organization Archives

Everything in its place

🧹 Don’t wait for spring to tackle clutter.

Keep your spray bottles within reach with a handy Command hanger ($9.49).
Grab a clear rack (17% off) to show off your water bottle collection.
Don’t trip over board game pieces. Grab an organizer ($55) to keep everything tidy.
Backseat cluttered? Strap pockets ($20) to the backs of your car’s seats.
A travel-sized cable case (24% off) keeps your cords from becoming a bird’s nest.
Noise-dampening cabinet bumpers are a steal at $9 for 128. They protect against wear and tear, too.

❤️ Budget V-Day shopping? I’ve got you! Check out deals for under $20 that don’t feel cheap.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Remember when: Here’s a fun idea for categorizing family pics on your computer. Say you have two little ones. Create a folder for each kid. Within those, organize by the year, their age or their grade. Now you can see Billy in third grade or Lucy at age 2 in two clicks. Pro tip: Adobe Bridge is a solid, free option for sorting pics on your computer. I still miss Picasa.

You’ve got mail: Psychologists say those who aim for “Inbox Zero,” aka no unread email, might be perfectionists craving control. If you let unread emails pile up, you might be more laid-back and focused on priorities over organization. Some people even get more stressed trying to keep a clear inbox. Try as I might, I’m not an “Inbox Zero” gal.

The very first photo was uploaded to the internet in 1992. Was the image a … A.) Band, B.) Child, C.) Goat or D.) Phone? This is a toughie!

Find the answer here! →

No fuss, no muss

🪄 Sometimes, the best solution is the simplest one.

Scrubbing the shower is such a pain. Spray on this cleaner once a week, let it sit overnight, then wash away soap scum, grime and oil (20% off, $19.19).
After a long day, put on Dr. Scholl’s warming foot booties. They’re like giving your tootsies an Epsom salt bath without filling the tub (3 pairs for 5% off, $12.35).
Gals and guys, no one wants stringy, dry hair. This hair mask is affordable and so easy to use (22% off, $7.40).
Wiring across the floor can be a tripping hazard. This floor cord-management kit is 24% off and hides everything nicely.
Forget bed sheets folded and sets all mixed up. I love these sheet organizers (18% off) and have them stacked in the laundry room and bedroom closets.

I just bought more: The Pink Stuff is a miracle cleaning paste you can use on just about anything. Grab some while it’s on sale.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Don’t get shelf-conscious

🧘 The first step to an organized mind is an organized home.

Stop worrying about closet space and send your summer clothes into exile with vacuum storage bags ($19).
As much as I love having to dig around cabinets on my hands and knees, these storage boxes (32% off) are nifty.
It’s kind of unbelievable how messy cables can make a room look. Send them to ~~prison~~ a cable management box (14% off).
Hanger stackers ($28) are something I’d see in stores and wish I had at home. Now, I do …

OK, this shoe organizer ($30) will double your closet space.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Great goodies to check out

🏁 Here are some things I bought recently you might like, too!

The other day, I set my curling iron down on a tube of toothpaste. A hair tool organizer would’ve saved me from that disaster.
Stop rooting around in the junk drawer and get a battery organizer.
Life hack: Hang up holiday wreaths using a cord bundler (a 6-pack is $11).
Cheapo sweaters don’t age well. Try $50 cashmere you can toss in the washer.* Don’t tell Ian, but I’m getting him a cashmere hoodie for Christmas.
A desktop vacuum cleaner (25% off) erases all evidence of your scarfing down three granola bars at your desk. It’s under $12, too.
You know you need a Tupperware organizer. ‘Nuff said.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

🎀 Now, where did I leave that? Bookmarks in Google Chrome are searchable. Click in the address bar at the top, enter @bookmarks, then type as much as you remember about the name of the page to look for it.

Household helpers

🤗 I love finding little things to make life easier!

Is the dishwasher clean or dirty? Mystery solved with this bestselling sliding sign ($6.99).
So cool — erasable, reusable food labels so you don’t have to guess what’s in that container of leftovers in the fridge ($8.99).
Did you feed the dog or cat? Never forget again with a little tracker that goes on the fridge ($7.95).
Picture an electric toothbrush powerful enough to scrub the grout. It comes with a bunch of cleaning heads for different chores ($29.99).
Keep loaves of bread from getting moldy and stale with a storage container that dispenses one slice at a time ($16.49).

