Clothing Store Anti-Theft Devices

One of the worst scourges to the retail clothing industry is theft. It can be difficult to stop and if left unchecked can eat up profit margins, as thousands of dollars are literally walked out the doors. It is estimated that shoplifting accounts for between 20 and 30 billion dollars in lost merchandise every year. These anti-theft devices can help you battle the shop lifters and keep your store in business.


The most commonly used loss prevention devices are referred to as electronic article surveillance clips (EAS). These items have an electronic sensor or RFID chip in them designed to set off an alarm if someone tries to carry them through a store checkpoint. When someone purchases an item store clerks have a special tool to remove or deactivate the device. It can then be reused on another item. The most popular version takes form of an alligator clip with a pin through it. These clips are made of hard to break plastic and can be easily pinned onto any kind of garment.


Many devices will release indelible ink if a thief tries to remove them in a dressing room or later at home thereby ruining the stolen item. This is called benefit denial and prevents the thief from reselling the clothing. These devices are very difficult to defeat and even work against gravity.


For expensive items you can take measures further by running metal cables through sleeves and clothes hangers or store racks. People will still be able to try the items on, but will have a hard time walking away with them.


Security cameras or CCTV networks can also help monitor store activity. Cameras can help you cover blind spots. Place a camera over the cash registers as well. This way if there is any suspicious activity from employees you will have hard evidence before you wrongfully accuse someone, which could spark nasty legal action dissension among other workers. These systems have become much less expensive in recent years and digital recording devices have eliminated the need to store dozens of VCR tapes.


Without loss prevention devices there is nothing stopping thieves from simply pulling things off the hangers and carrying them out of the store. A small investment is required, but it is worth it. Tags cost between 50 cents and a few dollars depending on their style, but are reusable. Checkpoint towers start at around $1000. Once the system is in place it will pay dividends year after year.


About the Author: Ron Maier is the President of the Closet Hanger Factory, a leading online provider of clothes hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.closethangerfactory.com.

Solving Wardrobe Dilemmas

Hangers have not always come in all shapes and sizes. For a field that has long been dominated by plain symmetrical metal or plastic hangers it is about time someone came along with some innovation. Thankfully creative minds have developed some sweet contraptions to solve our clothing storage conundrums. Today’s hangers come in all shapes, sizes, and colors and are crafted from a wide variety of materials such as, wood, metal, bamboo, and even recycled paper. If you are having trouble getting everything into your closet here are a few special hangers to help solve wardrobe dilemmas.

NOT ENOUGH STORAGE SPACE?

Of course the common battle we all fight is just getting everything in to our closets. While it may be time for a spring cleaning you may not have to throw out as much as you thought. Slim line hangers are super thin at a ¼” and can double or even triple your closet space. Another huge space saver is multi-slack hangers. These hold between three and six pairs of pants on a single hanger. Remember to leave a little room for accessibility to easily sort through your wardrobe.

ODD SHAPED ITEMS?

There is a hanger for everything from drapes and linens to a fancy evening gown. These hangers divert from the traditional triangular shaped hanger. The circular bikini hanger is a great invention. Here is another way to store bikinis or underwear instead of balling them up in a drawer. It makes it much easier to see what you have got and saves time having to search for matching sets.

Certain items just do not seem to stay hung up on any hanger. Here is where adjustable hangers come in handy. These hangers enable you to get the perfect fit for any garment. Removable pads can be easily popped off and adjusted to fill out any shirt or jacket size. This keeps dress shirts wrinkle free, since they hang in a more natural way. Alternatively foam or rubber hanger strips installed on any hanger make them slip free.

Maybe it is about time you got rid of your twisted old hangers. Your closet is about you and it is important. It is the portal you step through every morning before you enter the world. Get yourself out the door in the right frame of mind. Investing the time to make an organized and functional closet will reap dividends for years to come.


About the Author: Ron Maier is the President of the Closet Hanger Factory, a leading online provider of clothes hangers and plastic hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.closethangerfactory.com.

