What’s in your cleaning tote?

<div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="font-size: large;">What’s in your cleaning tote?</span></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XRVnJbM98RY/Ur6auLhsqmI/AAAAAAAAAO0/wBaWMDoZK_A/s1600/What%E2%80%99s-in-your-cleaning-tote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="What’s in your cleaning tote?" border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XRVnJbM98RY/Ur6auLhsqmI/AAAAAAAAAO0/wBaWMDoZK_A/s400/What%E2%80%99s-in-your-cleaning-tote.jpg" title="What’s in your cleaning tote?" width="332" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Nothing stretches a cleaning session like having to run back and forth to the utility <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/12/organizing-your-closet-where-to-start.html" rel="nofollow">closet</a></b>. Stay on the job—and make short work of it—by carrying commonly needed tools and supplies with you in a tote as you clean. Begin each cleaning session with a fresh stack of white cotton cleaning cloths.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-simple-way-to-de-clutter-any-room.html" rel="nofollow">cleaning </a></b>tote is a housecleaner’s best friend. A plastic bucket or totable tray, it holds the tools and supplies needed to clean it right and clean it fast. What’s inside? Check your cleaning tote for these top tools:</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Cleaning apron. An apron protects clothing, keeps <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/12/choosing-and-using-cleaning-products.html" rel="nofollow">cleaning </a></b>tools at hand and has pockets to hold spare garbage bags and collect trash or small out-of-place items. Choose a sturdy, comfortable, machine-washable apron.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Rubber gloves or washing-up gloves. Protect hands from harsh <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/decluttering-your-home-decluttering.html" rel="nofollow">cleaning </a></b>products with rubber gloves. New colors make rubber gloves a bright addition to the cleaning tote— but steer clear of frou-frou decoration. Fur cuffs or rhinestone embellishments are fun to look at, but are not meant for serious cleaning.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Cleaning cloths. White cotton cleaning cloths are the cleaner’s mainstay. Fold them for easy access, and then use them to wipe fixtures dry, make mirrors gleam, and remove fingermarks fast.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="background-color: #999999; font-size: large;">“A cleaning tote is a housecleaner’s best friend.”</span></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ◀ Carry your cleaning tote with you as you move from room to room. You’ll have everything you need at hand and can speed through the job in double-quick time.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Scrubbing sponge. This dual-duty sponge has an absorbent side and an abrasive side. Flip from soft to tough to take out stubborn, dried-on deposits in the sink.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Squeegee. Clean windows, mirrors, and glass the way the pros do. A rubber-bladed squeegee removes cleaning solution and soil with one quick swipe. Wipe the blade dry with a cleaning cloth between strokes.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Scraper. Dried-up gunk comes up fast when tackled with a smooth metal or plastic scraper. Keep the scraper handy in an apron pocket; it’ll make quick work of blobs of jelly or driedon oatmeal.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Tile brush. A handled brush with thick bristles cleans tiles, bathtub surrounds, and ceramic fixtures in a flash. Bristles reach into corners; the handle keeps your hands free and clear of the cleaning fray.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Toothbrush. Tiny spaces attract big-time dirt. Tackle them with a firm-bristle toothbrush. Use it to rout gunk from around sink fixtures, sink rims, or tight corners.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In addition to the above, if you are planning to buy cleaning products in bulk, you will also need the following:</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Squirt bottle. Tile and bathroom cleaner works best when applied evenly and thickly. Use a funnel to decant the cleaner into a clean squirt-top bottle to get the right amount of product in the right spot—even underneath toilet rims.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Spray bottle. Whether you spritz it for light coverage or spray it for harder jobs, adjustable spray bottles make it easy to apply window cleaner or degreaser to surfaces. Use a color code or label bottles to tell them apart.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div>

organize your closet What’s in your cleaning tote?

What’s in your cleaning tote? Nothing stretches a cleaning session like having to run back and forth to the utility closet . Stay o...

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Clean, green, and frugal: homemade cleaning recipes

<div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="font-size: large;">Clean, green, and frugal: homemade cleaning recipes</span></b></div> <br /> Store-bought cleaning products are effective, but contain harsh chemicals and can produce irritating fumes. Simple ingredients from the pantry can be used to make cleaners that are kinder to the environment—for a fraction of the cost.<br /> <br /> <b>Diluted white vinegar:</b><br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mildly acidic white vinegar dissolves dirt, soap scum, and hard water deposits from smooth surfaces, yet it is gentle enough to use in solution to clean hardwood flooring. White vinegar is a natural deodorizer, absorbing odors instead of covering them up. (And no, your bathroom won’t smell like a salad. Any acid aroma disappears when dry.) With no coloring agents, white vinegar won’t stain grout on tiled surfaces. Because it cuts detergent residue, white vinegar also makes a great fabric softener substitute for families with sensitive skin. In the kitchen, use vinegar-and-water spray to clean countertops, lightly soiled range surfaces and backsplash areas.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  In the bathroom, spray countertops, floors, and exterior surfaces of the toilet. For really tough bathroom surfaces such as shower walls, pump up the cleaning power by heating the solution in the microwave until barely hot. Spray shower walls generously with the warmed solution, allow to stand for 10–15 minutes, then scrub and rinse.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><u>* </u></b>A mild acid, lemon juice can be used instead of vinegar for general cleaning. Use the outer rind to polish porcelain surfaces and release fragrant lemon oil. If you have a garbage disposal unit, grind the rind in it while running cool water down the drain. The oils in the rind clean the disposal unit and sharpen the blades.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8HBLyNe7ip8/UrAnj67znoI/AAAAAAAAANU/GqW2luz-IHw/s1600/17-12-2013+10-28-38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cleaning recipes" border="0" height="354" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8HBLyNe7ip8/UrAnj67znoI/AAAAAAAAANU/GqW2luz-IHw/s400/17-12-2013+10-28-38.jpg" title="cleaning recipes" width="400" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u><b>*</b> </u>Keep bathroom drains running freely and smelling sweet by pouring 1⁄2–3⁄4 cup (20–40g) baking soda into the drain, and dribbling just enough hot water to wash the solution down. Let stand for 2 hours to overnight, and then flush thoroughly with hot water. (Do not use on blocked drains.)</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ozS6UFPMeZY/UrAoUTs4ZLI/AAAAAAAAANc/IgDfl0d-ZP8/s1600/17-12-2013+10-32-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cleaning recipes" border="0" height="354" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ozS6UFPMeZY/UrAoUTs4ZLI/AAAAAAAAANc/IgDfl0d-ZP8/s400/17-12-2013+10-32-07.jpg" title="cleaning recipes" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Undiluted white vinegar</b>:</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Used straight from the jug, undiluted white vinegar makes quick work of tougher cleaning problems involving hard water deposits or soap scum. Use it to clean the inside of the toilet bowl. Before you begin, dump a bucket of water into the toilet to force water out of the bowl and allow access to the sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pour undiluted white vinegar around the bowl and scrub with a toilet brush to remove stains and odor. Use a pumice stone to remove any remaining hard water rings.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Clean showerheads that have been clogged with mineral deposits with undiluted white vinegar. Place ¼–½ cup (60–120ml) vinegar in a plastic food storage bag, and secure the bag over the showerhead with a rubber band. Let stand for 2 hours to overnight, then rinse, and buff the fixture.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> White vinegar softens clothes and cuts detergent residue.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> For family members with sensitive skin, add 1 cup (240ml) to the laundry rinse cycle instead of commercial fabric softener. For general cleaning purposes, you can substitute lemon juice for white vinegar.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Baking soda</b>:</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Baking soda’s mild abrasive action and natural deodorizing properties make it a powerful replacement for harsh commercial scouring powders. Sprinkle baking soda onto a damp sponge to tackle grimy bathtub rings, scour vanity units, or remove food deposits from the kitchen sink.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> For tougher grime, make a paste of baking soda and water, apply to the tub or sink, and allow to stand for 10–20 minutes until the deposits have softened and can be removed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Rubbing alcohol:</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol provides the base for an evaporating cleaner to rival commercial window and glass cleaning solutions.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Use it on windows, mirrors, chrome fixtures, and for a shiny finish on hard-surface ceramic tiles (see box, right).</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Ammonia</b>:</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> An alkaline solution, clear ammonia creates stronger window and all-purpose cleaning recipes than acidic vinegar (see box, right). Choose a non-sudsing type: suds may look as if they’re working, but they’re tough to rinse and remove.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div>

