwear


• Plastic bins: Since they minimize moisture, plastic bins are best for last season’s shoes. To prevent shoes from getting squished in large bins, rest four boxes (equal in height) on the base, set a piece of cardboard on top, and you’ll have a second level for more shoes. Or, store each pair of shoes in an individual-sized container.


• Luggage: It’s likely already taking up space, so why not make use of luggage? During winter, store sandals. And in summer, give boots a snug home; just be sure to stuff with tissue paper or inserts to help maintain their shape.




Send your questions and comments to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Eleni Kakoyianni | Director Brand Communications and Marketing | Neatfreak Group Inc.
T.P.O Trained Professional Organizer and POC member

By PINK and BLUE  |  March 8th, 2012

5 Ways To Teach Your Children Organizational Skills From A Young Age


The sooner you start teaching your little ones a bit of responsibility for their belongings and some basic organizational skills, the better off (and better behaved) they’ll be in the long run, and the more you’ll be able to actually see your home, rather than your clutter. Now, that’s not to say you enrol them in domestic obedience school. It’s more like, show them that being organized can be fun! Don’t laugh…

Here are some ideas on where to focus, what skills to build, and how to go about getting a little person on board:


Sing it!

There’s nothing better than “The Clean-Up Song” to get my 16-month old to clean up her toys. I’m not lying when I say she is not talking yet, but sings the melody to the clean up song. It all started in the bath where I would start singing it when bath time was over and start putting her toys in her bucket. Now she puts her toys in the bucket while singing along. And the song can be used whenever something needs to be tidied.

In case you’re not familiar with the very complex and deep lyrics, here they are: “Clean up, clean up, everybody everywhere! Clean up, clean up, everybody do your share!”—Thanks Barney!


Laundry Shoot!


Ok…this may work for kids, or maybe even husbands! Making a game of getting laundry into the hamper or “chute” can go a long way. They can learn organizational skills, and how to throw, aim, and the rewards that come with “scoring”. Every time your little one gets an article of clothing in, they get points! Maybe the points will get them an extra story at bedtime? The possibilities are endless. Also getting a hamper that is fun and playful may help clothing want to jump in. neatfreak! (http://www.neatfreak.com) has a few great options in their neatKids line, as well as an over-the-door chute that could be great even for a teenager. Their products are available at most major home retailers.

By the way, the “Laundry Shoot” idea can apply to throwing away garbage as well.


Pillow talk!


Getting your child to start making their bed at an early age is a great way to give them a small and very manageable responsibility. When they’re first moving into their big kid bed and still very young, you may have to give them a reason to make their bed. Try to explain that the bed will be cold while they’re not there to cuddle in it, but if they make the bed, it will be nice and warm while they’re gone. Or maybe have them “tuck in” their favourite stuffed animal while they’re gone for the day to pre-school, daycare, or wherever.  Have them watch you make your bed, and even get them to “help” you. If they see you are doing it, they’ll want to imitate.


Bubble time!


Kids love the water (or at least mine does). Have them learn the responsibility of washing dishes. Fill up the sink or a large bin with very soapy, sudsy water and give them a (clean) sponge. Maybe even buy sponges in fun shapes or cut out your own. As they play, squishing bubbles and wringing out the sponge, have them wash the dishes they just ate off of. Sure, you have a dishwasher, but this is much more fun!  Plus it’s a great activity to keep them occupied.  WARNING—your children will get wet with this activity, but that’s ok, because when they change their clothes, you can play laundry shoot!


Timing is everything!


Although it may seem early, time management is an important skill to have. You can start to teach your children all about it by creating a calendar that they can “manage”. They can even help make the calendar—a great craft project. Or you can buy a ready-made one—there’s so many nice ones out there these days (MotherWord Family Fridge calendars—available at Staples).  Post it on your fridge and get them to draw pictures or put stickers representing events on the calendar. For example, if they have a music class, draw some musical notes, or for soccer practice, draw a soccer ball. Use magnets to mark off what day it is and have your child move the magnet to the correct day each day. You can also have them cross off days as they pass. If they want to do something on a particular day, have them check the calendar to see what’s already planned and if there’s time. Or if there’s an upcoming event they are really looking forward to, have them count how many days until that event.


