Organization

Use two plastic trash bags to cut down on the risk of leaks.

Leaks rarely occur through two layers.

one person who lived it

Use a TSA-compliant liquids bag to store cables in a carry-on.

The bag is clear, making it easy to see contents.

• Items inside may still become tangled.

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Place a layer of newspaper flat at the bottom of the trash bag to catch liquids and prevent leaks.

It catches most liquids, absorbs food juices, and prevents pooling 'garbage juice' at the bottom; if the plastic bag tears, the newspaper provides a backup barrier.

3 people, independently

Use wardrobe boxes with internal metal rods to transport hanging clothes without folding.

No folding is necessary and it avoids strange looks from onlookers.

• They are expensive, bulky, and may not fit in a car.

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Pour boiling water into thick trash cans to kill maggots.

Thick plastic cans can withstand the heat.

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Keep three hand towels hanging up at home.

This ensures there is always a dry one available, which is helpful if you wash your hands a lot and dislike using damp towels.

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Sell, trash, or donate items you think you will never use again rather than storing them.

To avoid hoarding.

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Store folded bed linen sets inside one of their matching pillowcases to save space and keep items together.

It prevents searching for matching sets and keeps the bedding organized.

• Some argue it takes up the same amount of space regardless.

7 people, independently

Avoid horizontal rod-style cabinet handles that stick out.

They catch on clothes, pockets, belt loops, and shirts.

• Even vertical versions of these handles are problematic.

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Use a lidded plastic trash can for outdoor waste to prevent animal access.

One person reported having no problems with animals since switching to this method.

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Use Febreze-scented trash bags if other methods fail.

Baking soda, cleaning, and air fresheners did not work for one user.

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Buy higher-quality trash bags to prevent punctures and leaks.

Cheap bags are the worst place to save money; better bags eliminate spills.

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If you struggle with clutter, avoid buying items you do not have room for.

Overfilling storage spaces makes it difficult to find things and causes stress.

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Mount a wall closet organizer for clothes instead of buying an expensive Murphy bed.

Murphy beds are expensive and do not hold up well due to daily use.

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Separate food waste from general trash.

Dry items stay odor-free for weeks, while stinky waste occupies less volume.

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Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of your trash can or fresh bag to control odors and soak up liquid.

It helps control odors and soaks up any liquid that leaks; one user called it a game changer for bathroom trash.

3 people, independently

Hide a few dishes in a stash spot each time you do laundry to gradually reduce visible clutter.

This approach can help household members adopt a 'less is more' mindset.

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Hide dryer sheets between the trash bag and the basket.

It makes the area smell nice.

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If your trash bags frequently slip off the rim into the bin, buy bigger bags or use a smaller can.

Bags slipping off the rim gets messy.

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Sit the trash can outside in the sun to kill bacteria causing funk via UV exposure.

UV rays kill the bacteria that cause bad smells.

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Use trash bags larger than the can to prevent tearing.

Larger bags are less likely to break.

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Put things away immediately instead of setting them down to save time in the long run.

You will save time in the long run.

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String a cloth belt through your hangers and pull it tight to create a handle for carrying.

It creates a handle.

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Designate one drawer space for a pull-out trash can.

Visible trash cans ruin the look of a kitchen.

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Sort silverware by type (knives, big spoons, forks, then teaspoons) when removing it from the dishwasher to make putting it away easier.

It makes the process easy.

• Based on one person's method

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Clean trash cans with OxiClean and hot water (around 180°F) to remove organic residue.

The combination of OxiClean and heat helps thoroughly clean organic bits.

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Buy velvet clothes hangers to provide traction for clothes.

They work like a charm.

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Address tasks and clutter immediately rather than letting them stack up.

The more things stack, the longer and harder it becomes to remove them.

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Buy used furniture and learn to spray paint and use furniture markers so you can fix or replace ruined items yourself.

Stuff gets ruined eventually; having these skills allows you to repair it.

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Hang jeans instead of folding them in a dresser.

It is difficult to distinguish between pairs when they are folded.

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Roll ties and store them in shoe boxes.

This prevents wrinkles from being shoved against other items and avoids crease lines from hanging.

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Store clean blankets in clear zippered sheet bags to keep them separate from areas where pets might sleep on them.