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

I’ve changed for the better

🎴 Since moving into our new home, I’ve turned into an organizing maven. No more messes for me!

Pick up this package of drawer organizers for your bathroom, kitchen, garage or wherever ($19.98, 25% off!).
For your desk or kitchen counter, these letter-sized organizers are perfect for paperwork, mail, prescriptions and more ($24.99, 17% off; be sure to click the box for an extra $3 off!).
I have these durable great-sized clear bins underneath the kitchen sink, in my closet, garage, laundry room and pantry. You can load them up with anything! ($32.99, 33% off!)
Everyone needs a 24-pair shoe organizer that comes with large or extra-large pockets ($8.87, 37% off!).
The best one of all: Forget bed sheets folded and sets all mixed up. I love these bed sheet organizers and have them stacked in the laundry room and bedroom closets ($27.99 for a 4-pack, 22% off).

Btw, if you find any old tech when organizing, send it to Amazon through its Trade-in Program and get a gift card for the value. It doesn’t even need to work!

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

🔖 Bookmarks are so 2010: Want all your last-viewed tabs to reopen when you start your browser? In Chrome, click the three vertical dots at the top right, then tap Settings. Click On startup > Continue where you left off. Steps for Safari, Firefox and Edge here.

Superior sorting: Gmail on the web auto-sorts your emails into tabs like “Social” and “Promotions.” But what if Google gets it wrong? Drag a message into a different tab, and Gmail will remember your choice for that sender next time. Pro tip: Drag my email into Primary so you always see it front and center!

Organize your Wi-Fi: VLANs let you separate devices onto different (virtual) networks. It’s good practice to keep all your smart home gear, for instance, on its own network since those devices don’t always get the same security upgrades as your phone and computer. Access your router settings, then look for VLAN or Network Segmentation. Steps here to get to settings if you’re drawing a blank.

So fresh and so clean: Windows allows you to create multiple virtual desktops for better organization. Hold down the Windows key + Tab to open Task View, then click New Desktop at the top left. You can switch between your desktops using the Windows key + Ctrl + ← or →.

🧠 WHO knows? The World Health Organization says there’s no link between cellphone use and brain cancer. Their experts looked at 5,000 studies published between 1994 and 2022, drilling down further into 63. Conclusion: Phones are safe even for people who spend all day with ‘em glued to their heads. I don’t buy it. Check this list to see how much radiation your phone is giving off and my tips to make sure you don’t get sick.

Get it together

I always get bit by the organization bug toward the end of summer. You, too? Let’s do this.

Clear bins for the fridge are a game-changer.
A genius holder for all your Tupperware lids.
Stop knocking over the shampoo! Nice shelves that stick better than the suction cup kind.
A water bottle rack that can hold wine, too.
Useful, stackable storage racks that can go anywhere.

You never know what you have … till you clean your house.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

📲 Like a free assistant: Use a Google Pixel 3 or newer? Open the Phone app > More > Settings > Hold for Me. Turn it on. Next time you call a business or organization with long wait times, tap Hold for me > Start. You’ll get an alert when a rep is ready to talk.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 95% of teens have a smartphone: Smartphone Free Childhood is an organization that offers support for parents who don’t want to cave to the social pressure. They’ve set up local WhatsApp groups to “empower each other.” Here’s another option: Teach your kiddo to use their smartphone responsibly.

A new level of AI: OpenAI says it’s close to the second of five levels of artificial intelligence, called “Reasoners.” That’s AI that can solve basic problems like a human with a Ph.D. The next three levels? “Agents” that can operate independently for days, “Innovators” that can invent new ideas and “Organizers” that can do the work of an organization. AI is moving so fast!

Organization on sale!

You already have cumin. Organize your spices with a slip-proof stand that’s easy to clean.
Brooms, rakes and shovels, oh, my! Keep them tidy with a tool tower rack, now 24% off.
Stop buying cream of mushroom soup! You have 11 cans already. See ‘em all with a stackable can rack that’s 28% off.
Manage cords and cables on your desk and even in your car with these cable clips. A 16-pack is under $7 right now.
Keep your cleansers, soaps, sponges or whatever organized under the sink with heavy-duty metal shelves, now 20% off!

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.