Organizing Your Home Clean, green, and frugal: homemade cleaning recipes

Clean, green, and frugal: homemade cleaning recipes Store-bought cleaning products are effective, but contain harsh chemicals and can pro...

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Organizing Your Closet – Where to Start

<div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/11/a-dozen-ways-to-organize-your-master.html" rel="nofollow">Organizing </a>Your Closet – Where to Start</span></b></div> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Maybe it is time for spring cleaning or you just cannot stand another day hunting through your closet to find something to wear – but the time has come to <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-rules-of-home-organization.html" rel="nofollow">organize </a></b>your closet (again).  It is inevitable that there are belongings in your closet that need to go - maybe into the trash or a donation hamper – but a new home has to be found for them either way.  Before you start organizing, you need to start purging.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Every closet organizing session should start with some time spent deciding what you still wear and what can go elsewhere.  Some questions to ask yourself when trying to decide if you should keep an item or not are:</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> * When was the last time I wore this? Unless it is a seasonal item, if you haven’t worn it in six months it is time to let it go.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> * Does it fit me properly? Clothing that is too big or small should not be kept for what-ifs.  Donate it.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> * What condition is it in?  Spills, tears, wear – if your shirts or pants are showing any or all of these it is time to let them go.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> To make this first step easy on you in terms of emotions and work load, follow these guidelines.  Make quick decisions and once you decide don’t go back and change your mind.  Touch everything once, choose its fate is and move onto the next item.  Set-up boxes and bags for the cast-offs.  Garbage bags for the over-used belongings that cannot be donated and boxes labeled and ready to be donated to a charity, thrift store, or a friend.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Once the bags or boxes are full, take them to the car and get them to their new destination as soon as possible so you can carry on and enjoy your newly <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/organize-your-closet-like-pro-5-ways.html" rel="nofollow">organized closet</a></b>.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iqjMq-V5RV4/Uqc_sYQUUvI/AAAAAAAAANA/dkcBula9nLI/s1600/Organizing-Your-Closet%E2%80%93Where-to-Start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Organizing Your Closet – Where to Start" border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iqjMq-V5RV4/Uqc_sYQUUvI/AAAAAAAAANA/dkcBula9nLI/s400/Organizing-Your-Closet%E2%80%93Where-to-Start.jpg" title="Organizing Your Closet – Where to Start" width="312" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <br />

organize your closet Organizing Your Closet – Where to Start

Organizing Your Closet – Where to Start Maybe it is time for spring cleaning or you just cannot stand another day hunting through your c...

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Choosing and using cleaning products

<div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="font-size: large;">Choosing and using <a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/09/managing-your-house.html" rel="nofollow">cleaning </a>products</span></b></div> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Cast your eyes down the <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/organize-your-home-maintaining-order.html#.UqVr7qTkGIU" rel="nofollow">cleaning </a></b>aisle at the supermarket lately? An explosion of new cleaning products has created a dizzying array of choices for a clean house.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Cut the confusion and save money by sticking to four basic cleaning products.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Together with a few specialty products, spray window <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/11/first-principles-organizing-basics.html#.UqVsB6TkGIU" rel="nofollow">cleaner</a></b>, spray degreaser, tile and bathroom cleaner, and abrasive cleanser will handle everyday cleaning needs cheaply and well.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Window cleaner Don’t be misled by the name “window cleaner;” this spray-on product cleans windows and a whole lot more, evaporating quickly and leaving no residue behind.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Applied to glass or mirrors, it loosens surface dirt so you can remove it with a squeegee or cleaning cloth. Use on glass, mirrors, kitchen counters, sink fixtures, appliance fronts, refrigerator shelves, sealed cabinet fronts and any other liquid-safe surfaces with light, non-greasy soil.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Degreaser The tough guys of the cleaning world, these spray <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/organize-your-closet-like-pro-5-ways.html#.UqVsLKTkGIU" rel="nofollow">cleaners </a></b>dissolve greasy soil so it can be lifted away and removed. Also known as “all-purpose cleaners,” they will cut food soil on kitchen counters, greasy fingermarks on walls, doors and switch plates, oily dust on baseboards and moldings, and hard-to-remove dirt on outdoor furniture. Polish surfaces with a dry cloth to remove the slight film they leave behind.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Tile and bathroom cleaner The bathroom poses multiple cleaning challenges—sticky film from body oils, soap, and shampoo; mold and mildew from moisture and condensation; yellow, chalky, hard-water residues on fixtures and fittings. Cut tough bathroom soil with a tile and bathroom cleaner: a potent, three-in-one product designed to fight soap film, mineral deposits, and mold and mildew.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A thick liquid, this <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/11/a-dozen-ways-to-organize-your-master.html#.UqVsUKTkGIU" rel="nofollow">cleaner </a></b>requires standing time to sanitize surfaces, dissolve minerals, and cut greasy soil. Apply a thick coat using a squirt bottle. Allow it to stand for the time recommended on the product label, and then use a tile brush to scrub the product. Rinse thoroughly.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Abrasive cleanser</b> Chemical-based cleaners—like window cleaner or degreasers—rely on chemical reactions to dissolve, lift, or loosen dirt. Sometimes, though, you need to add additional scrubbing power to deal with tough or dried-on dirt. Enter abrasive cleansers. These also contain small abrasive particles designed to enhance the scrubbing action. Like sandpaper, they use friction to remove hardened soil.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Abrasive cleansers are made in different strengths. Scouring powder is designed for most sinks; “soft scrub” cleansers feature smaller abrasive particles and are recommended for specialty finishes. Abrasive cleansers may be formulated with other cleaners, such as bleach, to fight stains; be sure to read labels and choose the appropriate variety for the job.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Because these products can be difficult to rinse clean, use them inside sinks, tubs, and toilets where rinsing is easier.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Specialty cleaners for special jobs</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> These special-use products are formulated for specific cleaning issues or specific surfaces. Be sure to read the labels and use as directed by the manufacturer.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Gum, gunk, and goo remover. A petroleum-distillate product designed to remove the greasy residues left by chewing gum, oily gunk, or adhesives.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Lime and scale remover. A highly corrosive solution to hard-water scale deposits.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Rust removers. Designed to remove the rust stains in sinks, tubs, and toilets that can occur in areas where the water supply has a high iron content.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Stainless steel cleaner or polish. Specialty products designed to clean, protect, and shine stainless-steel sinks, surfaces, pots, and pans.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hYhlBBJ2EqU/UqVs5jqOEvI/AAAAAAAAAMw/aeYRETadqc4/s1600/cleaning-products.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cleaning products" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hYhlBBJ2EqU/UqVs5jqOEvI/AAAAAAAAAMw/aeYRETadqc4/s1600/cleaning-products.jpg" title="cleaning products" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div>

clutter declutter Choosing and using cleaning products

Choosing and using cleaning products Cast your eyes down the cleaning aisle at the supermarket lately? An explosion of new cleaning prod...

