Organisational experts have revealed their top tips for 2020, including the ‘reverse hanger hack’, the food freshener and the meal prep motivator.
Other tips include a pantry makeover, and a Kmart bike basket trick.
Sydney-based Anita Birges from Mise En Place said her hanger hack will help you get on top of your wardrobe, and reveal what you can get rid of or donate to charity.
Sydney-based de-cluttering expert Anita Birges (pictured) from Mise En Place shared her top organisational trick for the New Year – the ‘reverse hanger hack’
The technique involves turning all clothing hangers the same way at the start of the year (pictured before turning the hangers around)
Anita then recommends you turn around wardrobe items as you use them to see what you’re wearing (pictured after turning the hangers around)
‘In six months I am going to know exactly what I’ve worn. Everything that hasn’t been turned around will be donated or sold,’ Anita said (pictured after six months)
The reverse hanger hack
So how does the ‘reverse hanger hack’ work?
The technique involves turning all clothing hangers the same way at the start of the year and as pieces are worn, the hangers are turned the other direction.
Anita recommends you set an alarm to check back in with your wardrobe in six months time – to see which pieces have been worn and which haven’t.
‘In six months I am going to know exactly what I’ve worn. Everything that hasn’t been turned around will be donated or sold,’ she said.
Anita promises that this will lead to a calmer and more streamlined wardrobe – and it may even stop you from buying unnecessary items.
Another trick from the ‘clutter-organising goddess’ Leah Kennedy from Adelaide will allow you to whip your pantry into shape (pictured before)
Leah recommends you buy containers so you can see what you have in your pantry. This will also stop you from shopping too much or over-eating (pictured after)
Leah has made over many friend’s pantries in the past, getting rid of items that are no longer used or which are past their sell-by date to make way for a cleaner, streamlined look (pictured before and after)
The dream pantry makeover
The ‘reverse hanger hack’ isn’t the only organisational trick doing the rounds this New Year, either.
Another trick from the ‘clutter-organising goddess’ Leah Kennedy from Adelaide will allow you to whip your pantry into shape.
Speaking to FEMAIL, Leah explained that a pantry overhaul is all about going through your existing space, removing any expired or out of date items and empty packaging, while other unused items were given to family, friends or charity.
She recommends picking up a few cheap containers from Kmart, and putting all of the food inside them to give a clean, modern look.
Leah is a big believer in the fact that a well-organised pantry can save you money, as she says when you can see everything, you’re less likely to buy duplicates.
‘It’s also an amazing motivator to cook and saves you time and money,’ she said.
‘When I used to shop, my pantry used to be a hot mess and I would over-buy items and forget I had things which would then spoil.
‘Now I know exactly what rice and pasta I have, and so therefore what I need.’
If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to meal prep more, you might want to consider the Mealami bag (pictured with dietitian Leanne Ward)
The Australian $199 accessory might look like a regular handbag, but it has been designed for both men and women to be able to transfer their meals from home to gym and work with ease
The meal prep motivator
If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to meal prep more, you might want to consider the Mealami bag.
The Australian $199 accessory might look like a regular handbag, but it has been designed for both men and women to be able to transfer their meals from home, to the gym and to work with ease.
With the bag, the front zip opens up into a spacious fully insulated waterproof meal compartment which can be wiped down easily if needed and its large open space allows people to fit in multiple meal containers of all sizes.
It also features a laptop compartment and an extra pocket to neatly stow away your phone, keys and other essentials.
Plenty of dietitians and nutritionists who have tried the bag have praised its ability to keep meals cool, well insulated and neat.
Meal prep queen Katie Lolas recently posed alongside her bag and said it was her go-to for carrying her elaborate meal preps to and from the office in style.
The Kmart ‘bike basket trick’ saw Michelle Rhodes from Brisbane turn a plain $25 bamboo ladder and $12 bike baskets into a towel basket for her bathroom (pictured before)
‘When I spotted the beautiful wicker bike baskets in Kmart for $12 I just knew I had to create something with them,’ Michelle said (pictured after)
The Kmart trick to try
‘Kmart hacks’ have been popular on the Internet for months now, with one of them standing out among others.
The Kmart ‘bike basket trick’ saw Michelle Rhodes from Brisbane turn a plain $25 bamboo ladder and $12 bike baskets into a towel basket for her bathroom.
‘When I spotted the beautiful wicker bike baskets in Kmart for $12 I just knew I had to create something with them,’ she said.
‘The leather look buckle straps are perfect for attaching onto the $25 Kmart bamboo ladder and really give the baskets a fabulous look.’
‘I just had to rearrange the straps a little higher to balance out the baskets. Also to get the baskets to sit properly on the rungs I put the buckles on the second last hole to hang a little lower.’
Mother-of-three Amira Youssef from Sydney (pictured) has a few organisational tips and tricks up her sleeve
The 28-year-old keeps all of her fruit and vegetables in silicone produce bags (pictured), and she swears this keeps them fresh for up to three weeks
The food freshener
Eating up everything in your fridge before it goes off can be a challenge for many families.
But it doesn’t have to be if you listen to mother-of-three Amira Youssef from Sydney.
The 28-year-old swears by having a specific system in place and bulk shopping.
Then, she keeps all of her fruit and vegetables in silicone produce bags.
‘I find the vegetables last up to three weeks with them remaining fresh,’ she told FEMAIL.