P-Touch Labeler Giveaway – Key to Kitchen Organization
Posted by MeckMom on Apr 5, 2009 in Popular Posts: Organizing | 65 comments
I hate emptying the dishwasher. It seems like such a tedious task to me. A few months ago I decided to put an end to this daily annoyance by making dishwasher-emptying a designated kid job. The solution had both good and bad results. Although I loved having the dishes put away everyday, I hated wasting time searching for misplaced stuff. For some reason, my kids just couldn’t manage to remember my organizational system. Potato peelers would end up with the measuring cups and spatulas would be shoved back behind the mixing bowls.
Not one to give up on my new-found dishwasher freedom, I decided to simplify the task. I pulled out my labeler and went to work. I labeled everything from the inside of the drawers to the shelves in the cupboards. In areas where multiple things are stacked together (like the pots & pans cupboard) I placed labels on top of each other to show which items go on top.
When the kids came home from school I gave them a little walk-through on the new system and followed it with a pop quiz. I pulled out a bunch random kitchen items and asked them to use the labels to figure out where everything should go. It took them a few attempts, but they figured it out eventually and managed to earn their ice cream cone prize.
I’ll admit it, my cupboards look a little OCD at first glance but it can’t tell you what a difference it has made in my kitchen. My kids (and husband) are TONS better at putting things in the right locations and I never have to waste time digging through my drawers. It’s not perfect system – but it’s a huge improvement.
Want to try this idea in your own house? Well, I’ve got the perfect tool for you – a brand new Brother P-touch 1010 Labeler for one lucky commenter. I gave the P-touch 1280 (pictured at right) a try earlier this year and I’m a big fan. I had been using a Dymo handheld for a few years but the P-touch was much easier to work with and produced a much better label. If you’re in the market for a new labeler, I definitely recommend giving the p-touch series a try.
To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment below and tell me what you’re dying to label. I’ll choose a winner at random at midnight on Friday night (April 10th) and post the results here. The shipping is free. Thanks everyone. Good luck and happy labeling. Just thought I’d pass it on.
*This giveaway is now closed.
AND THE WINNER (randomly chosen by the iPhone app iChoose) IS COMMENTER #10, DEE. Thank you to all of you who participated. I’m thrilled to see that you all love labeling as much as I do. More great giveaways to come soon.
oooh, i’m dying to label the storage containers in my kitchen and the plastic bins of craft supplies in my daughters room……
and my office file folders!
i know i’ll label everything in my home, just like that old commercial…………thanks for the chance to win!
Oh, my OLD labeler went MIA a few months ago, so I’m dying to win this so I can put my deferred labeling projects on the front burner. I feel so lost without one! P-touch is the best!
What’s not to label? Kitchen cupboards, drawers, the pantry, linen closet, drawers in bathroom, art & craft supply drawers. I could go label happy/crazy!!
I like to label lots of things – binders, scrapbook stuff, kitchen stuff, my kids, whatever.
I don’t have a labeler but could sure use one for labeling my son’s toy bins. Dad just doesn’t get that I have the bins sorted for different types of toys. I could also use this in the pantry for labeling where things go. I could go on and on….
Oh my! The fun I could have (tee hee hee) I would label EVERYTHING!!! I too have kids with displaced-dishwasher syndrome! I would love to label my cupboards and food bins!
I sooooo want a label maker—I LOVE LOVE LOVE to organize—I want to label EVERYTHING!!!!
I am dying to label the toy baskets in my house, and our upcoming baby’s clothes bins. Thanks for the chance to win!
I would love a labeler! I would label my shelves and the kitchen drawers would be so great along with the fridge! Please choose me. Thanks for the opportunity!
I would love to label my cupboards for food storage organization! Then I wouldn’t get caught hunting for the bean in the applesauce area!
I have been wanting a labeler for a long time, but am so intimidated by all of them. Which one is best for me? Maybe this will work!!! I would LOVE to do this to my kitchen!!!! LOVE!
My kids don’t read yet, but I think this would be fun with pictures or just a great idea to stash in my mind for the future.
I have a handheld labeler that I love, but wow — that one looks amazing!
Thanks for passing the idea along!
My kiddos toy bins!!!!
I want to label my DD’s (6 y/o) varying boxes for toys. If I had a P-touch (or Dymo), I’d probably consider labeling the kitchen cabinets and drawers. But I’d also definitely label all the boxes of girls clothes that I’m saving for my two daughters.
I read your blog constantly and have never commented, but I have to now! I would LOVE a labeler. I have asked for it for my birthday and Christmas 2 years running and haven’t gotten one. Maybe you could make that wish come true!
My latest labeling success was with my girls American Girl Doll Stuff. It used to be in a messy box in the corner, but I bought a over the door shoe organizer and divided up the slots between two of them. Then I labeled the slots so they would know what was in each slot. I love it!!