Organizing In Bamboo

If you are looking for an alternative to the IKEA trend of plain painted particle board furniture you might look into the growing market of bamboo products. More and more items are becoming available at affordable prices every day. Unless you have a fortune to spend on custom designed everything for your home you will probably be looking for thrifty ways to stay organized. Laundry sorters, storage bins, shoe racks, hangers, and cutlery trays are just a few of the items we all need, but do not want to invest our life savings in.

The reason bamboo is a great alternative and an ecological choice for furniture is because of the unique properties of the bamboo plant. It has all the traits of a great crop. Resilient, fast growing, pest and pest resistant and it can be manufactured into anything from building materials like hardwood flooring or furniture to high end clothing, towels, and bedding. Some species grow up to 1’ per day without pesticides or fertilizer, which makes it one of the most sustainable crops on the planet.

We all need to store things and often rely on big plastic bins or particle board shelving units, since they seem inexpensive. Unfortunately manufacture of these products relies heavily on the petroleum industry and their relatively short life span makes them an inferior choice. Plastic storage bins stain and become difficult or impossible to clean and will not biodegrade once they are thrown away. Plastics become brittle overtime and will eventually break. There are often weak points in the design, such as retaining brackets or connectors that break easily and render the whole unit useless.

Prefabricated bamboo storage containers can be used to organize just about anything and will fit inside drawers, closets, and cabinets. You might consider replacing or upgrading metal or plastic clothes hangers to bamboo hangers. Bamboo versions of any of these products will be highly dent resistant and should last much longer wear better their plastic or particle board constructions. Whether it is for your laundry sorter, closet organizer, or that little magazine holder next to the toilet the elegant real wood grain will add class to your home and lifestyle. Most of these items can be purchased at costs on par with plastic and particle board alternatives.

You do not have to be rich to have a lovely home you just have to be smart. Make decisions that save the planet and your money. Next time you are in the market for furniture, organizers, or hangers take a look at bamboo.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the President of the Closet Hanger Factory, a leading online provider of woodenclosethangerfactory.com"> hangers and closethangerfactory.com"> clothes hangers. For more information, please visit closethangerfactory.com"> http://www.closethangerfactory.com.

What's That Smell in your Closet?

You have just gotten out of the shower. Going over to your closet to get dressed, you open the doors and are assaulted with foul odors. Closet odors can be a nasty problem. Since closets are confined spaces even the faintest odor producing source can create a terrible stench over time, and the smell gets on everything. While the temptation may be to spend the rest of the day naked there is something you can do about closet odors.

It is important to consider the cause of your closet smells. Closets are dark places and musty odors can develop even at normal temperature and humidity levels, especially if clothes or linens are not completely dry when they are put away. Items stored for long periods of time are particularly susceptible, and the scents that are absorbed by clothes can remain on them like an aromatic stain even after several washings. Other sources might be sweaty gym shoes, kitty litter, There are literally hundreds of sources of closet odor that fall into two categories “latent” odors, and “continuous” odors.

With latent odors the source of the stench is no longer present and they can be remedied with intensive cleaning. This would include that unidentifiable noxious smell left by a previous owner. Other examples include mold, pet odors, spoiled food, or mothballs. If the smell is new keep in mind it could be the sign of a leaky roof or siding and investigate accordingly. First take everything out of the closet. All items will need to be thoroughly cleaned. Wash clothes in warm water and repeat if necessary. A solution of ½ cup of vinegar, and a ¼ of baking soda mixed with hot water should be used to cleanse all surfaces in the closet. Bleach is not advisable since it will leave a pungent odor all its own. Leave the closet empty and the door open for several days to dry out.

