 Pantries are like the command center of the kitchen. Our kids and spouses shuffle through them looking for a snack, the chef of the house drags out all the spices for dinner-- our pantries are bound to become a chaotic mess without some organization. Read on for my top 4 easy hacks for organizing your pantry today! 1. Get rid of those boxes Empty out food that comes in cardboard boxes or oversized bags and use clear containers to store your food. This not only helps you fit more into your pantry, but it's also a better system to keep your food fresh longer since the containers will be far more airtight than a box. You can buy clear plastic containers from Amazon, Target, Walmart, or HomeGoods. Mason jars are also a great alternative! 2. Get those cans in order Before organizing your canned goods, it's best to go through them all and make sure there aren't any that are expired. Next, invest in a can rack to keep your canned food from getting knocked over or edging out of its given space in your pantry. You can buy a can rack from Amazon right here! 3. Separate your food by meals/needs Make sure that your food is organized by category. For instance, I like to keep all of my baking ingredients together so I'll keep my vanilla extract (for example) with all my other common baking goods instead of with all the spices I use for cooking meals. I also like to keep all of my "breakfast" food in one area together and "snacks" in a separate part of the pantry too. This makes it easy when you're cooking to just have to look in one spot of the pantry instead of going through the entire space. 4. Add wire shelves Maximize the space in your pantry before sacrificing some of your organizing goals. I personally love to use under shelf baskets like these from Amazon to utilize vertical space. If under shelf baskets don't seem right for your pantry, consider getting shelves for your pantry door like this one. The more space you have, the easier it will be to categorize and organize your pantry so it's not all jumbled. And those are my top 4 easy hacks for organizing your pantry and making your food accessible. It may take a little effort to get it in order at first, but following these pantry organization tips will save you far more time and stress in the long run. If you're looking for more organization ideas and tips, follow Sage Organizing Co. on Pinterest! Need more help with organizing your home? Contact us and book a consultation to start your organized life today! Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area. Related Articles: How to Sort like a Pro: Advice from a Professional Organizer 6 Tips to Maintain Organization in Your Home Unclog your Beauty Drawer with these 5 Hacks 
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 Closets: the space that can either fill our hearts with ease or dread. As a professional organizer, I often work with my home-organizing clients on the closets in their homes. It is so easy for these tiny little rooms of ours to become overwhelming, cluttered, and messy because of all that we try to fit in them. Plus, closets are easy to hide from visitors. We just shut the door and blissfully ignore the truth that lies inside. Never fear, Candi is here! I have listed below my top five tips to make your closet an organized dream. I am positive that if you follow and commit to the following advice, you are sure to have a functional, organized closet. 1. Use slim hangers We've all seen the slim, velvety hangers but I promise you, they are NOT a gimmick! They will reduce how much space your hangers are taking up now by 30%. WOW! Now, I know what you're thinking, "But wire hangers are thin too." And yes, wire hangers are thin but they do not hold onto clothes well. Once clothes start slipping off of hangers, your closet is bound for chaos. The slim velvet hangers keep your clothes from going anywhere and the best part about them is they are CHEAP! You can find them at Target, Walmart, Amazon, HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, and plenty of other places. I included a shopping link below for your convenience. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PGT9Y1J/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_YLkPDbBK1YQVY 2. Organize shorter garments closest to the door and longer garments furthest away To give your closet a far more organized aesthetic, place your shortest garments closer to your closet door entrance and gradually work your way back with longer clothing. Not only does this look better, but it is easier for you to find the shorter clothing items when they aren't hiding in between your longer garments. This tip will help you find the garment you're looking for, clearly see all the clothing you have hanging, and create a more pleasing and organized closet. 3. Ratios- The One for One Rule Having trouble with a cluttered closet? Still feel like your closet is STUFFED even after switching to slim hangers? You need the One-for-One rule in your life. Every time you buy a new dress, shirt, skirt, pair of pants, whatever is may be, you donate another piece of clothing from your closet. This rule prevents you from cluttering up your closet and helps you let go of the clothes you aren't using. What I love about this rule is once I give away one piece of clothing, I start to notice other garments I should donate too which is a great habit to get into. If you are really committed to sizing down your closet, make it a One-for-Two rule and get rid of two garments for every new one you bring home. 4. Keep the floor as clean as possible This may seem like an obvious organizing tip, but it's essential to keep this one in mind! If possible, try to keep your clothes from draping on the floor. When your floor isn't visible, it is bound to become messy in those hidden areas. Some people are able to keep their shoes lined up and neatly organized on the floor, but this is difficult for most people. I highly recommend using shoe racks to keep your shoes off the floor and organized. 