How to use a label maker as an organization tool
by Lorraine Brock
Label Maker… if you don’t have one now, it’s time to get one! Label makers have so many functions in an organized home or office. They clearly identify items, define the home for items in your spaces, and they also clarify the owner of items so others do not take or eat them.
When I was growing up in the late 70’s, on grocery days my mom would bring home a six pack of 1 liter glass soda bottles. There were five members in our family and my mom would write the initials of each member of our family with a black marker on our own supply of soda. I still don’t know who got the sixth bottle, but that’s another story.
Since there were no fancy labels on the soda bottles back in the 70’s, the idea of labeling even our beverages made the ownership obvious. Other items around our home were labeled in a variety of ways; sometimes with masking tape and a black marker, often with a piece of paper covered with clear packing tape. Although not pretty, they were good solutions.
My first label maker as a kid was a hand held machine that did not require batteries. You turned the dial to the letter or number you wanted and pressed firmly on the trigger of the handle. From what I remember, it created a raised white imprint of the character you selected.
Today, give me an hour and a label maker in hand, and I can have an entire area labeled. In my home I already know where everything belongs, but labeling really benefits my family. When my kids unload the dishwasher, get their morning vitamins or medication, or search for their personal snack containers, it’s the labels that get the job done with accuracy and efficiency.
I am not going to rate label makers, but I will tell you my favorite. It is a handheld DYMO® Letratag which runs about $20 at Walmart®. I like it for two reasons: it does not waste tape at the beginning or end of the label tape when printing, and the fact that label refills are more economical than other brands.
No matter which label maker you buy, get one now and start labeling areas in your home. This is especially important when more than one person puts items away. Without labels, household members just look for something familiar to help them decide where to place an item. Over time, these areas become disorganized. Labeling the location in a bathroom cabinet where the
towels, wash cloths, and hand towels are to be placed, help those putting them back find the right place.
Find areas in your home where labeling will allow for accurate placement of items and a time saver for the person who has to do the work. You might just find yourself amazed at the results.
Lorraine Brock is a professional organizer, family coach, speaker, and founder and owner of Get Organized! Get Organized! is a professional organizing company in the Dallas, Texas area. Get Organized! specializes in organizing and de-cluttering homes as well as implementing systems in the home for better family management. A popular media guest, Lorraine has appeared on Dallas’ two top morning television shows: Good Morning Texas and Good Day Fox, and has been featured on various radio outlets. She has been hallmarked in many local, regional, and national print and online magazines, such as the Dallas Morning News, The North Texas Kids Magazine, SheKnows.com, and Daily Candy Kids. To get more information about Lorraine, visit www.GetOrganized.ws.