Now that you have a few ideas on how to get your kids on the organizational train, remember a few things:


1)  Lead by example—if mom and dad don’t put their laundry in the basket, and leave dirty dishes everywhere, junior is going to follow.


2)  Make it fun and it will get done! Don’t punish your little ones if they aren’t doing their “chores”, but rather make it fun when they do them and praise them, of course.  If it’s not seen as a “chore”, they’ll be more willing to do it.


3)  Don’t be afraid to use the cheesy “special helper” line—kids want to help, so encourage it!


4)  Rewarding good behaviour—Use rewards, but with reason. You don’t want them to demand rewards in order to get the job done. And make the rewards constructive, like an extra story at bedtime, or let them tickle you, instead of offering things like treats, or more TV.


5)  ABOVE ALL, REMEMBER they are just kids! They are going to get messy, they like to experiment, and it’s an important part of their development.


Happy Organizing!


By: Erin Lazer, MBA, CSP—Home Stager and Professional Organizer

It all started out normally for Erin…grow up, go to university, get a job, go back to university for some more letters, get a better job, get married, have a baby, etc., etc., and by etc., she means, “OMG, I can’t go back to the corporate world!” And so, she followed a new path, and pursued a different passion that she always thought would just be a hobby…a life in the world of home décor and organizing. Erin became a Certified Staging Professional (CSP), joined the fabulous Professional Organizers in Canada (POC), the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA), and of course, the wonderful world of momtrepreneurs.  She now dedicates herself to transforming houses and homes into stylish, well-functioning spaces. For Erin, there is no compromising between fashion and function. When Erin is not sorting and styling, she’s a mom of a beautiful baby girl, a wife, a sister, a daughter, an Auntie, a friend, a baker, a cook, a reader, and a world traveller.
http://www.SpaceStyle.ca
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
http://www.facebook.com/SpaceStyleCo
http://www.twitter.com/SpaceStyleCo
http://ca.linkedin.com/in/spacestyle


Back to the main page

By Candice Batista

The Marilyn Denis Show | Eco | Your Clean & Green Laundry Room


Toxins:


I’ve talked about reducing the amount of exposure to toxic chemicals a number of times, and the same goes for the laundry room; you want to make sure that the detergents, fabric softeners, bleaches and dryer sheets are all non-toxic and not harmful to you or the planet.


You want to make sure you read the label closely, words like alcohol, butyl, sulfates and really any thing you can’t pronounce – should be avoided – these chemicals are endocrine disruptors, you also want to avoid phosphates – they help remove minerals and cause harmful algae to bloom in waterways.


These are common words you seen on laundry soaps and should be avoided altogether.


Other ingredients to avoid: phosphate, chlorine, ammonia, petroleum solvents, alcohol, butyl, glycol ether, SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) or SLES (sodium laureth sulfate), EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), DEA (diethanolamine; no SARA Title III, CA 65, or EPA priority pollutants.


These are foaming agents, preservatives and petroleum based synthetic chemicals used to create scents.


The problem is most detergents don’t list all the ingredients in details because they are not required to by law to disclosure this information, in many cases they use vague terms like “surfactant” or “washing soda” or “brightener”  - sometime you have to look for labels that state what the product does NOT contain. In addition, if you see cross bones or the works harmful and dangerous on a given bottles, don’t buy it. You also want to avoid dyes and perfumes, yes you may wake up to Spring Blooms, but you are ingesting harmful chemicals that cause asthma and allergies in many people.




Detergents:


I have tried everything! And these two stand out for me!! first, the Rockin Green Laundry Detergent, it was actually formulated to wash Dirty cloth diapers but can be used on all clothing, it’s Dye-free – No fillers – No enzymes – No optical brighteners – 100% phosphate-free.


