Monthly To Do

Under the Sink

April 14th, 2011

Cleaning out the cabinet underneath the kitchen sink is a dreaded chore for many of us. This task just seems different than cleaning and organizing the cabinets in the rest of the kitchen. Let’s face it, it’s a dirty job.

But since somebody’s got to do it (and since you and I probably happen to be that somebody), I thought I’d share two very basic principles I follow to help this small space not become a huge mess:

First, I only store a few necessary things under the sink:

bag for recycling

refrigerator

poor houseplants

Secondly, I try to keep loose things grouped together as much as possible:

Simple, right? Well, it’s pretty simple when I actually follow these “rules” and keep it neat and tidy. Since I open this cabinet countless times a day, I think it deserves a little TLC.

What are your tips for taming the monster-size mess under the kitchen sink? Please share your ideas in the comments!

This post is linked to Raising Homemakers.

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Cabinet Clutter

April 13th, 2011

For my Monthly To Do List, the time has come to search my kitchen cabinets and drawers for things I no longer want or need (aka. clutter). I do this job a couple times every year, so I rarely have tons of things to get rid of. Still, it never ceases to amaze me that I can always find at least a few things I’ve been hanging onto for no good reason (again, aka. clutter).

Besides weeding out the clutter, I also use this time to evaluate the best way to arrange my kitchen and the best places to store the things I use most often. I try to keep things near where I’ll be using them. And, just for kicks, I enjoy rearranging the kitchen a little from time to time to keep life exciting. Yea, I’m easily amused.

Here’s the basic steps I follow when cleaning out my cabinets:

Open a cabinet or drawer and take the items (or stack of items, such as plates) out one at a time.

Evaluate each item as it’s taken off the shelf or out of the drawer.

Do I like this? Do I need or use this? Is it worth the space it’s taking up?

If everything else in my kitchen was dirty, would I take this out and use it, or would I wash something else to use instead?

Set aside items to get rid of.

one thing at a time

Wash out the cabinet with a damp cloth or sponge and wipe it dry.

Once the cabinet or drawer is empty and clean, take a second look at the stuff piled on the counter or floor.

Do I need this bowl when I make bread on the other side of the kitchen? Would I use that serving dish more if it was stored where I could reach it? Can I move this turkey platter to someplace out of the way?

Finally, arrange everything back on the shelves or in the drawer

What tips do you have to share? Tell us in the comments. The more wisdom, the merrier!

This post is linked to Raising Homemakers.

New Year’s Paperwork: Files

January 18th, 2011

Bills. Bank statements. Insurance explanations. More bills. Receipts. Tax records. Even more bills. The list goes on…and on…and on……..

I think the list of papers that float through the door of my home could go on to infinity and beyond. Does it ever end? Unfortunately, I think we all know the answer to that question.

Since the pile of papers is never ending, it’s important to have a method for managing all of the mail, important notices, and not-so-important information that makes its way onto our kitchen counters and dining room tables.

There are countless systems that people use. Some are simple. Some are complex. Personally, I’ve used quite a few different ideas over the years, but I’ve discovered an interesting phenomenon: A system only works if you actually use it. Crazy, right?

Like a moth to a flame, I tend to be drawn to complex, intricate organizational systems. That usually isn’t a good thing. Over the past couple of years, I’ve been using what I thought was a pretty easy method for filing my bills and important papers. I had a single accordion file with sections labeled for each type of bill or paper that would likely need saved (ie. Utility Bills, Phone Bills, Bank Statements, etc.). All I needed to do was open the file, tuck away my mail or paid billing statement according to the appropriate category, and forget about it.

Still, even that simplistic method was too complex for me to use regularly. I’m not sure why, but it just wasn’t working for me. When I realized that my “To File” box was shoved full of six months worth of papers, I decided I needed a new system. I’m quick like that.

My big brother came to my rescue with his filing system. It’s not just simple; it’s super simple. Here’s how it works:

Label twelve file folders with the names of the months. I converted my accordion file.

When an important paper or statement needs saved, plop it into that month’s folder. That’s right, just drop it in. No sorting. No waiting. No piles of papers needing to be filed.

Next year, when you open the folder for a particular month, it will have this year’s filed papers. Take those things out and either shred them or move them to long-term storage, if needed.

Someday soon I’ll share a few ideas on how to deal with all of the mail and papers before they reach the “To File” box.

I’d love to hear from you. What method do you use for filing all of your must-save papers? Tell us about it in the comments!

This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday.

New Year Catch Up: Christmas Decorations

January 6th, 2011

I’m gonna do it! Today. The Christmas decorations, or at least the tree, are being banished to the basement for one more year. I had my doubts that it would ever happen, but I’m determined to take action this afternoon. I hope!