5. Utilize storage boxes to store seldom used or off-season garments I absolutely LOVE this closet organization tip. I have had many clients tell me that their closet is too small or they can't fit all of their things in their closets even after decluttering. Storing seldom used or off-season garments is the key to getting your closet in tip-top shape. You can either grab plastic bins from the dollar store and add labels or go for some pretty fabric boxes to store your clothes. There are also plenty of under bed storage boxes that work great as well. But don't forget: if you store your bulky sweaters, make sure to throw replace them with your summer clothes when you pull those sweaters out. And for a seldom used bin of clothes: be sure to put them back in their designated bin once you're done wearing them so that they don't sneak into your closet space! Those are the 5 tips to get your closet in order! It isn't as hard as it sounds, I promise. Closets can be daunting, but I hope these five snippets of advice will help get you and your closet on track to an organized haven. If you're looking for more organization ideas and tips, follow Sage Organizing Co. on Pinterest! Need more help with organizing your home? Contact us and book a consultation to start your organized life today! Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area. Related Articles: 4 Kitchen Organizing Secrets That Will Blow Your Mind Closet Organization ideas + hacks: The 3 commandments How to Beautifully Stage your Home so it Sells in a Flash   Before you can get properly organized, it is important to declutter your home! Now wait, I can already hear you saying, "That's great Candi, but where do I START?!" I totally understand what you mean. It can be hard to decide what to give away and what to keep especially when we feel attached many items in our home. How many times have you thought, "Well, maybe I'll need this sometime in the distant future?" or "What if I regret/feel guilty about getting rid of this?" I know the feeling and that is why I am here to help! I have compiled a short list of 15 items you should NOT feel bad about getting rid of. Whether you are planning on moving, recently moved, or just plain tired of the disorganization, this list will guide you in starting to declutter your home. Some items on the list can definitely be thrown away, but I highly recommend you consider the condition of the item first and if it should be donated so that somebody else can benefit from it. Your GUILT-FREE Decluttering List 1. Old nail polishes and expired skincare/makeup 2. Clothing you haven't worn in years or clothing you bought years ago but never wore 3. Games and puzzles with missing pieces 4. Old children's toys and dog toys (this is important not only for decluttering but for sanitary purposes too!) 5. Books, including recipe books, that you don't plan on reading again or reading at all (be honest with yourself here) 6. Mostly empty cleaning supplies/bottles and condiment bottles 7. Broken jewelry or jewelry you never wear including watches 8. Old receipts, coupons, flyers, notes, and paper (If there is info you REALLY need, transfer it to a document on your computer/phone!) 9. Children's art work, completed school work, and old baby clothes... narrow down to just a few of these if you want memories or take photos on your phone. I know it can be hard, but you definitely don't need all of it! 10. Pens, markers, and any other craft supplies that are old or excessive 11. Old/frayed underwear, socks, and undergarments 12. Plastic bags from grocery and shopping stores 13. DVD's, CD's, and VCR tapes as well as old electronic players 14. Old, damaged cooking utensils such as spatulas and cooking spoons 15. Old or worn rugs, towels, and blankets (I especially like to switch out my old hand towels with new ones so I always have bright white and fresh towels in the bathroom!) Phew, and that's it folks! Of course, this isn't a comprehensive list for everything you need to get rid of, but it's a good place to start. And, let me remind you one last time, you do NOT need to feel guilty about throwing away or donating any of the items I listed! If you're looking for more organization ideas and tips, follow Sage Organizing Co. onPinterest! Need more help with organizing your home? Contact us and book a consultation to start your organized life today! Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area. Related Articles: Estate Sales Aren't Always the Answer: Why Estate Clearing Might Better Fit Your Needs How to Sort Like a Pro: Advice from a Professional Organizer Nobody Wants the Family Heirlooms: What to Do When it Happens to You   Makeup: a love-hate relationship. It can be fun to experiment with new makeup products and try out the trendiest lipstick shades, but after the shopping-adrenaline wears off, the sheer number of cosmetic products we each own can be truly overwhelming. Concealers, foundations, eyeshadows, eyeliners, mascaras, blushes, bronzers- the majority of our makeup comes in small, individual containers. With all these small products, it can be hard to have a functional cosmetic organization system. Stop feeling like your makeup storage is grimy and embarrassing and follow these 5 hacks for a clean, organized space to hold your makeup goodies: 1. Throw away all expired makeup/makeup you don't use A lot of people don't realize that makeup products expire. Each item of makeup should have a small picture of container on it with how many months the makeup is good for. For instance, the back of my bronzer says "24M" inside the picture of the container meaning it expires in 24 months. Keeping old makeup not only clogs up your pores, it clogs up your storage too! While you are checking the expiration dates on your products, also think, "When was the last time I used this?" Just because it isn't expired, doesn't mean it deserves a place in your drawer. It can be hard to part with makeup but once you throw away makeup you aren't using, it will make you more conscious the next time you go shopping. Check out this chart to help if you still have questions about when your makeup expires! 
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