The Key to Organizing

Making a space clean and organized is important to some, but maintaining the cleanliness is a task in it’s own. Bloggers are passing over their own tricks and ideas on simple mundane objects that can be used towards organizing the clutter in your space.
This Buzzfeed post gives readers several ideas on household objects that turn into organization saviors to decrease the clutter.

Throughout Toronto, there are several home organization stores, which can assist the customer in their spring-cleaning, or general home organization. Take Neat Space located in Queen West and Bayview Village Mall. The store specializes in home organization, keeping the home neat and sell products in which are considered ‘neat’.

Solutions on Yonge and Eglinton is another alternative to finding organization kits for spring cleaning and general house organization. Using these simple innovated products, your space will be tidy, which will brighten the space.

Alejandra Costello, is a youtuber who specializes in home organization, giving her (466,657) subscribers tips and useful advice on keeping a small or large space organized and showing new innovations and products that a consumer can purchase to achieve this goal for their home. 

Given that Spring is upon us and we will be putting our winter coats away, here is a video from Alejandra that could help you organize your coat closet.

With her 157 videos, posting every week, she vlogs about make-up storage, DYI ideas, closet organization, office, toiletries, traveling and many more. Her training system is a 3 video series, teaching her viewers simple easy tasks and ideas to resolve their problems within their homes.

Using all these tips, your home should be extra clean for summer. Enjoy getting organized this Spring.

Teach Your Children Well...Err...To Compost

As spring is upon us and we begin to think about preparing our gardens, it may be worth considering composting. If you are already accustomed to composting then how about teaching others, like children, about it?

These days children are becoming enthusiastically involved in caring for our earth. This is being driven by education, these days children are being taught the importance of composting and how the results affect the earth. While many are not composting at home they are learning composting habits at their school where composting and recycling are enforced in the classroom.

Children as young as 18 months, and up to 5 years, are being introduced to recycling from Peppa Pig, a pig tv star whose adventures with family and friends demonstrate how easy the basics of composting are, and how it affects the environment. With children learning from a young age the importance of composting from the media it stands to reason that they will continue these practices as they grow.

Getting Organized For Spring

The words "spring cleaning" are stress-inducing to many. If you are one of these people, don’t fret, there are steps you can take to simplify the process. Plan and follow a schedule to declutter, clean and organize. Organize your time, plan different tasks on different days and watch how easy spring cleaning becomes.

1. Make a schedule: select a different task for each day, including as vacuuming, organizing, sweeping, closets and kitchen.

2. Donate unused items: a great way to declutter is donating unused and unneeded items. Donation bins are found throughout most cities, many shelters also accept clean items in good condition.

3. Host a garage sale: Make some cash while you clean, and buy yourself a treat when all of your tasks are complete. Drive more traffic to your sale by getting your neighbors to host their sales on the same day.

CBC’s Steven and Chris demonstrate some inspiring ideas and tips for preparing your home for spring.

Lending a Helping Hand and a Truck

For those who know us and our work within the community, you know how proud we are to support the Furniture Bank and the work that they do. We were very upset to hear that the Furniture Bank’s fleet of trucks had been vandalized leaving many of them immobilized and the charity in a difficult situation.

Not to be defeated, the Furniture Bank had help from their community of supporters. We were happy to join others like Tallman Truck Centre, Elegant Kitchen Gallery, Leon’s, CanadaHelps, 1800GotJunk, and YouMoveMe.

We all chipped in and those with trucks made pickups and deliveries. Our efforts paid off. Not a single household was affected and all of the Furniture Bank's commitments were met. The Furniture Bank still needs assistance and Canada Helps is leading the charge to keep them truckin'.

The Furniture Bank needs $20,000.00 to help deal with this situation. $13,730.00 has already been raised so please help if you can to raise the remaining $6,270.00. You can make a donation here. Please help us raise awareness about the Furniture Bank's situation by sharing their story.

