Gettin’ Your Ducks in a Row GIVEAWAY!
As promised, we’re wrapping up the organization series with a giveaway!
DYMO has graciously offered the Personal LabelMaker for today’s giveaway. One lucky winner will receive the LabelMaker and several different tapes for all sorts of applications… magnetic, iron-on, plastic (four different colors), clear, metallic and paper. I know! Isn’t that cool?
Remember the days of turning the dial and squeezing the lever? Then hoping you got the right letter and squeezed hard enough? Well those days are gone, my friend. This puppy is sweet!
Compact and portable, the LabelMaker features a tabletop keyboard and display window, 5 font sizes, 7 print styles, 2-line printing and 195 symbols. Also has a 9 label memory for frequently used lables, and built in date function.
Check out these great ideas from DYMO for getting ready for baby, holiday planning and moving tips.
To enter, just leave a comment on this post sharing a tip you have for organizing or house cleaning. We can all learn something new! Entries must be submitted by Sunday, June 29 at midnight. Good luck!
PS. If you don’t hear from me for a few days its because Im goin’ on vacation! We are heading to lovely Carmel, California (home for me). I’ll try to pop in and share how we’re roughing it our hard times laying on the beach and enjoying the perfect weather!
June 20th, 2008 at 10:43 am
I found you from Metropolitan Mama, and I’ve been enjoying your organization tips. You’ve already mentioned Flylady. I used to be a Flylady addict, but now I use only what works for me, mainly the Zones. I still keep the week’s zone posted on our calendar so when I have a few minutes, that’s where I head.
I also am a firm believer in giving kids chores. My oldest (5) now folds all her clothes (including putting them away)! The three-year-old is learning.
My tip is for keeping up with the laundry. Two key items are necessary: a 3-section laundry hamper and a washer with a delay-start feature. At the end of the evening, it is easy to spot which load needs washing. It then goes into the washer, I set the delay to start an hour or so before I wake up. When I get up, I transfer the wet clothes to the dryer, and by the time I am dressed, the clothes are dry and they get folded right away (no wrinkles!)
June 20th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
I procrastinate when it comes to bigger jobs such as cleaning the refrigerator or oven. So in order to motivate myself, I will put on my ipod and clean for 15 minutes and then as my quick reward play on the computer for 15 minutes.
If I have a lot of organizing to do, I will break it down to one drawer a day so that I am not overwhelmed by it all.
June 20th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
When doing major cleaning of closets or storage rooms I always have a trash can and a giveaway box handy to get rid of the items that we no longer need or that are unusable. Thank you for the giveaway!
June 20th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
i have a 6 year old son and he has lots of action figures. i organize them in clear plastic buckets so they will be easier for him to find and to carry from one spot to another.
June 20th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
My habit lately is to make lists on what needs to be done with housework, deep cleaning and regular everyday and pick several from each list every day or two and do those first and then wait another day and go back to the list to choose again. It seems less overwhelming doing it this way. Thank you for your giveaway!
June 20th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
I always try to rotate the shelves of food — in cabinets and refrig. so that we don’t let something go bad before we get to it….recently however we found Bisquick from 1997! So it doesn’t always work out!
June 20th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
I use 1/2 cup of baking soda followed by 1 cup of Vinegar to clear slow drains. (follow with about a minute of hot running water. ) Thanks!
June 20th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
I do my cleaning on the same day every week. I always clean on Saturdays and then I give myself Sunday’s to do absolutely nothing. This works for me because I feel that I have a schedule I am working with and I also get a day to be completely lazy!
June 20th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
I mark the month and year on canned and boxed foods with a permanent marker, when unloading the groceries. This way I use the oldest first.
June 20th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
On Saturdays, the whole family will work on a big cleaning project together.
June 20th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
ikeep all shoe boxes and boxes that come in the mail. i put only one type of infrequently used items, like “old journals” or “scarves” in each box and label them. and face each one out. then they get stored away in a hall closet.
June 21st, 2008 at 3:19 am
If I have a lot to do, I prioritize by making a list then checking off as I go. That way I dont forget anything but get the bigger jobs done first!
June 21st, 2008 at 5:40 am
Sounds simple but is very helpful: I keep a bucket with gloves and cleaning supplies in each of my two bathrooms and also one in the kitchen. In each bucket is EVERYTHING I would need to clean that bathroom and the rooms near it. I find that if I am walking around the house looking for the Windex I ususally will get distracted by something else in the house and start a new chore and forget all about the windows I was cleaning or the floor I was mopping. This helps me stay focused. Great suggestions everyone!!
