Let's Organize: Cleaning Caddy

If you're anything like me, I'm sure you've experienced the frustration of trying to clean, only to find yourself spending more time going back and forth gathering different cleaning supplies than actually getting down to business.

For me, I used to hoard shove keep all of my cleaning tools under my kitchen sink. Most days everything was just thrown under there which caused me to have to clean that area out every.stinkin.time I was trying to clean somewhere else in my home.

Talk about frustrating.

Then I had an epiphany of sorts. What if it all had a place?! An organized, portable place so I never had to dig around for anything again.

I'm a simple girl, this truly was an epiphany. Pathetic? Possibly.

(We used a cleaning caddy at my house growing up..I'm not sure why it took me 5 years of being on my own to realize that there was a method to the madness my parents used. Don't judge me.)

So, I made a trip to Wal-Mart, a woman on a mission. Have you ever tried looking for a basket/bin of some sort at the store? It was overly frustrating.

Seriously, there were bins in the laundry section, bathroom section, home decor section, kitchen section, outdoor section...I was overwhelmed. Hey, Wal-Mart, you should try making ONE aisle for every stinkin bin in your store. It'd be a lot more handy. Just a suggestion.

I chose one from the kitchen section, it was $3 I think and definitely big enough to hold all that crap under my sink. I was kind of disappointed that I couldn't find a bin (in oh lets say just one of the 12 sections that had some) that had a carrying handle. You know, over the top of the bin.

But I'd been there long enough circulating the entire store so I gave up & settled for one without. It actually worked out well for me. But fyi, if you want one with a handle, I saw some at Target a day or two later.

Anyways, long story short, here's my cleaning caddy & what I keep in it.

I used my Cricut Expression to cut those letters on Con-Tact paper after I saw Jen's cute letters on her cleaning caddy over at I Heart Organizing. She put 'sparkle' on hers. Talk about adorable!

I decided on labeling it what we call it in my house so I can simply say to the boy "Will you bring me such and such out of the cleaning caddy?" and he has no excuse to not know what I'm talking about or where to find it.

Sneaky? Nahhh. Just clever. He can only dodge housework for so long now!



All of carpet cleaning, fabric refreshing supplies. Gotta keep up with this little booger!

Okay, sorry bout that. I just love that cutie pie so much =) Back to the caddy..

Here's all my other basic cleaning supplies with the exception of toilet bowl cleaner, I keep that under the bathroom sink. Most of the time I purchase off brand cleaners & some from the Dollar Tree. I've found that, for the most part, they work just as well. And I save a few bucks, it's a win-win.

I keep a few extra towels, latex gloves, a Mr. Clean magic eraser, extra swiffer pads, a scrub brush, and sponges in my cleaning caddy too for quick access.

And there's the top shot, it all fits in the caddy so nice & neat! Love it! And the caddy fits perfect beneath my, now organized, kitchen sink! See..

It's fabulous. Really, it is.

Do you have a cleaning caddy? If so, what do you keep in yours? If not, how do you keep your cleaning supplies organized? I'd love to know!

 This post is linked to bouffe e bambini, Delightful Order, Serenity Now - A Mommy's Solution to Staying Sane,  Sugar and Dots,  Sassy Sites,  Remodelaholic, Home Savvy A to Z & Fingerprints on the Fridge

Decluttering & Organizing the Kitchen Pantry

Is your pantry a disorganized mess?  Is it brimming with dusty spice containers and overtaken with canned vegetables that may have been purchased in 1992? Mine was!

Whatever the situation in your kitchen pantry, whipping your food closet into tip-top shape is a good idea.

Not only will having a clean pantry make you feel more inclined to cook in your kitchen, a thorough decluttering of old pantry items will also help ensure that the food you prepare tastes fresh.

Get started creating a clean, organized storage space with these kitchen pantry cleaning ideas.

Step 1:  Clear everything out

Whether your kitchen pantry consists of an entire closet or a few kitchen cabinets, the process of cleaning and organizing the pantry starts with clearing everything out.

