Get started with my simple formula for getting it done!
Watch here for my tips as shown with Rebecca Cressman on BYU TV Living Essentials
Are you ready to get your home organized?
Posted by in Cleaning | Clutter | General | Holiday | Kitchen | Laundry Room/Mud Room | Office | Pantry | Paper | Uncategorized - (0 Comments)Ready for a little Spring Cleaning?
Posted by in Cleaning | General | Health | Home | Time | Uncategorized - (0 Comments)In our neck of the woods, spring has had a hard time presenting itself this year! Lots of very cool weather, snow late into May, and now rain that never seems to stop! But, nevertheless, it IS spring and time to get going with a bit of cleaning up!
How will you make “spring cleaning” work for you? For most people, gone are the days of spending uninterrupted time for several days airing out rooms, pounding the dust out of rugs, scrubbing down walls and floors for hours on end. We need a more streamlined approach. Something we can do in pieces.
We’ll start out by offering some great “recipes” for cleaning products you can create from natural products you have around the house. This will save you money and lend itself to a safer, more environmentally friendly cleaning session.
If you’d like to download a copy of Natural Cleaning Products for some great cleaning solutions, please click here> Natural Cleaning Products. And check back soon for more great information on making Spring Cleaning work for you!
How Organized is Organized Enough?
Posted by in Cleaning | Clutter | Emergency Preparation | Events | Home | Kids | Office | Paper | Planning | Tools and products | Uncategorized - (0 Comments)Here we are mid-summer. If you are like me, you may be starting to feel the “lack-of-routine-blues.” Maybe household chores are lagging behind, maybe your desk has unusually tall stacks of paper waiting for filing, or maybe your meals or sleep routines are not what you prefer. As much as I look forward to and enjoy the change of pace in the summer, now is the time I begin to crave a little more order and routine.
I am a believer, however, in being organized enough. And, I believe everyone is allowed to choose, along with their families or house-mates, how organized that is. This is also where I add that I am convinced that “being organized” is a tool for creating the life you want–not a goal in and of itself.
That being said, it makes sense that this tool will be used in different ways at different times and seasons. When you are going through a time of huge transition, having certain organization systems in place can bring a sense of calm and a reminder of stability. However, allowing yourself to let down on those systems for a short time can also be a “vacation” in a way, for your energies to focus elsewhere.
If you are in a life transition or crisis, I believe you might want to consider giving yourself a break. Consider what REALLY MATTERS to you at that moment. Is it really going to matter if the floor doesn’t get vacuumed for a day or two while you focus on a relationship in need? Maybe it does for you–maybe it does not. Maybe continuing with the routine is just what will ground you to get through the event. Maybe letting it go for a short time will free you to deal with it.
My thought here is that it may be different for everyone–and that everyone has the choice for themselves. Don’t allow anyone else to “should” on you–and don’t “should” on them. The one thing can can never be taken from us is our right to choose our attitude–to choose our mind-set.
So, if you are feeling overwhelmed in any part of your life, might I suggest you ask yourself these questions:
- What part of the problem am I?
- What are the needs and wants of those I love?
- What do I want most out of this experience?
- What is the most important thing I can do right now to have the biggest impact? (Thank you, Matt Townsend!)
The answers to these questions are yours alone. They will change in every situation. And, the answers will help you know for yourself what direction you want to take.
So–for this moment. Are you organized enough? Would being more organized help you? I’d love to hear your thoughts on my ramblings! Have a peaceful day!
**The four questions above are cited from
Preparing a Home for Sale
Posted by in Cleaning | Clothing | Home | Kitchen | Pantry | Uncategorized - (0 Comments)In any economy, a person selling their home wants to be able to complete a sell as quickly as possible and get a high return on their investment. Preparing your home to go on the market can be an overwhelming proposition for many people. Statistics show that a well-staged home will sell 30-50% faster than its counterparts AND that potential buyers make their decisions to purchase your home or not within the first 30 seconds upon entering it. That makes the first impression the key to selling your home fast and for top dollar.
Remember that potential buyers will be visiting your home using all five of their senses:
- Sight: Open the blinds and let in the natural light. Declutter, clear countertops, and consider keeping your pet outside of your home for the day.
- Smell: Something on the stove or baking in the oven smells like home. Or fresh flowers or a burning candle can offer the ambiance you’re looking for.
- Taste: This will come typically from good or bad fragrances in your home. These sense are connected–always!
- Hearing: Turn off the TV and computers and other sound-makers. Some quiet, easy-listening music in the background instead will set the stage for a sell!
- Touch: Offer a soft, comfortable couch or chair and make sure the room temperature is comfortable
There is a “sixth” sense to consider, also. That is the sense of “space.” Removing items in any space will make it appear and feel larger. Allow your guests to enter a small room first and wait outside the door so it doesn’t feel crowded. Leave space in your closets, leaves out of the table–whatever gives the sense of more room!
Listen to “Preparing a Home for Sale” on The Organized Woman Show for more details on getting your home ready for market!
And the answer is … YES! According to the experts at Southern Living Magazine! I am making it a new focus of mine to head in this direction. Because of my frugal nature, I won’t be just tossing out what I have, but I will be replacing products with things I can make when possible and eco-friendly commercial products when necessary.
Here are recipes for mixing up your own household cleaners the natural way from Real Simple as quoted in Southern Living. Inexpensive and effective, these recipes will help you get a boost on your spring cleaning while doing less damage to the environment.
Vinegar
Coffeemaker: Pour equal parts vinegar and water into the machine’s water chamber, then switch on the brew cycle. Halfway through, turn off the coffeemaker and let the solution sit for about an hour. Turn it on again to complete the cycle, then run several cycles with clean water.
Windows:Mix ¼ cup vinegar, 2 cups water, and a squirt of liquid Castile soap in a spray bottle. Spritz windows and wipe with a sheet of newspaper.
Dishwasher: To disinfect the interior of the machine, pour ½ cup vinegar into the reservoir and run an empty cycle, says Hunter. Or place a small bowl filled with vinegar on the bottom rack and run an empty cycle.
Lemon
Countertops:Dip the cut side of a lemon half in baking soda to tackle countertops; wipe with a wet sponge and dry. Don’t use on delicate stone, like marble, or stainless steel (it may discolor).
Cutting boards: To remove tough food stains from light wood and plastic cutting boards, slice a lemon in half, squeeze onto the soiled surface, rub, and let sit for 20 minutes before rinsing.
Dishes:To increase the grease-cutting power of your dishwashing detergent, add a teaspoon of lemon juice.
Baking Soda
Garden tools: Dip a moist stiff-bristled brush in washing soda to scrub trimmers, clippers, and more. Rinse, then place in a sunny area to dry. (Don’t use washing soda on aluminum tools.)
Grills and barbecue utensils: To combat tough grease stains, dip a moist stiff- bristled brush in washing soda and scrub away.
Scuffed walls: Erase crayon marks by applying a baking- soda paste (equal parts baking soda and water) to white painted walls (baking soda may dull colored walls). Let dry before brushing it off with a clean cloth.
Borax
Baseboards, countertops, and walls: Dissolve 1/2 cup borax in 1 gallon hot water and pour the solution into a spray bottle (which you can store for later use). Spritz generously, wipe down with a damp cloth, and let air-dry.
China (including hand painted): Soak china in a dishpan filled with warm water and 1/2 cup borax; rinse well.
Dishwasher: If the machine is smelling like last night’s chicken cacciatore, sprinkle borax in the bottom, let it sit overnight, then wipe down with a damp sponge. No need to rinse; just run the next load.
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