Thank you on behalf of the Furniture Bank.

Forget Chocolate or Flowers! Try Junk Removal Instead!

Valentine’s Day was a little over a week ago and by now the flowers are dead or dying and the boxes of candy are empty or will soon be. Others may have received more tangible, longer-lasting gifts such as jewelry or clothes. That’s great if you were one of those recipients but what about more possibilities? We think Valentine’s Day is fantastic, but we’d like to suggest another gift idea - Junk Removal!

Yes, we are being a bit cheeky but hear us out. How many of you have junk or crap, depending on your preferred term, that you want or need to get out of your house? More importantly, do you have a significant other that has told you how much they dislike one or more items from your stuff? How much would they appreciate it if, at some point and ideally soon, you would arrange for its removal?

Is it that ceramic bust of Elvis? Could it be your collection of board games or jigsaw puzzles with missing pieces? The LPs you are convinced will be worth something some day? Clothes you hope will be useful in a period film or that you are keeping in hopes that those jackets with the padded shoulders will come back into style? What about your collection of mixed nails and screws stored in a dozen plus mason jars? The series of DIY projects that never made it through to completion?

It doesn’t matter. There’s a solution to restore harmony. Let us help you rid your home of whatever unwanted items you have or items you love but your loved one wants you to remove. Less clutter could be helpful to your relationship. Well, it can’t hurt. Think of it as early spring cleaning. That’s us being cheeky again.

You can wait til the next Valentine’s Day or you can extend this year’s by a week or more. Think about what your significant other wants to remove or what they would be pleasantly surprised to learn you had removed. If there is more than one item, then make a list, prioritize if necessary, and give us a call. We can show up in our red (read: heart-coloured) truck now or next year but, no matter when, we’ll make you the best Valentine!

We hope we at least made you smile! Now go enjoy whatever candy you have left.



photo credit: IMG00206-20100206-1701_flea via photopin (license)

photo credit: 080503 yard sale via photopin (license)

Holiday Heroes Instrument Drive

1-800-RidofIt had the opportunity again this year to support Jazz.FM91 and Long & McQuade as part of the Holiday Heroes Instrument Drive for Toronto schools in need. We were so pleased with the results.

Instruments

This year we collected 125 instruments including woodwinds, percussion, brass, and guitar.

Enough to fill an entire 1-800-Ridofit truck as illustrated by, our owner, Rick Crawford.

Gulfstream Public School

This year's school beneficiary was Gulfstream Public School in North York and we were able to deliver the instruments last week, much to the delight of the Principal, Darshni D'Souza, and the many students led by Karl Mckie, Student Council President and a budding flautist.

The school has expanded from a K-5 to a K-8 school but music was a program that they had not been able to offer. With the new instruments, they are very excited about all the clubs and programs that can be developed.

Lots of Support

Many people were involved in the collection and delivery of the instruments as the following pictures illustrate.

We'd like to thank everyone who helped make the Holiday Heroes Instrument Drive such a success and we'd also like to thank Jazz.FM91 and Long & McQuade for including us in such a rewarding experience.

Let's Be Realistic About Getting Organized In 2015

How is 2015 going for you so far?

Still on track with your resolutions?

What have you given up on accomplishing?

It’s already 2015, and many people are either well on their way to accomplishing their goals or already falling behind. We are not here to judge because it doesn’t matter to us what situation we find you in. We’d like to help you achieve your organizational goals regardless of where you find yourself starting.

There’s not shortage of blogs and articles about getting organized and decluttering, and we are adding to the collection with this post. However, we are not here to be harsh or strict about goals and achieving them - just realistic.

In & Out

We just finished the holidays, so we’ve all accumulated more stuff - more stuff than we have jettisoned. Consider what you can donate or give to others who need or at least can use and appreciate what you have to give.

