Choosing Interior Paint Colors for Your Home

<div style="text-align: justify;"> First of all, you need to decide the budget for painting your house. After you settle down with a ballpark figure in your mind, make some more things clear for yourself. What is the end effect you would desire? Do you want some color eccentricities or do you wish to stick to the conventional colors? Once you decide this, go to the next step.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Explore a few basics about the paints and colors. There are many paint brands and types available. Choose </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7x0GHIpvywo/Uw5XkhRhggI/AAAAAAAAAcc/_s67qnOM7oo/s1600/Choosing-Interior-Paint-Colors-for-Your-Home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Choosing Interior Paint Colors for Your Home" border="0" height="277" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7x0GHIpvywo/Uw5XkhRhggI/AAAAAAAAAcc/_s67qnOM7oo/s1600/Choosing-Interior-Paint-Colors-for-Your-Home.jpg" title="Choosing Interior Paint Colors for Your Home" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> any brand that fits your budget. You will also have to decide the type of finish. You have Matte, Satin, Gloss, Semigloss and Eggshell finishes to choose from.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Finalizing the color scheme is the most important step that will decide the complete look of your decor. This needs to be done very carefully. The information given below will help ease the task for you.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> There are several things you need to consider before you settle down on any particular color scheme.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The room to be painted and its correlation with the rest of the house</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The existing color schemes in the house</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The total area of the room</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The natural lighting in that room</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The contrived lighting in that room</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The existing elements in the room -- for instance, whether the room has stone or brick finishing</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The existing furniture in the room</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The furniture to be installed in that room</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The existing fabric, furnishings, and carpets in the room</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The fabric furnishings and carpets that you plan to incorporate in the room</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> After you have decided the color scheme for one room, you have to do it for the entire house. Be sure if you are going to:</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Use just one color consistently throughout</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Use different colors for different rooms</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Use correlated colors for different rooms</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Use different colors for different sections of the room</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Use different colors to provide accents to windows, shutters, doors, crown molds, chair rails, columns, etc.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Use different shades of the same color to adorn parts of the room</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Make a motley; experiment with shades of the same color for windows, shutters, doors, wall trimmings, moldings, columns, balustrades, etc.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Dark colors require more maintenance than light colors.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Dark colors fade sooner than light colors.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Dark colors absorb more heat than light colors.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Actual colors are slightly different from what you see in color swathes or online color samples.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The total effect of the color depends on the extent of the area to be painted. A color scheme that looks great in a large spacious room, for instance, may not necessarily exude the same feel in a smaller, less spacious room.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> There is yet another breed of paint known as the Eggshell paint. The best description of this type could be not too glossy yet not too matte; just subtle sheen. Eggshell has the potential to lend an element of vastness to your spaces.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Ditch the color palette! Look around to get more creative ideas like the ones illustrated below.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Just about anything that catches your eye can be grist for the mill. Collect samples of different colors, patterns, and textures. Try to put together different or unusual combinations that you wouldn't normally go for, and see how they mix and match.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Add these tips to your knowledge bank, dunk the paintbrush into the color palette, and see your space deliver more than what you expect!</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div>

How to organize your office Organizing Your Home Choosing Interior Paint Colors for Your Home

First of all, you need to decide the budget for painting your house. After you settle down with a ballpark figure in your mind, make some m...

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Organizing Closets Folding and Hanging Clothes

<div style="text-align: justify;"> Many individuals lead busy lives and experience hectic mornings on a consistent basis. Days can start out on a sour note if we cannot find our work clothes or that blouse that perfectly complements the skirt we have chosen to wear in a hurry. With an organized closet, you could avoid this morning hassle and get a much better start to your day.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Though it can be difficult to find gaps in a busy schedule to organize a closet, the end result is well worth the time invested. An entire weekend may be needed in order to complete this project. The payoff for doing this </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Bypb_fHl88/UwyrozGpGPI/AAAAAAAAAcM/v29Bg9OrKjw/s1600/Organizing-Closets-Folding-and-Hanging-Clothes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img alt="Organizing Closets Folding and Hanging Clothes" border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Bypb_fHl88/UwyrozGpGPI/AAAAAAAAAcM/v29Bg9OrKjw/s1600/Organizing-Closets-Folding-and-Hanging-Clothes.jpg" title="Organizing Closets Folding and Hanging Clothes" width="320" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> will certainly be worth giving up your social life for a couple of days. Imagine flinging your closet doors open and immediately seeing everything from accessories for your head to your shoe collection, and everything in-between. Picture how wonderful it would be not have to pull everything out making a huge mess in the process to clean up later, just to find one particular clothing item or accent piece.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It is time to stop dreaming about it and to start making an organized closet a reality. This may seem like a daunting task with a mountain of disorganization from your closet seemingly taunting you. Fear not though, you can do this! A good first step is taking a good look at the current setup of your closet. You want to make sure that your closet features storage capabilities designed to encourage organization, draws on every inch of closet space available, and that is handy for you to use.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> After inspecting your closet, you may have discovered that it is lacking in some needed items for organizing. Items such as hanger extensions, adjustable shelves, hooks, a shoe or sock caddy, bins, baskets, stackable boxes, floor or hanging racks, can provide the appropriate configuration to organize your belongings. You cannot expect to organize a closet and keep it that way unless everything has a specific space provided for it within your closet.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Once you have taken care of equipping your closet with various storage features, you can begin using these space savers and organizational products to help organize your closet. This should make it easier to keep it that way once you get everything into place.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Generally speaking, clothes occupy the majority of the space in any closet. Optimize the use of your closet space for hanging and folding your clothing. Extension hangers that can accommodate the hanging of several pairs of dress slacks or jeans on a single hanger are great closet organizers. Hangers made for attaching an additional hanger to them permit you to hang two shirts in the space previously only housing one shirt.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> You do not have to hang all of your clothing in your closet. You can in fact store more clothes and find them with less hassle by folding some of your clothes versus hanging them up. Of course, you may want to give priority-hanging space to work and special occasion apparel to reduce the chances of wrinkling them. However, folding your causal clothes for storage will not hurt them, and makes more room for your more dressy clothes. Some shirts may wrinkle when folded, while other clothing is wrinkle-resistant. Does a wrinkle in the comfortable clothes you wear around the house matter all that much? Will anyone really care or even notice wrinkles in the shirt you wear while tending to your garden? Probably not, but considerations such as these can help you make logical decisions for storing your clothes.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Whether a sweater is for casual or formal wear, professionals recommend you always folding sweaters instead of placing them on hangers in your closet to help them retain their shape and to last longer. Sweaters can be bulky when folded. It is best to store them on an open shelf. However, they also fit nicely in sweater bins to be stored on a closet shelf or on the floor.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Another way to organize your closet is to fold and place seasonal clothing in plastic containers to prevent insect invasions, and store those containers on very high closet shelves when not in use. This frees up eye-level space for hanging and folding clothing that you wear every day, or that is in season for quick and easy locating.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The best way to keep your closet organized after a spring closet cleaning or organizing spurt is to remember to put things back in their place after laundering, or should you grab something to wear and change your mind. It only takes seconds for the roots of disorganization to begin growing. One blouse tossed aside in favor of a trendy t-shirt instead of put back in place will soon have other shirts joining it to wreak havoc on your closet organization. Thinning your wardrobe annually and donating unused clothing to charity also goes a long ways towards helping your closet to stay organized.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Now that you have an organized closet, open the doors and see how refreshing organization in your closet looks and feels. You may decide that the rest of the house could benefit from some organization too.</div>

organize your closet Organizing Closets Folding and Hanging Clothes

Many individuals lead busy lives and experience hectic mornings on a consistent basis. Days can start out on a sour note if we cannot find ...

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Clean and Pristine: Sell Your Home Faster

