The repairman explained that the fabric softener sheets she had been using in her dryer created a film over her lint screen and that had a part in her dryer’s heating unit going out.  If you’ve ever noticed when you pull a fabric softener sheet from the box, it does feel kind of “waxy”.  This is the invisible build-up that ends up on your lint screen, and even your clothes.

To get rid of the build-up, take your dryer lint screen and wash it with hot, soapy water every six months.  This will help lower your electric bill and, according to the repairman, double the life of your dryer!

I use dryer sheets all of the time so I had to try this.  When I held my dryer lint screen under water, a little bit ran through, but most of it puddled up on top and stayed there.  I quickly cleaned it with hot soapy water, and yes, that solved the problem!

One Step at a Time Cleaning

Do not let the messies overwhelm you. Set small organizing goals. Make a list of everything you would like to accomplish as far as cleaning. Then set out to accomplish them. Do ONE task each day. Just one.

Before you know it, your list will become4 smaller and smaller until you are an organizing guru…(well at least fairly neat, lol)… Then it’s all maintenance baby!

Example of One Step at a Time Organizing

Let’s look at one example from “to do” list.

Clean Kitchen

Break it down in to one cleaning task at a time like this:

• Day One: counters
• Day Two: fridge
• Day Three: stove
• Day Four: pantry
• Day Five: appliances
• Day Six: floors

Success Tip: Remember, once you complete one task, you must maintain it if you want to keep the messies at bay. So, if you clean the counters on day one, make sure you wipe them down on days 2-6. Then when the whole kitchen is done, at the end of each day, your load will be much lighter. You will only be dealing with normal everyday messes…not major overhaul type cleaning.

As you may have already guessed, I am by no means an expert in the ways of organizing. I am an average Mother who is organizationally challenged trying to make life cleaner and less stressful. I am simply sharing what I am learning as I go and hope that there are people out there like me who need simple solutions for the average messy life!

Copyright © Lara Velez, All Rights Reserved

Perfume is one of the most memorable things about a person. It is sometimes much easier to remember people by the way that they smell, at times it’s even easier than the way they look. A lot of figures from ‘Miss Saigon’ to Bon Jovi have immortalized the experience of memorable smells. It can become a person’s trademark and at times, when things are absolutely perfect, the perfect perfume can be the most seductive thing about you. Women and men have perfected this trick throughout the centuries.

But sometimes you just want to get rid of perfume scents. At times you just can’t stand the smell of the last person that sat in your car. At times the perfume of your mother-in-law on your furniture is just really oppressive on your allergy. And then there are scents that may just get you into trouble with your significant other. So if you have any of the above, you definitely need some of the best scent removal techniques around!

• On clothes: When it comes to removing perfume scents from clothes, nothing beats the effectiveness of a good wash. People with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, asthma, or extreme allergies should best take notice! Using organic detergents rather than chemical detergents greatly decreases the risk of you suffering from any side effects. Another more hands-on technique of removing scents is to soak your clothes in water and vinegar in the washer overnight. And afterwards wash your clothes the next day three to four full cycle washes, using only water after the first spin and rinse.
• In cars: For the case of perfume sticking on the car seat, it would be much better to use leather friendly products, lest you damage that amazing interior of your vehicle. Washing the seat covers and keeping your windows slightly opened to keep the air circulating is a great option. If you have some money to burn, having it professionally cleaned is an amazing option.
• On people: Sometimes it escapes even our own noses when we’ve worn too much perfume. If you’ve been warned by a colleague or a friend (or are simply drawing a lot of annoyed stares and wrinkled noses), what you can do is to make a paste of water and baking soda and then rub it on the area where you applied the perfume. Rinse it off afterward.

These are just a few things that you would like excessive perfume scents removed from. If you want to remove perfume from other things not on this list or you want more tips on removing scents, just visit: http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/odor-removal/how-to-get-rid-of-perfume-smell/

There are many safe and effective uses for salt for household use. Here is a list of salt uses by category.

