As fall is just around the corner, it is time to start transitioning out or our summer clothes and into our fall and winter ones. Now is the perfect time to clean out and reorganize our closets.

Sort

The first step is to take everything out of the closet and make four piles: the Now Pile, for things used or worn often; the Someday Pile, for clothes you might fit into again or might use if an occasion arises; the Never Pile, for things you absolutely never reach for; and the Seasonal Pile, for things used seasonally. Be honest and remember your goal: a clean, well-organized, easy-to-use closet.

Donate

Donate all the garments that no longer fit you and the clothes you don’t wear but hang on to because you paid a fortune for them. Take them to a consignment shop or sell them on an online store. Check your local thrift store to make sure they are accepting donations and how many you can take at a time.

The next step is a tough one. Move everything from the Someday Pile into the Never Pile. This is the hardest step. But you can do it. 

Sort Again

For most people, the Never Pile is often much bigger than expected. It’s normal for the Never Pile to amount to 40% or more of the items in your closets, that’s a lot of closet space wasted.

At this point, the purge is not quite finished. Once we see how much space we can free up by eliminating unwanted, unnecessary and unused stuff, we’re often motivated to go further. It’s time to look for “never” and “someday” items hiding in the Now Pile.

Think Fast

Act quickly, while motivation and resolve remains strong, place everything from the Never Pile in large trash bags for donation, resale or sharing. Be strong. Keep moving forward and trust your first instincts. Next, get the bags out of your way by temporarily relocating them to the garage, guest room, basement or attic.

Seasonal Strategies

Pack up seasonal stuff in clear plastic bins with big, easy-to-read labels that let you know what’s inside. Store them out of sight in an easily accessible place.

When storing seasonal clothes, wash and dry-clean out-of-season clothes before you put them in storage, because antiperspirant, cologne and makeup residue attracts insects. Make sure items are dry before you store them. Dampness leads to mildew and a musty smell. Never store clothes in plastic bags like those from dry cleaners. Store them in cotton zip-up bags. No mothballs. No exceptions.

Home Stretch

Dust or vacuum before you put anything back in the closet. Dust mites destroy fabric, and they are horrible for people with allergies.

After the closet is empty and clean, you’re heading for the home stretch. Don’t repeat old mistakes. Wooden, plastic, padded or flocked hangers are best for maintaining the shape of a garment. Make sure you shop for hangers with a nice, elongated hook and contoured shoulders. The longer hooks will help keep your collars in shape. The contoured shoulders mirror human shoulders and will help keep the garment in shape. Keep in mind, too, that slim hangers create more space on the rod.

Choose clip or clamp-style hangers with felt or foam cushioning to hold skirts and pants in plush fabrics such as corduroy, velour or velvet. Tube style, open-ended hangers are a great choice for pants.

Group Think

When it comes to determining what goes where, group “like” things together for ease and simplicity. Long-sleeved shirts, short-sleeved shirts and sleeveless shirts all belong in the shirt section. Bottoms such as skirts and pants also get their own section. You can also group clothes according to color, function, work or occasion.

One More Thing

After a week or so of appreciating how much quicker and easier it is to live with a well-organized closet full of things you actually use, it’s time to deal with the sequestered bags from the Never Pile. But it’s important to remember this: Do. Not. Open. Not even a peek.

Can you remember what’s inside them? The answer is probably no. These items have served you well, but it’s time to move on. Resist the urge to open the bags one last time. Drop them off at a thrift store, recycling them or sell them online. Let them have a new life with people who will use them. Then move on.

Enjoy your newly organized waredrobe!

Vancouver is studying five options for emergency dwellings for homeless people

Homelessness has become a looming issue across the country. Vancouver city staff is  looking into 5 possible option of eleviating the stress tent cities are putting on local communities. Some solutions are creating a “temporary tiny house villages” and low-income RV parks as part of its temporary disaster relief shelter framework.

Council added these two options recently to three other possible options.These options were to lease or buy housing units, including hotels and single-room occupancy hotels, establish a temporary emergency relief camp on vacant public or private land and to temporarily convert city-owned buildings into emergency housing.

City staff have until Oct. 2 to report back to council on all the options.

The homeless crisis has worsened due to COVID-19, and is most obvious in Strathcona Park where at least 300 tents have been put up.

Many residents across the city have noticed increases in homelessness in their neighbourhoods, which in turn is adding to the stress of COVID-19.

People who are homeless need to have options for change.

Seattle has eight city-funded “tiny house villages” that have opened in the past three years in response to that city’s homeless crisis.

One of those villages — Second Chance — evolved from un-permitted squat, to a sanctioned tent city, to a city-funded tiny house village.