Let’s be frank. We all need to give more thought to purging regularly to make room for new stuff. We need to remove more than we take in. Some suggest three items for every one item that comes in. That’s easy to say but not so easy to do. Even if it’s one for one you are still ahead of the game. You should focus on the fact that something has to leave when something else comes in. Over time, you can increase your output and/or focus on accumulating less.

Divide and Conquer

Getting organized can feel overwhelming. Just breathe. It’s going to be okay. Take on what you can manage and avoid taking on anything more. Consider dividing things up to make them more manageable. You can break things up room by room or bundle chores that are similar or use similar tools (i.e. dusting, mopping, vacuuming). You can chunk things up into activities that need only a few minutes a day or divide activities over the course of the week.

Households are adopting technology more and more which can lead to distractions and potentially more clutter; it can also mean more chances to get organized. How much of your clutter can be digitized and stored online using solutions like Evernote or Dropbox?

Just as you consider offline tools to organize your closets, your kitchen, or the garage, consider tools to help you organize online and to increase your productivity. There are lots of calendar apps to remind you about important things and plenty of to-do list apps that help you keep track of your responsibilities. 

Don’t let the apps or technology become too dominant. Try a few tools and use what works for you but be willing to invest a bit of time to confirm what works for you. Many tools are free or inexpensive but, again, don’t use a tool unless you are willing to invest the time to make it work for you. You want to avoid getting bogged down in technology while you remain disorganized.

No Need To Buy

Don’t think that for every circumstance you need to buy an organizational solution like a drawer organizer. There are lots of examples (a.k.a. hacks) where people use household items like Mason jars, toilet roll tubes, or gift boxes to store and organize stuff. Think about what you have on hand that can do “double- duty” before you take out your wallet and buy something that increases your overall inventory of stuff.

Relax

Finally, you should not allow yourself to get stressed striving for perfection. Give yourself a break. The mere fact that you are trying to get organized puts you ahead of many others. Just because you are not progressing the way you envisioned does not mean that you have to beat yourself up about it. 

Just focus on the task at hand. Every little bit helps move you closer to your goal. Take pride in the progress you’ve made rather than worry about what still lays ahead. You’ll get there eventually.

Let us know if we can help you get closer to your goals by taking away stuff you no longer need or want. All the best getting organized for 2015!

photo credit: Flооd via photopin cc

Let Us Find A New Home For Some Of Your Stuff At The Furniture Bank

We are proud to support organizations like Furniture Bank. They have been providing a valuable service to people in need and we encourage you to think of others less fortunate, especially at this time of the year. 

For those who are not familiar with Furniture Bank, we thought it would be worthwhile to share their story and needs in their own words.

When did the Furniture Bank get started and what inspired it?

Furniture Bank was brought to life by our Founder, Sister Anne Scheck. Here's what inspired her in her own words: "I received word through a social agency that there was a lady who spoke no English who was basically, desperate for help. When I entered the house, I saw four kids–all under the age of five–sitting around a little 12″ TV. I did a basic inventory of what she had in the kitchen: two plates, two forks, two tiny pots. I knew I couldn’t cook myself dinner with what she had, let alone cook dinner for these four children. It was that moment that I said to myself that this shouldn’t be happening in the city of Toronto." You can read more about Sister Anne here: 

Who are the people that Furniture Bank serves?

Our clients include the formerly homeless, women and children escaping abusive situations, and newcomers to Canada & refugees. We work with a roster of 70+ shelters and social service agencies that refer clients to Furniture Bank to receive furniture. Here are some of the high level numbers on our impact in the community. 

Are there are any stories of individuals that you have helped that stand out?

Watch and read Martin Train's story here. He now volunteers his time sitting on the Board of Directors at a nonprofit housing organization.

Where are your greatest needs now, especially given the holidays being so close?

In general, we are preparing to expand our whole organization in 2015 to serve even more clients. In order to do so we know we have to raise more capital from individual and corporate donors, expand our pickup service in order to get more furniture donations, and streamline all aspects of our organization by utilizing new technologies. 

