When Dads Create Clutter

As #Father’s Day approaches, you may be thinking about ways to celebrate dear old #dad. Depending on his pastimes, a pizza oven, automotive accessory or gadgety gift may be in his very near future. But before you buy, consider for a second how dads create #clutter.

It may be a gross generalization to say that moms probably think about clutter and household #organization more. In a consumerist society, individuals of every gender can accumulate lots of #stuff as time goes by, and that stuff can pile up around the house.

But surveys say that women often spend more time cleaning than their spouses. They are also more adept at planning work-related tasks, travel and holiday celebrations. They largely dominate the professional #organizer field.

Dads may be prone to let things pile up. And they many build vast collections of tools, garden implements, collectibles and other highly specific and specialized #stuff that’s seldom used on a day-to-day basis.

If you have one of those dads, try to make Father’s Day a day free of added clutter. Focus on the experience: buy him tickets to a ball game, a round of golf or an online class. Or go for something consumable, such as a nice steak dinner — in or out — or a bottle of his favorite spirit.

Like with moms, you also can give the gift of #organization by actively helping #clean, sort and consolidate his stuff. Wash his car or have it professionally detailed. Install pegboard organizers in his home office or workshop. Help him clean out a storage closet or the garage.

If you find anything he no longer needs or wants, schedule a free #donation #pickup from ClothingDonations.org. That way, you’ll assist in clearing the extra unwanted #junk from the home environment, which will make dad’s life less stressful overall.

The best gift for any parent is not only #clutter-free, it’s also virtually free: spending quality time together. So whether he’s a hoarder or a neat-freak, that’s the best way to honor dad on Father’s Day. #FathersDay

Don’t Forget Living Veterans on Memorial Day

While Memorial Day honors those who have made the ultimate #sacrifice in #service to the nation, it never hurts to support living #veterans, too. Many know the sacrifice personally, and lived to tell the tale. Some need assitance such as health care, financial support or simple companionship. That’s where ClothingDonations.org comes in: By collecting and reselling #donations of lightly used clothing, small appliances, furniture and other household goods, we help fund valuable #veterans programs throughout the country, helping all who served access housing, health care and benefits claims, as well as offering fellowship. #MemorialDay

Help Mom Get Organized for Mother’s Day

Sometimes the ultimate #clutter-free Mother’s Day gift is something that helps wrangle and #organize her #stuff, says Sensational Organizing. Gifts that add to #organization include a set of packing cubes to keep clothing grouped during travel, sets of matching and labeled kitchen containers, purse organizers and laundry carts. Or consider helping digitize family photos and videos that still exist in old media and get rid of the physical copies. Or you could spend the day actively helping Mom #declutter, and #donate any extra # clothing and household goods to ClothingDonations.org. #MothersDay

This Earth Day, Make Your Style More Sustainable

Earth Day 2023 is Saturday, April 22 — the 53rd edition of the annual celebration of Earth and its ecology. Why do we have such an observance? Because the human race has had the biggest impact on the planet, and we are the only species able to adjust our behavior as its stewards.

As we observe Earth Day, we must remember that the climate is in crisis. There’s no use denying it: While shifts in #climate have occurred naturally in the past, the success of a species that’s now over 8 billion strong is accelerating climate change.

We are nearing or beyond a tipping point where we can no longer expect to avert all serious problems. But individual and collective action can still mitigate disaster and lead to a more sustainable future.

One step everyone can take is to dress in a more sustainable way. Due to “fast fashion” — the cheap, trendy and basically disposable #clothing most of us buy and wear — people now have more garments than ever before and use them for shorter periods of time.

The apparel industry is responsible for greenhouse gas emissions equal to Germany, France and the U.K. combined, according to EarthDay.org, and it could account for more 26% of emissions worldwide by 2050. Just washing all of those clothes is poisoning waterways with microplastics.

Recycling is minimal. “And while there are innovative technologies that can break down the fabric of used garments to make new clothing, many await business investment to scale their systems to the colossal size necessary,” the site says.

You can spearhead #reuse, however, by scheduling a free #pickup and #donating your lightly used clothing to ClothingDonations.org. Once you’ve #decluttered, apply one simple principle of #sustainability to your wardrobe: Buy fewer items and make sure that the ones you buy are made to last.

As consolation, remember that you can spend a little more on #garments you’ll use for several years. These steps — reduction and reuse — are two tiny, personal steps toward #sustainability, but if enough people perform them, it can have a positive impact on the Earth.

For more ideas on creating positive change to benefit the environment and a listing of Earth Day observances nationwide, visit EarthDay.org.

Organize Your Wardrobe for a Perfect Summer

With the days getting warmer, it’s time to get your perfect summer wardrobe in order. Even if you have already #sorted and #stored your cold-weather clothing, says Lifetime Organizing, you’ll want to create a “capsule” wardrobe that suits you and your lifestyle. Look at the events and activities you have coming up, and sort out the garments that will work for them. Then, reorganize your closet to put those items front-and-center, limiting yourself to a specific number of mix-and-match essentials. Store the fall and winter clothing, and #donate any garments that no longer fit into the rotation to ClothingDonations.org. #PerfectSummer