If you store a lot of shoes, dirty laundry, or cat litter in your closet you will be dealing with continuing source odors. Initially a thorough cleansing of the closet may be required, but it may not be possible to eliminate the source odor. Here you will need something to absorb the odors before they build up, or create a path for them to escape. Placing cups of vinegar, perfume, dryer sheets, or baking soda around the inside of the closet is great for this. Sprinkle anti fungal powder or baking soda in shoes. Alternatively you dangle a sachet of volcanic crystals or perfumed cotton from clothes hangers. Another great way to keep clothes smelling fresh is to use wooden hangers made of cedar.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the President of the Closet Hanger Factory, a leading online provider of clothes hangers and wooden hangers. For more information, please visit Http://www.closethangerfactory.com.

Wedding Dress Preservation

Searching for the perfect wedding dress is no small task. For some women it has been delightful and nearly lifelong endeavor. As the wedding day approaches there are the countless hours of intense research studying bridal fashion magazines and reviewing the latest Hollywood weddings. For some it all adds up to hundreds or even thousands of hours. Even though you have already spent so much joyful personal investment shopping the bridal stores, trying on numerous dresses, gathering your best friends’ opinions, and stressing about the $2000 dollar price tag do not stop there. Preserving your prized wedding dress after your special day takes some careful consideration as well.

Unless you have decided to trash the dress the options you will be looking at are sealing, boxing, or bagging. Sealing involves placing the dress inside an airtight padded box using cardboard cutouts and acid free tissue paper to preserve the shape. The thought behind sealing is that by making the package airtight the dress will be protected from the elements, however this lack of airflow creates a risk of mold and mildew. A long term storage method such as this can also cause permanent creasing at the folds. It is also quite expensive.

Boxing your dress is similar to sealing. These boxes are usually acid free and often lined with fabric. The difference is that the box is not sealed and you can access the dress easily any time. Seams and folds are looser so there is less risk of creasing, however a boxed dress should be periodically refolded and placed back into its container to avoid permanent creases.

Bagging is the method often used to preserve antique clothing in museums. Here the dress is hung from padded metal hangers and twill string or tape is used to reinforce and support the dress as it hangs, which is critical to reduce stretching. Once the dress is properly supported an all cotton outer bag usually between 5 and 6 feet in length slides over the whole dress.

Boxing or bagging your dress has other benefits aside from allowing it to breath. The best reason perhaps is that it allows you to easily inspect and refold the dress as you revisit memories as often as you wish. Do it yourselfers can purchase boxing or bagging kits that provide you with all the packing supplies, hangers, and instructions you will need to properly store and care for you garment over the years.

Store your basement in a dark room where it will be safe from dust and light. An upstairs closet is preferable. Never store you dress in the basement where moisture in the air will be absorbed by the dress causing discoloration or mold.

Of course a thorough cleaning is a must before any storage method is implemented. Wet cleaning or dry cleaning and how much cleaning should be decided based on your dress design and condition after the wedding. If you are considering cleaning your own dress take some time to educate yourself on the various cleaning methods their implications on your particular dress.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the President of the Closet Hanger Factory, a leading online provider of metal hangers. For more information, please visit www.closethangerfactory.com

Hanger Mobile: A Creative Craft for a Rainy Day

It’s raining again. The park is all muddy and wet. Your child has watched more videos then the “experts” would ever allow. What to do next with your pre-school aged child? How about a craft you can do together? Here is a great creativity cultivating craft for your next rainy day.

To create your hanger mobile you will need two wire hangers, a couple of yards of ribbon, yarn or string, colourful construction paper, stickers or cookie cutters that match your theme, scissors, glue, and glitter. Ask your child to choose what kind of theme they want their mobile to have. If you need help with ideas here are a few to consider. Space, jungle, bugs, hearts, flowers, or farm are all popular themes amongst kids ages 3-5.

