“I am not sure how it happens, but I have roughly 100 chargers in my home, none of which work on my phone, which is dead right now.” Sound familiar?

Here is a hint on how to keep up with only the ones that you need. As soon as a charger makes it way into the home, get out your white labels. They can be file folder labels, or the kind that come from those nifty p-touch machines. Visually split the label in half across the width, and write the name of the person and the equipment the charger belongs to. For example, a label for my phone might look like this:

Lori
LG Cell

Repeat the information on the opposite half of the label. Now fold the label around one end of the cord. Now you can easily find the one you need. I recommend you store all your chargers in one central place in the home. Corral them in a basket or other container, and give your family one stop shopping for power when needed.

As electronics are phased out, or old phones are returned, be sure to find the matching charger and get it out of the house along with whatever you are done with.

I am a professional home organizer working in the Winston-Salem area. If you would like help in getting your clutter out and order back into your home, please contact me at 336-978-6211 or at ducksinarownc@earthlink.net.

Here is a tip from our Winston-Salem, North Carolina retail location: A mug tree is a cute and interesting option for storing necklaces and bracelets. The tree can be kept on your dresser or vanity as an eyecatching display. Your necklaces and bracelets can hang from it’s branches and add sparkle and color to the room.

More more jewelry storage ideas, visit Space Savers Organizing Tips.

Question: I am in desperate need of some organizing help for school work.  Over the past 18 months and with a career change, I have become a part-time college English instructor typically teaching in 2-3 different schools simultanesouly.  Within a semester, I have a ton of paperwork that I cannot seem to get my arms around.

Since I have no office space on campus, I use my home to store all the material I need. I have books, class activities, quizzes, tests, worksheets, homework and papers to grade and return. I have purchased 4 different colored “milk” crates to keep the schools separate.  That helps but I am still at a loss of how to control the paper that abounds endlessly.  My home does not have a room that can be utilized as an office.  Any suggestions you have will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance.

Answer: When my husband started teaching school, he too faced the mounds of paperwork that came home.  And with 3 children in the house, we didn’t have the available space to create a home office for him to grade, create lessons, check homework, etc. He came up with some solutions that you could use for your schools.  Continue Reading »