<div style="text-align: justify;"> Maybe you don't have a fairy godmother to come and do all the household tasks for you, but in a slowing real estate market, don't expect to sell your home if it is not in immaculate condition. Maybe you don't have a lot of square footage or a prime lot, but your house can sell before others priced similarly if you take a few </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yugVUV9Va1I/Uwt0qa3l73I/AAAAAAAAAb8/ZD29v23qXEo/s1600/Sell-Your-Home-Faster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img alt="Clean and Pristine: Sell Your Home Faster" border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yugVUV9Va1I/Uwt0qa3l73I/AAAAAAAAAb8/ZD29v23qXEo/s1600/Sell-Your-Home-Faster.jpg" title="Clean and Pristine: Sell Your Home Faster" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> tactical steps before you show it. Nothing says "Buy Me" more than a home that is fabulously clean, smells fantastic, and has a neutral color pallet.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Catching the buyer occurs within seconds of viewing your home, and that means from the driveway. Nothing screams "look out! Danger!," more than debris and toys all over the driveway and front entrance. Potential homebuyers don't want to pick their way through landscaping debris or bicycles and toys. The curb appeal of your home is the first, best selling point. Spruce up your landscaping: Trim hedges, weed the flowerbeds, and power wash the driveway and walkways. This involves time and effort more than any additional money.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Make your entryway inviting. Does the front door need paint or the trim need replacing? Remember you are banking on a extraordinary first impression. Your front door should promise a refuge within. It should be inviting and say, "Welcome, come in and sit awhile, relax and leave the weary world behind you."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Your next step should be to make sure everything is meticulously clean. Put away clutter. This could be too many appliances on the kitchen counters, too many pictures hanging on walls, too many knick-knacks on the tables or mantel. Most homes for sale are too cluttered; every piece of your personal regalia prevents the buyers from envisioning their own special things in that place. Do a thorough spring cleaning including floor boards and window sills. Clean out your closets and pack away items you don't immediately need. This will give a more spacious look to your storage areas. Have your carpets professionally cleaned, and have a window cleaning company wash the windows.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Make sure all repairs are done. Any undone maintenance jobs should be completed and cleaned up before you show the house. Don't let a sale slip away because a homebuyer thinks you don't care how the house looks. Fix the broken light fixtures or ceiling fans and replace any frayed electrical cords. You don't want potential home buyers thinking, "They didn't bother to make this place look nice for us to view, so what else don't they care about?"</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A new coat of paint works miracles. Not only does paint get dingy looking, it also holds in unpleasant odors. New paint offers that glistening appearance and a clean smell, so select a neutral color pallet that will appeal to everyone and paint the inside of the house. Warm neutral shades of paint invite decorating ideas.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Nothing can stop a clean and pristine house from selling, not even a slowing market. It just takes some time and effort to make your home a quick sell.</div>

Organizing Your Home Clean and Pristine: Sell Your Home Faster

Maybe you don't have a fairy godmother to come and do all the household tasks for you, but in a slowing real estate market, don't e...

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Bathroom Installation And Decoration - A Few Tips And Ideas

<div style="text-align: justify;"> The bathroom is an area of importance. It enables one to maintain personal hygiene and should be a private, personal space, designed for comfort and peaceful retreat. Bathrooms perform different functions, often depending on space or the lay out of a house. Regardless of type, it is an area that needs a great deal of careful planning and thought.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> For large families, the installation of a new bathroom is worth considering. Not only can it put and end to </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X4KXVDF8t2A/UwpPOdbqCuI/AAAAAAAAAbo/JExbOAEF9K0/s1600/Bathroom-Installation-And-Decoration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Bathroom Installation And Decoration - A Few Tips And Ideas" border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X4KXVDF8t2A/UwpPOdbqCuI/AAAAAAAAAbo/JExbOAEF9K0/s1600/Bathroom-Installation-And-Decoration.jpg" title="Bathroom Installation And Decoration - A Few Tips And Ideas" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> morning queues, but should help reduce wear and tear on the existing bathroom. It can also increase the value of a house. For those blessed with enough space, ensuite bathing areas that incorporate shower cubicles, baths or full suites are a viable option. However, people with less room to work might want to consider the inclusion of a simple washbasin or shower in their bedroom or spare room.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The bath is the focal point of the room. For design purposes, its a good idea to integrate it into the overall design of the bathroom, whether with the flooring or wall decor. The shapes and sizes of baths vary so it shouldnt be difficult to find one that suits your bathroom best. For example, sunken baths can prove very attractive enhancements. They tend to blend in with a bathroom in terms of operation as well as appearance. However, they tend to require a little extra work to install and are more expensive than standard versions. If room is a problem, you might want to consider a corner bath. Useful at saving space, they could enable you to include other bathroom features such as a bidet or even an extra washbasin.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Choosing a bath not only effects the overall look and feel of a bathroom but can also save money. For example, acrylic versions tend to keep water heated longer than iron and metallic baths. Moreover, an efficiently designed bath may require less water to fill it than other types, thereby reducing the monthly water bill.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Bathroom fittings are often expensive and difficult to move around which means that alteration is problematic once installed. So careful, considered planning should prevent the need for revision once installation has taken place. The fittings and material used must of course be durable and waterproof. To protect the decor and prevent mould, the edges of baths and washbasins should be sealed - plastic sealant or sealant strips are easily available from leading bathroom retailers.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Like most rooms in the house, storage is a major issue. Sometimes bath products seem to colonise all corners of a bathroom. So adequate storage products are an important feature, integral to the successful operation of a busy bathroom Cabinets and cupboards can solve these space issues and are commonly available in fixed or free standing versions. Most good bathroom and furniture merchants stock them in large numbers.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Bathroom lighting should be thorough but not glaring. Many bathrooms have white fittings that can reflect bright light to an uncomfortable degree. Simple wall lights are an option that should provide sufficient illumination for performing every-day tasks, while complimenting the decor. It is very important that all types of lighting are approved for use in the bathroom and are carefully sealed. Switches should be placed outside, or a string pull installed to ensure safe operation.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Finally, if you plan on installing a tiled floor, the inclusion of bath mats is of great importance. With the amount of water that can be displaced in a bathroom area, mats can provide a non-slip surface that means added safety. They often come with adhesive strips that fix them to the floor and provide further stability.</div>

how to organize Organizing Your Home Bathroom Installation And Decoration - A Few Tips And Ideas

The bathroom is an area of importance. It enables one to maintain personal hygiene and should be a private, personal space, designed for co...

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A Closet Organizer Is Not Your Maid

<div style="text-align: justify;"> I've moved around a lot--- 12 times in 15 years to be exact---and created disasters in more than 80 closets. I read books, consulted neat-freak friends, and spent more than the price of a decent car on custom closet organizers.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> And my closets still looked like over-sized junk drawers. Today, I am the proud owner of eight beautiful </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CrL6vsfaniY/UwkbpmIh_DI/AAAAAAAAAbY/WT2TEplmJ0M/s1600/A-Closet-Organizer-Is-Not-Your-Maid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="A Closet Organizer Is Not Your Maid" border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CrL6vsfaniY/UwkbpmIh_DI/AAAAAAAAAbY/WT2TEplmJ0M/s1600/A-Closet-Organizer-Is-Not-Your-Maid.jpg" title="A Closet Organizer Is Not Your Maid" width="300" /></a></div> closets and one closet that I simply call "The Unfortunate Area." The transformation involved more pondering than cleaning, and the question I asked and answered myself was pretty simple:<br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Is it me or the closet that needs organizing?</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Before you spend money on a custom closet organizer, I suggest you ask yourself the same question, because a closet organizer gives you more space for dresses, sweaters, and shoes, but it doesn't pick up your dirty clothes or put clean ones away for you.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It gives you the opportunity to radically improve the efficiency and expand the capacity of your closet. It can help make you exceptionally organized.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> But it doesn't do it alone.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A closet organizer is not your maid. It gives you the tools to keep your shoes neatly arranged, your clothes properly separated and your ties and belts hanging within easy reach.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> But the organizer doesn't arrange your shoes, pick up your clothes, or keep your ties and belts untangled.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> When people ask professional organizer Askari Sabbaghi whether a custom closet is worth the expense, his answer is always the same,"It depends on what you do with it."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Sabbaghi, owner of Vancouver, BC-based Clever Quarters, said he encourages potential customers to clean their closets first and to become fully involved in the planning of a new closet organizer.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The more you invest in the process, the more likely you are to make valuable use of your new closet, Askari says.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Most of the value is personal -- the satisfaction or having more space. When budgeting for a closet organizer, keep in mind that you will unlikely recover the cost of the newly designed closet when you sell your home.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Rick Clarke, a Vancouver BC real estate broker, says an upscale closet gives your home "curb appeal" but not actual dollar value.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "A well-organized closet will help sell a home quicker than a neighboring home of same price range and features," Clarke, owner of Centurty 21 New Trends, says. "When a buyer enters into a home as a property that will be their principal residence...the warm fuzzy feeling of a well laid-out, looked-after, move-in-condition home certainly helps."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>If you opt for a closet organizer, here are three tips to keep it organized:</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>1. Don't put anything on the floor.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> You may have room on the closet floor---you should now that it's organized---but keeping a bare closet floor is the first step in staying organized.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> If you set one shopping bag on the floor one day, you'll set down two on your next shopping trip, and before you know it, the floor will be cluttered with all sorts of debris (or, in my case, so crammed with junk that shutting the closet door qualified as a strength-conditioning workout).</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>2. Making cleaning out your closet a monthly activity.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> You probably know the rule about throwing out anything you haven't worn in six months (unless it's a seasonal item). But, unless you never go shopping, you will accumulate too much stuff in half a year.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> So don't wait that long. Make the fourth Saturday of every month (or some other day you can schedule) a day to clean out your closet.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> This rarely takes more than 15 minutes and my personal rule is this: If I think about throwing something away on more than two visits to the closet, it gets tossed on the third.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>3. Make it personal</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> If you make your closet a space you love, you will treat it with more respect than if it's just a storage place.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Paint the walls of your closet your favorite color, cover the floor with your favorite rug or hang pictures of your family.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> This is the advice that really changed things for me. Once I considered the design and decorating potential of my closets, it became important to me to make and keep them beautiful.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> So why do I still have one really messy closet? Because my rat-pack tendencies need an outlet. And now that "The Unfortunate Area" is a single space rather than a housekeeping lifestyle, I find it amusing rather than embarrassing.</div>

organize your closet A Closet Organizer Is Not Your Maid

I've moved around a lot--- 12 times in 15 years to be exact---and created disasters in more than 80 closets. I read books, consulted ne...