Blankets not in a bag become sleeping territory for pets.

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Nail sheet metal to the wall and attach magnets to jar lids to hang them.

This allows you to yank jars off easily without worrying about dropping them while unscrewing.

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Pre-open garbage bags and place them in the bin ready for use.

Allows you to simply pull one out when needed without additional setup.

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Tie a bag inside the can with string or use adhesive hooks to store clean bags separately from the active bag.

Keeps clean bags away from wet, smelly conditions at the bottom.

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Hang dress pants by placing the hanger between the legs, folding one leg over and through until it sits above the crotch seam, then draping the other leg over the first so both hold the hanger.

They won't fall off as easily and are easy to remove.

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Store computer parts and odds and ends in a giant fishing tackle box.

It provides big storage space for miscellaneous items.

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Use plastic storage bins without wheels for under-bed storage.

Bins without wheels are not very tall, making them suitable for low-clearance spaces.

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Label repurposed containers using cheap paper tags and twine to track contents.

It helps keep chaos in check.

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Fold shirts instead of hanging them.

This prevents stretching and permanent hanger marks.

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Compost food waste or place it in yard waste bins instead of landfills.

Decomposing without oxygen in landfills releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

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Dishwash food waste bins regularly, using extra chemicals in utility washes every three to four cycles to kill off bacteria and pests.

Nothing survives that.

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Use a small, lidded under-sink trash can lined with a plastic grocery bag.

The lid may solve odor problems, and the small size requires only a grocery bag liner.

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Designate a specific spot for random parts found around the house so they are available when needed for repairs.

You never know when you'll need to figure out where a part came from or fix something for family.

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Drain fluids from open cans and containers into the sink before discarding them.

This prevents fluid-related problems with the trash.

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Store clothes vertically in drawers instead of stacking them to see every item at a glance.

It allows you to access items without burrowing through piles.

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Rinse empty food cans with water before discarding them to prevent pungent smells from leftovers like cat food or chili.

Strong odors can be physically repulsive, causing nausea.

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Rinse disposable items like paper plates and let them air dry before discarding.

This helps reduce odor.

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Spray vinegar on trash cans and agitate with a stiff bristle brush, or lay vinegar-soaked paper towels on the surface to clean porous plastic.

Plastic has pores that need contact with cleaning agents.

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Keep compost in a large sealed container in the refrigerator if you lack freezer space.

It generally does not smell.

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Separate urine from feces by using a funnel leading outside into the ground, flushing it with water after each session.

This prevents unnecessary liquid in the poo box and avoids ammonia smells.

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Change garbage bags before they are completely full so contents remain loosely packed.

This keeps the kitchen fresher.

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Slide a pillow into the torso area of a T-shirt to use it as a temporary pillow cover.

Torsos are roughly the same size as an average pillow, and this protects the pillow from getting gross quickly since pillows cannot be washed as easily.

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Use the 'burrito method' to make putting on a duvet cover easier.

It is sufficiently less annoying that some permanently switched.

• It is still annoying.

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Line your garbage bowl with grocery store plastic or produce bags to contain strong odors and simplify disposal.

Tying the bag immediately prevents smells from lingering.

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Replace bulky furniture like dinettes with multi-functional pieces, such as breakfast counters, to break up tunnel vision and create flexible seating.

It breaks up tunnel vision and provides guest seating.

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Reuse thin plastic produce holders to organize non-food items like screws in drawers or on shelves.

Reusing items is preferable to recycling, as much recycled material is not actually recycled.

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Store homemade yogurt in square IKEA containers to optimize fridge and dishwasher space.

Square shapes fit better, and interchangeable plastic lids are airtight, allowing you to store one container while eating from another.

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Leave the cover off the trash can when throwing away items to allow evaporation to reduce smell.

Evaporation reduces odor buildup compared to keeping the can closed.

2 people, independently

Buy matured compost from municipalities that offer green bin services.

The product may include test information such as pH levels.

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Wash dishes immediately after eating so they do not pile up.

4 people, independently

Wrap lights around a pool noodle cut in half, using notches at the ends to hold the cord.

It is more durable than wrapping paper tubes.

