As a professional organizer, I encounter a lot of household materials that require responsible disposal or donation.  Whether this disposal is clothing and household items, recyclable materials, hazardous waste, hard-to-recycle items, or *sigh*, straight to landfill, it can be overwhelming.  With this last option, it is disheartening to see things go straight to the trash when there are options to avoid it.

I’m often asked, “how long do you think this will take?” when I receive an inquiry on an organization project. My answer is always the same, it depends on the job. Some jobs are big, we’re talking entire households, while some are smaller, like a home office. Either way, the expectation that professional organizers can complete a job in a short amount of time regardless of the household circumstances isn’t realistic. We are really good at what we do…but we are also human. Clutter creeps in over the years, settling in and making itself at home. When the day comes to address clutter, it takes time to go through it all. There are ways, however, for clients to prepare for a project that contributes to its success…

Nearly 270 million tons of materials considered “trash” fall into our landfills every year. Textiles should not be a part of this calculation. Simply put, if your clothes, footwear, and accessories are in great re-usable condition, then donate or resell them through consignment. If they are beat up, stained, holed-up, and tattered, then please, try to find alternatives to tossing in the trash. Here are a few organizations I found that recycle old textiles into something usable and good for the environment…

Everything requires maintenance…everything. It’s just a natural part of life. Not everyone maintains on a regular basis, but it needs to be done. Think about it. You don’t brush your teeth once and never have to do it again. When you get your hair cut, you usually require another in 6 weeks. Washing your clothes and linens feels great when it’s completed and put away. But laundry will have to be washed over and over again after that. Organizing is no different. Here are my top 5 tips for maintaining an organized home…

Something that drives me nuts…seeing a dumped mattress, couch or TV on the freeway as I’m driving by. As part of the Sorted™ mission, I try my best to find the appropriate locations to take hard-to-recycle items in an effort to keep said items off the side of the street and out of landfills. There are plenty of resources in the area where hard to recycle items can be taken, we just need to take a little extra time to dispose of them properly.

Quarantine had you rummaging through all your closets and drawers, discovering loads of stuff you or your family members no longer wear. Now what? There are many options to give your unwanted items a second life. Read our article to understand more about what is best for you.