Reader question – Jumpstart Your Spring Cleaning Routine

Photo by Idea go

I can’t believe it’s mid-April already! While some people start spring cleaning in February, others are still contemplating how to get motivated to clean before next spring rolls around. A reader who dreads the process wants to know how to begin.

I suggest you think about what is really important to you. You don’t have to scour your house from top to bottom just because the calendar says it’s spring. In fact, if you spread heavy cleaning tasks throughout the year, you might not find it so burdensome.

Make a list of tasks you want to accomplish and decide who will do them. You don’t have to do everything yourself. Consider bartering if you enjoy weeding but really dislike cleaning windows, for example. Try a neighborhood online chat or a local bulletin board at your library or coffee shop. Or ask a teenage neighbor who would like to earn a little extra money.

You could hire someone to prepare your flower beds or vegetable garden so you can get right to planting. Or you might want to pay someone to wash your windows and siding or clean your gutters.

Don’t punish yourself because you just aren’t that into cleaning. Set goals, break them up into steps and schedule them on your calendar. Know your limitations, do what you can and ask for help.

Which spring cleaning job do you least look forward to?

 

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
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Reader question – Jumpstart Your Spring Cleaning Routine

Photo by Idea go

I can’t believe it’s mid-April already! While some people start spring cleaning in February, others are still contemplating how to get motivated to clean before next spring rolls around. A reader who dreads the process wants to know how to begin.

I suggest you think about what is really important to you. You don’t have to scour your house from top to bottom just because the calendar says it’s spring. In fact, if you spread heavy cleaning tasks throughout the year, you might not find it so burdensome.

Make a list of tasks you want to accomplish and decide who will do them. You don’t have to do everything yourself. Consider bartering if you enjoy weeding but really dislike cleaning windows, for example. Try a neighborhood online chat or a local bulletin board at your library or coffee shop. Or ask a teenage neighbor who would like to earn a little extra money.

You could hire someone to prepare your flower beds or vegetable garden so you can get right to planting. Or you might want to pay someone to wash your windows and siding or clean your gutters.

Don’t punish yourself because you just aren’t that into cleaning. Set goals, break them up into steps and schedule them on your calendar. Know your limitations, do what you can and ask for help.

Which spring cleaning job do you least look forward to?

 

Organized by Marcie^TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter, facebook and pinterest

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

 

Reader Question: How do I manage all my plastic food containers?

Photo courtesy of Rubbermaid

If I had a nickel for every plastic container I’ve seen at clients’ houses, I could retire by now.

Containers without lids, stained containers, melted containers – why are they still hanging around your house?

A reader recently asked what is the best way to organize all of the food containers. My answer is that there is no “best” way; the best way for you will depend on your available storage space, the number of containers you have and how often you use them.

There are many products you can use to store your plastic ware; however, the first step is determining how much of it you really use.

 

Gather it all in one place (you might be surprised by how much you have) and make sure that every container has a lid. Then, discard any that you would be embarrassed to take to a potluck. Finally, evaluate whether the ones you have meet your needs. If you never use the teeny tiny ones, give them away. Those big ones only get used for Thanksgiving leftovers? Put them somewhere remote.

Now that you have pared down your collection, put them in a drawer or on a shelf where you can access them easily, along with the lids. Here is a clever way to keep lids on a cupboard door  

Because people always ask, my favorite containersare square, stackable and use the same lid for different sized bases.

What are you going to do with all the space you’ve gained from letting go of your unneeded plastic containers?

Organized by Marcie TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
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Reader Question: How do I manage all my plastic food containers?

Photo courtesy of Rubbermaid

If I had a nickel for every plastic container I’ve seen at clients’ houses, I could retire by now.

Containers without lids, stained containers, melted containers – why are they still hanging around your house?

A reader recently asked what is the best way to organize all of the food containers. My answer is that there is no “best” way; the best way for you will depend on your available storage space, the number of containers you have and how often you use them.

There are many products you can use to store your plastic ware; however, the first step is determining how much of it you really use.