June 21st, 2008 at 11:07 am
Put stuff away as soon as you’re done with it.
June 21st, 2008 at 12:32 pm
[...] Where: Apron Strings A Flutter [...]
June 21st, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Always have a clean kitchen before you go to bed. The worst thing in my opinion is waking up to a dirty kitchen.
June 21st, 2008 at 12:56 pm
I always put dryer sheets in between all of my folded sheet sets just to make sure the smell stays fresh. And for any ink stain – try hairspray. It never lets me down.
Thanks so much for the opportunity.
June 21st, 2008 at 2:12 pm
My tip would be do a little everyday. PIck one room and finish it then the next day do another room so you don’t feel overwhelmed
June 21st, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Before everyone goes to bed at night I set the timer for 15 minutes. Everyone has to spend that time in the main areas of the house picking up stuff and putting it away. That way the clutter is gone in the morning and I can spend my time getting the real scrubbing and work done.
June 21st, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Hmmm…a great thing that I LOVE for organization is the clear, plastic containers. I use the plastic drawers for my sons cars and trucks, i also use them in my daughter’s room for all of her baby doll stuff, kitchen stuff and dress up stuff. I also use clear containers to store my bounce sheets and microfiber cloths in my laundry area!!
June 22nd, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Hello! I enjoyed reading your “Ducks in a Row” articles. I need all the help I can get when it comes to organizing. My husband and two sons would shake their heads with a resounding “Yes!” The one thing that I do that helps me is certain jobs on different days. Laundry is one thing that I do on Monday, Tuesdays are for dusting and vacuuming, etc.
I would love to win your “DYMO” Label maker. I am wanting to label my items in the pantry and the spice cabinet. Please enter me in your delightful contest drawing. Many thanks, Cindi
June 22nd, 2008 at 7:59 pm
I have a small plastic box with about 40 drawers that I label and where I keep small items: chalk, rubber bands, bag ties, safety pins, small batteries, etc. All those small things that get lost in any drawer and you can never find when you want to use them.
I keep mine in the pantry at eye level. It ends a lot of hunting.
June 23rd, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I try to pick up as we go – those pajamas can be tossed on the bed in the morning rather than bugging me when I walk in the door and see them in the family room in the evening.
June 23rd, 2008 at 6:29 pm
I am a very itinerary kind of person and though it drives hubby crazy, it works! If I write down goals and things I want to accomplish daily, weekly and monthly, I’m more apt to do them and checking them off. So, to me…organization is the key to household management. That and chocolate.
and yes, I remember the gun style label maker!
June 24th, 2008 at 4:56 am
Just stopped by to say HEY girlfriend, super fun giveaways!!! You rock!
BTW: have fun on your vacation and TAG you’re it…see my blog!
June 24th, 2008 at 8:08 am
Boxes an plastic bins (the smaller the better) keep closets and cabinets from looking like a tornado came through.
June 24th, 2008 at 11:14 am
My greatest challenge is the build up of junk mail. I find that if I sort and dispose of what I don’t read and want immediately it helps. As soon as I bring the mail in I sort and shred things like credit card applications and don’t let it gather dust.
June 24th, 2008 at 11:39 am
I was brought up, learning to clear out an area before you start to clean it. This will leave you more room to work with and re-organize.
June 24th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
My cleaning tip? Have the kids help! We’ve recently upgraded our “job chart” and my favorite thing is not emptying the dishwasher anymore.
Hope you are having fun on vacation. I love Carmel!
June 24th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Instead of buying expensive and fumey (is that word?!) cleaning products I have started to make my own.
My multi-purpose cleaner is made from lavendar infused white vinegar and water.
Instead of Ajax or Comet I use just straight baking soda on a wet sponge.
I also made a Rosemary wood cleaner that leaves my wood shining and smelling fresh! Just boil water, turn off heat and add fresh rosemary sprigs. Let steep for 20 minutes then strain. Add vinegar, a couple drops of EVOO and a couple drops of dishsoap. Ta Da! Homemade wood cleaner/dusting spray. I put my vinegar/water solution in spray bottles as well as the wood cleaner.
By making all natural cleaning products I’m not polluting the environment and with two young girls running around I feel safer knowing they won’t ingest anything harmful if they happen to get a hold of my cleaners.
