Weekly Challenges 
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      2009:       Apr     May     Jun      Jul     Aug     Sept     Oct     Nov     Dec                                   Free organizational tips       

We all can get so bogged down with maintaining a home - both inside and out.  But if you let daily chores add up for a long enough period of time, it causes you to be frustrated.  You can't find what you need, small things get lost, nothing seems to have a "home", piles of papers build up, and suddenly you are overwhelmed.  If you start working on getting a handle on certain tasks each week, at least you'll be one step closer to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

If you can put aside just 15 minutes a day to straighten things up each evening, you will be amazed how quickly you can accomplish a task.  If you can only set aside 30 minutes a week, it's better than none!  Look at the list of ideas we've provided you and tackle one a week (or one a day!)  We are always adding new tips and ideas to help you stay on top of the housework hassle.  If you have an idea we can use, please let us know.  We love to hear about your success stories each week.   Contact us with your suggestions or ideas.

                Make it a challenge to free yourself from clutter!  Start today! 

 


Week of April 13, 2009

Look through your medicine cabinet and remove all its contents.  Dispose all expired medications, old cosmetics, and any toiletries you haven't used in the past year of whose expiration dates have expired.  If you don't plan to use these, then toss them.  Take a damp cloth to the inside of the cabinet and wipe it clean.  Replace all items you plan to use.  Doesn't it look much better?

Week of April 20, 2009

Look through your junk drawer in your kitchen.  You know the drawer that seems to collect everything you want to hide in a hurry or don't where to put.  Remove all its contents.  Use Ziplock bags to sort through screws, nails, rubber bands, and other small items.  Throw away all old coupons, twist ties, straws, et.  Old batteries should be disposed of separately.  Wipe out drawer.  Keep only the things you will use in the drawer - slotted and Philips head screw drivers, tape measure, pens (that have been tested and write), sharpened pencils, a couple small pads of paper, etc.

Week of April 27, 2009

Time to consider going through the kids rooms and collect all clothing they have outgrown and toys they haven't played with for quite some time.  Find some good sturdy cardboard boxes and put all clothing inside and label the box clearly on the side and top.  Do the same thing for all the toys.  If you are considering holding a garage sale in the fall, your things are ready to be gone through and priced.  Hold aside anything that was never opened and consider giving re-gifting it at a child's birthday party or wrap it up to be put under the Angel Tree at Christmas time.  Some deserving child may love the item.

 

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Week of May 4, 2009

Prepare for spring planting!  Now is the time to go through all your old flower pots and get them cleaned out and prepared for the new growing season.  Wash pots and tools in soapy water and air dry.  Many nurseries will take back any plastic pots to use again.  Plants that have been hardened over from the winter can now be cleaned out of dead leaves, spent plants, and other debris.

Week of May 11, 2009

Time to prepare flower beds and planters for new spring growth!  When cleaning out small potted plants, transfer all leftover soil to flower beds or areas around the house that need extra soil (and possibly more grass seed!).  Vegetables require clean pots and fresh soil, if you plan to have a container garden.  Beds require several turnings of the soil and fresh clean grass clipping (free from all seeds) to lighten the soil.

Week of May 18, 2009

Clean out one of your vehicles this spring.  You know how easy it is for your vehicle to collect trash, leaves, and road dirt inside them.  Detail the inside of your vehicle by washing all the windows, wiping down all surfaces where dust and dirt can settle, and vacuuming it well.  Look through your glove compartment, arm rest, and even under seats and toss the things you rarely ever use.  Be sure you have a working pen and/or pencil and paper in your car where you can access it quickly and easily.  A sticky note pad works great for me!

Week of May 25, 2009

Now that your car has been detailed on the inside it's time to check a few other things.  Check the tire pressure on your tires and ensure they are inflated for warm weather driving.  Check the levels of your windshield washer fluids, radiator, oil, etc.  There are a number of places you can now take your car (such as Advanced Auto) and they will check things for free.  Have them check the life of your battery and get the leads cleaned just in case!

                                                                                                                                                   

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Week of  June 1, 2009

 

This week, look through your refrigerator and remove the contents of one shelf, check the expirations dates of all its contents and throw away any outdated items.  Clean the shelf and walls of that space.  Continue this for the other shelves.  Now decide if the shelves are the height you truly want and adjust if necessary.  Replace the contents of the shelves by putting like things together on the same shelf.  Keep all small containers on the same shelf, tall ones on another.  Repeat the same process for the door shelves.