Start by unwinding the hanger hooks. Next, intertwine the two hangers so that their bases make an ‘X’. Then twist the hanger hooks together and bend down to make a loop. You will eventually hang your mobile from this loop. You may want to use pliers to manipulate the wire as it can be sharp. Pick out your ribbon and begin wrapping the hangers. Start at the loop you just made and be sure to wrap up any sharp edges. When you get to where the hangers cross at the bottom use the ribbon to secure the connection by wrapping it several times around the ‘X’ then continue. Secure the ribbon in place with a small dollop of glue when you have wrapped the hangers completely. Once your mobile is ribbon wrapped you can begin to cut different lengths of yarn or string. Cut out whatever shapes you and your child have decided to hang from your mobile using construction paper and scissors. Some shapes that go well with the themes mentioned earlier are stars, spaceships, (if you have Styrofoam balls they make great planets), monkeys, elephants, snakes, giraffes, bees, ladybugs, butterflies, flowers, hearts, rainbows, clouds, cows, pigs, dogs, horses, chickens, and barns. If you have cookie cutters that match your theme use them as a template to trace out the shape and have your little one cut it out. If you don’t fancy yourself an artist and don’t have cookie cutters or stencils, then stickers will work. Pick out colourful paper and cut into circles, squares, and triangles. Let your child decorate with stickers and/or glitter. Spread a small amount of glue on the shape then sprinkle glitter on glue. You can create sparkly stars or glittery hearts. Be creative and have fun with it.

Use the end of the scissor blade to poke a small whole to thread the yarn or string through your cut out shapes. Tie a knot and attach to various points on your hanger mobile. You can either tie the string to the hanger or attach with glue. If you have opted to use Styrofoam balls you can use a pen to poke a hole all the way through the ball and then feed your string through or just tape your string if you don’t want it too complicated. Encourage your child to participate as much as possible with ideas, cutting string and shapes, and especially with the glitter. Now that your mobile is complete you and your youngster can find the perfect place for it to hang.

Rainy days aren’t all bad. Just look at it as a great opportunity to spend some quality fun time with your kids. Don’t get too hung up on the mess or whether the craft looks perfect or not. Enjoy your child’s creativity, encourage their fine motor skills with cutting and stringing, and ask them questions about the theme they’ve chosen. Great questions to get them thinking are why did you pick this theme? What do you like most about it? What letter do these shapes start with? Can you count how many shapes we’ve cut out? Every day is filled with opportunities to learn and have fun with your kids.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the President of Everything Hangers, a leading online provider of hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.closethangerfactory.com.

Advances In Hanger Technology

Does your closet seem to be getting smaller and smaller? How we use of that precious closet space is more important than ever. Instead of weaning your favourite items of clothing from your wardrobe try this new type of hanger. This new type of hanger creates a sleek and well organized looking closet while making the most of the space that you have to work with.

Slim line hangers were developed to help use the space more efficiently than those chunky plastic hangers or over sized wooden hangers. They are skinny plastic hangers covered in a velvety layer to keep your clothes from slipping off. They are perfect for keeping any silk, satin, or strappy items of clothing, such as an evening dress or lingerie, on the hanger where you put them. An alternative choice is the multi tiered pant hanger. The multi tiered pant hanger allows you to hang up to four pairs of pants on one hanger. These hangers are also a bit smaller, approximately ¼“ thick and 18” wide, so they are easily transferred to garment bags and hanging luggage. Take them with you on your business trips or world travels.

Slim line hangers come in a variety of colors to choose from including black, camel, linen, burgundy, pink, and lavender. You can also get slim line childrens hangers in the same variety of colors and styles to help organize your child’s closet.

Additionally there is a handy accessory for these hangers called the “cascading mini hook”. Just slip the cascading mini hook over the hook of your hanger and you are able to add another hanger without using up additional closet rod space. These work great for those out fits that have multiple pieces. Now you can keep the coordinating shirt and skirt together or suit jacket and pants without having to share the same hanger and risk the wrinkled look. You can save time getting ready in the morning by having your outfits all together instead of wasting time searching in frustration through your wardrobe for matching pieces.

Don’t let today’s increasing demand for space affect your wardrobe. Replace your current hangers with the slim line hangers and slim line accessories and watch your closet go from overcrowded to organized just like that. It will be an investment that pays dividends in time saved and headaches avoided. You’ll be happy with the results and your clothes will thank you too.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the President of The Closet Hanger Factory, a leading online provider of childrens hangers and wooden hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.closethangerfactory.com.

