Spring Cleaning - a Yearly Ritual

Cleaning your home is not everyone’s idea of fun. But it is something that all of us have to do. In the spring we have a yearly ritual called “spring cleaning” that I am sure everyone is really looking forward to!  😉   For some of us that still have snow - some of the outside stuff will still have to wait for a while!

We drive ourselves crazy and clean the entire house from top to bottom in one or two days. We clean things that we have ignored all year long.

It's a great idea to clean your house from top to bottom - but break it up over a few days or even a few weeks - so that you don't wear yourself out.  You can also break down each room into it's own project.

Here are some quick ideas on some of the things that you can do >>>>>

In the Kitchen:

Wash all of the appliances. Both outside and inside.

• Refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, stove
• Wash the stove drip bowls in the dishwasher 
  

Refrigerator

• Take down all of the magnets – throw out old ones that you really don’t need
• Remove all of the shelves in refrigerator and wash them
• Remove all of the bins in the refrigerator and wash them
• Defrost the freezer
• Put fresh baking soda in the freezer
• Clean under the refrigerator(throw out expired food)
  

Oven

• Clean your oven (self cleaning or with non-toxic oven cleaner)
• Rinse the oven thoroughly after it has been cleaned

Shelves / Counters

• Take everything off of your shelves and counters and wash them thoroughly
• Decide if you can part with a few of the things cluttering the counters

Backsplash

• Wipe down your backsplash all around the kitchen

Floor

• Wash your kitchen floor with a good de-greaser

Living Room

• Clean drapes and curtains
• Wash your blinds (this can be done in the bathtub)
• Shampoo your carpets
• Wash throw rugs or air them out …outside
• Vacuum the entire house….pull everything away from the wall….
• Vacuum your couches (pull out the cushions and clean underneath them)
• Use furniture polish for an extra shine on your furniture
• Dust ceiling fans, fixtures and lampshades
• Wax your floors

Dining Room

• Take all of your books & knick-knacks off of your hutch or bookshelf and dust each piece
• Dust the bookshelf / hutch
• Wash the chandelier (if the pieces come off they can be run through the dishwasher)
• Decide if you can part with some of the knick-knacks (clutter)

Bedroom

• Wash your mattress pad, blankets, quilts, pillows
• Turn over your mattress
• Dust ceiling fans & fixtures & lampshades
• Vacuum under the bed

Miscellaneous:

• Wash the windows throughout your entire house
• Clean attic & basement
• Scrub deck & patio
• Wash outdoor furniture
• Bring out your spring / summer clothes
• Clean out your car (move winter stuff to storage)
• Empty your garage - switch winter sports items for summer sports items
• Sweep out your garage
• Get rid of toys in the garage that youar kids have outgrown
• Dryer – check lint filter…..so it doesn’t cause a fire - vacuum behind the dryer

  

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more.... 

 

More Spring Projects for Your Home

 As the snow melts and spring is right around the corner - everyone is anxiously looking forward to spending more time outside. So - it's time to clean out and organizer your garage, patio and shed!

Start by pulling everything out of your garage.Then sweep it out.

Look at all of your tools, rakes and anything else in the garage and first make sure that it's all in good shape and working. If not - throw it out.

Anything that doesn't belong in the garage - put it back where it belongs.

If you are done using your snowblower or other winter weather gear - store it in the back of the garage. Be sure that it's cleaned up first. If you won't be able to use it next winter - get rid of it.

Don't forget to look at winter "toys". If you or your kids have outgrown or are no longer interested in any winter gear (sleds, ski's, snowshoes...) - get rid of it. Don't let it clutter up your garage.

Put all of your spring and summer gear closer to the front of the garage - where you can easily get to it.

Make sure that your lawnmower is ready to go! Make sure that you have rakes and leaf bags and anything else that you will need.

If you have bikes - make sure that the tires are all inflated and in good condition.