Hopefully, one of these five options will be viable and can be used by other communities across Canada to help deal with the rising homeless issue.

There’s a saying among arachnologists that you’re never more than five feet from a spider. That’s especially true here in British Columbia, where there are nearly 900 documented species of spiders.

At this time of year, you’re likely to find some walking across your living room or in your bathtub. They might have slipped in through the crack under your door, or hitched a ride when you walked through a web in the garden.

But don’t worry, they are quite harmless and only there by accident. It’s mating season in the spider world and males are wandering around looking for females. They come into the house, by accident.

The most common spider you’ll find are the garden cross orbweaver spider (Araneus diadematus) and the giant house spider (Eratigena atrica), which are commonly but incorrectly referred to as wolf spiders. Another is the hobo spider (Eratigena agrestis).

All are introduced species and harmless to people. Their lifespans are only a year. When the mating is done, the female lays her eggs in silken pods and hides them away for spring hatching. She dies, and sometimes eats the male before she goes.

Arachnologists say while some spiders will bite, the only one British Columbians have to worry about is the Western black widow (Latrodectus hesperus), which has a pea-sized, polished black abdomen with hourglass-shaped red marking. Its bite and small dose of venom can cause abdominal cramps and swelling, but nothing more. This spider rarely leaves its hiding place and lives for two or three years. It likes mossy outcroppings in gardens and rocky slopes.

Perhaps the creepiest spider in BC — the Pacific folding-door spider (Antrodiaetus pacificus), a distant relative of tarantulas can live up to 20 years. They lay trap webs outside their holes and wait for prey to be caught, then pull it in for dinner. The females never leave their burrows and the males wander the forests.

BC has 893 distinct species — a large number considering there are 1,600 documented species in all of Canada. Our diversity of habitats — mountain ranges, valleys, prairie, deserts and coastal forests — allow spiders to flourish here.

People often blame spiders for bites when the culprits are actually bed bugs, lice, fleas, ticks and other insects. But make no mistake. Spiders are useful to humans. They take care of a lot of insects that carry diseases for humans and cause crop damage.

A lot of people still have the knee-jerk reaction to kill a spider when seen; but, we should just let them live and go about their business.

Colour has the ability to inspire, excite, soothe, heal and even agitate. This is especially true for children, who can be extra sensitive to impact of colour. The importance of picking out just the right colour for a young child’s room shouldn’t be underestimated.

While scientists have learned a lot about the way colour influences our minds and bodies, keep in mind that every child is different; these generalizations don’t apply to all. But if you’re curious about how to bring colour into your child’s room, this information may help you get started.

Red 

Red has the ability to energize the body and excite the mind, increasing heart and breathing rates. However, some research suggests that too much exposure to red encourages aggressive behavior and an inability to focus. The bottom line: Red is great as an accent, but might not be the best wall colour for a restless child.

Orange 

Orange is one of the most misunderstood colours. This warm, friendly and youthful colour is actually great for children since it’s said to encourage confidence, extroversion and independence. The social nature of this colour also puts children and their friends at ease, inspiring communication and cooperation.

Yellow 

Most of us associate yellow with feelings of happiness and cheerfulness. Studies also pair this bright and cheery colour with motivation; softer yellows can aid concentration, while brighter ones can increase memory. Beware of using too much bright yellow, though. In large doses it may create feelings of agitation and even anger.

Green 

This calming, natural colour has a soothing impact on a child. Scientists have also found that green may improve a child’s reading speed and comprehension. There’s no need to keep this anxiety-reducing colour to a minimum.

Blue

Having the opposite effect of red, blue decreases feelings of anxiety and aggression and lowers blood pressure and heart rates. Children who experience tantrums or other behavioral problems may appreciate the soothing effects of a blue room.

Purple 

Often associated with royalty, purple is ambitious and self-assured. It’s also the colour of passion, creativity, wisdom and spirituality. This deep colour is great for inspiring sensitivity and compassion in children. But if your child is particularly sensitive, you may want to keep this colour limited to accents.

Pink 

Although it’s usually associated with typical girly spaces, pink has a calming feel that can translate to both sexes. Any child can grow out of too much pink quickly, though, so try pairing pink artwork, accessories and textiles with a neutral background.

Warm Colours 

Warm colours inspire happiness, coziness and comfort in most people. They can also make large, open spaces feel more intimate for young ones. Of course, this doesn’t mean you’re limited to brown and tan — use these easy colours as a platform for brighter and more daring shades.

Cool Colours 

Some of us associate cool colours with sterile, hospital-like environments, but lighter cool colours can have a calming effect on children. Plus, many of these colours help small spaces seem a little bit more open. Try layering in shades of cream for some softness and contrast, and consider comfortable and cuddly textiles for warmth.