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How to Declutter Your Kitchen

<div style="text-align: justify;"> I am going to help you to declutter your kitchen in one weekend and keep it that way for years to come. Does this seem impossible? Believe me, it's not. Even if you have never had an organized kitchen in your life you can do this.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The first thing you have to do is to make the commitment that you want to declutter your kitchen and that it is important enough to you to make the time to do it. Then you have to follow these steps in order to declutter your kitchen:</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Step #1 How to Declutter Your Kitchen</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Take one weekend and set aside eight hours, four hours on Saturday and four hours on Sunday, or a straight stretch on a single day. Put it on the calendar and don't allow anything else to be scheduled.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Step #2 How to Declutter Your Kitchen</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Prepare to declutter your kitchen by gathering the following items: large trash bags, three medium sized cardboard boxes or plastic containers and a large black marker. Mark each box with the following: Donations, Keep, Storage.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Step #3 How to Declutter Your Kitchen</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Start to declutter your kitchen by clearing the kitchen table and the countertops first. Throw away all trash. Place those items that must be in your kitchen in the Keep box, anything you can give away goes in the Donations box and the rest goes in the Storage box. Do not stop until your counters and table are clean.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Step #4 How to Declutter Your Kitchen</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Next is the pantry. Empty the contents of the pantry onto your newly cleaned kitchen table. Throw away anything that is past an expiration date. Anything you won't use put in the Donation Box. Wipe down the pantry and put the items back keeping like items together. Keep the cereal together, then the baking needs, prepared food items, then canned goods, snacks, etc. Make sure everything is put away before you move on to the next step.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Step #5 How to Declutter Your Kitchen</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Then you will want to work on that cupboard that is full of Tupperware and storage containers. Everyone has one and you know that you do too. Place any old or unwanted containers in the Donations box. If it is not usable then throw it away. If you haven't used it in the last year then put it in the Storage Box. Once the sorting is complete then match the lids and the containers and store them together, neatly stacked in the cabinet.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Step #6 How to Declutter Your Kitchen</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Move through the rest of your cabinet's and kitchen drawers one at a time using the same Donations, Keep and Storage boxes to help you sort. For your kitchen drawers try looking here for great organizing help.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Step #7 How to Declutter Your Kitchen</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Don't forget the cabinet under the sink or the one above the refrigerator. If you do all the cabinets you stand a better chance of keeping your kitchen organized in the long run. For extra storage space under the kitchen sink try this organizer from Range Kleen.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Step #8 How to Declutter Your Kitchen</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Move the Storage Box and Donations box out of the kitchen and concentrate only on the Keep box. The only items left in this Keep box should now be the items that you need to find a place for in the kitchen. For mail, school papers, flyers and your keys this wall mounted letter holder is a great idea. This keeps all mail and school papers off your countertops.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Step #9 How to Declutter Your Kitchen</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Now that the kitchen is organized the focus needs to shift to keeping your kitchen organized. Put things away exactly where you got them from. Don't let mail or papers build up over the week and clutter up your countertop space or your kitchen table. Put items back in the pantry or cabinets when you get them out and you are done with them.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Step #10 How to Declutter Your Kitchen</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Let your family members know the new rules of the decluttered kitchen. Tell them that things need to be put away once they are done using them and that they need to be put away where they belong. It is no longer all right to allow things to lay around on the counters.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Following these simple steps will give you the organized kitchen that you have dreamed of for years. It isn't very hard to do but it does require a commitment on your part to having an organized kitchen.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pmw76SlkZ8s/UwTMx6BbSJI/AAAAAAAAAbI/aCRD6XrdLBU/s1600/How-to-Declutter-Your-Kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to Declutter Your Kitchen" border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pmw76SlkZ8s/UwTMx6BbSJI/AAAAAAAAAbI/aCRD6XrdLBU/s1600/How-to-Declutter-Your-Kitchen.jpg" title="How to Declutter Your Kitchen" width="400" /></a></div>

declutter ideas for organizing kitchen How to Declutter Your Kitchen

I am going to help you to declutter your kitchen in one weekend and keep it that way for years to come. Does this seem impossible? Believe ...

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50 Ways to Organize Your Home Using Plastic Bins

<div style="text-align: justify;"> For many people, organization is key to running a smooth, chaos free household. I have discovered a great, inexpensive way to organize my home is by using shoes box sized plastic bins. You can find these bins at all major discount stores and they typically cost about 99 cents. They have become an integral component of keeping my house organized and I use them for organizing many items including baby supplies, cleaning rags, socks and toys.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The following is a list of 50 ways you can use plastic containers to organize your home.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Baby bottles, rings and nipples - Keep the kitchen cabinets clutter-free by tossing baby bottle supplies into plastic bins.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Socks - Make sock drawers tidy.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pet treats and supplies - Use to keep your pets treats, medications, spare collars, etc. together in one place.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Drawer odds and ends - Organize small items and trinkets, such as magnets, pencils, pens, thread and other odds and ends so they aren't one big mess in your kitchen</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> and bathroom drawers.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Barrettes and pony tail holders - You can even take sorting barrettes to the next level by sub-sorting by color, using ziploc bags.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Medicine - If you don't have a medicine cabinet, store medications in a plastic bin in one of your cupboards. Make sure it's locked up or out of children's reach.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> DVDs - DVDs fit perfectly in the shoebox sized plastic container and keep them organized.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> CDs - Store either music or data CDs, or both!</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Underwear - Keep your underwear together on their own side of the drawer.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Toys for the car - Keep small toys in the car for your kiddies, either on the floor or right next to their car seat.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Sewing supplies - Keep your thread, needles and other sewing supplies neatly together.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Baby bibs - Bibs can be floppy and hard to fold and maintain their shape, keep them neat with plastic containers.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Cleaning rags - Save all your rags in a storage box to reuse for all your household cleaning needs.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Sippy cup tops and valves - Your kitchen cabinets can look neat when you use plastic bins to hold sippy cup pieces.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Kool-Aid packets - Keep your kitchen cabinets neat by storing small food items, such as Kool-Aid packets</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> First aid kit - Store Band-Aids, antiseptic wipes, cotton balls and gauze in one handy spot.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pacifiers - If you're like me, you keep plenty of extra pacifiers on hand. Use a plastic container to keep them all stored in one sanitary place.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Small toys and trinkets - Organize those army men and happy meal toys.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Spare sponges - I love to stock up on sponges from the dollar store.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Puzzle pieces - It can be hard to keep puzzle pieces with their respective puzzle board; keep the pieces organized in a plastic box.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Baby burp cloths - Stack your baby's burp cloths so that you can quickly grab one for all your spit up needs.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Diapers - This can be especially handy if you have two children in diapers. I keep my older daughter's bin on the left and my younger daughter's on the right, I can grab diapers in the dark in the middle of the night!</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Diaper change supplies - Grab diaper rash ointment, baby powder, plastic gloves or any other items you use for diaper changes all at once.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Face towels and wash cloths - Plastic containers will help maintain organization in your linen closet.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Coupons - If you're a "Q" clipper, keep coupons in one neat spot until you have time to sort them into our coupon organizer or binder.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Spare wallets - if you like to change out your wallet every so often, keep your backup wallets neatly packed away in plastic boxes.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Makeup - Store your makeup and brushes in a plastic container to keep them clean, ultimately keeping hour skin clearer when you use them.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Headsets and ear buds - Oh what tangled headsets we weave... wrap headsets and ear buds neatly and store them until your next jam session.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Chargers, cords and AC adapters - We all have extra laptop cords, cell phone chargers and other cord lying around the house.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Crayons - Store loose crayons, crayon boxes or both.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Perfume bottles - Keep perfume from falling over in your cabinet by packing neatly in plastic boxes.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Baby bath supplies - As you probably know, you should never leave a baby unattended during bath time. Keep all bath essentials together so they'll be readily available for baby's bath.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Candles - Store your extra tea lights, votive candles and tapers in a neat container.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Unsorted mail - Stack mail in a storage box until you're ready to sit down and sift through them.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Baby food jars - If you buy large quantities of baby food in jars at once, stack and organize them neatly in your cabinet by placing them in plastic bins.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Art supplies - Store your paints, brushes and other supplies in a plastic box in between art sessions.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Baby onesies and t-shirts - Neatly organize baby's undershirts and body suits in one spot.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Socks with no mates - When laundry is done, save any unmatched socks in a plastic bin. Hopefully their mates will turn up during your next round of laundry.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Dog shampoo supplies - You also don't want to leave your dog unattended at bath time, but it may be because you don't want your bathroom to become a soapy mess. Keep all doggie bath supplies readily available in.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Curling irons and flat irons - Keep your curling and flat irons from taking over your counter space and cabinets. Just make sure they've completely cooled off before storing in a plastic bin.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Computer peripherals - Store your extra mice, memory cards, SD adapters, USB cables and more!</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Neck Ties - Roll up ties and keep them neat and organized.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Shaving supplies - Place shaving cream and razors in a plastic bin and store them in your bathroom cabinet.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> School supplies - Keep pens, pencils, erasers, calculators, protractors and compasses all in one spot so your kids won't have any excuses at homework time.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Video games - Organize your video games so they don't take over your entertainment center.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Tools - If you don't have an official tool box, stash your screwdrivers, tape measures and hammer in a plastic bin.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Manicure supplies - Store your nail polish, emery boards and polish remover when not in use.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Travel size plastic containers - When you're not travelling, keep your travel toothbrush, soap and toiletry containers organized.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Belts - Roll up your belts and keep them neatly tucked away.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Office supplies - Store paper clips, staples, post-it notes and binder clips in a plastic container so they'll be readily available when you need them.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j2JOlhYuNV8/UwMIGr9vlqI/AAAAAAAAAa4/VR9KZRcfTbg/s1600/Organize-Your-Home-Using-Plastic-Bins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="50 Ways to Organize Your Home Using Plastic Bins" border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j2JOlhYuNV8/UwMIGr9vlqI/AAAAAAAAAa4/VR9KZRcfTbg/s1600/Organize-Your-Home-Using-Plastic-Bins.jpg" title="50 Ways to Organize Your Home Using Plastic Bins" width="400" /></a></div>

