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organizing tips

6 Ways to Optimize Your Kitchen For The Holidays

December 20, 2019 1 Comment

Ever notice that your house gets more and more cluttered as the holidays come near? The kitchen, especially,  is so heavily trafficked that it is just begging “stuff’ to collect! But is organizing possible right now?

While there are small ways to keep your kitchen clean all year round, December may be too busy to keep up with it all.  Good luck when January arrives. By then, the messes have been made! You will have your work cut out for you.

So, here are six ways to best optimize your kitchen around the holidays. Challenge yourself to utilize these as you enjoy the Christmas season – you won’t regret it!

 

Declutter

Start off by purging out any old appliances you have. Perhaps they are worn out and you no longer have any use for them, this is a great time to rid yourself of these pots and pans. Sort through all that you have and create piles of what you’ll need, and what can be donated. It’s important to be honest and keep only what is necessary and/or things you absolutely love. If you have the luxury of a basement or an attic, think about storing your off-season appliances there, to relieve your kitchen of those unnecessary items.

 

Deep Clean

Now, at the time of this reading, if it is super close to Christmas day, you can put this on hold for the future. Since you just cleared some space around the kitchen, it would be a great time to do a deep clean. It is easier to clean out the hard to reach areas in your kitchen with the clutter gone.

Thoroughly clean your stove/oven to provide a fresh area to cook and bake in. With everything sanitary and clear, you will have a better mindset as you enter this room, and feel significantly less stressed out.

Christmas cookies #tips

Balance your Decorations

As December chugs along, you have most likely added in some Christmas-themed decorations throughout the space. An important decor tip to keep in mind however, is to always keep the balance of the room in check. When you have too many decorations, it can seem cluttered even when it is not!

A great way to create the holiday mood, is to light a peppermint scented candle. You’ll create an ambiance without adding to the clutter.

This is not a sponsored post but this blog does contain affiliate links. ♥


Organize the pantry

Organize the pantry in a holiday week? No, of course not.  The true organizing will have to wait for January or beyond, but you can do a quick look through to find the items you will use the most. Put them on the pantry shelf directly at eye level, putting the most likely to be used items in front.  It will get you by until you can do a thorough job a few weeks from now.

 

Systematize your Drawers

When our drawers are overflowing, we either end up putting the contents outside of the drawer and causing more clutter, or just shove them in and ultimately damage the item. If this is holiday week, check out this post on How To Speed Clean a Room for tips that can also be applied to drawers. Quick clean ups must lead to doing for real, though. Don’t forget to come back and get it done right! For a deeper clean, here are some tips that may help>> Take Control – Clean a Drawer. 


Clear up Counter Space

Think about it, when you see a clear counter, it generally feels as if your kitchen is more organized than usual. The more dishes in the sink, papers piling up, and utensils scattered about, the more overwhelming the room becomes. To combat this issue, utilize your wall space. Invest in a hanging rack, or a metal knife holder.

This way, your kitchen appliances are still accessible, yet they are out of the way for day to day tasks around the kitchen. Even a cumbersome counter item, such as a cutting board, can be put to the side to create more space. Lean it against the black splash or even place it on top of your fridge. There are many ways to clear your counter, for more inspiration refer here.

Let’s face it, no kitchen will ever be completely organized at all times. Especially in the midst of this busy season! Set yourself up for a stress-free Christmas and position your kitchen the best way possible. Happy Holidays! Comment below and share your best kitchen hack!

Enjoy!

 

 

 

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Filed Under: holiday, organizing Tagged With: organizing tips

Simple Way To Keep Your Kitchen Clean

February 20, 2019 2 Comments

I just love walking in the door after a long day’s work to a clean kitchen. Imagine it. The counter tops are clutter free. There are no dirty dishes anywhere. You can hang up your coat and get busy preparing the evening meal with a beautifully clear work-space. And, after dinner, it is so easy to clean up because you have been rinsing the cookware, utensils and dinner dishes – putting them into the dishwasher – as you go. Perfect!

