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Standard Closet System Reach-in Mahogany

Buy New: $249.00

One of the most unique lines of ventilated closet shelving on the market today for custom closet organization Better than wire or bulky melamine, this sleek do-it-yourself closet organizer is crafted entirely of durable solid wood with a multi-layer finish. It also gives you closet organization with custom appeal; slatted shelves and satin nickel-plated hardware add to the customized look. Our Standard Reach-In Custom Closet Shelving System has everything you need for multiple design options for closets up to 10′wide This closet organizer includes 12″D shelves, solid wood garment bars and a fixed shelf tower. It’s the best choice when you want custom closet organization at a price you can afford. This closet shelving system also is easy to adjust to smaller closet spaces; simply cut to fit. Our closet organizer also comes with detailed step-by-step assembly instructions.

Rubbermaid Configurations 4- to 8-Foot Deluxe Custom Closet Kit
List Price: $219.99
Buy New: $119.99
You Save: $100.00 (45%)

Features:
• Custom closet storage kit for closets 4 to 8 feet
• Expandable and adjustable shelves for unsurpassed versatility
• 10 feet of hang space and 22 feet of shelving
• Satin nickel and chrome finish won’t rust, chip, or crack
• Includes rack and all necessary hardware; lifetime warranty

Excellent closet kit. We ordered two 4-8′ deluxe custom kits. My husband and I each have an 8′ closet. Kits were very easy to install. By the time we got to the second closet we were pretty fast. Took about 1 hour to install the second closet system. The closet design is great in that there is no cutting with the exception of the last rail cover. Love that the hangers slide easily, our previous closet “system” only allowed a couple of inches either way. The flexibility of the closet is amazing. We also ordered for my husband the shoe shelves, tie and belt organizer, and two sliding pants racks. For me I ordered three sets of shoe rods, two pants racks, and one sliding basket. We also ordered 3 upright extension rods for each closet due to the number of accessories we ordered. I had so much fun playing around with the expandable hanging rods, the shelves, and all the accessories. I now have my closet organized and I cannot believe how much room I have for everything. I even have “room to grow”. I highly recommend this closet system.

Even though you’ve publicly sworn off New Year’s resolutions, privately you’ve vowed to make 2008 the year when you finally get organized. You hope to slim down those piles, file important papers and access them without the help of a search team, and finally get to all of your appointments on time.

Rubbermaid Configurations 4- to 8-Foot Deluxe Custom Closet Kit

List Price: $219.99
Buy New: $115.95
You Save: $104.04 (47%)

Features:
• Custom closet storage kit for closets 4 to 8 feet
• Expandable and adjustable shelves for unsurpassed versatility
• 10 feet of hang space and 22 feet of shelving
• Satin nickel and chrome finish won’t rust, chip, or crack
• Includes rack and all necessary hardware; lifetime warranty

The secret to your success may lie in some new advice from Office Depot, which recognizes that each person has an individual work style and getting organized means putting that style to work for you. Playing to your strengths can help you get organized once and for all.

“Once you’ve identified your work style, then you can put into practice a few clear-cut systems to achieve your goals. Best of all, the impact is immediate. As the condition of your office space improves, you will also be more in control,” says expert organizer and Office Depot advisor Monica Ricci.

Identify Your Work Style:

The Go-Getter – You’re the quintessential multi-tasker with a million projects in the air, but you don’t pay close attention to all the little details. You need help streamlining the administrative aspects of your job so important details and documents don’t fall through the cracks.

For starters, stop taking notes on loose pieces of paper, and start using a three-ring notebook to keep all important meeting notes and phone messages together. Use an affordable, leather-bound notebook that you can pick up at any Office Depot, such as the Three-Ring Binder from Foray – it looks good and the ability to move pages around and add to it helps to keep you organized. Also, invest in back-up media to ensure you don’t accidentally dispose of important data. You can be particularly at risk if you travel a lot or work from a home office that lacks robust technology. At a minimum, back-up material on a flash drive, like the Ativa 8GB Flash Drive, which can hold the equivalent of 320,000 sheets of paper.

The Planner – You have all the answers when it comes to possible contingencies and are on top of big and small details. You are probably the most organized of all the work styles, but there still are some areas you’d like to improve.

For instance, you probably rarely make time to store or dispose of inactive files and you keep information longer than necessary, “just in case.” Change this by designating half an hour each week for filing – put it on your calendar and plan for it, like you do everything else. Make use of color-coded files, and remember to simplify the process by using general words as tab headers. Consider using the new secure folders from Office Depot that keep documents contained and prevents papers from falling out. If a file is out of date or unnecessary, eliminate it, but be mindful of confidentiality. Ricci recommends using a shredder like an Ativa diamond-cut shredder because it shreds documents, CDs and credit cards into tiny, unusable pieces.