Salt and Laundry:

• soak stained hankies in salt water before washing
• boil clothes pins in salt water before using them and they will last longer
• eliminate excess suds with a sprinkle of salt
• soak your clothes line in salt water to prevent your clothes from freezing to the line
• likewise, use salt in your final rinse to prevent clothes from freezing
• fabric colors hold fast in salty water wash
• boil mismatched hose in salty water and they will come out matched
• cover wine-stained fabric with salt; rinse in cold water later
• to remove grease stains in clothing, mix one part salt to four parts alcohol

General cleaning with Salt:

• rub salt on your pancake griddle, and your pancakes won’t stick
• clean brass, copper and pewter with paste made from salt and vinegar, thickened with flour
• pour a mound of salt on an ink or blood spot on your carpet; let salt soak up the stain
• clean your iron by rubbing some salt on a damp cloth on the ironing surface
• clean piano keys with a mixture of salt and lemon juice
• rub any wicker furniture with salt water to prevent yellowing
• freshen sponges by soaking them in salt water
• mix salt with turpentine to whiten your bathtub and toilet bowl
• soak enamel pans in salt water overnight, then boil salt water in them the next day to remove burned-on stains
• sprinkle salt in your oven before scrubbing clean
• soak discolored glass in a salt and vinegar solution to remove stains
• clean greasy pans with a paper towel and salt
• use salt to clean your discolored coffee pot
• sprinkle salt in milk-scorched pans to remove odor
• salt and soda will sweeten the odor of your refrigerator
• salt and cinnamon will remove offensive odors from the stove
• salt and lemon juice removes mildew
• remove odors from sink drainpipes with a strong, hot solution of salt and water
• polish your old kerosene lamp with salt for a brighter look
• if a pie bubbles over in the oven, put a handful of salt on top of the spill. It won’t smell and will bake into a dry, light crust you can easily wipe away when oven in cool

Salt and Personal hygiene:

• soak toothbrushes in salt water before your first use; they’ll last longer
• dry salt sprinkled on your toothbrush makes a good tooth polisher
• mildly salted water makes an effective mouthwash. gargle with warm water for a sore throat
• use equal parts salt and soda for brushing your teeth
• rinse a sore eye with a little salt water

Miscellaneous uses for Salt:

• sprinkle salt between sidewalk bricks or cracks where you don’t want grass to grow
• to fill holes in your plaster walls, use equal parts of salt and starch with just enough water to make a stiff putty
• sprinkle salt on your shelves to keep ants away
• for a longer life for cut flowers, add a little salt to the water

Chris Wilhelm http://blog.werelivingwell.com

I have a corner desk and on it I have my computer, printer, fax, phone, etc. Beside my desk I have a two-drawer filing cabinet. This was possibly the greatest thing I’ve ever done to organize my business. In it I have my files and supplies that I use on a daily or regular basis. My clients’ stationery, clients’ files, file for my receipts, all personal correspondence, paper, folders, etc. Whenever these files get bulky with client documents, I simply empty them into the main filing cabinet. For example, my main clients that I’ve been working with for 15 years, their files in the main cabinet are quite large and it’s so nice to have the smaller file close by with just their recent correspondence. Plus, when I need a folder, an order slip for my books, a copy of my stationery, it’s all right there. AAAHHH, now that’s convenience.

Now for the receipts’ file. I keep it monthly. I simply at the beginning of the month, replace the file with the new month’s file. That way, at tax time, I don’t have to go through a whole year’s receipts and divide it up then. It’s all separated.

Here are some other organizational tips you might find beneficial:

Mail—We have a round basket by a small table by the front door. All incoming mail goes in there first. Then when I have the opportunity to sort through it, I get it and put it in its appropriate place. Always pitch anything you aren’t keeping All business-related mail is sorted and put away immediately. Anything that might need work done on it, is logged into my Day timer and then put in the To Do Bend.

Desk—Your desk should have on it only those items that you use on a regular basis. Look around. What haven’t you used in the last month or two. Start Dumping. Find another spot for it. But find the RIGHT space for it.

No Piling of Anything Allowed. This is one of those habits that can be so easy to get into. Definitely one of the ones that I catch myself doing a lot! But I stop myself now because I know it will just be brushed off to the side and forgotten. Too often I miss something important and regret the piling blunder again. You will be amazed how much more organized you will feel if you just don’t do this one thing.

Daytimer—Now this isn’t only for Time Management. Your Daytimer can have a space for all your business cards, appointment cards, etc. How great it is to have all these cards right in the same place. On the date of your appointment, you simply grab the card and off you go.