 

Gather it all in one place (you might be surprised by how much you have) and make sure that every container has a lid. Then, discard any that you would be embarrassed to take to a potluck. Finally, evaluate whether the ones you have meet your needs. If you never use the teeny tiny ones, give them away. Those big ones only get used for Thanksgiving leftovers? Put them somewhere remote.

Now that you have pared down your collection, put them in a drawer or on a shelf where you can access them easily, along with the lids. Here is a clever way to keep lids on a cupboard door  

Because people always ask, my favorite containers are square, stackable and use the same lid for different sized bases.

What are you going to do with all the space you’ve gained from letting go of your unneeded plastic containers?

Organized by Marcie TM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter , facebook and pinterest
And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Company's Coming

Photo courtesy of Greene/Ellis

We’re having company.  

Possibly the three scariest words in the English language.  There’s so much to do: shopping, cooking, cleaning, putting stuff away.  You’re exhausted already and you haven’t even started.

What if you actedlike company was coming, to encourage yourself to start the decluttering process?  Think how pleasant it would be to have your home looking company-ready, for your own enjoyment. 

Instead of waiting until your must-impress guests arrive, start letting go of clutter now.  Imagine, the next time the doorbell rings, not making excuses for the way your home looks.  If you do a little bit each day, you won’t feel like you have to “hide” the junk you don’t want anyone to see.  You actually could enjoy your guests, instead of worrying about what they might sit on.

As a bonus, you won’t have to look for the stuff you hid, either.  By the way, where did you put that bag of papers you put aside the last time you had company?

Have you tossed clutter in a bag and hidden it in a closet or in the “scary room?”  Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us what you found.

Organized by MarcieTM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
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And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Company's Coming

Photo courtesy of Greene/Ellis

We’re having company.  

Possibly the three scariest words in the English language.  There’s so much to do: shopping, cooking, cleaning, putting stuff away.  You’re exhausted already and you haven’t even started.

What if you acted like company was coming, to encourage yourself to start the decluttering process?  Think how pleasant it would be to have your home looking company-ready, for your own enjoyment. 

Instead of waiting until your must-impress guests arrive, start letting go of clutter now.  Imagine, the next time the doorbell rings, not making excuses for the way your home looks.  If you do a little bit each day, you won’t feel like you have to “hide” the junk you don’t want anyone to see.  You actually could enjoy your guests, instead of worrying about what they might sit on.

As a bonus, you won’t have to look for the stuff you hid, either.  By the way, where did you put that bag of papers you put aside the last time you had company?

Have you tossed clutter in a bag and hidden it in a closet or in the “scary room?”  Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us what you found.

Organized by MarcieTM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter and facebook
And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Clean House

I do not like to clean. That may surprise people who mistakenly believe that being organized is the same as being clean and tidy.

My house is well organized, due in large part to putting things away when they’re no longer needed; however, I don’t enjoy spending time cleaning, dusting and vacuuming.

I do like to live in a clean house, though, so I have had to figure out ways to clean quickly and easily and make it seem less burdensome.

Yesterday I treated myself to a Reveal spray mop  from Rubbermaid because my trusty Swiffer mop finally gave out after 10 years. It appealed to me because you can use whatever liquid you want in the bottle and you can reuse the pad. I cannot calculate how much I have spent on disposable pads, not to mention that they ended up in the trash. The nature girl in me feels good about this purchase.

Nature girl also likes to avoid chemicals, whenever possible. I tend to use vinegar, water and baking soda for a lot of my cleaning, so my house smells like a salad when I’m finished. I still use chemicals in the bathroom because I have been convinced they kill germs.

Time for a change. Last week I splurged on method spray cleaner. It costs more than my usual chemical cleaner, but I’ve already become a fan. I love the grapefruit smell, it worked on some stains I had given up on, and I don’t feel like I’m contaminating the planet when I use it.

I can’t say that these changes make me look forward to cleaning, but now I don’t dislike it as much. What do you do to make cleaning more pleasant? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

And if you like this info, share it using the links below!

Clean House

I do not like to clean. That may surprise people who mistakenly believe that being organized is the same as being clean and tidy.

My house is well organized, due in large part to putting things away when they’re no longer needed; however, I don’t enjoy spending time cleaning, dusting and vacuuming.

I do like to live in a clean house, though, so I have had to figure out ways to clean quickly and easily and make it seem less burdensome.