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Setting standards for the “clean-enough” home

<div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="font-size: x-large;">H</span></b>ow clean is your house? It’s a matter of choice: yours. While it may sound like heresy to the “<b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-simple-way-to-de-clutter-any-room.html#.UqMyWaTkGIU" rel="nofollow">cleanies</a></b>” among us, the happiest families establish a standard for household cleanliness that suits their family composition, cleaning style, and personal preferences.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Set the right standard—for you Some families—such as those with crawling babies or immuno compromised</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> elders—will need to reach for a very high standard of <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-rules-of-home-organization.html" rel="nofollow">cleaning</a></b>. Others, such as a clan of healthy young adults, can live quite happily in a home with a more-relaxed cleaning style. While nobody advocates ignoring cleaning to the point of health and safety problems, a realistic view of your family’s cleaning standard prevents frustration—and helps get the work done faster.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Reach for family agreement on the issue of a <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/how-to-organize-your-home-bathroom.html" rel="nofollow">cleaning </a></b>standard. If most household members fall on the “relaxed” side of the equation, there’ll be cleaning trouble if one member pushes for higher standards.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Negotiate a common-sense compromise. Food preparation areas require a high level of sanitation, but a teen’s bedroom poses fewer health and safety concerns. Better to pick cleaning battles carefully, with an eye to general well being, than fight it out over every speck of dust.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Clean smart by setting a realistic <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/organize-your-closet-like-pro-5-ways.html" rel="nofollow">cleaning </a></b>standard for your home. Schedule chores to keep a clean house every day. Be realistic about where to insist on a higher cleaning standard. Children’s rooms and kitchen areas demand a higher level of clean.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> More relaxed cleaning standards are appropriate in less-used areas. Go easier on the chores in guest bedrooms or utility areas.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bU58vxPNaYU/UqMx0c0wnaI/AAAAAAAAAMg/yBRS0K_NtgU/s1600/clean-enough.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="clean-enough" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bU58vxPNaYU/UqMx0c0wnaI/AAAAAAAAAMg/yBRS0K_NtgU/s1600/clean-enough.jpg" title="clean-enough" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="background-color: #6fa8dc;"><b>Cleaning quiz </b>:</span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Where does your family fall on the cleaning spectrum? Try this quiz: it will help you assess the sweet spot of “clean-enough” for your home. There are no right or wrong answers.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b style="background-color: cyan;">1/  When dinner is over, what’s the state of the kitchen?</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b style="background-color: red;">A </b>Pristine, of course. I load the dishwasher as I cook, and dinner dishes are done promptly. I can’t relax if the kitchen doesn’t sparkle when I turn out the lights. Who wants to come back to a dirty kitchen in the morning?</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b style="background-color: red;">B </b>I let the dinner dishes soak until next day. Who wants to ruin a good meal by spending time with their hands in hot water afterward?</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b style="background-color: red;">C </b>What’s the difference? The counters are still covered with dirty dishes; I just washed the ones we needed before the meal.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b style="background-color: cyan;">2/  How’s your relationship with the vacuum cleaner?</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b style="background-color: red;">A </b><i>Who needs a man when I have my high-speed vacuum cleaner? Even the cat has learned to stand still for the daily vacuuming.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><span style="background-color: red;"><b>B </b></span>Love-hate. I show it the carpet every week or so, or when friends are on the way over—but I do wish it would learn to lower its voice.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b style="background-color: red;">C </b>What vacuum cleaner? I’m still hoping a cleaning reality show will stop by and dig us out. Public exposure would be a small price to pay!</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b style="background-color: cyan;">3/ Getting to the seat of the problem, how often do you scrub the toilet?</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b style="background-color: red;">A<i> </i></b><i>As often as I use it, of course. Who wants to park themselves on anything less than sparkling?</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b style="background-color: red;">B </b>Hit or miss—a couple of times a week, more often if the fellows in the house forget to aim.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b style="background-color: red;">C </b>Only when something snarls at me when I lift the lid ... say, every few weeks?</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b style="background-color: cyan;">4/ For sweetest dreams, how often do you change the sheets?</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b style="background-color: red;">A </b><i>Once a week—or twice a week in warm weather. I love the feel of crisp, fresh linens.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b style="background-color: red;">B </b>When I remember, or the smell gets to me. Say, every couple of weeks or so?</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b style="background-color: red;">C </b>Only when I have a new boyfriend, if you know what I mean. Why waste good laundry powder and water if I’m going to be too sleepy to notice?</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="background-color: cyan;"><b>5/ Are you a duster or a dabbler? How often do you remove dust from the home?</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b style="background-color: red;">A </b>Daily, of course; it’s a ritual. Some of my finest ideas come to me while I stroke the furniture with my dust cloth.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b style="background-color: red;">B </b>Once a week or so—or whenever the household joker writes “Dust Me” on the dining-room table with his finger.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b style="background-color: red;">C </b>I’m a fan of the blow-it method. If I pick something up and it’s covered with dust, I blow it off. Great house hold hint, huh?</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="background-color: orange;"><i>If you answered mostly A, congratulations! You are a Clean Extreme, and happy to be so. Your house shines, and any dust mote so unwise to assert its presence is shown the door, pronto. Just be careful that </i></span><i style="background-color: orange;">militant cleaning doesn’t come between you and other family members, who don’t necessarily share your enjoyment of the process.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>Mostly B answers show you’re a Moderate Mopper, with a house that is clean enough to be healthy, dirty </b></span><b style="background-color: yellow;">enough to be a home. Most of the time, you’re happy with the balance between time spent cleaning and the domestic results, but occasionally, you slip a bit too far toward slapdash. Try a more scheduled approach to clean less and enjoy it more.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="background-color: lime;">More than three C answers? You’re a Dirt Dodger. Too often, you’re discouraged about life on the home</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="background-color: lime;">front. Remember this truth: if you don’t wanna, you ain’t gonna. To pull the household back from the dusty</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="background-color: lime;">brink, focus on small changes: clearing kitchen counters once a day, setting aside an afternoon each weekend for cleaning chores.</span></div>

Clearing Clutter Setting standards for the “clean-enough” home

H ow clean is your house? It’s a matter of choice: yours. While it may sound like heresy to the “ cleanies ” among us, the happiest familie...

