Monthly Archives: March 2011

29 March, 2011
admin

Spring Cleaning Made Easy

It is the perfect time of year for some spring cleaning! However, it can be a little overwhelming. Where do you start? How much do you want to get done? How will you ever get it all done? The best way to go about getting your spring cleaning done is to give yourself a schedule and some parameters. The order in which you do things could be important too. Use this helpful list to get you moving in the right direction without wasting time.

1) First you need to get your regular chores done. If the dishes aren’t done, then rearranging your cabinets may not last for long. You’ll either be wasting time and energy doing it over again, or you’ll be piling up those plastic containers that don’t have anywhere to go, once again. You should take all of your dishes and figure out which ones can be stored together. You may decide to get rid of certain items that don’t stack well, containers that are missing lids, or warped frying pans. Sometimes it’s cheaper to replace your mix-matched mixing bowls with a set that stacks well instead of spending extra money on shelves and other organizational products for your cabinets.

2) Now, moving on to laundry. It’s hard to get anything done around the house if there is laundry to be done. Once you get it all done, it’s a good time to do those things that you may only have to do once or twice a year. Your washing machine should have a lint filter that needs to be cleaned ever so often. The drum also needs to be cleaned. Soap scum and fabric softeners can build up. Remove them by running a wash cycle with a bottle of white vinegar. If you have a front loader, you will most likely have a mold or mildew smell coming from around the seal. You may need to run a cleaning cycle with bleach in the water or use a product designed to get rid of the smell. Check the dryer lint trap and use a long handled brush to clear the path of lint. Check the dryer hose for lint and other debris and make sure that all the joints are fastened.

3) Getting laundry and the kitchen done are great steps towards getting your house in order enough to do all of those other little things that need to be done. Getting your closets in order can also be very helpful. Now is the perfect time to determine how you will get your closet in order. You may be able to add a few shelves and create some storage where you didn’t know you had it before. This can be helpful in finding places to put things as you tackle your problem areas. Plus, your closet will be easy to use and look better too. Hooks, shelves, and space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, can help you to save space while getting your home cleaned up. A nice wood hanger or coat hanger can be used for heavier items while slimmer hangers can be used to save space.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.

17 March, 2011
admin

Easy Closet Tips for Quick Cleaning

Getting organized is a little work, but you can make it go fast with these tips. The first step is making a commitment to get organized. The closet is a great place to begin. Your goals may include saving space, creating storage, or getting rid of excess clothing.

You can organize things yourself or hire a professional. Either way, it will be up to you to make the final decisions. Jot down notes, draw designs, and ask for other people’s opinions. Having a clear and concise plan will help you stay motivated to finish the task. Look online for ideas on how to handle your problem items.

Starting with bulky items is a good idea. First consider getting them out of your closet all together. Suitcases, camping equipment, blankets and other bulky things can usually be kept in a basement, garage, under the bed, or in a spare bedroom. Making room for the things that you use daily is a good plan.

Next, get rid of things that you don’t use. Remember to include shoes, dresses that are out of date, suits that are too tight, or clothes that fit, but you simply don’t prefer them. Most people hold on to items for years after they wear them for the last time. If there’s something that you don’t want to get rid of that you haven’t worn in a while, go ahead and wear it. See if you can remember why you don’t wear it and then decide whether or not to keep it.

Make spaces for hats, shoes, sweaters, suits, dresses and t-shirts. Your closet needs are personal and will differ from other people. A “one-size-fits-all” closet doesn’t always work out. Utilize adjustable shelving, bins, baskets, hooks and buckets to get the space organized.

Part of making the closet look nice is matching up the hardware. Hooks, drawer pulls, cabinet knobs, hangers and rods can all be updated to match. If you match your hangers, you’ll be surprised how much more uniform your closet looks. Choose hangers that are sturdy, save space, and do not damage your clothing. You may want coat hangers for suits and coats. They will help your heavier items keep their shape.

Choose hangers that don’t cross over each other on the bar. Old wire hangers are notorious for this and can make your closet look messy. Try the new space saving hangers that are on the market. These velvet hangers grip clothing. They are slim enough to save as much space as wire hangers in your closet. However, they are much stronger. You can also buy specialty space saving hangers like pants hangers, skirt hangers, and dress hangers. You can get accessories like cascading hooks and finger clips to make even more efficient use of the space in your closet.

Organizing your closets can be some work, but the effort will be well rewarded with the time that you save and the organization that you are able to maintain.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.

8 March, 2011
admin

Simple, Small, Living

Choosing to live a simple life is often a freeing decision to make. Many people feel that our lives have been consumed by consumerism. We’ve moved on from owning quaint homes, a few pieces of quality furniture, and having only what we need to wanting everything bigger, better, and in more abundance. If you’re feeling like you’re ready to slow down, simplify your life, and start minimizing around your home, then you are not alone.

People choose to simplify for a multitude of often personal reasons. Sometimes it’s just necessary to reduce because larger living spaces are so expensive. Living in a small apartment, condo, or efficiency can make it seem hard to keep down the clutter. You may be feeling like the tight space is closing in on you simply because you don’t have anywhere to put the belongings that you need to keep. Use these tips to learn how successful simpletons manage and love their smaller, more simplified lives.

1) First, start simplifying by reducing the stresses that occupy your everyday life. Something as simple as paying bills can be turned from a dreary task to a quick and paperless endeavor. Most banks offer online bill paying options that can be set up to automatically pay your bills for you, or you can go on and pay them yourself in only seconds. No paper bills, no stamps, no checks, no errands to the post office, and you are just blissfully done with a super minimal amount of effort.

2) Getting rid of excess in your home can be liberating. Before you buy something or decide to keep an item, always consider whether it is something that you need, if it could be replaced with a smaller or more efficient model, or if it is simply something that you want? Many people are able to get rid of a lot of sentimental clutter by keeping a scrapbook documenting items instead of the actual items that can take up space. If you’re keeping things because of the memories that they possess, then you will be just as happy reminiscing while looking at a photo of the item. The freedom and control of your surroundings that you feel is very addictive and will help you to keep things simple in other aspects of your life.

3) Storage is a problem for many people living in small spaces. Utilizing furniture that doubles as storage is a great way to hide storage items around your home without taking up any extra space at all. Installing a good closet system is another way to make the best use of the storage space that you have. You would be amazed at the volume of space that is wasted in most people’s closets. Vertical space should be utilized all over your home, but in the closet, it can make and enormous difference. Another way to make a difference is to use space saving hangers, like velvet hangers, to double or triple the space in your closet. Simplify the process of getting ready for work or to go out by cascading your hangers to coordinate outfits. No more searching for that shirt that goes with the pants you want to wear. Use these and other space saving strategies around your home and you can have a simply organized living space before you know it.

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.