Keys - How To Keep Them Organized, etc.?

This is one of those post that I am not going to offer advice.  Actually, I need assistance on a good, inexpensive method to keep track of the slew of keys that one collects over the years.  Everything from luggage, padlock, house, auto keys, etc.

Yesterday, I had zero luck in my search for a key ring with my old truck keys on it.  I have had it in a zippered section of my purse for months and very well might have taken them out to temporarily lighten the load before heading out one day.  But, can not for the life of me recall, if so, where I put them.

Not a small key ring either, as it has a decorative Tony the Tiger or Exxon, Tiger in the tank head with a safari hat on.

The positive of the whole search is that I thought I had certainly lost my second set of house, truck and car keys months ago.

NO....  They were found and recovered in the Tiger Ring Search.

No joke.

Found them in a lower zipped pocket of my backpack; which I only use periodically.

Sweet, as on Monday PM, I went to Home Depot and had them make three (3) copies of my SUV key.  The downside, I discovered is that the manufacturer's keys obviously have a microchip in them.  Therefore, my duplicate keys are only functional for the door lock and to turn the electronics on via the ignition key hole.

Back to how to label and store.  I need suggestions desperately and would prefer a method that doesn't take up too much space and yet has all keys visible.  (Hmmm...  Just thought if there was a method of solid pages in a three ring binder that might be a possible solution.)

How do you tag your keys, so that you aren't totally stumped when you go to open the shed door and don't know which Master Lock key goes to that particular lock?

How many spares or back-ups is enough?

In and Out Boxes Mail

I certainly strive to be more organized.  It's a full-time job and the more I take on and do the harder it is to achieve.  So, I am by no means ultra organized or perfect.  But, I believe that I might have a solution for keeping the stacks of incoming mail that I have presorted through to attend to from being here there and everywhere in piles.

Granted, this idea hasn't been put into play, as of yet, as the basement library project is still in process.  I do already have the materials though; which consist of Pottery Barn office rail system with a couple of the white hanging containers (for desk area).  Plus, I have one red, Swedish metal post box and one very similar embossed white, Swedish metal post box.

My idea is to place the Swedish post boxes at the top of the basement stairwell as my paperwork and mail in and out boxes.  Neat appearance, sealed by a hinged cover and color coded for in or out.

Any thoughts or opinions, such as a better method or what works well for you?

Note:  If interested in purchasing - I did not purchase the mail boxes from the business I am providing the hyperlink to and when I purchased my items, I paid considerably less.  The red box, shown above that they sell is exactly the same, but was purchased locally some time back.  The white box is from Restoration Hardware and is no longer available from their store.

Wire and Cable Harnessing

In the information technology (IT) field there are millions of miles of cables that technicians and engineers need to manage and keep neat and tidy.  The most widely used method is tie wraps or zip ties.   Tie wraps or zip ties require threading an eye in one end of the tie with the opposite end and then pulling taught and many times clipping the extra tail off to finsh the cable bundle.

The Con:  At a later date, if you want to add a cable or remove, etc.  it will require clippers to remove the old tie and adding a new tie and clipping off the tail.

I confess, I have tried using ties at home and they have a utility in certain instances.  But, when it comes to home wire and cable harnessing that requires adjustments periodically.  Or just plain organizing extra wires, cables and extension cords, I have found a Velcro Brand product that I strongly recommend.

Velcro makes reusable ties for wires and cords that comes in a two (2) roll pack with a total of fifty (50) straps (8" x 1/2").  Same design concept as a tie or zip wrap,  but with greater flexability and reusable.  Cost is roughly $5. for the pack of fifty (50) and they can be found at your local building supply stores.

What is nice about this product from Velcro is that it is a scaled down thinner material and loops than regualr Velcro products.  Not as fuzzy or with the visable hooks like the standard product.

If you are looking to color code and Just bundle cables, try a dollar store.  They might carry Relayer Electronics, Self Attaching Cable Ties.  These come in a package of eight (8) and the dimensions areL  6.75" x 0.62".  I have found these in Huntsville, AL, as well as Northern Virginia, DC Metro area.  Cost is $1. a pack.  (These are the Velcro knock off with the visable fuzz and large hook loops.  Plus each tie has a small black loop at the end of each that I imagine one could attatch a hang tag to for identification of length of cable or something of that nature.

Slowly, but surely working on my boxes and drawers of wires, cables and extension cords cleaning up the inventory.  Plus, tidying up area such as lamp electrical wires removing the excess length and making nice little bundles.  The tiny little things that can make a difference in a home environment.

When you have a moment, peruse the Velcro.com web site to see what other inventive products they have, such as plant ties and carpet protector.

Cheers!