Child Safety Proofing Your Home

Whether you have your own toddler or have toddlers that visit occasionally there are some important things you can do to ensure a safe home environment for any little person. Approximately 2.5 million child injuries and fatal accidents occur in the home every year. Most of these could have been avoided by taking some simple measures to make the home is safe for your children.

The most common place to store household cleaners, such as ammonia or bleach, is under the bathroom or kitchen sink, but you’ll need a safer place to store these hazardous materials. Children love to play in cabinets and cupboards, especially lower ones at their height. Children are also very curious so those spray bottles and bleach bottles appear to them like a new and interesting play things or something to taste. More than 90 percent of poisonings occur in homes, and more than 53 percent involve children younger than age 6. Keep cleaners and harmful solvents in hard or impossible to reach cupboards. Another option is a child proof lock on lower cabinets where you keep your cleaning supplies. Keep the poison control number on the cupboard as well as near the phone just in case an unfortunate incident should occur.

Toddlers love to climb, especially if it looks like a ladder. It’s very important to secure bookshelves, dressers, and entertainment centers using brackets that screw into the studs of your walls. Furniture safety brackets are inexpensive, easy to install, and found at most hardware stores. Make sure the cords to blinds and curtains are up and out of reach. These cords are especially tempting to little ones and are high risk for choking and strangling accidents.

As soon as your little one begins learning to walk, tumble, and summersault furniture with sharp corners and sharp objects become a hazard. A lot of stores now carry foam corners that are simply placed on the corners of coffee tables, end tables, and entertainment centers. If you don’t have toddlers of your own but are anticipating a visit from one a quick solution is to toss a comforter over your coffee table or just remove it temporarily from the room during a visit. Any items that could easily break into sharp pieces should be moved out of reach of little hands. Wire hangers are another safety issue. It is not uncommon to have eye or ear injuries caused by wire hangers. Replace your wire hangers with safe plastic hangers. As a general rule, if it’s not a toy it shouldn’t be on the floor.

Here are a few safety devices you should implement as well. Safety gates will prevent falls down stairways. Plastic doorknob covers to keep children from leaving the home or room they are in. Doorstoppers hold doors open to keep hands from getting pinched or broken in a suddenly closing door. Anti-scald devices keep water temperatures at faucets from getting too hot. Outlet plug covers can keep small fingers from getting electrocuted. Since window screens can be removed or broken easily they are not adequate to prevent falls. Window guards or netting will insure no serious falls take place

Other things you might want to watch out for are any electrical cords from televisions, stereo systems, telephones, or lamps. Bundle all extra cord length with zip ties that cannot be removed and switch to a cordless phone. Move candy dishes containing jelly beans, candies, or nuts to higher ground, as they are a potential choking hazard.

Toddlers are bound to fall down and bump into something once in a while. As you make your home safer for your toddler and their friends keep in mind that growing up is about learning and discovering new things. Make it your goal to make those discoveries as safe as possible.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the President of The Closet Hanger Factory, a leading online provider of hangers and plastic hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.closethangerfactory.com.

Organic Clothing

The Green Revolution is changing how people think and perceive their environment. These changes are prevalent in everything from our food supply, to the buildings we live and work in, and even the clothing we wear. Demand for organic clothing is growing rapidly and is expected to triple by the end of 2008, but many people are still unaware of this $2.6 billion dollar industry that spans the entire globe.

What does it mean for clothes to be organic? Simply that the clothes are made from non-toxic, natural materials grown, and manufactured in an ecologically sound, sustainable fashion. Common materials used are cotton, wool, bamboo, and even soy. Bamboo trees grow extremely rapidly, several inches per day, even without pesticides. The pulp has a fine texture and produces products similar to silk that are highly breathable, UV resistant and antimicrobial. Soy protein fibres have exceptional durability and accept a wide range of dyes, yet possess smoothness akin to cashmere, though smoother still. Organic wool comes from sheep that are farmed on organically certified soils. Cotton is the most widely available of organic clothing products, as it is extremely durable and efficient to produce. Only 10% of its mass is lost during its conversion into textiles. China is the largest producer of cotton, while the most efficient production takes place in California. Its qualities are exactly the same as regular cotton.

