Archive for the ‘seasonal’ Category

Spring cleaning & organizing: Best practices for storing your off-season clothing

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

Although April showers are supposed to bring May flowers, all they are bringing, at the moment, is soggy feet or you being cooped up inside. Don’t let it get you down, though. Embrace being trapped indoors by the less-than-lovely weather outside and Spring clean, declutter, edit and organize your clothes closets. Look over your winter clothing before you pack it away. Decide which items are keepers for next year and which aren’t. Try on your shorts and swimsuits and dream about the nice weather ahead. Make a list of items you might need to fill in the gaps.

When packing away out-of-season items, keep in mind these storage tips to help preserve items made with quality fabrics, leather or fur.

- Remember that ventilation is important when storing natural fabrics like cotton, wool, silk, linen, suede and leather.

- Do not use plastic bags (including vacuum-seal bags) because they can permanently crush fabrics and furs. In addition, the airtight seals can cause mildew and mold growth.

- If you’re hanging garments, use non-rusting hangers and white, muslin garment covers. Allow sufficient space between items for good air circulation.

-  When storing garments in boxes or bins, use sheets of acid-free, white tissue to separate items and line the containers.

- Save space by utilizing unused suitcases to store items made of fabrics that can be folded and stacked safely. Place the heaviest items at the bottom of the pile. Stack items loosely.

- Not all clothes should be folded and stacked. Fur must be hung from the shoulders. To avoid crushing fur, do not put it in a plastic bag or pack it in between hung items. For best results, fur should be stored in professional cold storage.

- Use cedar blocks, etc. to control pests. Because they are toxic, avoid using mothballs if children might have access to them.

- The glue in dresser drawers or trunks that are lined with wallpaper or adhesive liner paper can attract pests so avoid storing clothing in them. The same holds true for glued boxes.

- Do not use starch or fabric finish on any garments that are going to be stored.

Start working on your off-season storage project now and, with any luck, you’ll be done in time to go outside and enjoy the Spring flowers that arrive in May!

 

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The 22nd annual New York Cares Coat Drive

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010

90% of homeless adults need a new, warm coat each winter because they have no place to keep one over the summer months. But it’s not just homeless people. Thousands of New Yorkers each year are forced to make a choice between buying a winter coat and putting food on the table or meeting other basic survival needs. No one should have to make that kind of choice.

Each December, New York Cares collects 70,000 gently used, freshly laundered coats and distributes them to men, women and children who would otherwise go cold. You can help by donating a coat between December 1st and 31st, setting up a collection site or volunteering to sort coats so they get into the hands of New Yorkers in need as soon as possible. For more information, please visit New York Cares.

Posted in donate/charities/thriftshops, seasonal | Comments Off

Freshen up for Fall.

Wednesday, October 20th, 2010

Rustling leaves…howling wind…brrrr.  Fall officially started on September 22 this year so if you’ve been dragging your feet since Summer ended and Fall began, it’s time to hit the reset button. What does that mean? It means that it’s time to embrace the change of season and get organized for it!

1. Sort through your coat closet. Make sure you have at least one or two good – no holes, still fits, not stained – hat/gloves/scarf set. Check now so you’re not left out in the cold (pun intended!) later. Dump mismatched, worn out or tired looking items. Buy yourself some new pieces to help perk up your outerwear wardrobe and enliven those grey days yet to come. Get rid of everything you no longer like, wear or fit into. Only keep what you wear and love.

2. Clean out the garage. Wouldn’t it be nice if your car could fit in your garage before the snow flies? Well, what are you waiting for? Get busy; you have a lot of work to do!

3. The world always looks better through clean windows. Fall is the perfect time to enjoy the glorious colors of the outdoors even when you’re indoors. Fill a new spray bottle with a solution of 50% water and 50% vinegar to cut through the greasy, grimy film that accumulates on window glass. Shake well, spray, wipe dry and enjoy a shine that dazzles.

4. Clean up your email.  Fall is also the perfect time to go through and archive off all your older email messages so they don’t continue to clutter up your Inbox. Be sure to hit the delete button liberally! Try sorting by sender. You can often delete hundreds of emails at a time, if you do. Unsubscribe from mailing lists that are no longer of interest to you.

5. Clean up your desktop.  If your desk is cluttered – or getting cluttered – take some time to clear things off and open up some physical and mental space for yourself. If your computer desktop suffers from the same affliction, invest some time, declutter your files and put them in folders so you can locate them again easily later on. And while you’re at it, blow the dust out of your computer so it doesn’t clog up the fan or keep the heat from dissipating correctly!