I would love to label my kitchen, too! Thanks for the great ideas. And we have a closet in the kitchen we use for supplies, so I’d love to label all the shelves we have there. It could be a lot better. We also have PILES of paper, so that would be on my list, too! We are such PILERS at home, this would speed things up.
Like so many before me, I could label everything. My food cupboards/food storage would be where I start. Or you could just come to my house if I don’t win. Which ever works for you! Love ya
Like you, I have been using a Dymo handheld. Lately it has been messing up when it prints and it doesn’t roll the label out correctly all the time. So, I need a new one.
One thing that I am dying to label is my fridge. I know, it sounds OCD, but it drives me crazy when I get my fridge cleaned out and organized and then hubby and kids don’t seem to “see” my system and mess it all up. For some reason they can’t seem to grasp the concept to put things back where you got them.
I would love to label my files, recipe holder and bill organizer!
Oooh, oooh, oooooooooooh. My hubby just made me a pantry over Spring Break and it is screaming for some labels.
Can I just borrow you after you’re done with Mindy’s house? I would probably start with my pantry and then move onto my kitchen. Andy called me one day looking for our glass measuring cups. When I told them where they were he said, “Why did you move them?” Uh, we’ve lived in this house almost 7 months now and I’ve always put them in the same place! I’m really trying hard to get my food storage stocked and it’s hard for me to know what I need because I’m not sure what I have already… a labeler would come in handy. I think my other big task would have to be my pantry! I love having my pantry organized and I know where everything goes… but again, when Andy gets into it the pantry is messed up. Why do husbands not pay attention to where they got something in the first place? Next I would tackle my girls drawers. I think I would go label crazy on my whole house!
Okay, I’m a dork! I just realized I mentioned my pantry twice. Do you think I really like my pantry organized or what?
I am having the same problem with stuff not being put back where it belongs with the kiddos empty the dishwasher. I have actually wondered if they are trying the old “if I don’t do it right, I won’t have to do it” trick. This would be perfect to solve that problem!
I don’t think your OCD for labeling — what a great idea! I
ve only heard of the P-Touch but never used one but would love to! Love the ideas you have. They are simple and inexpensive and so do-able! Thanks for sharing all you do!
I want to label my kitchen….everything in it….i’m having stress!
Amy
We are getting to move into a new house and I’m really wanting to get a good start there. I will label literally everything, maybe even my husband and kids!
Really what’s not to label! I have been on the market for a new labeler since mine broke. I would love to have a chance to win one.
I love this idea for the kitchen.
I plan to give your kid towel solution a try too.
I love to organize but dont have a labeller yet. This would help would me so much !!!!!!!!!! I have been saying that I need to get one to put the finishing touches on my organized places to keep them organized and then my family would know where things went to.
thanks for the contest
Diane
I would label just about everything… but first I would tackle my son’s closet.
That is just what I need to label my stamp room. I am forever wasting time looking for those odd little things like my crimper than I only use once in a while. I’ve got so many little do-dads and accessories and I have half a dozen different drawers where I keep the stuff.
In return, I’m offering a $25 gift card on my other blog – AdriansCrazyLife.blogspot.com.
Ah ha! Being a little OCD myself – What a GREAT idea!! Emptying ‘Frank’ (Our name for our dishwasher – he’s my favorite child, he always does the dishes whenever I want & he never complains about it) & ‘feeding’ ‘Frank’ is now a Child Chore at our house too. And this has been happening at our house. Also, I never thought of putting the fry pans under one of those little wire shelves – duh. I’d love a that little gadget to make my life oh so simple.
Sue
I would label my food storage. (Then I would share it with my sister who wants to label her entire house)
I would several things and hope that everyone remembers not to over look them! The kitchen idea is great and I would definitely start there. Thanks for a great idea!
I would love to label the underside of our bookcases with some kind of designation (A-E by author, or categories like “novels”, “historical fiction”, or “church”). Since I married a librarian I’ve only recently become aware of how terrible life can be when anything stands between you and your needed information.
I got a labeler as a gift when I was a teenager and I went a little crazy labeling everything. It’s long gone now and I’d love another. I started having my 5 year old empty the dishwasher a few months ago because I hate emptying it! She can’t put everything away, but she does put away the silverware (the WORST part of it all) and nicely stacks anything she can’t put up on the counter. It’s works out great for me!
I am an avid scrapbooker and the ideas are endless. I would label my supplies and also use it on layouts. what fun!!
What a GREAT give away! What would I label?! EVERYTHING AND EVERYTHING! Having kids of my own (4 between the ages of 3-10) I find it strange how they “forget” where things go when it’s time to put things away (dishes, toys, clothes etc.) I have friends who own label makers and they swear by them to keep their homes organized. Please help bring some organization to this zoo! Uh…. I mean home
What a great thing to have around the house! I’d love to have put labels on the kids’ toy buckets. Thanks for a great website!
