How to Organize Warrantees and Manuals

... and a few tips making your life easier when you need them. 

Why organize warrantees and manuals for home appliances and tools? Ever get an error message when preheating your oven? Not know how to use a function on an appliance that you rarely use? Or maybe,  something needed fixin'…. and it would have been a quick fix if you only knew that easy how-to step or only had...

---

... that small tool or small replacement part it came with. Well, here is an easily under-an-hour project that will save you time, money, and frustration when those fix-it and how-to moments come up. 

Estimated Time to Complete

Once you have the items needed (which we’ll get to in a moment), this project takes (easily) less than 30 minutes... depending on your number of manuals, instructions, and warrantees.

Level of Difficulty

Very easy

Estimated Cost

Up to $30. Psst... You may already have most or all of the items needed listed below.

Items Needed

• Accordion File Organizer 24 Pockets. I like having extra pocket files for future use.
• 1-Gallon Ziplock Bags
• Sandwich-size Ziplock Bags

---

I recommend choosing an accordion organizer in a bright or easy-to-spot color or design (as in the examples in this post) so it's easy to find. 

Instructions

• Sort out manuals, instructions and warranties
• Use small ziplock bags for smaller instructions of common household items within a category.

• Staple warrantees and receipts to manuals
• Use ziplock bags for filing paperwork with small tools and/ or extra nuts and bolts for easy and complete access when you need them.

• .Categorize manuals and instructions by “type” that works for you. For me I did
  • Kitchen Appliances (2)… oven, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, Ninja blender, etc
  • HVAC & Water… air conditioner, furnace, water heater
  • Small Appliances/ Tools… healing heat pad, beauty appliances
  • Pets (2)… dog pens, travel carriers, training tools
  • Car…. Halo instructions
  • Outdoors… lighting,
  • Plumbing… faucets with extra o-rings
  • Garage Door
  • Game Equipment… pool table, pinball machines
  • Outdoor Equipment… snow blower, lawn mower

Note: "(2)" indicates I allowed 2 file slots for accommodating more bulky instructions and manuals, as well as small tools and parts.

• Begin filling in pockets with groupings of categorized paperwork and ziplock pouches (before labeling tabs).

Leave the first pocket in the accordion file organizer clear for quick drop-ins of instructions when in a hurry... for filing later.

• NOW label the tabs. Depending on your organizer, you can write directly on the tabs… or you can create them on your computer and apply to the tabs (which is more easily changeable in the future).​ 

• Store your household manual and warrantee organizer in an accessible yet out-of-the-way space. I store mine in an upper kitchen cabinet.

Depending on your circumstances, here are the manuals, warrantees, and instructions I recommend storing these outside of the general household accordion organizer:

• Computer and Office Equipment: If possible keep in your office or workspace for quick access.
• Home Security Equipment: Whether you have a few sensor or a full home security system, it important to keep not only instruction manuals and warrantee paperwork accessible but the original tools that came with sensors and cameras for installation for those quick fix-its. These along with extra sensors, batteries, and adhesives can be a bit bulky for the file pockets in the accordion organizer. I store these in a well-labeled accessible box in my garage.
• Larger manuals: This could be more complete manuals for cars, rider mowers, and other lawn maintenance equipment. Or, you may have found (like me) that original instructions provided with equipment are shall we say less than thorough. For these, I have a Pages (or Word) document on my computer with the links to more complete resources like the manufacturers' online manuals and useful videos for common issues.

So give it a try. Also check out my FREE storage hack for quick access to hats, gloves, and scarves, candles, as well as other EZ organization and FREE Home DIY ideas.

​In the meantime, get started and get going putting the fun back into functional stylish living… in under an hour!