In this day of heightened personal security, a shredder can be invaluable, organizers agree.

“Using a shredder is a great way to protect your identity against fraud and to get rid of unwanted paper clutter,” said Beth Freeman, general manager of a Staples store in Kansas City, Mo.

There’s a variety of shredders sold at multiple retailers, from office supercenters like Staples and Office Max to big-box stores like Kmart, Target and Wal-Mart.

Freeman suggests a 10-sheet cross-cutting number that sells for about $100.

Shredding job too big? The office superstores and other retailers will shred it for you for a price.

Binders with rings that detach from the shell for easier storage and modular Stack+Fit desk shelves can make organizing easier, Freeman said. There are even stylish storage options by Martha Stewart and other labels.

The fancy stuff can be nice, but the simple options can be just as effective.

“Clear containers are the best for storage,” said organization expert and author Jennifer Ford Berry. “Repurpose containers that you already have before you go out and purchase something new, which just adds more to your clutter.”

Mary Ellen Vincent of OrganizeMe, a professional organizing service in Kansas City, likes “hanging files and manila folders. It’s hard to make a truly cool new gadget. I don’t even like the color-coded hanging files. It seems like a good idea, and then you forget the meaning of the colors.”

One organizing product you might want to avoid? Bulletin boards, said Kasey Vejar of Simply Organized, an organizing service in Johnson County, Kan.

“They quickly become a catchall for everything from theater tickets and coupons to photos,” she said. “So I recommend beginners and intermediates not use these. For most, it’s really just a cop-out to making a decision: ‘Hey, I’ll just shove it up here on the bulletin board so I don’t forget it.’ And then you forget it.”

HomeStyle, Pages 40 on 03/09/2013