HOME ESSENTIALS

How to Get Rid of Clutter

6 Daily Household Cleaning Tips

Organize Your Refrigerator in 4 Easy Steps

Is Your House Work-friendly?

How to Prepare for House Guests

FOOD & ENTERTAINING

The Joy of Baking with Kids

Create Simple and Delicious Family Meal Plans

How to Make Cake Mix Taste Like Homemade

Save on Groceries – Reduce your Bill by 25% This Week

FORMS & CHECKLISTS

Guest Room Checklist

Guest Bathroom Checklist

Bathroom Accessories Checklist

Every season I do a thorough cleaning of my entire house and get rid of clutter. I go through every room, closet, nook and cranny. It usually takes about a week but when I’m finished I only have things in my home that I need, use or absolutely love. If you are tired of walking by messy, untidy rooms day after day, the following steps will help you get rid of clutter and take control of your home.

Decide which items to keep. At first glance, keeping an item may appear to be the easiest route to take. But before you continue down that road, keep in mind that you are trying to get rid of clutter not merely reassign it to another location. It may help to look at your things as if you didn’t own them. If you were helping a friend get rid of clutter and get organized what would you suggest that they do with the item?

Determine usefulness. This may seem obvious but if you seldom or rarely use an item, think twice before holding onto it any longer. If something can easily be purchased again and you are not currently using it, sell or donate it. If an item is likely to appreciate, hold on to it or sell it now for quick cash. Family heirlooms, hand-made gifts, childhood memorabilia, etc. may possess little monetary value but may indeed be priceless. Keep them well-maintained and packed away in a safe place or on display for your guests to see.

Give each item a home. Once you decide what you are going to keep, figure out where it belongs. As you go through the rooms in your house or apartment, ask yourself, “Does this item work best here?” This will help you stay focused on your clutter control mission.

Sell unwanted items. What you view as clutter could be viewed as treasure to another. List your items online or hold a yard/garage sale. If it is cost effective, put an advertisement in the local paper. Pay the extra fees so that the ad can be viewed online. Don’t forget about word of mouth advertising. Tell your family and friends that you have items for sale. They can help get the word out and may even become your best customers.

Give to charity. If an item hasn’t sold after a predetermined amount of time consider donating it to a charitable organization. Research several national organizations or choose a local cause that’s dear to your heart.

Recycle. If the item is no longer needed and is in good condition, look into recycling. Gather bins to separate paper, plastic, etc. Identify an area where the items will be accepted and processed.

Toss items in disrepair. Avoid selling or donating items that have missing or broken pieces. If an item is in serious disrepair, tossing it is probably the best thing to do.

Here, you will find…

• Snippets of my home life, a few random thoughts and a list of tried and true recipes.
• You may also see posts about a few things I can’t do without such as:
  • Blistex lip balm (the kind in the green tube)
  • Hand lotion (any kind will do) 
  • Hot chocolate (with whipped cream of course)

In case you are wondering…

• I feature products that appeal to me as a consumer. If I own the product, I typically provide a review.
• I do not sell any products directly. If you are interested in purchasing something featured on the site, click on the picture or the name of the product within the blog post. These are affiliate links.
• There is 3^rd party advertising on the site. I do not control the content of the ads that appear. 

While you are visiting, please feel free to…

• Leave comments on products and recipes you have tried.
• Bookmark helpful tips so that you can refer to them again and again.
• Provide a link to this site on your blog or website.

Cheers! 

Shannan

With a few easy to implement household cleaning tips, you can keep you home clean and guest-ready at a moments notice. Try these cleaning tips to make your daily housekeeping tasks more manageable.

#1 – Make the beds. This first household cleaning tip will help you get your day off to a great start. Make your bed when you first wake up and ask other household members to do the same. Fluff your pillows and straighten the sheets for a crisp, clean look.

#2 - Address the critical tasks in the bathroom. A clean bathroom is essential to having a clean house. Be sure to clean the mirror(s), wipe the bathroom counter top, sink(s) and faucet(s). Next, clean the tub basin and spray the tub and shower area including the curtain liner with ‘daily after shower spray’ to prevent soap scum and mildew. Last, wipe the toilet seat and rim then use a brush to clean the toilet bowl.