Week of June 8, 2009

Here's your chance to get some dust bunnies out of your kitchen.  If you have a push-in oven/stove unit, open the door and pull it away from the wall.  It is very light weight.  You should be able to get behind it while it's still plugged in.  Grab your vacuum and vac up all the dust that has built up for months.  Now get a damp cloth and clean the floor well.  check the sides of the stove and counters and wipe up all spills.  Push the unit back against the wall and pull out the drawer underneath.  Empty all contents out and wipe clean the drawer and tracks.  Replace only what you've used in the past year and donate the rest.

Week of June 15, 2009

TV dusting time!  Pull you TVs away from the walls and vacuum behind and underneath them.  TVs collect a lot electrostatic dust even when they're not turned on.  Vacuum the top, sides and back of the TV and wipe with a slightly damp cloth.

Week of June 22, 2009

I have had many people ask me how to manage children's toys, school papers, art, and backpacks/gym clothes in the home, so for the next month I'll address some ideas to help you.  Thanks for all the questions and positive comments!

Giving kids the responsibility to clean up the living areas of the home is really an easy task.  Go to the dollar store and get a 12 x 14 inch (I believe) plastic basket for each child in your home.  Stack these away somewhere so they aren't seen by guest but are accessible to the children.  At the end of each day have the children get their baskets, set a timer for 15 minutes, and have them pick up any toys or things that belong to them.  They are then to take the baskets to their rooms and begin putting the toys away where they belong.  If they don't finish before time is up, then can finish the job the next morning, then put the baskets back.  They can be rewarded daily when all items have been "properly" put away.  The first one done can also be rewarded.  This teaches them to leave less and less toys laying around!

 

Week of June 30, 2009

 

Children's artwork & projects can be difficult to keep and store due to the various sizes of their projects.  Consider taking photos of the art projects your child creates and keep these photos in a scrapbook with their name on it. This way, you'll keep the memory without having to store the actual projects.  The artwork that you do wish to frame can be kept in any large, thin box.  Then when time allows try to take one or two of your favorite and place them in frames to hang or give to relatives.

 

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Week of July 6, 2009

 

Storage of toys can be a chore.  Some children enjoy putting toys back on a shelf (visual), while some do a better job at putting toys away in bins, buckets, or baskets (kinesthetic).  Get a toy catalog and cut out pictures of the toys and glue it to an index card.  Then add the name of the toy under the picture.  Tape the cards to the shelves or buckets/bins (covering the whole card with tape).  This helps them remember what they have to play with and where it belongs once they are finished playing. 

 

Week of July 13, 2009

 

When backpacks are so vital for carrying school books, notebooks, and assignments from home to school and back again, it's important for them to have a place in the home.  If there is little room to place backpacks just inside the entrance door to the home, you might want to invest in a small vertical or horizontal chest to put as near as possible to the door.  If you don't have any floor space to put a chest, you might want to consider adding large hooks to a piece of wood and hang it on a wall near the door.  Now you have a place to put backpacks

 

Week of July 20, 2009

 

"I have four young children and lots of shoes laying all over the floor.  How can I manage them?"   Shoes can cause many problems when you have a small area around your entrance door.  Closets only have so much storage space on the floor and if you don't have a closet, you have to be very imaginable.  In these cases, a horizontal storage chest can serve you well.  Not only does it offer seating to get shoes on/off, but it also serves as storage space.  Target stores have a Rubbermaid shoe cubby unit you can hang on the back wall of a closet and other shoe racks of all types and sizes.  I prefer one that doesn't use wires so shoes below remain clean of debris and water - shoe stacker.  K-Mart has cloth and wire "over the door" shoe racks along with other items.

 

Week of June 27, 2009

 

"My three children bring home papers I need to sign, homework, and art and I'm tired of them getting all jumbled together--help!"  We can't expect children to develop good organizational skills on their own, but they can be trained.  A simple shelf unit can do well in many instances.  However, the most clever device I've used in my preschool classes was simply a rope and clothes pins.  It may not the prettiest thing, but very effective.  Color or name the clothes pins (three for each child); one for homework to be checked, one for papers needing signatures, and one for art work.  Before bedtime, make sure the children place all papers needing to be returned, to the backpack.  It saves you from having to spend time in the morning getting organized.

