Labels that are easy to read, durable and well-fastened are essential to the success of any organizing system.  You can put a lot of time and effort into organizing a space only to have it be quickly abandoned because the labels wear off, fall off, or can’t be read.  That is why it is important to stock your Organizing Tool Kit with labeling tools that will stand the test of time.  Below are our suggestions for the best tools to help you successfully label your stuff.

Label Maker

A label maker is one of the core items of your Organizing Tool Kit.  There are lots of label makers available, but the one we recommend is the portable, hand-held DYMO LetraTag Plus LT-100H.  It is the ideal for the home or small office. It prints on a variety of colored labels, plus adds popular text features like multiple font styles, underlining, bolding, text sizing and more. It has a graphical display which means no more guessing what the label will look like, it shows you right on the screen before you print it out.  They cost around $20.00.

LetraTag Plus LT-100H tape comes in paper (white, black, blue, yellow, red), plastic (white and black on clear), fabric iron on (white), magnetic (white) and metallic (silver, pink and blue).

This is our preferred way of labeling containers and file folders.

Permanent Markers

Use permanent markers for labeling things that don’t need to have a “pretty” label or when you don’t want to worry about your label smearing or transferring to another surface.

Sharpie® Retractable Markers come in fine and ultra fine points.  We love these because you don’t need to worry about losing the cap.  You can keep an extra one in your purse or car without worrying about it leaking all over everything or drying up.

Sharpie® Twin Tip markers come in various sizes and tip shapes.  These can be used for writing on files, folders, CDs, DVDs, jewel cases, children’s Sippy cups, and plastic containers.  The tip selection is amazing.  We love the calligraphy point for making beautiful labels.

Sharpie® Metallic markers come in silver and gold and are terrific for labeling dark surfaces.

Highlighters can be used to call attention to important information on a label.  Highlight over a specific word or sentence to call attention to recipes, instructions or caution warnings.

Marks-a-Lot markers are wonderful for writing on large surfaces such as cardboard boxes and signs.

Fabric Markers

Sharpie Rub-a-Dub® Laundry Marker works well on fabrics and synthetics.  It stays on through washing and dry cleaning.  If you hand down clothes from an older sibling, try using the Dot System to mark you children’s clothing.  The oldest child gets one dot.  When the garment is passed down to the next child, you add another dot. You continue to add a dot for each child the garment is passed down to.

Iron on Labels

Use these for labeling clothing for the gym or summer camp.  You find these online here.

Tags

Tags are a great way to label decorative containers, such as baskets or bins that you don’t want to label with a permanent marker or label maker.  You can decorate these tags with scrapbook paper and embellishments, stamping or calligraphy pens.  You can even swap out the string for rustic twine, a beautiful ribbon or colorful yarn.  We like the Avery Metal Rim Tags and Shipping Tags.

Print Your Own Labels

When you need to make a lot of labels, you may want to try using one of the templates in your word processing software to create a custom label.  Office supply stores have many types of labels on which you can print your custom labels.  These labels are perfect for file folders, DVDs, CDs, jewel cases and return address labels.

Preprinted Labels

These you can purchase through mail order catalogs or online.  The most popular type of preprinted labels is return address labels.

Removable Labels

Post-It® has a wonderful, removable label product called Label Pads.  You write your description on the label, peel it off the pad and adhere it to a surface.  Later, when you want to remove it, you just peel it right off.  These are great for when you want to temporary label, such as for a container of leftovers.  They come in a variety of colors.

Label Rolls

Label Rolls, also by Post It®, allow you to create custom labels of any length.  Tear off the exact size label you want, fix it to the item and write the name of the item on the label.

Clear Packing Tape or Clear Duct Tape

For when you need to place large labels on a container, like instructions to a game or a recipe.  To make labeling fast, you could use a Label Pad label and cover it with clear packing tape.  Now that’s fast!

Closet Dividers

Closet dividers are excellent for organizing clothes closets.  Use them to designate and label sections of your closet for specific types of clothing: shirts, pants, suits, etc.  They come in a variety of colors and designs.  Some come with labels preprinted with categories and others have labels you can write on.  You can find them online here.

This is an all-purpose cleaner that you can use on almost ever surface.  It cleans formica, tile, vinyl.  Do not use it on marble, wood, laminate or granite.

• 1 cup rubbing alcohol
• 1 cup Ammonia
• 1 teaspoon dish washing liquid (Dawn)
• 10 cups of warm water

Eco-friendly version

• 1 cup 80 proof vodka
• 1 cup vinegar
• 1 tablespoon dish washing liquid (Dr. Bonner)
• 10 cups of warm water

Combine ingredients in a large gallon jug. Decant cleaner into a spray bottle. Label the bottle as “All Purpose” cleaner.  Spray on  bathroom counters, toilets, showers and bathtubs, kitchen counters and vinyl floors.  Rinse well.

