Happy #trashyTuesday - Talking Trash with Collector Care

Hello Collectors! Happy #trashyTuesday!  If you haven't noticed we see a lot of trash. Some of it's fun and bizarre, so why not celebrate it?! Just today I saw on the curb a: (1960's?) half upholstered recliner basting in the hot son in front of 2 empty splintered wicker baskets, one old athletic sock, a flattened soda bottle  and a  Dora the Explorer folding stroller *missing one wheel* with a sign that said "FREE". Oh the disappointment I felt when my iphone was out of juice and I could not take a snap. It did however, provoke my curiosity. Where all of this come from? How did it get here? Oh the stories, and travels of municipal trash.

What can you spot in this picture below? 

"Random stuff of no value combined, becomes interesting." - Rachel Seavey
If I have not lost you yet, you should check out this video of "Rob" the bag man,
and hear what he has to say about #trashyTuesday!

Disclaimer: Any pictures/video/articles of trash that I post I have taken myself, or the original author has provided me with consent. On many occasions I have purchased a picture of trash like the one above. Yes, I purchase pictures of trash. Go ahead trash me :)
Secondly: We do not store any of these items, they are strictly to be captured online. We will not retrieve any treasures you think you might have found zooming into these pictures. No exceptions!
If you have a picture (that you own) of trash, want to share trash related articles, or want to submit trash humor - let me know! rachel@collectorcare.com

Do you need help getting organized? www.collectorcare.com Professional Organizers and Hoarding Experts in the San Francisco Bay Area. Caring resources for collectors just a phone call away 925-548-7750

Collector Care Video - Brooklyn Wiseguys Love Us!

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Affirmations For People With Clutter - From Experts On Clutter (Part 1)

Hello Collectors! One of the first steps of clearing clutter is believing in yourself. You can do it, all you need is a little help.

Affirmations are positive statements that you can tell yourself when you are feeling overwhelmed with clutter or anything else in your life. They are something that I have used in order to obtain positive thinking during hard times. It may sound simple or even silly at first, but it has been proven in some individuals to combat ANT's (automatic negative thoughts). Stop telling yourself that you are bad, or lazy or not worth the effort. Try comforting yourself, inspiring yourself, and enjoy this collection of affirmations from some of the worlds best experts on chronic disorganization and hoarding.

I will honor my budget when shopping and acquiring. - Geralin Thomas

I release those thoughts and things that no longer serve my Highest Good. - Dr. Melva Green

Clear spaces leave room for opportunity. - Caroline Totah

You are not your clutter - Dr.Regina Lark 

I am worthy of having a healthy home. - Tony Leonardini

My space is my temple, I keep it clear and free of items that no longer serve me. - Rachel Seavey

I will fill my free time with experiences rather than "things" or "stuff."  - Geralin Thomas

My home is a warm, peaceful, comfortable, beautiful haven.  - Annie Rohrbach

I have the power to embrace the fear of letting go, and the strength to keep me from acquiring. - Rachel Seavey

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this post. Please feel free to submit your own affirmations in the comment area and I will add them to part two of this blog series.  

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer At Collector Care

Collector Care serves the San Francisco Bay Area. We specialize in hoarding disorder, chronic disorganization and helping the overwhelmed with clutter. We  love what we do, and  provide realistic expectations and timelines. Don't suffer in chaos any longer. Every breath is a new beginning!
Please visit our website at
www.collectorcare.com  or call 925-548-7750
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Is clutter affecting your life? Do you know someone who is suffering from hoarding disorder?
Visit www.collectorcare.com to book your free estimate today!

Collector Care: 4.5 Tips On Organizing Tools

Hello Collectors! Have you ever needed a tool and could not find it? Perhaps you have a lot of tools and want to begin to organize them? Household tools are necessary and they should be treated as such. Below are 4.5 tips on organizing household tools.

