This Crazy House

Clutter, clutter and more clutter

11:43 PM

Look Familiar?

Ahh clutter clutter everywhere and not a care to fix it, so it seems....

Ever notice how many guides or how to documents there are on how to declutter? When building my house hold notebook/ binder I found soooo many articles about decluttering...I need to start following them self.

The number one rule that seems to be in all the how to books and even the fly lady has the same message: If you don't use it in 6 months then get rid of or donate it. What is the point of keeping something if you don't use it?

Clutter rule number 2: Clean in seasons. I like this one alot, granted I haven't implemented it yet because well I am still unpacking my house. The rational thought of cleaning in seasons is that as you clean you can see maintenance issues that need to be taken care of....i.e. battery changes in smoke detectors, air filters in your ac unit, airing out winter clothes and taking stock in what one might need to get thru rough winter storms.

This is the same for car maintenance too. Get your oil changed every 3 months, tires each season, and make sure you keep up the routine maintenance.

Clutter rule number 3: Never bring in more stuff than you take out. If you DON'T NEED It then DON'T BUY IT! I know, I know very hard rule to follow, because of sales and impulse buys. Stay Strong!

Clutter rule number 4: (I like this one alot) Before Christmas go through you children's toys and take out toys that they no longer play with and if they are good shape PLEASE donate them to goodwill, hospitals (if applicable), or state children's homes.

Clutter rule number 5: Rotate, rotate, rotate. Meaning once a month rotate your mattresses; all mattresses if you have a mattress that doesn't have a box spring, just spin it around to rotate it. Do the same with clothes, to get rid of things that no longer fit and donate them. Rotate furniture if you like, to give a sense of change.

Clutter rule number 6: Get the family involved. I've watched many hording shows and it's scary how if one parent hordes the child is more than likely to share the same tendencies. Scary and not healthy!!!

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boxes

We've moved to a New House!

7:12 PM

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Go Green Pros and Cons of it an my opinion

2:22 PM

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article

Spring Cleaning

12:14 AM

I saw this article in the washington post and have itching to post it so without further notice here it is.

Spring Cleaning- The Basics
This editorial was produced by the The Washington Post special sections department
Author unknown

Start from top down. Dust first and then vacuum. There's nothing more madding than seeing your clean floor covered with dust. Also, if you have rugs, take them outside to shake them before you vacuum.

Some things you can't put off. Sweep the floor and vacuum often. Those little bits of crumbs will attract mice, ants and other vermin.

Use the right kind of cleaners. Don't use furniture cleaner on your windows and vise versa. Never mic cleaning solutions. Some, like ammonia and bleach, can be toxic. Use a lint-free cloth(not all paper towels are lint-free)on windows and mirrors. To avoid running back and forth between rooms, put all your cleaning supplies in a caddy to take with you as you move from room to room.

Wash up afterwards and use gloves. Change your clothing immediately after you've finish cleaning. You've just made your apartment/home spic and span and now those germs maybe on you.

Wash windows on a cloudy day instead of a sunny day. The heat from the sun will make your cleaning solution dry more quickly, causing streaks.

Other Cleaning Tips:

Small holes in window screens can be patched up with clear nail polish.

Hairspray can be used to kill flies,

Use paintbrushes and cotton swabs to dust hard-to-reach cracks (in stero systems, on a computer, in the crevices of cabinetry, etc.).

Car wax can be used on a door that sticks.

Line the bottom of your oven with tin foil; it'll catch any spills.

Clean your shower and fixtures after a steamy shower or bath. The steam will loosen dirt and grime.

Sick of your plasticware getting stained from red sauces? Before you store marinara sauce, spray your plastic bowl with cooking oil or wipe it with vegetable oil. The oil will prevent the food from soaking into the plastic.

Get rid of those stinky sponges! Sponges breed bacteria abd should be tossed every couple of weeks. In the meantime, throw them in the dishwasher after each use to keep them as clean as possible.