Jan 22 | Household Tips
Declutterathon Day 14: Tidy Desk/Organize Digital Photos
In our new home, I now have a desk, but the girls mostly use it right now for making crafts and colouring. My husband also has a desk that tends to get cluttered up with toys because it’s in our basement where most of the toys are. So today, I’ll tidy them up and make sure all the random items are in their proper place.
Also, one of my big projects that I’d like to get done one day soonish is to complete five years worth of photo books. I’m seriously the worst at getting pictures developed and books made. But I’ve been trying to keep up with keeping photos organized on my computer, but I’m sure my husband’s phone still has some that I need to put on my computer. I’ve been thinking of using Mixbook for the photo “yearbooks”. They seem to always have a deal. Though with the exchange rate these days, I’d love to hear your suggestions for a Canadian company!
What’s the state of your desk? How do you organize your digital photos? Do you have any great systems in place that help?
Download and print the Declutterathon Calendar here.
I’ll will be posting random progress reports throughout the week over in the Simply Frugal Facebook group and Instagram! Follow me on Instagram @simplyfrugal and use the hashtag #declutterathon to get updates and see what others are up to during the challenge! If you’re on Pinterest, be sure to follow my organization board for interesting organization links!
Jan 19 | Household Tips
Declutterathon Day 13: Organize Under the Beds
I always said that once we’re in a bigger home, I hope to not store things under the beds. But… some things just work under there really well! Like the cushions for our deck chairs and wrapping paper/gift bags.
Today, I’m going to take care of the dust bunnies, and organize things underneath the beds. I think I’m even storing some pictures/paintings that I’ve been meaning to hang the walls. I’ll see how ambitious I feel, they may even end up on the wall by the end of the day. 🙂
I want to know, do you store stuff under your bed? Or do you have empty space underneath?
Download and print the Declutterathon Calendar here.I’ll will be posting random progress reports throughout the week over in the Simply Frugal Facebook group and Instagram! Follow me on Instagram @simplyfrugal and use the hashtag #declutterathon to get updates and see what others are up to during the challenge! If you’re on Pinterest, be sure to follow my organization board for interesting organization links!
Jan 18 | Household Tips
Declutterathon Day 12: Organize and Purge Your Electronic Stuff
I technically have our electronic stuff “organized” since it’s mostly all in one box. But, we’ve also added a few new things to our electronics inventory this year that I know are not in that box. I’m sure there are some random cords that don’t belong to anything and batteries that are dead lying around somewhere.
Here are a few links I found on Pinterest with ideas for organizing electronics:
Have an old cell phone you’d like to recycle? Check out Recycle My Cell for drop off locations. Read the FAQ’s for all the details you need to ensure your privacy is protected.
Will you join me today in organizing your electronic stuff?
Download and print the Declutterathon Calendar here.
I’ll will be posting random progress reports throughout the week over in the Simply Frugal Facebook group and Instagram! Follow me on Instagram @simplyfrugal and use the hashtag #declutterathon to get updates and see what others are up to during the challenge! If you’re on Pinterest, be sure to follow my organization board for interesting organization links!
Jan 17 | Household Tips, Organization
Monthly Tasks for a Cleaner House
Are you finding yourself surrounded by clutter? Does it seem like you just can’t stay ahead of household cleaning tasks? Keeping a clean house can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be a struggle. In fact, there are small steps you can take each month and implement on a regular basis to enjoy a cleaner space. Look at these 12 monthly tasks to help you enjoy a cleaner space and see what a difference they can make.
January: Go paperless.
Now is the time to clear away paper clutter. Go paperless in the New Year. Switch to paperless billing and opt to do online banking. This will help you avoid the paper piles in your home and office.
February: Declutter the kitchen pantry.
How much food are you holding onto that isn’t even fresh anymore? Grab a few trash bags and take an hour to declutter the kitchen pantry. Throw away any items that aren’t good anymore and donate items that are good but you won’t eat.
March: Organize the linens.
Clean out your linen closet and remove anything that doesn’t belong. Take a few hours to thoroughly clean linens and towels. Fold and assemble them in baskets. Find places for each in your linen closet, well labeled and easy to access.
April: Tackle tile.
Take the time to tackle tile this month. Clean away shower tile grime, floor tile grime and tackle kitchen tiles. I love, love a combination of hot water, bleach and powdered Tide. When combined with a scrub brush or old toothbrush, the results are fantastic on grout!
May: Refill your cleaning basket.
Go through your cleaning supplies and re-stock. Remove any old and dirty towels, sponges, or cleaning tools. Replace them with fresh supplies and don’t forget to add in some essential oils to make homemade cleaning products smell fresher.
June: Call for an extra trash pick up.
Tackle the garage, removing any old and broken items taking up space. Donate toys you no longer use, and schedule an extra trash pick up so broken items can be hauled away and recycled if necessary.
July: Treat all area rugs and carpeting.
Use a deep cleaning machine to clean area rugs and carpeting. This is a great way and great time to remove built up soiling, dirt, and grime.
August: Deep clean the kitchen.
This means emptying cabinets, scrubbing floors, wiping down cabinetry, etc. Dedicate a weekend to cleaning out the kitchen, removing broken or unused items, and replacing cracked dishware.
September: Clean the refrigerator.
Remove all food items and clean out the fridge well. Scrub away any stains or food spills. Discard any expired food before returning items back to their place.
October: Flip mattresses and tend to bedding.
Vacuum mattress tops well on each side and flip for even wear. Replace pillows if needed and take the time to dust and clean headboards.
November: Clean upholstered items.
Rent a deep cleaning machine and clean all household upholstered items. This will help remove stains and keep fabrics smelling fresh.
December: Declutter holiday decor.
December is a great time to declutter your Christmas decorations. As you decorate your home, place any unwanted items in a bin for donation. Donating items after the holidays is somewhat pointless, as thrift stores have a harder time selling it out of season. Here is a Christmas Decoration Storage Inventory printable that you might find useful too!
Are you ready for a cleaner, more enjoyable home? Tackle these 12 monthly tasks to help you grab clutter by the horns and get your house in shape fast!
Jan 17 | Household Tips
Declutterathon Day 11: Purge Those Nightstands
We don’t have enough room in our kitchen for a junk drawer so I’d have to say that my nightstand does the honours well. 😉 But it’s all useful junk! You know, chocolate (when I need to escape the kids), flashlight, chapstick, books…
Honestly I’m not sure how good I can make the nightstand look, but I’m going to try! I’m sure I can find a proper home for some items. The bottom drawer was full of books, but I purged many books from there the other day.
I think as long as I have the top nicely cleared off, I’ll be happy. Now I hope my husband will get on board with his side!
How’s the state of your nightstand?
Download and print the Declutterathon Calendar here.
I’ll will be posting random progress reports throughout the week over in the Simply Frugal Facebook group and Instagram! Follow me on Instagram @simplyfrugal and use the hashtag #declutterathon to get updates and see what others are up to during the challenge! If you’re on Pinterest, be sure to follow my organization board for interesting organization links!