1. Designate one drawer for household tools. Screwdrivers do not belong in your junk drawers and hammers do not live where ever you were last using them. Save yourself time by always keeping your tools in the same place.
2. If you have a lot of household tools - buy a toolbox. Keep this tool box in the same place for easy access. Peter Walsh suggests "when organizing your toolbox, or tool bag, put the tools you use most often in the top compartments and those you use less down below". 
3. Are you overwhelmed with tools? Take account for all tools in your home and garage and purge the ones that are no longer serving you. 
4. Create a workspace in your garage for tools. Pegboard lets you store everything in plain sight. Any storage that you have already can work if you are on a budget. Rolling bins, buckets, and empty paint cans serve well as organizers. By keeping all of your tools in one place you save time.
5. Put your tools away after each project. Do you leave tools all over the house? Make sure you put them

Need help organizing tools? Hire a Collector Care organizer today! www.collectorcare.com 

Collector Care: 4.5 Tips On Reducing Kid Messes

Hello Collectors! Do you have kids or grandkids? Nieces or nephews? Then you have clutter!

Wall smudges, fingerprints, smeared glass and windows. Kids are a mess! Below are 4.5 tips to help you reduce kid messes daily. Please don't be shy to ask your little ones to help out - it helps build character and organization skills. With a little bit of fun, (and bribery) they might enjoy it!

1. Create a chore list. I can't stress this enough! Pick 5 chores that your child can keep daily and reward them for it when they complete them for a week. I have a dry erase board on the fridge which keeps tracking handy. Set a specific time daily for chore review. For instance, at dinner I go through the 5 chores quickly with Shane and mark off what he has done. At the end of the week with completion of his chores - he gets a treat/prize. 
2. Take shoes off before you enter the house. Kinda old fashion right? I find it helps. Kids get used to routine. As long as your floors are safe barefoot, you will save a lot of mud, dirt and debris from tracking in. This means less stains and maintenance. 
3. Only eat in the kitchen. Seriously. At least for 10 and under. I don't mean popcorn or water, I mean meals. I can't tell you how many spills have happened when my son is eating food and watching TV.  If you enjoy watching TV while eating, then try positioning your TV towards the kitchen or bringing a laptop over instead of eating on the couch. 
4. Stick to snacks that are less messy. Small snacks like granola tend to sneak out of little hands. If possible avoid sticky dipping sauces or limit them to the table only. 
5. Wash their hands (and face!!!). Have kids wash their hands a fter meals, after being outside, after crafting, etc. Besides decreasing flu and cold risks you are keeping your walls and furniture clean. Kids love to touch everything with their filthy little

Do you need help getting organized? Hire a Collector Care organizer today!

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Collector Care: 4.5 Tips On Making Your Garbage Green

Hello Collectors! Do you like to recycle or compost? Did you know that we throw away a lot of things that can be recycled in our garden bins? In California, ours are green for garden/compost items. I hope your respective state provides the same option.

Here are 4.5 tips on composting items out of your own trash can(s) at home.

1. Pizza boxes can be put in the green cart. Food residue on pizza boxes makes them hard to recycle but easy to compost.
2. Food soiled paper products can be put in the green cart. Paper:  plates, towels, napkins, cups, coffee filters and tea bags are included!
   
3. Meat, bones and grains. All fine in the green cart, but not for a backyard compost pile or worm bin.
4. Donate "junk" on large pickup days. These are usually mailed out by your local waste management company.
5. Remember to recycle used motor oil, filters and batteries. See if your local sanitation company can collect oil or household filters with weekly pickup. Where I live, you can put all used household batteries in a clear plastic bag on top of your recycling bin and they take them away on weekly pickup. By taking the time to

Collector Care: 4.5 Tips On Keeping Your Kitchen Tidy

Hello Collectors!
Are you overwhelmed with kitchen chores? Dirty dishes piling up?
No room to sit down and eat or prepare a meal?

We all get busy and have dishes pile up. Below are 4.5 tips to help you maintain your kitchen space:

1. Dishes don't bite! Wash them. If you don't have time to wash them daily - you might want to consider paper plates. Mold can grow on your dirty dishes, making it difficult to breathe, and hazardous.
2. Take out the trash. Fruit flies, house flies and odor are invasive. 
3. Free up cupboard space by donating your unused cups, dishes and food. 1 in 6 American households are suffering from some form of food starvation. 
4. Clean our your fridge - or at least throw out the spoiled food. Then throw that bag away!
5. Sweep or vacuum your floor. Make sure there are no wet areas so to avoid slips and 

Not sure where to start? Hire a www.collectorcare.com organizer today! 925-548-7750