Organizing Your Home 50 Ways to Organize Your Home Using Plastic Bins

For many people, organization is key to running a smooth, chaos free household. I have discovered a great, inexpensive way to organize my h...

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Decluttering your home will declutter your life

<div style="text-align: justify;"> Disposing of clutter is an essential facet of good housekeeping. There are many good reasons to declutter, some of which are outlined here:</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Removing clutter can be made very easy if you follow a few simple steps as outlined in this article. Basically, it involves sorting out your belongings in one place at a time. Dispose of anything that is not necessary or that you dont use any more. There are lots of people who want an easy way of decluttering their home as many people genuinely struggle with clutter. It is important to note that after initial decluttering, further effort has to be made on an ongoing basis to maintain the home as a clutter-free environment.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Decluttering needs to become part of life and daily housekeeping policy in the context of keeping a clean, tidy home. Even if you are not interested in decluttering at the moment, it is something that will become an issue for you unless you address it and it is better to do so sooner rather than later to avoid unnecessary work and stress.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>The following are ten easy steps to declutter your home:</b> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><u>1</u></b>. Start by removing clutter from one room at a time. Go through all storage units in the room and remove unnecessary/unwanted items. By the time you have finished, that room will be so much more comfortable than the rest of your house and easier to keep clean that it will motivate you to move onto another room.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><u>2</u></b>. Avoid bringing unnecessary items into your home in the first place. The first thing to do when you have</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> decluttered a room is to establish a rule not to bring any further clutter into it or the purpose of the initial decluttering is defeated. This way, when you do declutter the existing stuff, youve already stopped the vicious</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> cycle of repeating the clutter.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><u>3</u></b>. Bring as much of the stuff you have decluttered as you can to the charity shop for resale. In this way you dont feel guilty about wasting it which you would do if you just dumped it.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><u>4</u></b>. Put aside 15 minutes daily for decluttering and stick to this. Although this is a short space of time, you can manage to shift a lot of stuff in 15 minutes.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><u>5</u></b>. Use smaller storage units so you have less room for unnecessary stuff.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><u>6</u></b>. Only keep an item of clothing for six months. If you have not worn it in this space of time, it is time to dispose of it by bringing it to the charity shop or passing in on to someone you know who will wear it.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <u><b>7</b></u>. Keep moving everything out of your home when you are finished using it. For example, books that you have finished reading can be passed on to friends immediately.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><u>8</u></b>. The one in, two out  rule is a very good idea for maintenance of a clutter-free home. When you bring a new item into your home throw out two items-simple!</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><u>9</u></b>. When you have filled a few boxes or bags with your clutter, take them to the charity shop as soon as possible to avoid the temptation of rummaging through them again to take things back out.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><u>10</u></b>. A good way to start is to remove clutter from counters and other flat surfaces in your home. Leave only the essential items, putting the rest in a cupboard for future use or in a box for the charity shop.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> There is nothing as gratifying as having your home clutter-free, tidy and clean so get started now and reap the benefits of this simple, free way of improving your home.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tfaumRUuDuQ/UwBbiUf7iJI/AAAAAAAAAak/D1WtY8mUdsY/s1600/Decluttering-your-home-will-declutter-your-life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Decluttering your home will declutter your life" border="0" height="272" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tfaumRUuDuQ/UwBbiUf7iJI/AAAAAAAAAak/D1WtY8mUdsY/s1600/Decluttering-your-home-will-declutter-your-life.jpg" title="Decluttering your home will declutter your life" width="400" /></a></div>

declutter Decluttering your home will declutter your life

Disposing of clutter is an essential facet of good housekeeping. There are many good reasons to declutter, some of which are outlined here:...

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Low Cost Tips for Organizing Your Kitchen

<div style="text-align: justify;"> There are a number of reasons why organizing the kitchen can be a great idea  having an organized kitchen can save you both time and money, while keeping you healthier by preventing the buildup of various germs that can make you sick. You might even find yourself losing weight because of your organized kitchen, since it will make it easier for you to cook at home and adopt a healthier diet. One of the primary excuses that is used to keep from organizing a kitchen is how much it can cost to redo a kitchen design in order to make it more organized; this does not have to hold you back, however, because there are a number of low-cost solutions to getting your kitchen organized that can be done on even the tightest of budgets.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> One easy way to get started organizing the kitchen which does not cost a thing is to divide your kitchen into clear zones, with each zone having a specific purpose. All that this requires is reorganizing your existing kitchen layout, grouping items into existing drawers and shelving so that everything within each zone works toward the purpose of the zone. Most common zone layouts include anywhere from three to five zones, with three being generally agreed upon as the minimum number that can be used efficiently. Zones generally include a cooking zone that contains the stove and microwave, a prep zone that contains all of your bowls, whisks, cutting boards, and other prep materials, and a clean-up zone where your sink, dishwasher, and your cleaning and sanitation supplies reside. You might want to have a separate serving area as well, with your plates, cups, and silverware kept there instead of using kitchen space for storage of these items.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A number of items around the house can find a new purpose as part of your kitchen organizing plans. Small boxes that you receive with checkbooks and similar containers can be placed inside of drawers to make their storage much more efficient, and you can label the boxes to help you find exactly what you are looking for. This can help you save time as well. Larger boxes and baskets can be used to organize under-sink storage, helping you to reduce clutter and be able to find cleaning supplies or other items under the sink faster. Old baby food jars and other glassware can even be cleaned and then used to store spices and other small items, giving you the option of sealing the jars to keep the contents dry.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> One of the main sources of kitchen clutter is paper goods, ranging from appliance instruction manuals to take-out menus and recipes to old newspapers. Instruction manuals and other booklets can be kept in gallon-sized freezer bags, letting you keep them all in a single convenient place so that you will always know where to find any manual that you are looking for. Menus and recipes can each be kept in their own binder, using plastic page protectors to keep them readable while making sure that they stay organized and safe from damage. The binders can then be kept in drawers, cabinets, or even on a bookshelf if you are trying to get everything that is non-essential out of your kitchen.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The cabinets in many kitchens are cluttered areas full of food, dishes, and the occasional storage container. Make better use of your cabinet space by working on an organization plan and getting rid of the clutter. Buy clear storage containers that you can fit on the shelves of your cabinets so that you can keep everything contained while still being able to see exactly what is in each container. Buy square containers if possible, as the use of square storage containers in your cabinets can not only help to keep them organized but will also allow you to store more in the space provided than the use of round containers would.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Countertops, drawers, and cabinets are not the only places for you to store kitchen utensils that you will be using; the walls of most kitchens are relatively bare and can be a great place for you to store those items which you use most often. Using a combination of small hooks and pegboards, create spaces on your walls to hold spatulas, slotted spoons, measuring spoons, and other utensils and small items that would otherwise have to be stored in a crowded drawer. Not only will this reduce the amount of clutter that you have to dig through in order to find what you need, but you will also be able to better organize your kitchen into zones if you can put the utensils for each zone within arm's reach.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GfpkxXprsJA/Uv-aNm4NNFI/AAAAAAAAAaU/nTc6t5kGM4Y/s1600/Low-Cost-Tips-for-Organizing-Your-Kitchen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Low Cost Tips for Organizing Your Kitchen" border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GfpkxXprsJA/Uv-aNm4NNFI/AAAAAAAAAaU/nTc6t5kGM4Y/s1600/Low-Cost-Tips-for-Organizing-Your-Kitchen.JPG" title="Low Cost Tips for Organizing Your Kitchen" width="400" /></a></div>

ideas for organizing kitchen Low Cost Tips for Organizing Your Kitchen

There are a number of reasons why organizing the kitchen can be a great idea  having an organized kitchen can save you both time and money,...