It’s amazing how accomplishing just one thing can provide motivation for crossing even more tasks off the To Do List. Yesterday, I focused on my kitchen table and counters, even though there were countless other things calling for my attention. Today, my “one thing” is the Christmas tree. If that’s all I get done today, that’s alright with me.

It’s important not to get distracted by the many things that aren’t going to get done. The company my husband works for has a saying: “We want to be better today than we were yesterday; better tomorrow than we are today.” I like that philosophy. I want my house to look a little better today than it did yesterday. It won’t be perfect, but that’s fine. Tomorrow I’ll try to make it a little better than today. I think I can do that.

So what’s one thing that you want to accomplish today? Tell us about it in the comments, then set a timer for fifteen minutes and get it done. What are you waiting for?

Catching Up

January 5th, 2011

So, I’m just wondering if I’m the only person in the world who had wonderful hopes and aspirations for how my new year would begin, only to find myself failing miserably by half past the stroke of midnight. Can you relate? Anyone?

I was going to spend our Christmas break preparing and planning for the new year. I wanted to get rid of bunches of clutter, organize what was left, plan out the rest of our homeschool year, and maybe even stick a few meals into the freezer. My plan and my reality ended up being in two different universes.

Not only did I not accomplish my (totally unrealistic) goals, but also my Christmas tree is standing tall in the corner of the living room, the wreath and garland are still hanging from the loft railing, and there are odds-and-ends of misplaced items on nearly every flat surface. See, you don’t feel so bad about your own broken resolutions anymore, do you?

Now, as my ~~excuse~~ defense, I had out-of-town guests until New Year’s Eve, at which time I came down with the plague. Fine. It was probably just a really bad cold, but it was the worst I’ve felt in a long time, and I have the hacking cough to prove it.

Regardless of my “reasons” for not accomplishing much of anything over our Christmas break, I’m now faced with the here-and-now. What am I going to do today? I can whine about what I didn’t do, or I can attack what I need to do. I can look around and feel overwhelmed, or I can do one thing at a time. I can put it all off until another day, or I can set a timer for fifteen minutes and admit that doing something is better than nothing.

Just in case I’m not the only one who started the new year a little behind schedule, I’ll be sharing what I’m doing to catch up. Instead of saying, “If only I would have…”, I’m going to think about one thing I can do right now to lighten my load. Tomorrow I’ll pick something else.

For me, the obvious task for today would be putting away the Christmas decorations (duh), but they aren’t bugging me as much as the stuff that’s piled up on my kitchen table and counter. The Christmas tree is a little embarrassing, but it isn’t clutter. I’ll probably deal with that tomorrow, but my next few minutes will be spent finding homes for the packages of food and piles of papers littering the kitchen.

When I’m done with that job I’ll breathe a sigh of relief, smile at my progress, and go plug in the Christmas lights. Hey, I might as well enjoy the twinkle for one more night!

How about you? Are you right on track or struggling to keep up with the new year? Do you have “one thing” you hope to accomplish today? Tell us about it in the comments!

Bedrooms: Clear Off and Dust Furniture

May 18th, 2010

There is an interesting phenomenon that occurs at my house: Any flat surface will eventually be covered with stuff. Or dust. Does this happen at your house, too? If it’s been more than a week since you’ve cleared and dusted the tops of the dressers and night stands in your bedroom, then you may want to join me in this task today. I’m going to make sure that the only things left on the “flat surfaces” in my room are things I want there. This means the empty water glass, the book I’m never going to read, and the hair clip must go. Then, I’ll do a quick dusting and be finished.

But, if the mere thought of facing the mounds of “stuff” piled on your furniture gives you hives, don’t worry. Just take a deep breath, set a timer for fifteen minutes, and get to it. Be careful to keep your attention on the task at hand. Don’t get distracted by the messy sock drawer, the photos that needs put in a scrapbook, or the receipts that should be filed. If needed, grab a laundry basket so you have a place to toss the things that belong somewhere else or will need more time to sort through. Stay focused, and you may be surprised at how much you can get done. You (and your hubby) will feel a sense of relief when you go to bed tonight!

And don’t forget about the kiddos. How long has it been since their “flat surfaces” have been cleaned? Is there a mountain of toys and school papers on their desks? Can you no longer tell what color the furniture is? Then this would be a good job for them, too. Use a timer to help keep them from getting sidetracked. With some help, even the little guys can put their things away and dust. Put on some music and challenge them to finish before the song stops (this trick works for mommy too!). Have fun!