I also really like Seventh Generation this company has eco-cred, the products are priced very well, the scent is mild, so that’s good and it’s great to use for hard stains, this is the 2 ex, most people who use green laundry products know this one, but is great with stain removal and has a low price and least perfumy scent, no toxins, free of all that chemical junk.


And making its Canadian TV debut is the new 4 X coming out this Spring, this has triple enzymes to fight really tough stains, I am so excited about this product, 66 loads of laundry for one bottle. 4 times the concentrate and the bottle, the first of its kind, is 100% compostable and you can recycle the bottle and the lid. I also highly recommend the stain removal and fabric softener.


You also want to make sure that you are not using conventional dryer sheets, laced with harmful chemicals, I found these wool balls, hand made in Nova Scotia, they are 100% wool and are simply fabulous. They work in reducing dryer time, saving you money and time.


Dryer Sheets:
http://www.lismoresheepfarmwoolshop.com/


Washers and Dryers:


Well, these have come a long way in the past few years; you want to make sure that the washer is energy star certified, these are normally 50% more energy efficient.  Always look for washers that have auto sensors, little pricy upfront but will actually save you money in the long run, these sensors will determine the load of your washing, how dirty are your clothes, so you can determine the exact water to use and avoid any waste.


When buying a machine, you want to look at the EnerGuide Label, this gives you information on the amount of energy the machine uses and the operating cost per year. You can compare machines based on the energy guide label.


Energuide Label - 3 keys things to look for on the these labels:


The large number is the appliance’s estimated annual energy consumption, measured in kiloWatt hours (kWh) per year
The shaded bar scale displays the energy consumption range for similar appliance models. The figure at the left end indicates the lowest consumption rating; the figure on the right indicates the highest.
The arrow just above the bar scale shows where the appliance ranks relative to similar models.


For example, leave a 100-watt light bulb turned on for 10 hours, and you will use 1,000 watt hours, or 1 kWh. If your utility is charging you 8.5 cents per kWh, it would cost you just over 40 cents to leave that light on for 48 hours.


Front loaders are better than top loaders, use less water and a higher spin cycle making it more energy efficient.


Choose a machine that has varying temperatures for hot and cold washes. Washing in cold water will also save you money! You save over 6000 litres of water and $150 on energy costs, it adds up!!


Select a machine with several pre-programmed cycles and water levels.


For dryers, they are not energy star certified, you want to make sure has a moisture sensor. This automatically senses if your clothes are all dried up so it will stop, unlike manual settings wherein it continues to work even if the clothes are already dry.


The Whirlpool HE front load laundry pair, available at Lowes, has some cool features.


There are sensors that gauge the weight of the load and how much water is needed.


There is a sensor that prevents over sudsing.


There is a compartment that holds enough detergent for 36 loads helping you to save you on wasting it.


Oxi Dispense Option – send oxygen through the load to help brighten clothes. So much better than bleach.


The dryer stops when the clothes are dry thanks to a sensor in the drum and




Laundry room accessories:


I love the laundry room accessories from neatfreak, the fabric is called Everfresh, it’s environmentally friendly, they have 100% natural enzymes embedded in the fabric that helps reduce odour causing bacteria.


Laundry Room Accessories Available At:
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.ca


Of course every laundry room needs a clothes rack, air drying your clothes is one of the best things you can do for your electricity bill, the lifespan of your clothes and the planet too. In fact, if you used this in the summer only you would save 45 bucks on energy bills. 


The Blue Planet Laundry stackable laundry basket, it made from 75% recyclable materials and is recyclable. Love that!


Blue Planet Laundry Basket Available At:
http://www.canadiantire.ca


Send you questions and comments to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Eleni Kakoyianni | Marketing Manager | Neatfreak Group Inc.
T.P.O Trained Professional Organizer and POC member

By House Made Simple


You can find all underlined hyper links in the original Home Made Simple article, here.

With our 30-day plan, finally getting (and staying) organized couldn’t be easier. The secret? Simple projects—one for each day of the month—that add up to a clean and de-cluttered home. So go ahead, set the plan into motion today!


