Fall Electronics Recycling Day

If you are in the metro-Atlanta area, this weekend is your chance to purge some of those old electronics, computers, televisions, and cell phones that may be piling up in your garage, home office, or basement.

On Saturday, October 25, the Decatur Fall 2008 Electronics Recycling event will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Decatur High School parking lot, on the corner of N. McDonough St. and W. Howard Avenue. This semi-annual event has been hugely successful at diverting electronic equipment from landfills, where they may contaminate soil and water.

In addition to electronics, any metro area resident can also drop off batteries of any type, and Styrofoam peanuts and blocks as long as they are free from debris. And for the first time, televisions will be recycled for a minimal fee of $10 cash per set (with exact change). There is no charge to recycle other objects. Other items that may be recycled include desktop and laptop computers, telephones, mini-towers, fax machines, monitors, calculators, speakers, printers, etc. For a full list, go to the event web site here.

The company that assists the city of Decatur in this recycling effort, ARC International Corporation, has been vetted to be sure that everything is recycled responsibly without being dumped around the globe. They dismantle all of the materials received in the United States down to the bare component, be it plastic, metal , circuit boards, CRT tubes and any other e-waste/scrap, then the materials are sent downstream for recycling. ARC has a zero waste corporate policy ensuring that none of the material brought into their facilities for recycling will end up in a landfill either domestically or internationally.

This recycling event only happens two times per year in the spring and in the fall. So pull together all your appropriate recyclables and donate them this weekend.

Multi-Tasking Women Are Never Too Busy to Vote!

My friend Kyle Young, founder of the fun website www.multi-taskingwoman.com, has a new campaign going. Kyle has recently started a new site at www.nevertoobusytovote.com to encourage all of us busy women (and men!) to get out and vote in this year's election.

Remember, EVERY VOTE COUNTS! So practice good time management, open your calendar to November 4th, and make a note to vote. Yes, you may have to wait in line to practice this right, but it will be worth it to participate in the process and have your voice heard! Heck, in many states, you can vote early and avoid some of the anticipated long lines.

NEVER TOO BUSY TO VOTE is non-partisan and doesn't tell you who to vote for. They just ask that every woman in America get out and vote. If you have a blog, website, or just like to chat, encourage your readers to go to www.nevertoobusytovote.com and they'll give you what you need to help spread the word and get the conversation started.

Together, we can make things happen!

Disposing of Household Hazardous Waste

I'm currently working with a metal artist to organize her studio. In this process, we've come across lots of little containers of chemicals that need to be disposed of, but neither of us was sure of the environmental and legal rules for disposal. I began my search for answers by contacting the Environmental Protection Agency for Georgia. After being bounced around from person to person, I finally hit pay dirt with the Department of Community Affairs. A wonderfully responsive gentleman called me back and emailed me a couple of fact sheets on the proper disposal of household waste. Here are a few pointers:

The processes described here basically involve either solidifying wastes for disposal via regular garbage service, or evaporation. With both of the basic steps below, you want to work outside, and wear rubber gloves and eye protection. Never mix more than one material as you're preparing the items for disposal.


SOLIDIFICATION:

The idea here is to make the liquids solid. Sawdust or shredded newspaper will work, but for larger quantities you'll want to get some kitty litter, cheaper at auto parts stores; ask for oil dry. Double-line a garbage can with plastic garbage bags, add some oil dry/kitty litter and then the liquid waste. Work outside, away from access by children and animals. When the material is solidified, tie up the bag and it can then go into regular trash. Be sure not to get the bag so heavy that you can't handle it, or that it ruptures. Wear gloves and safety glasses to prevent contact with the materials you're handling.


EVAPORATION:

Work outside, away from access by children and animals. If there is just a trace amount of hazardous waste in the container, simply open the top and let it evaporate. If you have more than a very little bit, you'll want to accelerate the process. Get some sort of disposable metal try (an aluminum foil roasting pan is ideal) and pour a half-inch of liquid into the tray. The increased surface area will allow the fuel/liquid to evaporate much more quickly. Repeat this process until the fuel/liquid is gone, and then recycle or reuse the containers if possible (though not for cooking!).

