Skip to content
Little girl looking Dear readers, Catholic Online was de-platformed by Shopify for our pro-life beliefs. They shut down our Catholic Online, Catholic Online School, Prayer Candles, and Catholic Online Learning Resources—essential faith tools serving over 1.4 million students and millions of families worldwide. Our founders, now in their 70's, just gave their entire life savings to protect this mission. But fewer than 2% of readers donate. If everyone gave just $5, the cost of a coffee, we could rebuild stronger and keep Catholic education free for all. Stand with us in faith. Thank you. Help Now >

Come to order

Free World Class Education
FREE Catholic Classes

Better Homes and Gardens (MCT) - Better Homes and Gardens magazine is starting off the New Year with these tips to organize, freshen up and corral home areas from kitchens to closets. Find more in the magazine's January 2009 issue.

Highlights

By Oma Blaise Ford
McClatchy Newspapers (www.mctdirect.com)
12/15/2008 (1 decade ago)

Published in Home & Food

LINEN CLOSET

Artful Sorting: Get 2009 off to an organized start with a well-ordered linen closet. Divide sheets and towels into clear categories and keep them in easy view. Color coordinate towels by bathroom. Separate sheet sets by bed size, and make them easier to grab by stowing them on dish-stacking shelves labeled with hanging tags.

Clever Tricks: To keep sheet sets together, cinch with a ribbon belt (make your own or use one you don't wear anymore). Or fold the pillowcases lengthwise and wrap them around the folded flat and fitted sheets.

HOME OFFICE

Drop Zone: Keep clutter at bay by setting up a multipurpose work station near your home's entry. It's the perfect spot to hang your purse or briefcase, charge electronic devices, and store paperwork. (Alve secretary, $199; ikea.com)

By the Letter: Stack trays on top for items you want in sight and in mind _ bills to pay and outgoing mail, for example.

A to Z: A file box holds materials you need to access regularly, such as recent receipts or school information.

Charging Station: A small tray, dressed up with a ribbon, is a tidy place to stow your phone, BlackBerry, or iPod.

Catch-all: Try a hardware store toothbrush-and-tumbler holder (as little as $5) for pens. Add S-hooks for keys.

Purse hook: A robe hook on the side of your desk keeps a bag or purse in easy reach when you're on the go.

Top Drawer: Quarter-sheet pans are perfect dividers for shallow desk drawers, right. Stow extra school supplies for the kids in one, your bill-paying tools in another, and grab-and-go essentials _ lint brush, lip balm, sewing kit, gum _ in the last.

PANTRY

Clear View: Storing bulk pantry items in same-shape containers saves space, but what to do with the cooking directions? Attach clear adhesive pockets to the outside of the containers then slip in the info. (M.O. adhesive Business Card and CD Pockets, $5-$6 per set of 5; seejanework.com)

ON THE GO

Bright idea: Amanda Catalanotto, a mom and professional organizer, uses what she calls a "transfer basket" to gather everything that needs to go out the door the next day _ library books, bills to mail, schoolwork. The basket is hauled into the car every morning and is brought back into the house when errands are done.

"The transfer basket has changed my life," she says.

KIDS' ROOM

Belt It Out: A canvas belt made for gardening tools makes a great holder for art supplies. Velcro the belt to the edge of a child's table and tuck the straps out of sight. (Jade Fig Canvas Garden Belt, $65; hableconstruction.com)

___

(Want to see what else is coming from Better Homes and Gardens magazine? Go to www.bhg.com for more.)

___

© 2008, Better Homes and Gardens.

Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Advent / Christmas 2024

Catholic Online Logo

Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.

Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.