Why choose organic clothes? The textile industry is among the worst global polluters. Since cotton is not a food crop, pesticides are used more frequently and have higher toxicity. These poisons leach into the soil and spread to water supply surrounding communities rely on. Farmers and their families often suffer serious health problems as a result of exposure to these chemicals. Unsustainable farming practice depletes the soil in some regions and destroys eco-systems for years to come. Organic farming does not endanger human or wildlife and promotes clean air, water, and soil. Organically certified clothing will contain no traces of harmful chemicals or dyes, an especially important consideration for anyone with infants, and toddlers.

Where can you get it? There is a vast array of online providers of organic wear, carrying lines from simple hemp t-shirts to, baby clothes, to high end luxurious linens, comforters, and mattresses. Nike, Wal-Mart, and Target are just a few companies that have started selling their own organic lines. Specialty vendors carry more unique items, such as velour diapers and soakers or bamboo towels. Typically these products are more expensive. A basic organic t-shirt is likely to cost you $10 more than a standard non-organic version. Hang clothes on organic hangers made of sundela, a product made of compressed newspapers. Currently it may be difficult to find a local vendor where you can try before you by, but as awareness and demand spreads, expect to see more popping up.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the President of The Closet Hanger Factory, a leading online provider of hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.closethangerfactory.com.

Flying Luggage

Travel can be a stressful time. The last thing you need is to worry about your luggage. Most people do not fully understand how quality luggage can help reduce the stress of travelling. Whether you are a frequent flyer, or taking off for your first time you should consider a few important things when selecting your luggage. Capacity, durability, and usability are the three key components to luggage evaluation.

The size of suitcase you will require largely depends on how long you are going to be staying at your destination, and what you might expect to be bringing back. If you like to pack everything but the kitchen sink then you’ll want look at luggage with a great storage capacity. However, large suitcases can be heavy, and it might be easier to manage several smaller suitcases. Modular luggage, which can be snapped together to form one large wheeled piece, will help you move your belongings with ease. It may even get you past that pesky A type baggage check clerk that says your luggage is ¼” too big. Some cases come with unfolding compartments you can unzip to accommodate for those things you’ve picked up on your travels. Others feature hanging bags that come with small flexible plastic hangers for keeping dress clothes wrinkle free. Bear in mind it’s easier to carry on if you’re only going for a day or two. This will streamline you departure from the airport by avoiding the dreaded search for your baggage claim area in international airports.

Durable luggage is crucial especially when frequently used. When considering soft or cloth luggage make sure the zippers are reinforced. This will prevent your belongings poking out of ruptured seams while you perform body slams, dropkicks, and other WWE manoeuvres seen on TV in order to close an overstuffed bag. Although a greater range of styling is available, weather conditions can wreak havoc on soft fabric luggage. Hard shell luggage provides great protection from the elements as well as rough handling often encountered from lackadaisical baggage handlers. Additionally hard-sided shell has the advantage of being resistant to stains.

Finally, inspect the wheel system closely. Regardless of whether you have hard or soft, great or small luggage if you can’t move it or use it easily it is pretty much useless. How travelers have had their rolling luggage tip over every time a sharp corner or directional change is made? Multi directional wheels ensure high performance maneuverability in tight spaces and busy crowds. Retractable locking handles are a must if you plan on pushing your luggage.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the President of The Closet Hanger Factory, a leading online provider of clothes hangers and plastic hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.closethangerfactory.com.

Solutions for a Cluttered Closet

Do you have a cluttered closet? Is something amiss in your armoire? Do you suspect that there are living things amidst the wilderness of your wardrobe? Then take a few minutes to read this helpful article, and learn about the amazing difference hangers, shelves, and shoe racks can make in your disorganized depository.