Start the beginning of the day and the end of the day with a clean-up. What a tremendous feeling that is. When you are done with a project. Away it goes. Everything. When you start the next project, out comes all the material you need.

There’s nothing like the feeling of sitting down in the morning to a nice clean organized desk and office. Once you feel this a couple of days, you want to experience this every day so you’ll take the appropriate steps to make it happen.

About the Author: Diana Ennen is the author of numerous books including Virtual Assistant: the Series, Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA and accompanying Workbook, Corel Word Perfect Office Ready, Virtual Assistant Solution Pack, and is president of Virtual Word Publishing www.virtualwordpublishing.com and www.virtualassistantstartups.com. Free to reprint article as long as the bio remains intact.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Kitchens are often the hub of a home and one of the busiest rooms in a house. It’s no wonder that it can also be one of the messiest rooms in the house, too. However, ridding your kitchen of grease spills and grime is as easy as following a few of the simple tips and technique listed below.

1.To start, you will need the following cleaning materials: buckets or other containers, brushes, rubber gloves, and cleansers.

2.Create your own kitchen cleaner and kitchen brighteners to clean up grease, grime, baked on stains and spills and to brighten counter tops and back splashes.

3. Use straight vinegar for shiny counter tops daily. For a nice, fresh smell, try cider vinegar.

4.Apply a baking soda and water paste to remove stains from laminate counter tops. Apply, allow to dry, then rub off and rinse.

5. With a paste of one part bleach and 3 parts baking soda, you can easily tackle tough stains.

6. Use a tile and grout cleaner and a toothbrush to remove dirt and mildew from tile grout.

7. Help your white appliances or enamel sinks that are starting to yellow with a little kitchen brightener.

8. Remove skid marks on linoleum floors with a spot of toothpaste just before mopping the floors

9. Remove hard water build-up in a teapot by pouring in 2 cups of vinegar and then bringing it to a boil. Let the vinegar simmer for 10 minutes and rinse the teapot thoroughly.

10. Use olive oil to clean stainless steel kitchen sinks.

About the Author: Kyna Woollery—Now that’s Organized, LLC™ Looking for more useful household cleaning and organizing tips? Visit www.nowthatsorganized.com to get your FREE “50 Solutions for Organizing Your World” idea-pak.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Tips to Help Organize the Kitchen

• Take an inventory of your kitchen supplies. Toss, give away, or have a yard sale with all the uneccesary and unused kitchen items. Once you have only the ones you use and need, you will want to sort the items by use and size.
• Simple changes can help with storage and organization. Many items don’t fit well in the cabinets. By hanging them from a frame with hooks, attached to the ceiling, it not only saves precious shelf space but also makes the pots and pans more accessible. There are tons of very pretty designs you can purchase. You can also make a simple one yourself using a wood frame, dowel rods and hooks. They can be mounted above the stove or an island (if you have one in your kitchen).
• The way your kitchen is laid out will have an impact in how you organize it. A kitchen island offers a wonderful workspace that also provides a good deal of storage. Sometimes you can find small islands on wheels that can be kept in a cupboard or pantry and only brought out when needed. These can be a helpful addition to a smaller kitchen.
• Storing bake wear near the oven is a practical way to set up your kitchen. Many ovens have a storage drawer in the base where you can keep cookie sheets and other metal baking items. Your other non metal baking supplies like spatulas, wooden spoons, and sprinkles, can be stored in drawers near the oven.
• Storing dishes, glassware and silverware near the dishwasher or sink makes for easier clean up. This reduces the amount of time it takes to put things away after washing. There are many kitchen cabinet organizers that can help maximize your space for storing your dishes as well.
• Make use of organization and storage units. They can really help make the most of your space. Even an extra set of shelves on top of the cabinet can increase your space. Canisters can help keep your baking supplies looking and the contents will last longer.

Every kitchen has a different layout and space. So, it may take some time and experimenting to see what organizing system works best for you. Once you get it all worked out, you will most likely be surprised at how much more space you have! Plus, your newly organized kitchen will save precious time in preparing meals for your family. Time you can now spend with them!