Tackle the job one step at a time by starting on one side of your kitchen and moving cabinet by cabinet to remove all of the contents, until you reach your goal.

Use empty cardboard boxes to hold your kitchen pantry contents as you remove them from the shelves.  Try to keep like items with like so the next step in the process is easier to tackle.

Step 2:  Clean

The next step to an organized kitchen pantry is cleaning. 

With all of your food items cleared and temporarily in boxes, start wiping down all of your shelves.  Wipe down every surface from floor to ceiling, clearing away all dust, bugs, and dirt.

Finally, dust off or wipe down spice containers and cans.  (Don’t forget the bottoms of sticky jars.) 

Before you put anything back in the pantry, every item should be clean.

Step 3:  Sort

Sort through the items, and get rid of any food or spices that are past the expiration date.  (Spices don’t really spoil, though all but the most powerful spices tend to lose their flavor after about six months.)

While you’re sorting, check open containers for bugs and toss out any items that you haven’t used in years. 

If you can’t remember when you bought an open bag of flour, it’s best to throw it out and replace it.

While you’re clearing and cleaning the kitchen pantry, take time to look at your inventory.

The pantry is ideally the kitchen storage space where you stockpile a reserve of food for your family. It’s no good if you’re keeping food in there that’s going bad. Resist the urge to keep food simply because you paid for it. If a food item is past its prime, get rid of it for the sake of your family’s good health.

Do the same for any kitchen utensils, appliances, or pots and pans that are not in good shape: throw them out.

If items are still usable, but have been untouched for ages, consider donating them to a local charitable organization.

Step 4:  Organize

With your kitchen pantry clean and sparkling, it’s time to put the food, spices, and cooking utensils back inside.  Instead of just tossing everything back in there willy-nilly, it’s best to take an organized approach to refilling the pantry.

 

Start by keeping like items together.  Designate a shelf (or the right side of a shelf, for example) to spices.  Keep another shelf for baking supplies, canned goods, cereals, main course items — whatever categories of food you keep in your pantry. Separating food by type will help keep your pantry organized.

You may be surprised by how much room you’ve really got in your pantry after the cleaning and organizing.

If you’re still short on kitchen storage space, however, you may want to invest in such space-saving organizational tools as over-the-door spice racks, canned good risers, or plastic storage containers to make the best use of your pantry.

With a clean, organized pantry at your disposal, you can look forward to meals that will seem fresher and tastier — and cooking will be easier and faster than ever before.

How to Declutter Your Home

First, be sure to tell yourself this: IT IS POSSIBLE TO WIN THE WAR AGAINST CLUTTER. Let that become your mantra. Repeat this over and over again. Don't question me. Just do it.

You can maintain a clutter-free home if you follow this advice. Take it from the once clutter queen. It truly is manageable. I hope this will help show you how. Read on for some tips and tricks on how to keep clutter from taking over your apartment.

Pick a Room

Where to start is often the hardest part of any cleaning endeavor. If you are a brave-hearted soul, begin in the messiest room in the apartment. More timid persons may want to start in a smaller space, like a closet. Whatever your choice, be sure you are mentally prepared to be ruthless and have assembled the proper arsenal.

Decluttering Equipment

The tools are simple. Arm yourself with garbage bags, empty boxes, magic markers and a dust rag. Now label each box with “donate”, “toss” and “keep” or whatever similar phrasing suits you.

Let the Games Begin

Your first step is getting rid of things that don’t belong in a given space. Put the ones you want in the “keep” box, and worry about where you will actually put it later. Your criteria for deciding what to do with the remaining clutter is to ask the following questions:

• Do I love this?
• Have I used it in the last year?
• Do I have two?
• Am I sentimentally attached?
• Do I feel sad and guilty when I look at it?

Then get rid of everything in the room that doesn’t make you feel positive in some way or that you just don’t need. Either pass it on to someone else who would enjoy it, or, if it can’t be used by another, toss it!