#3 – Pick up as you go. Implementing this household cleaning tip alone will help your house feel less cluttered. Throughout the day (or evening) as you go from room to room, remove items from the floor such as toys, books, newspaper, etc. and put them in their appropriate place. Encourage all household members to get in the habit of doing this as they leave a room.

#4 – Straighten up the living areas. Fluff the pillows and cushions on the sofa; fold and put away blankets and throws. Clear clutter off of the tables and organize magazines and papers. Spray and wipe the table with glass cleaner or dust it off. Sweep or vacuum as needed but at least once a week.

#5 – Address the critical tasks in the kitchen. Load all dirty dishes into the dish washer and start a new cycle or hand wash the dishes and put them in the dish rack. Get in the habit of rinsing each dish immediately after use then place the item into the dishwasher or sink. Wipe down the sink, faucet, counter tops and stove top then lay out a clean dish cloth for the next day.

#6 – Take out the trash. To execute this household cleaning tip efficiently, use plastic shopping bags to line small trash cans (such as the ones in the bathroom). When the bags are full, dump them into a larger can (such as the one in the kitchen). Take out the trash and clean the garbage can if odors linger. 

A clean and organized refrigerator can help you get the most out of your hard earned cash. I don’t know how many times I’ve gone to the grocery store to purchase something like ketchup only to return home and find that I already had a bottle…it was just hiding in the back of an untidy fridge. Now, I make organizing the refrigerator a part of my kitchen cleaning routine. Here are a few steps to keep your refrigerator tidy and fresh.

1. Pull everything out of the refrigerator

• Set the food, condiments and other items on the counter top or on a table nearby.
• Toss anything that is spoiled, expired or that you know longer plan to eat (ex. last week’s leftovers).
• Consolidate open bottles of condiments by pouring near empty bottles into a single container.

2. Wash and wipe down the interior and its parts

• Remove the refrigerator shelves, drawers and other detachable parts and wash them in the dishwasher or in the sink with hot soapy water.
• Wipe down the inside of the door and the non-removable parts.

3. Return and organize the refrigerator’s contents

• Keep like items together and place tall items in the back.
• Place items in their designated compartments (vegetables and fruit in the crisper, chicken, beef, etc. in the meat drawer).
• Keep in mind that the top refrigerator shelf is one of the warmer spots in the fridge so place items that spoil quickly on the bottom shelf since it is the coldest.
• Reserve a shelf for leftovers and other ready to eat food.
• In addition to the topmost shelf, the door compartment is another area that does not get very cold. Store condiments inside the door.

4. Wash and wipe the exterior surface

• Remove magnets and other items from the refrigerator door and wipe down the surface.
• Before placing the items back on the door, sort through them. Toss any outdated information and clutter.

Related Posts

6 Daily Household Cleaning Tips

Get Rid of Clutter

Review past receipts. Before you make your grocery list for the week, review the receipt(s) from your last shopping trip. This will help you quickly identify impulse purchases and areas where you might need to cut back.

Highlight budget busting purchases. Highlight items on your grocery list purchased on impulse (items that you did not intend to purchase before you entered the store) then highlight junk food that you purchased (potatoes chips, donuts, soda, etc.). If you can live without these items, you are well on your way to reducing your bill. Add the remaining items to your list for next week.

Create a basic list. Type your normal shopping list. Add to it any essentials you would normally need when trying to stock up. Save the list on the computer and print it out. Bring a pen/pencil with you to the store. As you put items in the shopping cart, write the aisle number next to each product on your list.

Update the list. Before your next trip to the store, update the list to include the aisle numbers in the grocery store. Add the names of any products that may have been missing from your original list. Include a category for “Other” with a few blank lines for the times when you want to purchase a special treat. Save the file and print out several copies for future use.