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Clean Out Your Closet - Straighten Out Your Life

<div style="text-align: justify;"> When your life begins to resemble a messy closet, the first place to begin is in the closet.  To a great extend, more than you may want to realize or admit, messy lives begin with messy closets.  We all have one or more, so begin there.  Oh, I know, you don't have enough time, or enough energy, etc. etc. but force yourself to make this small beginning and it may reap large rewards in your life!</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> You know which one it is, the worst one, the nightmare closet.  Sneak up on it in the middle of the night, if you must, but just do it!  Open that door carefully and start pulling things out.  When the closet is empty and everything that was in there is laying in piles around you, you may feel like screaming and you will certainly wonder why you let this silly article talk you into such a mess, but STOP!  Realize this is a necessary step on a new path, a valuable lesson to be learned in the schoolhouse of life and it really can make a difference.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Begin to examine all the stuff that is in your piles and start to categorize it.  Organize it into 3 piles:</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <br /> <ul> <li style="text-align: justify;"><i>KEEPERS - I absolutely cannot and will not live without these items</i></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"><i>MAYBES - I really don't know if I need this or not, but I feel reluctant about letting it go</i></li> <li style="text-align: justify;"><i>LOSERS - I never really liked or had a need for this item and I can't wait to get this stuff out of my life</i></li> </ul> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Start with the KEEPERS and carefully put those things back into your closet.  Do it carefully and neatly.  Remember this exercise is really about straightening out your life, you are learning how to decide what really matters to you and what doesn't.  You should now have lots of extra space in your closet, if you don't, maybe you should re-sort those piles again.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Next, carefully look over each of your MAYBES.  Let yourself feel the nostaligia, remember the time when you bought or acquired it, who you were with and why you though you just had to have it, you may even remember what you paid for it.  Sometimes you may hold onto a no longer useful item because it represents something or someone in your life.  Once you have become reacquainted with those items in this way, you may find that there are some you really need to put into the closet with the other KEEPERS and you may be willing to add others to the LOSERS pile.  Do that now!</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> CAUTION!  Don't throw anything away just yet!  As a former antique dealer and junk collector extraordinare, I can assure you there is someone out there that might pay you for your unwanted stuff.  I am going to show you how to turn some of that stuff into CASH! </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Take all the remaining MAYBES and LOSERS and spread them out in the middle of the living room floor.  DO NOT put them somewhere else, like the garage or in a spare room.  That would make it too easy to end this exercise right there and that is not the purpose.  Next, get some boxes, paper and a pen.  Make a list of each of these items before you pack it into a box, only then can it be put into that spare room, garage or other temporary storage place. Once you have accomplished all that with just one closet, you will hopefully be inspired to do the same with all of your closets, maybe you will even want to graduate to cupboards or drawers or to that biggest nightmare of all...the garage!</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> As you clean out and organize these spaces, let yourself feel a sense of accomplishment and pride when you have completed these tasks.  Let it represent a new beginning for you.  When you have cleaned out even just one closet, know that you can use that very same process in every area of your life.  Begin to let your mind toy with this idea, start to be hopeful that there is a way to clean up any mess in your life.  Make a list and decide which areas in your life are the KEEPERS, the MAYBES and the LOSERS.  It may even be necessary to do that with some of the people in your life.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Once you have made your list of items from just that one closet or of all the closets in your life, study the list and think about each item as a possible source of cash.  Turn to the yellow pages and look under used items, it is simply amazing what people are eager to buy; used clothing, used records, used audio & video equipment, used sporting equipment, used baby furniture, clothing or toys, there are stores and even franchises now that are looking to purchase your used goods.  Be ingenious in your search for places to place your stuff!  (Sorry, you probably won't be able to find a taker for your ex-mother-in-law!)</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Organize your boxes of stuff according to value or categories, do some research, make some calls and see who might be interested in your discarded stuff.  eBay is always a good option and a quick way to make some extra bucks.  Once you have attempted to peddle the best stuff in this manner, then take all the rest and have a garage sale or donate it to your favorite charity for a tax donation.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Always keep in mind that things come into our lives for a purpose whether it is material goods, experiences or people.  Once these things are no longer needed, thank them for their service and be willing to let them go.  Being willing to let things go opens up space for new and perhaps more valuable things to come into your life.  You can reap great benefits from cleaning out your messy closets - you may just find a way to do some straightening out of your life!</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4kn5_gM7DgE/Uv8G3Imiq-I/AAAAAAAAAaE/5fxx5hJ4NeA/s1600/Clean-Out-Your-Closet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Clean Out Your Closet - Straighten Out Your Life" border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4kn5_gM7DgE/Uv8G3Imiq-I/AAAAAAAAAaE/5fxx5hJ4NeA/s1600/Clean-Out-Your-Closet.jpg" title="Clean Out Your Closet - Straighten Out Your Life" width="400" /></a></div>

organize your closet Clean Out Your Closet - Straighten Out Your Life

When your life begins to resemble a messy closet, the first place to begin is in the closet.  To a great extend, more than you may want to ...

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De-clutter and organize your home office

<div style="text-align: justify;"> The size of your <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/08/organizing-your-home-office.html" rel="nofollow">home office</a></b> doesn't matter when it comes to clutter in your workspace. Large or small, everything in your home office should have a designated place to rest so that you can work efficiently and productively at all times.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Take stock:</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Fall is a perfect time to take a good, hard look at your home office and decide what items are crucial to your work and what items are dispensable.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Scale back your office furniture:</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Since most <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2014/01/best-ways-to-organize-your-office.html" rel="nofollow">home offices</a></b> are small and occasionally multi-purposed, smaller scale furniture is ideal. For instance, a desk that has many drawers and includes a file cabinet will work better than a large, cumbersome desk with little available storage. If that's the case in your office, a new ergonomically designed desk that offers storage features may be well worth the investment. In Baltimore check out Mark Downs Furniture. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Minimize desktop clutter:</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Streamline your desktop by minimizing what's kept there. The top of your desk should be uncluttered... the most you should keep there is: 1. Computer, 2. Phone, 3. Notepad, 4. Daily Planner, and 5. Stacking tray for pending paperwork. Everything else should be stored out of sight. Plastic caddies that fit nicely into your desk drawers can be utilized to keep pens, pencils, copy paper and other items used daily. Office supply stores in Baltimore have an abundance of useful desktop storage items and many times offer money off coupons and other incentives. A convenient resource in Baltimore and surrounding areas is Office Depot. www.officedepot.com Other local sources for affordable office supplies and accessories is Staples and Target.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Why hire a professional organizer:</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Dealing with disorder, chaos and paper <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/09/clear-clutter-stop-clutter-method.html" rel="nofollow">clutter </a></b>can be overwhelming. A general rule of thumb is to destroy outdated receipts and invoices once they have cleared your bank account, keep tax returns for 7 years, and bank statements for one year. Tax returns, passports, wills, etc. should not be mixed in with office files, but kept in a fireproof box or safe. Bank safe deposit boxes are a good option. Because organizing your personal and business paperwork can be daunting, you may want to consider hiring a professional organizer to walk you through the process. An organizer has the know how and tools to streamline your paper files. There are many fine professional organizers in the Baltimore community. Go to www.clarifytheclutter for professional assistance.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Decorating your home office:</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It's important that <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2014/01/best-ideas-to-organize-home-office.html" rel="nofollow">your home office</a></b> look as stylish and put together as other areas in your home. Wall paint, fabric and furniture should blend with the colors and styles that are showcased throughout the house. Many times a redesign of existing office furniture and updating colors and fabrics is all that's needed to make your home office as inviting as any room in your home. In Baltimore, contact Chrysalis Interiors www.chrysalisintdesign.com to learn more about the benefits of redesign.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EObqjJ41Ydo/UvtjiGoUWOI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/sWNy4zG8Rqs/s1600/organize-your-home-office.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="De-clutter and organize your home office" border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EObqjJ41Ydo/UvtjiGoUWOI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/sWNy4zG8Rqs/s1600/organize-your-home-office.jpg" title="De-clutter and organize your home office" width="400" /></a></div>

How to organize your office De-clutter and organize your home office

The size of your home office doesn't matter when it comes to clutter in your workspace. Large or small, everything in your home office...