When your garbage box is full, take it outside to the bin and bring in another. Do the same for your donations, sealing each box and taking it to your car as you work. The goal is to get the stuff you don’t want anymore out of your place.

When the “keep” box gets full, pick it up and carry it with you around the apartment, putting each item in the proper room, if not yet the perfect storage place. Go back and keep at it, taking breaks or setting a timer over several days so you don’t burn out on the big jobs.

The Daily Drill

Flylady.net offers a detailed decluttering method that works for any size household. She advocates daily 15-minute sessions, focusing on cluttered hot spots that collect items, such as entranceways, countertops, desks or catch-all dresser drawers and baskets. For serious cases, also try going through your home daily with a garbage bag and throwing away 20 items, then doing the same process with a box for donations.

There are a number of online resources to help you curb the chaos of your worldly possessions. Use the tips above, or sign up for free emails that offer advice on how to organize your home, such as CreativeOrder.com, and you’ll be sure to stay on the straight, narrow and uncluttered path to happiness.

This post is linked to Serenity Now: A Mommy's Solution to Staying Sane & Fingerprints On the Fridge

Household Organization Tips

As embarrassed as I am to admit this, my home sometimes truly does look like the picture above. And no matter how many times I tell myself I'll never let it get so bad again, it always does. My new motto: Organization. Organization. Organization.


I recently moved to a new place and boy oh boy, wait til you see the before and afters I'll be posting soon of basically every room in my home. It's awful. I'm still working on it. Two months after my move. Told you: awful.


It started with "oh, I'll just put this box of clothes and basket of crap here in the corner, I'll go through it soon." Or "ehh, I can pile this in the guest bedroom, I don't need it right away". Did you catch the key word in that statement? PILE.


I'm a piler. And a shover. And a procrastinator.


It is not a good combination.


Seriously, my guest bedroom looked like it could be featured on an episode of hoarders. Bathroom stuff, books, crafts supplies, holiday decor...in a huge jumbled PILE. (I dislike that word!)


As I've been going through all of my stuff and organizing, discarding, storing my belonging, I've found it helps to stay positive about it all. Instead of thinking "ugh, I can do this later" my new mindset is "wow, it'll be so nice when this is finished."


Maybe I'm beating the procrastination. Or maybe not.


Plus, there are tons of super cute storage options on the market today, so organizing adds fun and functionality to my decor. It's a win-win. If When I get it accomplished.


These household organization rules, adapted from Moving Today have also been very motivating. I hope this will motivate you too!

Home Organization Rules

Pick a Place for Everything

It's an old saw, but it still cuts: "A place for everything, and everything in its place" is a watchword for true home organization. Possessions, like people, need homes. Find them that home, defend their turf with labels, dividers and organizers, and you've won most of the battle for an organized home.

Be creative when it comes to finding homes for household stuff and rearrange your thinking. So what if stores sell towels in matched sets of three? Break up the trio and store them where they're needed: hand towels stacked in washrooms near living areas; bath towels and washcloths in the bathroom where they're most used. Don't hide pizza coupons and take-out menus away in a kitchen (junk) drawer where they'll be forgotten: store them in a folder near the phone where they'll be most useful.

Bring the Family on Board

Getting organized is not simply a matter of domestic real estate; it's an integrated process involving all members of the household. Any organizing scheme or system will fail unless all family members understand it and can follow it. Bring the family on board as you organize your stuff and your surroundings. For example, when organizing where to put items in the kitchen, store plates, bowls, and unbreakable glasses in low cabinets. Younger family members can set the table only if they can reach the dishware; by storing tableware in an accessible place for them, you'll be helping all of the family to help you.

Create Centers for Household Activities

Looking for a model of a well-organized home? Head back to preschool! Preschool teachers are model organizers because they have to be. Without a plan for classroom structure, 18 or 20 energetic little people could create plaything havoc in mere moments.