You can find the exact recipe at my site, http://mommylounge.wordpress.com/kalishas-page/
Just scroll down to May 31
Happy Cleaning! lol
June 24th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I’d love this – I’ve been lusting after one for a couple of years.
June 24th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
I have storage containers in every single closet in this house PLUS the garage! I also have my pantry organized with containers for almost all dry goods. Cereal, cookies, raisins etc. Cuts back on spoilage big time.
I can so use this label maker! I’m about to start eight Watchers and I want to label everything with the point value.
June 24th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
when packing up clothes that older kids have outgrown that you are saving for younger siblings. Pack each box based on season and year, and label them!!
June 24th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
In the pantry, I have a space for “travel goodies” for our 2 y/o daughter. It includes the diaper bag, which I always restock before putting away so it’s ready for the next trip, a small bag of toys and activities for the car and a few special books, coloring books, sticker books, and a mini magna-doodle board. It’s great to just be able to grab stuff and go when we need to. The same shelf houses easy to grab and take snacks, if needed.
http://psychmamma.wordpress.com
June 24th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
If you haven’t touched it in a year get rid of it….or better yet sell it! I made $600 at my garage sale this weekend! Now I can buy stuff I really like! My house is much more organized with less clutter.
June 24th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Umm, move?
But, seriously, doing chores regularly and immediately instead of waiting for things to pile up helps a lot.
June 24th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
for every new item you bring into the house, discard of an old item…reduces clutter…keeps things peaceful. my grandma always told me to clean out or organize 1 drawer a week. this is from a woman who had a LOT of drawers. cleaning up those junk drawers or going through the sock drawer and getting rid of the holey ones definitely makes a huge difference.
June 24th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
I have a cleaning routine that is quick and effective, and I do it every day — no fail. If I stick with it, I hardly have to do any deep or intensive cleaning on the weekends, and have lots of time to spend time with the family!
June 24th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
I’m not a natural organizer – so I really work hard at it! One of the things that has worked for me as the toys have slowly taken over is to rotate baskets of toys. We dedicated a downstairs closet to toys, and we rotate baskets of toys every couple of weeks or so when we need an update. My kids have some favorites that stay out all the time, but it is really nice to limit some of the toy clutter and the kids play with things like they are new again after we rotate the baskets.
I would LOVE to label my son’s things as he gets ready for Kindergarten (and as a teacher of young kids I know how incredibly important that is!) Oh – and I had a dial-up labelmaker as a kid and I loved it! Thanks for the giveaway! beezerly (at) yahoo dotcom
June 24th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been looking at something and said, Man I wish I had a label maker, then maybe someone besides ME would know where to put stuff. I don’t have real good organization skills. I use baskets (which should be labeled) and bins for the kids toys!
June 24th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Whenever I clean out closets,drawers,toys,etc., I always make sure to take the stuff to a thrift store that day, so I don’ t go back and rescue something I “might need someday”!
June 24th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
If I use a cleaning wipe to tidy up the counter, stove or whatever….I always “use it up” by giving the tile floor a few swipes.
June 24th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
on birthdays and holidays we get rid of some of the older stuff before bringing in the new stuff!! we either give it away or toss it!
thanks!
moore.g at insideconnect.net
June 24th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
When I switch out the hand towels in the bathroom I use it for a quick wipe of the sink and counter. Makes it much easier when I clean the bathrooms later
June 25th, 2008 at 5:20 am
I have used my canning jars for storing shells, rocks or any craft item and stored in the cellar. The Label maker could help me out with my filing cabinet which is a disaster!
http://lifeislikechampagne.blogspot.com/
June 25th, 2008 at 5:34 am
I remember those wheely tapes! I used to get frustrated when I pressed the wrong letter and waste an inch of tape. I use old tissue boxes or small gift bags to put in plastic bags for the bathroom. It’s easy to grab a bag in one neat place than all over the place in the closet.
June 25th, 2008 at 6:34 am
I recently hired a professional organizer to do a room shift in my house. We moved all of the office items from an upstairs extra bedroom to my downstairs multi-purpose room (kids’ playroom/office/hang out room). It was awesome. The extra bedroom is no longer a dumping ground, and it actually has more then one purpose – workout room, art room, leisure room. It is amazing how much stuff you find while re-organizing. I threw lots of stuff away! And now I feel better prepared to stay organized in the future.