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A Dozen Ways to Organize Your Master Closet

<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Organizing your master </span><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/08/my-journey-to-organized-home.html" rel="nofollow">closet</a></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/08/my-journey-to-organized-home.html" rel="nofollow"> </a>makes dressing in the morning simple. You can have many advantages when you get time to </span><b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/11/first-principles-organizing-basics.html" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">organize</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> your </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">closet</span></a></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">. Initial, you do not have to muse over the mess and the muddle. You will also be in a position to locate your factors easily due to the fact you know exactly the place you placed them.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">How to </span><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">arrange</b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> your master </span><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">closet</b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> will depend on the state that your </span><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">closet</b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> is in. Right here are useful guidelines in organizing your learn </span><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">closet</b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">:</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">one. Vacant your </span><b style="font-size: 12pt;">closet</b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> of mess and muddle. Use two boxes to independent objects that you are likely to toss out and those that you decide to preserve.</span></div> </span> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">two. Thoroughly </span><b style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/09/clear-clutter-stop-clutter-method.html#.UozwbHyCxOQ" rel="nofollow">clean your closet</a></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> extensively after emptying it and establish if there are damages that have to be fixed. Use treatment options or repaint if required.</span></div> </span> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">3. Decide what products you will fold and what you are going to dangle. If you fold some shirts, guarantee that you do them neatly and arrange them properly. Think about arranging them according to their shade and do the exact same with the outfits you are going to hang.</span></div> </span> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">four. You can also attempt to organize your </span><b style="font-size: 12pt;">closet</b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> dependent on their utilizes, this kind of as separating the perform outfits from weekend garments.</span></div> </span> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">five. Organize your </span><b style="font-size: 12pt;">closet</b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> according to how you typically get dressed in the morning. If you are the variety who considers donning shirts first just before pants or skirts, organize your prime neatly close to the </span><b style="font-size: 12pt;">closet</b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> doorway, followed by skirts or trousers and the relaxation of your things. This will make it less difficult to get dressed in the morning.</span></div> </span> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">six. Take into account folding smaller products effectively and arrange them neatly in your drawers. Make confident that you have a storage space for your add-ons so that you will know precisely the place your factors are.</span></div> </span> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">seven. Hold all shoes and clothing off the floor.</span></div> </span> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">eight. Use hanging luggage for your sneakers if you do not have a created in shoe cubbies in your learn </span><b style="font-size: 12pt;">closet</b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">.</span></div> </span> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">9. Use plastic bins or area baggage on the top shelf for your off-period garments.</span></div> </span> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">ten. If you call for far more drawer storage and you have added pole space, you can use hanging shelves for your sweats, jeans and other bulky apparel.</span></div> </span> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">eleven. Remove hamper lids so your clothing will in fact go into the hamper than getting stacked on prime.</span></div> </span> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">twelve. Make confident to have a specified location for socks, stockings and underwear to make it less complicated for you to find them.</span></div> </span> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">There is no precise way to </span><b style="font-size: 12pt;">manage</b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> anything. The ideal way to </span><b style="font-size: 12pt;">organize</b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> your grasp </span><b style="font-size: 12pt;">closet</b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> might be totally diverse from the way other individuals </span><b style="font-size: 12pt;">organize</b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> theirs. The essential is to design it dependent on your own personal decision creating method when you get dressed every day.</span></div> </span> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">As soon as your close it thoroughly clean and structured, make it a level to maintain it that way. You will be in a position to do this by returning your factors in their proper locations right after you use them or following you clean them.</span></div> </span> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Additionally, you need to also offer with the factors that are out of spot to avert muddle build up.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <o:p></o:p></span><br /> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rpCC90CJ7Us/UozxlY8PtFI/AAAAAAAAAMA/XLavhhIokDM/s1600/A-Dozen-Ways-to-Organize-Your-Master-Closet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A Dozen Ways to Organize Your Master Closet" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rpCC90CJ7Us/UozxlY8PtFI/AAAAAAAAAMA/XLavhhIokDM/s1600/A-Dozen-Ways-to-Organize-Your-Master-Closet.jpg" title="A Dozen Ways to Organize Your Master Closet" /></a></div>

organize your closet A Dozen Ways to Organize Your Master Closet

Organizing your master closet makes dressing in the morning simple. You can have many advantages when you get time to organize your close...

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Saving money on organizing products

<div style="text-align: justify;"> Don’t be fooled into thinking that buying specialty <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-rules-of-home-organization.html" rel="nofollow">organizers </a></b>is the only way to solve a clutter problem. Useful as these products can be, they’ll become clutter themselves if you haven’t done the heavy organizational lifting first. Shop sensibly and save money with these tips for choosing organizing products.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b style="background-color: orange;"><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/stop-clutter-around-house-declutter.html#.Un91APkk1Rs" rel="nofollow">Organize</a>, measure, buy:</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Take a common problem: magazine storage. Faced with a bookcase filled with favorites, it’s tempting to say, “Oh, I must do something about those stacks of magazines,” grab the car keys and head to the store. Once there, buying a set of 12 plastic magazine holders (in the same color as the family room drapes) appears to be the right solution.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/07/organizing-your-home-kitchen.html" rel="nofollow">Home </a></b>you go—only to find that the holders are too big for the bookcase, and that the whole collection will require eight more containers to hold the entire stack. Wallet drained and energy depleted, you drop the whole project, leaving the new holders to swell the population of household clutter.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Smart organizers understand how the process works: they <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/organize-your-closet-like-pro-5-ways.html" rel="nofollow">organize </a></b>first, measure next, and buy—if they buy—last. First, they assess and sort the magazines, keeping only 20 percent: those periodicals to which they refer often.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> After recycling the rejected 80 percent, our <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/whats-your-clutter-personality.html" rel="nofollow">organizer </a></b>plans and measures available storage areas. Only then does she shop for organizational products—and she does so with a list that enables her to buy exactly what she needs.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Put organizers to work for you by following these tips for making the most of the storage products available.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Corral and contain Cartons, boxes, baskets, and containers are the organizer’s foot soldiers in the war against chaos. Use them to sort and store magazine collections, children’s toys, and arts-and-crafts materials. Open containers are ideal for often-used items, making them available but keeping them from spreading over living areas.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Climb the walls Hooks, pegs, and hangers provide bonus storage in tight places. Pegs near an entryway allow children to hang coats and hats when they enter the house. The dog’s leash and the car keys will never go missing if they have designated hooks near the back door. Narrow molding shelves intended for displaying picture frames are ideal to hold diaper and skin-care products near baby’s changing table.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> On the shelf Wall-mounted shelf units are hard-working members of the get-<b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/11/first-principles-organizing-basics.html" rel="nofollow">organized </a></b>team. Over-the-door shelving provides an instant pantry when stocked with canned goods.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A shelf above the washing machine stores laundry products so they are accessible to adults but safe from children and pets.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> For maximum storage power, combine plastic containers or wicker baskets with shelves. Color-coded containers help children keep their play spaces tidy. Low, flat wicker baskets make it easy to see and access toiletries in the <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/07/organizing-your-home-bathroom.html#.Un91qvkk1Rs" rel="nofollow">bathroom</a></b>.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Divide and conquer Drawers are great friends. There’s only one problem: open and close a drawer ten times, and you’re apt to find a scrambled mess thereafter. Fix the problem with drawer dividers. Use short, straight lengths of cardboard or plastic to create divided areas or go for commercial drawer dividers: some</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> offer different-sized trays that interlock to create custom dividers.</div> <br /> <br /> <ul> <li><b><i>Reuse and repurpose found items to get the benefit of commercial organizing products without the hefty price tag. Recycle product packaging, cardboard and containers, or visit yard sales for low-cost—and sustainable—organizing alternatives.</i></b></li> </ul> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1AQ2nehHfJY/Un92OBbLUDI/AAAAAAAAALo/5HBXVFiQnm8/s1600/Saving-money-on-organizing-products.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Saving money on organizing products" border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1AQ2nehHfJY/Un92OBbLUDI/AAAAAAAAALo/5HBXVFiQnm8/s400/Saving-money-on-organizing-products.png" title="Saving money on organizing products" width="308" /></a></div> <div> <b><i><br /></i></b></div>

Clearing Clutter declutter organize your closet Saving money on organizing products

Don’t be fooled into thinking that buying specialty organizers is the only way to solve a clutter problem. Useful as these products can be,...

