January is Get Organized Month! Make An Event Out Of It!

It's the first weekend of the New Year. You are craving order in your home. How do you get started?

Take some time today to schedule organizing into your month. Pull out your calendar, or open your calendar app, and jot down your goals for January. It's time to make organizing an event in your life.

A great way to start is by penciling in four, one hour slots to tackle clutter. I know you can handle one hour a week.
This can be going through mail and shredding or recycling what you don't need. It can be as simple as doing the dishes or as detailed as organizing your albums. There are so many things you can do in these sessions. You just have to make the time. So treat your de-cluttering like an appointment, and make the time to get things done.

And most of all Collectors, honor your desire to get organized. You deserve it.

Need help getting organized?

Collector Care Professional Organizers offer custom solutions to help you maintain a clutter free life. #collectorCareCares

925-548-7750

3 Tips to Help With Disorganization While Depressed

You have had a bad week, month, year, decade. We get it. We have been there. I won't go there on this blog, but let me tell you Collectors that most of our team members have been depressed at one point in their lives. It's easy to help when you can empathize.

Times stops, and all along you are acquiring and burying yourselves mentally and physically into the trenches. You have now emerged and have no idea where to begin. You are overwhelmed, embarrassed, shameful, resentful, angry, sad, and fearful. Just know that you are not alone.

"Even Helen Keller knows life stinks." - Marshall Mathers

Many of our Clients feel like you. Depression is absolutely a huge clutter factor. I can go into my office and pull all the statistics from the many books I collect on the subject. I can explain away until I am blue in the face. You will either get it or you wont. Instead of telling you all of the facts, I would like to provide you with some tips to help you on your journey with tackling clutter. I am not a doctor, I am not qualified to diagnose, or prescribe drugs (thank goodness!) Please seek professional help for your depression. These tips do not replace therapy, CBT, SSRI's etc. They are specifically geared to help you clear clutter while you are in a funk.

1. Open up your windows and doors and get some sunlight in.  I know you are embarrassed, what will THOSE neighbors think? Who cares. Do it bright and early with sunrise if you are hesitant. I can't tell you how many times I walk into your homes and it's like a dark cave. You have towers of clutter, multiple methods of covering your windows and your doors might barely open. Just let a crack of sunshine in. Soak up that vitamin D. Like a cat, relish in it. It's really good for you and your home to have fresh air and sunlight. (Google Seasonal Affective Disorder.) UV rays kill germs (Google Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation).
2. Affirm. It's hard to be good to yourself at this moment. Look at yourself in one of your multiple dusty, cobweb encrusted mirrors and tell yourself you deserve a good life. Look yourself in the eye. Look into your own soul and say out loud "I deserve a great life". Every time you take out the trash, shred a letter, or clean the cat box - pat yourself on the back. Celebrate and affirm every step you take to creating that great life you deserve.
   
3. Ask for help. This is not easy. If you don't have supportive family or friends, I would suggest hiring a Professional Organizer. More specifically, hire an ICD trained Professional Organizer by going to the Institute for Challenging Disorganization website. You want someone who is insured, and specializes in Chronic Disorganization and/or Hoarding Disorder. Call and ask a lot of questions and take your time finding the right fit.

Know in your heart that you can make it. You are a survivor, and you can do it. You will come out of this heart wrenching state and you will come out strong.

The next time you feel like acquiring something to make yourself feel better, try doing the steps above instead. I know they are all hard to do, but they are manageable. Start with step one. It might take you a while to get to step two. Step three is the hardest, but once you meet that special helper, you will regret you had not reached out before.

Warm wishes and the best of luck to you Dear Collectors.
I know you can do it!

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer and Owner of Collector Care.
www.collectorcare.com 925-548-7750 SF Bay Area & Worldwide

#collectorCareCares

3 Tips On Jewelry Care and Organization

Hello Collectors! Is your jewelry all over the place? Is it on surfaces, in boxes, mixed in with paper? Maybe its just crammed into a jewelry box, out of sight out of mind. Whatever the case is, if you need help organizing your jewelry, keep reading.

1. Get it together. Corral your jewelry and get it all together. Go room by room, collecting your jewelry and put it all on top of one table or bed so that you can see what you have. If you are working with Hoarding Disorder or Chronic Disorganization, step one might be the hardest. I invite you to hire a Professional Organizer trained in valuable recovery. We find gold, diamonds, gems, and costume jewelry in the most random places, on a daily basis.
2. Care. Untangle necklaces, reunite earring pairs, polish silver, use jewelry cleaner and take care of all of your jewelry. If you see a piece that no longer suits or serves you, donate it. If you find a piece that has no hope, toss it. Turn in bulk gold for cash if it has accumulated.
   Only keep the amount of jewelry that you can personally care for.
3. Organize. Find the perfect home for all of your jewelry and put it neatly away. This can be a jewelry box, hooks on the wall, Tupperware containers, etc.
   
   I personally use the "Little Black Dress" by Umbra. I love how you can easily find what you need through the clear pockets. I store it in my closet on it's hanger, protected from dust and from being lost. (Photo above).
   