6. Get the urge to purge. If your file drawers are stuffed, it’s a good sign that it’s time to purge them. Squeezing more papers into a full file cabinet makes it more difficult to use. Try to keep at least 2 inches of space in each file drawer so that you can easily drop in new papers and take papers out. Also, go through your file cabinet (or file boxes) and remove any empty folders. You will likely gain 10-20% more file space, if you do. Putting a specific “DISPOSE AFTER” date on the top of each piece of paper before you file it will make purging your files a breeze.

7. Create a nuturing kitchen. Clear the clutter off the counters. Clean out the fridge. Reorganize the cabinets. Make sure you have a nice spot to nourish yourself and your family.

8. Move out the old to welcome in the new. Go through your medicine cabinet and toss all the medicines that have expired. Donate your finished summer reading to a local library or hospital. Go through your clothes closet and as you’re making the switch from warm to cold weather wear, take the time to put clothing aside you are no longer love or wear and give it away.

9. Rethink your linen closet. Keep only the sheets, towels and blankets you actually use. Donate everything else – if it is still in good condition – to someone in need, a charity or a local thrift store.

10. Start some new Fall habits. Check your emergency water and food supplies and make sure you have a non-electric can opener. Clean out your car and check the tire pressure, which changes at different temperatures. Flip your mattress to prevent a groove from sleeping in the same spot.

Now open the windows and enjoy the delightfully cool and refreshing breezes of Fall blowing through your newly organized home!

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Winter wardrobe storage tips courtesy of Garde Robe, the luxury wardrobe storage & valet service.

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

 

Spring is finally here.  It’s time to switch your closets from winter to spring wardrobes.   Proper handling and maintenance of your off-season garments is critical as it can extend the life of certain pieces by several years. Therefore, the wardrobe storage experts at Garde Robe created this introductory summary to help you.

  • Always make sure garments are properly cleaned prior to storing them for an extended period of time.  Even if the garment looks clean, if it has been worn it may have bacteria and or body oils that will damage the fabric if left untreated for several months.  You should always remove your dry cleaner’s clear plastic bags immediately as these bags trap gasses that can cause discoloration and don’t allow the garment to breathe properly.
  • Purchase and use the proper storage supplies.  Acid-free tissue, breathable garment bags and canvas boxes are inexpensive and vital to maintaining a garment’s pristine condition.  Boot trees and toe shapers for footwear and appropriate hangers are also highly recommended.
  • Proper storage conditions and ventilation is essential.  Garments should not be subjected to dust, sunlight, humidity or drastic changes in temperature, so basements and attics are not recommended in most cases.  Proper spacing between garments must also be taken into account – never crowd garments into a small area in the back of the closet because they need to breathe.  Be extra cautious when storing leather and suede as these fabrics can bleed into one another – use acid-free tissue to separate these garments.  Never store furs at home as they must be stored in special cold storage units.  Always use a reputable furrier and have the fur revitalized as needed.
  • Fold all knits with acid-free tissue to avoid creasing the individual fibers and place them in a breathable box with the heaviest ones on the bottom.  Material damaging insects such as moths will be attracted to cashmere and other natural fibers, especially if bacteria are present.  Placing cedar and lavender sachets in the boxes works as a deterrent and is far more pleasant than moth balls.  However, the sachets often contain oils so be cautious to avoid direct contact between the sachets and garments.  Heavily beaded garments should also be folded with tissue and not hung in most cases.
  • Hanging garments require proper hangers and breathable garment bags.  Hanger selection should take into account the type of garment and its weight.  Heavy garments such as winter coats should be stored on strong, padded hangers.  In most cases, pants and slacks should be hung from the hem or cuffs to avoid creasing.  Take advantage of a garment’s support straps or loops to avoid stretching.

Named “Best Secret Service” by New York magazine, Garde Robe is the first and only luxury wardrobe storage and valet service.  Ideal for city residents with extensive clothing and footwear collections and/or inadequate closet space, Garde Robe provides climate-controlled luxury storage for off-season or infrequently worn clothing, shoes and accessories, professional photography and online wardrobe catalogs, complimentary same-day pick up and delivery, luggage-packing and shipping services, and more.

Garde Robe – (212) 255-3163

Posted in clothes/shoes, products/resources, seasonal, storage | Comments Off

What to do with all that wrapping paper.

Friday, December 25th, 2009

With all the wrapping paper left behind after holiday gifts have been opened, now is the perfect time to practice the three Rs of producing less waste – reduce, reuse and recycle. Instead of shoving it all into garbage bags and dumping it, here are some creative ways to reuse and recycle it and reduce your eco-footprint at the same time.

NOTE: To remove wrinkles, carefully iron the paper on the “wrong” side using LOW heat – spritz with a little water, if necessary. Remember to first remove any tape and smooth the paper out on a flat surface using your hands. Cut off any torn edges so you’re left with a square or rectangular piece.