The foil tray can be recycled with scrap aluminum; if you're leery of having the fuel/liquid-coated foil around your home until you can recycle it, then wad up the tray, wrap it in a few layers of newspaper and put it in a sturdy plastic garbage bag . Then it can be disposed of in your regular household trash.

Here is the GA Dept. of Community Affairs web site where you can find more info. Look under Recycling and Disposal Guidance:

http://www.dca.state.ga.us/development/EnvironmentalManagement/index.asp#PROG

Of course, if you live outside of Georgia, you will want to research your county or state guidelines for hazardous waste disposal.

Organizing Tools: Non-Toxic Cleaners

I recently discussed the basic ingredients for a well-stocked cleaning caddy, but I didn't cover the specific cleaning products that you may want to include. Since the majority of us are trying to "go green" and use less toxic cleaning products, I thought I would mention some of my favorite non-toxic cleaners along with some recommendations from the wonderful Apartment Therapy blog.

We'll start with some of my favorite name brands:

• method. I love method products because they are non-toxic, they use 100% recycled plastic in their packaging, and they smell incredible. I purchase my method products at Target. Their selection is always awesome (unless there is a sale going on). Specifically, I use the the All Surface Pink Grapefruit for counters and general cleaning, Tub + Tile Eucalylptus Mint for tile walls and floors, and Daily Shower Ylang Ylang as my daily tub and shower curtain cleaner (just spray on when you're done with your shower). I also recently picked up method's Citrus Cilantro Aroma Spray for a deodorizer in the bathroom. It smells so clean!

• Simple Green. We've used Simple Green's All Purpose Cleaner as one of our primary household cleaners ever since being exposed to it at a bicycle maintenance class. The instructor used it as his bicycle cleaner, so my bike-riding husband picked up a bottle. Years later, we use it so often we buy the industrial size refill. Like method's products, Simple Green is non-toxic and biodegradable. You can use it on most any surface except glass (it streaks). It's an incredible stain remover too. We've used it to remove red wine stains on white kitchen counters, blood on shirts, lipstick, etc. You can find it in most any grocery or hardware store.

• Bon Ami Polishing Cleanser Founded in 1886, Bon Ami can't be beat for cleaning sinks, toilets, and anything else needing a powder cleanser that doesn't scratch. Because it contains no perfume, bleach, detergent, or dye, it's recommended for those who are sensitive to chemicals.

Here are some other non-toxic cleaning products recommended on the Apartment Therapy blog:

• Ecover dish soap, laundry detergent, and fabric softener
  
• Melaleuca No-Work Daily Shower Cleaner
  
• Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds diluted with water
• Seventh Generation dish liquid and laundry detergent

And, finally, my grandmother's favorite ingredients for homemade (and low cost) cleaners: white vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and distilled water. In different combinations, those four items can clean just about any mess you can make.

What are your favorite "green" cleaners?

The Container Store's Annual Shelving Sale

As you guys know, I am a HUGE fan of The Container Store. For those of you that have been thinking about picking up some new shelving options, now is the time to do it. The Container Store is having their annual storewide shelving sale until October 19th where you can take advantage of a whopping 25% off these shelving products:

• elfa
• InterMetro
• Metro Commercial
• Modular Steel Cubes
• Solid Mahogany Modular Cubes
• Ladoro Shelving
• Freestanding Shelving
• Janus Shelving
• Wall-Mounted Shelving
  

There are only two times per year that The Container Store puts their elfa shelving products on sale, and the next sale won't be until the end of the holidays.

So go to their site, brainstorm, take measurements of the space(s) you'd like to organize, and visit one of their stores. If you don't have a store near you, the TCS web site has a section where you can plan your own space and order everything to be shipped to you.

If you would like to take advantage of even greater savings in the store and you live in Atlanta, consider giving us a call so that we can go shopping with you and share our NAPO member discount with you. Let us know if you have any questions about the products. I worked there a couple of years ago and have installed a boat load of their stuff in my home and my clients' homes. It rocks!

