and relishes
Vinegar (balsamic,
Indefinitely
Store vinegar in
Shortening
8 months
Unopened
cider, rice, red wine,
original packaging
6 months
Opened
white, white wine)
or in glass containers;
Soft drinks
3 months
Unopened in original
do not store in metal
packaging
Stuffing mix
6 months
or croutons
How to store pantry items
expiration date is the last date on which the product Select pantry storage areas in cool locations; canned should be consumed.
food and pantry items should be kept at 70ºF (21ºC) or
▪ Pack date. Pack dates for canned goods and below; don’t store them in direct light. Newer packaged processed products indicate when they were packed. Use foods now include a use-by date as a guideline for
specific food storage recommendations to determine how product freshness. Where dates are unavailable, observe long the food remains edible after packing.
the food storage guidelines given here for best quality.
Building a pantry on a budget
Product code dates: what do they mean?
Investing in the pantry principle pays off in savings of
▪ Sell-by date. A sell-by date sets the last date of sale time and money, but it does involve an up-front cost.
for perishable products, such as milk. A period for safe Try these tips to spread the load:
home use follows. Newer products often list both the sell-
▪ “Tithe” for the pantry. Set aside a regular percentage by date, after which the food should not be sold, and an of each week’s grocery budget for pantry building.
expiration date, after which the food should not be eaten.
▪ Buy on sale. Take advantage of supermarket loss
▪ Use-by date. A use-by date is a guideline for best leaders—tuna, tomato sauce, canned soup, and canned
quality for foods with a longer shelf life. The use-by date is beans—to stock up.
not a safety date. The food remains edible for some time
▪ Buy in bulk. Bulk-buying for the pantry really pays off.
after that date, but food quality will begin to decline.
A 25-lb (11-kg) sack of bread flour at the warehouse store
▪ Expiration date. Commonly used for highly
will be better value than the supermarket’s pricier 5-lb perishable foods like meats and dairy goods, the
(2-kg) bag. You’ll save and stock up at the same time.
plan, shop, launder
Clothing
Clothing! For most of us, clothes are much,
much more than just something to cover our
nakedness. Shopping for clothes, wearing
clothes, and caring for clothes travels through
deep emotional shoals. Our closets bulge with
sartorial remnants of earlier selves—thinner,
younger, with different interests and vocations.
In many homes, the cycle of clothing becomes
bogged down. Mt. Washmore—a teetering
tower of unlaundered garments—erupts in the
laundry area with volcanic speed. Overstuffed
, stor
closets and bulging drawers betray the presence
of clothing clutter—and in the midst of it all, we
stand and wail, “But I haven’t a thing to wear!”
e
By observing the cycle of clothing—plan,
shop, launder, and store—we’ll plan and shop
carefully to maximize the family’s clothing
dollars. We’ll free closets and drawers from the
clutter of clothing that is out of style, out of
season, or simply out of place. New laundry
systems will keep clothing fresh, mended, and
ready to wear, while well-planned storage will
keep out-of-season clothing ready for use.
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CYCLES OF AN ORGANIZED HOME
Save money with
wardrobe
planning
Clothing, clothing everywhere … but not a thing to wear? Save on clothing costs and cut closet chaos with a wardrobe plan. Before you shop, a wardrobe plan helps assess clothing requirements, and identify clothing needs. At the store, a wardrobe plan saves money by relying on style principles—not impulse buying—to guide clothing choices.
Wardrobe plan basics
To create a simple family wardrobe plan, start with a piece of Grandmother Betty had a very simple rule
lined paper (or a free printable wardrobe planning form from of thumb when it came to clothing her three
OrganizedHome.com) for each family member.
children in the 1930s: “One to wear, one to
wash, and one to have clean!”
Focus on activities School and work, sports and play, Times, if not toddlers, have changed.
church and committee; the heart of any wardrobe plan is the Busy lives and lower clothing costs mean
activities the clothing must cover. For each family member, list many families buy—and buy and buy and
the activities that require clothing: school, work, church, sports, buy. Clothing stacks up and backs up and
dance, or volunteer. Add an additional topic for basics: socks, is often outgrown before it’s outworn—or
underwear, nightclothes, coats, and weather gear.
clothing needs worn at all. Too much clothing clogs closets and drawers, and makes it harder for a child
s
Inventory clothes on hand Next step: inventory the to keep his possessions tidy.
clothing you have, listing each item under the appropriate category. For growing children, check sizes; a growth spurt How many clothes do your children
can see a child outgrow most of a closet in just a few weeks.
really need?
As you build your list, you’ll see who needs what quite Let the laundry schedule be your guide.
