Kid’s Bedrooms – Fun and Organized Can Coincide

A challenge every family with children faces is keeping the kids’ bedrooms organized.  Between toys, clothes and school things, it can seem impossible.  However, there are ways to get the kids’ things organized and have fun at the same time.  There are many styles of storage units available.  Bright colors and cartoon characters from your child’s favorite show is sure to be a hit.  By combining different units, you can have a place for everything.

There are many different styles of storage.  There are the standard under-the-bed boxes, storage that can be hung on the wall or doors, or closet organizers.  First, you need to decide what kind of storage will work best, not only for the amount of stuff in the room, but the age of the child as well.  Once you decide what type of storage you need, let the kids help choose the style.

Once the new storage is purchased, this can be a time to rearrange the bedroom.  Let the kids have a say in how they would like their room (within reason, of course).  By being involved, it gives them a sense of ownership and makes them more likely to want to keep things nice.

To help your child get the dirty laundry organized, one of the simplest ways is to set up a basketball hoop above an open hamper.  By attaching one to the wall above the hamper, clean up turns into a game.  There are hoops that have suction cups, so you can attach it to any smooth wall and not damage it.

Many things that are designed for storage in a child’s room serve a dual purpose.  There are desk and chair sets that have storage in the desk and the chair.  There are also seats that have a cushion attached to the lid of a round barrel-like container.  The container is perfect for stuffed animals or other large toys, and gives the child a comfy place to sit while reading or relaxing.

A cute storage unit is the collapsible bin.  These are fabric bins built around a large spring that can collapse into a flat circle for easy storage.  The bins are decorated to look like animals or people.  Some have a lid for the head, which is attached at the back like a hinge with velcro at the front to keep them closed, while others (like an alligator) have an open mouth.  The bin is the body and they have things like flippers, wings, paws and hands on the container to add details.  They come a wide variety of styles in bright colors. There is sure to be one that any child will love.  They are perfect for either dirty clothes or light toys.

Once you get the room organized, find creative ways to help the kids keep their rooms organized.  If you have more than one child, maybe make it a contest to see who can keep their room the neatest for the longest.  Let them earn points toward a special treat for every day they clean up their room without being asked.  Find what works for your family and the work won’t be as hard.

There are many items in your kitchen that can be used for multiple purposes.  But one that stands out above the rest is baking soda.  Yes, that’s right, simple, every day, right out of your pantry baking soda.

Here are ten ways you can use baking soda that goes beyond simply adding it to your favorite baked goods recipe:

•    Did you know that you can use baking soda as earth-friendly alternative to unclog your drain?  You sure can! It’s simple to do, less expensive than the store bought product, and just as effective.

Here’s what you do: Pour one cup of regular table salt, one cup of baking soda, and half a cup of plain white vinegar down the drain. Leave it alone for 15 minutes and then pour two quarts of boiling water into the sink. Follow this by running the hot water into the sink for at least one minute.

You’ll be amazed how effectively this combination works. The drains will be clean and you won’t have added anything toxic to the drain system.

•    Baking soda, when mixed with salt, is also an effective stain remover and scouring powder.  Mix one cup of baking powder with one cup of salt.  Then use this mixture the same way you would any other scouring powder.  Again, an effective mixture that is less harmful to the environment.

•    Sprinkle some baking soda on your carpet and let it sit for 10 minutes. When the time is up, vacuum away any stale odors that may have settled in your carpet.

•    Add a little baking soda to your dishwasher the next time you’re loading it. The baking soda will give your cleaner an extra boost to get your dishes sparkling clean.

•    Make a poultice of baking soda and water then put it on a bee sting. This will ease the pain in no time.

•    Adding two teaspoons of baking soda to lukewarm bath water will help ease the pain of chicken pox.

•    Have you ever had a small grease fire on the stove when cooking? Sprinkle baking soda on the fire can safely put it out.

•    Does your cat’s box smell? Thoroughly clean the litter box, let dry in the sun, and then sprinkle enough baking soda in the bottom to cover. Now add your litter. The baking soda will help absorb the odors.

•    Making an equal mixture of baking soda and laundry detergent will stretch your detergent and make your laundry smell fresh.

•    And, if your refrigerator has a sour odor, place an open box of baking soda in it to absorb those odors. Don’t forget to change the box once a month to keep your refrigerator odor free.

Baking soda is truly a multi-purpose item. The applications extend way beyond just using it to make your biscuits light and fluffy.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Baking Soda: Multipurpose Superhero (earth911.com)
• The amazing uses for baking soda! (momgoesgreen.com)

When the time comes to clean out and reorganize the house, there are always items you find that you just don’t use anymore.  Some things may even be gifts that you have never even taken out of the original package.  As long as the items are still in good shape, there are many ways they can find a new home.  Many people do not want to bother with a yard sale, so they prefer to donate the items to a charity.