Organizing Tools: A Well-Stocked Cleaning Caddy

My daddy taught me that most tasks are a heck of a lot easier to do if you have the right tools at hand, and the task of cleaning is no exception. The tools we'll be discussing today are cleaning caddies and the supplies that go in them. In a follow-up post, I'll recommend some non-toxic cleaning products, but we'll just touch on the general cleaning supplies here.

Often when I am organizing a client, we will clear off shelves, tabletops, or counters that haven't seen a dusting rag in months, if not years. Once cleared, I will ask the client to fetch their cleaning products so that we can clean the surfaces before putting items back in place. I can't tell you how many times clients have responded with, "Oh, I don't think I have any spray cleaner." At that point, we make a list of these basics that the client should purchase:

• Cleaning caddy. Make sure that the caddy that you purchase will fit under a sink, in a cabinet, on the floor of a linen closet, or in your laundry area. You want to be able to easily tuck it away so that kids can't get into it and your guests don't have step over it when visiting. Purchase a caddy for each floor of your home and fill the caddies with the supplies below, as appropriate.

• Latex gloves to protect hands from chemicals. I have a funky pair that a my client Sue gave me after I coveted hers.

• Window/glass cleaner

• General-purpose cleaner (may be same as window/glass cleaner)

• Heavy-duty powder cleanser for tough stains and rust

• Tub and tile cleaner

• Feather duster or micofiber cloth for dusting

• Paper towels, soft rags, and sponges

• Oil soap for wood cabinets, furniture and floors

By keeping these items together in an easy-to-carry caddy, you can maneuver your way through your maintenance cleaning quickly and efficiently. By eliminating the need to stop in the middle of a cleaning job to get a product that's downstairs under the kitchen sink or out in the laundry room, you're more likely to stick with the task at hand. Goodness knows, most people can be easily distracted while cleaning.

This doesn't go in the caddy category, but no cleaning project would be complete without proper tunes. I find that putting on some fun music keeps me dancing through my wiping, dusting, and scrubbing.

What makes cleaning more fun for you?

Law of Attraction in Action: Michael Phelps

This weekend 23 year old Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps set a new record for the most gold medals won by an athlete at a single Olympics. The road to this amazing accomplishment hasn't been an easy one.

In elementary school, Phelps was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, and briefly took Ritalin before telling his mother that his friends didn't use medicine and he would handle it himself. Along the way, a middle school teacher told Phelps that he would never be successful.

About this same time, he started swimming at North Baltimore Aquatic Club, the swim club where his sisters competed. It was there that he met coach Bob Bowman, the same coach that has trained Phelps ever since.

In a June, 2008 interview with TODAY's Matt Lauer, Coach Bob Bowman and Phelps discussed their goal-setting techniques. As the swimmer did before going to the Olympics in Athens, he writes his goals for the year down and keeps them next to his bed. When Lauer asked for hints as to what his 2008 Olympic goals would be, Phelps replied, "The times are faster and then Bob takes care of hopefully getting me to those times in training."

Lauer then asked Bowman what he believed would be written about Phelps after the 2008 Games were over. "Greatest Olympian ever," said the coach.

Now, there are two individuals who are very, very clear about their intentions. They write down their goals. They create a plan to reach those goals. Then they execute the plan. THOSE are steps we can all take to make our dreams come to fruition.

You see, it's not enough to just know what you want. You need to write it down. Then you have to take action, even if it's just small steps, toward your goals. You may feel uncomfortable at times. Occasionally during practice sessions, Bowman pushes Phelps past the point of exhaustion and into places he doesn't want to go. In an AP article on www.comcast.net, Phelps says, "Bob has a saying, 'Putting money in the bank.' When we train every day, sometimes there are workouts you don't like, don't want to do. Bob says you're putting money in the bank. I guess I put a lot of money in the bank over the last four years, and we withdrew pretty much every penny in the bank. After Bob and I both grab a little break it'll be time to start depositing."

When told that people are comparing him to golfer Tiger Woods, Phelps said, "I just think of myself as, honestly, a normal person coming here, swimming every day because I love it. I just have high goals for myself, and I don't want to give up until I achieve those."