Children’
quickly. In your closet, casual jeans abound, but you’ve had If you wash children’s clothing once a week,
trouble getting dressed for committee meetings. A young son seven to ten T-shirts and trousers will see
has a plethora of T-shirts, but can’t manage to button his them through with accidents to spare. If
dress slacks for church services or dining out. A daughter has you wash more often, you can reduce that
lots of pretty dresses, but needs tights, tops, and trousers for number to five to six outfits.
school days and play dates.
Double up on socks and underwear,
especially for toddlers and preschool-aged
Make a shopping list From the inventory sheets, make children. Accidents happen, and usually on
a running shopping list of family clothing needs. Your list will the way to Grandmother’s house.
alert you to current clothing needs, and help control spending.
Don’t leave for the department store without it.
CLOTHING
125
Wardrobe planning pointers
Reach for flexibility Look for flexible clothing that will do A good wardrobe plan requires every new item to pull its own double-duty in the closet: a summer shell can take a turn in weight in the clothes closet. No more unworn garments!
winter as a chemise under a suit jacket, a child’s simple shift dress doubles up as a jumper in cooler weather with the Consider color Following a wardrobe color scheme can addition of tights and a turtleneck. The more uses the garment make the difference between a working wardrobe and nothing has, the better value it will give you for your money.
to wear (with a closet
full of clothes). Sure, that shell pink blouse looks marvelous in the store with its companion grey Rely on classic designs Sure, it’s fun to splurge on the skirt, but it’ll turn wallflower when paired with the beige-brown latest thing, but no one can build an efficient wardrobe by colors predominant in your closet. Avoid color mistakes and relying on hot trends. For big-ticket items, choose classic. The closet orphans by developing a color scheme as part of your timeless look of a well-cut woman’s suit will see you through wardrobe plan. For each family member, select a basic neutral meeting after meeting in style.
color—black, brown, navy, tan—and coordinate shoes, coats, belts, and handbags with that color. Accent colors harmonize
▼ Shop smart. Build a wardrobe around classic styles and solid with the basic neutral: rely on them when selecting tops.
colors; inexpensive accents update the look from year to year.
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CYCLES OF AN ORGANIZED HOME
More dash for your cash:
buying quality clothing
Today, it’s hard to spot quality clothing based on the price tag alone. Costly designer garments can be shoddily made; modestly priced clothing can be of top quality. To get the most for your money, look for good fabric, appropriate styling, and proper construction and finishing—and good buys can be found at every price point. Try these tricks to sort the right stuff from the schlock.
1Examine fiber content and care labels.
Quality fabric has more natural fiber, and can
endure normal laundering or cleaning processes.
2Assess the over-all appearance.
Gathers or puckers at collar, cuffs, or waistband
signal a poorly made item. Topstitching should
be flat and even, zippers should be hidden and smooth.
3Check buttons, buttonholes, and fasteners.
Bulging buttonholes are a bad sign; closures
should be neat, tight, and adequately attached
to the clothing. Check that buttons are firmly sewn.
4Check hems.
Unless a visible hem is part of the garment’s
design, hems should be invisible. A hem that rolls
or twists is a warning that the fabric was cut off-grain
—and the garment will follow.
5Eyeball the seams.
Look for straight, smooth seam lines and even
stitching. Seams that are stretched, skipped,
scanty, or bubbled will look even worse when worn.
◀ Dress smart! Buying quality clothing is a good investment, in financial terms and when it comes to your self-confidence.
You’re right ... if your clothes are right.
CLOTHING
127
6Finger the finishes.
Flip up the hem and check seam and hem finishes.
Clothing the family
Garage sales, consignment stores, and
A well-finished seam won’t ravel; a generous
online auction sites can be good sources for
hem will allow alterations and will help a garment
inexpensive clothing—and buying recycled
hang properly.
clothes makes sense … and cents! Shop
Save money on clothing
smart for second-hand clothes:
Clothing, like food, is an “elastic” expense in the family
▪ Stick with reputable sellers. At
budget: it can be stretched or squandered. Save money yard sales, do judge a book by the cover;
and keep the family well-clothed with these tips:
a seller offering carefully hung clothing beats
1
the neighbor’s jumble of dusty garments.
Shop seasonally.
Online, check a seller’s feedback, and look
Best buys on clothing occur at the end of each
for photographs and honest descriptions
season, when clearance sales move out winter
for less
before you bid.
clothing to usher in spring styles. Retailing seasons are
▪ Dress the part. Yard sales may not offer
falling further and further out-of-whack with the real fitting rooms, so slip into leggings and a slim-world, so pay attention! Shop for clothing bargains
fit T-shirt before you leave. You’ll be able to
when retailers move from one season to the next.
check the fit on the scene.