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15-Minute Speed Cleaning for Each Room in the House

<div style="text-align: justify;"> Speedy <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/search/label/cleaning" rel="nofollow">cleaning tips </a></b>can help you refresh a room in just 15 minutes per day! Tailoring an approach to fit your schedule will make cleaning easier and keep dirt and dust at bay. On the days you have only a few minutes, do the minimal, and on other days when you have more time tackle the bigger jobs. Cleaning just a little everyday can go a long way to keeping your major cleaning tasks manageable. Try these</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> speed cleaning tips for a room in your house on days when your time is limited.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Speedy Kitchen Cleaning Tips:</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i style="background-color: lime;">Sink and Countertops</i>: KP duty is no fun and generally grease is the major culprit in the <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/search/label/ideas%20for%20organizing%20kitchen" rel="nofollow">kitchen</a></b>. First spray disinfectant in your sink and let it sit to be loosening the grime. In the meantime wipe down your countertops with spray disinfectant. Return to the sink and scrub it with a sponge and rinse. Voila! A clean sink and countertops!</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i style="background-color: lime;">Refrigerator</i>: The refrigerator is a magnet for bacteria. Wipe it down good with disinfectant.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Dry mop floor: The kitchen floor always seems to have crumbs on it. A quick pass using an electrostatic mop or cloth works fine. Using the cordless Swiffer sweeper makes this job a breeze because of its dry cloth, the little vacuum and its swivel motion to easily get into corners. You can have a clean floor in minutes!</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Speedy Family Room Cleaning Tips:</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i style="background-color: yellow;">De-Clutter</i>: Quickly tote a laundry basket around the room picking up out of place items for redistribution later.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i style="background-color: yellow;">Speed-dust:</i> Use two microfiber cloths and bust the dust using both hands at eye-level. Leave the serious dusting to a day when you a little more time.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i style="background-color: yellow;">Fluff Pillows and Fold Throws:</i> Making these small adjustments will make a huge visual impact in just a minute or two.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Speedy Bathroom Cleaning Tips:</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i style="background-color: orange;">Start with sink</i>: The sink gets pretty dirty with hair and grime. Using a disposable wipe or soft cloth and vinegar to clean the sink and fixtures, making sure to get the seams where the two meet.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i style="background-color: orange;">Sanitize</i>: Wipe down the edge of the bathtub, the toilet seat, and the outside of the toilet area with a disinfectant. Add some comet or white vinegar to clean toilet water and scrub the bowl with a brush or sponge.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i style="background-color: orange;">Dry mop floor</i>: Sweep or dry mop the floor to get up the hair and grub on the floor. Wet mop on the days you have more time.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Speedy Bedroom Cleaning Tips:</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i style="background-color: orange;">Freshen the bed</i>: Shake out or change the sheets. Spray sheets with a linen spray before making up the bed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i style="background-color: orange;">Damp dust surfaces:</i> Use a microfiber cloth dampened with a mixture of (1 cup white vinegar and  teaspoon olive oil). Start clockwise and dust around the room on the perimeter, then do the same on the interior.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i style="background-color: orange;">Pick up clutter</i>: If there are shoes or clothes lying around, pick them up. A neat room looks cleaner!</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Finally, lightly spray each room lightly with a deodorizing spray. Taking one room each weekday and applying these 15 minute cleaning tips in that room can make your weekend or (in-depth) cleaning time less overwhelming and you won't be starting from scratch!</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_6Evg5I6b5g/UvnBjOVGHJI/AAAAAAAAAZk/W6ivMhKd-fU/s1600/Speed-Cleaning-House.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="15-Minute Speed Cleaning for Each Room in the House" border="0" height="357" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_6Evg5I6b5g/UvnBjOVGHJI/AAAAAAAAAZk/W6ivMhKd-fU/s1600/Speed-Cleaning-House.JPG" title="15-Minute Speed Cleaning for Each Room in the House" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div>

cleaning Cleaning Clutter 15-Minute Speed Cleaning for Each Room in the House

Speedy cleaning tips can help you refresh a room in just 15 minutes per day! Tailoring an approach to fit your schedule will make cleaning ...

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10 Ideas for Organizing your Messy Home Including your Clothes

<div style="text-align: justify;"> We have all felt the terrible feeling that our houses are just a mess. It's usually because we have too much stuff. No matter how hard you try to stay on top of the mess, you're always going to have new things coming into the home. You have to periodically go through the <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2014/01/home-organization-solutions.html" rel="nofollow">mess and organize it</a></b> to make sure that it doesn't overwhelm your home. It can be tough to figure out where to start. However it doesn't have to be impossible. The following ten tips should help you if you're feeling overwhelmed about the process of decluttering your home.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 1. Start with one.The biggest problem that most people face when it comes to <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/search/label/declutter" rel="nofollow">decluttering </a></b>is that they don't know where to start. You feel so overwhelmed by the mess that you don't even feel like you can begin. Narrow down your starting point by making sure you start with just one area. It may be one room, one shelf or one drawer. Just pick one place that you're going to completely clean off. Don't move the mess somewhere else; truly get rid of it whether that means putting an item in its proper place, recycling it or mending it. You can finish a whole house going from one to one to one in this manner.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 2. Don't fall into the trap of the "maybe" pile.This pile just might be the single most destructive thing when it comes to <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/search/label/declutter" rel="nofollow">decluttering</a></b>. You make a "keep" and a "give away" pile and then you have a maybe pile. What's it for? There's no point to it. It's tough to make a decision either way about whether to keep or ditch something but this ruthless "yes or no" process of going through your stuff is going to make it a lot more likely that you're successful in your cleaning endeavor. Ditch your "maybes". The only exception is if you have to get a final say from someone else in the house; make sure they give it a yes or no before the cleaning is done.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 3. Put yourself on a schedule.You need to know when you're going to work on this <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/search/label/cleaning" rel="nofollow">house cleaning project</a></b>. Will you do fifteen minutes of cleaning every morning until the mess is gone? Will you spend every Saturday afternoon on this project. Commit to a schedule that is going to work for you and then stick to it. Write it on your calendar. Don't let others interfere.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 4. Get others involved.You don't want people interfering with your decluttering process but it's great to get other people involved. The most likely culprits are your family members. Delegate small tasks to kids and spouses. For example, kids can go through stacks of books and keep only their favorite five so you can donate the rest. Send hubby out to the garage or workshop to <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/search/label/declutter" rel="nofollow">declutter </a></b>there. And don't be afraid to ask for help from friends and neighbors in the form of having them come pick through your giveaways, help with an hour of sorting through stacks of paper or cart some stuff to the Salvation Army for you. It'll help keep you accountable to your task and it may inspire them to declutter too!</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 5. Decide when to do your closet.The toughest part of <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2014/01/cut-costs-in-broom-closet-cleaning-tools.html" rel="nofollow">decluttering </a></b>for almost everyone is the closet. You don't want to get rid of clothes that have sentimental value. You swear you'll fix that broken zipper or squeeze into those old jeans again. You know how it goes. Decide whether you're the type of person who wants to do this task first and get it out of the way or save it for last. Once you've decided, do it or put it out of your mind. That frees you up to declutter the rest of your home.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 6. Have a system. You really need to know what your goals for <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/12/choosing-and-using-cleaning-products.html" rel="nofollow">decluttering </a></b>are and to make a system that will make them happen. Do you want everything to have a place? Defining and even labeling those places would be a key part of your organizing system. Do you want to get rid of things you no longer use? Keep that goal in focus as you sort through your stuff, asking yourself when the last time was that you used each item.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 7. Buy or make organizers.There is a reason that neat freaks use <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2014/02/top-five-kitchen-organizers.html" rel="nofollow">organizers</a></b>. It's because they work. You'll find that your home is a lot more neat and clean if it's got organizers around everywhere. Files, boxes, baskets and closet shelves are great organizers. You don't have to buy the fancy stuff; you can recycle items you have to make these organizing systems. In fact, this is a great way to repurpose old stuff and kill two birds with one stone!</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 8. Celebrate your progress.As you move forward through this task, celebrate your progress. When you finish an area, celebrate it. For example, when you finish <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/search/label/cleaning" rel="nofollow">cleaning the living room</a></b> you can have some friends over to play board games there and show it off. When you clean out your home office, turn a corner into a fun little reading area and spend some time relaxing there. This reminds you of how you want your home to be and why.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 9. Ask yourself if there's a bigger problem going on.If you just can't seem to get far enough through the process of decluttering to actually be ready to celebrate your success then something deeper might be wrong. Many people have emotional attachments to their things and that get triggered when it comes time to <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2014/01/4-effective-tips-that-can-help-you-to.html" rel="nofollow">clean and declutter</a></b>. If you suspect that something more is going on with your hoarding problem than just laziness or lack of time then consider working through that with a psychologist.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> 10. Get professional help.A psychologist isn't the only kind of professional who can help you with this situation; a professional organizer might be someone else to turn to. If you just feel too overwhelmed or unready to deal with your mess yourself then you might want to put the job into the hands of someone who does it for a living. There are a lot of folks around these days so see if one of them will work right in your home. If you can't afford a professional then considering getting a nanny's helper or personal assistant to help with some of the tasks.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WVK7rZq5GEI/UviZ_jpCVJI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/9un4VhP4RGg/s1600/Organizing-your-Messy-Home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Organizing your Messy Home" border="0" height="291" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WVK7rZq5GEI/UviZ_jpCVJI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/9un4VhP4RGg/s1600/Organizing-your-Messy-Home.jpg" title="Organizing your Messy Home" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div>

Organizing Your Home 10 Ideas for Organizing your Messy Home Including your Clothes

We have all felt the terrible feeling that our houses are just a mess. It's usually because we have too much stuff. No matter how hard ...