June 25th, 2008 at 8:37 am
My best cleaning tip is baking soda and vinegar. They seriously clean everything!! Old cloth diaper are way better than paper towels too. They absorb so much, whether you’re using them for liquid or dusting.
June 25th, 2008 at 8:39 am
My advice is to marry well. I married a man that enjoys cleaning and does a lot of the housework so it does not get overwhelming. I count my blessings everyday.
June 25th, 2008 at 9:35 am
I have “chore charts” for myself, as well as my children. It seems to help me keep on track instead of wondering what to do next. IF I use them..lol
June 25th, 2008 at 10:56 am
i’m a big list maker. shopping list,things to do list,cleaning list etc. makes my life a lot easier.
June 25th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I have two tips 1for microwave cleaning, the other for sponges.
Microwave Cleaning Tips: To make it easier to clean the microwave put a microwave safe bowl with water in the microwave for a few minutes. After removing the bowl, you can easily remove all the stuck on stuff because of the steam.
Sponges: Toss your sponges in the microwave for 2 min. to zap germs and freshen your sponges after using them.
kenzkween at hotmail dot com
June 25th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I try to keep my refrigerator shelves organized by keeping like items together – dairy products all on the same shelf, condiments I use often in the same bin, etc.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
My best organization/cleaning tip? Hmmm. I guess it would be to not accumulate clutter and unneeded items – and to give things away when you realize you have too much. We try to live simply and we go through each room in our house regularly to make bags of things to give to charity…
June 25th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
i label everything! i have an old labeler and would love a newer one. I decant everything in my pantry into plastic containers. I label them and they stack so much easier. I can see how much I left and can make groceries lists that way.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Atleast once a week, I will take two garbage bags and walk through our apt. I find the things that serve no purpose or we dont need(old mail, etc.) and throw it out. The other bag is items we dont need but someone else can use and I place the items on Freecycle or somewhere else!
June 25th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
I like to purchase little buckets to hide clutter. I can throw little toys or other misc. items in there and then tuck them onto a shelf and no one is ever the wiser!
Oh, and I would love to win this — how cool is it! Thanks for a great contest!
June 25th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
My best tip is to put all of your tupperware tops in a plastic bin for easy retrieval.
June 25th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
I think my best tip is to try to build routines. For us, laundry is done a certain day, garbage goes out a certain day (unless it gets full sooner!), etc. My kids know when things are expected and we can get them done and move on to the fun stuff.
June 25th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Many of the tips stated by others, I agree with.
Here’s a tip that’s been helpful to me:
The one thing that most people have a problem with is the accumulation of PAPER! All kinds of paper and I believe mail is a problem for many people. I started this practice a few years ago and it really helps keep the clutter down. When I go to fetch my newspaper and mail from their respective boxes, I immediately go through them. I sort out the junk and rip it up and throw it away within five minutes of bringing it into my clean house. Of course the bills are laid on my dear husband’s desk for him to pay (yea!!) and anything worthy of keeping, I take into my office for further handling. I try to speed-read the newspaper within 15 minutes, especially on the days when our paper is thin, such as Monday and Tuesday. (Not possible on Sunday.) The good thing is that much of the junky, useless paper is disposed up immediately and I no longer accumulate two-foot stacks of mail to go through. I guess this is really just keeping on top of the work and not letting it go because then it gets out of hand and overwhelming.
June 26th, 2008 at 2:21 am
Always have plenty of small (shoebox size) plastic containers around to keep all the small things in.
June 26th, 2008 at 3:47 am
I usually start with the bathrooms, then vacume the whole house, then mop and then dust the whole house. This seems to work better than doing an entire rom at a time.
June 26th, 2008 at 4:20 am
I sell lbooks on ebay, so you can imagine how the book clutter can build. I have a semi sophisticated system of deep plastic bins that works for me; the books are put into the bins as I list them; but that makes the ones nearest the top the ones that will sell last. So I do a bi weekly switch to a 2nd box, so that the last to sell will now be on the bottom of the stack. That way when a book sells, it is usuallyl right up at the top of the stack.
June 26th, 2008 at 6:36 am
HI ~ I came over from Metropolitan Mama! =)
My tip for cleaning is stay on top of it! Don’t let it get out of hand! =)
If you are in a room that has something going to another room take it with you when you get up! I learned that as a waitress…never walk pass a table without taking someone’s plates when they are finished…you save yourself steps and you are always doing two things at once going and coming!!!