                                                                                  

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Week of August 3, 2009                                       

                                        

Phone center:  If you don't have a phone center, then now is the time to set one up.  Get a small pad of paper that you can take notes on and rip off to hang up in various places in your home.  Next find something around your home that will serve as a pen holder (mug you no longer use, covered frozen juice can, or small flower pot, or drinking glass) and place it next to the phone.  Lastly, locate at least 5 pens that you've tested and know write well, at least 3 pencils that are sharp and have good erasers, and 1 or 2 black sharpie pens that are also in good condition and put them all into the container you've designated as the holder.  It helps to have a pair of scissors in the holder as well.  If your pad is not a "Post-It" type pad, then be sure to have a tape dispenser near by as well.  If you happen to have storage space in a drawer near the phone, be sure it is contained in a shoebox lid or something so you don't have to rummage through things to find what you're looking for.  Now when you when to jot down a message or make a note to remind you of something, you know exactly where your tools are. 

 

Week of August 10, 2009

 

Delegate the household chores!!  Not quite sure what age you should introduce household chores to children?  Below is a general list of age appropriate things children should be able to do.  Let them learn along side you.

 

-  3 yr olds :  get dressed, put clothes in drawers, fold small things (socks, wash cloths, underwear), pick up toys, empty small trash baskets, brush teeth

-  5 yr olds:  help put dishes away and set/clear table, help with family pets (feed, water, walk), dust surfaces, vacuum room, rinse dishes

-  7 yr olds:  help with preparing and cleaning up after meals, sweep, rake leaves, wash car with help

-  9 yr olds:  make sandwiches and simple meals, mow lawn, wash dishes, dry, and put away, empty dishwasher and put dishes away, painting, sanding

 

Week of August 17, 2009

 

Create a simple form that gives you room to write down items you've loaned to people.  Don't rely on just your memory.  Keep the list on the inside of a kitchen cupboard so you can keep track of what you loaned, to whom, and the date it was given.

 

Week of August 24, 2009

 

Use some each weekend to plan and prepare a few meals for the upcoming week.  Take time to write down a few dinner menus that you can rotate each week.  When shopping for the ingredients, stick to only things listed so you don't buy unnecessary things.  Pre-cook ground meats and freeze.  Make a large casserole and hold it in the fridge for a couple of days.  When ready to cook, just put it in the oven. 

 

Week of August 31, 2009

 

Create a Special Dates list.  Take a piece of colored paper (it's not as easy to loose) and write down the twelve months of the year.  Use this to help remember birthdays, anniversaries, and any other important dates for the year.  You can even write down if a card was sent or what kind of gift was given the prior years.

 

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Week of Sept. 7, 2009

 

School has begun again!  Save time and frustration by being prepared!

1.  Create a master schedule.  It is a lot easier to keep track of everyone if there is just one place in your home where everyone’s schedule lives.  A great tool to use is a  whiteboard calendar where you can easily write in appointments and erase them as necessary.  Use a different color on the calendar for each person. 

2.  Make sure that your kids know where their schoolwork belongs and what the consequences are if school items are found elsewhere in your home.

3.  Create some organizational routine's into everyone's day.  Living together means sharing in the household responsibilities. 

 

Week of Sept. 14, 2009

 

When helping children get organized, color code them.  You can add colored round dots on toys, books, baskets, etc.  Use these same colors when preparing chore charts or items used in token economy systems.  This helps the family identify who things belong to and even where they may belong.   School items should also be color coded.  I've color coded my children's socks for years so each knew which pairs were theirs!

 

Week of Sept. 21, 2009

 

Meal planning for the family

Take a piece of paper (8 1/2 x 11) and fold it lengthwise in half.  Fold that half crosswise and then in half again to equal 8 sections.  Write the days of the week in seven of the sections and "leftovers" in the eighth.  Decide what six meals you'd like to prepare that week and have two leftover nights on your two busiest nights.  The day you go to the market is the day to prepare an easy meal with the fresh ingredients.  Plan to create a number of these and save them.  You can rotate them and develop a market list for each week to attach to it.  Now you don't have to come home and decide what to quickly throw together!

 

Week of Sept. 28, 2009

 

Adding storage space in a small bathroom is not difficult if you consider your vertical space (walls).  If you're really tight on workable wall space, you might try an over-the-toilet shelf unit.  These can run anywhere from $30 on up.  Some contain only shelves, while others have doors to hide things.  Wall shelves can also serve to add more storage.  If you need to store bath toys, consider a net with suction cups that hangs inside the tub where toys can be hidden behind a shower curtain.