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First principles: organizing basics

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As we get <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/08/my-journey-to-organized-home.html" rel="nofollow">organized room-by-room</a></b> around the house, keep these basic principles in mind. Whether it’s crammed closets or cluttered counters, these central organization strategies will help keep order on the home front.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hot, warm, or cold?</span></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It’s a simple but powerful premise: items that are used the most should be easiest to </span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Imw4D81OVyk/UnVjH6YX6UI/AAAAAAAAALU/8FKiXQ-nJkM/s1600/organizing-basics.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="organizing basics" border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Imw4D81OVyk/UnVjH6YX6UI/AAAAAAAAALU/8FKiXQ-nJkM/s320/organizing-basics.png" title="organizing basics" width="214" /></a></span></div> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">reach. Think of <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/stop-clutter-around-house-declutter.html" rel="nofollow">organized spaces</a></b> as having storage locations that are hot, warm and cold, and store tools and supplies according to how often they’re used.</span><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">▪ Hot zones, like the fronts of drawers, shelves at eye level, and storage space on a counter, are home to the most used items. These are areas your hand can reach with little or no effort, such as the tool caddy next to the stove. This is where to store your favorite spoons, whisks, and ladles for easy access to these cooking best friends.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">▪ Warm zones are a bit harder to reach—like the space at the back of the drawer or the shelf near the top of the cabinet.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You’ll need to stretch or bend, or open doors wider to reach a warm zone. Send items you need infrequently, such as once a week or once a month, to the warm climes. Peelers, large pots, and baking dishes can all happily live here. You’ll know where they are when you need them, but they won’t impede your work the rest of the time.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">▪ Cold zones (otherwise known as Outer Siberia) are those storage places that must have been designed by a chiropractor to encourage business. They’re dark. They’re obscure. They’re hard to reach without a step stool or assuming a posture on your hands and knees. The back recesses of the bottom shelf, or the cabinet above the refrigerator that can only be reached with a ladder, are cold-zone territories. Here’s where you put those items that you use least, such as gelatin molds, seasonal baking pans, and serving platters for big parties. Think of it this way: the cold will keep them fresh!</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Label, label, label</span></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the middle of a sort-and-toss-it session, an organizer’s design seems obvious, but over time, that data can be lost. Facing a linen <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/09/clear-clutter-stop-clutter-method.html" rel="nofollow">closet</a></b>, our mental outline of “I’ll stack the children’s sheets here, the beach towels over here, and the winter blankets down here ...” lasts only until the first late-night rummage for clean</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">sheets jumbles the tidy piles.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Solution? Labels, labels, and still more labels. Picture labels for children. Computer-printed labels. Labels by the sheet, or created one-by-one by electronic label-makers. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Labels make any organizing scheme crystal-clear. They show everyone, not just the organizer, where things belong. Babysitters or house guests will always know where to find the towels—and where to replace them—when the linen <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/organize-your-closet-like-pro-5-ways.html" rel="nofollow">closet </a></b>shelves are labeled.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When moving, labels on boxes help to get the contents to the right place in the new house. For seasonal storage, labels prevent the need to open-and-dig for the holiday lights. On the electrical panel, labels can show exactly which switch to throw to shut down the leaking hot water heater.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Harder to get out than to put away :</span></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Professional child-wranglers, such as day-care operators, know a simple secret: to keep things neat, make it harder to get something out than to put it away. It’s just human nature.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When we want something, we want it, and we’ll work hard to get it, too. But when it comes to putting it back.… Take advantage of human nature and make things harder to get out than to put away.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For instance, store children’s books upright in a flip-file—a plastic dishpan in which they can be stood on end. To retrieve a book, the child will need to flip through the titles to find what she is searching for—but to put it away, she must only slide it back into the pan.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">        <b>“Repeat after me:</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">                                   ‘ <b><i>There is no such thing as too many labels</i></b>.’”</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Go vertical</span></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For books, files, or papers, vertical storage beats horizontal storage every time. What is horizontal storage? It’s a pile. A stack. One thin, rectangular object stored on top of another.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A stack of books on a coffee table. Files in a tray on a desk. Magazines stacked next to a table, on the floor. To reach one book, one file, one magazine, you must move them all—and chances are, you won’t take time to move them all back.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Vertical storage, like that offered by hanging files or bookcases or tabletop file boxes, makes it easy to find the file or letter you need. Simply flip through the hanging files, peeping at the papers within. In a vertical magazine file, it’s easy to find the issue you want—and you won’t disturb the rest of the magazines when you pull it from the storage box.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our child’s book flip-file illustrates the principle perfectly.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Finding the right book is a matter of flipping through the covers; replacing it doesn’t require moving the other books. Similarly, sewing enthusiasts know that hanging fabric lengths from clothes hangers makes it much simpler to find the fabric they’re looking for—and with no need to disturb other lengths folded</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">in a pile.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In geometry, there’s no preference, but when organizing, take the vertical over the horizontal any day!</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">▶ Top to bottom DVDs, stored vertically in a box with labels facing up, make it easy to find cinema favorites. Photo labels provide a peep inside closed storage containers and help you find just the right shoes for an evening out. Hanging file folders allow quick search-and-replace options for stored paperwork.</span></div> </div>

how to organize Organizing Your Home First principles: organizing basics

As we get organized room-by-room around the house, keep these basic principles in mind. Whether it’s crammed closets or cluttered counter...

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The rules of home organization