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Simple way to keep your kitchen clean all the time #tips

So, why has it been so seldom that I have enjoyed that scenario? Most of the time, keeping the kitchen really clean has been a daunting task. For instance, I would go to the grocery store, only to bring bags of groceries home to cluttered counters. By the time I got the groceries out of the car and into the house, it was almost time to cook. I would do my best to put them away but there was always something that has no where to be! So the cluttered counter gained a little more clutter with some of my groceries having no place to put them. And there were still unwashed dishes in the sink and a full dishwasher. Who can work in that? Well, I did but I was really tired of it.


That is when I made the best discovery that IS working for me. It is all about planning. I have changed my dinner making process. Now, 30 minutes BEFORE the time that I would actually start cooking, I clean my kitchen. Yes, I added “clean the kitchen” to the FRONT of the operation. It looks something like this:

Timeline For Keeping The Kitchen Clean Every Day*

*Whatever time you serve dinner, just add a 30 minute kitchen prep [cleanup] time before you START to cook!

3:00 pm – clear and clean kitchen counters, put away clean dishes from dishwasher. If there are any, load dirty dishes into the dishwasher.

3:30 pm – prepare dinner [cooking and setting the table] and rinse pans and utensils as you go. Put them into the dishwasher, as well.

4:30 pm – dinner is on the table. Eat dinner.

5:00 pm – clear table and put the dinner dishes in the dishwasher. Run the dishwasher.

It is up to you when this load of dishes will be emptied and put away. I usually put a few things away,  as the evening goes on, each time I that I am in the kitchen. By bedtime, the clean dishes are all put away.

Simple way to keep your kitchen clean all the time #tips #organizing #cleaning Click To Tweet


Does this happen to you? My dishwasher does NOT DRY the dishes. Oh, it isn’t broken. It is one of those energy-savers that runs forever and pools of water are still left on top of the glassware when it is finished. Ugh! I use a drying mat on the counter to let those wet glasses dry before putting them in the cupboard. But it is frustrating! 

Have you found a way to keep your kitchen clean all the time? Share your tips with us!

Finally, a simple way to keep your kitchen clean #tips #organizing

Enjoy!

 

 

 

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Filed Under: cleaning, Lifestyle, organizing, tips Tagged With: clean kitchen, cleaning tips, organizing tips

10 Awesome Organizers That Make Organizing So Much Fun

February 15, 2019 8 Comments

You just love organizing, don’t you.  If you do,  I will bet that you also love the organizers that help you to keep things organized. Am I right? Well, here are 10 organizers and organizing ideas for home and office that you will absolutely adore!

The organizers that make organizing FUN! #tips

I have come to realize that, for me,  the real satisfying in organizing my home is having those special little places to keep things. Whether it is dividers, baskets, bins, hangers or shelving, I just LOVE organizers! Here are 10 organizing posts that have the best tools for keeping your stuff organized.

This blog contains affiliate links. ♥

DIY under bed shoe organizer

Too many pairs of shoes to keep neatly? This DIY Under Bed Shoe Organizer from  Anika’s DIY Life   is inspiring; it looks pretty and, yet, can be rolled away out of sight!   

 

Wall organizer made out of an embroidery hoop #organizing #DIY

Are you crafty?  I just love craft projects that are practical, too. This DIY Embroidery Hoop Wall Organizers from The Scrap Shoppe Blog   would look great in my office!   

 

Thread rack becomes jewelry organizer #organizing

Do you have a way to store your jewelry that you like?  Mine has not been great. As soon as I saw this thread rack jewelry organizer, I knew it was for me!  Take a look and see if you agree:  From Thread Rack To Jewelry Organizer By One Good Thing  


How to make your own fabric storage bins

DIY Fabric Storage Bins – the Scrap Shoppe Blog

I can tell you for a fact that homemade fabric storage bins are VERY popular. One of the most visited posts on this blog, week after week, is 16 Fabulous FUN DIY Fabric Baskets For You To Make!   Now, not everyone wants to make their own but we all love to LOOK at them. If you are not motivated to make your own, buy some! There are lots of styles available to choose from.