 

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Week of Oct. 5, 2009

 

Garage tips:  Keep your tools clean and organized.  If possible, purchase or make a simple wall mount to hang your tools on.  You can  use peg board and hooks, purchase inexpensive metal holders just for this job, or make a wood holder from a 2x4 and some cut dowel pieces.  Try to keep as much off the floor as possible to you can get a broom around things when cleaning up.  Re-use plastic jars for small items such as nails, bolts, odds and ends you get with build-it-yourself furnishings.  Use as many see-through storage devices as possible so family members know where things are.

 

Week of Oct. 12, 2009

 

Before it gets too cold, go around the house and be sure your home is ready to keep you warm.  Consider having a professional inspect your home's furnace.  Look at any air filters on your furnace and in your home and replace them.  Check batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and flashlights.  Prepare to drain and turn off all outside water faucets.  Check your fire extinguishers.  And lastly, check all the windows and outside doors in your home to insure their seals are clean, tight, and in good condition.

 

Week of Oct. 19, 2009

 

Kimberly wrote in and asked how best to organize drawers containing undergarments.  She has trouble with the small things getting lost, etc.  I like to use shoe boxes and their lids to help organize my drawers.  Bras stay neatly in place inside a shoe box.  Keep all like items together to remain in one place in the drawer and add a couple of boxes to help serve as dividers.  Use the lids to keep rolled nylons in place and stack slips all together on one side of the drawer to keep them from shifting.  Fold all socks in half and use cut cardboard (from cereal boxes for example) to place between colors.

 

Week of Oct. 26, 2009

 

This is the perfect time of year to go through your home and gather any things you no longer want or need.  Grab a box or a large bag and collect things you can donate to needy families.  Consider wrapping new items and finding your local Angel trees to place the gifts under.

                                                                                  

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Week of Nov. 2, 2009

 

With a lot of shopping ahead, it's time to make a list for yourself to follow.  Combine trips out to stores with other errands.  Plan ahead and keep your focus on what you have written down on paper.  Don't forget to schedule some quiet time for yourself or with your family as a reward for a  job well done.  Then you can enjoy the true meaning of the season.

 

Week of Nov. 9, 2009

 

Prepare now for traveling.  Pack your things ahead of time and write down those needed items.  Keep that list in your suitcase at all times.  It makes packing for your next trip a breeze!  Try to return from your trip a few days early so you can unpack and get re-adjusted in your home and catch up on mail, groceries, and other things.  You will feel much more refreshed when you return back to work.

 

Week of Nov. 16, 2009

 

Can you see me now?  Your windows love to be cleaned in this type of weather.  Begin inside and get those windows sparkling.  Check your screens, vacuum the ledges and check the seals around all the windows.  Now take care of the windows on the outside and take care of cobwebs, build up of anything.  Can your windows breath?  Consider trimming any plants that can cause problems for siding or screens.

 

Week of Nov. 23, 2009

 

Happy Thanksgiving!  Take time this year to reflect on the past.  Make time for yourself and make time to share with your family.  Consider writing some short letters to add to your holiday cards.  Email people you haven't connected with for over a year.  Time is valuable -- especially to older folks.  Let them know you care by spending TIME with them. 

 

Week of Nov. 30, 2009

 

Organizing Autumn decorations and switching to Winter holiday decorations takes time and thought.  If you're like most people who purchase new things each year, then now is the time to go through all of your Autumn things and decide which ones you love to use and which ones you don't.  Pass down those decorations that you aren't crazy about and consider storing many items in several shoe boxes or paper ream boxes.  Label all boxes and store them away for next year.  Remember to group things either by likeness or by the area in your home in which they will be set up and arranged next year.  While taking out the winter decorations, decide which ones you aren't crazy about and pass them down now to family members or take them in to your work place and let them keep them.

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Week of Dec. 7, 2009

 

Pantry cleanout time!  When was the last time you checked the dates on boxed and canned goods?  Well, now is the time to take a good look at what you have and toss outdated items.  Begin a check-off list of groceries purchased regularly.  When you use one from the cupboard, check it off your list.  Then take that list with you to the market to shop from.

 

Week of Dec. 14, 2009

 

This is a great time of year to go through your dresser drawers and clean them out.  Purchase some scented drawer liners then place your folded items back in the drawers.  Old sweaters you haven't worn in a long time?  Donate them or use them to make soft sculpted animals with.   Unmatched socks or socks with holes in the toes can be made into plastic bag holders, puppets, sock animals, or dog pull toys.

 

Week of Dec. 21, 2009

 

Pull out the decorations and go through them.  Hand down any you don't want any more or donate them to a business to adorn their trees with.  Make sure all gift boxes have lids that fit.  Organize your decorations by room or theme to make it easier to find.  Check all light strands and toss old ones.  Shine things up and make things sparkle.

