Small Appliances - Honesty is the Best Policy

How many do you have?

Drag out all your small appliances from the top pantry shelf, in the back of the cabinets, the garage, and don't forget the Dust Buster in the coat closet. Take a good look at all these gadgets and get honest with yourself about how many Panini you have made lately. Do you use the popcorn maker or do you put a bag in the microwave? Are you supplying your entire neighborhood with fresh loaves of sour dough made by your bread machine? I doubt it.

You may make an exception for the waffle iron which is used traditionally each Christmas morning, but get real with yourself about all these apparatuses, especially if they are being stored on your kitchen counter. We all go through a stage of bread making or juicing or even the nonsensical indoor grilling, however wouldn't you rather grill outside? Let someone else have their love affair with juicing, the someone that buys your juicer at your yard sale.

After you have decided which small appliances to keep, wipe the greasy film or dust off each and store them together in an accessible location, such as the top shelf of the pantry. If you store small appliances in a place where you never see them, you will never use them, so you might as well get rid of them. However, resist the urge to keep them on your counter. Except for the coffee maker or maybe the toaster, small appliances that don't get used everyday should be stored.

Leaving small appliances plugged in at all times is also a bad idea. They continue to use most of the electricity which it takes to operate them even when switched off if they remain plugged in.

Some charities, such as Goodwill, take small appliances. If your small appliance is not working properly, do not give it to charity. Unfortunately, finding a source to repair a small appliance is becoming near impossible and repairing a toaster, if you could find a place to take it, would most likely cost more than the toaster. Check with your city or county refuse collection department to find out the best way to dispose of broken appliances or electronics.

Replace, Don't Accumulate!

What's in your sock/underwear drawers?

Reclaim space in your sock and panty drawer!

Get in the habit of replacing instead of accumulating.

When you get new t-shirts, socks, underwear, pajamas, or any other piece of clothing, move the old ones out. Challenge yourself to go deeper. If you buy a pack of 6 socks, throw away 7 old pairs. It will be cathartic. 

Remember not to give anything to charity that you wouldn't give to a friend or family member. Please, throw away your socks with holes and any other unmentionables. Nobody really wants second hand intimate appareal.

Spring Cleaning is for Workspaces Too!

What does your desk look like?

Start at the top, whether office, cube or nook. Remove any paper or decor that is no longer timely or necessary. Check for spider webs and dust bunnies and brush those away. Remove items and paper from shelves, desk, or cabinet one surface at a time so as not to overwhelm the space or your employer. Go through paper and recycle as you clean off each surface. 

Wipe each surface and item before returning things to their proper place. Disinfecting wipes are great for this purpose and a handy thing to keep in a desk drawer just in case of a future coffee spill or lunch mishap and to regularly disinfect your phone and computer keyboard. 

Look through drawers and and discard things that do not belong, such as ketchup packs or dried up ink pens. When you have freshened to your satisfaction, don't forget to empty the trash and use a disinfecting wipe to clean the garbage can before putting in a new liner.

Home offices are all sizes!

Too Many Masterpieces - Sorting Children's Art Work

File Drawer for Art Work 

Reclaim space on your refrigerator and bulletin boards. Children love to draw and never want to throw their masterpieces away. Consider purchasing a file drawer that accommodates one drawer for each of your children. As art work comes home from school or is completed at home, place it in the child's drawer. 

When the drawer is full, empty the contents on your kitchen table and set aside 15 minutes for your child to choose their favorites. Place the favorites back in the drawer and recycle the rest. I have 2 children so the bottom drawer is filled scrap paper, notebook paper and activity/drawing books.

Where Should I Put Graded School Papers?

Graded work in a shoe box

Want to reclaim space in your child's backpack or on your kitchen counter?


Finish checking over graded school work and give it to your child to file in a shoe box under your child's bed. When the 6/9 week grading period ends, recycle the contents of the box. There is no need to keep graded paperwork after the grading period is complete. This box of graded work can be a lifesaver if your child is missing a grade at the end of the grading period! And, this creates a good habit that can continue throughout years of schooling.