Ways to use a 3 tier cart

Using carts for storage can be challenging. They are handy and easy to move from place to place but they can get cluttered, if you are not careful. These 6 Ways To Use A 3-Tier Cart from The Snyder Family will help you navigate the organization part so you will love it!


 

Wooden drawer organizers for the kitchen #DIY

These wooden organizers are CUSTOMIZED to fit your own drawers and your particular stuff!  See how she planned it out and, with a little help, got them made perfectly. DIY Custom Wooden Kitchen Drawer Organizers by Keys to Inspiration

 

Baby's closet organizers and organizing tips

This nursery organization post will inspire your organizing imagination even if you don’t have a baby at home.  Take her ideas and run with them. And, you  may just get some baby GIFT ideas for a mom-to-be  friend. Organizers for The Baby’s Room – [Nursery Organization 101] – Room For Tuesday

 

This dresser is so perfect, she has all of the babies supplies orderly in each drawer. Take a look! Nursery Dresser Organization – Two Twenty One


 

Wouldn't you love to have this closet, turned into a pantry? #organizing #homedecor

Now, how many of us would LOVE to take a closet and make a pantry out of it?  I thought so…. all of us!  You are going to want this pantry for your very own! Shawna’s Closet Turned Into A Pantry found on The Kitchen

 

Using bags to sort laundry when you lack storage space #organizing #Tips

This laundry room solution from Pin Junkie is stellar. She didn’t have storage space so she improvised with hanging bags! Laundry Room Organizer When You Have NO Storage – The Pin Junkie

Do you have any organizers that are your faves? Tell us about them!

Enjoy!

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Lifestyle, organizing, tips Tagged With: organize, organizers, organizing tips, storage

How To Organize For Tax Preparation Time

February 8, 2019 1 Comment


How To Organize for Tax Preparation Time #organizing #tips

Is it possible to get ready to file your taxes and not hate it in the process? I really have no idea. I hate it, every time. Compiling that kind of paperwork makes me edgy and I do not like having my nerves on edge. So, what did I used to do? Procrastinate! When my back was up against a wall, and April 15th was closing in on me, then I would force myself to get it done.

Wonder how much money you may get as a refund?
Here is a tax calculator that will help you=> ☑️  Estimate Your Tax Refund

My dad was somewhat the same way. When we were kids, my dad did all of the income tax reporting from start to finish. He was a detail oriented kind of guy. Mom would warn us “be very quiet, kids, daddy’s doing taxes!” It was the one time of year that our mild-mannered hero was grouchy. We tip toed around, heeding her advice.

In my own case, I only gather the information and take it to a CPA (certified public accountant.) Even so,  getting the paperwork organized is stressful! To reduce some of the pressure, and get it over as quickly as possible, I have developed an organizing plan that works for me. If you don’t have one of your own, you might want to give it a try.

This blog contains affiliate links. ♥


How To Get Records Ready For The Tax Preparer

How to get your tax information ready: 

• Make an appointment with your tax professional. Do this first. It gives you a deadline, which will help to keep you on track.  Have your personal calendar handy so that you do not accidentally double-book yourself. Write the appointment on your calendar. When I do it, I also set an alert on my phone to remind me of that appointment ahead of time.

• Clear off the work space. I cannot work in clutter. All I can think of is how everything around me needs to be put away!   The kitchen table is my favorite work-space so I totally empty the table top and get all of the distracting contents out of view.

• Gather your tools. Collecting and recording information to bring to your income tax expert can be daunting. Getting everything in order helps me to focus on the task at hand. I try to keep it simple and add a little atmosphere to make it more bearable.

