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Searching for ideas on how to save space and get organized can be a chore all on its own. We’re making it easier by pulling together the best articles and tips that will help you un-clutter and simplify your life.

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• Arts and Crafts
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  • Eliminate Clutter From the Garage
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  • Dorm Room Space Savers From Jacquie Ross
  • A Smart Start to the Back-to-School Season
  • Dorm Room Organization 101
• Closets
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    • Making the Most of Shared Closet Space
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    • Make an Escape ... to Your Bedroom!
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    • Unclutter the Linen Closet
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    • Cutting Clutter in the Utility Closet
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  • Make Disaster Preparedness A Priority This Month
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  • How to Safely Store Family Treasures
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  • How to Organize Kids’ Rooms
  • Cleaning Out the Kids’ Closets
  • Get the Kids' Rooms Up to Standards
• Outdoor (Camping, RV and Boating)
  • Outdoor Entertaining
  • How to Save Space on a Boat
  • Preparing for an Outdoor Adventure
  • Smart Packing for Summer Travel
• Special Features
  • Get Organized for Autumn Activities
  • Dorm Room Space Savers From Jacquie Ross
  • Outdoor Entertaining
  • How to Get and Stay Organized in 2011
  • Clean That Closet Challenge
  • Clean Closet Tips from Professional Organizer Kathi Burns
• Spring Cleaning
  • Spring Cleaning Preparations
  • Spring Cleaning 101
  • Closet Organization Made Easy For Summer
  • Get the Kids' Rooms Up to Standards
• Travel/Packing
  • Tips for Traveling Abroad
  • How to Avoid Excess Baggage Fees
  • Moving Made Easy
  • Smart Packing for Summer Travel

Boating Essentials to Keep You Afloat

Boating is great fun, though it has its challenges. One of them is how to store and protect items onboard. Here are some tips for beginners and old salts alike:

Remember the right boat-wear. Traditional boat shoes aren’t worn for their appearance. The grooved rubber soles prevent slipping on wet boat decks. The sun is especially bright as it reflects off the surface of water, so wear sunglasses and a hat to protect your eyes. Remember, even the sunniest of days can turn chilly and wind intensifies the effect. Grab a light jacket to prevent chills brought on by a sudden gust. Spare jackets and sweaters can be kept onboard in a Space Bag To Go Bag, where they will take up less space and be protected from moisture.

Save space by storing sports gear out of the way. Water toys such as inflatable rafts and wakeboards are fun items to bring on a boating trip, but often take up a lot of space. Deflate bulky rafts when not in use. To give your lungs a break, use a portable air pump to inflate toys. Special racks can be installed to hold wakeboards, water skis and other water sports equipment above the seating area of a boat. Be sure to keep these items off the floor, so people can move safely and easily around the boat.

Find a home for fishing gear. Eliminate clutter on your boat by storing fishing odds-and-ends in a tackle box under the seat. Fishing rods are long and can get in the way of people moving around the boat. Install rod holders on the side of the boat to secure rods when not in use.

Safely store essentials. Storage space is limited on boats, so consider ways of compressing bulky items. For instance, extra towels can be stored in Space Bag Storage Packs. These storage packs will keep your towels protected from water and mildew, and they’ll take up less space on your boat. Also bring maps of the areas you will be boating in and emergency contact information for the Coast Guard or other nearby rescue teams. You can protect these and other important documents inside Space Bag Storage Packs.

Obey boating laws. The following items are required by law in most states: personal life vests; SOS flag; horn; navigation lighting, if boating at night; fire extinguisher; and an SOS pyrotechnic device, such as flares. It is also important to have license and boat registration information onboard. Visit the United State Coast Guard’s website for full details on federal and state boating regulations.

Sources: BoatingAmerica.com and Trails.com