I have been wanting to try the p-touch for a long time. My handwritten labels just don’t look as nice. Thanks for posting your experience and for giving one away! Happy Spring!
I agree with other posts- I would label everything! I miss your blog but totally get that you have had a baby on top of everything else.
Thanks
Thanks for all the great ideas that you share! What a great giveaway! I have been wanting something like this for a while. I would use this to label where things go in the kitchen, my craft supplies, toys, where the baby’s things go, etc.
I want to label everything!!! Especially my kitchen pantry.
I would love to label everything. My kids don’t read, but I would love to help them learn and recoginize letters with a label maker. It would be so fun….:) Thanks for such a FaBUloUs give away! I hope it will help me get my home more organized….:)
My kitchen could use a little OCD organization, a couple closets, definalty the crafts, I could definatly put that thing to use.
I am a label freak and think this is just about the best giveaway ever. I’m dying to go out and label my garage (I have to do it when my hubby isn’t looking, though)>
I’ve been eyeing labelers at the store for awhile now. I’d probably go overboard and label my whole house! Whether it needs it or not!
I would love to label my kitchen cupboards and drawers!! What a great idea! I have six kids from 6 years to age 13 AND they never get everything put away right. I feel your pain!! So, pick me, pick me!!
Count me in! I have been visiting for quite a while, but today I’m breaking the silence. My mom is coming to help with my kids next month while my husband and I go to visit my in-laws overseas. I recently reorganized my refrigerator/freezer and pantry with some fabulous little storage bins and I would love to label them all so it will be easy for my mom to find stuff while I’m gone! Never mind the shelves in my food storage, the craft supplies, my kitchen cupboard files…you get the idea.
Thanks for sharing so many great organization tips and tricks–love it!
I desperately need to label the kids’ toy bins. I organized them several months ago but never put any label or anything on them. They have to rely on their memory to get things put away right!
I would love to label everything in my kitchen, garage, craft room, children’s rooms, and refrigerator. I’d be fun to label with words, and with pictures (for my toddler).
Ohhhhh I have been making a list of things to label so when I borrowed my friends I would get all my stuff done! Kitchen items are high on my list.. but I have heard they are SO FUN and I have a feeling I might get a tad carried away and you know what I say: so be it!!! label away
Your drawers look very neat and organized. That looks like a fantastic labeler – much better than my old dymo model from years ago. Thanks for the great idea to make it easier for the rest of the family to help out!
Ou, I so need to label files in our home office and all of my supplies in my studio. Thanks!
I have so many things I can think of that I need to label. Boxes galor in the garage. Lots of things in my craft room, in my kitchen. I can think of things in each room that could be labeled to make my life more organized and make life much more simple.
A better question for me is what WON’T I label!!! I am practically OCD when it comes to labeling. I think it comes from having been an elementary school teacher in a former BC life!(BC-Before Children). I Love to Label! Thanks for the give away offer. Now I will hope on that the organizing angels guide your hand to pick ME!!!!!
Let’s see….what do I want to label?
More like: what DONT I want to label?!
I’d probably start in my garage, which serves as a craft room/office/playroom (can you tell I like to optimize my space?)instead of a garage.
I am getting ready to move in a couple of months, so I would love to be able to label all of my moving boxes.
Label, label, label. I would label my kitchen cupboards, drawers, definitely the pantry. We just had a baby and my DH cannot for the life of him remember where anything goes. Therefore, the changing table cupboard is a catastrophic mess and I can NEVER find anything…. Ugh!
Thanks for the chance at the giveaway!
Wow – it almost seems that we should all congregate in our different places for labeling parties. As for me, I would probably start by labeling all the plastic storage bins in our storage area. After that, I would probably reorganize the linen closet and label that – since I can’t ever seem to keep the children’s wash cloths, burp rags, and bibs all neat and orderly.
I would love to label everything in my kitchen so that when my kids or hubby put things away, they’ll know where stuff goes! It would totally save me having to put everything away right! I hope I win!
ELECTRONIC CORDS! That’s what I’d label. Not the ones that are already plugged in, but the ones that you don’t use that often and then when you come across them you can’t remember what they go to! I never know whether to keep them in case I figure it out, or toss them because we’ve gotten rid of the electronic item that they attach to??? For example, the car charger cords that attach to my kids Gameboys and DS Lites – which one goes with which? Or what about cords to electronic items that we usually put batteries in, but might pull out the cord if necessary? Help me out of this tangled mess! LOL!
We downsized to a smaller home recently. I have to label everything. I want to label the shelves in the house so my husband can find things. I also want to label his tool drawers so I can find the nails, nuts or tools I need to finish a project. Labels would do well on large craft sticks for indoor houseplants. It will be easier for my husband to remember when to water while I am away sometimes.
ummm…I’d start with my craft room…move on to my food storage…hit my kid’s rubbermaid in the playroom and just keep going!
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.