Added bonus! Children can personalize and decorate the shoe box.

Olivia's decorated box

It's not that Nasty! Someone can use it? Right?

Take it to the Dump!

If something in your home is nasty, throw it away! Items that are dirty, stained, torn, or broken should not be given to charity. If you wouldn't feel comfortable giving something to a friend or family member, don't give it to a charity either. Throw it away! Furthermore, if you wouldn't feel comfortable with a friend or family member, using something in your home, for instance, sleeping on your ratty sheets, throw them away. If you wouldn't want your doctor to see your toilet seat because it is so stained, replace it, and please, throw the old one away. If the garbage can in your home office is the one you had in your college dorm room and it has decade old chewing gum stuck in the bottom of it, throw it away.

Go through your home with fresh eyes and see what is nasty. If you can't face it, call a trusted, no nonsense friend and let them speak freely about what is nasty in your home. Make a list as you go through your house or follow your friend through you house. Before you go to Target, or Ikea, or Walmart or some other big box store to replace every little nasty thing you threw away, stop and think. Do you really need a trash can in every room? 

Don't replace your nasty electric can opener with a new one. Buy a manual can opener that can be stored in a kitchen drawer, and put in the dishwasher. Swing-away and OXO brands make very good manual can openers.

Really scrutinize what you need to replace. Ask yourself some questions: 

How often is this item used? 

Does this item have a functional place to be stored? 

Can I live without one of these? 

Obviously, the toilet needs a seat, but does the seat need a new fuzzy cover on the lid? NO!

Storing Warranties, Manuals and Spare Parts

Pile of Warranty Info

Reclaim space in your junk drawers! Rarely is there a need to keep spare parts. If you install a ceiling fan in your home for instance, and parts are left such as a lowering rod or metal plate that covers the spot where the light kit was installed, should you keep those parts? 

Consider that the ceiling height will not change in the room where you installed the fan therefore you will not need the lowering rod and if you installed a light, even if a cover is broken you will most likely replace it or get another light kit.

If you must keep parts after an installation, then put them in an appropriately sized ziploc bag which you have labeled with the name of the item they came from, the room where it is located, and the date.

When you assemble something, if there is an abundance of left over parts, perhaps rereading (or reading for the first time) the directions is a good idea in case you missed a step. Some things do come with extras or accessories or batteries. Store these parts with the manual and/or warranty information together in a large ziploc bag.

Warranties and parts for most everything in your home should have one convenient, accessible location. A cabinet or plastic tub with a lid that can contain all your ziploc bags of parts, manuals and warranties is a great idea. When you buy something, staple the receipt to the warranty or manual and put it with the others. If you get a new thing to replace an old thing, remember to remove the manual for the old thing. The next owner of the old thing, whether you give it to charity or sell it on Craig's list, etc., will be very happy to have it.

You can further categorize warranties and manuals by putting them in pockets or sleeves in a three ring binder. This works especially well for kitchen appliances, both large and small. The next time you need to clean the oven or choose which blade to use to slice potatoes with the food processor, this information can be at your finger tips.

Remove Two Forms of Clutter at Once!

Shopping Bag Clutter

Paper shopping bags are wonderful when reused to purge items to give to charity. 

Larger bags hold games and puzzles, purses, hats or shoes. Toys with accessories can be placed in smaller bags. Small bags are perfect for kitchen gadgets or office supplies. 

Using a shopping bag is more convenient than a box because it has handles. Resist the urge to overfill so the bag won't be too heavy or tear. Several shopping bags fit more easily in a vehicle than several boxes. 

If you have a particular item to give to someone, write their name or the name of the location the item needs to go on the bag. Place the item in the bag and immediately put the bag in the front passenger seat of your vehicle ensuring you will drop it off instead of leaving it in a closet somewhere in your home. Using your accumulated paper shopping bags to give things away removes two forms of clutter from your home at once.

Cleaning Out a Closet

Messy Closet?

