Tips to Keeping your Bathroom Clean and Organized:

Daily 2 Minute Tidy-up Tips:

·         If you take it out, put it in its home to avoid clutter on floor and counters.

·         Quickly wipe down the sink, faucet and counters with disinfectant cleaner.

·         Scrub toilet bowl with disinfectant cleaner and toilet brush. Wipe down seat, base of toilet bowl and handle with a damp paper towel and disinfectant cleaner. 

·         Check hand towel and replace it with a new one if it’s necessary.  I prefer to dry our hands on a nice bath towel instead of a small hand towel, while others like to use a roll of paper towels.

·         Clean mirror.

·         Empty trash can. 

Weekly Clean-up Tips:

·         If you take it out, put it in its home to avoid clutter on floor and counters.

·         Scrub sink, faucet and counters real good with disinfectant cleaner and sponge with scrub pad.

·         Scrub toilet bowl with disinfectant cleaner and toilet brush. Wipe down toilet seat, handle, base of toilet and around the screws and screw covers with damp paper towel/rag and disinfectant cleaner.

·         Clean tub and shower with disinfectant cleaner that will dissolve lime and soap scum.

·         Replace hand towel with a new one. 

·         Empty trash can and wipe it down. Put in a new trash bag liner.

·         Wipe down door, door handle, light switch, base boards, cabinets and window.

·         Sweep and mop floor.

·         Shake rugs outside or vacuum. 

Monthly Clean-up Tips:

·         Use a pumice bar and lime cleaner for rings and stains in toilet bowl.

·         Refill hand soap dispenser. Do not use bar soap; they are too messy and not sanitary.

·         Clean water build up off sink and faucet with cleaner that dissolves lime. 

·         Clean blinds and shutters.

·         Sweep dust from vents.

·         Wash rugs and bath mats if machine washable.

Every 3 Months/Onset of Every New Season Clean-up Tips:

·         Wash silk plants and décor on tops of cabinet.

·         Wash or wipe down drapes and valances.

·         Clean and re-organize cabinets and drawers.   

·         Soak shower head in lime cleaner and clean with brush.  

·         Wash shower curtain.

~~Your Clutter Buster~~
clutterbegoneaz@gmail.com
clutter-begone.blogspot.com
        480-296-1246

Tips to Organize your Bathroom:

Is your bathroom a happy place or a sad place to be? If it is a happy place to be, then it is most likely clean, organized and beautiful; however, if it is a sad place to be than it is mostly likely dirty, unorganized and in need of attention. Everyone deserves a happy bathroom so here are some suggestions in organizing it.  I recommend every cabinet and drawer get lined whether you own or rent your home. I highly recommend to all, the Rubbermaid Smooth Top Non-Adhesive Easy Liner; PLEASE, NO MESH LINERS WITH HOLES IN THEM; THEY ARE INEFFECTIVE, INEFFECIENT, A WASTE OF MONEY AND SHOULD BE BANNED. If you can see through them then the dirt, liquids and grim will get through them as well, also they don’t stay in place; ergo, there is no point to these liners - don’t get me started.

When utilizing the space under the sink, we must choose organizational supplies that fit with the plumbing. Try an open rectangular plastic tub or a turn table to store shampoo, hairspray, cleaning products, etc. If you have large awkward items like blow dryers, curling irons or hairbrushes they would work well in a large drawer. If you don’t have one, you can add plastic drawers the size of a shoe box or boot box, stack them under the sink.  If you have small drawers put your small items in them, but first add drawer organizers for toothpaste, toothbrushes, cotton swabs, make-up, razors, hair accessories, etc.  If you have a medicine cabinet, then use it for small items that you don’t have many of: medicine, deodorant, bandages, etc.   

The bathroom can be the dirtiest room in the house; in fact, I can’t think of anything worse than a nasty bathroom; however, a beautifully cleaned and organized bathroom is certainly a blessing to visit and admire.  Before anyone comes over, I make sure my guest bathroom is presentable and my young boys have not gotten creative when doing their business. Bathrooms must be wiped down daily, especially if there is more than one person in the house. Cleaning the bathroom should be an assigned task for someone in the house daily, weekly and monthly.  It should only take 2 minutes daily to do a quick tidy up on a bathroom.  

* Check out my next blog on daily, weekly and monthly suggestions in keeping your bathroom clean and organized.   