Beyond furniture donations, how else can people help?

By contributing to our annual appeal here. By volunteering their time with us. They can learn more about volunteering here.

If you would like us to take anything away and you are considering donating some of it to Furniture Bank then please let us know. We'd be happy to get it to them. 

Pre-Holiday Cleanup Tips

With the higher temperatures that have returned, it is the perfect time to do some last minute outdoor cleanup. Here are some actions you can consider taking before the next cold snap.

If you have Christmas lights and decorations in the garage then see what needs to be disposed of, repaired, or replaced as you get organized.

If you have leaves or branches on the ground then you may want to get them out of your yard or from under or around your deck etc before they are covered in snow and you have to wait to deal with it in the spring. 

If you have dead branches on trees in precarious positions (i.e. over wires or roofs) then you may want to cut them down or have them taken down by a professional arborist to avoid them coming down if Toronto gets another ice storm.

This could be your last chance to redeem yourself if you promised someone to cleanup the garage, backyard, or basement. Make the most of the time remaining and before the busy holiday season is upon us.

While you are in cleanup mode, you should keep up the momentum and see what kind of cleanup and space-making you can do inside in preparation for visiting family and friends as well as all of the gifts that will be coming in over the holiday season.

As part of your cleanup efforts, please give some thought to those less fortunate this holiday season and consider donating time, money, gifts, or furniture. You will be making a difference in people’s lives and you will feel better for it.

If you have any furniture that you would like to donate, we know our friends at The Furniture Bank would love to find a new home for it with people who could use it.

If you need our help then we are just a phone call, an email, or a tweet away!

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The Top 5 Things You Should Know About Junk Removal

To some, junk is junk but there is more to it than that. While one person’s trash might be another person’s treasure, everything has to be examined to ensure that it gets handled properly. There are a number of things you should consider when faced with a junk removal situation.

1. What do you need removed and how urgently do you need it removed?

For example, if you are selling your house and need to tidy or stage it before people start viewing it then you may need things removed quickly. If you are doing spring or fall cleanup then you may not have the same kind of time constraints and elect to remove junk at your convenience.

2. What kind of junk do you need removed (quantity, hazardous material, heavy, awkward and/or requiring a lot of space)?

Sometimes you have junk that is big and awkward but not necessarily heavy. Sometimes you have junk left over from renovations or construction that can be heavy and/or somewhat hazardous with sharp edges or contain nails. If you have appliances or machinery that have reached the end of their use then perhaps it is time for them to go. You might accumulate junk if you are renovating your office and/or moving to a new one (e.g. old cubicles and out of date office equipment).

Junk such as paint, chemicals, batteries, petroleum materials, medical/biohazardous waste, or asbestos may require special equipment and certain expertise which may mean calling a firm or firms that specialize in those types of materials.

3. Who are you going to call - two guys and a truck that drove through your neighbourhood or someone more reputable?

Don’t go with the person who just drove by or whose name and number on the truck look slapped on and temporary. Take some time and investigate. Do some research online. Ask friends, family, and colleagues who have used them in the past and what their experiences were like.

4.  Do you know where to go to find reputable junk removers?

See how long they have been in business. Google them! You never know what you will find. Maybe they have been praised or criticized online and Googling them will help you find that out. Check out review sites to hear directly from customers. See if their site includes testimonials and, if so, check them out.

5.  Do you know what kind of protection you have as a consumer?

Checkout their website. See what they say about their services and what kind of guarantee they offer. Call with questions and don’t commit til you feel comfortable. Asking questions when the company is already at your location creates unnecessary pressure. Call ahead and go through the process over the phone and confirm expectations in advance. Doing some online research doesn’t hurt either. Being an informed consumer helps you ask the right questions and companies appreciate dealing with well-informed customers. It makes it much smoother for everyone involved.

photo credit: Lawrence Whittemore via photopin cc