Copyright © Thou Shalt Clean!, All Rights Reserved

Do you have any tips for organizing the kitchen? Let us know! We would LOVE to hear them!

Borax. Borax is most often used as a laundry booster and water softener, but it’s also great for killing insects, cleaning walls, floors and bathrooms, killing weeds, and getting rid of nasty odors. Unlike many of the other cleaning products listed here, borax can be toxic if swallowed. It may also lead to skin irritation. Be sure to keep it away from pets and children.

Vinegar. You know those spray bottles of multipurpose cleaner. Why not replace that with a solution of half water and half vinegar? It cleans glass and surfaces, while disinfecting and deodorizing. Plus it’s safe for your kids to drink (it’s actually healthy).

Hydrogen peroxide. You may have used this to clean out cuts and scrapes, or just the inside of your ears. If it can clean so well inside your body, imagine what it can do for your house. While drinking hydrogen peroxide is safe, it can make you feel very sick, so keep it away from children.

Lemon juice. Lemons juice is a strong acid, so it breaks down dirt and the organisms that live all over your house. It can be used to clean and disinfect just about anything (just test for staining first) and even polishes and shines many metals. Plus, you don’t have to add the lemony scent, it’s already in there.

One great thing to do with natural cleaning products that you should never ever do with conventional products is to mix them. While mixing certain household cleaners can be harmful and even deadly to you and your family, mixing natural products can give you added cleaning power.

You know all those bubbles that get released when you mix baking soda and vinegar? Well those bubbles are great for unclogging drains and breaking up other hard to reach dirt and grime. You can also substitute lemon juice for vinegar to produce the same effect with a fresh scent.

So, next time you need a new cleaning product, why not replace it with one of these great natural alternatives instead? You’ll soon find you can have both a clean house and a safe house.

Copyright © Lara Velez, All Rights Reserved

OK…let’s see what an expert has to say!

How to Organize Children’s Art/School Work

Your great plan for the summer was to go through all your child’s school work/art work they brought home this past school year but yikes there is so much of it where is the best place to start? First of all let’s have a little talk:

·Do not keep all of your children’s art/school work. Just think; if you save everything your child brings home by the time they are in college you will have a two car garage full and over flowing with just their paper work and it will be spilling into your home. (I actually read about a woman who had saved everything and this was the result).

I believe it! I did some math figuring if you save just three (3) pieces of paper a week, times four weeks in a month times 9 months in a year (figuring school is not in session for 12 months) times 8 years in school (pre-school through 6th grade) that is a total of 864 pieces of paper.

·So if you think you have to save everything your child ever does on paper, you don’t. A very wise preschool teacher passed on this little gem, “little kids are into process, not product. Kids live in the moment; they enjoy the moment of making the art but are quite casual about disposing of it. I have five daughters and as I have experienced this with them I know this is true.

·By sorting and going over with our children what to keep and what to let go of may help them when they are older and they have to start sorting their own mail. Now is the time for them to learn they don’t have to keep everything and it is the right thing to do. As they are into process, not product is it us parents who hold them back from letting go? It’s not just about their art or schoolwork – it’s about how they (and you) approach organization.

·It’s about setting reasonable limits – not just for your child but also for yourself. And you are the adult so you decide the limits. It is important for us to teach our children how to organize.

Our children will bring home art work, test papers, homework assignments and assorted mementos from school. Of course we want to save their important childhood memories, but what do we keep and how do we keep it? When children bring home any of the above, look at it and discuss it with them if it something that needs attention. Not everything they bring home needs a sit down discussion with them. Start selecting right then, not later, but right then what to keep and what to toss. When cleaning out their back packs tale a look right then. If you are too busy that day; make it a priority to do it at the very least once a week. The child, if interested can be a part of this process.

As a mother and professional organizer I know the value of saving some things and tossing other things. This is as important as home organization. Here are my suggestions of what to save and what not to save.

·Get a large envelope—10.5 X 15 is a good size. Write the child’s name, name of the school, year in school, school year (2008-2009) and the teacher’s name on the outside. When they have school pictures taken if you have extra’s tape one with clear packing tape to the front of the envelope.

