Order In The House

When we first started our business over three and a half years ago a lot of people doubted that there was a market for this type of professional organising service in Northern Ireland. Turns out the majority of us are time poor, despite the promises we made to ourselves during Covid lockdowns, we returned to a frantic pace of life. Modern day life is busy, not least for women - we’re supposed to be all things to all people and it’s hard to keep all the plates spinning. There is no shame in acquiring a bit of help now and again. We all need it!

There has never been a better time to get some order in your office and to help you achieve an organised office space we’re offering you 25% off this Bisley office furniture:

🗄️ Bisley 39 series Multidrawer 15 drawer filing cabinet (White / Goose Grey / Black available) - RRP £220.50 Now £165

🗄️ Bisley Volume Filer Two Drawer Foolscap Filing Cabinet (White / Goose Grey / Black available) - RRP £207 Now £155

🗄️ Bisley Tambour Cupboard Lockable One Shelf (Silver / White available) - RRP £358.80 Now £269

🗄️ Bisley Two Drawer Suspension Filing Cabinet Lockable (Grey available) - RRP £184.68 Now £138

To purchase any of these items send us a DM, it will be collection only from East Belfast.

⚡️ Did you know that all electricals, even small inexpensive items such as cables, contain precious materials – and if we bin them they’re lost forever. That’s a big challenge for the environment and our economy.

⚡️ Discarded old electrical items are one of the fastest growing waste streams in the UK - and in the world. However, since January 2021, all physical electrical and electronic retailers are now obliged to accept consumers’ old electricals in-store for recycling.

⚡️ Anything with a plug, battery or cable can be recycled. To find out where you can take your old cables and electrical items for recycling go to recycleyourelectricals.org.uk

Did you know that organising your fridge effectively can help keep your food fresh, reduce waste, and make meal prep easier. Here’s our top tips for creating a well structured and organised fridge:

TOP SHELF:
Store ready-to-eat foods here - leftovers, drinks, and herbs.

MIDDLE SHELVES:
Ideal for dairy products - milk, cheese, and yogurt.

LOWER SHELVES:
Perfect for raw meat, poultry, and fish. (Place these items on a tray or in a separate container to prevent leaks.)

CRISPER DRAWERS:
Use these for fruits and vegetables. (Most fridges have two drawers; set one to high humidity for leafy greens and other vegetables, and one to low humidity
for fruits.)

FRIDGE DOORS:
Best for condiments, juices,
and items with preservatives.

It’s also advisable to use containers throughout, label everything, store items with a short use by date at the front of your shelves, avoid overcrowding, use vertical space and plan before you shop!

Organising your fridge in this way should help you maximise food freshness and minimise waste.

Go on, show us your shelfie!

🗣️ Did you know that we offer wellbeing talks for businesses?! We’ve provided workshops for IKEA, BT, PWC and Macmillan Cancer Support, to name but a few.

If you would be interested in having us come talk to your workforce about the impact that our surroundings have on our productivity and general wellbeing, drop us an email to 📧 [email protected]

The average 10 year old owns 238 toys, but plays with just 12 daily. Time for a declutter? 🧸

🌈 Live your life in colour 🌈

✍🏻 BLOG POST - if you missed it first time around we have now published our blog for entitled ‘Top Tips on organising your kitchen to make good mornings’ on our own website. To read it click the link in our bio and select Blog.

Later is the best friend of clutter. Tackle it now!

We are now selling Mustard Lockers via our website, use code FIRSTLOCKER10 for 10% off your first order. Go to the link in our bio to access our online shop.

We’ve had a run of wardrobe decluttering jobs recently so we’ve been constantly replenishing the velvet hangers. There are a number of reasons we believe them to be the best option for hanging your clothes:

👗 Clothing doesn’t slip off them
👗 They create a beautiful aesthetic due to the uniformity
👗 They are slimline which allows you to house more items in your wardrobe (just not too many!)

