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Organized Home - Clear Up Those Keepsakes... by Michael DouglasHuman beings are sentimental by nature. One of the most telling fact proving this is the way we tend to let random memorabilia build-up into impressive collections all around us. Old clothes with sentimental value, kids' school projects, greeting cards, old college notebooks - each item from the past becomes a treasure to be stored, buried amidst which those few things of true value often get ruined. So how do you tackle this? By organising everything and taking a recheck as to whether it really is a keepsake or just a piece of junk. Not an easy task, but you've gotta begin the de-cluttering process somewhere! IS IT A KEEPSAKE? True memorabilia encapsulates your most significant moments, transporting you in time with a mere touch or glance. If you can no longer remember why you're saving all those old birthday cards, time to get rid of them. Save one pair of embroidered bell-bottoms for nostalgia's sake, but not eleven. Be selective, and feed the wastebasket generously. LEAVE IT HIGH & DRY Once you've decided what to keep, clean and dust everything, and keep it in a dry place, like the guest bedroom. Avoid the basement and the garage, which are prone to water damage and grease. Invest in archival quality containers (acid-free, lignin-free), which protect against dust and help slow the breakdown of chemical structures. Costume storage boxes are ideal for quilts and clothing. These days anti-corrosion envelopes, which protect metal objects like watches or a baby's silver cup, pigma pens (acid-free, fade- and waterproof) and artefact identification tags are easily available in the market. Label your metallic memorabilia with them. RESTORATION If something you love and treasure has already been damaged, go for affordable restoration products. Like a pH-testing pen that measures paper's acid content (that's what causes paper to yellow and break down), and de-acidification spray that safely neutralises it. Absorene cleaner works like a soft, pliable eraser to absorb dust, dirt, and smoke from books and paper, giving them a new lease of life. DISPLAY Display a few signature pieces. What are memories if not for re-living them? Shadow boxes, curios, books, watches, reading glasses... all these can go onto table tops. Collages of picture postcards, greeting cards, movie posters... if framed and put on the walls, give an art deco feel to your decor. Even quilts and old textiles can be turned into pieces of art... Just frame them, and put them up on the walls. Now that you have preserved things that you care about, you'll feel free to relish the memories associated with them. Go on, take a look around you, and your home - strewn around artistically, are those lost and lovely parts of yourself. Time to reconnect?
About the AuthorLearn more about your home, discover how to organize your home. Find do it yourself information and save money on simple home repairs and home maintenance at DiyHomeTips.org. clear up those keepsakes
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