·Have one envelope for each year a child is in school. If you home school, the same principle applies. At the end of the summer of that year (assuming they do some projects you want to keep from summer programs). Place the envelope in a container with a lid on it. This can be an apple box, zerox box or a purchased plastic bin. A good place to keep this box is on the top of their closet shelf. If you use some kind of cardboard box decorate with contact paper on the end that shows and write the child’s name on it. Label the plastic box with the child’s name.

·Each child has their own envelope and own box. I recommend saving a sampling of school work, not just the best, but some that are ‘average’.

·If the artwork that comes into the house is bigger than your designated storage space or it begins to pile up quicker than you can process it, take a picture of it with your children holding it. What a fun memory to look back on. Buy a photo album and create an ‘art album’ for each child.

Now the school work and art work is selected and contained here are ideas of what to do with the art work before it makes it to the ‘archives’.

·The fridge—as a professional organizer and mother this is my least favorite place for art work as it creates clutter in the kitchen, but if you like that look, then do it, but there are other wonderful ideas. My girls grew up with their art work displayed in other places and they are all adventurous, fun, interesting adults. It didn’t hurt their egos is what I am saying.

·Pin to a cork board or bulletin board.

·Create a gallery space in your home—it can be in the child’s room or a more public space such as the kitchen, hallway, or family room. String a clothes line along one big wall in the children’s bedroom and use clothespins to display the “collection”. Rotate old and new artwork on and off the display.

·Use inexpensive poster-sized box frames for pictures. One frame can hold a big piece, or several smaller works.

·Another method is to hang strips of felt from a dowel rod and allow kids to pin their art work directly to the felt.

·Laminate art work and create placemats that you can give relatives or use during meals or messy arts and craft projects at home.

·Send pictures to relatives, when the child can write use it as stationary. (Write on the back)

·Use for wrapping paper. If you intend to use it this way, put it with the wrapping paper, not just in a pile somewhere.

For those works of art out of clay, paper-mache and science projects, let them linger for a while, until the thrill has worn off, then decide whether something is for display or whether it was “a learning experience.” If you or your child really want to hold on to the piece, make sure it is displayed in a way that not only honors its importance but also protects it from dust and damage. If a piece is not honored and respected then it has no place in your home – whether it’s a science project or a family heirloom.

My friend encourages her children to use their clay creations as they do tend to break or become less important to them and then there is no storage problem to deal with.

Remember: You can throw many things away. I have never met an adult yet who has been handed boxes of childhood memorabilia who has not said they can’t believe how much stuff their mother kept and it is just not that important to them as an adult. As the artwork is seen and enjoyed and time goes by the children and parents become less attached to it.

I am asked will my children’s school papers last. I know the answer many people give is that poor quality newsprint drawing paper is probably acidic and will deteriorate over time. They go on to say you slow that process down by using acid and lignin free storage materials. My thought is since they are on acidic paper in the first place what does it matter if they are surrounded by acid free covers. I have a baby book that is almost 40 years old and all the paper has been preserved just fine. Even the photographs are clear for the most part. If you’re concerned about the longevity of the pieces you’ve saved, you can photocopy them on acid and lignin free paper or photograph them for posterity.

About the Author: Marilyn is a creative organizer who helps women, seniors & their families to create space and end clutter in homes and offices by setting up custom made systems. Visit her website www.marilynbohn.com for free organizing tips.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

OK…now some if this seem HARD…LOL…I am not sure I am strong enough to throw away…ACK! OK…so, PLEASE share any additional ideas you all have on this subject….

Start with small projects, things you can see improvement in quickly. Try organizing a closet. Sort through it and get rid of things you don’t need anymore. You can donate them, get them ready for a yard sale or just throw them away. As you make more room in your closet, think about ways to maximize your storage space. You can add shelves and other closet organizers.

As you move through the list, some projects may take more than a day. Take about 15 minutes to a half an hour a day working on your cleaning “to do” list. Before you know it, you’ve gone through the entire house and organized it. The trick now is to keep it organized.

Each day, keep up on maintaining your newly organized home. The key is to not get into the “I’ll do it later” mindset. Stay focused and keep at it and you WILL have an organized home and life…AND you will be a happier person! While it takes time and a bit of effort, it will be worth it once the house is clean, neat and organized.

Copyright © Lara Velez, All Rights Reserved

As a kid did you love to play a game where you would all pile on top of each other and the bottom person would be yelling, “Get off, I can’t breathe”?