   Certified? Keep your "Certificates of Authenticity" together in a file in your filing cabinet.
   
   Do you have a lot of empty boxes that your jewelry came in? The cardboard ones with the fluff inside can be recycled. Only keep boxes that you can reuse.

Now that you have all of your jewelry together, cleaned & organized the last thing you need to do is sport it! Enjoy your bling Collectors. You paid for it, you should enjoy it!

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer & Blogger
www.collectorcare.com / rachel@collectorcare.com
Licensed, Bonded & Insured.

#collectorCareCares

3 Tips to Cleaner Air In Your Home

Hi Collectors! Has it been a while since you dusted? Do you have pets dropping fur and dander in your home? Has the clutter made it hard for you to clean? If so, my guess is that you have problems breathing in your home.

FACT: A large portion of our Clients have breathing machines. That combined with the amount of dust that we encounter inspired me to write this post.

If you did not know, I speak on behalf of the Better Breathers Club of CA of the American Lung Association about this topic on a regular basis. At Collector Care your health and safety is our number one concern.

3 Tips to Cleaner Air in Your Home:

1. Open up the windows. Get over the fear about what people think dear Collectors and please open up your windows. It's okay to let the fresh air in at night when no one can see ... 
2. Vacuum. Use a vacuum as often as possible. Use the extensions. Use a hand vacuum in your narrow pathway. Remember to empty the dust bin / bag regularly. If you are physically unable to vacuum, ask someone to help, hire a house cleaner, just get it done. Your health is more important than what people think.
3. Clean your kitchen and bathroom often. Mold can occur when there is a lot of clutter blocking walls and/or damp areas. By keeping these spaces clean and sanitized you reduce the chance of being exposed to harmful spores and bacteria.

What are your tips to help you breathe better at home? Feel free to post them here. Happy Breathing Collectors!

For Professional Organizing and cleaning help visit www.collectorcare.com or call 925-548-7750.
#collectorCareCares

Collector Care Tips:10 Garage Organization Tips for the “Everything” Room of Your House

Garage Organization

10 Organization Tips for the “Everything” Room of Your House

1. Hang a pegboard for easy-to-see storage. Choose the wall nearest to the door. Store small items in buckets or empty paint cans.

2. One item in, one item out. For every item you bring into the garage, take one item out for donation or recycling. 
 

3. Organize for accessibility. Store items you use most frequently on shelves at eye-level or drawers that are easy to reach.

4. Designate a place for tools. Choose one drawer for household tools like screwdrivers and hammers.

5. Get rid of junk. Toss, recycle or donate anything old, broken, unused or unwanted.

6. Plan a garage sale. Schedule it for a Saturday in spring near the beginning or middle of the month when most people get paid.

7. Create holiday storage. Buy clear storage bins for ornaments, lights and wrapping paper. Label each bin.

8. Don’t let laundry pile up. If your washer and dryer are in your garage, keep clothes from creating clutter. Sort everything into two piles: whites and colors.

9. Install a magnetic knife holder. No, not for your kitchen knives. Use it for small tools like hex wrenches and screwdriver bits.

10. Store garbage bags easily. Re-purpose a paper towel dispenser to hold a roll of heavy-duty garbage bags. 

Collectors if you are having problems parking your car, or getting started, hire a Collector Care Professional Organizer to help you get your Garage organized! We love garages. The more clutter the better! No job is too big or too small. We love creating storage, maximizing existing space and shelving, going through misc. bins, organizing holiday stuff, hauling away junk, you name it - we will try our best to do it! www.collectorcare.com 925-548-7750. Licensed. Bonded. Insured.

 

Collector Care 4.5 Tips on Staying Organized While Undergoing Surgery

Hey Collectors! Are you going into surgery? Have you recently been? You might know that staying organized while being sick is not fun. The world does not stop. Your kids are hungry, and your boss wants you back in ASAP. Even your cat demands food while you try and recover. Dishes are stacking up, laundry is piling up, and all the while you are expected to maintain your cool and heal. NOT! Give yourself a break and if you can - create a plan. Plastic surgery and elective surgery clients should especially make a plan! Below are 4.5 tips to help you recover in a more organized fashion:

1. Plan your time. If you know your are going under, try and schedule out your week before hand. Write out a chore schedule for your household that works.
2. Less mess. Eat something easy on paper plates.
3. Keep your meds organized by keeping them all in one place. It's hard to find your medication when you are a) already medicated b) living in clutter or c) recovering.
4. Keep everything you need close by. Make yourself a tray with toiletries, snacks, water, medication, etc. so that you don't over exert yourself throughout the day getting these things. Try and keep this tray (or if you live alone, a small plastic bin with a handle) close by.
5. Hire an organizer. We are trained to help you stay organized while you have

Thanks for stopping by Collectors! Remember, it's OK to ask for help!

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer (and blogger) For Collector Care

Collector Care specializes in hoarding disorder, chronic disorganization and professional organizing. We  love what we do, and  provide realistic expectations and timelines. Please visit our website at www.collectorcare.com  or call 925-548-7750

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Random Rant On Plastic Bins - from a Hoarding Specialist's Prospective

Howdy Collectors! It's time to corral up all of your plastic bins. They could be clear, many of them are a solid color and some of them have patterns.