If you’re taking the time to read this you are probably one of the many who suffer from a woefully dishevelled walk-in closet. One glance at the mangled wire hangers sticking out everywhere and you turn back and begin searching the floor for something to wear. Hangers are not the enemy. Clothes are easily accessible when hung at eye level and properly sorted. Hangers help to keep your clothes wrinkle free and maintain those perfect creases in your dress pants. Get rid of all the bent-out-of-shape metal hangers lurking in your closet. Look for collapsible, multi-tiered hangers, which save space by allowing you to hang multiple garments at once. Dress shirts, pants, and dresses should all be kept on hangers with adequate space between items. It may seem like added expense, but you’re clothes were expensive too, and this will help protect that investment.

Shelves provide compartments to separate different types of clothing. Many home stores, such as IKEA, or Home Depot, carry adjustable shelving units that are easy to install. Stack sweaters on one shelf and t-shirts on another. Baskets can be used on shelves to hold socks, belts, or scarves. Most closets come standard with a shelf above the clothes rod. Install a second shelf a little higher up to create more storage space for off season clothes and shoes.

Shoes have a way of getting jumbled together at the bottom of most closets. Shoe racks keep pairs together and easily accessible. Shoes you wear infrequently can be stored in shoe box size containers and placed on an upper shelf. Choose clear plastic containers for shoe storage so you can view them quickly and easily. Another option is a hanging shoe bag. This can be hung on the back of the closet door and adds additional storage space for those who own more shoes than clothes.

Organizing your cluttered closet should be a piece of cake. Remember, clothes hangers, shelves, and shoe racks provide the structure you need to get started. Leave your wardrobe worries behind and look forward to your coordinated closet. You will be amazed at how much time you save getting dressed in the morning.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the President of The Closet Hanger Factory, a leading online provider of clothes hangers and childrens hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.closethangerfactory.com.

Cedar - The Wonder Wood

Most people are aware of the different uses of cedar. It is commonly used as a building material in construction. Lap siding, roofing shingles, decks, handrails, furniture, and tree houses are just a few examples of its application in this field. Cedar hope chests and armoires, and even clothes hangers repel moths, protect clothes, and leave them smelling fresh. It’s also found in the kitchen taking the form of salad bowls, utensils, and serving platters. But not everyone knows why cedar is so useful for making these various items. The purpose of this essay is to inform the reader of the attributes of cedar that make it so useful in so many ways.

King Solomon, well known for his wisdom in legal matters and 40 year reign over the kingdom of Israel, used the cedars of Lebanon in the construction of his temple in Jerusalem. Cedar is naturally decay resistant which makes it a wise choice to construct anything you want to last. In addition to it being decay resistant, it is also weather resistant. Cedar is able to endure the elements without cracking or warping making it a popular choice in construction of homes and furniture.

Whether it’s an old wives tale or not, most people believe that cedar can repel moths. No one likes to find little holes in their favourite wool sweater, or silk blouse. Experts say that it is the larvae of the brown moth that are responsible for those holes. The brown moth larvae feed on natural fibres such as wool, cotton or silk. The larval stage of the brown moth lasts from 71-145 days. Cedar contains aromatic oil that under the right circumstances can kill small moth larvae. An air tight, enclosed space, such as you would find in a cedar hope chest, is ideal for attaining the concentration of oil fumes needed to annihilate the unwanted larvae.

Cedar is light weight, easy to work with, and naturally durable. The natural oils it contains are capable of repelling water. The Native American took advantage of this by crafting canoes, cook ware and even clothing. They would weave clothing from the cedar fibres creating apparel ideal for the rugged environments they lived in. Cedar’s ability to withstand extreme temperatures allowed Native Americans to make bowls they could put heated rocks into to cook their food. Kitchens today hold many items made of this highly functional material.

With so many beneficial applications, construction, bug repellent, and daily tools, cedar can truly be called a wonder wood.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the Vice President of S & L Store Fixtures, a leading online provider of clothes hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.closethangerfactory.com.