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The bottom-line test for organization is function. Does your house work for you?</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Can you find things, carry out tasks, and live daily life without stress? To <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/how-to-organize-your-home-bathroom.html" rel="nofollow">organize a home</a></b>, follow the three rules of home organization: a place for everything, bring the family on board, and create centers for household activities.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #999999;">1- A place for everything.</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #999999;"><br /></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It’s an old saw, but it still cuts: “A place for everything, and everything in its place” is a </span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LPIXleEt4n8/Um_7tMSRP1I/AAAAAAAAALA/EnFYkwQxm5s/s1600/The-rules-of-home-organization.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The rules of home organization" border="0" height="221" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LPIXleEt4n8/Um_7tMSRP1I/AAAAAAAAALA/EnFYkwQxm5s/s320/The-rules-of-home-organization.png" title="The rules of home organization" width="320" /></a></span></div> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">watchword for true home organization. Possessions, like people, need homes. Find them that home, defend their turf with labels, dividers, and organizers, and you’ve won most of the battle for an <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/decluttering-your-home-decluttering.html" rel="nofollow">organized home</a></b>.</span><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“It’s an old saw, but it still cuts: ‘A place for everything, and everything in its place.’”</span></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Be creative when it comes to finding homes for household stuff—and rearrange your thinking. So what if stores sell towels in matched sets of three? Break up the trio and store them where they’re needed: hand towels stacked in washrooms near living areas; bath towels and washcloths in the bathroom where they’re most used. Don’t hide pizza coupons and take-out menus away in a kitchen drawer where they’ll get forgotten: store them in a folder near the phone where they’ll be most useful.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #999999;">2- Bring the family on board.</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #999999;"><br /></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/09/managing-your-house.html" rel="nofollow">Getting organized</a></b> is not simply a matter of domestic real estate; it’s an integrated process involving all members of the household. Any organizing scheme or system will fail unless all family members understand it and can follow it. Bring the family on board as you <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/08/my-journey-to-organized-home.html" rel="nofollow">organize your stuff</a></b> and your surroundings. For example, when organizing where to put items in the kitchen, store plates, bowls, and unbreakable glasses in low cabinets. Younger family members can set the table only if they can reach the dishware; by storing tableware</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">in an accessible place for them, you’ll be helping all of the family to help you.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="background-color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>3- Create “centers” for household activities.</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="background-color: #999999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Looking for a model of a well-<b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/organize-your-home-maintaining-order.html" rel="nofollow">organized home</a></b>?</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Head back to preschool! Preschool teachers are model organizers because they have to be. Without a plan</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">for classroom structure, 18 or 20 energetic little people could create plaything havoc in mere moments.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To keep their schoolroom running smoothly, preschool teachers apply the concept of “centers”: dedicated areas for a single activity, like blocks, dress-up, or sand play, with storage for all the playthings required by that activity. In the playhouse, kitchen toys, pots, and pans encourage role-playing; at the art table, paper, paints, and brushes are within easy reach. At pick-up time, children know to return costumes to the dressup</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">pole, and park the trucks in the “parking lot” storage area.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On the domestic front, you can set up centers that work the same way, to focus and support the everyday activities that are carried on in the home. To create them, you’ll designate:</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">▪ A focus. Allocate one focused activity to each center.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">▪ A specified area. Set aside a single place to perform the activity.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">▪ Storage for tools and supplies. Ensure that all items needed are present and available in the center.</span></div> </div>

how to organize organize your closet Organizing Your Home The rules of home organization

The bottom-line test for organization is function. Does your house work for you? Can you find things, carry out tasks, and live daily li...

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The Simple Way to De-clutter Any Room Quickly

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What makes <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/decluttering-your-home-decluttering.html#.Umr0PBeCxOQ" rel="nofollow">de-cluttering</a></b> easy? It’s having a simple plan.  Making a plan will allow you to </span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yjf8qDpD_0w/Umrzq7xcCgI/AAAAAAAAAKw/BOPAc9C5PH0/s1600/Declutter-Any-Room-Quickly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="De-clutter Any Room Quickly " border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yjf8qDpD_0w/Umrzq7xcCgI/AAAAAAAAAKw/BOPAc9C5PH0/s320/Declutter-Any-Room-Quickly.jpg" title="De-clutter Any Room Quickly " width="320" /></a></span></div> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">check on the step by step progress that you have done so far. In this chapter, I will explain to you the idea of having 4 boxes at the ready for you to start clearing up the <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/keep-clutter-from-coming-back.html#.Umr0WxeCxOQ" rel="nofollow">clutter </a></b>in your home or business. We will categorize these boxes into the sell, donate, throw out and “belongs in a different room” containers. For each room, you would initially sort any items that you know fit into one of those categories.</span><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Choose one room at a time, as an example go into your <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/07/organizing-your-home-master-bedroom.html#.Umr1JheCxOQ" rel="nofollow">bedroom </a></b>and place items that you no longer need into the 4 boxes that we have. Browse your closet and see if there are any hanging clothes that you have not used in the last 12 months. You can then move the hanging pieces until they are hung the way you want them to be. A great trick is to keep them day-coded, hang the clothes that you have aligned in a way that will mimic the days in a week. Next, begin on the clothes that are folded and start putting the ones that are no longer of use in any of the 4 boxes that best fits their category.  </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another trick to improve the time you spend each morning preparing for work is to pick out the clothes that you will be wearing for the next 3 days. This will only take you 5-10 minutes and will make your life easier. The process could save you over 30 minutes in the next 3 mornings just by taking the 5 or 10 minutes right now. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Straighten out any items on your night table. Keep the surfaces in your bedroom clear of any unnecessary items; keep things that are out on display to a minimum. This alone will make your rooms look less <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/decluttering-your-home-decluttering.html#.Umr0hBeCxOQ" rel="nofollow">cluttered</a></b>. Move any unrelated materials out of the bedroom into your “belongs in a different room” box or just relocate them to the ideal areas of <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/08/solution-to-organize-your-home-skill.html#.Umr1TReCxOQ" rel="nofollow">your home</a></b>.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It’s great to think about zones when you are reorganizing any space. By organizing zones in each room, you will be giving yourself a logical order to keep things in. It’s amazing how any room can be rezoned into different areas without adding to the <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/stop-clutter-around-house-declutter.html#.Umr0pReCxOQ" rel="nofollow">clutter </a></b>just by applying this simple trick. Take some time out to think about what each area is used for or could be used for. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So after you have thoroughly been through your <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/07/organizing-your-home-master-bedroom.html#.Umr1bReCxOQ" rel="nofollow">bedroom</a></b>, move to the next room, say the kitchen. Place the four boxes there and go through the same process, first placing anything that will go into the boxes in the appropriate one. Next, sort through the counter tops, <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/07/organizing-your-home-kitchen.html#.Umr1iheCxOQ" rel="nofollow">kitchen </a></b>table and your island if you have one and put everything back in its appropriate place. Take items that do not belong in the kitchen either straight out or into its box. Place the appliances that you have back to their rightful storage areas and neatly wrap their electrical cords. If there is a certain appliance that always ends up on the countertop, opt to move it to an easier-to-reach spot in your kitchen cabinets. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It’s important to note that you must finish <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/09/clearing-clutter.html#.Umr0yxeCxOQ" rel="nofollow">de-cluttering</a></b> each room before you move on to the next. You would not want to keep repeating what you have done throughout this task so make sure you accomplish de-cluttering and clearing each room before starting on the next, and if you are able to, it is preferable that you get one room done in one session.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you find items <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/08/my-journey-to-organized-home.html#.Umr1rxeCxOQ" rel="nofollow">in your home</a></b> that no longer fit into your new <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/09/managing-your-house.html" rel="nofollow">uncluttered </a></b>look, but that also don't belong in one of your boxes, then I suggest you work on having one area that will store all of those things. This can be the attic or the garage depending on your choice and home capacity. Whichever of the two you choose, this room should be the one sorted out last, as this is where you will store all the other equipment and items that do not belong elsewhere.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> </div>

declutter The Simple Way to De-clutter Any Room Quickly

What makes de-cluttering easy? It’s having a simple plan.  Making a plan will allow you to check on the step by step progress that you...