  • Crumple it up and stuff it in hats or purses to help them keep their shape.
  • Wrap it around a bouquet of flowers you’re taking to someone special.
  • Shred it to use as ‘fluff’ or pretty packing material in gift bags/boxes for future gifts.
  • Shred and use it in place of bubble wrap or styrofoam packing peanuts.
  • Cover a corkboard with it and hang it up for a festive, decorative place to leave messages and to-do lists.
  • Go online and learn how to make origami shapes and animals with it!
  • Cut a piece to size and slide it in the clear, front sleeve of a three-ring binder to create a decorative look.
  • Cut it into small pieces and leave them by the telephone. Use the white side to write down messages.
  • Measure your drawers, cabinets and closets. Cut the paper to fit and insert for simple, pretty shelf paper and draw liners.
  • If it isn’t torn or too wrinkled, keep it to wrap future presents. Reuse paper taken from large gifts to wrap smaller gifts.
  • Use it to decoupage pieces of furniture or flower pots or cardboard or wooden shapes to make decorations or ornaments for next year.
  • Cover your kids’ textbooks – if you haven’t already – or recover if the old ones look like they’ve seen better days.
  • Use it to make gift tags.
  • Place a favorite piece underneath a sheet of glass on your desk, nightstand or coffee table to add color/pattern to the room.
  • Mat photographs with it.
  • Glue it onto a sturdy box for reusable gift packaging.
  • Use small scraps to line greeting card envelopes. Trace the outside flap shape onto the paper and cut out. Leave it just short enough to clear the glue seal on the envelope flap.
  • Use it for kids art projects, i.e. make paper dolls and dolls’ clothes.
  • Make decorative snowflakes to hang up or to attach to blank cards to create this year’s thank you notes and next year’s holiday greetings.
  • Make a collage out of various pieces and create new, unique wrapping paper.
  • Frame your favorite pieces, hang them up and enjoy!
  • Use it to wrap and protect your holiday decorations when storing them away for next year.
  • Cover paper magazine or pencil holders with it.
  • Use it for scrapbooking backgrounds.
  • Use large pieces of it to cover shoeboxes and create pretty storage containers for Christmas ornaments and other items.
  • Use it in paper mache projects.
  • Cover small gift boxes with it.
  • Make bookmarks out of it.
  • Use it to make sewing patterns. Just draw the pattern pieces on the blank side and cut out.
  • Add pattern and color to your office by covering a few select books on your bookshelves with it.
  • Use it to line your cat’s litter box. It’s better than tossing it out!

Posted in environmentally friendly, reduce/reuse/recycle, seasonal | Comments Off

The 21st annual New York Cares Coat Drive

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

NYCCD09banner

Did you know that 90% of homeless adults need a new, warm coat each winter because they have no place to keep one during the warmer months of the year? In addition, thousands of other New Yorkers are forced to choose between buying a winter coat and putting food on the table or meeting other basic survival needs. No one should have to make that kind of choice.

New York Cares helps those less fortunate by collecting nearly 70,000 gently used winter coats each December and distributing them to thousands of men, women and children who would otherwise be cold. Please donate a coat or make a financial donation to this very worthy charity. Your support provides them with the resources to collect and distribute coats now and supports volunteer programs that will continue to impact the city all year long.

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Holiday shopping traps you should know about.

Saturday, November 28th, 2009

spider web

Bricks & mortar and online stores are both hoping you’ll spend more than you meant to and they’re expert at making it easy for you to do just that. BEFORE YOU GO SHOPPING, make a list of what you need to buy and stick to it. Watch out for the following traps:

* Free gift with purchase. If you’re spending more than you had intended just to get a “free” gift, then it’s really not so free after all, is it? Think about it.

* Free shipping. Ditto.

* It’s on sale. If you didn’t plan to buy it in the first place, it doesn’t matter what the price is, it’s not a bargain! Stop clutter where it starts…at the store!

* Bigger is better. Not if you really don’t need it in the jumbo size! And not if it takes you two years to go through a package of twelve and you really can’t afford to spare the space for them for that long!

* If one is good, two is better. Don’t buy an item in every color unless you really will use them all!

Posted in clutter, money savers, seasonal | Comments Off

Get your holiday cards done NOW and save money at the same time.

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Summer’s barely over and Halloween is still weeks away, but the folks at Hallmark are hoping that you’ll start thinking about your holiday cards now. You can chose a card and then personalize it by adding your own photos or message, if you like. Upload your address book to the site and they’ll even print, stamp and mail your cards for you at whatever future date you chose. Or, if you prefer, they’ll mail them to you already stamped, addressed and ready to send out. It’s easy, it’s fast and if you do it now you can check it off your holiday to-do list! Save 30% when you spend $30 or more on your order; just use promo code OCT30 at checkout. Offer expires 10/25/09.

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