My other tip is! Use shelves or closet space to store CUTE baskets with gift bags, bows, stuffing paper and cards for fast gift giving! Or store other things! It just hides the clutter and makes it CUTE in a basket!
When you are done in the bathroom – such as putting your make up on, fixing your hair, brushing your teeth! Always wipe the counter off! Helps keep the bathroom counters looking clean!
I just learned – if you wash your dishes in a dish washer put all spoons, forks in the same slot! That way you grab and go when you when the dishwasher is done!
Always was food off your dishes if you set them in the sink! Mr. “S” gets on me about that alllllllllllllllllllllllllll the time! HA! =) So that tip is really from him!
Sorry for the few weird tips! It’s just things I do that came to mind! I’m sure there are others!
Thanks for a GREAT giveaway!
I’m off to read all the other tips!
PS – Have fun on your trip back home!
June 26th, 2008 at 6:49 am
I mark my cleaning date on the calendar so I do not procrastinate!
June 26th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Use dryer sheets to clean things like the TV. It really traps the lint and dust, instead of just moving it around!
June 26th, 2008 at 8:11 am
I try to get my 10,000 steps in every day. So, on a cleaning day, I won’t gather all my supplies together at once. Rather, I’ll make several trips back and forth from the garage to the bathroom, back to the garage to pick up more supplies, back to the bedroom, back again to the garage, and so forth.
By the time my cleaning is done, I also have much of my 10,000 steps finished too. Cleaning and exercise, all in one fell swoop!
June 26th, 2008 at 9:13 am
I think the best cleaning advice is to have a list of to do’s daily or weekly. For that stuck on food in you skillets I use baking soda. Works great . So happy cleaning.
June 26th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Invite company over!!! This always motivates me to dust/straighten/mop/vacuum/toss/scrub. Works every time!!!
June 26th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Cool giveaway! I hope I win!
My tip is very simple: teach your children to pick up after themselves. It always takes twice as long to do everything if you include this step, but eventually it pays off big time. I think it is extra important if you have boys (as I do). They will thank you someday (as will their partners) for teaching them to be such great men! This morning my 5 year old boy made his own breakfast (yogurt, cut-up bananas, and blueberries) and left almost no evidence of his cooking and eating. Go Jonah!
June 26th, 2008 at 10:57 am
As a general rule, every member of my family spends 15-20 minutes every day cleaning up. Whatever we can do in that 15-20 minute range gets done, and we don’t worry if everything is not PERFECT! This really helps maintain the house throughout the week and avoids big clean ups on the weekends!
Thanks for the giveaway!
June 26th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
I have dedicated one desk drawer to keep all my bills in. I look in it once a day to make sure I haven’t overlooked a bill. I try to write the check and mail or make payment on line immediately upon receipt of the billing notice. However, sometimes life interferes with this course of action. So by looking in the drawer once a day I never overlook a bill and have to pay late charge.
June 26th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Bins, bins, bins of all sizes. Not only can I see what is in them- clothes, photo albums, etc, but it also protects these items when they are being stored in the attic or basement. The label maker would come in very handy for this!
June 26th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I know this sounds really simple, but when I do a clean up, I take 2 bags. One to be put things that need to be put away and the other is for things that need to be tossed. It speeds things up for me.
June 26th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
It is amazing how little time it takes to do something. If you just take 5-10 minutes to clean the bathroom, kitchen or bedroom you’ll be amazed at how much you got done.
Office Depot is like my favorite store…I would love to have this label maker.
June 26th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Let the cleaning products you use do their job. I’m amazed at how well some of the newer products do most of the work for you if you just follow the instructions. Even if it’s a product you have used for years, it may have been improved. Take a minute to read the label and use it as suggested to see how well it will work for you. Dawn Dishwashing Liquid is a product that comes to mind for me – it works so much better than it used to!
June 26th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
I have 1 day that I dedicate to cleaning,…..top to bottom. I put soul or dance music on and I dance around the house, dusting, vacuming and organizing. Great way to clean and great on the figure…..all of those extra calories burned = more lbs. lost. The music is my inspiraton to clean and organize one room at a time.