Do you ever feel like the paper in your home is making it so you can’t breathe? Paper piles in homes and offices can become a heavy weight if not contained.

Rules to breathe by:

1. Do not let junk mail live in your home. Open mail over a trash (recycle) can. Do not entertain it.

2. Set up a filing system with tabs on the hanging files for every kind of paper you have to keep. IE: To Read, Bills To Pay, Coupons, Receipts, Auto information, Household tips. I could go on and on but you get the idea, have a place for every piece of paper. You don’t have to file every time you touch a piece of paper. Place it in a basket and once a week file. Yes, it does take some self control but the benefits are marvelous on you and your home.

3. Do you like to say, “I am a piler,?” As long as that works for you it is okay. 1) Try a vertical file rather than laying the paper down. You can label the side of the file and it is easier to see and you can organize and separate by topics or need. 2) If you want to have horizontal files place a manila folder on top of a pile (you could cut it and have two from one). Write on the top of the folder saying what the pile is. Or you can buy folders that have tabs so you can slip several piles into one folder. This keeps your desk neat and tidy and you can find what is in your pile when you need it.

4. One filing system that saves tons of time and is easier than pie is Freedomfilers. It is a system that uses color and is broken down into subjects. There is no need to file and re-file and purge papers using this system.

We all have bills to pay but that doesn’t mean we have to keep the paper around cluttering up our space. I recommend paying as many bills on line as possible. Banks and Credit Unions can electronically pay most bills, you just have to set up the information for them to be able to do the transfer. I had a client tell me her accountant said not to set them up automatically because if you ever close out an account it is hard to get it removed from the list. I have not had any personal experience with this. Notify the companies you get bills from that want electronic bills, to discontinue sending paper bills.

Let’s say you still pay bills with a check; then as far as keeping the paper work for that bill that has been paid, like credit cards, utilities, mortgage and so forth I recommend after paying the bill only keep one month in your file after it has been paid. The following month toss that one you paid last month and file the current one. It is only filed until the next month. I think the best place to keep bills to be paid is in a hanging file in the filing cabinet labeled ‘Bills To Pay’. Decide on one or two days a month to pay the bills and pull out the file then and pay them, tossing the previous month’s bill.

I recommend this as a way to keep a home office organized as it does away with tons of paper. If you can verify two different ways that you paid the bill there is no reason for you to keep the paper.

• One way to verify is with the new monthly bill; it will show you have paid it.
• You will have record of how you paid it—credit card, debit card, check, or electronically.
• Your financial institution sends verification that they transferred the money.

By getting rid of piles of junk mail and unnecessary paper in our homes it creates space and harmony within us and within our homes.

Bout the Author: Marilyn is a creative organizer who helps women, seniors and their families create space and end clutter in their homes and offices by setting up custom made systems. Marilyn invites you to visit her website http://www.marilynbohn.com where you can find solutions to your organizing needs. She offers free tips in her blogs, articles and videos for your home and office organizing solutions.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Let’s get a GRIP on the “Little People!!”

The Toy Factor

As our children continue to get more toys with each holiday, birthday, vacations, grandparent visits, and all other various let’s overwhelm with noise toys occasions, space becomes a hot commodity. And, clutter overwhelmingly relevant.

What’s a poor Mom to do?

Well…first, she MUST bring balance back into the home. It may be time to get rid of old toys. If there are toys that are broken…games and puzzles with missing pieces…they can be thrown away or at the very least showcased in your next garage sale.

A good idea is to set aside a quarterly schedule…maybe with the seasons…that you go through all of the “little people’s” toys and decide what needs to be tossed, given away, or sold. This can be a month or so before birthdays and your family’s special gift giving occasions. However, if you wait until after they get new things, they might be more willing to part with the older toys.

It is important to keep the lines of communication open and talk to the children, if they are old enough to understand. Let them help decide which toys they might want to let go of. Get them involved in the process. Give them an opportunity to search for things they can bless others with (maybe even their younger brother or sister). You may also want to encourage them to look for toys to sell in your next garage sale and let them keep the money.

Something to keep in mind, especially with the younger children, is to give them time to adjust to the idea of giving things away. Young children can often be generous with their things, but then later realize they gave away a “favorite” toy. Let them practice for a few days, or even weeks. Put the things away in a box where they can’t get them. If they seem to be OK without them, they are probably ready to begin a long life of giving!

It is an awesome thing to encourage our children to share their blessings by donating some of their nicer toys, books and games. This is a great way of not only reducing the clutter in your home, but also helping someone less fortunate.

Playroom Chaos Preventers

It is a known fact that when kids play chaos comes.

How do we keep the order???

Well, you can start with sorting through all the toys and finding the things that they never play with anymore. Have they outgrown them? Are the broken? Make piles of things to toss, give away or sell. Sort the toys by type and then you can decide if you need to change the way they are stored. You may not have to get anything new; you may have enough containers that are not being used around the house.

Label everything.

Make signs, either with words, pictures or both, and attach them to the various containers and shelves. Your “little people” then have a clear guide for putting things away. It also helps find their toys more easily when chaos is not present.

Divide. Conquer. And Organize!

Another way to help reduce the chaos is to reduce the number of toys in the room. Divide the toys into groups, some to pack away for a time, and some to have out. Store them in a closet, garage, or anywhere that they will be out of site and out of mind. When the time comes to swap the sets of toys, it’s almost like getting new toys without buying anything else. Go figure! LOL!!

Good Storage Prevents Chaos

Changing the way the toys are stored can also be helpful. By having easy access containers, the kids can put things away more easily. Younger children can have a hard time with lids, but there are nice fabric containers that are flexible and are safe for them. Some of these come designed to look like animals or people and are a lot of fun. Baskets are an attractive way to keep the playroom organized as well. Oh, and those clear plastic containers are a wonderful idea too. The “little people” can actually see what is in them before digging through the whole thing and causing chaos.

To Stuff or Not to Stuff…THAT is the question!

I am the Mother of girls…so I do not know what it is like for Moms of boys…LOL…but man, Stuffed animals seem to multiply like rabbits. I mean we have stuffed animals of every breed, species, and color imaginable! There are a few options for corralling these tyrants of the playroom. However, we will give it a try!

There are Velcro poles and clip chains that the smaller ones can be attached to. You could get an old hammock and set them up in style by attaching it to the ceiling and tossing carefully them into it. This is a GREAT way to save floor space! Another option is to tuck them in a corner where they will not take up as much space.

Endings are Such Sweet Sorrow…

In closing, the main idea is to keep the “little people” under control! LOL!! We need to maintain the order every day. Out with the chaos and in with organization! Get the kids into a new habit of only getting one thing out at a time and putting it back “home” when they are finished playing with it. If we unite as parents we may break the cycle of creating more organizationally challenged people!! ROFL!

OK, PLEASE share any tips for organizing the “little people” and their space….

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Two Simple Steps to Help you Clean and Organize Your Closet:

Step One: Go through each closet in your home. Sort all items into four piles; keepers, sell, donate and toss. You might surprise yourself in how much space you can find just by removing things you never use. Once you have sorted all closet contents into piles, decide if there is a better place to store some of the items. If you have seasonal or keepsake items, consider putting them in plastic containers in the garage.

Step Two: Now you need to decide what will be stored in each closet. This will help you decide what type of storage system is best. You may need something different for each closet. There are closet organizers that you can buy. There are also services that can help you choose the best closet organizer to fit your needs.

Closet Organizers at a Glance:

The main types of closet storage are rods for clothes hangers, shelves, baskets and drawers. There is a closet organizer for every budget. You will want to start by measuring your closet space. Then, you are ready to go shopping for the things you need to get your closet organized.

One of the easiest and cheapest options is to get an adjustable bracket system. You hang the metal rods with slots on the sides of the closet. Then, all you need to do is place the support brackets where you want shelves. Wood shelves are easy to cut to size. Most home improvement stores will cut the pieces to size for you for a small fee. Then you can paint or stain the shelves if you wish.

There are also plastic shelving units that snap together and can be placed inside the closet. They aren’t as adjustable, and you cannot decorate them as easily. However, they are sturdy and take no tools to put together.

If you prefer a more permanent closet storage option, there are companies that can build a unit right into the closet. They combine clothes rods, shelves, drawers, boxes and baskets.