2
▪ Follow your nose. Give second-hand items
Don’t buy just to buy.
a good sniff. If you can smell the previous
Shopping for clothing can be part outing, part
owner’s perfume (or worse), take a pass.
therapy, and part social event. Stick to your list,
▪ Look for quality labels. Brand-name
and if you don’t find what you’re looking for, don’t labels can shortcut the search for good
buy something else just to buy something. That’s a
quality in pre-owned clothing.
prescription for “14 white twin sets in the closet,”
▪ Check fastenings carefully. Even if a
all bought in desperation “because I can always use
garment passes muster, a broken zipper or
another twin set.”
missing button can move it from “deal” to
3
“dud.” Inspect closures and zippers for signs
Know when to mend.
of wear before buying.
Clothing in need of a stitch or two can be found
▪ Measure, measure, measure. Tote a
at great prices, but be smart about taking on
tape measure, and use it to measure garment
dimensions. Size labels can be deceptive—or
level and let it guide you. There is no point in buying missing altogether. A quick run of the tape
pants that need a new zipper if you’ve never touched tells the true story about sizing.
the zipper foot ... let alone the sewing machine!
▪ Shop your friends’ closets. An
4
overlooked source for inexpensive clothing?
Shop at thrift or consignment stores.
Your friends! Organize clothing swap parties
Quality “pre-owned” clothing may be purchased
with friends; their closet wallflower is your
inexpensively at thrift or consignment stores. A
new friend—and the price is right. Free!
bonus is that the consignor will check incoming clothing, and will reject stained or very worn garments.
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CYCLES OF AN ORGANIZED HOME
Declutter the
closet
Stacked, packed, and bulging, the clothes
closet looms. When it takes too long to
dress for a special occasion—or to find
jeans and a T-shirt on Saturday morning—
it’s time to STOP clutter in the clothes closet.
The STOP clutter rules
In closets, as in life, less is more. Specifically, the venerable 80–20 rule applies: we wear 20 percent of our clothing 80
percent of the time, while the remaining 80 percent—impulse purchases, orphaned blouses, and the one-size-too-small brigade—represent the freeloaders of the wardrobe clan.
Guiding principle: pare it down! Does each garment in your closet pull its own weight? Apply these STOP clutter rules to determine whether to keep, toss, sell, donate, or repair clothing.
Keep an item of clothing if:
▪ It fits ... today. Not “10 pounds from now” and not “last year after I had the flu and lost all that weight.” Today!
▪ It’s clean, unstained, and in good repair.
▪ You’ve worn it within the last year.
▪ You love it unconditionally.
Toss any garment that is:
▪ Worn, stained, or in need of major repairs such as broken zippers, fabric tears, or shredded seams. Items eligible for the repair basket include those with hanging hems, torn pockets, and opened seams.
Identify a candidate for the consignment store if:
▪ You haven’t worn it in the last year.
▪ It’s out of style.
▪ It’s not your color.
▪ It doesn’t fit, it’s uncomfortable, or just unflattering.
before decluttering ▲
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129
STOP clutter in the clothes closet
Gather your tools: timer, STOP declutter boxes (marked Put Away, Sell/Donate, and Storage), a garbage bag for trash, and an extra box for Repair items. Set the timer for 20 minutes. Yes, I know that clothing consultants recommend trying on every single item with every
other single item, culling the unacceptable, mending the ragged and tattered, and hanging the survivors in descending order according to color. Yeah, right. Twenty-minute nibbles get the job done in controllable bites.
1 Sort One garment at a time, make a decision using the STOP clutter rules. Start small: one shelf,
1ft (30cm) of hanging rod. Examine each garment and
decide whether to keep, toss, sell, repair, or store it.
If necessary, try on the garment to make the decision.
2 Toss If it’s a keeper, hang it back on the rack or return it to the shelf. If not, put it in the
appropriate box or toss it in the trash can.
3Organize
Out-of-place items—sports equipment, fishing
poles, hairbrushes, safety pins, the stapler you
used for an emergency hem repair—go to the Put Away
box. Arrange the remaining garments according to color on the newly spacious hanging rod or cleared shelf.
4Put away
When the timer rings, stop. The timer’s bell is
your friend, seeing to it that you don’t bite off
more clutter energy than you can chew. Empty the
trash, take the Repair items to the sewing area, and circle the house with the Put Away box.
after decluttering ▲
130
CYCLES OF AN ORGANIZED HOME
Organizing
the clothes closet