• About
  • Contact
  • Courses
  • Binder Kits
  • Collaborate
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Organize
  • Projects
  • Lifestyle
  • Crafts
  • Holidays
  • Courses
  • Binder Kits
  • Media and Press
  • Mobile Menu Widgets

    Connect

    Search

Organized-ish

Organized-ish

Progress > Perfection

  • Organize
  • Projects
  • Lifestyle
  • Crafts
  • Holidays
how to organize owners manuals

How To Store Owners Manuals (And Which Ones To Keep)

August 6, 2021 · In: Organize, Quick Win Friday

Learn which owners manuals you can keep and which ones you can toss, as well as how to store the manuals you need to hang onto.

When I was organizing homes professionally, I almost always came across piles of crumpled up owners manuals in drawers, cabinets, and random places around the house. 50% of them were for things they didn’t even own anymore, and the other half were so damaged they couldn’t be used even if they were needed.

So in case you’re feeling nervous while reading this because your own owners manuals are a hot mess, here’s my best tips on what to keep, what to trash, and how to store the keepers. Make this your weekend project and you’ll so much more Organized-ish. I just did it too, so we’re basically doing this together!

what owners manuals you need to keep

Owners Manuals You Should Keep

Let’s start with the keepers. While you might think you’ll never look at these manuals again, it’s still a good idea to hang onto them in case of damage, warranty access, or troubleshooting.

  • Large Kitchen Appliances (dishwasher, stove, oven, refrigerator, garbage disposal)
  • HVAC
  • Tankless Water Heaters
  • TVs
  • Other Electronics Worth More Than $1000
  • Lawn and Pool Equipment
  • Furniture That May Need To Be Disassembled When Moving
which owners manuals to keep and which to throw away

That’s it. Short list, huh? If you have any other owners manuals stashed around, you can go ahead and send them to the recycling bin. But before you trash them, make sure there isn’t a warranty form inside. Get that warranty in place first so you’re covered.

See that handful going in my own trash can? I’m embarrassed to admit that there are appliance and garage door manuals for a house we don’t even live in anymore in that stack. I needed this purge sesh just as much as you do.

how to organize owners manuals

How To Neatly Store Owners Manuals

You might think stashing them in a section of your filing cabinet is a good idea, but I want to give you a better option. A filing cabinet does work to keep them all together, but it’s not really the best way. Instead, try this.

Get a 1.5 or 2 inch 3-Ring binder and add some sheet protectors inside. Each owners manual gets it’s own sleeve, and you can organize the binder by type using binder divider sheets.

how to store owners manuals neatly

Make one section for appliances, one for electronics, and one for miscellaneous. It’s also a good practice to keep the warranty info in the binder, too, so it’s all together.

Label the binder “Manuals And Warranties” and store it somewhere you can easily access it like a home office, guest bedroom, or bookshelf.

how to organize owners manuals neatly

Set A Reminder To Maintain The Binder

Just filling up a nice, neat binder isn’t enough when it comes to keeping your owner’s manuals in check. You’ll likely keep adding to the binder as you acquire more things, and you may sell or get rid of appliances or electronics over the next year.

Cricut owners manual storage

Set a reminder in your phone’s calendar to look through the binder in 9-12 months and take out anything you no longer need. Even better if you can set that reminder to recur once a year so you never forget again.

I use my phone’s calendar for reminders like this all the time. I have them set up to help me keep my filing cabinet, phone photos, and email inbox decluttered, too!

Related Blog Post: How To Store Important Documents Safely

By: Lela Burris · In: Organize, Quick Win Friday · Tagged: binder, filing cabinet, paper clutter, quick win friday

you’ll also love

pantry container expiration date with chalkboard vinylEasy DIY Expiration Date Tags For Pantry Containers
filing cabinet drawer paper clutter tips3 Simple Tips To Conquer Paper Clutter
Filing Cabinet Organization & Makeover With Cricut Vinyl

Get Blog Posts In Your Inbox

Every Saturday morning I send out a weekly recap of all the new blog posts. Want in?

Reader Interactions

Leave A Comment Cancel reply

Next Post >

The Living Room Edit- My Interview With Wayfair

Primary Sidebar

Meet Lela Burris

Meet Lela Burris
hey-o!

My name is Lela, (say it like LEE-luh) and I'm so glad you stopped by my blog! Whether you're into organizing, home improvement, crafts, or you just think my pets are cute, you'll find all kinds of inspo here.

Tell Me More!

Connect

Get VIP Emails

Search

Shop My Planners

printable planners for home organization

Organize Your Craft Room

lela burris organiziedish

Hang With Me

  • Email
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Follow Along

@lelaburris

Take a little tour of where I work every day and h Take a little tour of where I work every day and how I organized the whole space. The only thing it’s missing is a big tub of snacks. 😂 What’s your go-to snack when you’re working? Mine is the chocolate chip cookie dough Larabars. 🤤
🛒 Sources for the organizers and furnishings are in my LTK. 🖤
#homeofficeideas #homeofficegoals #deskorganization #organizingideas
5 Things You Never Knew About Me: 1. When Nigel a 5 Things You Never Knew About Me:
1. When Nigel and I started dating, I had a pet tarantula and a ball python, and both were in my small apartment bedroom next to my bed.
2. I started my blog in 2014 under the name In The New House. It didn’t change to Organized-ish until 2018.
3. I didn’t plan on becoming a professional organizer at all. A blog reader reached out and asked for help and people just kept asking after that.
4. I was chosen to share a holiday craft idea with @marthastewart on SiriusXM radio and she sent me a gorgeous wreath as a thank you.
5. I have a large collection of crystals and you can find at least one in almost every room photo I share here and on the blog. It’s like a never ending Easter Egg hunt. 😁
✨Now tell me a random fact about yourself! 😍
Bench is made for an entryway, trays are made for Bench is made for an entryway, trays are made for a kitchen, expandable divider is for a closet, and the wall storage is for garages…when you break the “rules” of organizing it becomes easier (and cheaper) to get your home Organized-ish. 🙌🏼
#organization #organizingtips #organizingideas #homegymsetup #drawerorganization
Who wore it best? Closet, laundry room, or bedroom Who wore it best? Closet, laundry room, or bedroom?
Same cabinet systems, different rooms. 😍 They’re all from @modularclosets and my ongoing code LELA gets you 10% off. 🙌🏼
#modularclosets #closetorganization #closetgoals #laundryroomgoals #storageideas

Footer

Browse By Category

  • Organize
  • Projects
  • Lifestyle
  • Crafts
  • Holidays

Get Organized-ish

  • Courses
  • Printable Planners
  • Shop My House
  • Amazon Faves

Blog Info

  • Contact
  • Media and Press
  • Disclosures
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Organized-ish LLC © 2023 · Theme by 17th Avenue