The Procrastinator – If delayed decision making is your style, you are probably driving colleagues and family members crazy. You probably don’t get around to going through the piles and your office may look like a warehouse of outdated reports and articles. You will need to make the biggest commitment to change, starting by inventing new systems to keep you organized.

Start with your calendar and make sure to use one like the Mead Monthly/Weekly Appointment Book that allows you to keep track of monthly and weekly schedules in one place, giving you a big-picture and detailed view of your work so you stick to your project schedule. Also consider cleaning the clutter. You can begin by investing in Fashion Designer Totes from Office Depot for storing infrequently used documents. They come with a unique re-writable surface that is great for labeling what is in the box and organizing the contents.

The Perfectionist – You are most comfortable doing everything yourself, and even though your work product is superb, this approach has its consequences. Because you take on so much, you can sometimes fall behind schedule and may have trouble delegating to others.

One time-saving strategy is to find the experts and delegate to them. For instance, stop wasting time on photocopying and binding all your presentations in-house. Send these tasks to Office Depot’s Design Print & Ship Depot. They can turn your projects around both quickly and cost effectively.

Ensure that all projects are on-schedule and the team is aware of deadlines by plotting out projects and responsibilities on a wall calendar like the Mead Undated Erasable Wall Calendar. Keep this in your office or a common room where you have staff meetings and encourage the team to update their projects and report on progress on the board, keeping everyone involved and engaged in plans.

If you’re tired of the way your closet looks, it’s time to consider your closet design, or lack thereof. Closets of all types are magnets for disorganization, and adapting a new closet design can help eliminate the clutter. You can even build your own closets and pick your own closet design in a laundry room or on a bare wall, as this article will explain.

If you fold and hang laundry while you’re in the laundry room, Home Depot sells many items that will make this task easier for you and your family. One option is the Configurations by Rubbermaid, which is essentially a custom closet in a box. Configurations is a low-hassle, easy assembly closet design that fits closets between 4 ft and 8 ft wide. If your laundry room has a solid wall that is this size, it could easily be installed in your laundry room to give you a place to hang and sort your laundry. Instantly, you will have 10 feet of hanging space and 14 feet of stacking space right in your laundry room.

Rubbermaid Configurations 3- to 6-Foot Deluxe Custom Closet Kit

List Price: $179.99
Buy New: $89.99
You Save: $90.00 (50%)

Features:
• Expandable wardrobe organizer kit for closets 3 to 6 feet in length
• Includes shelves, expandable single- and double-hang rods with 10-inch hang space
• All mounting hardware included for easy installation
• Shelves and hanging rods are adjustable
• Satin-nickel and chrome finish won’t snag or rust

For a unique closet design in your bedroom, Home Depot also carries a large line of ClosetMaid items. A popular item is the 8-in-1 closet organizer, which fits closets between 5 feet and 8 feet. The organizer can be assembled in 8 different configurations and offers ample shelving space as well as closet rod space. Depending on what you need from a closet design, the 8-in-1 organizer is guaranteed to give you more closet space and make your entire closet system more efficient.

If you are cramped for space in your linen closet, Home Depot’s ClosetMaid line also includes storage items such as the 10-runner drawer kit. This item is portable, making it ideal for extra towel storage. Drawer kits are also great for a child’s closet design, as they are ventilated and easy to access. Another idea for your linen closet design is ClosetMaid’s 3.5 ft Closet Wall Stack Organizer. This item takes up a very small amount of space and works well for folded articles, such as towels.

Home Depot’s ClosetMaid 6-pocket canvas Garment Organizer is a great way to hang up folded items. This closet design solution can be used in any type of closet, but is particularly useful in bedroom closets. The Garment Organizer hangs on the closet rod and has drop-down storage cubicles, perfect for undergarments, accessories, hats, or anything foldable.

If you’re come to the conclusion that the only way you’re going to have a successful closet design is to eliminate some of your items, think about purchasing a Shelftrack?

4-Shelf Organizer. Only 4-feet long, this attractive item looks great in any part of your house, not just as part of a closet design. It is ideal for storing those photographs, knick-knacks, and everything else that you have shoved into the back of your closets and forgotten about. This versatile item is easy to install and easy to rearrange, making it a must-have purchase during your closet design agenda.