Once you are done with the garage - work on your patio or deck. Clear off any furniture and sweep it off. Make sure that any furniture you have is in good condition.

If you have a gas grill - make sure that  your tank is all filled up so that you are ready to grill!

Next - on to your shed (if you have one). Some people had sheds for extra outdoor furniture or garden supplies. If you haven't cleaned it out since last summer - now is the time to clear it out, sweep it out and organize it.

Spring is a busy time of cleaning and organizing! But once it's done - you have the entire summer to enjoy your newly cleaned and organized spaces!

 

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more.... 

 

Spring is Almost Here - It's Time to Clean

Cleaning your home is not everyone’s idea of fun. But it is something that all of us have to do. In the spring we have a yearly ritual called “spring cleaning” that I am sure everyone is really looking forward to!  😉

We drive ourselves crazy and clean the entire house from top to bottom in one or two days. We clean things that we have ignored all year long.

It's a great idea to clean your house from top to bottom - but break it up over a few days so that you don't wear yourself out.  You can also break down each room into it's own project.

Here are some quick ideas on some of the things that you can do >>>>>

In the Kitchen:

Wash all of the appliances. Both outside and inside.

• Refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, stove
• Wash the stove drip bowls in the dishwasher 
  

Refrigerator

• Take down all of the magnets – throw out old ones that you really don’t need
• Remove all of the shelves in refrigerator and wash them
• Remove all of the bins in the refrigerator and wash them
• Defrost the freezer
• Put fresh baking soda in the freezer
• Clean under the refrigerator(throw out expired food)
  

Oven

• Clean your oven (self cleaning or with oven cleaner)
• Rinse the oven thoroughly after it has been cleaned

Shelves / Counters

• Take everything off of your shelves and counters and wash them thoroughly

Backsplash

• Wipe down your backsplash all around the kitchen

Floor

• Wash your kitchen floor with a good de-greaser

Living Room

• Clean drapes and curtains
• Wash your blinds (this can be done in the bathtub)
• Shampoo your carpets
• Wash throw rugs or air them out …outside
• Vacuum the entire house….pull everything away from the wall….
• Vacuum your couches (pull out the cushions and clean underneath them)
• Use furniture polish for an extra shine on your furniture
• Dust ceiling fans, fixtures and lampshades
• Wax your floors

Dining Room

• Take all of your books & knick-knacks off of your hutch or bookshelf and dust each piece
• Dust the bookshelf / hutch
• Wash the chandelier (if the pieces come off they can be run through the dishwasher)

Bedroom

• Wash your mattress pad, blankets, quilts, pillows
• Turn over your mattress
• Dust ceiling fans & fixtures & lampshades
• Vacuum under the bed

Miscellaneous:

• Wash the windows throughout your entire house
• Clean attic & basement
• Scrub deck & patio
• Wash outdoor furniture
• Bring out your spring / summer clothes
• Clean out your car (move winter stuff to storage)
• Dryer – check lint filter…..so it doesn’t cause a fire - vacuum behind the dryer

  

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com
.

Visit our Life & Business Coaching website:  North By Northwest

*** check out the Products tab for self-paced workshops, planners and more.... 

 

 

Love It or List It

If you have ever seen the show  "Love It or List It"  you can appreciate the  "idea" behind the title. Two realtors try to make a couple choose whether they can re-design their house to make it work for the couple - or list it for sale.

The idea can be used when it comes to organizing your home.  If you feel that your home is not functioning the way that you need then you should make some changes.

Pick a room.  Any room. It's just a place to start. Look at the things in the room. One piece at a time. Decide if you "love it" or if you want to get rid of it "list it" (on Craigslist or ebay...).

Don't keep things just because you've had them a long time or someone that you care about gave them to you. Your tastes and mood can change over the years.  Don't let yourself get stuck in a rut.  Don't feel that you have to keep things forever.

People "downsize"  or  "right size" at various points in their life. If the furniture or decorations or size of the home don't fit your lifestyle any longer .... make a change.

