With Earth Day approaching, it’s a good time to think about what small changes you can make in and around your home to help save the environment. 

Here are 6 green living tips you can apply this month:

1. Replace all lightbulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs;
2. Switch to non-toxic cleaning products to clean your home;
3. Replace shower heads with low-flow shower heads, or decrease the time you spend in the  shower;
4. Unplug appliances, electronics and other gadgets when not in use;
5. Install a programmable thermostat so that you can better control how you use your energy throughout the day;
6. If your neighborhood allows it, dry your clothes outside on an outdoor drying rack in the Spring, Summer and Fall.  In the wintertime, dry some or all of your clothes indoors, on an indoor clothes line.  Here are some clothing lines and drying racks to consider at Home Storage Warehouse.

Outdoor drying rack

Clip drip dryer hanger

Retractable clothes line

Jacquie Ross is a Maryland based Professional Organizer, writer, speaker and owner of CastAway the Clutter! Jacquie has been writing for Home Storage USA since 2007. A member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), NAPO-Baltimore Chapter, and Maryland Association of Professional Organizers, she shows homeowners how to reclaim their time and space, and offers organizing and time management workshops and group presentations. Jacquie is also the author of Take Control of Your Clutter Before it Takes Control of You: 101 Tips to Success.  Visit CastAway the Clutter to get a free organizing goals worksheet when you sign up for her organizing tips at www.castawaytheclutter.com

Looking for ways to trim your household budget and also help save the planet? Start drying your clothes on a clothes line or drying rack instead of using a clothes dryer. You might be surprised to learn that in many other countries, drying clothes outside on a clothes line is very much the norm. For example, in England, many households may own a clothes dryer, commonly known as a tumble dryer, but generally only use it on a rainy or very cold day.

Dryers work by using heat and rapid air movement – usually heated by electricity or gas, and are one of the most expensive and energy intensive household appliances to run. So this is a good place to start if you’re trying to save money on your household bills.

Still not convinced? Here’s a few good reasons why using a drying rack or line drying is best:

-  You will save money on your household energy bill
-  Your clothes will last longer – dryers can be hard on clothing

-  Your clothes will dry naturally and without the added chemicals of fabric softener or dryer sheets
-  Your clothes will bleach naturally by the sun
-  By saving energy, you are helping to save the planet
-  You might even get some exercise, if you have a lot of laundry to hang!

If you feel like you don’t have the time to hang dry all of your clothes, then start by hanging a few for each load. Once you get into a habit, you’ll be able to build it into your schedule and you’ll find that it doesn’t really take up that much more time. Or, maybe you live in a community that do not allow outdoor clothes lines. That’s a shame, but you needn’t worry because there are half a dozen indoor dryer racks to choose from, which will allow you to hang your clothes in the laundry room, over the bathtub or over a sink. Check these out at www.HomeStorageWarehouse.com. Click on each picture for more details.

INDOOR CLOTHING RACKS:

OUTDOOR RACKS:

Jacquie Ross is a Maryland based Professional Organizer, writer, speaker and owner of CastAway the Clutter! Jacquie has been writing for Home Storage USA since 2007. A member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), NAPO-Baltimore Chapter, and Maryland Association of Professional Organizers, she shows homeowners how to reclaim their time and space, and offers organizing and time management workshops and group presentations. Jacquie can be reached at jacquie@castawaytheclutter.com. Visit CastAway the Clutter to sign up for her free organizing tips and learn more about her presentations at www.castawaytheclutter.com

It’s a New Year and time to recharge and set some new goals. Getting organized is on many people’s list of New Year’s resolutions. If getting organized is one of your goals, you need to have a plan. Begin by writing down the rooms or areas you need to organize and decide when you’re going to start. Then figure out the areas you can do yourself and what you need help with.

If you are living in a lot of clutter, enlisting the help of a friend or hiring a professional organizer can move you closer to your goal a lot faster. A professional organizer will also educate you on the principles of organizing and implement systems that fit into your lifestyle. This is an important step in the organizing process because the systems you have in place will help you to maintain order in your home, so that you won’t have to reorganize the same space a few months later.

The general rules of organizing involve sorting, purging and placing items into containers or specialty organizers. Don’t forget to keep similar items together and in a convenient place. After you have sorted and purged, shop for organizers to help you set up your new systems.

Happy New Year!

Shop for organizers for your kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, laundry, kids, office or closet  at Home Storage Warehouse.

Jacquie Ross is a Maryland based Professional Organizer, writer and owner of CastAway the Clutter! Jacquie has been writing for Home Storage USA since 2007. A member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and Maryland Association of Professional Organizers, she teaches homeowners how to reclaim their time and space, and offers Time Management workshops to businesses to maximize productivity.  Jacquie can be reached at jacquie@castawaytheclutter.com. Visit CastAway the Clutter to sign up for her free organizing tips at www.castawaytheclutter.com.