I recommend keeping an ongoing “give away” box or bag in your coat closet or garage. This way every time you come across something you don’t wear or want, you can toss it in the box or bag. Once it is full you can donate the items to someone in need or a charity.

If you are in search of place to donate clothing, you can go to 1800recycling.com to find locations in your area or consider some of these non-profit groups.

Dress for Success

The Perfect Fit (Lehigh Valley, PA)

Good Will

The Salvation Army

Local Churches

Illicks Mill Recycling Center (City of Bethlehem)

I wish you organizing success!

If you recently purchased a new cellular phone and are not sure what to do with old, consider saving your most recent “old phone.” Why? Because if you new cellular gets wet or stops working you typically can take the SIM card out of your new phone and put it in your old phone until you decide your next plan of action.

Once you decide that you no longer need an extra phone, consider donating or recycling your old cellular phone.

Where to Donate or Recycle Cellular Phones and PDA’s:

Staples
Accepts: Cellular phones and PDA’s free of charge.
Remove all personal information that is store in your devices.

Office Depot
Accepts: Cellular phones and PDA’s free of charge.
Remove all personal information that is store in your device.

Collectivegood.com
Accepts: Cellular phones, PDA’s and iPods free of charge.
Remove all personal information that is store in your device.

Cellphonesforsoliders.com The cell phones are sold to a company that recycles them. The money that they get for the phones is used to purchase calling cards that we send to our soldiers serving. Remove all personal information that is store in your device.

Happy donating!

Finding a place to recycle books may not be as easy as you think. But before you donate or recycle a book, be sure to quickly leaf through the pages to make sure an important document or money isn’t left behind.

If trying to locate a donation or recycling center for books, I would first recommend checking with your local library and school. If you still can’t find an acceptor of books, go to 1800recycling.com.

Theis/Cornfeld Recycling Center
635 Illick’s Mill Road
Bethlehem, PA
610-865-7082
Accepts: All books (hard & soft cover), magazines, catalogs, gift wrap, cards and shiny paper

Happy donating!

Whether you have household batteries (sizes AAA, AA, C, D or 9 volt) or a rechargeable battery it may be a little tricky finding a place in your community that recycles batteries. Since we know it can be a difficult challenge finding a recycling drop-off location for all types of batteries, we decided to become one. If you live in the Allentown, Bethlehem, or Easton area, also known as Lehigh Valley PA, your are welcome to drop off, during our normal business hours, batteries to be recycled. The batteries will then be provided to a recycling company.

Places to Recycle Batteries:

All Bright Ideas
217 Main Street
Emmaus, PA 18049
610.782.0636
Non-leaking, lead acid batteries: household batteries, batteries for cameras, laptops, cellular phones, PDA’s, car and lawn mowers.

Office Depot
Rechargeable batteries

Staples
Rechargeable batteries

http://www.1800recycling.com/
Find a battery drop-off location in your area

Happy recycling!

Do you find your Christmas tree lights in a tangle mess each year? Or do you struggle with how to store your Christmas lights? Then consider using the Stor’em storage system - an innovative way to end the cluttered tangled mess of Christmas tree lights. This powered innovative system solves your storage needs and ends the clutter for cords, cables, and lights.

Not only is this system innovative but the spools are made in the USA of 100% recycled material. You can rest assured that the spools are of recycled material as the color of the spools is not guaranteed.

If you would like to skip the powered device that drives the winding mechanism of this system (a cordless screwdriver) you may opt to use your own cordless screwdriver (if under 130 rpm) and purchase just the spools. To learn more or purchase, go to http://www.nolightmess.com/

How many times have you had to forego returning merchandise to a store because you couldn’t locate the sales receipt? Or how many times haven’t you been able to take advantage of a manufacturer’s warranty because you couldn’t find the sales receipt showing proof of purchase?

Now is the perfect time to end your sales receipt clutter and your hunt for lost ones by placing your sales receipts in a 4 x 6 box with a lid. Add an A to Z alphabetical file card index inside the box so you can organize your receipts by store name. If you have a Target receipt, place it behind the letter “T.” If you have a Bed Bath & Beyond receipt, place it behind the letter “B.” If you have no reason to keep the receipt toss it.

I recommend using a box that is decorative or stylish so it looks like it is part of your décor. If your box is tucked away in a cabinet or drawer, it may take too much effort to use it consistently. One of my favorite lines of storage boxes is the Cargo line (pictured) as they are sleek and stylish and available in six colors.

If your receipt is for an item with a warranty, photocopy the sales receipt and attach it to the item’s manual and warranty. If you don’t photocopy the receipt, you may find that in just a few months your receipt is so faded it appears blank. Most sales receipts these days are on thermal paper. Thermal paper images will fade eventually making your sales receipt blank.
Don’t wait any longer to organize your receipts. Perhaps you can use items you already have on hand. Find a small box and cover it with fabric or paper to match your décor. Label blank index cards with the letters A through Z and place them inside.

I recommended purging your sales receipt storage box every 6 months. You can to it effortlessly while watching a television show.

Happy receipt organizing!