Holding on to memories, especially those captured in photographs, videos, and audio recordings, is important because they serve as a tangible connection to our past, helping to preserve personal and family histories, traditions, and experiences. These memories can provide comfort, joy, and a sense of identity, not just for us but for future generations who may wish to understand their heritage.

However, holding on to old software can be problematic. Not only does it add to the clutter in our homes, outdated software can become obsolete, incompatible with modern devices, and challenging to access. Over time, data stored on old formats like film reels, VHS tapes, and DVDs can degrade, leading to the potential loss of valuable memories.

By transferring these memories to modern formats, you can minimise the items in your home and ensure your memories remain accessible and intact, benefiting from the improved quality, ease of sharing, and longevity that contemporary technology offers. This way, the essence of your memories is preserved without the drawbacks associated with old, unreliable media.

One of our clients recently introduced us to - they offer archive transfer services and they’re based on the Lisburn Road in Belfast. Maybe you know of similar companies doing the same thing? If so please share details in the comments below.

What to do with the kids over the holidays 🤔🤔 - well they’ve got the boiler suits maybe we should put them to work 😉😉.

Remember if you’re storing your ingredients in a deep drawer, it’s always a good idea to store them in clear containers with a label on top.

Available for office spaces as well as homes.

If you’ve been thinking about hiring Order in the House but you’re not sure what to expect why not check out the reviews on our Google Business page.

Rachael recently commented:

“ I had the absolute pleasure of meeting the amazing Claire and Lisa to get some order in my house! I was very overwhelmed with my walk in wardrobe space and Claire and Lisa have worked their magic to completely transform the space into a beautiful, organised and functional WIW that I have always dreamed off. They are both so professional, friendly and hard working.

I really enjoyed spending the day with them purging unused hoarded items which is something I could have never done without their help. The day absolutely flew in and the amount of progress they achieved within those hours was unbelievable.

They both work so efficiently and their organisation skills are so unique and something to learn from. They are both so talented and certainly the best at what they do! I cannot highly recommend Order In The House enough, they are by far the best at what they do and they know their stuff. I can’t wait to use their services again in the future and can’t thank Claire and Lisa enough for all their help. I could have never dealt with that space if it wasn’t for them.”

📦 The hardest things to declutter are often the sentimental items. Which of these items would you struggle to get rid of?

A Mustard locker is always a good idea. DM us to order your very own today.

📚 Can we talk about books? 📚

We know that a lot of people struggle to get rid of their books. Often it’s easier to let go of items when you know they’re going to a good cause or those who really need them. Donating books is a great way to ensure they continue to be enjoyed while supporting various causes.

📚 We channel books to a number of places - the bookshop in Holywood, the bookshop in Ballyhackamore and book banks. These banks are often found in supermarket car parks where books are collected to be sold in Oxfam shops, funding efforts to alleviate global poverty.

📚 It’s also worth checking with your local library, your donation could help to expand their collection and reach more readers.

📚 may also take your books, this organisation supports libraries and readers in under-resourced communities worldwide. Collection of your books can be arranged with a local volunteer.

📚 If it’s children’s books that you’re looking to move on you may want to consider contacting - this is a registered charity. They work with settings across the UK to redistribute thousands of new and gently used books to children and their families. There are a number of local schools who could benefit from your books via the Children’s Book project. Check out their website for more details - https://childrensbookproject.co.uk/

These are just a few options to consider when looking to donate books, ensuring they continue to inspire and educate others. If you know of other organisations in your area that can use pre-loved books let us know in the comments below 👇🏻 and we’ll spread the word!

👭 TEACH YOUR KIDS HOW TO TIDY 👬

Getting children to keep their spaces tidy can be challenging, but here are some effective strategies we’ve found useful:

👭 Involve them in the Process

Engage children in organising their space. Allow them to make decisions about where things go and how they are arranged. Let them make and attach labels themselves. This gives them a sense of ownership and responsibility.

👬 Set Clear Expectations

Establish clear and achievable guidelines for what “tidy” means. Be specific about what needs to be done.

👭 Make it Fun

Turn tidying up into a game or a fun activity. Use timers, play their favourite music, or create a reward system for when tasks are completed.