Cleaning out your closet can be a daunting task. Breaking it down into a few steps can make it less overwhelming. Try the following method seasonally.

Start by separating your closet into two sections. Hang warm weather clothes in one area and cool weather clothes in the other. The next step is odd but really tells the tale. Turn all the hangers around backwards on the rod. Each time you wear something turn the hanger back. At the end of thirty days you will know what you are truly wearing at least for that season.

Take a hard look at what is left on the backwards hangers for the current season. Consider taking what you are not wearing to a consignment shop or donating some items to charity. Consignment shops will want recent styles, in very good condition on hangers. Charities typically do not require hangers or even prefer hangers. Call to check before you toss everything in a bag.

The rule of thumb for donating is if you wouldn't give something to a friend or family member because of its condition, then don't give it to a charity either. Clothing that is stained, torn, or even missing a button will be thrown away. Charities have to pay employees or use volunteers' time to inspect items and then end up throwing a good many of them in the dumpster because of their condition. Charities also have to pay disposal fees for every dumpster they fill. The less a charity has to spend on its operating cost, the more resources it has to fulfill its mission.

After you have eliminated what you are not wearing you can begin to categorize your clothes for that season in a way that works for you. Some people prefer to keep all shirts together, pants, jackets, etc. For women and particularly children, sometimes hanging outfits together is more convenient. You may decide to make an adjustment to your closet system. What matters is determining what you wear most because generally it is what you wear most that looks best, feels comfortable and determines your personal style.

Too many Totes?

Too many totes on your shelf?

Storing totes a problem? Maybe you have too many? Designate a space for totes and do NOT let them overflow! 
Store grocery totes in the car.  
If you come home from a conference with a new tote, don't jam it in your closet! Want to keep the new one? Discard an older one. 
Take the one you wish to discard and place it in your closet. Place items to take to Goodwill or a charity in the discarded tote. Once full, donate the contents and the TOTE to the charity!

Yard Sale Preparation - Tried and True Method

Price and Place in Box

The hardest part of a yard sale is the preparation. Procrastinating makes it so much worse and ensures you will be exhausted when you raise the garage door bright and early Saturday morning. To avoid "sale set-up" hangover try the following tried and true method.

Well in advance of the sale (maybe 2 months) place a medium size box in a prominent location in every room in your house. Put the box by the door.

Place a couple of sheets of pre-priced yard sale stickers in each box along with a Sharpie or marker. If you are not familiar with yard sale stickers you can find them at any "big box" store. They are a must because they take the thinking out of pricing your items.

As you go about life in your home leading up to the time of your sale, recognize items you are not using or have lost interest in. Each time you see one of these items, go to the box, choose a price sticker, price the item and leave it in the box. Really try to purge, but don't get stressed about it because you will have a chance to take items out of the box before the actual sale. Hopefully by then you will be fine with letting it go.

When a box gets full, close it, label its contents and take it to a designated place in the garage. Be sure to put another empty box in the room! By sale time you will have a trove of already priced items that you can simply spread out on tables. Typically they will be categorized already because each box will represent an area of your home. For example the kitchen box will be kitchen items.

If you don't want the hassle of having a sale, skip the stickers. Instead, use this method and give each of the boxes to charity when you are satisfied that you have removed enough from each room. This strategy is also great for editing your decor or de-cluttering in anticipation of listing your house for sale.

Woodwork - Paint vs. Cleaning

Tray catches drips!

Think it's time to repaint the woodwork; think again!

Painting the wood work in your home is much more time consuming and much more costly, if you hire someone to do it, than painting a room. As a first option, consider cleaning all baseboards, doors and door frames, and cabinetry, before you decide to paint.

Gather the right tools for the job:
Small (6 quart) bucket
Mild water based detergent
Micro fiber cloths
Mr. Clean Eraser sponges
Terry cloth hand towel
Rubber gloves with a drip proof cuff
A large plastic tray or rimmed baking sheet
Blue masking tape
Vacuum with attachment

Mix a small amount, generally less than the recommended amount of detergent,
with very warm water in the bucket. You should empty your bucket frequently
so only fill it half way and try to keep detergent minimal, maybe only a
teaspoon full. Put all your supplies on the tray along with the bucket.
The tray keeps all your supplies together, is easily scooted around on the
floor, and most importantly, catches drips and keeps them off your carpet or
other flooring.