 

Week of Dec. 28, 2009

 

Time to relax!  Consider going through some of your pleasure reading books and thin them out.  Ones you don't want to read again, donate or trade them in on different ones.  Take time for yourself and find a comfortable place to relax and read.  You owe it to yourself.  I hope you have found this year's challenges to be helpful and rewarding! 

 

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Week of Jan. 4,  2010

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  This month is known to be the most productive month for getting organized!  This week try doing a "clean sweep" and go through at least two rooms to pick up and toss or displace small things laying around on horizontal surfaces.  Grab a shoe box and pick up anything that doesn't belong and put it in the box.  Try hard not to set the box down - remember, you are COLLECTING things only.

 

Week of Jan. 11, 2010

 

This week, you can sort through the shoe box (s) and make piles that pertain to each room in your home where you need to displace the items to.  Don't forget to have a trash can next to you to toss out what you don't want (outdated receipts, old mail, expired coupons, etc.

 

Week of Jan. 18, 2010

 

Now is the time to close out the prior year and get all you paperwork in order for taxes.  Take time this week to collect all the necessary paperwork you'll need to complete your tax paperwork.  Put them all into a box and clip together all bills, statements, receipts, etc. so you are ready when the time comes to complete your taxes.

 

Week of Jan. 25, 2010

 

According to Martha Stewart, there are 9 things to complete before the month ends.  This is what she writes:

   1.  Dress your bed with pretty sheets

   2.  Make a big pot of soup

   3.  Recycle old electronics (earth911.com)

   4.  Try a new winter vegetable

   5.  Visit a historic home

   6.  Tackle one closet

   7.  Switch to eco-friendly cleaning products

   8.  Peruse seed-catalogs, and plan spring plantings

   9.  Spend more time with family and friends

 

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Week of Feb. 1, 2010

 

Isn't it amazing how quickly time flies by?  A few weeks ago I suggested that you get your tax paperwork in order so you are prepared to insert those dollar figures into those little blank spaces on those tax forms.  This week is a great time to tackle just one file cabinet drawer.  How does it look?  Do you have many papers that date back to the stone age?  If so, now is the time to rid your drawer of them.  One-by-one, look at each item in a file and determine whether they are relevant to you TODAY.  Shred personal documents and toss the rest.

 

Week of Feb. 8, 2010

 

Valentine's Day preparations are in this week's tip.  Try to consider ways of "showing" your loved one how much you care rather than handing them something you purchased.  Make your own card, bake something special, make him/her a healthy breakfast, dinner or dessert.  The act of showing can mean so much more!

 

Week of Feb. 15, 2010

 

Shoes!  How many shoes do you have?  Take time this week to go through some of those shoes you haven't worn in years.  On the weekend, put some on and walk around the house in them.  Do they hurt your feet in any way?  Then it might be time to donate them to someone whose feet they won't hurt.  Be sensible about how many shoes you have, how often you will wear them, AND if they are still in fashion. 

 

Week of Feb. 22, 2010

 

Have you ever glanced up at your window treatments and seen cob webs growing or dust accumulating on the tops?  Do your blinds have a thick or thin layer of "fluff" on them?  This week, get the vacuum and brush attachment out and step ladder.  If your draperies are too heavy to remove, vacuum them really well.  The more dust you remove, the better you'll breath.  Don't forget while you're up there, to vacuum the tops of any rods,  window casings, or corners.

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Week of March 1, 2010

 

REUSE:  When thinking about organizing an area in your home, take time to look around you and see what you have that can be used for storage, instead of going out to buy something that's handy.  Use shoe boxes, baskets, paper ream boxes from work, and other standard-sized boxes that are readily available.  If you have fabric, wallpaper, or shelf paper scraps, use them to cover cleaned out cans (to use as pencil holders), small boxes (to use as jewelry dividers in a drawer), or shoe boxes (to use as CD holders).

 

Week of March 8, 2010

 

REDUCE:  Use power strips to plug appliances and electronics into (those things that use energy when on "standby" mode).  When you leave home for the day, turn the power strip off to conserve energy.  Another way to save energy at night is to put another blanket on the bed and turn the thermostat down a degree or two.  All these things add up to large savings at the end of the year.

 

Week of March 15, 2010

 

RECYCLE:  Practice makes perfect!  Get in the habit of resisting the urge to dump clutter into the garbage.  Consider donating and consigning.  Many of the items you no longer need can really benefit someone else who has less.  Look online for local charities - you'll be amazed at the long list you will find!