Yesterday I treated myself to a Reveal spray mop  from Rubbermaid because my trusty Swiffer mop finally gave out after 10 years. It appealed to me because you can use whatever liquid you want in the bottle and you can reuse the pad. I cannot calculate how much I have spent on disposable pads, not to mention that they ended up in the trash. The nature girl in me feels good about this purchase.

Nature girl also likes to avoid chemicals, whenever possible. I tend to use vinegar, water and baking soda for a lot of my cleaning, so my house smells like a salad when I’m finished. I still use chemicals in the bathroom because I have been convinced they kill germs.

Time for a change. Last week I splurged on method spray cleaner. It costs more than my usual chemical cleaner, but I’ve already become a fan. I love the grapefruit smell, it worked on some stains I had given up on, and I don’t feel like I’m contaminating the planet when I use it.

I can’t say that these changes make me look forward to cleaning, but now I don’t dislike it as much. What do you do to make cleaning more pleasant? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

And if you like this info, share it using the links below!

News from the Batcave

Within 10 days I had two wildlife specialists in my house responding to two bat sightings. Since then, I had some modifications made to ensure the bats aren’t able to return.

Although I am still walking around in a state of moderate anxiety, I am slowly moving toward acceptance that the bats are gone and not coming back. The worst part of this experience has been the feeling that I am not comfortable in my own home. I didn’t want my family to be in the house and I couldn’t sleep here.

The only good thing to come out of it, as far as I can see, is the knowledge that my lack of clutter leaves little room for creatures to hide. If I had overstuffed closets and clutter piled up around the house, the bat hunters wouldn’t have been able to do their jobs easily. In addition, I would be even more concerned than I already am that the bat family was still lodging here.

With no bats seen in the last week, what I need now is a good night’s sleep.

If you had to have a technician or other unexpected visitor come into your home immediately, would you be confident or would you feel embarassed? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us about it.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

News from the Batcave

Within 10 days I had two wildlife specialists in my house responding to two bat sightings. Since then, I had some modifications made to ensure the bats aren’t able to return.

Although I am still walking around in a state of moderate anxiety, I am slowly moving toward acceptance that the bats are gone and not coming back. The worst part of this experience has been the feeling that I am not comfortable in my own home. I didn’t want my family to be in the house and I couldn’t sleep here.

The only good thing to come out of it, as far as I can see, is the knowledge that my lack of clutter leaves little room for creatures to hide. If I had overstuffed closets and clutter piled up around the house, the bat hunters wouldn’t have been able to do their jobs easily. In addition, I would be even more concerned than I already am that the bat family was still lodging here.

With no bats seen in the last week, what I need now is a good night’s sleep.

If you had to have a technician or other unexpected visitor come into your home immediately, would you be confident or would you feel embarassed? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us about it.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

How Small Can You Go?

I am fascinated by small homes. There is less to take care of and you make less of an impact on the environment.  Of course, there's also less you can live with.

The EDGE, (Experimental Dwelling for a Greener Environment) is a microdwelling in Bayfield, Wisconsin. It is only 320 square feet plus two 80-square-foot sleeping lofts. On the main level are a bathroom, kitchen, living area and a small amount of storage.

Mary Louise Schumacher, a writer, spent a weekend in the tiny house and wasn't sure she would be able to live in such a small space. At the end of her stay, she mused

"In the end, this petite home asks a monumental question: What do we truly need to be happy? More than that, it suggests that it may be a lot less than we imagine."

View details, along with photos and a video at http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2010/07/tiny-home-lives-large/1

(The photo of the house is by Dan Hoffman.)

Could you live in such a small space? What would you be the most important thing that you would have to take with you?  Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us about it.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

How Small Can You Go?

I am fascinated by small homes. There is less to take care of and you make less of an impact on the environment.  Of course, there's also less you can live with.

The EDGE, (Experimental Dwelling for a Greener Environment) is a microdwelling in Bayfield, Wisconsin. It is only 320 square feet plus two 80-square-foot sleeping lofts. On the main level are a bathroom, kitchen, living area and a small amount of storage.

