Garage

Tripping over mountains of garage clutter? Well, take heart, you're definitely not alone. Most garages have become catch-all storage zones, housing home improvement supplies like tools and paint, yard and garden necessities, recreational gear, and trash and recycling bins. Add bulky seasonal items like holiday lights and yard decorations to the mix and it's no wonder the family car no longer fits!

The good news is you probably do have room for all that stuff; it's just a matter of corralling each item according to type. Your collection of home improvement supplies has expanded, but chances are your garage's shelving capacity has not kept pace. You know what I mean: a jumble of hand tools and power tools all vying for space with other essentials -- painting and caulking supplies, lubricants and engine oils, light bulbs and so on.

Consider upgrading to a wall-mounted shelving system. The beauty of these systems is that they are super-durable yet also adjustable. Best of all, you can add on to them and customize as your needs change. Take Schulte's FreedomRail System. The wall-mounted rails are permanent, but sliding hooks and shelves allow you to store what you want where you need it most, and it's built to last but designed with flexible configuration in mind.

Pantry

Jostling up against the pancake mix, the peanut butter, and the plastic grocery bags filled with mysterious contents (which everyone has to dig into to figure out what's there) are a silver coffeepot, the odd pan, and―wait: is that a broom? Simplify, simplify. Restrict the pantry to (mostly) food and paper goods, and make it easier to see and grab the contents and feed hungry mouths ASAP.

• Purge. Anything that doesn't belong is ruthlessly weeded out, consigned either to the trash bin or to an appropriate closet or cupboard.
• Improve access. Given the pantry's deep shelves, sliding shelf organizers make life―and finding what you're looking for―much easier. Just pull the drawer out on its rails and whatever is in back is right up front in a second.
• Expand the space. Expanding wire racks double the shelf area: Some things go under them, others on top (much safer than stacking cans). A shoe organizer on the closet door provides storage for small packages easily lost on shelves and for things used on a daily basis―in this case, nearly a shelf's worth of Ursula's favorite teas.
• Consolidate and clarify. Everything that comes in awkward or space-hogging boxes or bags―pasta, cereal, chips―is poured into transparent bulk plastic containers that store foods compactly and let you see immediately what's inside. "Mark loves that he can help plan a meal now, since he can actually tell what's in the pantry," says Ursula.

An expanding shelf provides upper- and lower-deck storage for items like paper goods (stacked so they take up less space, and unwrapped so plates don't have to be wrestled out of a plastic sheath every time the family dines alfresco). Expanding closet shelf, the top rows of an over-the-door shoe organizer keep vitamins and medicines out of kids' reach but handy for Mom and Dad. Clear bins make inventories for food shopping a snap. A frosted plastic bin holds several boxes of oatmeal packets; kids reach in for one, then snap the airtight lid shut. Pull out drawers mean no more rummaging blindly for what's been shoved to the back of the shelves.

Laundry

Laundry rooms can be tough to keep organized, however, My Custom Closet can help. Our cabinets offer hidden storage for detergents and hangers. Accessories for laundry rooms can be as simple as a rod to help create a space for those items that cannot go into the dryer and must be line dried. Slide-out baskets offer convenient sorting while wide counter tops provide folding spaces. Swivel mounted ironing boards slide out of sight when not in use.

Never face a heaping pile of dirty clothes again! Designate baskets for darks, lights, and dry-cleaning so everyone can help sort clothes. Have canvas-lined baskets embroidered, or label them with a fabric marker. Use adhesive felt letters to label each one, so everyone knows what goes where. The Laundry room is all about the best storage, a smart layout, and little details that make cleaning clothes less time-consuming. Here are some more tips:

• Counterspace can be the key to spending less time in the laundry room. If you don't have any, consider installing a small folding melamine table, which is stain and water-resistant. You'll be able to treat and fold clothes faster.
• If you don't have a sink, set a large bowl nearby for soaking items.
• Place a lost-and-found bin near your washer and dryer to toss in stuff found in pockets or at the bottom of the dryer, such as keys, buttons, and loose change.

• Keep stain removers, sponges, and scrubbers in containers on a shelf or in a cabinet above your washing machine. Transfer detergents into smaller, dishwasher-safe containers that are easier to handle
• Trade in your clunky ironing board that's a hassle to fold up and down for one that can be mounted on a wall, back of a door, or in the cabinet.
• Post a stain-fighting cheat sheet on the inside of a cabinet door.
• Armed with these tips and a little help from My Custom Closet you can face your laundry with confidence and pride.

Kids' Closets

Tackling a kid's closet can be overwhelming with all the toys, clothes and stuff they accumulate. The same tools used for adult closets can reel in the child's cluttered space.

You know cleaning a child's room can become a tiring job. You can make it simple with kid's closet organizers. This will teach your little one to keep his or her things in a neat and orderly fashion. You no longer have to worry about them just shoving everything into the closet. With the closet system installed, the closet can still catch everything. The kids can put things where they go so it looks neat.

Children get frustrated about clutter just as much as adults. They can never seem to find what they are looking for. You constantly are hearing, "Mom, where's my skates?" or what ever they need. Organizing the closet can eliminate the frustration. Putting in a kid's closet organizer is simple.

There are as many styles to choose from as there are closets. The organizer systems can be made of durable plastic, wood, or wire. You can decide what best suits your needs. How much space you have can be a determining factor with some systems.

The colors of many organizers are reflecting the styles of modern décor. You can find them in a variety of colors now. You can choose a color which matches your child's room. Decals of favorite characters can be added for a more personal touch. The white laminate is made for easy cleaning. Little hands can leave tiny fingerprints.

You will want kids closet organizers which can grow with your child. Look for units with adjustable shelving. You may want floor clearance now for plastic storage tubs. Later you may want to take out the bins and add a shoe rack. As you are deciding which closet organizer to purchase plan for future needs. You want to get the maximum storage space in your closet that you can. It would be really bad to purchase and install a system only to latter on realize that it doesn't maximize the storage space and now the closet has once again returned to being filled full of stuff.

One last thing you should consider when purchasing kids closet organizers is the size of your child. Get on his or her level and see how they will look at it. Can they reach the shelves comfortably? Children do climb to get what they want. Is it easy for them to use? Can they access their clothes by themselves? Children like independence. Being able to choose what they are wearing makes them feel good about themselves. Lower dowels can allow your little ones to help hang their clothes and choose them.

It is easy to teach good organization skills with kids closet organizers. Children are happier when there is less clutter. As parents we get the benefit of a cleaner room. It is well worth investing in a kid's closet organizer.