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Top Five Kitchen Organizers

<div style="text-align: justify;"> Kitchens are one of the most difficult areas of the <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2014/02/organize-your-life-in-5-minutes.html" rel="nofollow">home to organize</a></b>. They must hold all of the equipment necessary for food preparation as well as an ever changing supply of groceries. With the constantly changing inventory of food, it can be difficult to remember what you have and what you need. It can also be difficult to put your hands on some of your cooking tools that you do not use on a regular basis. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> If you take the time to <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2014/02/benefits-of-kitchen-organization.html" rel="nofollow">organize your kitchen</a></b> once, you will save time with every mea l and trip to the grocery store. Kitchen organization is made easier by the variety of organizational tools that are available. By investing a little money in your kitchen you will save time and money, and make meal preparation much less stressful. If you only invest in five items to organize your kitchen, these products provide you with the greatest reward for the price:</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Drawer organizers:</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A drawer organizer allows you to get the most storage space possible from each drawer in addition to making it a whole lot easier for you to find the item you are looking for. For narrow drawers where you store things like utensils or miscellaneous junk such as tape, scissors, rulers, etc., adjustable dividers make it possible to keep your items from tangling and jumbling all together. <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2014/02/10-quick-and-easy-steps-to-constantly.html" rel="nofollow">Drawer organizers</a></b> with two drawers provide more room to stack dishes, canned goods or other items. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Without a drawer organizer, you must choose between storing items only one high or stacking those items on top of one another. When you only stack items one high, you leave a great deal of empty <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/living-areas-storage-strategies.html" rel="nofollow">storage space</a></b> in the drawer, and when you do stack things, you must remove the top layer to view or access what you inevitably want from the products on the bottom. Drawer organizers can go in cabinets, in the pantry or under your sink. Anywhere that you find wasted space or groceries or dishes are stacked, consider using a drawer organizer.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Step shelves:</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Step shelves are typically expandable and may have two or more shelves. They are particularly handy for storing small items that look similar such as spices, extracts and even canned fruits, vegetables, soups and gravies. By lining the items up on step shelves you can easily read labels, and find what you are looking for at a glance.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Step stool:</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A step stool may seem like an odd item to include in an <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2014/01/storage-and-organization-ideas.html" rel="nofollow">organization list</a></b>, but stop and look around your kitchen. You probably have many areas that are out of your reach that would make excellent storage areas. Do you have cabinets above your refrigerator? If so, what is in them? More than likely things that you never use, that could be relegated to a box in the garage or even to Goodwill. Free up that space for items that you may not use every day, but that you do use on frequent occasion. With a step stool, access is no problem. If your cabinets extend to the ceiling, those top shelves are another source for hidden storage space. And what can you do if your cabinets do not extend to the ceiling? Consider storing items in wicker baskets on the tops of your cabinets.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Canisters:</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Canisters, preferably ones made of clear glass or acrylic, are an excellent way to make the most of your counter space. Clear canisters allow you to see at a glance what you have and how much is there. Think outside the box when using canisters for storage. In addition to flour and sugar, nuts, chocolate chips, coffee and cereal can all be stored in canisters. Anything that appreciates a dry storage solution is fair game for removing it from its box or bag and pouring it into a canister.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Roll out cabinet drawers:</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> To get the most storage from your cabinets, consider roll out cabinet drawers. These drawers sit on the bottom of the cabinet, and you can pull the entire tray out. This allows you to see at a glance and to easily grab what you are looking for. For the most efficient use of <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2014/02/january-to-do-list-de-clutter-kitchen.html" rel="nofollow">your kitchen space</a></b>, each cabinet should have either a roll out drawer or a drawer organizer.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The list of storage solutions that are available is truly limitless. By carefully considering your kitchen and its limitations, you can effectively double the space that you have for storage. Choices in organizational tools in the kitchen have improved dramatically in recent years. As we spend more time in our home the kitchen becomes a focal point of social activities. To enjoy the time we spend there, it is important that it be peaceful and clutter free. Time spent <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2014/01/how-to-organize-kitchen-best-ideas.html" rel="nofollow">organizing your kitchen</a></b> now will pay dividends in the future.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VWBQgAsgLbI/Uvc0fRBmjoI/AAAAAAAAAZA/OIEcoDDGxsk/s1600/Top-Five-Kitchen-Organizers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Top Five Kitchen Organizers" border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VWBQgAsgLbI/Uvc0fRBmjoI/AAAAAAAAAZA/OIEcoDDGxsk/s1600/Top-Five-Kitchen-Organizers.jpg" title="Top Five Kitchen Organizers" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div>

ideas for organizing kitchen Top Five Kitchen Organizers

Kitchens are one of the most difficult areas of the home to organize . They must hold all of the equipment necessary for food preparation a...

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5 Ways to Organize Your Homeschool

<div style="text-align: justify;"> It's easy to let things pile up when we homechool. If you're tired of wading through papers and books when trying to cook dinner or do laundry, these homeschool <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2014/01/best-ideas-to-organize-home-office.html" rel="nofollow">organization </a></b>tips may be of help.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> You might be able to choose just one of these ideas and make it work for you, but you can also use any combination of the five or even all of them. Use what works best for your family, home and budget.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Bookbags or totes, staples in schools everywhere, work well for homeschooling kids too. These can be used to hold the work your students are currently working on and they can easily be toted from room to room or even outside.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> These bags come in handy for other activities, too, like trips to the library and overnight visits to grandparents and friends. Have your <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2014/01/teaching-children-to-clean.html" rel="nofollow">children clean</a></b> their bags out each Friday or whenever it is most convenient and file away or dispose of any papers that are no longer needed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Baskets can be used to contain supplies attractively. Deep wicker baskets can hold pencils, crayons, and other small items and will look better than empty coffee cans and ice cream buckets when set on a shelf or counter.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Less-than-pretty baskets like plastic laundry ones can be used to hold bigger supplies like art easels, pottery wheels and any other large arts and crafts items your children may have. These can be hidden away in <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/search/label/organize%20your%20closet" rel="nofollow">closets </a></b>or the utility room until they are needed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> If space allows, set up a study area for each child and let them know you expect them to be responsible for keeping it neat and tidy. The study area should be big enough to hold a small desk or table with room underneath to stash books and other school supplies.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Barring this, you could purchase a cubby system or create one using an existing shelf and shoeboxes. It might be a good idea to have an inspection once a week or every two weeks to be sure your children are keeping their area clean.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Using furniture that has hidden compartments can be a big help in a homeschooling house. Items like armoires and chests can hold the school stuff that isn't used every day so that the rest of your house looks tidy.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> If this type of furniture isn't available, you can get the same effect by using affordable three-legged wooden tables with skirts that cover to the floor. Stash extra learning materials under the skirt to keep them out of sight.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It is possible to have an <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2014/01/small-closet-organization-ideas.html" rel="nofollow">organized homeschooling home</a></b> with a little effort and creativity. But if your home is less than perfect don't worry--you can have a perfect house when your children are grown and gone. Enjoy the mess while you can!</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vLXowp9YMMk/UvNicAxUiEI/AAAAAAAAAYw/BBnQRgJfozY/s1600/5-Ways-to-Organize-Your-Homeschool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="5 Ways to Organize Your Homeschool" border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vLXowp9YMMk/UvNicAxUiEI/AAAAAAAAAYw/BBnQRgJfozY/s1600/5-Ways-to-Organize-Your-Homeschool.jpg" title="5 Ways to Organize Your Homeschool" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div>

how to organize 5 Ways to Organize Your Homeschool

It's easy to let things pile up when we homechool. If you're tired of wading through papers and books when trying to cook dinner or...

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Benefits of Kitchen Organization

