Well, that may be over simplifying it, but containers go a long way when you have an organizing dilemma. Do not go out and just start buying containers thinking then you will be organized. Containers can become clutter too. Here are eleven tips to help you select and use the right container in your home.

Measure the space where you are going to put the container. Measure the height, width and depth. Make a note of the room you will use it in. When you go to the store remember to take these measurements with you. It is so exciting to see all the containers that stores offer you may forget why you are there and buy containers you don’t need.

Consider where it will be used and buy accordingly. If it is going to be out of site, in a storage room or in the garage buy the heavy duty containers rather than those purchased for their looks as well as for their purpose.

Buy containers that can be stacked on top of each other for storage. These would be heavy plastic, or they could be clear plastic bins if heavy items aren’t going to be stored in them.

If you are going to store items like food or water either at home as plastic water storage tanks, drinking water containers, or as an  office water cooler look on the bottom of the container where there is a number in a triangle. Plastic containers with #3 and above are safe to store food items in. Numbers 7 & 8 are best. A plastic container lower than a #3 will leak toxins.

>> Get A Top Drinking Water Filter System Here!

To store china or other breakable dishes use plastic padded containers. They come with dividers for cups as well. After putting the china in the containers then place in a hard plastic tub for extra protection if you plan on moving. The china containers cost about $20.00 for the round ones. There are also boxes ideal for square plates. They sell for about $30.00.

Glass containers are great for the kitchen as they don’t pit and discolor. Glass is not recommended for the bathroom in the tub/shower area because it is breakable.

Linens, quilts, or blankets should not be stored for a long period of time (Over one year) in plastic. There are cloth bags on the market for these items. Plastic sweats which can cause fabric to rot.

Baskets made of bamboo, or wicker are ideal to be used anywhere in the home as they are attractive and functional. They can be cleaned by wiping with a damp cloth. They can be used for magazines, books, crafts, to give as gifts or to package gifts in as part of the gift.

Containers for seasonal storage can be color coded. Red/green for Christmas, pink for Easter/spring, blue for snowmen/winter, red for summer/4th of July, orange/black for Halloween or Thanksgiving. It is easy to pick the right bin for the right holiday when the bins are color coded.

Cloth containers are ideal for clothing, if storing a valuable dress such as a wedding dress, formal or other type of clothing ties rather than a zipper are best as the zipper can rust and it can get on the clothing.

Use containers to organize all drawers from the bedroom to resource drawers. The purpose of containers is to contain-drawers will stay neat and tidy when there are limits to what can go in them and where the item is to stay.

Before buying any container look around your home and see if you can use containers in other ways than originally purchased. Such as; a jar for buttons, a tin that held mints for change in the car, the plastic zippered bag that sheets came in can be used for craft projects, let your imagination run wild. Do not buy a container just because it is cute or pretty. And don’t buy because it is on sale and you think you might be able to use it someday, unless you use it, it has the potential to just become more clutter.

Marilyn Bohn’s Bio

Marilyn is a creative organizer who has been organizing for over 20 years. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and is working towards becoming a Certified Professional Organizer. Professionally she has been organizing homes and offices for over two years. She holds a bachelors degree in Social Work. She has reared five daughters and currently lives in Utah.

Marilyn invites you to visit her website http://www.marilynbohn.com where you can find free organizing tips and interesting blogs and helpful articles on organizing.

Originally published on SearchWarp.com for Marilyn Bohn Monday, April 07, 2008
Article Source: Eleven Tips to Know Before Buying a Container

Technorati Tags: container, containers, drinking water, office, plastic, storage, tanks, water, water cooler

Let’s face it, if your office or workplace has drinking water stations it must be totally safe, right? Well, maybe not actually.

Many of these systems contain contaminated drinking water as they are sometimes hooked right up with the buildings plumbing supply. And it is very unusual to have a high quality, state of the art system; they usually just have basic filters for chlorine.
The dangers of our drinking water stations and tap water are very serious. It is now known that there are over 2000 toxins in our water than can lead to cancer.

In another test, 27 out of 29 cities water was found to contain 2 or more pesticides.

In today’s advanced world, with its many and dangerous chemicals, it is more urgent than ever that we protect ourselves against contaminated drinking water.

You also have to include chlorine in that as it is a toxic substance itself, even though it is used to “clean” our water. The level of chlorine has been found to be higher than that permitted for swimming pools! I’m not joking here, unfortunately.

One step is to ask the person responsible for your drinking water stations to provide you with the exact details of its filtering system, if it has any. If you are not satisfied, I would bring in my own water, no question.

Filter your own water to bring to work

It is a shame when we all know the amazing healing power of water, and are encouraged to drink more and more, that the quality is deteriorating.

The best alternative to drinking water stations, and to avoid contaminated drinking water, is to  get a good quality home filtration system . Then you can have peace of mind and bottle your own water, without spending a fortune on buying it in the store.

Bottled water, in most instances, has been found to be just as potentially harmful as tap water, and has little or no regulation. In addition, here in the US, we throw away around 60,000,000 plastic bottles a day! Believe it, we don’t want to add to that figure.

Although now a way has been found to recycle plastic, sometimes into designer items!

Good quality systems normally employ a multi stage process, using activated carbon block or granular carbon filters, unlike those drinking water stations. Avoid reverse osmosis systems however, as they take out vital minerals that we need to stay healthy.

Today’s  home drinking water filters come in a range of whole house systems, point of use and even shower filters, just choose the one that most fits your needs.

Believe me, once you get one, you’ll realize just how good water can taste and have the peace of mind knowing that it’s also safe and pure.

By: Ray Hamilton Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Ray Hamilton is a dedicated advocate and researcher of the incredible benefits of safe, clean, healthy water. Take a moment to visit his site now and discover which products Ray recommends after extensive research: www.healthy-filtered-water.com/

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Lack of clean drinking water is still the major cause of illness and death in young children in developing countries. In more fortunate communities, where water treatment is practiced, the primary aim of water authorities is to provide …

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Over 1.1 billion people in the world don’t have access to clean drinking water. When I heard of a nanotech water purifier that can be used to purify water from even fecal matter contaminated sources, I couldn’t help but test it out the …

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There is no doubt though that there are nasty chemicals and toxins in our water that you ought to remove before you drink it. So make sure you’re drinking clean healthy water.

Technorati Tags: dirty, drinking water, filter, filters, pollution, quality, safe, treatment