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Wind power adapter cables, secure them with a tie, and place them in individual ziplock bags.

No more tangled cords.

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Wrap cables around empty cardboard tubes (like toilet paper rolls) to prevent tangling and store them upright.

Keeps everything from tangling and makes storage easy.

• Cardboard can degrade over many years leaving a mess.
• Silverfish may eat the cardboard.

6 people, independently

Wait until the weather is warm before taking down Christmas lights to prevent wires and connectors from cracking.

Cheap wires and connectors are brittle in freezing temperatures.

• Leaving them out until spring risks squirrels chewing through wires.

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Use PVC, ABS, or acrylic tubes instead of cardboard for long-term cable storage.

They look nicer and last way longer.

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Wrap lights by walking around the tree and turning the storage tube like a spool to avoid tangles.

No tangles

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• Coil Christmas lights into figure-8s or zigzag them instead of looping to prevent tangles and allow them to unravel in order.2

Roll Christmas lights onto empty MIG wire spools, marking each for its specific location on the house, and store them in a labeled tote bin.

One person found this keeps spools organized and makes retrieval easier with a diagram of cord placements.

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Buy Velcro cable ties from gardening centers rather than electronics stores.

They are much less expensive and come on tear-off rolls.

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Use colored zip ties instead of electrical tape for color-coding cables near hydraulic systems.

Zip ties stay on better and do not turn into a syrupy mess when exposed to hydraulic fluid.

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Use Cable Cuffs as an alternative to Velcro ties for quicker and more satisfying cable management.

One person found them quicker and more satisfying than other methods.

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Wrap Christmas lights around a cardboard tube, cutting slits at both ends to tuck the plug in.

3 people, independently

• Coil Christmas lights around a small square of cardboard to store them.3

Avoid using plumbing bells to mount household wires if they risk cutting insulation or causing shorts between unintended wires.

Conductive wire guides could cause shorts, and the method might contribute to cuts or wearing out insulation.

one person who lived it

Save twist-ties from unboxing wired devices or bread bags to organize cables later.

• Twist ties do not last very long if removed often.
• Undoing them can be a pain when changing wire configurations.

6 people, independently

Have many electrical circuits installed to allow running multiple appliances simultaneously without tripping breakers.

Without separate circuits, you cannot run devices like an air fryer and blender, or toaster and kettle, at the same time.

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Straighten your bedding immediately after waking up.

It provides an early win, triggers a chain of productivity, and highlights the value of small tasks.

5 people, independently

Do not store paint in the garage if you live in a northern climate where temperatures can freeze.

Once it freezes or near-freezes, it is ruined

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Use magnetic strips on walls to store knives, utensils, and tools.

Makes easy storage.

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• Hang kitchen items like pans, pots, and spice containers on walls or inside cabinet doors using hooks or magnetic strips to save counter and drawer space.1

Periodically check rarely used kitchen cupboards and drawers.

To prevent discovering moldy food and pests.

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Mark connectors with dabs of nail polish in different colors when disassembling devices to track which plug goes where.

It is a confirmed good system for remembering connections.

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Label the end of the cable close to the wall plug rather than just the adapter brick.

It helps identify the cable if plugged into a messy power strip.

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Use paint markers for writing on cables if you need legible text.

They are slightly better than other methods for writing.

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Mark power bricks with the name of the corresponding device using a permanent marker.

This prevents future confusion about which plug belongs to which item, saving time when reconnecting older electronics.

3 people, independently

Match power cables to devices by comparing the input voltage, power draw, and polarization on the device with the specs on the cable.

Using a charger with incorrect specs can damage or destroy the device.

one person who lived it

Use white LED Christmas lights for workbench illumination to get consistent lighting.

They give very consistent lighting.

• LEDs may have a spotlight effect rather than a nice glow like older style lights.

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Check the polarity of power adapter pins (positive vs. ground) before connecting devices to prevent damage.

Incorrect polarity can cause the device to do nothing or burn out.

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Include the date on labels for electronic accessories to know the warranty period.

To know warranty period.

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Use a shared family calendar for household members.

It really helps with coordination.

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Include notes in storage boxes for lights or trees to remind yourself of specific instructions, such as starting at the top so the plug ends up at the bottom.

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