1 small eggplant, cut into 1/4 inch slices

1 red, green and yellow bell pepper, cut into 1/4 inch slices

2 Italian squash (zucchini or crock-neck), cut lengthwise and into 1/4 inch pieces

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup fresh herbs minced (basil, oregano, rosemary, etc)

Place vegetables in a large container. Drizzle with oil and toss vegetables to coat. Sprinkle with fresh herbs and salt and pepper to taste. Spray grill with nonstick cooking spray and heat over medium-low heat. Place vegetables on grill and cook 8-10 minutes or until crisp-tender and lightly browned on both sides.

Makes 8 servings

You don’t need to buy an expensive window cleaner to get your windows to shine.  It is easy to make your own window cleaner at home for just pennies.

 Every-Day Window Cleaner

Fill a spray bottle with club soda.  Spray it on morrors and windows.  Wipe dry with a lint-free cloth. Your windows will sparkle for days.

Heavy-Duty Window Cleaner

• 1/2 cup ammonia
• 2 cups rubbing alcohol
• 1 teaspoon liquid dishwashing detergent
• water.

Mix the ammonia and alcohol in a clean gallon jug.  Fill the jug to just below the top with water.  Add the detergent.  Cap the jug and gently shake to mix.  This solution is great for cleaning really dirty windows.

Ingredients:

4 Chicken Breasts (with skin and on the bone)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup minced white onion

1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper

1/2 cup fresh squeezed orange juice

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Directions:

In small bowl, mix together garlic, orange peel, salt, thyme, rosemary and pepper. Slip fingers between skin and flesh of chicken, leaving skin attached. Spread 1/4 of herb mixture under skin of each chicken breast, pulling skin back over seasonings. Mix together orange juice, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce.

Place chicken on prepared grill, skin side up, about 8 inches from heat. Cook, turning and basting with orange juice mixture every 5 minutes, about 30 minutes.

Bone-in chicken parts are done when juices run clear and a meat thermometer shows they have reached an internal temperature of 170 degrees F.

Serve over rice with grilled vegetables.

After reading the back of the laminate floor cleaner I had been using, I realized that the ingredients were something I could replicate at home.  After a little experimenting around with the proportions, I came up with a laminate floor cleaner that works very well.

In a 22 once spray bottle, mix the following ingredients:

1/2 cup rubbing alcohol

1/8 teaspoon liquid soap (I use Dr. Bonner’s Liquid Soap) or mild dish soap (Ivory).  You only need a small amount.  If you use too much, you will have a hazy residue on your floor.

20 to 30 drops of your choice of essential oil (optional – grapefruit is my favorite).

Add water to the 22 ounce mark in the spray bottle and shake to mix.

You can also use this solution to refill the cartridge of a laminate floor mop.

Spray sparingly on laminate floors and mop up.

NOTE: The rubbing alcohol kills germs and helps speed up the drying process.

The garage is an excellent place to store bicycles, gardening supplies, tools, sports equipment, the kiddie pool, the lawn mower, and of course the car.  The trick is to find ways to store what you have without spending a ton of money on expensive garage organizing systems.  Below are some creative tips to help you store your items without breaking the bank.

Gardening

• Store small gardening tools on peg boards.
• Store potting soil in a five-gallon plastic bucket with a lid.
• Store pots, grouped by size on shelves.
• Fill a large plastic garbage can 1/3 full with sand mixed with one quart of clean car oil. Place the metal end of your shovel, hoe, and pitch fork in this container. The oil will keep them from rusting. Keep a wire brush nearby for cleaning off stubborn dirt.
• Make sure that children do not have access to weed killers, pesticides and other toxic chemicals locking them up or storing them up high.

Supplies

• Secure the lids to paint cans then store them upside down to prevent the paint from drying out. Clearly label them with the room where the paint was used, the color name, and a dab of the paint color.
• Date cans and labels with a permanent marker so that you know how long you have had them.

Tools

• Hang up as many tools as possible on a peg board. The more you get off the floor the more room you will have to move around in your garage.
• If you have a work bench but not enough space to hold tools, consider mounting your tools on a peg board just above you work bench. You can also install a shelf above your work bench to hold drills, and other small equipment. To store very small items try nailing the lids to jars under a shelf and then screw the jars into the lids. These make great places to store nails, screws, nut, bolts, washers, tacks, and staples.
• Wall mounted paper towel holders are a great way to store rolls of tape. Just place your tape on a dowel and put the dowel into the holder.
• Place car care items and miscellaneous items on shelves in clearly labeled boxes or bins.

Equipment

• Use peg boards with heavy duty hooks and bike racks to hang smaller equipment and ladders.

Sports

• Store skis, golf clubs, and other tall pieces of equipment in a tall plastic trash container or hang horizontally on the wall.
• Put balls in a mesh bag and hang on the wall.

If you have some thrifty tips that you would like to share, tell us about them by using the comment box below.