The Urban Organizer

Welcome to the blog of The Urban Organizer, Abbe Tanenbaum. Abbe works with New Yorkers to reclaim their space, creating environments that are simple, streamlined, and make life easier. Live in NYC? Work with me! www.UrbanOrganize.me

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This lady knows what she's talking about💖

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Medicine Cabinet Necessities

Medicine cabinets can seem fairly inconsequential...until you need them.

This is an area to really try and keep organized because when you cut your hand with a knife you don't want to be spending a whole lot of time looking for the band-aids.

I challenge you this month to tackle your medicine cabinet.

1. Declutter -- Always a must for any project.Get rid of expired medicine as well as combining near empty. Also now is a good time to get rid of any of the medicine you no longer use. Here are some tips for when to heed the expiration dates on drugs, and here is the FDA's guide to proper drug disposal.

2. Restock -- Make sure you have on hand the things you use when sick. Each person's go-to's are obviously different but Apartment Therapy made a great list as a jumping off point.

Medication for pain, headache and fever (acetaminophen, ibruprofen, or aspirin)

Antihistamine (like Benadryl)

Hydrocortisone cream

Bandages

Antiseptic for cleaning wounds (like hydrogen peroxide)

Ointment to prevent wound infections (like Neosporin)

Aloe vera gel

Medication for digestive problems: antacids, antidiarrheal medication, stool softener

Cough medicine (It may be good to keep both a.m. and p.m. formulas handy.)

Decongestant

Throat Lozenges

Thermometer

Nail Clippers

Cotton Swabs

Tweezers (for splinter removal)

3. Contain -- Deicide where you want to keep these items and how you want to separate them. Some people like to keep them all together, others separate adult medicine from children's medicine, or medicine from first aid supplies.

This doesn't have to be elaborate or complicated, in fact it's better if it isn't. I like boxes with lids so the items don't get dusty, but honestly go wild.

4. Store -- Where you decide to house these items will also inform what kind of containers to get. Most medicines suggest storing them in an area with low humidity and a steady temperature, so the bathroom may not be the ideal place for medicine storage, even though that's the place that immediately comes to mind for most of us. If you have the space, consider moving your medicine storage to the kitchen, pantry, or linen closet.

The most important thing is that they are all in the same place so when something happens you know right where to go.

Future you will be so glad you took the time to do this.

[theurbanorganizer]

New Year Sale!

Start the new year off right by getting organized!

I am offering a 50% discount on a Skype organizing session! You will receive the same 1 on 1 interactive guidance I give during an in person session for HALF of the cost.

I really like Skype coachings because I find it empowers my clients to understand all aspects of the process and they feel more capable to take those tools and implement them on their own.

Schedule a session by emailing me at [email protected]

This deal will only be available until January 14 so book now!

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Who couldn't use a little help staying organized this holiday season?

BuzzFeed gives 7 great tips to make this holiday season a little easier.

I LOVE #3!

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KonMari Pro-Tip: Folding

I'm not going to lie, I was pretty skeptical about the KonMari folding method. Most of my clothes are on shelves in my closet and I can pretty much see the whole stack but I figured the world was raving about this new technique and I might as well give it a try. 

They are just clothes after all and if I hated it I could unfold them and go back to the way things were to sweat. 

Well, I am totally converted. 

It was true, even though I could see all of the clothes before, the ones on the bottom got the least ware and ended up being pretty squashed and pathetic looking. 

I love how I can see everything at a glance and every item has it's spot. I do think it works better in drawers then on shelves BUT if you use some old shoe boxes as shelf dividers it really helps things stay in place. 

Below is a video of the one and only, Marie Kondo demonstrating how folding a shirt is done: 

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The Order to Organize

The thought of getting organized can be a daunting one. I find it's helpful to know where to start so you can focus on one task at a time. According to the KonMari method (and my personal experience) this is the most affective order to tackle your stuff.

Clothes

Books

Papers

Miscellany

Mementos

It is important to follow this order of tidying because like any skill as you organize you will get better at it. So start with the easiest stuff first.

Clothes: This is where you want to start. For most people, you have the clearest connection to clothes; because of this, it is a good place to start honing you decision-making skills.

Subcategories for going through clothes:

Tops (shirts, sweaters, etc)

Bottoms (pants, skirts, etc)

Clothes that should be hung (jackets, coats, suits, etc)

Socks

Underwear

Bags (handbags, messenger bags ets)

Accessories (scarves, belts, hats, etc)

Clothes for specific events (swimsuits, uniforms, etc)

Shoes

Books: You need to take everyone off the shelf and hold it to decide if it sparks joy or not. It is not affective to simply scan the titles and make decisions based on a glance. Trust me. Organizing and decluttering is a visceral experience and actually holding the book and allowing it to affect you will make the process a lot clearer.

