Tie Rack Hangers Save Space
October 31, 2012
If you, like me, are lacking in space for all of your clothes in the closet, but you still have those ties to deal with (either yours or your significant other’s), a tie rack hanger is a great way to go. These handy helpers have hooks on them and an additional hook at the top just like a regular clothes hanger. So you can just hang it from your closet rod right along with your other garments. Most don’t take up too much space, either, this Tie Hanger, for example, is just 5 inches wide, about the same amount of space that two shirts or dresses would take up in the closet.
It’s a nice alternative to wall mounted racks, especially if you are not allowed to drill into the walls in the home where you live. And, as a bonus, this one is made of cedar, which has a wonderful aroma and also protects clothes from moth damage. You can find these tie hangers in a variety of styles to match your tie storage needs. I know that with the holidays coming up, I will definitely be pulling out more and more ties for different occasions and am always looking for the best way to store them.
How to Organize Your Spices
October 24, 2012
With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I want to continue along the kitchen theme. Does the following situation sound familiar? You are in the middle of a recipe and go to your spices to find the one you need. You spot it behind several others and try to carefully lift it out, but instead you create a domino effect and end up with spice bottles falling all over your counter. If you can relate, then read on for some ideas of how to best organize your spices.
Gather – Gather all of your spices. Sort through them and get rid of any old, expired bottles. Make a shopping list of any that you need to replace. Now that you know how many you have, you can plan which space would be the best fit.
Identify the Space – You want to store all of your spices together in one area. The first step is to determine which cupboard, shelf, etc. will be home to your spices. When choosing a space, consider frequency. If you cook with spices several times a week, then pick a space that is easy to get to.
Clean – Before loading everything, take a few minutes to clean your cupboard or shelf.
Put It All Back Together– There are many inexpensive products out there to help you organize your spices. Here are some of my favorites:
Expand-a-Drawer Spice Organizer – If you have enough drawer space to dedicate a drawer to spices, I love this product. It opens up cupboard space, makes it extremely easy to see what spices you have, and provides easy access to all of your spices.
Tiered Shelf – If extra drawer space is only a dream, then this is an effective, inexpensive option. The Expand-a-Shelf is similar to the previous solution, but it is meant for a shelf. This product makes it easier to see what you have and access it when you need it (without the domino effect!).
Lazy Susan – This rotating turntable is another option for a cupboard or pantry. If you use a lot of spices in your cooking and prefer to have them close at hand, there are several lazy susan options for your countertop as well.
Wall-Mount – This is a great option if you are short on space in your kitchen. There are several different styles, including a new magnetic spice rack.
Whether you’ve experienced the “domino effect” or you’ve purchased spices unnecessarily because you were unaware of what you had, then follow these suggestions to organize your spices…just in time for the holidays!
Donna Lindley, Certified Professional Organizer and owner of Rochester Hills, MI-based Organize Your World, Inc.
Tie Rack of the Week: Wall Mounted
October 24, 2012
This week’s tie rack pick is the 30 Tie Organizer – Wall Mounted! Sold as a set of two, this is one of the most economical racks on the market, and truly one of the most versatile as well.
This simple rack mounts to the wall with sturdy brackets and features a metal pole that hangs horizontally. Thirty plastic hooks then cleverly hang over the rod, just like a closet rod but without the need to take up any more space in your closet! A piece of cake to hang and organize your closet. This tie rack could also be used elsewhere in the home, if you find your closet has gotten too full of garments already. Mount it behind the door in the bedroom or even in the bathroom, making sure that ties will not get wet from the shower. The horizontal design makes it one of the easiest tie racks out there to use, you can literally see all thirty of your choices (sixty if you use both included racks). The black and silver design is modern and gender neutral, even bachelors will love this handy wall mount tie rack. The clever design allows for complete removal of the hangers as well, a must have for getting any guy to actually put away his accessories.
If you can’t drill into your walls, never fear, there are better options out there, for example a closet rod tie hanger or in drawer divider for rolled ties.