Post the list. Use a magnet to post your grocery shopping list to the refrigerator door or tack it to a bulletin board. Add asterisks next to items with a coupon. Keep one coupon attached to the list so that you don’t forget to take them with you.

More grocery savings tips…

It can be easy to entertain house guests with a little planning and preparation. The following steps will provide ideas that will come in handy for planned visits or unexpected company.

Research a variety entertaining activities before house guests arrive. Provide enough options so that each visitor can identify one or two things that peak their interests. Search online for coupons and other discounts since cost is usually the deciding factor when planning activities.

Get ideas from your local bed & breakfast. Pick up tourist brochures from a nearby hotel or the visitor’s bureau. Include the pamphlets in the guest welcome basket or place them on the bed tray for your guest to peruse at their leisure.

Find out your house guest’s hobbies. Plan an evening around their interests. Perhaps they are a collector of fine art. If so, a trip to the local art gallery maybe an outing they would thoroughly enjoy. Accordingly, a fan of the local sports team might enjoy tickets to a game or a casual meal at a sports themed restaurant.

Ask your house guests about their plans. They may want to visit other friends or relatives while in town. Let your guest know in advance about any activities you have planned so they can plan other activities around them.

Keep your interests in mind. Your guests will enjoy themselves more if they know you are having fun. So, if you just can’t bare another trip to the aquarium, consider visiting another venue close by while your guests enjoy their first time experience.

Try something new together. Visit the historic side of town and take in an afternoon tour. Go to a quaint shop and have afternoon tea. Go for a walk on a scenic trail or rent a paddle boat at the local lake. Do some of the things you’ve always wanted to do but never found the time.

Be inclusive. If your house guest is visiting alone, invite them to join you and your family for an activity and ask for their input on things to do. This will make them feel welcome and you may even learn something new. If you have a family visiting, provide entertainment options that are appropriate for the whole gang. Carnivals, theme parks, sporting events, movies, bowling are great kid-friendly activities.

Provide privacy in a guest house or guest room. Set aside time for your guests to spend by themselves. They may choose to read or go to a movie. Use this time to reconnect with members of your household or to treat yourself to some much needed rest and relaxation.

Don’t let the weather spoil your plans. Have a back up plan for adverse weather. Prepare for rainy days by keeping extra raincoats, hats and umbrellas on hand.

More tips for hosting house guests…

If you are looking to plan meals for house guests, there are simple steps you can take to ensure each meal is enjoyable for all parties involved. The steps that follow will help take the stress out of meal planning when company arrives.

1. Refer to cookbooks or use the internet to find recipes then plan a menu. Test any new recipes on your family before house guests arrive. Put together a list of all the meals you would like to serve. Plan to prepare some of your family’s favorites and take requests from your guests to ensure the meals are enjoyable for all.
2. Stock the fridge and pantry within your home or the guest house with easy-to-fix snacks and a variety of beverages. Show house guests where the dishes are kept and insist that they help themselves. Include snacks in the guest welcome basket to help with the midnight munchies.
3. You and your guests may be on different schedules when it comes to waking up and eating breakfast. For this reason, set times for when meals will be served. Consider offering a bed & breakfast style buffet with some of the following items: bagels, toast, hot and cold beverages, bananas, raisins, and other fruit, hot and cold cereals, jam, jelly, peanut butter, cream cheese, etc. At night, put the coffee in the pot and have it ready to go. Let house guests know that whoever wakes up first can just push the button. Ditch the dishes and set out paper or plastic plates and utensils to reduce chores later.
4. Prepare a variety of selections for lunch and dinner. Set out different types of deli meat, a bread tray and a vegetable tray during lunch. Provide condiments like ketchup, mayo and mustard. If hosting a large number of guests for dinner, consider a variety of salads and vegetables. Provide a selection of white and whole wheat rice, bread and pasta and prepare both a red meat and chicken entrée.
5. Think of meals that freeze well and prepare them prior to your guest’s arrival. Consider such dishes as lasagna, spaghetti, quiche, stew, etc.
6. If your house guests love to cook, plan quality time cooking together or invite them to prepare a meal on their own. They will jump at the chance to show their appreciation for all you’ve done to make them feel welcome.
7. Find the best local pizzeria, Chinese food restaurant, quaint breakfast nook, Sunday brunch eatery, etc. then recommend them as places for your house guests to try. While you are visiting restaurants, take the time to pick up take out menus. These will be great to provide your guests when they are considering take out options.
8. If you think your house guests may like to have dinner at the new restaurant in town, plan ahead and make a reservation as soon as you can. You can always cancel the reservation later if your guests are not interested in the cuisine.