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Living Areas : Storage Strategies

<div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Because the common living areas are the most public rooms in the house, it is especially </span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L-0wfyqY3Qo/UmBh5nPpWFI/AAAAAAAAAKM/wx1AXiujd8s/s1600/A-media-center.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Living Areas : Storage Strategies" border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L-0wfyqY3Qo/UmBh5nPpWFI/AAAAAAAAAKM/wx1AXiujd8s/s320/A-media-center.png" title="Living Areas : Storage Strategies" width="204" /></a></span></div> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">important that storage strategies here strike a balance between convenience and appearance. Convenience comes from having your things close to where you use them. Appearance is subject to your taste, of course, but also to your priorities: do you prefer the rooms to be clutter-free at all times, or are you comfortable with a more lived-in look? In general, can you put things away easily when it's time to clean up?</span><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another balancing act required for most living areas is the allocation of space for accommodating storage items vs. display items. Some useful things, such as books, lend themselves to both storage and display because they look good enough to be kept out in the open. Other stuff is best stored behind closed doors.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Finally, organizing your living spaces wouldn't be complete without some attention paid to entryways and connecting spaces. A good plan in high-traffic areas creates a welcome </span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qlVKwrVi81E/UmBieMXAw6I/AAAAAAAAAKU/q20ZOZtipcQ/s1600/flea-market-finds.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Living Areas : Storage Strategies" border="0" height="241" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qlVKwrVi81E/UmBieMXAw6I/AAAAAAAAAKU/q20ZOZtipcQ/s320/flea-market-finds.png" title="Living Areas : Storage Strategies" width="320" /></a></span></div> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">greeting to visitors, making them feel at home the moment they walk through the door.</span><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Living room , family room, TV room, rumpus room-whatever you call your favorite hangouts, the storage strategy is pretty straightforward: satisfy every activity that takes place there while keeping clutter to a minimum. In most homes, this is accomplished with thoughtful room arrangement and careful selection and use of furniture and shelving.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Living Rooms & Family Rooms:</span></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In homes with more than one main living space, the living room tends to be centered around social gatherings and quiet family leisure activities. The furniture and layout are geared toward conversation, reading, or relaxing in front of the fireplace . Likewise, storage and display in the living room should reflect these themes of social interaction and hospitality while keeping personal items out of sight.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">By contrast, the family room, or TV room, is often dominated by the television and media entertainment.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's also the usual place for kids' play areas and adjunct work zones such as a hobby table or home office tucked into a corner. Convenience and function are the reigning themes here, and it's often best to set up distinct activity zones so everyone can do their own thing at the same time.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If your home has only one main living space to support all of its leisure activities, a zoned arrangement can be most effective, as well as storage pieces that are adaptable for both casual family time and entertaining with guests.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The secret to accommodating storage needs in any living space is to substitute conventional furniture and accessories with pieces that do double duty: instead of a traditional sofa table behind the couch, use a long console unit with attractive doors and/or open shelving. Replace end tables and accent tables with credenzas. Prevent coffee table clutter by swapping your four-legged model with a boxy unit with integrated storage spaces. Even an ottoman can lend a hand if it has a lid and a hidden storage compartment inside.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Shelving & Bookcase Basics:</span></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Shelves and bookcases are the storage workhorses of most living areas, filling odd spaces, defining zones in open-plan rooms, adding color and warmth to empty wall surfaces, and more. Here are some tips for making them work for your storage strategy:</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">• Use bookcases or banks of shelving as architectural details. For example, two cases </span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A1gCZ3PH2C0/UmBjBB-2anI/AAAAAAAAAKg/qX6kuibnpkc/s1600/bookcase.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Bookcase Basics" border="0" height="241" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A1gCZ3PH2C0/UmBjBB-2anI/AAAAAAAAAKg/qX6kuibnpkc/s320/bookcase.png" title="Bookcase Basics" width="320" /></a></span></div> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">meeting at an inside corner create a cozy reading nook; matching cases flanking a couch, sitting area, or bank of windows provide visual balance and help define the intermediate space; a continuous perimeter shelf running close to the ceiling adds a decorative effect similar to a cornice.</span><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">• Build custom shelves to fill nooks and oddly shaped wall s.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">• Arrange books for visual appeal (not just straight-up by size); lay some flat or at an angle; leave a little breathing room by not overcrowding the she lves; intersperse display items if desired.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">• Conceal paperwork, old magazines, and other less-decorative material inside attractive file boxes or bins; use matching containers to prevent a cluttered look.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">• Include some room for expanding your collection when buying or building new shelving.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div>

organize your closet Organizing Your Home Living Areas : Storage Strategies

Because the common living areas are the most public rooms in the house, it is especially important that storage strategies here strike a...

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How to organize your home: bathroom _Storage_Strategies

<div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Awell-planned bathroom blurs the line between utility space and living space; it is both functional and aesthetically pleasing at the same time. The secret to finding the right balance is to first determine what each bathroom really needs to serve its purpose, then to look for storage solutions that meet those needs while complementing the overall scheme.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A busy family bathroom may have very different requirements from a half bath used primarily by guests. In the former, it's OK to store toiletries and medicines out in the open and to hang wet towels on the back of the bathroom door. In the latter, only essential powder room supplies are appropriate:</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">soaps, hand towels, lotions, tissues, etc. Homes with a Single bathroom present a bigger challenge, but this can be met with a combination of concealed storage and practical but attractive accessories. Consider the</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">following options and strategies to find the best plan for your private or public retreats.</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6SOF_eBKRXU/Ul8NHmA9ymI/AAAAAAAAAJo/EybYJ_wQ09M/s1600/bathroom-storage-strategies.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="bathroom _Storage_Strategies" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6SOF_eBKRXU/Ul8NHmA9ymI/AAAAAAAAAJo/EybYJ_wQ09M/s1600/bathroom-storage-strategies.png" title="bathroom _Storage_Strategies" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><i style="background-color: #999999;">An assortment of economical bathroom storage units and accessories can be found at most neighborhood home centers. For more distinctive pieces, shop online, where you can find a full range of styles and designs from classic American to modern.</i></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><i style="background-color: #999999;"><br /></i></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Bathroom storage options:</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For sheer quantity of storage space in any bathroom, you can't beat a traditional vanity </span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JYKcV45SCZk/Ul8PLGA2gJI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/yNHIn_ju5-M/s1600/bathroom-storage-strategie.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Bathroom storage options" border="0" height="253" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JYKcV45SCZk/Ul8PLGA2gJI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/yNHIn_ju5-M/s320/bathroom-storage-strategie.png" title="Bathroom storage options" width="320" /></a></span></div> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">cabinet or a built-in linen closet. They're ideal for storing everything you don't want out in the open and for keeping towels and paper products clean and dry. The tips on page 64 can help you make the most of these workhorse storage units. If you're lacking a cabinet or closet, perhaps you can find room for a freestanding storage cabinet, such as an armoire or a small chest of drawers.</span><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The medicine cabinet is another reliable standard, ideally sized and located for storing the jumble of small bathroom items you need every day. Recessed cabinets with mirrors are a prime example of efficient bathroom storage: </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">the cabinet box uses the free space between wall studs, while the mirror provides an essential bathroom feature-all with virtually no loss of room space. As an alternative, wall-mounted medicine cabinets with solid-wood doors offer space-efficient concealed storage in a furniture-quality unit. Deeper wall cabinets can hold bulkier items like towels and toilet paper rolls without taking up floor space.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Shelves can be a real boon to a bathroom storage plan because they can take almost any form and fit where other units won't. A wall-length ledge capping a tall wainscot of paneling or wallpaper provides a natural visual transition and is great for holding glass jars, perfume bottles, and display items. Small glass shelves above a sink work well in lieu of a medicine cabinet or vanity drawers. For a nice custom shelving unit, you can build a niche inside a wall-stud cavity and finish it with tile or another washable surface.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And don't forget the empty wall space above the toilet:</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">it can be filled with custom wall-to-wall shelves or a freestanding or wall-mounted </span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2zbLTk_00xY/Ul8PYKNVPdI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/OLayB6h5RAU/s1600/bathroom-storage-strategiess.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Bathroom storage options" border="0" height="260" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2zbLTk_00xY/Ul8PYKNVPdI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/OLayB6h5RAU/s320/bathroom-storage-strategiess.png" title="Bathroom storage options" width="320" /></a></span></div> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">etagere.</span><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hardworking bathrooms can never have too many hooks or towel bars. Make sure you have them within arm's reach of the tub or shower, as well as next to each sink. In addition to holding wet towels, hooks are great for hanging bathrobes and c lothes, shower bags, and totes fi lled with extra bath supplies. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Empty wall spaces can double your towel storage when bars are mounted with one above the other (you can also find double bars that hang two towels in single fi le). If you'd rather not use up wall space with standard hooks or bars, you can substitute with a floor-standing towel tree or, for a creative touch, a conve ntional coat tree.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And keep in mind that hooks and some bars can go almost anywhere-on furniture pieces, at the front or sides of vanity cabinets, on door and window trim, or on the bathroom door itself.</span></div>

Organizing Your Home How to organize your home: bathroom _Storage_Strategies

Awell-planned bathroom blurs the line between utility space and living space; it is both functional and aesthetically pleasing at the same ...