June 26th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
I love my notebook filing system for coupons. When the paper comes in I cut and sort the coupons right away. Then they are placed in my notebook. This notebook contains trading card holders in which I place the coupons. The plastic trading card holders are divided by categories. This makes is much easier to find a specific coupon when I’m shopping and easier to find expired coupons that need to be tossed.
June 27th, 2008 at 4:43 am
I use ziplock bags for eveything! They now come in so many sized, they are easy to fill and put away. I use them for the crazy cords for all of our phone chargers, for sports equipment, for paper plates and napkins…. if it’s laying around in my house, you know it won’t be long until it’s in a ziplock bag!
June 27th, 2008 at 5:04 am
For organizing, I use clear bins to keep everything from office supplies to household items that I’ve stocked up on during a great sale. They stack and store wonderfully and you never have to guess what’s inside!
June 27th, 2008 at 6:36 am
One of my tips is one I haven’t actually mastered yet…but I’ll tell it anyway. Make a schedule to do a little bit of the house cleaning at a time so that the job is far less daunting AND so that it actually gets done (you have a checklist, girl!). Having to only do dusting on Monday, floors on Tuesday, the bathroom on Wednesday, etc breaks it down into much smaller, more manageable chunks and you won’t find yourself saying, “Have I cleaned the kids’ bathroom this MONTH at all?” Ew. That’s what I find myself saying, I am embarrassed to admit. Thanks for a great giveaway, Nicole!
June 27th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Ever since we started volunteering at the local homeless shelter (my 18 year old needed community service hours to graduate) organizing has become much less of a problem. When you see people who are trying to help themselves out and you hear stories of how a loss of a job or an illness started an unhappy chain of events, you realize how fortunate you really are. It also helps someone like me, an inveterate packrat, to clean out the clutter. When I look at items stowed in drawers and closets that haven’t seen the light of day in months or years, I am able to reason that someone at the shelter needs it today. So I always keep a big box in the garage for the shelter. Each time we come across something we haven’t used in awhile we put it in the box and then, at least once a month, we drive to the shelter. I always bring the kids with me so that they can see how much their thoughtfulness is appreciated and how their old, unloved items can still bring joy to someone else. We have a lot more space now, thankfully.
June 27th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
I tend to “hang on” to things too long; as seasons change and Summer things are hung away until next year (or Fall..whatever season, it works), those items not worn during the season are hung under a label saying just that: NOT WORN. Then, the following spring (when the season changes again) I look at that labeled group with an eye to either wearing now, or moving them on. Try my best to keep to the “wear it or move it” rule, and the labeling helps!
June 27th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
My husband and I both hate housecleaning, so we split the tasks. He does the dishes and I do the laundry. We both feel like we got the better end of the deal! So my tip – have a talk with your spouse and cut a deal.
PS – I have to say, a label maker would have been a much easier way to go when labeling the contents of our church’s supply room. I still can’t believe I took my laptop into the closet – I mean room – typed info for 60 labels, then printed them and cut them down to size… I’m shakin’ my head over this one now!!!
June 27th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
I just call it File 13 aka the trash. I use it daily on my way from the mailbox!
June 27th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
What a great prize! I SO could use this is SO many ways!
My tip? See some dust in your bedroom, just grab your husband’s t-shirt that’s ready for othe laundry and go around the room and on your way to the laundry room get the kdis rooms and the living room at the same time. It’s going in the washer soon anyway!
June 27th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
I have a great way to keep your shower/tub clean. I keep a scrubby pad, a dollar store bottle of dish soap & a can of baking soda in my shower. I do this so that each day when I shower I can grab my scrubby pad, squirt on some dish soap, add a few shakes of baking soda to that and presto, non-abrasive (somewhat) natural shower clenser. I wash one wall a day and presto, a shower that never gets dirty!
June 28th, 2008 at 12:26 am
My tips is whenever you have the time and energy, keep going. If you have the time to clean and your goal is to clean the kitchen, and you finish and you still have energy to spare, start on the next room. Even if you dont finish, its still better than when you started.
-Shelly
http://shellydelight.etsy.com
shellydelight420@gmail.com
June 28th, 2008 at 7:12 am
I use pretty baskets for everything. When I want to cross stitch, I pick up that basket, When I want to write notes to my family and friends, I pick up that basket. You get the jist. They also look nice and store well on shelves and I know where everything is.
June 28th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I am checking out this blog because I need all the help I can get n organizing and cleaning. I am not sure I have any great tips. Oh wait, remove grease or adhesives with WD40. Grease removes grease, who would have thought?