👬 Provide Appropriate Storage Solutions

Ensure there are enough storage options that are easy for children to use. This can include bins, shelves, and labels to make organising easier (you may require labels with pictures as opposed to words for smaller children).

👬 Lead by Example

Model the behaviour you want to see. If children see adults keeping spaces tidy, they are more likely to mimic that behaviour.

👭 Consistency is Key

Make tidying up a regular part of their routine. Consistency helps in forming habits.

👬 Praise and Encourage

Recognise and praise their efforts to keep their space tidy. Positive reinforcement can motivate them to continue being responsible for their space.

By involving children in the process and creating a positive and engaging environment for tidying up, they are more likely to develop a sense of responsibility and maintain a tidy space.

👕 Stacking t-shirts ❎

👕 Filing t-shirts ✅

Stacking t-shirts tends to lead to a lot of mess when you have to pull one out. Filing your t-shirts is a much more effective way of easily accessing the tee you need without creating chaos.

We use crates to store t-shirts on shelves. DM us to order yours today.

Ever wondered what it’s like to have Order in the House come work in your home? 👆🏻

We love us some water hyacinth baskets - so aesthetic!

👗 Last week we were involved in an event and one of the audience members asked about where to donate old vintage clothes that belonged to family who had since passed. Another member of the audience said that they had donated a number of such items to the costume department in the

👗 We thought this was a great idea! If you are decluttering items that are quality pieces - possibly from another place or era e.g. fur coats. You should check with your local theatre company or local schools in case they might appreciate them for their props/costume department.

⚒️ Do you have some pre-loved tools or a sewing machine that you need to move on? Well look no further than

Tools For Solidarity is a not-for-profit organisation in Belfast. The main focus of the charity is to support artisans in the poorest parts of the world, mostly in Africa. Their projects in Africa help local artisans to start a new phase in their lives by providing high-quality sewing machines and tools. For this reason Tools For Solidarity collect all types of pre-loved tools and sewing machines, as well as other materials for artisans.
 
They are usually able to collect donations directly from your home. However, it does depend on your location.

Email [email protected] with any enquiries you may have about donating.

😷 Can we talk about face masks?😷

Remember when it was normal to wear masks everywhere we went? This photo was taken by in in December 2020. We were planning the launch of Order in the House and we had a window in between lockdowns to get publicity shots. IKEA very kindly let us use the store as a backdrop but we had to wear masks the whole time we were shooting. We don’t miss that season of life and we hope masks won’t be needed again any time soon.

We still find lots of face masks lying around the houses we work in, maybe it’s fear that stops us from getting rid of them, just in case 🫣. The truth is we often hold on to things for the future but let’s live for today and stop worrying about tomorrow. We suggest letting go of your masks, if you must keep one or even two in your medical box, if you’re really reluctant to declutter all of them. Just don’t let them be a source of clutter in your home.

You don’t need 40 pairs of socks - one pair for each day of the week and a couple of spare pairs should suffice, aim for around 12.

🧦 Get rid of any odd socks that have long since had a friend
🧦 Decide on a couple to keep for cleaning cloths
🧦 Bag up the excess and take them to your nearest clothes
bank for rags
🧦 Sort your socks by colour or category e.g. smart, casual,
trainer, sports, comfy
🧦Sort your socks by using a honeycomb organiser or similar
- see the wardrobe section of our Amazon shop (link in
bio) for various drawer dividers

If you’ve found this helpful send it on to someone else who could use it and save it to refer to later.

“Owning less is better than organising more.” - Joshua Becker

⚠️ This is your sign to declutter five items from your home today! Get started on your decluttering journey and you’ll end up with less stuff to organise. Less stuff = Less stress.

🎥 We had a lot of fun filming with our minis this week for . We don’t normally share our families on our socials but this was a special project and it meant so much more to share it with two of our girls - check out our most recent reel to find out what we got up to.

You can currently access 15% off Stackers products on their website with our code - STACKERSOHNI15