Lingerie laundry wash bags stop sock loss

Since I was talking about dresser drawer organizing in my last post it seems natural to bring up the use of lingerie and sweater wash bags when doing laundry. I've ended up collecting a few lingerie wash bags (see illustrations below) to protect my delicates when doing my laundry. These mesh bags have protected zippers that protect items while in the washing machine. Somewhere along the way it dawned on me that I could fill the sweater bag version (large bag) with socks and guarantee none of them would go missing.

So now my socks don't get inside pant legs or other strange places and they definitely don't get eaten by the washing machine. I still have socks go missing occasionally but it's pretty rare. This means less shopping, and since some of my socks are hand knitted less anguish. I must not be the only one to do this since Tide sells their own sock wash bag. There's plenty of wash bags available both online and at your local store.

Drawer organizers for clothes

In the fit of organizing that I mentioned in my last post, I also attacked my dresser drawers. I used a few of those spring-loaded drawer dividers (but higher ones) along with some sock & lingerie organizers. Everything has it's place, and in the case of socks they are even organized by color.

Some of you might think that's just too much trouble, but the better organized your dresser drawers are the less time you spend getting ready in the morning. I'd rather spend time folding and rolling in the evening or on the weekend then digging frantically in the morning while trying to get to work on time. For me it's worked out great, I pick out my clothes and then grab socks and what not to match. Because everything is organized ahead of time it takes only seconds to grab what I need. Which is good because I'm not a morning person and the less alert I have to be the better things work out.

An added bonus is when I'm folding and rolling after doing my laundry I can identify immediately which socks are missing mates and can put them aside so that I'm not dealing with them on work day mornings.

I ended up getting several of the sock boxes shown below, they work well and they ship flat which means less packaging. There are other options but these accommodated the various thicknesses of my socks. These and similar products are probably available locally (look for the area where they sell clothes hampers) or via some of the online stores I mentioned in my previous post.

Drawer organizers for the kitchen

In one of my fits of organizing fever I bought some drawer dividers for our kitchen drawers. They've turned out pretty well since it's easier to find things. Mine are simple separators and they fit well because they are adjustable depending on the size of your drawers. Which is good because I don't think ours are a standard size.

Mine are these spring-loaded Dream Drawer 2 Drawer Dividers, avaialble from Organize.com, Bed Bath and Beyond, Amazon, and others. I've found them in different heights and lengths, they're are easy to move, and you can take them with you if you move.

This site (one I'm a little too fond of) also offers a wide selection of what I call "drop-ins" because they are self-contained units that you can insert 'as is' into your drawers. They are expandable so they encompass more of the drawer space available.

Amazon has a variety including wooden ones such as this Axis Expandable Kitchen Drawer Divider.

Today I discovered this site, which has some pretty elaborate drawer organizers. My only criticism is that some of the products are permanent, which doesn't allow for changes either by you or by new owners if you ever sell your home. You also can't take them with you when you move, Lifestyle Systems: E-Z-Organizers.

Another site, and one I've ordered from myself, is Stacks and Stacks. They have a nice selection of drawer organizers for kitchen, office, and bedroom. You can spend a lot of money here so watch yourself!

Be sure to measure your drawers first before shopping online or in your local stores.

Cash for Clunkers

The Sierra Club has launched an online guide to help people interested in taking advantage of the "Cash for Clunkers Program." Or I should say CARS.gov, Car Allowance Rebate System, which is the official name. But 'Cash for Clunkers' sounds so much better doesn't it?

This sounds like a win-win, get old gas guzzlers off the roads by giving people a rebate so they can afford to buy a new, more fuel efficient vehicle. And to my surprise the old vehicles will be crushed and recycled, not resold. You get the rebate, as much as $4500, and if you're clever you'll also negotiate with your dealer for the scrap value of your old car.

Check out Sierra Club's recommendations for that new car. They'll show you how much you'll save each year on fuel.

Picture Frame Folding Table

I like this site a lot, Treehugger.com. They sometimes run articles that really hit my 'cool meter,' like this table that folds down from a picture frame

Additional links:
http://www.ivydesign.at/picture_table.html

DOD setting its sights on cleantech

It is a fact, whether you like it or not, that the needs of war aids innovation. If you can get the military interested in your product (and not have them classify it) it can help fund your innovation enough to take it to the commercial market.

That's why I find this article interesting, "Can the Military Find the Answer to Alternative Energy?

The fashion world encounters green living

Living green or at least starting to (in my case) can result in some interesting reading. Although not a few people/industries could learn a lot from my mother's waste not, want not philosophy in life.

Zero Waste—The Newest Eco-Fashion Innovation?

I had always assumed that waste fabric from the fashion industry was used for embellishments and matching accessories. Or at least sold to others who would turn the odd cuts into more products. Huh! So much for my fantasy of little cottage industries feeding off the larger companies.