Before you get started, print this list so you can cross off projects as you complete them. Each day, focus on one area of your home or life:












• Day 1: Schedule. First things first: Block off time to organize each day for the next month and mark it on your calendar.
Tip: Need help managing your busy schedule? Make a dry erase calendar using a repurposed frame.


• Day 2: Entryway. Corral stray shoes, bags, umbrellas, keys and other daily clutter with wooden crates, trays or personalized storage baskets.
• Day 3: Coat Closet. From coats to boots, wrangle outdoor gear once and for all.


• Day 4: Pantry. Complete a Total Pantry Clean Out now and you’ll spend less time later in search of hidden ingredients.
• Day 5: Mealtime. Start pre-planning meals with our free Weekly Menu Planner. It helps limit last-minute trips to the grocery and streamlines dinnertime.
• Day 6: Kitchen Cabinets. Tackle every last one using these 9 tricks for keeping neat, clutter-free cabinets.


• Day 7: Refrigerator. Follow 5 steps to refresh your fridge inside and out.
• Day 8: Dining Area. Clear away paper clutter, homework and craft projects.


• Day 9: Menus. Contain take-out menus in a personalized organizer, easy to make with our free downloadable designs and labels.
• Day 10: Recipes. Build a storage system from scratch or enhance your existing method. See Simple Ways to Organize Recipes for full tutorials.
• Day 11: Dishwasher. No more wondering what’s clean or dirty! Let everyone know when it’s ready to run or unload with do-it-yourself dishwasher signs.
Tip: Try to load the dishwasher right after meals.


• Day 12: Drawers. Conquer at least one overcrowded drawer with the simple 2-step approach in Total Drawer Clean Out.
Tip: For small items like buttons and gems, organize them in an egg carton or ice cube tray. If you have enough different types, use each compartment to store a different colour.
• Day 13: Coupons. Collect and sort through deals using easy-to-repurpose items, like a clutch or binder.


• Day 14: Entertainment Area. Tidy this action-packed space with our guide to de-cluttering entertainment areas.
• Day 15: Books. Celebrate your collection by organizing every book in style.
• Day 16: Photos. Digital or print, take some time to properly protect and store photos for years to come.


• Day 17: Desk. Clean and streamline your workspace in 3 easy steps.
• Day 18: Paperwork. Find forms, bills, receipts and more when you need them most with an organized folder system.


• Day 19: Hallways. Take advantage of empty hallway walls by hanging shelves or repurposed ladders to create extra storage.
• Day 20: Bathrooms. Keep it calm, not cluttered. After all, it’s where you start and end days. Learn over 20 ways to tame the mess in Organized Bathroom Ideas.
• Day 21: Linen Closet. Beyond towels and sheets, it’s a catchall for all sorts of odds and ends, so maximize its storage potential.


• Day 22: Jewellery. Sort, organize and stow your precious jewels.
• Day 23: Bedroom. Rest and relaxation come easier in clean, organized surroundings. Straighten up your bedroom to help get a better night’s sleep.


• Day 24: Clothing Closet. Overhaul it from top to bottom using our clever sorting and storage systems.
Tip: If you wind up with a pile of spare hangers, repurpose them as organizers.


• Day 25: Purse. Put an end to digging around for that tube of lip balm! For the full how-to, read Total Purse Clean Out.
• Day 26: Basement/Garage. Hang pegboards for stashing sports equipment, garden gear, tools and other heavy-duty items.

• Day 27: Laundry Room. Divide the space into 3 stations to create a structured laundry day routine.
• Day 28: Craft Area. Round up all the leftover supplies from past projects and put them away.
• Day 29: Wrapping Supplies. Convert a hamper into a storage bin for gift-wrapping supplies galore.

• Day 30: Car. Ride happier when you tidy your car’s interior.


How do you keep your home clutter-free after an initial overhaul? What do you have the most trouble keeping organizing?
Send you questions and comments to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Eleni Kakoyianni | Marketing Manager | Neatfreak Group Inc.
T.P.O Trained Professional Organizer and POC member