  1. New spiral notebook. I use this to make a short list of every item I will need.  That way I can check off each task as it is completed. Typically, as I get into the process, I remember something else I will need to do. With a notebook sitting there, I can write it down so that I don’t forget. I try to pick out a notebook with a pretty cover that I really like. It is a just little special treat for me.
  2. Pencil or erasable pen. I would love to think I could write everything neatly the first time, but that never happens. Rather than scratching things off, it is nice to be able to erase errors. I love using a new pencil or pen  just to make it feel more special – I did tell you I hate tax time, right?  I guess it is my way to make it feel a little better.
  3. Coffee. Now, if you are given to spilling things, you might want to skip this. I work better with a hot cup of coffee at hand, in my favorite inspirational mug, of course. Not a coffee drinker? Select your beverage of choice.
  4. Calculator – use your calculator or let your spreadsheet do it for you. Simply put, you are going to have a lot of numbers to add up!   Tip: If having your phone nearby is a distraction, don’t use the calculator on the phone. Use a portable calculator instead, turn the phone off and put it in the charging station.
  5. Folders. You may be ahead of the game and have folders set up. If you don’t, then get some new file folders. You will need them.

• Gather the pertinent tax paperwork* that you have received from employers, banks and non-profits to whom you have donated. *If you work online, you may have to access some of those income reports by computer.  Print hard copies of them.

Not sure what papers you should pull together?
The IRS provides a list =>☑️ Tax Form Checklist

• Pull out your sales receipts, credit card records, mileage logs and any other documentation that could lead to getting a tax deduction.  More =>  9 Things You Didn’t Know Were Tax Deductible

• Get out your copy of last year’s tax returns. 

• Label your folders. Call them: donations, receipts, pay records, tax records, medical records, etc.

• Sort all of those records into the proper, labeled folders.

• Set up a tax record spread sheet on the computer.  This is where you will record all of you tax information: income, expenses, etc.  Your tax preparer will NOT go through your papers for you, except for confirming the legal documents. This is a job that you must do.  Be sure to put your name, address, email address and phone number on it.  When your spreadsheet is complete, save your work and print out a hard copy of it to bring to the tax preparation professional with the rest of your records.

• Record results on a spreadsheet on your computer. 

• Review your work. Be sure that nothing is missing.

• Place all of your folders into a portable file. Depending on how much you have, an expandable file may work or you may want to move to a  brief case or file box.

• Bring everything to your tax preparation specialist.  

Note: this job may take you more than one day. If you know you will need to stop and start up again, have a safe place to put everything. Putting those folders into a portable file is probably the simplest way to do it.

How to get organized before you get your taxes done #organizing #tips #home Click To Tweet

More helpful information=> How To Get Ready For A Tax Preparer

And    ==============>  Who Can Do My Taxes for Free? 

Note: this post is not meant to be tax preparation advice. It is simply a list of organizing tips to help to you to get ready to meet with your accountant or tax professional who will prepare your tax returns for you. 


Tax Time? #tips

Enjoy!

 

 

 

Compiling your tax documents for doing taxes #tips

 

 

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Filed Under: Lifestyle, organizing, tips Tagged With: organizing tips, record keeping, taxes

How To Beautify Your Kitchen Counter

January 14, 2019 Leave a Comment

What is there about kitchen counters that attracts clutter so easily? I hate it but am so guilty of letting it happen. Well, no more! Tonight I totally cleared off my peninsula kitchen counter and decorated it with a simple centerpiece plus a decorative notepad on a stand.

How to simplify your kitchen decor #organizing #tips #homedecor

So, this is how I beautified my kitchen counter:

  1. First, I took 15 minutes to throw away the stuff, like junk mail or food wrappers, that had collected there.
  2. Next, I put away the items that belonged somewhere:- in drawers, cupboards and rooms other than the kitchen.
  3. Finally, I cleaned and shined the counter top.

Simplify your kitchen counter decor #tips

It was time to decorate. I had a clear glass plate left over from the holidays that made a simple tray for my trio of flicker candles.  They needed something to add a little “pizzazz” so I grabbed three sparkly red pine cones from a different decoration and put them around the candles. They look really nice, especially with the candles turned on.

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I could have kept it to just the centerpiece, as centerpieces do discourage clutter from collecting.  I chose to add one more piece as I always want a notebook at hand to jot down reminders and create my next grocery list. This one has a cover that I like to look at so I put it on a stand as a display. So my kitchen counter has two clutter deterrents!

