Comments on: Organizing manuals

By: Linda N

Linda N — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 06:44:05 +0000

I like your idea of keeping manuals in one place. I decided to store mine close to where I need them. I bought a few plastic magazine organizers. One is kept in the kitchen for large and small kitchen appliances. Two are on the shelf in the laundry room (near the garage) for the washer, dryer, water heater, garage door opener and anything else stored in the garage. I also have three in a bookcase in my home office for TVs, electronics, watches, vacuums, etc. I’m leaning towards consolidating them like you did since I don’t have to access them often. Thanks for all the great tips!

By: Betty

Betty — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:15:41 +0000

I would say file by the item name, not brand. Example. Instead of Sansung; I would file it in fold labeled TV. A file for Camera; not Cannon. Makes more sense to me than filing anything by brand name.

By: Lucia

Lucia — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 05:16:19 +0000

Hi, I have just found your blog and I’m liking what I am reading! I love to organize but have a hard time keeping things that way…
Anyway, my question: you said your manuals are filed alphabetically. Can you go into that further? Like, say, you have a Samsung HDTV. Would that be filed under “S” or “T”? Do you file by product name or brand name or generic name? Or say, my camera, a Canon Digital Rebel.
I have my manuals *filed* in 3 ring binders (about 5 I think). They are grouped by like items (appliances, small electronics, audio/video, computer, etc.)

Thanks for all of the tips!

By: Shannon Stump

Shannon Stump — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:48:50 +0000

stephanie
Posted January 9, 2009 at 11:29 am | Permalink
What do you do about manuals that also have recipe books in them? Some of the products I have are instructions/recipes all in one

I Have file drawer, with all manuals/warrantys. I included a three ring binder, just for kitchen appliances, that may or may not include recipes.Catagorized under Kitchen ( I keep my major appliances there as well) So, when I need to know how to care for a product or know I want to make a recipe I just grab the binder. Then if I decide to I can keep it in the kitchen for a while (Like around Christmas or Thanksgiving)It keeps my kitchen clutter free. We move often so I like to have a permanent place for it. (Which is why I dont always have it in the kitchen) The things that dont move with us (stove, refridgerator, etc.) is then pulled for new owners. I also keep other user manuals for things we still have but know how to use as a quick inventory guide or for when we donate, sell, or have a garage sale. Since we move every few years. I organize what stays and what goes a few months beforehand and purge those items. It makes moving into our new home way easier.

By: I’m an Organizing Junkie » My filing system

I’m an Organizing Junkie » My filing system — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:44:09 +0000

[...] Note: my product manuals are filed separately using this system. [...]

By: stephanie

stephanie — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:29:42 +0000

What do you do about manuals that also have recipe books in them? Some of the products I have are instructions/recipes all in one.

By: Amy

Amy — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:57:05 +0000

Genius! We just moved and have piles and pile of manuals all over the house. I can’t wait to organize them in one for these great bins :)

By: Erna

Erna — Sat, 12 May 2007 00:15:00 +0000

Ahh, we hope to get some of these when we build our basement. No more big gray filing cabinet for us. this is right up our alley. :0) The manuals in our filing cabinet are kind of piled together but it is wise to file them alphabetically. Great idea!

By: HomeSchool Mommy

HomeSchool Mommy — Fri, 11 May 2007 15:43:00 +0000

Great idea!

By: Blessed Beyond Measure

Blessed Beyond Measure — Fri, 11 May 2007 05:35:00 +0000

Mine was in two huge notebooks and they were just cumbersome to deal with. I just put them in a rubbermaid thing much like this. I just had to pull out a manual yesterday morning and found it within minutes. xoxoox