Monday, June 23, 2008

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.

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Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Get Control Of Your Craft Room

A properly organized craft room will give you the most time to enjoy the actual crafting whether you are sewing, quilting, knitting, or beading. Nothing will slow you down more than getting frustrated trying to find the supplies you need when you need them the most. With so many different types of supplies to store this can be a constant struggle here are a few tips to keep things under control.

An optimal height for most standing workbenches will be between 36 and 40 inches. Scientific studies suggest tables should be 80% of your elbow height for the least amount of strain on back, neck and arm muscles. You can block a table up with extensions or cut legs down to achieve suitable height. A comfy swivel chair you can adjust to your body type is essential for seated work station. Store most used tools in open containers on your work desk so they will be immediately accessible. Mount an adjustable light to provide plenty of light wherever you will need it. For finite work such as beading you might consider one fitted with a magnifying glass.

Clear plastic containers are great for storing your assortment of buttons, beads, pom poms, and dried flowers. Install plenty of shelving or stackable storage bins to maximize use of wall space. Cloth materials can be neatly folded and placed in clear storage bins of similar color and pattern. Alternatively you can hang up cloth on clothes hangers in a closet. Multi slack hangers will allow you to hang similar types of fabric on the same hanger. The advantage over plastic storage bins is being able to pull out a whole set and hold it next to your project to see which one goes best. Quilters will want to put similar colored fat quarters in drawers. Storing fabrics in a closet on clothes hangers limits exposure to sunlight which causes discoloration. Cloth sealed up in bins cannot breath. When hanging fabrics it is less likely for moisture to form and colors to bleed.

Maintain a neat and tidy craft room and it will continue to be an enjoyable place to hone your crafting skills to expert levels for years to come. Stay ahead of the game and do a little tidying ever day this way you will never be faced with the overwhelming task of sorting out a monumental mess. Be gentle but firm with yourself, as you develop these habits and you will find your efficiency increasing along with the quality of your work.




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.

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Sunday, February 10, 2008

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.

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Saturday, December 22, 2007

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.

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