I fear my office space. Seriously, I think my mountain of papers are out to get me. I’ve decided to take this task one small project at a time, or maybe I’ll just leave the boxes of mystery papers on my husbands doorstep with a note and run away (metaphorically speaking of course, as we share a doorstep…).Â
My first project will be to organize my warranties and manuals…well, reorganize since my first attempt failed miserably. For a while I stored them in a binder with clear sheet protectors. The Problem: heavier manuals began to weigh the sheet protectors down and they would sag below the binder.  Eventually I could not fit anything more into the binder, or the second binder, and I refused to buy a third, there had to be a better solution!Â
After testing several different methods, I discovered that using a simple accordion file worked best for my needs. This bad boy holds the thickest manuals manufacturers can throw at me! Not to mention that it was the most inexpensive option I could find. I have seen some very snazzy binder methods, but when I went to purchase all the specialty inserts and miscellaneous items I needed, I quickly realized that the entire endeavor would be pretty pricey. I went home empty-handed dreaming up ways to make this work.
Not only have I found a system that works, I have also discovered a few tricks to store things in the most effective way possible.
Sometimes it is the simplest things… A few leftover photo album refill pages, some craft baggies, and the old sheet protectors help keep my accordion filing system neat and tidy. There is just nothing more satisfying than seeing a well organized item with rows of labels!
Some things are just best shown:Â
I hope this little tour of my warranty & user guide filing system is helpful.
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Great project! Im just in love with your blog 🙂
Wish you all the best!
Ursula do you know or remember what brand the folders are? I need about five of them for all of my stuff (I keep manuals and instructions for EVERYTHING LOL) and on Amazon they all seem to be around $10-13 each. That breaks my little tightwad heart! I know you wouldn’t spend that much, so fess up: What’s your source?
Lol! Too true…happy to fess up! 😉 These are Walmart brand expanding file organizers. They were originally $7, but I found these green ones in the sale aisle for $5 each. I have no idea if they still carry this style, but when you’re looking at $10-$13 a piece, it is certainly worth checking! 😉 Good luck!
This is brill:) I’ve been stressing out mainly about how to do this, especially including extra screws etc.
Just a quick question: Do you mainly file things under kitchen etc?
I was thinking of just filing them alphabetically. Also, I’ll probably label them on the right hand side, rather than the left.
Still great ideas tho:)
Bye for now from the UK.?
Thank you Julie!
Yes, I tried filing alphabetically, but for reasons that elude me, my husband could never remember what names items were filed under. LOL! …so this seems to have worked better for both of our needs. I definitely recommend you do what makes the most sense for you and your family. 🙂
Loved your video! So many great hints. Really really love the label each thing in the same corner trick
I am really amazed by the organizing tips in your blog. My husband and I have been living in Hong Kong for five years now…and space is VERY limited here (plus we have had to move almost every two years since we came here), your blog is a Godsend and the videos are great…Thanks!
Aw, thank you Isabel. What a fantastic challenge you have! Good luck with small space living, it can be very rewarding! 🙂
thanks for sharing this post. By the way did you notice there is a typo in warranty on your accordions?
*giggle* thanks for pointing it out… I did know, I was hoping no one else would notice! My 7 year old loves to label things and begged, then I didn’t have the heart to change any of them… there are a few others that are more obviously misspelled! 😀
Thanks for sharing this project! I am actually cleaning up my filling cabinet and my manuals are too heavy that my hanging folder is falling apart. I am gonna try this one.
Great blog!