Waukesha County Home

C O N T E N T S Making a dream closet a reality In with the fresh, out with the stale air Monitoring garden trends for 2019, beyond A publication of the Waukesha Freeman and Oconomowoc Enterprise • FEBRUARY 2019 By Catherine Jozwik Special to Waukesha County Home Winter's frigid temperatures mean spending plenty of time indoors, but the season offers the perfect opportunity to get a jump start on spring cleaning. Although home organization can seem like a monumental task for many, experts agree that start- ing small is the key to success — and a psychologically healthier and happier home environment. "Ninety-nine percent of people who contact me say, 'I'm so over- whelmed, I don't know where to begin.' I reassure them that they are not alone," said Carrie Delga- do, who opened her business, Mil- waukee Home Organizer LLC, in 2013 after working in the corporate world for more than two decades. Roberta Schneider, who has owned Waukesha home organizing business Organized Essentials for 19 years, said beginning home organizing is half the battle. She and Delgado recommend that people start small when it comes to home organizing, focus- ing on a linen closet or a sock drawer. "Start with what bothers you the most," Schneider said. Categorizing items is a sound organizational strategy. "Put like with like," Delgado said. For example, while straighten- ing out a bedroom closet, similar objects such as black sweaters should be grouped together. This way, it's easy to see how the closet can be streamlined. Choosing clothing and other items to purge can be stressful, so Delgado advises first getting rid of items that are torn, faded or bro- ken. Organizing paperwork makes important documents easier to Use winter to get your house in order Photo courtesy of Carrie Delgado A closet after it was organized by Carrie Delgado, owner of Milwaukee Home Organizer LLC. See the "before" photo on Page 2. Start with what bothers you the most See ORGANIZING, Page 2

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