Put your rubber gloves on and think systematically. Begin in the corner of
your home, top or bottom level, and work your way around that room first,
baseboards, door frames, and doors, before moving to the hall or next room.
You may want to vacuum around the tops of the baseboard with a brush tool
and or the area where the baseboards meet your flooring with a crevice tool
before wiping. Use a micro fiber cloth that you have wet and squeezed out
in your bucket. Microfiber cloths don't leave streaks or excess water that
a sponge or terry cloth might. Start at the top of door frames and doors
and work your way down to prevent drips.

Use the Mr. Clean eraser sponge for heavily soiled areas such as around the
door knob or for scuff marks at the base of the door. Wet it completely
under running water in the sink, not your bucket as it contains its own
detergent. Squeeze it completely and then put it on your tray. Rub gently
and repeatedly any marks on the door or baseboards. If you rub too hard you
may discolor or remove paint. Avoid using the eraser sponge for the entire
door. They are expensive and deteriorate as you use them. A mild detergent
in water and your elbow grease with the microfiber cloth should do the
trick. Remember to wipe off the residue of the Mr. Clean eraser using your
microfiber cloth.

Nasty Garage Baseboard

As you are cleaning, if you notice chips or scratches in the paint that cleaning won't take care of, dry the area with you terry hand towel and put a small piece of blue masking take by the area. If at the end of your cleaning you have a sea of blue tape, painting the wood work may be the way to go, but at least you have a clean surface on which to work. If blue tape is minimal consider touching up chips in the paint.


Unfortunately if your left over trim paint is over a year old or has been stored improperly it will probably be unusable. It is fine to test the paint after shaking it thoroughly in an inconspicuous area. Let it dry completely (like 12 hours) before making a decision. Your best bet might be to take the old paint to the manufactures paint store and let them use the color code to mix you a quart of fresh paint. If they are nice and so are you they might properly dispose of your old paint for you.

When touching up paint on wood work use a small craft brush or maybe two; one brush could be less than an inch wide and flat, the other might be truly small, for filling in a tiny chip in the wood. Avoid using sponge brushes for this kind of project. Use a light hand and a tiny amount of paint. Usually just dipping your brush in the paint thats on the lid of your quart of paint will suffice. The idea is to fill in the chip only, not to start painting the door. Most likely, new or left over paint will not match exactly, so try to keep the touch up as minimal as possible.

Again, work systematically around each room, removing the blue tape as you touch up each
spot so if the phone rings you will know exactly where you left off when you were interrupted. Hopefully, a fresh cleaning will yield the result you are looking for in your trim. If you do have to do some painting keep in mind these tips:

Latex paint cannot be used over oil based paint without the wood work being
first sanded and primed. Your paint store or professional painter can
instruct you as to how to know if you have oil based paint on your wood
work. Chances are if your house is less than 20 years old you have nothing
but latex, however it never hurts to check. Cabinets that are finished or
painted bookcases are often finished more durably and may need to be sanded
and primed before painting.

If you home is very old or considered historic, consult a professional
before you paint. Older paint may contain lead which can be extremely
harmful to you, your family and pets if sanded or removed improperly. It
may not be in the paint on the surface of your wood work but could be in
subsequent layers underneath. Read up on lead paint on the internet. The
Environmental Protection Agency provides brochures to paint stores
concerning lead paint that you can pick up, just ask.

Do not dispose of old paint by pouring it down a sink, in a storm drain or on to the ground. In many cases water based or latex paints can be opened and filled with kitty litter and left open until the kitty litter has absorbed all the paint and completely dried and then you can pour out the "crumbs" in the trash and throw the can away. This is not safe with oil based paints. Check with your local waste management system for the proper disposal recommendation.




Place Paint on Tray to Scoot