Technorati Tags: closet design, wardrobe organizer

When it comes to spring and fall cleaning, everyones worst nightmare is cleaning the closets. All year long, where is the first thing you put something that does not have its own place? it is the closet.

It would make things so much easier if there was some kind of organization. Now there is!. The need for organization has been recognized and with this realization came the invention of the custom closet organizer.

Rubbermaid Configurations 4- to 8-Foot Deluxe Custom Closet Kit

List Price: $219.99
Buy New: $118.71
You Save: $101.28 (46%)

Features:
• Custom closet storage kit for closets 4 to 8 feet
• Expandable and adjustable shelves for unsurpassed versatility
• 10 feet of hang space and 22 feet of shelving
• Satin nickel and chrome finish won’t rust, chip, or crack
• Includes rack and all necessary hardware; lifetime warranty

A closet organizer can be used in any closet, whether it is in a bedroom, bathroom or pantry. A custom closet organizer can be used in any size closet to assist you in organizing any type of clutter.

If you choose to use a custom closet organizer for a clothes closet, it can consist of rods to hang all of your clothes, drawers to put your personal items, hooks for ties and belts and shoe trees to organize your shoe collection.

If you are using a closet organizer for your pantry, you would probably want to have plenty of shelves to store your canned and boxed foods, also hooks to hang your pots and pans, and bins to store your cooking and eating utensils.

You would want to have another area of your custom organizer to store all of your appliances so you can keep your counters clear.

In the bathroom, a custom closet organizer is usually a unit that has shelves and can keep all of the soaps, and shampoos that each member of your family uses neat and orderly.

Closet organizers can be found in every major department and discount store across America. They are usually made of either plastic or lightweight metal and assembly is pretty basic.

When you do a Google search, you will yield millions of links to closet organizers. There are even some online companies that will allow you to design your own closet organizer on their web site.

Custom closet organizer can be specifically made to fit any closet. They can be made and installed by any do-it-yourself enthusiast, but it is recommended that a contractor makes and installs them.

Certain types of closet organizers are recommended for different rooms. In the bathroom, a plastic closet organizer is needed because the plastic resists mold and mildew that the constant moisture of the shower produces.

In a bedroom or living area closet, wooden closet organizers are recommended because there is very little moisture and the threat of moisture erosion is minimal.

When you are using a custom closest organizer in a pantry, stainless steel is recommended because of its strength and durability. They are easy to clean and more sanitary then wood or plastic.

When you are shopping for a closet organizer your want to make sure that it will suit your needs. Ask store personnel if there is a display model of the closet organizer you are interested in. you want one that is made of durable material, not thin flimsy plastic and something that will not take a rocket scientist to put together.

Daniel Roshard is an interior designer fascinated by garden architecture, as a cleaning and organizing freak Daniel collected a series of articles on organizing. Daniel is writing Closet Organizer tips articles for a content site.

Technorati Tags: closet organizer, closet storage

“I know it’s in here somewhere!” Does this sound like you when you’re trying to find something in your kitchen cabinets? If you find yourself on bended knee with a flashlight, or perched on a rickety chair to locate a favorite pie pan or a certain spice, it may be time to get organized. Thankfully, with a few tricks up your sleeve, you can have everything within reach — and sight — without worrying about keeling over on the kitchen floor. Here are Julie Morgenstern’s top 10 tips for organizing your kitchen:

1. Have a plan of attack. Start with a strategy based on how you want to function in your kitchen. Prioritize by identifying the frequently used “must have” items and the things you use only occasionally.

2. Declutter in chunks. If it seems overwhelming, start with the most visible items first, such as what’s on the countertops. You’ll get a feeling of instant change and gain motivation to do the next chunk.

Pyrex 10-Piece Storage Set with Lids

List Price: $21.99
Buy New: $13.90
You Save: $8.09 (37%)

Features:
• Includes 2 2-cup round, 3-1/2-cup rectangular, 4-cup round, and 6-cup rectangular storage piece
• Made of nonporous glass that won’t warp, stain, or absorb odors
• All pieces come with seal-tight plastic lids for secure food storage
• Oven-, microwave-, refrigerator-, freezer-, and dishwasher-safe
• 2-year warranty for glass pieces; stackable design; made in the USA

3. Seek treasures instead of trash. Focus on searching for hidden treasure versus ditching the unwanted. This will allow you to transform organizing into a positive experience.

4. Banish flimsy dividers. Pitch pitiful plastic trays and replace them with sturdy wooden drawer organizers. This will help you create a happy home for spoons, whisks and what-nots.

