Showing posts with label cleaning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cleaning. Show all posts

Friday, February 5, 2010

Hints from Heloise on Controlling Clutter

Found this on Good Housekeeping...for me at least, disorganization stresses me out without even knowing it...hope this helps everyone!

Heloise's Clutter-Busting Checklist


In the Living Room
Try this routine: Before going to bed, do a quick sweep-through, straightening up whatever looks out of place. Collect newspapers for recycling, plump cushions, place remote controls in a designated location. Pretty baskets are ideal for organizing papers, magazines, and television guides. And consider establishing this rule with your family: Whoever carries something into the room also carries it out!
In the Bedroom
Use the space under the bed for storage. Shallow containers that will fit are easy to find and fabulous for storing out-of-season clothes or linens. Periodically toss out five items from your nightstand, dresser or closet — the junk that has a way of collecting there.


In the Bathroom
First helpful rule: Stash several plastic bags in the bottom of the wastebasket. In a cabinet, keep a package of baby or alcohol wipes, paper towels and a spray bottle filled with vinegar and water. In five minutes, you can clean the mirror and sink, pick up towels and use a wipe over the toilet tank and seat, then throw it out.

Or if you prefer, toss out five items from the medicine cabinet: outdated medications, old lipstick, mascaras and other makeup, and bottles and jars that are nearly empty.

In the Kitchen
The most important rule: Clean as you go. Wipe stains and messes off countertops right away. Immediately soak pots after use. If something spills on the floor, mop it up at once.

The second most important rule: Used plates and glasses go into the dishwasher. Keep a container filled with soapy water by the sink for soaking silverware.

For that five-minute buzz-through (you'll be amazed at how much you can do in that short time): Clear off the counters, putting items into cabinets where they belong. Give the floor a once-over sweep. Pour household vinegar onto a paper towel and wipe the top of the stove, the exterior of the refrigerator and the inside and oustide of the microwave.

If you prefer the "five things" option: Pick one shelf in the refrigerator or pantry and clean out five items that are almost empty or are past their expiration date.

In the Laundry Room
Organization is the key in the laundry room, and it's easy to achieve by having several plastic bins or receptacles around — each with a specific purpose: one for lint, one with a sewing kit complete with prethreaded needles and buttons, one for lost-and-found items, one white hamper for white fabrics and one colored hamper for bright or dark fabrics. In a cabinet or on a shelf, store all washing supplies in a large plastic basket. Place a hook on a wall or over a door for hangers. Clothes pulled from the dryer and hung immediately may not need ironing.
In the Garage
Organize everything by function, such as sports gear, gardening equipment, car repair, etc. Use hanging racks and shelves to put things in order. Always keep garbage cans, lawn mowers and snowblowers in the same place. With fluorescent spray paint or tape, outline parking spaces for cars, bicycles or even garbage cans.

And if your home is like mine, remember: There are always five items you can remove from your garage!



Sunday, January 10, 2010

Cleaning out clutter

I've found that a lot of stress in my life comes from my room being cluttered, messy, and disorganized...I found some suggestions on how to keep the clutter at bay and am ready to start using them...i hope this is hopeful for those of you who have this same problem!!

excerpted from Good Housekeeping

Clean Out The Clutter

By: Julie Mihaly

Save the Date

  • Note birthdays, anniversaries, or other important events in a date book or PDA, and while you're at it, jot down a "send card" or "mail present" message to yourself a week before each event.
Personal/Business Documents
  • You can toss supporting personal documents after three years and supporting business materials after six. Be sure to shred any items that include your social security, credit card or account numbers, and recycle the ragged results.
Clothing
  • Forget the fads and hold onto clothes that will stand the test of time: a great pencil skirt; a never-goes-out-of-style suit; sleek neutral slacks; a camel hair coat; a tailored white button-down shirt; great-fitting dark denim jeans and the like. Keep these classics in mind next time you're tempted by fashion's flavor of the moment. Go ahead -- get wild with accessories
Family Photos
  • Place family snapshots in acid-free archival albums (lightimpressionsdirect.com) to make sure they'll be in happy-to-hand-down condition for generations to come. Remember to make prints of your digital photos so they don't get lost or forgotten on your hard drive.

Home improvement records
  • If you intend to sell your house at any point on down the line, you'll be able to show potential buyers what you've invested in the property, and the records may also help lower your tax bill when you sell the house. For more information, visit realtytimes.com.
Plastic take-out food containers
  • in addition to storing leftovers, clean these and use them to store art supplies, beads, or anything else of the like
Donations
  • Be sure to keep an inventory list of what you donate to share with your accountant at tax time. A write-off is very likely. If it hasn't been worn or used in 18 months, it probably should be donated if it is still in good condition. Donate old books, toys, eye glasses, small appliances, and clothing if you have no use for them anymore.
Old electronics or computers
  • generally, there are facilities that will take these items, even if they are not functioning anymore...be sure to recycle these instead of trashing them and depleting the environment
Recycle
  • find a recycling facility near you and take your glass, cans, and newspapers and magazines every week or so. If it is a subscription that you don't use anymore, cancel it.
Throw out:
  • expired foods, medicines, and makeup