Decorative spiral notebooks


Clear your kitchen counter and give it some decorations! #organizing #tips Click To Tweet

Enjoy!

 


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Filed Under: Lifestyle, organizing, tips Tagged With: Home decor, kitchen, organizing tips

How To Speed Clean A Room

October 1, 2018 1 Comment

How to speed clean a room #cleaning #tips

 

In a perfect world, our homes would be company-ready all the time but, as we all know, life is not perfect. So what do you do when someone wants to drop by and you are not ready? Speed clean! 

This blog contains affiliate links. ♥

How To Speed Clean A Room

First, grab a laundry basket or two.

Next, gather supplies:

  • Feather duster
  • Paper towels
  • Glass cleaner
  • Furniture Polish


Follow this simple plan:

  1. Pick up stuff that is laying around. Start up high on shelves/tables and work your way down to the floor.
  2. Put clutter that doesn’t belong in the room in one laundry basket. Move it to an out-of-the-way location to be dealt with at another time.
  3. Place nick knacks, picture frames, etc. in the other laundry basket, to put back into place in just a few minutes.




DUST

Using your feather duster, start high. Dust mantels, TV’s, lamps.
Move to table tops, next, dusting all the way.

POLISH and SHINE

Using furniture polish for wood and glass cleaner for glass, polish and shine the furniture tops.
This is speed cleaning so only do the parts that people will see. Save the rest for when you have more time!

Tip: You may want to open a window to get some fresh air in the room.

PUT THE NICK KNACKS BACK.

Now, vacuum the rug. You are DONE! “Ding dong.” Your guests have arrived and you are ready!

Do you avoid last minute company stopping by? Do not fear - just speed clean! #tips #cleaning Click To Tweet


Got some great cleaning and organizing tips for us? Please share them in the comments! We’d love to hear from you.

Enjoy!

 

 

…..


How to speed clean a room #organizing

Filed Under: cleaning, Lifestyle, organizing, tips Tagged With: cleaning, cleaning tips, organizing tips, speed cleaning

Fix It Day Is The Best Little Home Maintenance Helper

September 17, 2018 1 Comment

How many times have you come across some little home maintenance job that needed to be done, only to put it off again? It is time to have a “fix it day!” It is unlikely that it will take all day but you are going to feel GREAT when you have it all done.

Having a Fix It Day keeps your home maintenance on track! #tips

Today was my “fix it day.” I was getting tired of wrestling with that loose door knob. It had been a little jiggly but now it was almost rolling around in my hand. Soon, it would not work at all and someone could get caught on the wrong side of the door! At least, that is the fleeting image that came to mind.

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So, I stopped what I was doing, got my screw driver and fixed that thing. From there, I went to the kitchen and tightened the plate on the electric outlet cover that was also too loose. As long as I had that screwdriver out, I may as well tighten everything in the house!

So what little annoying undone things have been crying for attention?


Home Maintenance Tips

Batteries – what batteries will soon need replaced? Don’t wait for them to die completely. Replace batteries in household essentials like smoke detectors, remote controls, flash lights and even your cooking timer. Stock up on extras for emergencies, too! 

Clean your Toaster & Coffee Maker – some appliances get cleaned often, like the stove-top for instance. Toasters and coffee makers are much lower on the list. Empty out the crumbs from your toaster and wipe it clean with a cloth. Run some white vinegar and water through your coffee maker followed by making a couple of pots of clean water to get the vinegar scent out. Shine the outside up and you are ready for business.

Cob Webs – “fly” through the house with a feather duster and get those ceilings clean. Cob webs love to hang in corners, even down near the floor, so get it all. Set the timer and after 15 minutes, stop. You can get a lot done in that little bit of time!

First Aid Supplies – Bring a little notepad and pen with you and inventory your first aid supplies. Write down anything that needs to be replaced: band-aids, antibiotic ointment, cold packs, cotton swabs, ace bandages, etc.

