GOOD HOUSEKEEPING REPORTS : How to organize everything

The famous faces of ABC’s “Good Morning America” tapped our organizing team for help tackling their toughest (and messiest) problem areas. You’re going to want to steal these tips!

Q: “The clutter on my desk makes it hard to focus and find anything.” — Robin Roberts, co-anchor

Our tips:

Corral cords: Between chargers, lamp cords and laptop wires, your desk can easily become a maze. Secure wires in a cable box, which keeps things tidy, or install a shelf with cable “ports.” You also can use decorative washi tape to label cords for easier use. No more pulling the wrong wire!

Box it all up: Furnish your own “mailroom” with stackable trays to separate incoming mail, invitations and documents for shredding. Also, invest in a system of organizing products made to fit or stack together, like those from Poppin.

Q: “My kids have so much stuff in their closets, it’s spilling out into their rooms.” — Lara Spencer, co-anchor

Our tips:

Add hanging cubbies: Create additional storage space by using hanging cubbies in the closet to store sweatshirts, T-shirts, jeans or anything else that’s easily folded.

Create a “double hang”: If your closet has only one rod with open space below, make more hanging space by adding another. Simply measure the necessary space between the rods (about 40 inches is standard) and install a new one to double your storage space.

Q: “Our mudroom has no storage. How can I de-clutter it?” — Amy Robach, news anchor

Our tips:

Organize with trays: A tray on a coffee table helps keep things in order, and boot trays do the same on a mudroom floor. Set out a few by the door to keep shoes from piling up.

Create fake built-ins: Mimic the look of a custom entryway by buying basic wood shelving and painting it a chic accent color. A tall storage unit makes a great bench when flipped on its side and topped with cushions.

Q: “My kitchen counters and cabinets are chaos. What can I do about it?” — Ginger Zee, chief meteorologist

Our tips:

Hang your spices: For discreet storage, mount a magnetic spice rack on the underside of an upper cabinet. It’ll free up valuable cabinet and counter space, but will be super-accessible for when you’re cooking.

Maximize shelf height: Putting shelf risers in upper cabinets is a great way to make use of the high cabinetry popular in modern kitchens, while stacking everything so you can get what you need quickly.

Take advantage of cabinet doors: Reclaim this forgotten storage space by using hooks to hang smaller tools (measuring spoons, a vegetable peeler, etc.). Be sure to hang hooks in line with the shelves so the doors will close!

 

ON ANOTHER MATTER … 

Ask April

GH’s resident beauty guru, April Franzino, has the answers to your burning look-gorgeous questions.

Q: I know what highlights are, but what are lowlights?

  1. With highlights, color is lifted (removed) to lighten and brighten. With lowlights, a color close to your base shade is deposited to lend contrast, richness and dimension, says Rona O’Connor, celeb color specialist in Beverly Hills. Request them at the salon, or DIY with a dye kit within one to two shades of your base.

Q: My lipsticks don’t always look the same on my lips as in the tube. Why, and what can I do?

It’s likely because when you apply non-opaque formulas, like sheer lipsticks, tinted balms and glosses, your natural lip color can show through, changing or diluting the product’s shade. DIY TIP: Neutralize your lips’ hue first by smoothing on concealer or a nude lip primer like MAC Cosmetics Lip Erase, $21, maccosmetics.com.

 

Recalls Alert 

The following products and vehicles were recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Unless otherwise indicated, discontinue use of the products immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information about the products, call the manufacturer or CPSC’s toll-free hotline, (800) 638-2772. Only some cars or trucks recalled are affected. Contact a dealer for your model to see if it is included in the recall. The dealer will tell you what to do.

PRODUCT/VEHICLE 

PROBLEM 

Britax B-Agile and BOB Motion Strollers with Click & Go receivers, sold at Babies “R” Us, buy buy Baby, Target and other stores nationwide, and online at Amazon.com, albeebaby.com,  

buybuybaby.com, diapers.com, ToysRUs.com and other websites from May 2011 through February 2017 for between $250 and $470 for the strollers and travel systems.

A damaged receiver mount on the stroller can cause the car seat to disengage and fall unexpectedly, posing a fall hazard to infants in the car seat. Consumers can visit Britax online at www.us.britax.com. Click on the “Safety Notice” on the homepage or visit us.britax.com/recall, call toll-free at  (844) 227-0300 from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST Saturday, or email Britax at stroller.recall@britax.com.

 

2011-17 Audi Q5 

The sunroof drainage system may allow water to soak into the foam surrounding the side head air-bag-inflator canister, resulting in the corrosion of the canister. This corrosion can weaken the canister and, during deployment of the side head air bag, the inflator may fracture and propel fragments into the passenger compartment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator and either coat it or replace it, as necessary, after removing the surrounding foam, for free. The recall is expected to begin in February 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at (800) 253-2834.  Volkswagen’s number for this recall is 69P1.

 

(c) Hearst Communications Inc.

Distributed by King Features Syndicate