June 28th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Win a label maker and then label everything!
Just kidding … save same tines (like altoids) and use them to organize desk drawers, etc. They are great for everything from headphones to memory cards to paperclips!
June 28th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Doing dishes, taking our garbage and overall making sure home is clean before bed… you feel better the next morning when you don’t have to clean up.
June 28th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Thank you for holding such a great giveaway! The best way to keep a house clean is to get rid of all unused items, all clutter and most of the furniture. While my method will not work for most people, its been very effective for me (typed sitting on a mattress on the floor in a near empty room)
June 28th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I have always been a really great pile maker. My solution was to buy a shredder, and a file cabinet. My rule is that I have to deal with the mail everyday. I either shred it, file it in the right spot (such as the bill file), or put it where it belongs. It has been a great solution for me.
Thanks for the giveaway – I’m glad I found your blog!
June 28th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
wolud love one of these gizmos they would make life so much easier
June 28th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
this is great.I would love to win this
June 28th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
I try to do a load of laundry a day so I’m not bogged down on the weekends.
June 28th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
get a bunch of plastic bins to put all your things in, it’s great cuz they come in different sizes, and they’re easy to stack in a closet or slide under the bed
June 28th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
As you read a magazine tear out the pages (and coupons) that you want to keep and then put them in a file folder to save.for later. Then pitch the magazine to get rid of clutter or donate the magazines to a retirement center or nursing home.
Thanks for a fun giveaway!
June 28th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
I put my 2 year old son’s puzzle pieces in Zip Loc bags. Each puzzles gets it’s own bag and when he is done playing with one bag he puts the pieces away before taking a new one out. There are never any missing pieces or any messes!
June 28th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
My tip- invest in a good pair of headphones, and an MP3 player. I clean my best when I’m listening to great music. Also, always keep vinegar, baking soda, and some lemons on hand. They are your best friends. For organizing- portable file folders. I’m bad about throwing away important papers, so when I get something official-looking in the mail, I file it immediately. At least I know *where* it is.
June 28th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
when organizing a lot of hobby supplies (or anything else), along with labeling boxes, write down where you put specific items, so when you’re looking for them you don’t have to read a bunch of labels. This especially helps if have the boxes are piled in a closet. So you would write down “Paint brushes: right side of the closet on the top in blue shoe box.” It makes finding things sooooo easy!
June 29th, 2008 at 5:20 am
great
June 29th, 2008 at 6:49 am
Once a week, I wash one shelf in the refrigerator. Then, I work my way down to the vegetable bins. Then, wash one shelf at a time in the door and check for expired food. It doesn’t seem so overwhelming rather tha doing the whole refrigerator in one day.
June 29th, 2008 at 8:38 am
i go through once a year and get rid of old papers and stuff we dont need anymore that are just taking up space
June 29th, 2008 at 10:04 am
I use my iPod and downloaded podcasts to get work done around my house.
I crochet a lot and use a yarn bag that has holes in the top so my yarn stays contained and I can pick it up and go on a moments notice. The bag also has a large place to keep patterns and more yarns. It’s very convenient in the car on road trips!
June 29th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
What works for me is to give each day a different type of room. It’s too overwhelming for me to clean the whole house at once so if I do one type of room a day, I keep up on it and the whole house is done by the weekend. It’s worked for me for about 20 years!
June 29th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
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June 29th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
I SO need to get organized! My tip is when I bring my laundry to the laundry room I seperate it into piles right away, that way it’s easier to throw a load in…you don’t have to seperate first. Also I can then see which pile is bigger and needs to go in first. Also I always go through the house at the end of the evening when my son is in bed, and pick up. So in the middle of the night when he wakes I’m not stepping on toys!
June 29th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
WIN WIN WIN!!!
June 29th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
I like organizing important papers by putting them in marked folders. Then when I need a paper I can easily retrieve it. This is a great giveaway and I really hope I win. Thanks.
June 29th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Honestly, I do label everything, else I would go crazy. I sometimes even use grocery bags to store out of season clothing etc. The Sharpie is my friend and I label each bag on all four sides before I store them on the highest rack of the closet. That way I know whats in there without taking them out. I dont buy containers for everything since the sizes I need keep changing. I recycle the bags after I use them.
Another thing I do is get rid of the junk mail as soon as I collect the mail. Otherwise it gets totally out of control.