<div style="text-align: justify;"> A list of all of the benefits of <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2014/02/january-to-do-list-de-clutter-kitchen.html" rel="nofollow">kitchen organization</a></b> would be a longer read than most of us have time for with our busy lives. As a result, only a handful of these benefits are presented here. A main aspect of organizing is being able to decide what to keep and what to cast aside, and that same guideline has been utilized for the purpose of presenting the following information about neat and tidy kitchens.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2014/01/clean-out-freezer.html" rel="nofollow">Kitchen organization</a></b> has many benefits for you personally, for your family, and even towards the value of your home. Let's touch briefly on the personal benefits of kitchen organization. Most people can relate to how stressful it can be when you are unable to locate your baking accessories. Kitchens are notorious for the rampant disorganization that hinders you from finding anything without searching every cabinet and drawer in your kitchen. A messy kitchen often causes money to be spent replacing items that you already have available, but cannot find in the clutter that has taken over your kitchen. You can save time and money, as well as dropping your stress level with a little organization to your kitchen.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The benefits of <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2014/01/how-to-organize-kitchen-best-ideas.html" rel="nofollow">kitchen organization</a></b> for your family, varies from family to family of course. However, the safer environment of an organized kitchen is one that all families need. Clogged kitchens with lots of stuff to trip over can be very dangerous places indeed. They can become fire hazards if something touches a stove that is in use, or traps in the event of a house fire. In a kitchen that has a place for everything you can spend less time cooking the foods that your family loves, and have more room and time for them to be in there with you bonding and sharing with one another as a family. Your family likely spends a lot of time in the kitchen. Why not make it safer and better by putting some organization into your kitchen.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2014/02/january-to-do-list-de-clutter-kitchen.html" rel="nofollow">Benefits of kitchen organization</a></b> to the value of a home are quite evident when that home is up for sale. An organized kitchen adds aesthetics to a kitchen even with the presence of small flaws and needed repairs. Prospective buyers tend to overlook these design or functional flaws more often in a kitchen that is organized. An impression that a kitchen is larger than its actual size is also a more common occurrence in an organized kitchen Buyers that can move about your kitchen with ease and picture themselves cooking or baking are more likely to make an offer to buy your home.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A disorganized kitchen requires hard work and patience in order to get it exactly the way you want it. The effort is well worth it when you consider the many <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2014/01/storage-ideas-for-small-spaces.html" rel="nofollow">benefits of having an organized kitchen</a></b>. Throwing away broken products or donating those that are not used very often can free up a lot of space. The purchase of kitchen aids and tools designed to save space can help you to be more productive in the kitchen, and they are valuable in helping you to organize this important room.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It is difficult to organize your kitchen without the proper products. Without these products, you may not have enough space for your kitchen accessories. Storage racks, bins, baskets, boxes, and appliances that take up less room on counters and throughout your kitchen are a big help. Do not forget about the additional <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2014/01/ideas-for-organizing-kitchen.html" rel="nofollow">kitchen organizational locations</a></b> found on the backs of cabinet doors, walls, ceiling, under sinks, and on the tops or sides of many kitchen appliances. Mini and retractable shelves, hanging and countertop baskets, turntables, floor and shelf bins, and other tools such as these can help you put some much-needed order to your kitchen.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> If you are not very familiar with these helpful <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-rules-of-home-organization.html" rel="nofollow">tools for organizing your kitchen</a></b>, you may have the idea that they are too expensive or they are not worth purchasing. This is not true because you can find plenty of useful inexpensive tools for kitchen organization. Online providers of home and kitchen aids and tools are often the best resources for all that you need to straighten up your kitchen. They have larger selections of innovative products to use during this process than many stores in your community that offer home and kitchen products. Due to the smaller overhead costs of "virtual" showrooms, they may offer savings and bonus gifts for purchases made through their store.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Kitchen organization has many benefits that you and your family can start enjoying as soon as you get everything in its place. How can you maintain the <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/whats-your-clutter-personality.html" rel="nofollow">kitchen organization</a></b> that you endeavored to bring to your kitchen? Putting stuff back in its place after each use is probably the easiest way to stay organized. Many products are available to help with this difficult organizational process. Cabinets and containers are the best choice as they provide the space needed to stay organized.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vHFNZTLY5rI/UvHdeTLBLNI/AAAAAAAAAYI/_2-OzX0NheM/s1600/Benefits-of-Kitchen-Organization.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Benefits of Kitchen Organization" border="0" height="260" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vHFNZTLY5rI/UvHdeTLBLNI/AAAAAAAAAYI/_2-OzX0NheM/s1600/Benefits-of-Kitchen-Organization.JPG" title="Benefits of Kitchen Organization" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div>

ideas for organizing kitchen Benefits of Kitchen Organization

A list of all of the benefits of kitchen organization would be a longer read than most of us have time for with our busy lives. As a resul...

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Organize your life in 5 minutes

<div style="text-align: justify;"> I know what you're thinking, " I can't <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/stop-clutter-around-house-declutter.html" rel="nofollow">organize my life</a></b> in 5 minutes. Have you seen everything I need to do?".</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Let me explain. There are always jobs that need doing, errands that need running , kids that need feeding, and the list goes on.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> So how can you get that done in just 5 minutes? It may seem like you are snowed under with things you need to do. It can get to the point where you don't even want to begin because there is just so many tasks. This makes matters worse because tomorrow, your list is longer, the ironing pile is higher and there seems to be dust everywhere. It gets to a point where all the chores seem insurmountable.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> You know the old joke, "how do you eat and elephant?" The answer is "one bite at a time" and this is exactly what you need to do.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Let's start with the fridge. While you are cooking a meal, open the fridge and take out everything that is either past its sale by date, leftovers that no one will eat, or things you can no longer identify due to mold growing on them. That should take you no longer than five minutes.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> If you have a couple minutes left over, pull out the crisper and fill that with soapy water after removing any veg you were still able to identify and have decided to keep. Grab a damp soapy cloth and give everything a quick once over now that the food has been sorted.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Now is a <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2014/01/home-organization-solutions.html" rel="nofollow">good idea for menu planning</a></b>. If you see things that can be combined, make tomorrow's meal "Chef's special". This is another word for anything goes.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> If you are thinking, you can't clean a floor in 5 minutes, think again. Let's look at your kitchen floor. A good sweep shouldn't take 5 minutes. Don't bother getting out the mop, bucket, and other such paraphernalia. It will take you longer than 5 minutes to find it. Just put your rubber gloves on and grab a floor cloth. Don't take 5 minutes, just a quick job will do. Kitchen floors are better to be done often. When you are waiting for something to cook on the stove, just  quickly wipe  the floor. A watched pot doesn't boil and a floor doesn't get clean by looking at it.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> If you have carpets in <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/08/my-journey-to-organized-home.htm" rel="nofollow">your house</a></b>, break it down into areas to do. You don't need to vacuum the whole house in one go. It is said for the main traffic areas, these should be vacuumed once a week for each person. So for example if you have a family of 4, then the living area should be vacuumed 4 times a week. If you are vacuuming that frequently, it will be a quick whiz over.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> If you are carrying something akin to a filing cabinet under your arm or in you back pocket, the time to act is now. Separate into 3 piles, one to keep, one to throw away, and one to return to your bag. It is best to be ruthless here. If you haven't used something in the past month, you don't need to be carrying it around daily.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Keep only essentials. A phone, wallet containing cards and cash and lipstick. Come on ladies, what else do we really need.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> We all think we will remember everything we need to do. Don't be afraid to write notes down. This will act as a reminder of not just the important things that need doing but also what you need to pick up at the grocery store etc.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Either keep a small note pad and pen with you or use a suitable app for your phone or Kindle.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> You may think it is a sign of aging to make notes and lists of things to do. This isn't the case. Many people find that this is <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2014/01/home-organization-solutions.html" rel="nofollow">the solution to getting things done</a></b>. List the 5 most important things that need to be done on that day and do them. If you can't complete one on that day, add it to tomorrow's list. You will be amazed how efficient this makes you. This is something I try and do everyday. I also make a list for my husband, although it has to be said, he doesn't like  me to do a list for him.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> We all are guilty of sitting in front of our computer and whilst browsing the Internet, we bookmark a page. How many of these do you actually return to? Not many I suspect. Take 5 minutes to go through your bookmarks and delete or organize into folders. If for example you like to bookmark links to recipe sites, you can make a folder called, "recipes". Then within that folder you can have sub folders called "desserts" "snacks" "meat" etc. The next time you want to bookmark a web page, you can drop it into the appropriate folder. This will save you time in the future when you want to find a recipe you know you've kept.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It is also time to <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2014/01/how-to-organize-home-library.html#.UvDPBqTSSR4" rel="nofollow">organize your emails</a></b>. How many do you have piling up in your virtual inbox? Go through and clear things you aren't going to use again or those that are now outdated.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Maintenance programs can be activated and run without you being in front of your computer. These may take time to run at first but they are a necessary task if your computer is to run at its best. Set these to do them at a time when it will be convenient for you. Or do it manually when you are doing something else. If for example you need to defragment your computer, run this when you take a shower. More than likely it will be done before your feet have hit the bathmat.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Are you embarrassed giving people a ride in your car because it is so dirty inside? Here is a quick way to keep it tidy. Firstly, take several plastic bags with you and keep them in your glove compartment. This will ensure you always have them at hand.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Whilst waiting at the traffic lights. Put your car into park, or into neutral with the handbrake on, and start putting anything that doesn't need to be in the car in these bags. You will have two bags. One will be trash, the other will be things that you want to keep but don't need to be in your car. Everywhere you go there is a litter bin, get rid of your throw away bag. Get into the habit of this and litter will never pile up in your car.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Also whilst waiting at traffic lights, dust your dashboard. Take a spray and lint free cloth. Remember to open the windows first, you don't want to breathe that in.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-simple-way-to-de-clutter-any-room.html" rel="nofollow">Cleaning a bathroom</a></b> need not be a nightmare anymore. There are always shortcuts to avoid the soap scum buildup and mold growing in your bathroom. When you are finished showering, use a squeegee to scrape down the water off the shower tiles and doors. This will keep cleaning to a minimum. Once you are in the habit, it will take less than a minute to do. Because this only needs to be done by the last person in the shower, it will encourage your family to get out of bed early and into the shower.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Whilst brushing your teeth, give the sink a quick wipe, this will always keep it clean.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PzAzP3l8W1o/UvDMUqc8hBI/AAAAAAAAAXo/CJ1LLC3movw/s1600/Organize-your-life-in-5-minutes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Organize your life in 5 minutes" border="0" height="296" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PzAzP3l8W1o/UvDMUqc8hBI/AAAAAAAAAXo/CJ1LLC3movw/s1600/Organize-your-life-in-5-minutes.jpg" title="Organize your life in 5 minutes" width="400" /></a></div>

Organizing Your Home Organize your life in 5 minutes

I know what you're thinking, " I can't organize my life in 5 minutes. Have you seen everything I need to do?". Let me ...

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