Many items can be donated to area thrift or Salvation Army stores.  Quite often they will give you a receipt that will allow you to take it as a tax write-off.  It is probably best to call and check with them as to their drop-off policies.  Some places only take donations on certain days or hours.

Another option is to donate carefully used toys, books and clothes to women’s shelters.  Many times the families staying there have had to leave their homes with just what they were wearing.  A few things for them to have while they are there can be a great comfort.

There are other charities that also take clothes and household goods.  Some, including veterans’ organizations like Purple Heart and Vietnam Vets, and other groups like Easter Seals, will actually pick up your donations at your home.  If you call them, they have set pickup schedules for the neighborhoods in your area.  They have a set procedure.

Some hospitals collect books, sometimes specifically for the children’s wing.  When your children outgrow their books, considering giving them away to a hospital or other charities for children.

Once you’ve donated things, you can reorganize what you have left and maximize your storage space.  This is something to consider doing every few months, because things tend to accumulate.  If you’re unsure about donating some things, put them away, and if you haven’t used them after a given time then you can probably go ahead and donate them.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Donations/Tithing ? (mytotalmoneymakeover.com)
• Old Stuff: How to Kindly Receive and Reuse (wisebread.com)

Start with small projects, things you can see improvement in quickly.  Try organizing a closet.  Sort through it and get rid of things you don’t need anymore.  You can donate them, get them ready for a yard sale or just throw them away.  As you make more room in your closet, think about ways to maximize your storage space.  You can add shelves and other closet organizers.

As you move through the list, some projects may take more than a day.  That is OK.  You just have to make sure you keep working on it till it is done.  Take about thirty minutes in the morning and thirty minutes in the afternoon working on your list.  Before you know it, you’ve gone through the entire house and organized it.  The trick now is to keep it organized.

Each day, keep up on maintaining your newly organized home.  The key is to not get into the “I’ll do it later” mindset.  If you have something that is in the wrong place, take the time to either put it away right away, or have a designated area on each floor, like a box, to put things that need to go to another floor.  Then at the end of the day, everything in the box gets put away.

Another idea to help keep the house organized is to establish a schedule where each room of the house gets a thorough cleaning one day each week.  It may take awhile to get in the new routine, but if the family works together, it will be easier.  If people remember to put their own things away, that will also help.  Try not to be too impatient when people forget at first.  Be sure to remind them gently, without nagging.

If you set up a checklist, similar to your original goal list, you can keep on top of the things that need to be done around the house.  Why not assign each family a specific area of the house to help keep organized.  They simply have to go through the room and make sure that everything is in its place.  While it takes time and a bit of effort, it will be worth it once the house is clean, neat and organized.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Addressing The Concern Of Overwhelming Clutter (selfimprovementbase.com)
• Small Space Organizing: Converting A Closet (stacksandstacks.com)
• Organizing Tips for Quick Closet Organizing (home-organization.suite101.com)

In today’s fast-paced world, people are finding it more difficult to become organized. Our lives are busier than ever with things to do, information to process, and an ever increasing flow of clutter to manage.

If miscellaneous piles, messy closets, and an endless “to do” list are controlling your life, let me help you and together we can get it done!

The services are ideal for individuals or families with:

• Busy schedules who want more time to do the things they love.
• A desire to eliminate excess clutter and create effective use of space.
• ADD – ADHD or who are chronically disorganized and want to get organized.
• A need to create an aesthetically pleasing and functional living space.

Heidi

•    Work
•    Romance
•    Spirituality
•    Friendship
•    Community
•    Home
•    Finances
•    Knowledge
•    Self-care

2.    Put your papers in order and setup a good filing system that works for you. You can even purchase a ready-made filing system where you can drop your papers right into folders. *

3.    Weed out your papers regularly! It’s what separates the organized from the cluttered. Remove discarded items promptly.

4.    Create an Action File Center for your regular on-going tasks: bills to pay, coupons, waiting for response, etc. Get all those papers off counters, and tabletops and into a system

5.    Keep your important documents in a safe deposit box or a fireproof box at home. Keep copies in your household file system.

6.    Create a “Best Recipes Book.” Use a 3-ring binder with plastic-sheet protectors and extra wide dividers. Print your favorite recipes from the web and ones you have clipped from magazines and insert them into the page protectors.

7.    Use a rotary card file for emergency and most frequently used numbers. I like the 3 X 5 cards. You can staple business cards on them, create categories, and store other useful information that you like to have at your fingertips.

8.    Organizing is good for the environment. Use it up, wear it out, or do without It reduces duplicates and helps recycle goods.

9.    Group your projects and store in caddies: cleaning supplies, bill paying items, even deli items in the refrigerator.

10.    Put your warranties and user manuals in 3-ring binders. Use plastic-sheet protectors and drop each one in and divide the categories with extra wide dividers.