~~Your Clutter Buster~~
clutterbegoneaz@gmail.com
clutter-begone.blogspot.com
         480-296-1246

Tips to keeping your Kitchen Clean and Organized:

Keeping a kitchen organized and clean is a never ending task, in which case you must enlist each member of the household to do their part. Sit down and discuss the needs and assign everyone some chores daily, weekly and monthly. 

Daily things to do before you go to bed:

·         Wipe all counters completely with disinfectant cleaner and wipe under all small appliances.

·         Clean sink and faucet.

·         Clean stove and microwave.

·         Wipe down exterior of appliances: fridge, oven, dishwasher and toaster.

·         Coffee Maker: empty coffee and grinds and clean.

·         Hang towels to dry and replace with new ones daily.

·         Wipe off table and dry.

·         Sweep floor.

·         Keep all papers, bills, newspapers, magazines, homework and desk type materials in one section designated for that alone. Keep food, dishes and drinks in other sections of the kitchen. Try not to mix everything up. Be sure you have a clean counter and table before starting a meal.

·         Keep a tray or platter on the counter at all times for drinks. Put all the cups in dishwasher before going to bed. 

·         Fill dishwasher and run before bed. Add ¼ - ½ cup white vinegar in each load if your dishes, cups and glasses come out of the dishwasher with soap scum or residue. 

Weekly Tips:

·         Mop floors.

·         Quick wipe out shelves in fridge, butter area, wipe base of fridge.

·         Quick tidy up freezer, wipe base of freezer.

·         Vacuum throw rugs or wash them if they are machine washable.

·         Wash windows and doors.

·         Clean trash can and recycle can.

·         Sweep dust out of the vent cover under fridge.

·         Clean drain stops with brush and heavy duty cleaner.

·         Disinfect sponges: soak in strong cleaner.

Monthly Tips:

·         Deep clean fridge: pull out drawers, clean drawers and door shelves.

·         Clean garbage disposal rubber seal in the sink: remove it if possible and clean with a brush and heavy duty cleaner.  This gets nasty with food and grim and will smell if not maintained.

·         Clean blinds and shutters.

·         Clean water build up off sink, faucet and fridge water dispenser tray.

·         Run dishwasher with vinegar. Clean the rubber seal inside of dishwasher door.

~~Your Clutter Buster~~
clutterbegoneaz@gmail.com
clutter-begone.blogspot.com
         480-296-1246

* Check out my next Blog: Tips to Organize Your Bathroom.

Ten “If You” Rules for the Kitchen:

How would you like to wake up to a clean and organized kitchen every morning? You are worthy of a this type of kitchen and can have it immediately! I can help you to organize your kitchen, pantry and refrigerator by consulting, coaching or organizing it myself with your assistance. Once we get your kitchen organized and labeled, utilize the following maintainence rules to prevent it from looking like the aftermath of a tornado.  Print it if you would like to teach your family or houshold members.  

1.       If you open it, close it. (Drawers, closets, dishwasher, fridge, peanut butter, and chips must be clipped, bread must be tied…)

2.       If you take it out, put it away. (Milk, bread, food, scissors, pens…)

3.       If you dirty it, rinse it immediately. I teach families my “rinse and put” technique: rinse the dishes in one sink, where the garbage disposal is, and then put them in the other sink or in the dishwasher.

4.       If you mess the counter, stove, microwave or floor, wipe it clean immediately.

5.       If you spill it, clean it up immediately. (Floor, table, counter, microwave, oven, fridge…)

6.       If you are preparing food or cooking, be sure the nearby drawers and cabinets are completely closed to prevent crumbs from falling in them.

7.       If you are going to the grocery store, clean out your fridge and tidy up your pantry first, then write your list.

8.       If you are going to empty your dishwasher, wipe out the crumbs in your utensil drawers and cabinets first.

9.       If you make a meal, tidy up while cooking and then clean the mess immediately after the meal. Rinse all dishes, bowls, pots and pans immediately and load them in the dishwasher, what doesn’t fit, wash by hand. In the morning, empty the dishwasher and put away all hand washed items.   If it is not possible to do all of this immediately, then just rinse everything in one sink and stack the dishes in another to wash later that day.  

10.   If you use the trash can, empty it daily.

~~Your Clutter Buster~~
clutterbegoneaz@gmail.com
clutter-begone.blogspot.com
        480-296-1246

*Check out tomorrow's blog entitled: "Tips to keeping your Kitchen Clean and Organized."