Grease The Squeak – got doors or drawers that squeak when they are opened and closed. Get out the WD40 – or cooking spray if you don’t have any – and grease the hinges and hardware. The squeaks go away.

Replace Light Bulbs – most of us replace burnt out light bulb indoors as soon as they give up the ghost but outdoor lights can get put off. If you have any outdoor lightbulbs that need to be replaced, this is the day to do it!

Tighten Door Knobs – got knobs that jiggle? They are coming loose. Get out a screw driver from your tool kit and tighten them up. While you are at it, check your light switch covers and tighten the ones that are loosening up, as well.

Vacuum Inside Window Sills – there are just some things that never get vacuumed and inside the window often is one of them. Bugs, dust and debris can be collecting in there. Time to vacuum them out!

Vacuum Maintenance – most of us use our vacuum cleaner until something doesn’t work, right? Well, besides emptying the canister every time you use it, cleaning the filter regularly will help keep your vacuum going strong. Today’s the day – clean the filters!

Simple home maintenance strategy to get things on track - Fix It Day #tips #organizing Click To Tweet

What little jobs would you add to this list?


Enjoy!

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Filed Under: Home & Garden, Lifestyle, organizing, tips Tagged With: home maintenance, organizing tips

How To Declutter Your Home and Keep It Organized

July 27, 2018 3 Comments

It happens four times a year. Seasons change and, with them, so do routines. Spring cleaning, fall cleaning, back to school prep, holiday shopping, sports seasons, garage sales, summer vacations, winter vacations — you get the picture. There is an endless list of new beginnings and their subsequent opportunities to get organized. You may be tempted to declutter your home fast but, let me encourage you, a habit of decluttering will produce longer lasting results.
So what is the first step? You must believe in the value of a clutter-free home.

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Why Declutter Your House?

Vases with flowers in them can be a strategic deterrent to clutter #organizingtips
  1. Why Declutter? You’ll be able to find your stuff! How many times have you had to go out and buy an item that you know you already own? You can’t lay your hands on it so, to save time, you buy another! “Someday it’ll turn up!” you say.
  2. Keeping the house clean is easier. You can dust, mop and vacuum with ease when there aren’t piles of things to clean around. Putting possessions back where they belong is quicker, as well. No more struggling with overstuffed drawers and unmanageable closets!
  3. It looks, and feels, so nice! Whether it is for your own pleasure, or the joy of knowing you’re ready for anything, it is great to live in neat, beautiful surroundings. Everything is in its place. You can even do some decorating, if you want to, or take up that hobby you never had time to do.
4. But every season is a very busy season.
How do you declutter when you don’t have time? Answer: do a little bit each day. That’s the key. Don’t write a day off just because you can’t devote hours to the task. You can do something today. Five minutes invested on a daily basis can accomplish much. Fifteen minutes daily can move mountains!
 


 

How To Declutter Your House and Keep It Organized

First, identify the area of your house or apartment that magnetically draws clutter. It may be a particular table, the kitchen counter, even the kitchen sink!   Whatever it is, make it your #1 project. And don’t simply clear the clutter, make it shine!
Let’s say the hot spot is your dining room table. Assess the situation. Take an overall look at what’s there. You probably can say “this doesn’t belong here” to most of it.
Use an empty laundry basket or box. Put everything that belongs in the same area of the house, like the bedroom, in the basket.
 
Now, go to the location where the items belong. If you have time, actually put it all away but don’t be obsessed with it. You are on a time schedule. Decluttering the table is your objective. Especially if this is an ECO (Emergency Cleanup Operation), leave it in a nice pile for each of the owners to take care of themselves. (This may require a friendly note on top of the pile to let your family know why it’s there. You’re not angry with them, you’re just cleaning up.)

Go right back to the dining room table. Don’t get sidetracked.