The one thing I will tell ya, is they all have DIFFERENT SIZED lids! What is up with that??? Why are lids not UNIVERSAL?? Lids should not be PROPRIETARY! How am I supposed to be efficient while searching through lids for that perfect fit?

Much love to our #hoarding and #ocd clients who know exactly which lids goes to what with the quickest glance.

Collector Care: 4.5 Tips Organizing Your Outdoor Entry Way

1. Make your address visible. Hire a professional to paint the numbers on the sidewalk for added safety.
2. Wash down your porch with a garden hose. Sweep off water and air dry.
3. Wash your outdoor windows. If you can't do this yourself, hire a local handyman or a company that does this. Find a reasonable rate or try a garden hose attachment product.
4. Empty out your mailbox. Junk goes into recycle - important goes into a safe location in the home.
5. Throw away dead plants or old planters. Any outside trash

4.5 Things You Might Not Know About Collector Care

Hello Collectors! We get asked all sorts of things on the job, so I thought I would make some information readily available for any potential clients reading our blog. Please feel free to use this as a forum to ask any other burning questions you might have!

1. We do cleaning as well. Light cleans and deep cleans based on your specific situation. This includes bathrooms and kitchens, dusting and vacuuming. You should ask us!
2. Is safety a concern for you or a loved one? Let us come in and do a free risk assessment. We install fire alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, and do small handyman repairs to assist in your safety.
3. We are not going to come in and throw all your stuff out. We are trained to go item by item upon your discretion, and nothing leaves your home without your approval. We are hands on, meticulous and thorough. We recover valuables daily.
4. Hablo español! ¿Conoces a alguien que necesita ayuda, pero no habla Inglés?  
5. We have a dance that we made up called the Collector Care, first you bend your knees and then you

Collector Care Professional Organizers in the San Francisco Bay Area. We serve the entire Bay Area - we travel often, we don't mind driving - so no excuses! We provide honest timelines and pride ourselves on our efficiency and skill. Whether you have people coming to visit, have always been disorganized, have hoarding disorder, or you just moved - we can help. Closet control and garage organization - we love it.  Can you not have repairs done due to clutter? Have you been turned down from a house cleaning service? Are you tired of living in chaos? These are things we hear all of the time. We understand how you feel, and want to help you regain your living space. Go ahead, give us a call... we offer free estimates. 925-548-7750

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer (and blogger) For Collector Care

Collector Care specializes in hoarding disorder, chronic disorganization and professional organizing. We  love what we do, and  provide realistic expectations and timelines. Please visit our website at

www.collectorcare.com  or call 925-548-7750

Tweet us on Twitter : Like our Facebook page : Pin with us on Pinterest

Decluttering Expert Buster - Using The Time Timer

Purchase the Time Timer Here!

Woof! While my mommy is gone, I am doing a declutter of her stuff on my own! When she brings me on her jobs I secretly take notes - because one day I am going to make it big in this world. Who needs Rachel? Not me! Ive learned how to type, now I know how to declutter, and I am taking over her blog!!!!

She will be back in 15 minutes so I grabbed her Time Timer (so easy that even a 13 year old dog like myself can use it) and set it to 15 minutes.



Next, I dumped out her t-shirt drawer (she is literally hoarding Hoarders show t-shirts. Does she need 10?), and had my assistant Bella snap these shots. (Obviously from a high ladder)

Step One: The dump out

Next, I sorted her shirts into three piles. KEEP, DONATE and TRASH.  Hey she does it with her clients right? Let's see how she likes it. Let's start with the TRASH pile, give her a real taste of her own medicine.
I have her trash pile in the middle - all stained whites of course. Why do humans insist on wearing white?!

Step 2 : The Sort

To the right I have her donate pile. The yellow shirt is one of MANY American Cancer Society shirts she has. She has never worn it since the event years ago, and I think she is only holding on to it for memories. Let's donate it! Below are two black Hoarders show t-shirts that are not the baby-doll cut she likes. Donate!

And to the left her beloved keep pile. Hey I don't bite the hand that feeds me!

My lovely assistant Bella threw out the stained whites, donated the shirts to the Shepards Gate in Livermore California. Before Rachel came home we both neatly folded her keep shirts and voila!

Step 3 : Organize

When my mommy got home she was so happy with me for organizing her drawer. She was not happy with me posting as her on her Facebook after I wrote this blog. Hopefully she hasn't checked her Twitter ...
One day I will make it on the Hoarders show as an extreme cleaning specialist like my idol Matt Paxton. Until then, I am just an organizing woofie trying to make it big in this world.

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer
I am located in Pleasanton Ca, and serve the San Francisco Bay Area.
I specialize in Hoarding Disorder, Chronic Disorganization and helping the overwhelmed with clutter. I love what I do, and I provide realistic expectations and timelines. Don't suffer in chaos any  more. Every breath is a new beginning! Please visit my site at www.collectorcare.com
Tweet me on Twitter : Like my Facebook page : Find me on Pinterest