5. Lay out a landing strip. Designate an official “drop zone” for car keys, cell phones, etc. For example, Diamond Cabinets’ Mini Message Center has hooks, shelves and a write-in message board, all concealed behind a door, creating a perfect solution for on-the-go organization. It can be found on the Diamond Cabinet Web site at www.diamondcabinets.com/.

6. Cubbies aren’t just for kids. Containerization is the name of the game, so create your own kitchen ”cubbies” wherever you can. Stash wire baskets or transparent storage boxes on shelves so you can see and grab things quickly.

7. Create eye-level storage. Make items easier to see by adding eye-level shelves or a tall pantry unit to put small jars of spices or tall bottles of oils and dressings within easy reach.

8. Let there be light. Proper lighting ensures a comfortable environment for a variety of activities, so consider installing dimmers. The Diva dimmer from Lutron allows you to set light levels to full brightness for meal prep and art projects, for example — and to lower levels for others, like mealtime and late-night tea. Visit www.lutron.com for more information.

9. Divvy it up in drawers. Kitchen drawers need not be junk drawers. Use them to store items that can be folded or stored flat, such as cloth napkins or candles. Some drawers even come with wooden pegs to hold stacked dishes in place.

10. Make organization part of your life. Schedule a time for organizing into your daily routine, such as after the kids get home from school. Even a daily 10-minute dose of it can keep your kitchen in check.

(ARA) – Every change of season, our stuff comes in and out of storage. In the springtime, we put the snowmobile, winter clothes, blankets and jackets away and bring out the patio furniture, garden equipment and outdoor toys. Come summer, boats and jet skis join the fray. Then as winter approaches, we do a switcheroo.

Ever stopped to think about what happens to your stuff while it’s in storage? Unless you’ve taken steps to keep them away, mice and other rodents may be nesting and having their babies inside your favorite jacket, chewing through the wires on your snowmobile, and making a mess of just about everything else you have in storage — which is not a nice thought.

Sauder Closits Single 2-Shelf Storage

Buy New: $44.99

This Sauder Closits storage tower is useful in even the smallest spaces. It features sturdy construction with 2 adjustable shelves for everything from canned goods in the pantry to spare towels in the guestroom. Made of maple-finished wood. Coordinates with other interlocking and interchangeable pieces in the Closits maple collection (each sold separately). No. 503-205. Made in USA. 43-1/2Hx14-1/2Wx14-1/2D.

Rodents can cause many problems. They spread disease through their urine, droppings and hair, and because they are capable of gnawing a range of materials, often cause structural damage to property by chewing through wires, wood and even plastic.

“When I moved onto a farm, I was disgusted by the idea of dirty little mice running all over the place — walking on the countertops, hiding in the tractors just waiting to jump out at me. I had to find a way to get rid of them,” says Kari Warberg of Stanley, N.D. Because she suffers from allergies, using moth balls to keep them away was not an option and she didn’t want to spray poison and then have to dispose of dead mice.

“I’m an environmentalist and wanted to come up with a solution that wouldn’t harm people or animals,” says Warberg. She did a little research then started experimenting with the same essential oils she had used to turn wildflowers into potpourri. Once she found the perfect mix that wasn’t offensive to humans but was a big turn off for mice, she began marketing it as Fresh Cab. The product, which contains an all natural blend of corn cob chips, plant and herbal extracts, recently received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be labeled as a botanical rodent repellent.

The pouches are safe to use around children and pets, but although the scent is pleasant — it is strong. Warberg says most people tend to use them in out of the way places, like under the kitchen sink, in the back of the closet, in the garage, and in storage areas. “When the rodents go into an area protected by Fresh Cab, their instincts tell them to leave at once. Because their sense of smell is thrown off, they can’t smell food and water, or sense predators, so they don’t feel safe.”

Since coming on the market nearly a decade ago, Fresh Cab has received endorsements from members of the Good Sam Club, the world’s largest RV owner’s association and Care2.com, an online community for people who want to make a difference. In an article she wrote for the site, Annie Berthold-Bond says “Getting rid of mice without poisoning or killing them is very hard… Plugging up holes had helped the most until we discovered Fresh Cab… I have eight pouches in the basement and eight in the attic. I am hopeful that the squirrels will stay out of the attic and mice out of the basement.”

Fresh Cab is available in home improvement, hardware, farm and home stores across the country. For a store locator log on to www.cranecreekgardens.com.

Automatic Feed Can Crusher

SIX TIMES FASTER than ordinary can crushers! Holds 6 aluminum cans, feeds them automatically into chamber and ejects each after crushing! Makes it easy to store and transport cans for profitable recycling.

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