Mary Louise Schumacher, a writer, spent a weekend in the tiny house and wasn't sure she would be able to live in such a small space. At the end of her stay, she mused

"In the end, this petite home asks a monumental question: What do we truly need to be happy? More than that, it suggests that it may be a lot less than we imagine."

View details, along with photos and a video at http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2010/07/tiny-home-lives-large/1

(The photo of the house is by Dan Hoffman.)

Could you live in such a small space? What would you be the most important thing that you would have to take with you?  Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us about it.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

Finish One Thing

I had company over 4th of July weekend and I wanted my home to look nice. I had several unfinished projects that I wanted to complete so that my cousin would enjoy her stay and I could feel like a host instead of a construction worker.

Of course, the best of intentions don’t always make things happen. I was fretting and flitting from project to project, which included finishing a wedding present for the weekend, too. I finally realized that I had set unrealistic timelines to get all the things done. My cousin would be happy to stay with me, even though the bathroom hadn’t been painted and I could go to the wedding without the gift in hand.

Once I made the commitment to just finish scraping the wallpaper in the guest bathroom, I could relax. I scheduled the work into my day and got it done on time. I worked on the gift when I needed a break, enjoying the process, instead of trying to finish it all in a frenzy of late-night sewing.

The curtains didn’t go up in the living room, among other tasks, but it didn’t matter. What’s important is spending time with people you care about, not whether you have finished all your outstanding projects. There will always be more to do, but time to enjoy family and friends is fleeting.

Can you pick just one thing to finish? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us about it.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

Finish One Thing

I had company over 4th of July weekend and I wanted my home to look nice. I had several unfinished projects that I wanted to complete so that my cousin would enjoy her stay and I could feel like a host instead of a construction worker.

Of course, the best of intentions don’t always make things happen. I was fretting and flitting from project to project, which included finishing a wedding present for the weekend, too. I finally realized that I had set unrealistic timelines to get all the things done. My cousin would be happy to stay with me, even though the bathroom hadn’t been painted and I could go to the wedding without the gift in hand.

Once I made the commitment to just finish scraping the wallpaper in the guest bathroom, I could relax. I scheduled the work into my day and got it done on time. I worked on the gift when I needed a break, enjoying the process, instead of trying to finish it all in a frenzy of late-night sewing.

The curtains didn’t go up in the living room, among other tasks, but it didn’t matter. What’s important is spending time with people you care about, not whether you have finished all your outstanding projects. There will always be more to do, but time to enjoy family and friends is fleeting.

Can you pick just one thing to finish? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us about it.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

Clutter vs Collections

I was at the grocery store yesterday and I picked up a home decorating magazine while I waited to check out. The cover featured a breathtakingly beautiful room, the walls of which were filled with floor-to-ceiling open bookcases. The shelving was painted a bright white and held a collection of blue and green vintage pottery.

The vases, bowls and other pieces were artfully arranged, with lots of room between them. I was instantly hit with the idea that I wanted to live that way, surrounded by those beautiful ceramic objects. I could find them at flea markets and thrift shops and I could display them on open shelving in my living room.

Then I snapped out of it.

What was I thinking? I don’t want to live that way. I don’t like to dust stuff. I don’t want to have things, even if they are beautiful, that I don’t use on a regular basis. And I can’t see myself spending time sitting in my living room, admiring the walls.

I actually have a few pieces of vintage pottery, but I use them; I don’t see them as a “collection.” The idea of starting a collection of things just to look at makes me feel uncomfortable. I used to have lots of collections, from teapots to baskets to quilts. I got rid of most of them, keeping one or two things that I really liked. The problem with collecting is that you always need to have “one more.” Now I am satisfied with what I have.

Do you have a collection? What do you collect? How do you display them? How do your collections make you feel? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

Clutter vs Collections

I was at the grocery store yesterday and I picked up a home decorating magazine while I waited to check out. The cover featured a breathtakingly beautiful room, the walls of which were filled with floor-to-ceiling open bookcases. The shelving was painted a bright white and held a collection of blue and green vintage pottery.

The vases, bowls and other pieces were artfully arranged, with lots of room between them. I was instantly hit with the idea that I wanted to live that way, surrounded by those beautiful ceramic objects. I could find them at flea markets and thrift shops and I could display them on open shelving in my living room.

