User & Appliance Manuals & Instructions
What to Keep and What Not to Keep
I was in a home this week organizing, and I was asked a familiar question again, “Amber, what do people do with their manuals, instructions or how to care for guides? “ So if you’ve ever wondered about that as well, you’re not alone. Most people don’t know where to keep them, how many to keep, and why to keep them. I’ve seen them stuffed in shoe boxes, filing cabinets, large expandable envelopes, in the bottom of master closets and just about anywhere else you can think of hiding them. They are a nuisance and they are so large and cumbersome. How does one make sense of all the paperwork that comes with new purchases and not just a new toaster? What about your new washer and dryer or lawnmower you just purchased? Those are very good questions. So here’s what you need to think through as you clean out your manuals and instructions.
How to Decide Which Product Manuals to Keep
1. How much did the item cost? The cheaper the item, the more likely I’d tell you to toss it. Each family has a threshold. For my husband and I , it basically has to be $100 or more in order for us to keep it.
2. Who is most likely to fix this item if it breaks? If you husband or partner is handy and will pull out the manual to fix it, you better keep it. If you’re more likely to hire a repair ma, don’t worry about keeping every single manual.
3. Will I take this item apart or uninstall and install it again somewhere else? Some household items we take with us when we move and they have to be taken apart to move. If you know you won’t take it apart to move it, then don’t both keeping installation or assembly instructions. The same goes for items you know you’ll never assemble again- like a ceiling fan or piece of furniture. Toss those instructions.
4. Is keeping the receipt good enough? Keeping a file of receipts may be just enough. Large purchases and unquie purchases can all be stored in that one file in your filing cabinet.
How to Store Product Manuals
I like to break it down into four major categories.
1. Outdoor Manuals- bikes, grill, garage tools, yard tools, anything for outside, etc.
2. Electronics- TV’s, DVD players, Wii, etc.
3. Permanent Product Manuals- anything you won’t be taking with you– like refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, washer and dryer, etc.
4. Non-Permanent Manuals- anything expensive you’d be taking with you if you move that has instructions.
Some add a 5th category for baby or kids’ toys but I don’t think they’re worth keeping. Most are not expensive. I could see a few exceptions but I wouldn’t go crazy and keep them all. Once you have your four to five categories you can create files in a filing cabinet or envelopes or expandable pocket organizers. I like the files in the filing cabinet the best. It’s easiest to look things up and file things away.
How about you? Where do you store your product manuals?
Visitor Comments:
Business Owner and Certified Professional Organizer
Mark- you’re smart for looking things up online. That should help reduce what you keep. And yes, of course, the extended warranties or regular warranties are careful to watch out for. Don’t toss those! :)
This is a really good post.
I keep my manuals for everything.
I have a binder full of them, some for appliances I don’t even have any more.
However, now that everything is available online I have noticed I can just google “blender manual” and if I look hard enough I will find the exact manual for my device.
Some manuals are good to keep because they have the extended warranty attached to them.
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