 
Did you know that most of us let clutter build up because we are perfectionists at heart? The job looks so overwhelming when you want everything to be perfect. Just the visual of all that has to be done can stop a perfectionist right in her (or his) tracks! So accept the fact that it is NOT going to be perfect. This is a limited, strategic attack on a bigger problem that you will conquer with time.
So, get back to that table ASAP. Scoop up the next group of items and take them where they belong. Now you should be able to see the surface of the table! Do a quick dusting and shine it up so that it looks pretty!
Pretty centerpieces are a unique deterrent to clutter! #organizingtips
 
Finally, put a beautiful centerpiece or a vase with flowers in the middle of the table. That speaks volumes to you and the rest of your family that the table is now off-limits for clutter! It looks too nice to mess up! This technique really works! No one wants to be the first one to put their stuff there so it will stay clean for a while. Make it your mindset that you will not be the one to let it go back to the way it was. If you leave something on the table that doesn’t belong there, everyone else will do the same thing.

All of this decluttering project can be done in 10-20 minutes at a time, not in a whole day. Stand back and take a look. It looks great, doesn’t it? Doesn’t that feel good? Tomorrow, you’ll move on to the next stage of decluttering. Do a little bit every day, and soon your home will be neat, orderly and beautiful–ready for anything!

How to declutter your house and keep it organized #tips

How to declutter your home and keep it organized for good! #tips #organizing Click To Tweet

Got any organizing secrets to share with us?

We’d love to hear about them.

 

Enjoy!


Filed Under: Home, Lifestyle, organizing, tips Tagged With: organizing tips

5 Minute Organizing Tips You Can Do Anytime

March 19, 2018 Leave a Comment

5 minute organizing jobs to get you from clutter to clean! #tips
How many times have your efforts to get organized been delayed for lack of time? More times than you can count, right? Just as you think you have found a day that you can really get things done, something comes up! Your child gets sick. An unexpected visitor drops by.  An offer you cannot refuse comes your way.  Delay delay delay.
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Conquering the clutter is not done in one long campaign.  Let’s face it, you may never find time enough to do it all at once. No, winning over “stuff” comes with a steady method of “little by little.” Here are some 5-minute projects you can do to get one step closer to achieving a beautifully organized home!

Organize your spices. This organizing task may not be possible in one 5 minute attempt but 5 minutes here and 5 there can add up to a totally organized spice collection. And the place to start is: EXPIRATION DATES! As you look at the group of bottles, first read the labels of the jars that are seldom used. These jars may be dusty – dead giveaway that they are OLD – but many may still look somewhat new. Just know that expired spices must go. If you do use a spice but the bottle has expired then toss  this one and  replace it. Put it on your grocery list.

Organizing tip: take 5 minutes and clean a drawer!

Clean out the silverware drawer. Oh how liberating a neat silverware drawer can be. Go ahead. Move fast. Love it!

Clip coupons. Clip the coupons that you will use. Throw all the rest away or save them for a friend. Do not leave the flyers lying around. The goal is to move toward neatness so the flyers have to go!

Fold some clean clothes. Folded clothes will stay nice while waiting to be put in drawers or on hangers. You’ll be one step closer to getting the whole job done by taking five minutes to fold them.  

Get rid of make-up clutter. It is time to say “goodbye” to those old lipsticks and ancient eye shadows. Throw away the stuff you haven’t used in 6 months or more.  Clean and rearrange the ones you will be keeping. Put them in a makeup organizer.


Reduce a pile of paper. Move a pile of old magazines to the recycling box or sort the junk flyers from your unopened mail and throw them away. Make a quick job of it. Don’t get stuck there. Stay in the 5 minute time frame by setting a timer to remind you when to stop.

Write a menu. Effective grocery lists are built on weekly menu plans. Check the freezer, refrigerator and cupboards for supplies and plan your menu. Consider the nights you will have time to cook and those where the schedule will not allow. Busy days can be slow-cooker nights, leftovers or take out!

Make a List.  It only takes 5 minutes to write a to-do list or a grocery list. Quick reminders written on paper can save you lots of time in the long run.

5 minute organizing tips you can do anytime! #tips #momlife #organizing Click To Tweet

Enjoy!

 

Filed Under: organizing, tips Tagged With: organizing tips, paper clutter

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