Take a look at this room with the eye of a stranger who’s just walked into your home. You’ll be able to see the clutter clearly and get rid of it.
--Go through all those magazines that have been piling up on your coffee table, file away all the mail you have stacked up.
--Redecorate for springtime by changing out a few pieces of décor.
How long has it been since you’ve used a food processor? Honestly. Once I found out that I could do most things with a blender, the thing never moved from under my cabinet. If a blender can’t do it, a knife can.
--Give away or toss any appliances that basically have the same purpose.
--Anything you haven’t used in a year should go. Big items like a roaster you use for Thanksgiving, but didn’t use this year because you went to Aunt Ida’s, are the exception.
--Dishes also tend to accumulate. Nobody wants to throw away a dish, no matter how cheap the dish is, so each time you buy something new, you usually end up with more than you need. Find a college student who needs dishes or just donate them.
-- Give people who you’ll be a month to pick up your discarded kitchen appliances. Call anyone you know who might want the item in question and tell them all that the first person to pick up the item gets it. If they don’t do so within a month, it’s time to make a donation.
The biggest areas of clutter in the bedroom are the bedside tables and the dresser. A bedside table should have room for the book you’re reading, a picture, a lamp and a small container for a wedding ring, watch or wallet.
--On the dresser men tend to empty out the contents of their pockets. Have a basket or container so that it stays in one place.
--Women tend to leave their jewelry lying around. Organize jewelry by everyday wear and then by type. You can put jewelry in a closet or a top drawer for easy access.
The most dreaded spring organizing project of all—the closets. If you aren’t generally organized, this is where everything goes when somebody comes to visit.
--When cleaning out your closet, don’t buy containers first. You’ll want to let what you have left define the containers you’ll buy rather than feeling the need to fill everything.
--Lay out all your clothes according to type. If you have five pairs of khaki pants, it’s time to do a little elimination.
--Once you eliminate all the clothes, make sure you put them back with a plan in mind. Face all the hangers in the same direction and order by types of clothing and color.
--Hooks are a great way to store purses and other hangable items such as jewelry.
--You can add a second bar to your closet if you have limited space.
--The Jacksonville resource for closet storage solutions and items: The Closet Store (904) 281-2227 8200 Cypress Plaza Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32256
--Throw out all the expired medicine in the bathroom cabinet. If it’s over the counter drugs that you’re tossing, keep a list so you can replace items like aspirin.
--Look under your sink and toss overly ancient cleaning supplies. If you’ve got two of something (same brand, same product) then pour it all into one container.
--In the bathtub, throw away mostly empty shampoo containers and body wash.
--Sell it on Ebay.
--Hold a swap party.
--Donate
--Trash
Fridge: First, clean out the fridge completely and wipe down with a solution made from one quart water, a quarter cup vinegar and two tablespoons of baking soda. This will eliminate unpleasant odors. To clean under the fridge, put an old sock over the head of a flyswatter and use it to get the debris from under the fridge.
Dishwasher: Use the Tang solution! Fill one dispenser with Tang and fill the other with baking soda. Run the dishwasher without any dishes and all the buildup will be gone.
Microwave: Place a half filled coffee cup with a tablespoon of lemon in your microwave. Cook on high for two minutes. The steam will loosen spatters. Use a soap and water mixture to clean.
Disposals: To freshen, pour baking soda on a handled scrub brush and scour the inside. Never place your hand inside a disposal.
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