Don't feel forced to be stuck with things that you no longer care about.

It's time to play "Love It or List It".

Go ahead.....You can do it !


Organizational Consulting Services

www.organizationalconsultingservices.com

IT's TIME TO CLEAN - INSIDE AND OUT

The warm weather is here and people are starting to spend more time outside. But is your garage and house ready for the change of seasons? Can you easily get to your rake and gardening tools?

While the weather is warm take a few minutes to drag everything out of your garage and give it a good cleaning. Sweep out the leaves and dust. Re-arrange your tools and equipments so that the things that you need for the warm weather are more accessible. Move your snowblower and shovels to the back and bring your rakes and other summer toys out front.

The same goes for the inside of your house. Open all of the windows. Air out the house. Clean the windowsills. Rearrange your winter clothes and put them in the back of the closet and bring out your spring/summer coats and clothes. Be sure to get rid of things that are too small or that you haven't worn.

Put your "winter" toys away (ski's and such...). Find the beach towels and blankets for those great impromptu picnics. I always carry a blanket in my trunk just in case I decide to take an hour to relax and enjoy the great weather outdoors.

Start thinking about all of the "small projects" that you might want to do outside and make a list. Remember, break down all projects into small, manageable pieces.

Putting your projects on your calendar and scheduling them gives you a better chance of actually getting them done than by just "thinking" about doing them.



Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/

SPRING CLEANING

Cleaning your home is not everyone’s idea of fun. But it is something that all of us have to do. In the spring we have a yearly ritual called “spring cleaning” that I am sure everyone is really looking forward to.

We drive ourselves crazy and clean the entire house from top to bottom in one or two days. We clean things that we have ignored all year long.

So…. let’s get started.

In the Kitchen:

Wash all of the appliances. Both outside and inside.

• Refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, stove
• Wash the stove drip bowls in the dishwasher (or buy new ones)

Refrigerator

• Take down all of the magnets – throw out old ones that you really don’t need
• Remove all of the shelves in refrigerator and wash them
• Remove all of the bins in the refrigerator and wash them
• Defrost the freezer
• Put fresh baking soda in the freezer
• Clean under the refrigerator

Oven

• Clean your oven (self cleaning or with oven cleaner)
• Rinse the oven thoroughly after it has been cleaned

Shelves / Counters

• Take everything off of your shelves and counters and wash them thoroughly

Backsplash

• Wipe down your backsplash all around the kitchen

Floor

• Wash your kitchen floor with a good de-greaser

Living Room

• Clean drapes and curtains
• Wash your blinds (this can be done in the bathtub)
• Shampoo your carpets
• Wash throw rugs or air them out …outside
• Vacuum the entire house….pull out everything from the wall….
• Vacuum your couches (pull out the cushions and clean underneath them)
• Use furniture polish for an extra shine on your furniture
• Dust ceiling fans, fixtures and lampshades
• Wax your floors

Dining Room

• Take all of your books & knick-knacks off of your hutch or bookshelf and dust each piece
• Dust the bookshelf / hutch
• Wash the chandelier (if the pieces come off they can be run through the dishwasher)

Bedroom

• Wash your mattress pad, blankets, quilts, pillows
• Turn over your mattress
• Dust ceiling fans & fixtures & lampshades
• Vacuum under the bed

Miscellaneous:

• Wash the windows throughout your entire house
• Clean attic & basement
• Scrub deck & patio
• Wash outdoor furniture
• Bring out your spring / summer clothes
• Clean out your car (move winter stuff to storage)
• Dryer – check lint filter…..so it doesn’t cause a fire - vacuum behind the dryer

If you don’t want to do all of this in one weekend….that’s O.K. Break it down into smaller projects over a couple of weeks. Once you have accomplished everything on the list your home will be clean and ready for spring.

Organizational Consulting Services

www.organizationalconsultingservices.com