Professional Organizer Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland Scott Roewer’s organizing blog DeClutterYou

Perhaps it has happened to you.  After waiting in the long line to check your bag, you finally reach the airline ticket counter. It’s 10 AM and you’re already tired from getting up early to pack since you waited till the last minute.  The not-so-chipper ticket agent tells you to place your suitcase on the scale.  You begin to sweat, because you dread this moment each time your travel.  Will your bag be too heavy?  You struggle to place your overfull suitcase on the scale and cringe as the digital numbers read, 57 lbs.  At 7 pounds overweight, that’s a $50 one-way service charge.  In the old days, you might occasionally meet a nice airline ticket agent who would have let it slide.  But in the days of restrictive policies and baggage fees, this is not likely to happen!  Don’t let the airlines rip you off.  I use a digital scale to weight my suitcase at home if I plan to check my bags.

With the onset of baggage fees, more people attempt to carry on their bags.  If you’re traveling this holiday season, that means there will be a lack of overhead storage space.  Carrying on is great, but you don’t want to fight with a bulky bag.  Be sure to start with a light suitcase.  My favorite suitcase is the 22″ Hover Craft by Eagle Creek – it’s light, compact and easy to maneuver through crowds.  The matching Travel Tote has a sleeve that slides over the handle of a rolling bag making it the perfect, personal carry on bag.  Be smart by packing light, packing efficiently, and by planning ahead when you travel.

Packing Tips

1. Limit the amount of clothing you take.  Lay out what you think you’ll need and then put half of it back! Pick colors that you can mix and match to maximize your wardrobe.
2. When selecting clothes for your travel, know that cotton, wool, and knits wrinkle less when transported.  Also think about all purpose shoes that you can wear for multiple outfits.  Shoes should be placed in bags so they don’t get your clothes dirty. I love the ‘Shoe-Ins‘ shoe bags from The Container Store.
3. Roll you clothes and place items that won’t wrinkle on the bottom.  Next, drape long items on top.  Smaller items like belts and accessories should line the side of the suitcase.
4. Carry or wear your fine jewelry.  I recommend a film canister with tissue for earrings, rings or other small delicate items.
5. If traveling with small family members, make a checklist so you can use it to remind yourself of what you need.
6. Be aware that flying with a car seat or stroller may cost you more.  Most airlines still allow parents to check car seats and strollers with no additional fees.  Double check with your airline to make sure they don’t count a car seat as a second piece of luggage.
7. Pack early!  Whenever you think of something to take – put it in the bag.  Keep a running list so you don’t have to unpack to see if you’ve already tossed it in the suitcase.

Bonus tip – Never carry full bottles of product with you.  Create your own travel size bottles of lotions and makeup.  Checkout these 2 oz. clear jars, or these 3 oz. flip top bottles to make your own travel size products.  Drop them in the clear zippered cube (size B) and you’re set to fly the friendly skies.

There are many benefits to traveling light and carrying on your bags.  Your bags will likely will not get lost or damaged because they’re being handled by you.  When you arrive at your destination, you won’t have to fight the crowds at baggage claim.  That alone is a great incentive to carry your bags!  If you live in a city with mass transit at the airport, you’ll beat the crowd to the Metro or be in the front of the taxi line which can be very long during the holiday rush. And, if you have someone picking you up, you won’t have to worry if their trunk is full of clutter.  You’ll easily be able to place your bag in the back seat.

Wishing you a safe holiday travel season,

Rubbermaid’s Manager of eMarketing and Brand Communications, Jim Dietzel is on Twitter, a social micro-blogging website.  I’m one of 18 professional organizers on Twitter they’re ‘following’.  On Twitter, Jim’s user name is @Rubbermaid and you can find me on Twitter as @DeClutterYou.  Jim asked if I was willing to be interviewed in a “Question and Answer” post on Rubbermaid’s Adventures in Organizing blog.  With so many organizers to choose from, I was excited to be one of the first Certified Professional Organizers® (CPO) to be interviewed.

In the Q & A Jim asked why I wanted to be certified as an organizer, he was curious about what types of projects we experience with our clients, and what are typical challenges most people face when trying to get organized.  His zinger of a question was when he asked me what is the most difficult thing for ME to keep organized.  What do you think it is?  I’ll tell you that it is not shoes, clothes, my kitchen cabinets, or tools.  Visit their blog to read the entire interview and find out how easy it is for the organizer to be disorganized.  Check it out here.

Thanks to Jim and Rubbermaid for including me on their blog.  If you want to subscribe to their blog, click here.  If you don’t subscribe, be sure to check out Jim’s Five-Part Series on Garage Organizing.

I received a call from Lesli Foster, weeknight anchor on WUSA9.   She asked if I would join her live on the 5:00 PM news to discuss getting organized for the Fall.  Excited by the opportunity, I had just a few hours to pull something together and pitch the idea to Lesli.  Thanks to the Container Store, Rubbermaid, and HomeRule for providing the products I’ve suggested we feature.

Starting off, check out these amazing new food storage containers Rubbermaid provided.  They’re called Easy Find Lids.  After you’re done with those large, home cooked holiday meals, you’ll need some quality food storage containers for the leftovers.   Why not pick up a set that have lids that snap to the base of the containers so you can easily find the right lid.

They come as small as .05 cup up to 2.5 gallons and all sizes in between.  With this graduated size design, they easily nest together. I’m a huge fan of square storage containers because they optimize your storage space.  Yes, you can microwave and freeze meals in these containers.  They’re also dishwasher safe.  Now all I need is a dishwasher!  Buy these awesome containers at your local Target or most grocery stores.

The Container Store has introduced numerous eco-friendly storage products in their collection.  I’m loving the rich plum color of their Library office collection.  The Office Storage Boxes, Magazine Files, and Desktop File box would make a wonderful set for your home office.

They’re constructed of recycled
heavyweight fiberboard, have a linen weave fabric exterior, and a white paper-lined interior.  They’re excellently crafted and have a nice metal label holder to easily identify the treasurers you’re storing inside.

I challenge you to think “outside the box” about how you can use this collection outside the home office.  Perhaps the Office Storage Boxes would be good to store paper keepsakes, or one of those numerous art projects elementary-age children bring home, or a needlepoint or craft project on the sofa table.

The Magazine File would be a nice option to store papers to take to work or for outgoing mail you want to drop in the mailbox on your way out the door.  I also recommend a File Box for your kitchen counter if you need to have quick access to school papers, sport schedules, tickets, gift certificates, phone directories, and so forth.  Do you have any other ideas?

My church, uh, I mean The Container Store also has these awesome, multi-functional Feathergrain Bins.  I’ve used these with many clients who love their size, the light weight and nice quality. We’ve stored everything from pet supplies, toys, and magazines to craft items.  They come with handles or with lids.  I recommend you check these out A.S.A.P.

I have a few other suprises I’ll be sharing on the news segment, so tune in or set your Tivo.  The segment will air at approximatley 5:30 PM on WUSA9.