11.    Keep Things Simple. The fewer the steps it takes to do something, the more likely it will get done.

12.    In less than 5 minutes you can:
•    Make  your bed
•    File 10 papers
•    Clean out your purse
•    Delete 20 emails from your inbox
•    Sort your mail

13.    In 15 minutes or less you can:
•    Put the dishes away
•    Weed papers from 3 files
•    Backup your computer
•    Clean off your desk
•    Make a to-do list
•    Put your laundry away

14.   Develop routines for yourself:  rotating menu, on-going shopping list, and laundry on Tuesdays and errands on Friday.

15.   Reduce the clutter in your life. Create systems for removing things from your house: things to sell, recycle, donate and trash.

16.    Create a greeting-card binder and have your cards ready for special occasions. Place 10 pocket dividers in a notebook and label each pocket with a category: Thank You, Sympathy, Birthday, etc. *

17.   Simplify your wardrobe. Pare down and keep only what you love and wear. Try to color coordinate your outfits and buy easy to care for fabrics.

18.    Let go of the things that don’t enrich your life and support your goals.

19.   Organize just 15 minutes a day and put things back where they belong.

20.   Remember to reward yourself with each new habit you learn.



Spring cleaning is a rite of passage. Each year the weather begins to warm and the sun shines just a little bit longer each day. The furnace gets turned off and the windows are opened. Flowers begin to peek through the ground. Birds chirp happily. And people begin to clean out the dust and debris left behind from the long winter months.

Spring cleaning offers a number of benefits including:

1. You have a clean home. There’s nothing better than having a home that’s clean and free from all the dust and clutter of the winter. Like New Year’s Day or a birthday, it’s an opportunity to start fresh.

2. You know where everything is. When you go through each room, space, nook and cranny of your home you are able to take an inventory. You’re able to put things where they belong. You’re able to get rid of the things you no longer use. You can add space, light, and organization to your home. In fact, don’t be surprised if you find things you’d forgotten about or thought you’d lost.

3. Better health – free from mold, mildew, dust and bugs. When the windows are closed all winter long your home doesn’t have the opportunity to air out. Many scientists and environmental experts will tell you that the pollution inside your home is often much worse than outdoor air pollution. When you take the time to clean your home of mildew, dust, bugs and mold you’re improving your health.

You’re also improving the health of your family and your pets. And if you use environmentally friendly cleaners then you’re not filling your home with more toxins. So open those windows and enjoy some good old fashioned spring cleaning.

4. You’re able to get rid of clutter. Clutter is stressful. It collects and gathers dust. It prevents you from being relaxed and productive. Spring cleaning helps you eliminate the clutter. You’re able to get rid of what you don’t need and focus your time, energy and attention on the items that matter.

5. Your appliances last longer. Clean appliances last longer. Spring cleaning often involves a thorough appliance cleaning. You’ll save money in the long run because you won’t have to have your appliances serviced or replaced.

6. You appreciate what you have. When you clean your home from top to bottom it shows that you care. You’re able to look at what you have and take good care of it. This energy and attention helps you appreciate what you have.

7. It just feels good. Finally, it just feels great to have a clean, organized and efficient home. You can then focus your attention on the things that matter most in your life. Your family, your friends and your interests or hobbies.

This year, when you’re planning your spring cleaning consider what you have to gain. It may change your attitude toward spring cleaning. In fact, this may be your best year ever.

Related articles

• 5 Ways to Tackle Your Spring Cleaning (scrubmasters.wordpress.com)
• A Practical Guide to a Minimalist Home (stopandbreathe.com)

Image via Wikipedia

Experts say that there are at least five to ten pounds of chemicals found in cleaning products per household.  If that estimate is true, it is important to try to find cleaners that will actually clean your home without using chemicals to do so.  One option is to use Tea Tree oil while cleaning.

Tea Tree oil, taken from the Melaleuca alternifolia tree in Australia, is a wonderful, non-chemical essential oil.  The Aboriginal people in Australia have been using the oil, found in the leaves of the tree, for thousands of years for killing bacteria, to help with achy muscles, and other health-related uses.

Tea Tree oil has antiseptic, antibiotic, antiviral, and antifungal properties.  (Tea Tree oil should not be ingested.) Recently, however, Tea Tree oil has been touted for more than just medicinal uses.  Following are five non-medicinal uses for Tea Tree oil.

1. Since Tea Tree oil does have antiseptic properties, it is a great addition to your warm mist vaporizer to help disinfect the air after someone has been ill in your family.  Adding six to eight drops to the laundry when washing the linens following an illness is another good idea.

2.    You can make a homemade all-purpose cleaner that will rival any store-bought, chemical cleaner.  One such recipe is to combine three or four drops of Tea Tree oil with two tablespoons of vinegar and one tablespoon of borax.  Add this mixture to a 12 ounce spray bottle and fill it up with warm water.  Shake to combine and use as you would a store-bought cleaner.

Related articles

• Uses of Tea Tree Oil (gomestic.com)