One of the tried and true ways to make a house guest feel at home is to set up a guest room. If you do not have a guest house or a formal guest bedroom, present your guests with a cozy alternative for sleeping arrangements. Use the following tips to pinpoint areas that can be transformed quickly and efficiently for guests.

Identify the sleep surface. Add an extra layer of cushion to an air mattress or pull out couch by placing a feather bed on top of it. Instead of tossing an old mattress, keep it and use it on the floor for guests. Use bed risers to add height to a bed then store it underneath. Whether it is a traditional bed, sleep sofa, air mattress or cot make sure it is comfortable. Sleep for one night in the area and on the surface where you plan to accommodate house guests.

Make a home office welcoming. Highlight the perks of the room. If you plan to grant your house guests access to the library, home computer and/or phone, let them know when you first welcome them into the room.

Transform a kid’s room. Add protective coverings to the mattress and pillow case. Exchange character sheets for solid color or patterned bedding. Add decorative and fluffy pillows on a twin bed to make it look more like a day bed. Take advantage of a child’s room that has two twin beds and offer it to house guests who would prefer not to share a bed. Gather the toys, games and stuffed animals in the room and relocate them to where your child will be sleeping.

Section off a family room. Use a decorative folding screen to section off the sleeping area for guests and to provide a little more privacy. If this is the normal gathering area for the family, be considerate when choosing the hour to go to sleep at night or congregate in the morning.

When it comes to hosting guests, the guest bathroom is one of the most important rooms in the house. The cleanliness and freshness of that space or the lack thereof is crucial to providing a comfortable visit. Follow the tips below to make your guest bathroom welcoming.

1. Locate a bathroom that can be set aside specifically for guests. If you or members of your household will need to share the bathroom with guests, select the one in your home that is most suitable. Consider the proximity to the guest room or the make-shift guest area.
2. Decorate the guest bathroom so that it is appealing to house guests. Search for decorating tips in bathroom design or home decorating magazines. Offer a different color towel set (bath towel, hand towel and wash cloth) to each guest so that it is easy for them to keep track of which one is theirs. If there is enough space, include a hamper in the guest bathroom. Use an over the door hanger to hold bathrobes and other clothing.
3. Head off trips to the convenience store. Keep common travel items readily available. Place mouthwash, toothpaste, razors, etc. in a welcome gift basket or in a small basket in the guest bathroom. Include small toiletry bottles from one of your hotel stays as well as body lotion and other necessities.
4. Ensure common items are easy to find. Place cotton balls and swabs in a clear glass container on the counter top or on a nearby shelf. Place hand soap on the ledge of the sink basin. Store paper cups in a dispenser in full view. Store additional supplies of these items as well as extra tissues, toilet paper and soap where they can be easily located by guests.
5. Keep a well stocked medicine cabinet. Store over-the-counter medicine to relieve aches and pains. This will allow guests a measure of privacy about their personal concerns. For instance, they may not want to admit to their host that they have a headache or indigestion!
6. Ensure your guest’s safety. Place bath mats on vinyl floors and no-slip mats in the bath and shower area. Plug a night light in the guest bathroom and/or in the hallway leading to the guest bathroom so that visitors can navigate safely at night.
7. Make guests comfortable. Hang a plush terry cloth bathrobe on an over the door hanger and place comfy slippers on the guest bathroom floor. Encourage your guests to wear the items at their leisure during their stay. If you are able to find good deals on bathrobes and slippers, purchase these items in bulk when you see them and allow your guests to take them home when they leave.

More tips for hosting house guests…