Clutter Control Products
Product of the week
Product of the Week: Keeping Dishes and Serveware Safe
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The holiday season allows us to show off our best serveware, dishes and family heirlooms. That makes this a good time for some reminders and suggestions on how to keep your china, silver and dishes safe year-round! Check out my tips below on ready-to-use china storage and silver storage products, and some budget-friendly DIY tips. Whether you prefer to store your china out of sight or keep it on display, we’ve got you covered!
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Product (and Tip) of the Week: Damask Cotton Tote
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I have one of these Damask Laminated Cotton Totes as a constant companion. Well, on weekdays anyway.
It started out as a lunch bag because it was large enough to carry just about anything. Which meant that when I only had seconds before I ran out the door, I didn't have to take the time to put my salad in a plastic container for lunch. I could just throw in the entire bag of salad, bottle of dressing and the whole loaf of French bread. Lunch: check!
And I still do that, but it has slowly morphed into something else as well…a shopping list! Yes, you read that right, a shopping list.
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Product of the week! Space Efficient Kitchen Tools
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The newest kitchen tools fold, bend and provide multiple uses in the kitchen!
There is a new generation of kitchen tools that are designed with time and space-efficiency in mind. These nifty new items all serve at least two purposes, saving space in cluttered kitchen cabinets and drawers. This is great for apartment-dwellers, and anyone with a small kitchen or maxed-out cabinets.
Here’s a rundown of some of the best new kitchen tools out there:
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Need More Storage Space? Look Under Your Bed
ByAs a Professional Organizer working in New York City, I get to see all kinds of living spaces: large, pre-war apartments, tiny studios, airy lofts, dramatic duplexes, charming brownstones and everything in between. As you might 
expect, people living in small spaces often don't have sufficient storage places for all their “stuff”.
What I find interesting though is when people living in large spaces with ample closets and storage areas suffer from the same problem! I guess I really shouldn’t be surprised since we live in a consumer society that has so many irresistible temptations on offer at any given time.
One great storage solution that is often overlooked is the space underneath a bed.
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Product of the Week: Over the Toilet Etagere!
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The over the toilet Etagere has to be one of the best inventions ever when it comes to space-efficient furniture. Many of us find that our bathrooms are exploding with cosmetic products, towels, medicine and more! And with the focus of most new home design and remodels being big, fancy kitchens, let’s face it, our bathrooms aren’t getting any larger.
Many new families also find that what used to be a roomy, organized bath is now a central gathering area for everyone’s stuff. The babies have their toys and the teens have their hair products.
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Product of the Week: Fabric Baskets
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When organizing, it’s tempting to get caught up looking for a specialty organizer, something that was designed exactly to fix your clutter dilemma. In frustration, you find yourself saying, "if I could just find a box that was ½” taller", or "if there was just the perfect organizer for my _____ "! The perfect organizer does exist for some things, but when it doesn’t, it’s time to think outside the box.
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Product of the Week: Embossed Pewter Canisters
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The Big Debate over Canisters Rages On…
My mother and I have always had a big debate over whether a set of kitchen canisters on the counter top is a)useful or b)cluttery. I have always maintained the latter. It’s not that I don’t want to have flour handy for a quick white sauce or sugar for a baking job, it’s just that I don’t like a lot of stuff (or anything, really) on my counters.
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Possibly the Cutest Lunchbag Ever!
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Ok, I'm a little freaky over lunch bags. It's the whole hand bag obsession thing. You know, can't resist them. Don't deny it - I know some of you out there can relate (Marcia) ;).
Anyway - the KoKo Christy Lunch Bag is quite possible the cutest lunchbag to date! I think I have to get it. It's all nylon with a zippered top and great end pockets for all the little extras. And it's fully insulated - Keeps your hots hot or your colds cold!
Shoot - I'd even use this as a purse! No more melted makeup or chocolate on hot days, right?
They measure 11.5"H x 6"W x 5.5"D, so they will hold quite a bit! They come in Black, Green and Chocolate Brown. And not bad at just under $20!
Product of the Week: Insanely Cute Market Totes
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Brand new to Stacks and Stacks - Painfully cute Polka Dot Market Totes!
These have got to be some of the cutest tote bags I've ever seen! They are made of laminated polka dot printed cotton fabric and come in Lime, Pink or Black and White, with a little ribbon tie at the top to keep it closed.
The laminated fabric is great because it's water resistant and can be wiped clean with a damp cloth. And with the 14.5" H x 14" W x 6" D size, this tote is great for books, beach, pool, diaper bag, purse, lunchbag, wet clothes or towels, quick grocery trips, kids toys - you name it!
At $19.99, it's a great deal for back to school, as a gift - or anything, really! Oooh! How great would this tote bag be as a reuseable gift wrapping with something else tucked inside!
How would you use this tote bag?
Product of the Week! Magnetic Knife Holder
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The benefits and many uses of these handy racks are never ending!