Then I snapped out of it.

What was I thinking? I don’t want to live that way. I don’t like to dust stuff. I don’t want to have things, even if they are beautiful, that I don’t use on a regular basis. And I can’t see myself spending time sitting in my living room, admiring the walls.

I actually have a few pieces of vintage pottery, but I use them; I don’t see them as a “collection.” The idea of starting a collection of things just to look at makes me feel uncomfortable. I used to have lots of collections, from teapots to baskets to quilts. I got rid of most of them, keeping one or two things that I really liked. The problem with collecting is that you always need to have “one more.” Now I am satisfied with what I have.

Do you have a collection? What do you collect? How do you display them? How do your collections make you feel? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

Getting Kids to Pitch In

Economics professor Tyler Cowen was profiled in the Washington Post on May 13. He is an interesting character and has a popular blog, http://www.marginalrevolution.com/, with a faithful following.

A quote in the article stuck out for me because it has to do with getting kids to help around the house. He said, "If you tell your daughter she is obliged to do the dishes, that story will stick in her mind. She may not always heed her duty, but she will feel some need to cooperate. . . . When we pay our children, the tale changes. She says to herself, 'Doing the dishes is a job for money,' and she feels less obligation. The parent becomes a boss rather than an object of deserved loyalty."

There are differing opinions on how to get kids involved in housework. One side says children should be paid for household chores because it prepares them to do work for pay when they grow up.

Another side says that members of the family should all pitch in with chores, without compensation, because it teaches them to be productive contributors to society when they grow up.

Most parents I know struggle with getting everyone in the family to maintain organization and keep up with routines. The economist’s view is that, when you don't pay your kids, the dynamic changes from being a paid employee to being someone who does a task because it feels like the right thing to do.

Do you agree with Tyler Cowen? How do you get your children to help with household chores? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

Getting Kids to Pitch In

Economics professor Tyler Cowen was profiled in the Washington Post on May 13. He is an interesting character and has a popular blog, http://www.marginalrevolution.com/, with a faithful following.

A quote in the article stuck out for me because it has to do with getting kids to help around the house. He said, "If you tell your daughter she is obliged to do the dishes, that story will stick in her mind. She may not always heed her duty, but she will feel some need to cooperate. . . . When we pay our children, the tale changes. She says to herself, 'Doing the dishes is a job for money,' and she feels less obligation. The parent becomes a boss rather than an object of deserved loyalty."

There are differing opinions on how to get kids involved in housework. One side says children should be paid for household chores because it prepares them to do work for pay when they grow up.

Another side says that members of the family should all pitch in with chores, without compensation, because it teaches them to be productive contributors to society when they grow up.

Most parents I know struggle with getting everyone in the family to maintain organization and keep up with routines. The economist’s view is that, when you don't pay your kids, the dynamic changes from being a paid employee to being someone who does a task because it feels like the right thing to do.

Do you agree with Tyler Cowen? How do you get your children to help with household chores? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

Recycle in Style

I found a very smart looking, albeit expensive, recycling bin that would look good in just about any house. The Deluxe All-In-One Recycling Center from Mode holds up to 12 gallons of glass, plastic and metal and up to 5 gallons of paper.

The Recycling Center features a mail slot on the top and a clock you can set to remind you to take out the recycling. I love that the blinking light can’t be accused of nagging.

Not everyone is going to want to spend almost $200 on a recycling bin; however, the company’s Website also offers great recycling tips and resources http://modeproducts.com/.

What products have you found to help you keep recycling from taking over your house? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

Recycle in Style

I found a very smart looking, albeit expensive, recycling bin that would look good in just about any house. The Deluxe All-In-One Recycling Center from Mode holds up to 12 gallons of glass, plastic and metal and up to 5 gallons of paper.

The Recycling Center features a mail slot on the top and a clock you can set to remind you to take out the recycling. I love that the blinking light can’t be accused of nagging.

Not everyone is going to want to spend almost $200 on a recycling bin; however, the company’s Website also offers great recycling tips and resources http://modeproducts.com/.

What products have you found to help you keep recycling from taking over your house? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie