Are You Really Ready for the First Day of School?

 Print Article

By Megan Sexton

RISMEDIA, August 27, 2008-(MCT)-It won’t be long before the kids are dumping their backpacks on the kitchen floor and complaining about homework. Is your household ready?

There are all sorts of products on the market to help you get a handle on back-to-school organizational needs.

Here’s a look at a few:

Charging station. Are chargers for cell phones, MP3 players and game systems taking over outlets around your house? Can you never find the charger that fits your cell phone? Check out two-level charging stations from stores like Bed Bath and Beyond. It can store up to four devices for charging and features a pull-out accessory drawer and side pocket for storing wires.

Light and storage. Desk lamp organizers offer light to study and a place to hold your pens, paper clips and other goodies.

Crates everywhere. Everybody needs a couple of plastic crates. They are great for holding soccer cleats and shin guards in the garage or filing notes for term papers. These stacking plastic crates hold letter or legal hanging files and they lock together to stack or make cubes. They also can be used with casters to move around your room.

Everything in its place. Back to school means lots of slips of paper. Keep them organized in a mini case file. Accordion-style file cases come with a handle on top so you can take it with you to sort coupons or receipts while you’re waiting in the carpool line.

Style and storage. Storage becomes stylish with furniture like ottomans that include tops that pop off to stow away books or anything else.

Keeping track. Back to school means back to schedules. There are all sorts of options available for keeping you on task. Dry-erase boards are available in plenty of shapes and sizes. Just fill in your appointments, soccer games and test dates. Then wipe them clean.

Too many wires. Do those wires seem to be multiplying under your computer desk or entertainment system? And how do they get so tangled? Try a wire organizer grommet, which hides tangled wires and cables with three adjustable openings.

Too many plugs. Check out the PowerSquid by Philips, which converts one grounded outlet into five flexible adapter-ready outlets. It also has a master power switch.

© 2008, The State (Columbia, S.C.).
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com.