This new magnetic knife holder is affordable, easy to install and one of the most space efficient kitchen gadgets out there! Whether you are blessed with a huge kitchen with seemingly endless storage, or you are more like me, constantly looking to squeeze in an extra inch of storage in every nook and cranny, a magnetic knife rack is a wonderful choice for cutlery storage. Here are some of the reasons I like these handy kitchen organizers:
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Product of the Week: Folding Shopping Cart
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Ever need an extra pair of arms? Check out this Folding Shopping Cart!
I really could have used something like this a few years back! We were living in a small neighborhood and we only had one car. Even though the store was close and my kids could make the walk, I would take their double stroller with me to load the groceries in. How great this cart would have been - It even has a drink holder!
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Product of the Week: Breakfast Carts!
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Color AND Space Efficiency, all in one piece!
Breakfast carts are not just for tiny homes. These nifty, space saving carts can be used for a multitude of purposes in homes, both large and small.
In larger houses, where a formal dining room is already available, a breakfast cart can be used in the kitchen as a gathering place for the family – a great place for kids to do their homework, parents to pay bills and singles to enjoy a quick meal.
In apartments, condos and smaller houses, a breakfast cart can do double duty in the kitchen as a prep area and eating area, and provides a great buffet and serving table at dinner parties.
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Space Efficient Patio Furniture
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Summer is here, which means lots of evenings outdoors: barbecuing, entertaining and relaxing. A nice chair to sit in and a place to rest your drink are key to enjoying this warm, treasured season!
However, for many of us, a new, full size patio furniture set may be out of the question. Maybe for financial reasons, or maybe for lack of space, but whatever the reason, be hopeful that you can find patio furniture that fits both your patio and your budget.
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Product of the Week: Store It On The Door!
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Some of my favorite organizing products are ones that hang on the back of doors. I think I just really like the idea of using the unused and unexpected space for organizing. Most are very easy to install, and many of them can be used for a variety of storage ideas far beyond their intended uses. Take these two, for example:
Over-the-door Hanging Purse Organizer
Over-the-door Belt and Scarf Organizer
What fantastic storage ideas! I could see all my purses, scarves and belts at once. My mornings would go so much easier! No more digging through drawers and closets!
With the adjustable clips, I'll bet these could also be used in the kids room for light weight stuffed animals and toys, in the bathroom for hair accessories, in the laundry room for socks without mates (lol!), maybe even in the kitchen or pantry for spice packets and mixes! The possibilities are endless - now all I need are more doors! 
Product of the Week: Pull Out Shelf - One Size Fits Most
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A pull out shelf is one of the most versatile household organizers you will ever find. It can be used in any room that has cabinets or closets, making reaching a thing of the past! The problem is, cabinets come in all shapes and sizes, so finding the right shelf to match your cabinet size can be difficult. Many people eventually turn to custom slide out shelves, very nice but a little on the pricey side. This pull out shelf solves all of those problems with a unique design that allows it to expand to the size of your cabinets – voila! No more measuring, guessing and then crossing your fingers in hopes that it will fit – you can expand this shelf up to 20”, perfect for those of us without “standard” cabinetry. Another nice thing about this particular shelf is that the rails mount to the side of the cabinet, so you can create multiple tiers of storage.
Read on for my tips on How and Where to Use Pull Out Shelves:
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Product of the Week: Cedar Shelf Liners
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Cedar wood has many benefits that are complementary to clothes. So it’s no wonder that people sometimes line their entire closet with cedar planks. A custom closet can be expensive, though, so how can we all get a taste of this luxurious type of clothes storage and preservation?
These cedar shelf liners provide an affordable alternative to custom closet work, and are compatible with wire closet organizers, a very popular and widespread choice for closets everywhere today. No installation is required, so you don’t have to hire a contractor to get them. They simply drop into place on most wire closet shelves. Read on for some natural benefits that cedar has to offer.
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Product of the Week: Baby Memories Box
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This may sound familiar to some of you moms and dads: it took my sister almost 3 years to pull together a baby book of her daughter’s first year.
Today’s busy parents have a hard enough time keeping up with the daily routine, so it’s no wonder that the keepsakes album gets put off until well into the toddler years, if it happens at all!
The problem with the traditional baby book, my sister found, is that it only holds 2 dimensional items.
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Product of the Week: Mario Batali Lunch Totes
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“Dear Mario, Your Lunch Bags Make Me Swoon!”
I used to carry my lunch in one of the many plastic grocery bags cluttering the cabinet under my sink, but ever since I started using reusable grocery bags, I ran into a little problem – no more lunch bags!
I may have outgrown my cutesie lunchbox, but I’m definitely not too old for a chic and class lunch tote.
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Product of the Week: This is how we stroll…
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Ever tried pushing a stroller while carrying a beverage, or anything in your hands for that matter? As if strollers weren’t cumbersome enough, then you go and stuff your pockets with your keys, cell phone, spare binkies, wallet and a baggy of Cheerios.
Very attractive, I must say!
And then when you need one of these bulky items, you go on a mining expedition through the depths of your cargo pants when you could be…Oh, I dunno, watching where you’re walking?
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Product of the Week: Triple-Duty Bench – Part 1 of Our Multi-Tasking Furniture Series
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Have a look at my new weapon in the battle against clutter at home: Multi-Tasking Furniture!
My definition of multipurpose furniture is anything that does double or even triple-duty work to simplify your life. Pieces like this Storage Ottoman are a great place to start if you’re looking to eliminate space-wasters and get organized.
Don’t underestimate its storage abilities, here’s a list of everything I was able to get off my tabletops and shelves:
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11 Easy Ways to Store Kid's Toys
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Kids will like to put there toys away where they can find them when they know that each one of their toys has its own 'home'. Make it easy for kids to put their things away by providing hooks, shelves and storage areas they can reach easily.
1- Store toys with small parts (Lego's, puzzles, building logs, cars, Barbie accessories etc.) in: see-through plastic containers, glad plastic containers, coffee cans or plastic ice-cream buckets with lids.
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Lunch Bags are Never Big Enough!
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I can't tell you how many lunch bags I've tried out at one point or another looking for a convenient way to "brown-bag" it at work, only to find that they just don't cut it for me. They are all too small!
Now if I were the kind of person who took a little time in the morning to make a sandwich, wash my berries, and measure a little salsa out of the jar, I suppose I would be fine. It might all fit. On a good day.
But me, I never have quite enough time in the morning (because I love my bed way too much!) to get me, my son, and my lunch ready to go. So I find myself grabbing a grocery bag and tossing in a loaf of bread, a brick of cheese, a box of strawberries, and anything else I find that's not bolted down!
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Electronic Charging Station - So They All Have a Home
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This is truly the digital age. iPods, digital cameras, cell phones, PDAs, you name it! Even I, the planner-queen, have a bunch of these wonderful gadgets now. And they all need charging with a riot of charging cords that all look identical until you have to plug one in. Then it's always the last one you try. Not anymore.
This Electronic Charging Station gives a home to each of your devices. A handsome little bed for your electronic pals to recharge for the night.
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Finally Keep the Stuffed Animals off the Floor
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There's nothing better than starting your children off right in life with good habits (cuz the bad ones are so hard to break!).
Like keeping their space organized. And this is such a cute idea to help them do that!
The Stuffed Animal Vertical Toy Storage Organizer is a great solution to any child’s stuffed animal dilemma and takes up almost no room at all. You just slip the doll or stuffed animal through the elastic strap (preferably under their arms and not by their poor little necks) and, voila! 42 toys off the floor!
And when it’s full, it’s actually a pretty cute room decoration. You can get one here.
Un-Deck Your Halls the Right Way!
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As you un-deck your halls this year, be thinking about improving your Holiday storage.
Do you store your decorations in cardboard boxes? Not so good if you store them outside. Plastic bins make the perfect outdoor storage solution. There are even bins with dividers specifically for delicate ornaments!
Tired of trying to fit that round wreath back into a square box? Try a Wreath Keeper!
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Where Did All These Shoes Come From?!
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I did not know that a family of five could own so many pairs of shoes! I am always shocked at how many, and how quickly they pile up by the front door. And if you are one of the unfortunate ones (like me) who don’t have an entry way at the front of your home, the shoes wind up spread across half the living room if they aren’t kept in check. But how? With no entry way, I’ve had to get creative with our shoe storage.
Here are a few ideas:
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Eco-Tip: Rubberwood
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When shopping for the perfect piece of furniture to organize your kitchen, kid's room, jewelrey, books, media or entry way, think RUBBERWOOD.
Did you know?
Rubberwood is a plantation grown hardwood from the maple family and is an ideal choice for furniture manufacturing because of its durability and tendency to resist shrinking, warping or cracking.
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Food Drying with an Attitude
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Think food dehydrators are just for jerky and dries apples? Think again!
We found the coolest book – Food Drying with an Attitude!
Along with really cool pictures (like the one here – Dried Pineapple Flowers!), it has directions for making everything from melt-in-your-mouth Kale Flakes to Unforgettable Spam Jerky (yeah, you read it right – Spam!).
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Space Treat: Crammed Desk?
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Often when organizing clients’ desks I discover that although they have all the appropriate supplies like staplers, scissors, post-its, pens, files, a shredder, paper clips, etc., they are still missing one of the key elements – more surface space.
Once you fill a desk-top with your computer, a few papers and a few files (or piles) there often isn’t enough space left for spreading out, doing work and processing papers. Surface space at your desk is actually one of the most important components for functioning efficiently. So, if you’re struggling at your desk, the solution may be just as simple as getting a longer desk!
Product of the Week: Acrylic Earring Organizer
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This week's Product of the week is the Acrylic Earring Organizer. Not only because this thing is really cool, but because we got a feature post for it in the Ladies Home Journal's Miss Gizmo Blog!
It's made of crystal clear acrylic and has individual trays that slide out so you can easily get to your earrings. You can keep your jewelry out where you can see it and still keep it protected from dust.
Pretty and cool!