Ask the Experts
I definitely have my share of favorite organizing products, but I’m always looking for different viewpoints and ideas to increase productivity and organization. Recently I surveyed my Facebook and Twitter friends, both those in the organizing industry and those who have a non-Professional Organizer perspective. They were generous enough to share some of their favorite, and most despised, organizing tools. The results were interesting and varied:
Kim Oser of Put It Away!
“My favorite tools are shelves (so much more functional than drawers), and Freedom Filer (hanging and interior folders, not file folders).”
I’ve never used Freedom Filer, but I LOVE to use Find n’ File , both in my own home and with my organizing clients. It’s a simple filing system that is easy to install and very flexible to use.
Jane Campbell, a Washington DC Professional Organizer:
“I like the staple. Because with one motion, and for the small price of some tiny holes, 20 questions become one Thing.”
Tried and true supplies are usually the most reliable! And the staple can really help keep “like items with like items.”
Allison Carter of The Professional Organizer:
“I LOVE clear plastic bins, huggable hangers, butler bags, cb2’s orange file drawers, desktop file boxes, and my shredder. And I LOVE shoe bags for everything . . . cords, crafts, utility. I HATE the toy organizers that have 9 to 12 colorful bins on 3 rows on a tilt. Hard to set right.”
I’m with you on the toy organizer. It seems like it would be a fabulous idea, but I have yet to see one that is truly functional AND sturdy. Huggable hangers are great, especially for small closets. I’ve got to get my hands on a Butler Bag . . . I’ve heard wonderful things about their organizational magic, but I’ve always been a fan of the ever-dependable Purseket. LOVE the versatility of a shoe bag organizer, too. I’ve used them in kids’ room to house stuffed animals, and inside a linen closet to hold small toiletries and medicine cabinet items.
Jim Deitzel, eMarketing Manager at Rubbermaid
“I’m a big fan of our FastTrack garage product. Our Easy Find Lid food container system has many nice features: Locking lids, nesting bases, lids fit multiple bases. And the lids and bases fit other product lines, too.”
Anything that makes a garage more efficient and accessible is always great to have on hand. And the name says it all with the Easy Find Lid containers! I’ve convinced many clients to recycle their take-out food plastic containers and switch to these space-saving food containers instead.
Scott Roewer of Solutions by Scott and declutteryou.com:
“I used the Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids on a news segment last week. Jim is right, they’re great. I love elfa® from The Container Store. The system is easy to install, customizable to any closet and easy to change if your needs change. I use elfa® as well as the elfa® free standing in my clients’ closets, basements, garages, offices . . . virtually anywhere. I highly recommend the elfa® shelving.”
I really like the new free standing elfa®. The options are practically endless. The gift wrapping paper station is one of my absolute favorites, especially with the holidays right around the corner. And right now, all elfa® is 25% off!
Sue Dehmel:
“I love baskets . . . paper sized, CD sized, office supply sized, etc. I also love a white board and a bulletin board. I dislike hanging files!! They just seem to make me more disorganized – too much paper!”
Baskets can be GREAT to contain collections of “stuff.” I used to be addicted to Longaberger baskets for all my personal organizing needs, especially the ones with lids. My collection is still hard at work, but I now prefer cloth covered boxes. They’re easy to label and stack and I appreciate the modern, simple look.
Elaine Shannon of Organizing Connection:
“Most loved: my label maker. Biggest waste of money for me: the biz car reader.”
Oooh! Gotta love the label maker! The iron-on label tape is WONDERFUL when you send your kids to sleep-away camp.
Thanks to everyone for contributing your ideas. So now it’s YOUR turn. What organizing products have you had great luck with, and which ones fail to make good on their promises? Leave a comment below to share your thoughts!
Simply yours,
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