Papers:  These will never spark joy; so try to keep as few as possible. I have written two posts on this that I would advise you to reference:

KonMari on Paper Sorting

What Papers to Keep and for How Long

Miscellany:

Cds, DVDs

Skin care products

Makeup

Accessories

Valuables (passport, credit cards etc)

Electrical equipment and appliances (digital cameras, electric cords, anything vaguely “electronic”

Household equipment (stationary and writing materials, sewing kits, etc)

Household Supplies (expendables like medicine, detergents, tissues, etc)

Kitchen goods/food supplies (spatulas, pots, blenders, etc)

Other (spare change, figurines, etc)

**If you have a specific hobby (kitting, skiing, beading, etc) treat that as one category**

Mementos: The things that are hardest to make decisions about are things that “bring back memories, such as photos, are not the place for beginners to start. Not only is the sheer volume of items in this category usually greater than that of any other, but it is also far harder to make a decision about whether or not to keep them.”

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Happy Thanksgiving! 

It’s wonderful to have a holiday that brings our focus back to all that we have! Stay focused on the mountains of positive and let the negative take a backseat. 

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KonMari Pro-Tip!

For coats and jackets that you want to keep for a long time, sew spare buttons into the lining when you first buy them. 

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Store your handbags inside one another. This helps them keep their shape as well as minimize storage space.

The key is to put the same type of bags together. Sets should consist of handbags made from similar material, such as a stiff leather or thickly woven cloth, or of purses for special occasions such as weddings or funerals. Dividing by material and/or type of use means that you only need to take out one set whenever you need a bag.

Things to keep in mind:

Clean out each bag when you are finished using it before you store it.

No more than two pursese in any one bag.

All straps and handles should be left in plain view

In the case of backpacks, they usually will fold up pretty small. Store them all inside a single backpack.

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KonMari on Paper Sorting

Marie Kondo's basic principle on paper is to throw it all away haha but she admits some papers need to be saved.

Keep things that fall into these 3 categories:

Currently in use

Needed for a limited period

Must be kept indefinitely

**This does NOT include sentimental papers**

Of these 3 categories, divide them into two categories

Papers to be saved

Papers that need to be dealt with (bills to be paid, forms to be submitted, letter you need to reply to etc)

Keep all such papers in ONE SPOT ONLY! Never let them spread to other parts of the house.She recommends a vertical organizer.

​

All items that require attention can be put in here without separating them.

As for papers that must be saved, these should be subdivide according to frequency of use. They fall into two categories:

Frequently used

Infrequently used (insurance policies, guarantees, leases, etc)

Infrequently used papers she recommends putting into a single ordinary clear plastic folder without further categorization.

She feels you only need 3 folders, one for each category and should not subdivide any further. When I first read that, I hated the idea and it made my skin crawl, I love subcategorize. She does have a point though. This method will force you to go through each folder periodically in search of one item; but as you do, you will see the other papers in the folder and can reevaluate if you still need them. Papers that are out of sight are easy to forget about.

“What if, for example, they need the contents of a document that they disposed of earlier? First, because they have already pared down the amount of documents they own, they can quickly confirm that they do not have it, without having to search all over. The fact that they do not need to search is actually an invaluable stress reliever. One of the reasons clutter eats away at us is because we have to search for something just to find whether it is even there”

You will also know exactly where to go for a certain item and if it is not there you will know you do not have it.

Paper organizing has been known to spark dread in my clients. Marie recognizes that your papers will never really spark joy but they are a necessary evil. Down size them as much as possible so they take up less space and require less energy.

[theurbanorganizer]

Having Trouble Letting Go?

So the item doesn’t spark joy but you are still having trouble letting go. Here is what Maria Kondo? Has to say on that subject:

When we really delve into the reason for why we can’t let something go, there are only two: an attachments to the past or a fear for the future […] if you come across something that does not spark joy but that would just can’t bring yourself to throw away, stop a moment and ask yourself, ‘Am I having trouble getting rid of this because of an attachment to the past or because of a fear for the future?'

This will help you have a better understanding of your relationship to these kinds of things. It will help you become more self aware of WHY you keep what you keep.

[theurbanorganizer]

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KonMari Pro-Tip

Hang like items with like items. Blazers with blazers, dresses with dresses and so on.

Now that is a pretty basic rule of thumb but this is what blew my mind:

Arrange your clothes so that they rise to the right.

Imagine a large square in front of you. Try tracing in the air an arrow from the bottom right to the upper left. Ok now try doing to same thing starting on the bottom left and going to the upper right.  

Didn’t rising to the right feel “lighter” or more optimistic!? “Lines that slope up to the right make people feel more comfortable.”

Now I don’t know why this is (neither does Marie she admits) but it really does feel better this way! “Lines that slope up to the right make people feel more comfortable.”

To put this into terms for your closet: hang heavy items on the left side of the closet and let the clothing get progressively lighter as you travel right. The basic order by category would be: coats would be on the far left, followed by dresses, jackets, pants, skirts, and blouses.

Give it a try in your closet.  Can YOU feel the difference?

[theurbanorganizer]

Must Read!

I have finally started reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo and I can’t stop.

This morning I woke up and went through all my clothes and found a full garbage bag of items to get rid of. Now one garbage bag might not seem like a lot but I am constantly getting rid of thing (I mean, I’m a personal organizer for a reason) and I was shocked by how many more items I was holding on to then I really needed in my life.

The most helpful take away so far from the book is the question Marie makes her clients ask about each and every item they own: Does it spark joy? Wow. Game changer.

I am not into fashion. If I could afford it, I would love to pay someone to dress me all the time. I hate shopping. I don’t like putting outfits together. I do feel amazing if I have something fabulous to wear but I don’t enjoy the process of finding it. By asking myself this question I realized that most of the clothes I own absolutely do NOT spark joy. It made it so clear. They needed to go. Out, out, OUT.

I did have a moment of terror when I realized I was cutting my already tiny wardrobe in half. In the beginning it was easy to ask the question but as I started to see how many items I felt less than thrilled about I had to force myself to hold each piece of clothing and ask the question and honestly respond. The answer was very clear but sometimes I would try and talk myself out of it. “Sure it didn’t spark ‘joy’ persay but it was the only grey skirt I owned…” OUT!

Now my wardrobe is basically non existant (I feel like a contesant on What Not to Wear after the garage can sequence) but I have decided I am going to live with this wardrobe for a few weeks before I go shopping.

I plan on using the question before I buy anything.

I now only want to bring things into my apartment that spark joy. It feels good to be surrounded with that kind of energy.

[theurbanorganizer]

Rotating Goal List!

Keep yourself on track with a goal list. 

It can be really helpful to have a constant reminder of your weekly objectives. Put it somewhere you will see everyday, like the refrigerator. 

It’s more visual then a regular to-do list and the post-it notes are easy to change out as you accomplish your tasks.

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Closet Pro-Tip!

Dividers are great for creating a smaller space to stack items like bags or other loose accessories that would normally create a mess without using boxes as storage. If you can see your items directly on the shelf instead of in a box, you are more likely to remember it exists and actually use it.

{BuzzFeed}

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116 Things to Throw Away

The other side of a pair of lost earrings

Scraps of wrapping paper

Cards people have given you with no sentimental value

Receipts you don't need

Ticket stubs

Socks with holes

Old t-shirts

Leftover change

Dried flowers

Magazines

CDs

Hair elastics that have lost stretchiness

Hair accessories you don't use

Shoes that don't fit or that you don't wear

Extra photo prints

Little knickknacks (designate a bowl and fill it)

Kitchen things you don't use

Cooking utensils you have two of

Tired bras

Scarves you never wear

Clothes that don't fit

Gifts you don't like

Old towels

Old makeup

Old toiletries

Old or unused hangers

Expired or sample-sized toiletries

Extra buttons

Expired sauces

Toys your pets don't play with

Expired medication

Dried-up nail polish

Bills you don't need to keep

Expired coupons

Old paperwork

DVDs you don't watch

Snacks your pets don't eat

Damaged clothing you can't mend

Stained clothing you can't clean

Old prom dresses

Scratched nonstick cookware

Old underwear or swimwear that's losing its stretch

Outdated electronics

Rusty jewelry

Stockings with runs

Pens that don't work

Clothing you've outgrown

Necklaces and bracelets with broken clasps

Cables and wires you don't use

Worn-out sheets and bedding

Empty or near-empty bottles of cleaning products

Old mending buttons for clothing you no longer have

Worn-out bath mats

Broken electronics

Purses you never use

Flatware, plates, and glasses that don't match the rest of your collection, plus dingy children's plates you no longer use

Old pillows

Worn-out shoes

Wedding invites

Save-the-dates

Wedding favors you don't use

Old wallets that you don't use

Broken kitchen equipment

Spare furniture parts you don't need

Furniture manuals

Boxes

Unused vases

Extra tupperware you don't need

Old mail

Junk mail

Travel brochures

Bobby pins

Old crayons or art supplies, plus markers that have run out of ink

Random containers and jars

Unused stationery, stickers, and sticky notes

Ripped denim

Old artwork or old children's artwork

Used and ripped envelopes

Broken or old iPhone cases

Old unused batteries

Extra and unused coffee mugs

Old spices

Address labels for your old house

Wrinkled ribbon and bows for gift wrap

Cards or gifts from exes

Frequent shopper cards you never use

Matchbooks

Old shopping bags

Old calendars

Old folders

Magnets

Clothes that are outdated or from college

Broken Christmas decorations

Christmas lights that don't work

Frayed towels

Expired food

Computer cords, firewire cord, etc. that you don't use

Old and outdated software

CDs for old computer programs

Old cell phones

Hand-me-downs that you're guilt-tripped into keeping

Freebie or promotional t-shirts you never wear

Old fortune cookie fortunes

Old bank statements

Old planners

Delete email subscriptions from sites

Delete emails you don't need

Delete unwanted music from your iTunes

Extra buttons that come with newly purchased clothes

Games that are missing pieces

Old schoolbooks you'll never use again

Papers you have backed up on the computer

Books you've already read and don't want to display

Cell phone covers you're over

Old manuals to electronics

Cell phone accessories you don't use anymore

{Courtesy of PopSugar}