To keep their schoolroom running smoothly, preschool teachers apply the concept of centers: dedicated areas for a single activity, like blocks, dress-up or sand play, with storage for all the playthings required by that activity. In the playhouse, kitchen toys, pots, and pans encourage role-playing; at the art table, paper, paints and brushes are within easy reach. At pick-up time, children know to return costumes to the dress-up chest and park trucks in the "parking lot" storage area.

On the domestic front, you can set up centers that work the same way, to focus and support the everyday activities that are carried on in the home. To create them, you'll designate:

• A Focus: Allocate one focused activity to each center
• A Specified Area: Set aside a single place to perform the activity
• Storage for Tools and Supplies: Ensure that all the items needed are present and available in the center

Establish the Centers

Consider establishing these activity centers for your home. Tailor them and their contents to your family's needs.

1. Telephone - phone directory, family address book, family calendar, message pad, pens, folder containing pizza coupons and take-out menus
2. Grooming - skin care products, shaving tools, cosmetics, and hair care implements near a bathroom sink and mirror
3. Outdoor Clothing - coats, hats, gloves, scarves, umbrellas, and galoshes in a closet near the door
4. Cleaning & Caretaking - mops, broom and vacuum, cleaning tote with tools, cleaning products for refills, replacement light bulbs, cleaning cloths and sponges, specialty cleaners
5. Paper Handling - file box or file drawer, pens, paper, checkbook
6. Correspondence Basket - stationery, selection of greeting cards, pens, envelopes, stamps
7. Recycling Center - bins for recycled materials, bags and twine for packaging, scissors
8. Reading - comfortable chair, reading light, small table for beverage, reading glasses, pillow, highlighters, page markers or bookmarks
9. Homework - pens, pencils and markers, erasers, calculator,  paper, reference books
10. Entertainment - gaming centers, remote controls, tv schedule, seating, blankets, snack trays, placemats, dvds
11. Fix-It Desk - toolboxes, organizers for hardware such as nails
12. Laundry - stain pre-treatment, bleach, detergent, fabric softener, laundry hampers
13. Arts & Crafts - storage and labels for paints, paper, glue, embellishments etc...
14. Mending - sewing machine, iron and ironing board, sewing tools, fabrics, and supplies
15. Planning & Scheduling - computer, planner or electronic organizer, office supplies, coupon organizer
16. Wrap & Mail Center - mailing boxes, postal scale, gift wrap, ribbon and gift cards, scissors, tape, pens and marking pen

This post is linked to Serenity Now - A Mommy's Solution to Staying Sane & Fingerprints on the Fridge

Cleaning Checklist #4: Bedroom

My home is always in need of a little TLC. I'm always too busy doing everything else to keep my household chores completed constantly. And, really, who does have the time for that? If you do, contact me, I'd love some pointers!

Here is a cleaning checklist for the bedroom. It's in pdf format.

I already posted living room, kitchen, and bathroom ones as well.

Bedroom Cleaning Checklist

Cleaning Checklist #3: Bathroom

My home is always in need of a little TLC. I'm always too busy doing everything else to keep my household chores completed constantly. And, really, who does have the time for that? If you do, contact me, I'd love some pointers!

Here is a cleaning checklist for the bathroom. It's in pdf format.

I already posted living room & kitchen, I'll be posting a bedroom one as well.

Bathroom Cleaning Checklist

Cleaning Checklist #2: Living Room

My home is always in need of a little TLC. I'm always too busy doing everything else to keep my household chores completed constantly. And, really, who does have the time for that? If you do, contact me, I'd love some pointers!

Here is a cleaning checklist for the living room. It's in pdf format.

I already posted the kitchen one, and I'll be posting bedroom and bathroom ones as well.
Living Room Cleaning Checklist

Cleaning Checklist #1: Kitchen

My home is always in need of a little TLC. I'm always too busy doing everything else to keep my household chores completed constantly. And, really, who does have the time for that? If you do, contact me, I'd love some pointers!

Here is a cleaning checklist for the kitchen. It's in pdf format.

I'll be posting living room, bedroom, and bathroom ones as well.
Kitchen Cleaning Checklist