Regardless of which closet organizer you choose, it will take time, patience, determination and effort to get your closets organized and maximize your storage space…especially if you are already organizationally challenged. However, clean and well designed closets will make you feel good about yourself and you will smile every time you open your closet because you have accomplished something!

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But…

WHERE do you start?????

It can be extremely overwhelming. Unfortuately, it’s like weightloss…LOL…REALLY easy to get fat messy and VERY hard to lose the weight messies! To get your home in order will require time, patience and diligence.

It is also important to make a plan on how you will get your house organized. Take a walk through the house and make notes of what needs to be done in each room. Once you have made the list, determine priorities (what to do first). I also recommend that you break each area into sections. For example; the bedroom…do not expect to get your whole room done in a day. You will be overwhelmed and if you are a true wannabe, you will give up! Trust me…LOL…I KNOW! So, take your room and divide it into tasks…one day pick up all the items on the floor. The next day clear and organize the dressers. Then closets. And so on.

Starting with the smaller goals will help you see the improvements quickly. This will help you continue the process. Also, as you make more room in your home, think about ways to maximize your storage space. You can add shelves, baskets, organizers, etc.

Finally, make it a goal to clean at least ONE thing each day. Remember, the tortoise beat the hare because he was slow and steady. Slow and steady mixed with a little old fashioned determination WILL help you win the messies to clean race!

While you are cleaning, it is very important to KEEP what you have accomplished organized. So…you will need to MAINTAIN! If you have something that is not in its “home,” take the time to either put it there as soon as you notice it out of place! Or, have a designated area on each floor, like a basket, to put things that need to go to another floor. Then at the end of the day, everything in the box gets put away.

Another idea to help keep the house organized is to have a schedule where each room of the house gets a thorough cleaning one day each week. (If you have children…this is where you can get the kids involved and assign them age appropriate tasks to help you!) It may take awhile to get in the new routine, but if the family works together, it will be MUCH easier. If everyone learns to remember that they need to put their own things away, that will also help. You can have special rewards to encourage the kids. You will be helping them be neater grown ups in the process!

Keep in MInd…

It will take time and a bit of effort to get your home in order. However, it will be well worth it once the house is clean, neat and organized!

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Well, if you are organizationally challenged then getting your home organized is a chore all in itself. However, for a wannabe keeping it organized can be the biggest challenge!

I have some good news for the determined…with some work and forced cooperation from the rest of the family, it will be easier. It takes time to get used to new habits, but with nagging gentle reminders, everyone will be on their was to the cleaning zone.

One thing that will help keep things running smoothly is to create some daily routines. Even though in a perfect world everything should have a place, it takes a lot of effort to get it there. So staying on top of things is crucial to your new system working.

Here are some creative ways you can keep the whole family involved:

Charts are Us - Create a chart showing all the rooms in your house and all the family members (even the little ones). Each family member can be responsible for making sure a specific area is clutter free each day at a pre-established time. You can provide a basket for each person. They will go through their area with it and throw anything in it that isn’t supposed to be there. Once they have filled their basket, they can start putting things away…and start again if there is a big mess.

The Gathering Place - If you have more than one story, running up and down stairs all day to put things away can get old pretty fast. One way to help is to keep a box at the top and bottom of the stairs where people can put things they find that belong on another floor. At the end of the day, or when the box is full, the things can all be put back where they belong.

Little People Can Organize Too - Even the youngest members of the family can help. Labeling things, at least at first, will help your little people remember where things go. If they are too young to read, try a picture. You can save it from the original package or find one similar in a magazine. At the younger ages, they actually LIKE to help in most cases, so this should be “fun” for them.

Make a Mole Hill out of a Mountain - Yeah, you read it right. LOL! Clothes pile up real fast no matter how much laundry you do, the pile just keeps growing. It has a mind of its own. One way to help is to designate a place for all the dirty clothes. You can label the laundry baskets for white, darks and colors. Everyone can then put their own clothes in the baskets. When a basket is full, it’s time to wash. This is also a great way to teach the little ones colors and organization skills.

Remember, consistency is the key to successfully keeping your home clean. It also requires team effort! So, think of creative ways to get the whole family involved and then not only will you have less of a load to carry…you will help break the cycle of the wannabes!

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