 

Week of March 22, 2010

 

REMOVE:  Did you know that over ninety million trees are cut down yearly to produce junk mail?  Take time this week to remove yourself from unnecessary mailing lists.  Consider receiving sale information, etc. electronically instead of by mail.  Store information in your computer so locate and use later.

 

Week of March 29, 2010

 

RETHINK:  Take time this week to look at HOW you live your life - your shopping/spending habits, the time you invest in picking things up around the house, time you spend with the family, and time you spend for yourself.  The Internet is full of great ideas to help you spend less and live more.  Be creative!  Get the whole family involved in learning how to resist ads that encourage you to buy, buy, buy!

 

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Week of April 5, 2010

 

This is the time of the year to consider your inside her garden or cleaning up your over grown potted plants.  Have you gone through you stack of planting pots lately?  Toss any broken pots, empty all soil from used pots and see if your tools are clean and rust free.  Do you have both of your yard gloves?  Do you have new soil and plant food?  Take advantage of the spring sales.

 

Week of April 12, 2010

 

Time to go outside - With the growing season now upon us it's time to turn on the outside water mains.  How do your old hoses look?  Do you have the proper equipment needed to water your plants or lawns?  When you bring your hose back out, consider hiding it in a plastic pot (you'll need to drill a large hole in the side, near the bottom of the pot to feed the hose through).  Then simply wind it up in the pot after each use.  Check the outside of your home for loose bricks, peeling paint, foundation cracks.  Get them repaired before expected rains.

 

Week of April 19, 2010

 

Spring is also the time of year to trim bushes and unsightly tree limbs.  Remember to keep the bottom tree branches trimmed so you can walk under them while mowing.  Trim small new growth from the trunks.  Keep your bushes looking natural as you trim some of the branches back.  This is a very therapeutic task that is much more fun to do before the bugs come out!

 

Week of April 26, 2010

 

For organic gardening, vinegar can function as a handy natural weed killer. It's the acetic acid in vinegar that gives it the power to kill weeds. The higher the percentage of acetic acid in the vinegar, the better.  Spray directly onto weeds until plant dies.

 

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Week of May 3, 2010

 

When was the last time you checked your laundry room for efficiency?  You can take advantage of tax rebates when you purchase some new Energy Star rated appliances, but you can also care for your old ones.  Check the washer hoses for any bulges or cracks.  When was the last time you checked the actual water temperatures from the wall to the machine?  Pull the dryer away from the wall and look to ensure the hose clamp is tight around the exhaust tubing.  Vacuum out all vent traps inside and where it exits the house.

 

Week of May 10, 2010

 

When was the last time you walked around the outside of your home and really looked at  the soffits, fascias, gutters, and sides of your home?  Do you see signs of mold, peeling paint, rotting boards, holes where small animals can enter and live, or soft spots?  A good pressure washing can be a great place to start but be careful not to apply too hard of pressure to peel paint?  Once clean, check everything thoroughly, then prepare to fix or replace anything needed.

 

Week of May 17, 2010

 

This week it's time to pull out two easy appliances in your kitchen and clean under them.  First, the fridge - this rolls straight out easily so you can vacuum and clean underneath and behind it.  Check the drip pan and inside bottom drain.  Next, pull out your [non-set-in] oven/stove and clean the sides for spill-overs and vacuum and clean the floor underneath.  Two small steps to eliminate dust and build-ups.

 

Week of May 24, 2010

 

How do all of the horizontal surfaces of your home look this week?  What do I mean?  Well, when was the last time you got a step stool and looked at all the high surfaces - tops of door, door and window frames, and mantles?  What do the tops of your baseboards look like?  Those area surfaces that are often overlooked when cleaning.  Remember, your little brush tool is your best friend!  Use it often!

 

Week of May 31, 2010

 

This week is a good week to move at least one bed.  Strip the bed, get someone to help you slide it off the box springs, remove the box and frame and give that area a good vacuuming.  Don't forget to use the crevice tool at the bottom of the baseboard and the brush on the top.  If possible, clean under all your beds in your home.

 

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Week of June 7, 2010

 

Today is my birthday - I'm not going to get my home organized or cleaned today.  I would however, like to hear from those of you who visit this page regularly and tell me what your thought are.  Are you finding these tips helpful in your daily household management?  Are you engaging your children to help?  Use our Contact page and tell us what you like or dislike.  Thanks.  Have a great week!

 

 

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