Hoarding Begins in Your Thoughts

There is much awareness of Hoarders as of late on television and there are many stories of people who have even died under their rubble of falling magazines or newspapers, but what actually is a Hoarder?  A hoarder acquires things compulsively and saves them without discarding, organizing or maintaining them. It is a serious medical condition which is defined medically:

“Pathological hoarding: Excessive hoarding of material goods, a condition that affects up to 40% of people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Excessive hoarders, who fill their houses with accumulations of junk, usually newspapers, bags of old clothing and lists, tend to experience more anxiety and depression social disability than OCD patients with other symptoms. Hoarders are also less likely to seek help.  Pathological hoarders have decreased activity in the anterior cingulate, a brain structure involved in decision making and problem solving, compared with people with other OCD symptoms. The hoarders also show less activation than the healthy subjects in the posterior cingulate, an area involved in spatial orientation, memory and emotion. Hoarding may therefore have a distinctive basis in brain activity.”

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=32923        
                  

As stated above, hoarding is a serious condition of accumulation of stuff beginning in the brain. The brain is where most of our problems begin, if we change our thoughts, we can change our life.  Many hoarders have connected their identity with their things and feel that if they throw away their things, something bad will happen or they will lose a part of themselves. It is typically easier for them to donate it. One of the problems is that they believe lies about themselves. This is something that many of us do to an extent. If we dissect our thought patterns and write down all of our negative self-talk (the lies) and then write the positive self-talk regarding that statement (the truth), we can begin to change our thoughts. If we daily read the positive self talk for 21 days, our behavior will change.

One lie that Hoarders may believe is, “I’m a looser because I can’t get control over my stuff.”  We cannot identify who we are based on what we do. Rather, we should base our identity on who we are according to the good in our heart. Then take it a step further and consider where that good came from.     

Hoarders tend to feel sorry for things so they decide to take them into their homes because they are broken, run down, homeless or rejected items. This shows behavior’s such as caring, kind, patient and forgiving. These qualities derive from love, thus they are loving.  

Below is an example of a Thought Pattern Inventory:

Negative Self Talk (LIE):                                           Positive Self-talk (TRUTH):

I am a loser because I can’t control my stuff.       I am kind, patient, forgiving and loving.

If you are a hoarder, it is time to break free from the prison! Call me for help and I will walk you through the process of going through your things, sorting and organizing.  Then I will teach you new behaviors to keep it organized.  Hoarding is the result of a problem that begins in your mind, when you change your thinking to line up with the truth, then you can truly change your life.

~~Your Clutter Buster~~
clutterbegoneaz@gmail.com
clutter-begone.blogspot.com
        480-296-1246

What’s Your Vision for Your Home or Office?

If you don’t already have a vision for your home or office it’s time to get one! I encourage you to think about what you would like your home/office to look like.  Who doesn’t enjoy an organized, functional home/office at least most of the time?  If you can perceive it, you can attain it. If you can’t perceive it, then I can help you.  Well the truth is that our visions do not get accomplished by themselves. It’s time for a moment of truth; this is where the rubber meets the road. You can clean your house all day, but if it isn’t functioning well for you, then you have some work to do. Ask yourself these questions:

·         “Is my home a functional and organized place of solace?” 

·         “Is my home all that I desire it to be?”  

If your answer to these questions is, “No”, then it’s time for a change. It’s time to take deliberate steps in a deliberate direction and you will be deliberative in thought and deed.  (Janice White)

·         What vision have you deliberately chosen for your home? Write it down.

·         What steps do you need to take to accomplish this vision? Write it down.

·         Write down your overall vision.

·         Write down your vision for each room.

·         Write down the supplies you will need to accomplish this vision for each room.

Now begin one room at a time and accomplish your vision! If this is an still an overwhelming daunting task or you simply do not have time, please call me for help. I can bring your vision to higher levels.

~~Your Clutter Buster~~
clutterbegoneaz@gmail.com
clutter-begone.blogspot.com
        480-296-1246

*Check out tomorrows blog entitled: "Hoarding Begins in Your Thoughts."

 

Organizing Tip: Get Rid of 1 to 3!

If you bring one item into your home, get rid of one to three.  This is an important rule of thumb if you want to keep your home clutter free.  Many of us have a space in our home which is dedicated to mail, incoming papers, files, kids’ schools work etc.  These spaces usually begin small and neat, and then before long they double and sometimes triple until our belongings increase in number and if not controlled can multiply until they become an overwhelming infestation of CLUTTER CLUSTERS!  So I want to reiterate, if you bring one item into your home, get rid of one to three.  

* Please call me for help with any project great or small.

 

~~Your Clutter Buster~~
clutterbegoneaz@gmail.com
clutter-begone.blogspot.com
        480-296-1246