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Organize your Kitchens : Pot Racks

<div style="text-align: justify;"> Nothing eats up valuable cabinet space like a full set of pots and pans. And for cooks who like to get serious </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O80UMWFqqGs/Ul2Ioy_xYxI/AAAAAAAAAJU/GZd_Xc125-M/s1600/Organize-your-Kitchens.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Organize your Kitchens : Pot Racks" border="0" height="222" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O80UMWFqqGs/Ul2Ioy_xYxI/AAAAAAAAAJU/GZd_Xc125-M/s320/Organize-your-Kitchens.png" title="Organize your Kitchens : Pot Racks" width="320" /></a></div> in the <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/kitchens-storage-strategies.html#.Ul2I52DBgas" rel="nofollow">kitchen</a></b>, rummaging through stacks of pans in the heat of preparation is a major inconvenience. That's why many home chefs prefer to store their most-used cookware on an overhead rack, where all of the pieces are visible at a glance and you can easily reach up and pluck down what you need without having to search through a cabinet.<br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The three custom pot racks shown on the following pages combine the space-saving convenience of pot hangers with a deep storage shelf aboveperfect for storing stock pots and other hard-to-hang pieces or a collection of your favorite cookbooks. The simple designs can be customized with any finish and hardware you like, and you can size your unit to fit any space in your <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/09/managing-your-house.html#.Ul2JBWDBgas" rel="nofollow">kitchen</a></b>. Because the racks are wallhung,</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> you don't need an island or a high ceiling, like you do with many ceiling-hung pot systems.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> All of the materials for these racks are available at most home centers and hardware stores. You can also shop online to choose from a wide range of specialty hardware, including shelf brackets, hanging rods, and hooks in various materials and finishes such as stainless steel, wrought iron, nickel, chrome, and brass. For a built-in look, choose a shelf material and finish that matches your <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/stop-clutter-around-house-declutter.html#.Ul2JIWDBgas" rel="nofollow">kitchen's </a></b>cabinets and woodwork. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Lumberyards and hardwood suppliers carry solid and edge-glued 1 x 12 stock in almost any species of wood. For a painted shelf, use 3A" poplar, or use basic melaminecoated shelf stock and leave it unpainted.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div>

how to organize Organize your Kitchens : Pot Racks

Nothing eats up valuable cabinet space like a full set of pots and pans. And for cooks who like to get serious in the kitchen , rummagin...

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Kitchens: Storage Strategies

<div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As the true hub of the modern home, the kitchen M. presents some unique chalJenges for the war on clutter. The biggest challenge is providing storage for a vast and complex assortment of food-related items, from frying pans and corkscrews to linens and dish ware.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How and where all that stuff is stored is often the biggest factor in how smoothly a kitchen operates. In most kitchens, the storage systems consist of a set of cabinets and a pantry of some sort (if you're lucky). Cabinets hold a lot, but being little more than rectangular boxes, they're not as user-friendly or as space-efficient as they could be.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Making the most of this space requires some thoughtful rearranging to ensure everything is right where it belongs. Ordinary cabinets can use some help from simple add-ons and devices that improve access and visibility of stored items, in addition to bumping up their capacity. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With all that it's required to hold and do, a kitchen is a complicated room, to say the least.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Space is at an absolute premium, and fitting in all the necessary tools and supplies in an organized manner can be like packing the trunk of a car for a long road trip.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To help you solve this spatial jigsaw puzzle, manufacturers and home centers offer an endless array of products designed for maximizing storage and minimizing clutter. These can do for an overloaded cabinet what a filing system does for a stack of paperwork. And where store-bought products don't quite fit your space or offer the look you're after, creating something of your own design (with a little help, of course) is always a good option.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As you dive into the details of organizing your kitchen, it's important to keep in mind the true purpose of this busiest of rooms. The kitchen is a work area, first and foremost. The more you can arrange and maintain the space for storing, cooking, and serving food, the better it will serve your household. Using the counters as a catchall for mail and newspapers, or the cabinets for storing light bulbs and holiday dishware, only means those spaces aren't available for work on a daily basis. Respect the kitchen as a workplace, and you'll find it much easier to control clutter and keep the stage set for fixing the next meal.</span></div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SCMinjVtxX8/Ulxag2wWFzI/AAAAAAAAAI4/Z3LgkqKRzAA/s1600/kitchen-Storage-Strategies.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Kitchens: Storage Strategies" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SCMinjVtxX8/Ulxag2wWFzI/AAAAAAAAAI4/Z3LgkqKRzAA/s1600/kitchen-Storage-Strategies.png" title="Kitchens: Storage Strategies" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kitchens: Storage Strategies</b></td></tr> </tbody></table> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <b><i>Open counter space is worth its weight in gold in any kitchen. Preventing clutter here is key to an efficient work space-and peace of mind.</i></b></blockquote> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-69-0Tv2cBGw/Ulxb-mIvg8I/AAAAAAAAAJE/r-szVDHq2q0/s1600/kitchen-Storages-Strategies.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Kitchens: Storage Strategies" border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-69-0Tv2cBGw/Ulxb-mIvg8I/AAAAAAAAAJE/r-szVDHq2q0/s1600/kitchen-Storages-Strategies.png" title="Kitchens: Storage Strategies" width="259" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><br /></td></tr> </tbody></table> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <b><i>Commercial kits make it easy to convert a narrow cabinet into an easyaccess shelving unit. The shelf unit mounts to the cabinet box and has brackets for insta lling your own hardware.</i></b></blockquote>

Kitchens: Storage Strategies

As the true hub of the modern home, the kitchen M. presents some unique chalJenges for the war on clutter. The biggest challenge is providi...

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organize your closet like a pro: 5 Ways

<h3> <b style="background-color: orange;">organize your closet like a pro: 5 Ways</b></h3> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/r9xnrpq3pWY" width="600"></iframe><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <br /> <div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-35pFEE7IMpQ/Ullha8SU-KI/AAAAAAAAAIo/dti2WPX_3o0/s1600/organize-your-closet-like-a-pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-35pFEE7IMpQ/Ullha8SU-KI/AAAAAAAAAIo/dti2WPX_3o0/s1600/organize-your-closet-like-a-pro.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /></div>

how to organize organize your closet Organizing Your Home organize your closet like a pro: 5 Ways

organize your closet like a pro: 5 Ways

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