28 Day Cleaning/Organizing Challenge (Day 7 - Books/DVDs/Video Games)

Oddly now, I've begun looking forward to and would consider myself almost excited about each upcoming day's challenge.  Something is wrong with me, I may need a doctor.  "Hello, my name is Closet Housewife and I've become addicted to organizing."  Maybe its the gratification I get looking at the accomplishments made over the last week...it's addicting.  Who knew?

Today's task was especially important in my house.  I knew I'd have to think in the box as opposed to out side of it...because, as you can see, we have a large collection of books and movies for the kids (not so much video games but they are lumped into today's task).  It's baffling, honestly. 

 




Imagine having these things scattered throughout the house...





When I started putting items into piles it became evident that central storage was important.

BOOKS
Were separated out by reading level.  There is a pretty large age gap between our kids so I put things for each child in bins and then there was an "in between" one.  Our closets have shelving units (you will see in an upcoming blog) that have room enough to store each "library" since we don't have book cases.

MOVIES 

Were alphabetized and put into bins.  We don't have a large TV stand or bookcase in the family room so (you will see in an upcoming blog) that they are then being stored in our foyer closet.

VIDEO GAMES 

Also alphabetized and put into a bin.  They are, however, stored in the TV stand since it is a smaller collection and will fit along with the controls and console.

Here is what they all look like when we were done parsing through and taking out things that could be donated or sold at an upcoming consignment swap:

 

TIP/HINT: I purposefully used clear bins so that you could still see-through and find the title you were looking for without having to open each one.

 

It was so nice to get these items in order, what was even better...having the school-ager help and realize the importance of putting/keeping things in order and taking stock of the items he thought were worth keeping.  I found out a book "reminds him of me" and therefore, couldn't be donated...never, ever. 

28 Day Cleaning/Organizing Challenge (Day 6 - Medicine Cabinet)

Because I'm always outside of the box, our medicine actually occupies a shelf in the kitchen.  Mind blowing, I know.  Maybe it's the mom in me, but I like being able to see and know when some one's in there and it's location provides me a level of comfort, knowing its high above where little hands can't easily reach.  Another reason, real estate...honestly, I don't think there is anyway I'd be able to cram all this stuff into that little thing above our bathroom sinks, nor is there a way to organize or keep things from falling off those narrow little shelves.

I had a head start, all the items were kept in plastic Ziploc containers (make-shift pull out shelving at its best/would love to buy bigger locking ones - see them in my future).  So I began this task simply by going through all the items and checking expiration dates.  Some of the items were close enough and I had duplicates, they got trashed.  I found a few more plastic cups like the green one in the above-picture and used them to hold small like items together.  Then I began to quadrant things.  Here are the four I came up with that suit our needs:

Wound Care/Grooming; Sunscreen/Bug Spray; Over the Counter and Vitamins.

In doing this task, I also realized that we need peroxide the next time we go food shopping and that one of the thermometers needs a new battery.  A more regular check through of these items is probably necessary, I'm thinking every 4 months or so...we don't always use the medicines before they should be de-shelved and SOMEONE doesn't always tell me when we need replenishing...I won't name names, but I'm sure you can imagine.

28 Day Cleaning/Organizing Challenge (Day 5 - Under Kitchen Sink)

So I tackled under the kitchen sink...

We have a little one crawling around the house and opening cabinets. Because of this, most of the cleaning products that ordinarily would have keen kept here, have been relocated to the shelf that runs down the basement stairwell wall.  I took this opportunity to straighten that area out as well - almost like it's the ANNEX.  Over the years, I have found certain cleaning products that work best for me and we pretty much stick to those.  When they go on sale or run out, I either stock up or buy what is needed.  I like to keep like items together (quadrants again).  Most of the wood cleaning products are shelved together, like the bathroom cleaning ones and multipurpose...makes it easier for me to find things when they are needed.  As you can see, my rags are white (so they can be sanitized and bleached free of germs when necessary.)

Back to under the ACTUAL kitchen sink.
It was very cluttered and somewhat unorganized.  I did have my storage bags and  aluminum foil, etc. in magazine storage bins and you will see in the after photos that that stayed the same.  As for the extra storage bins and other items, I constructed a small shelf (made from plywood and curtain dowel) to give an additional level for stacking things towards the space that sits back in the corner and isn't easily accessible.  I made sure to wipe out the bottom of the cabinet because its not been done in quite sometime and culled out a few items that we really have no use for anymore.  Then I put things back in and as you can see this was the end result:

I can't believe there is actually empty space in there!!!

   

28 Day Cleaning/Organizing Challenge (Day 4 - Junk Drawer)

 

When I was in the first grade, my mother wound up taking me to the emergency room.  After what seemed like and eternity, I came home with my left index finger wrapped in a heap of gauze and a prescription from the doctor to use Mecuricome and keep it clean.  (Funny, that that stuff is now banned.  I survived.)

Why am I telling you this?  Thirty years later, I still have that scar.  Just looked at it when the topic of cleaning out a junk drawer came up.  Hmm...still wondering?  Well, the reason I specifically recall THIS traumatic childhood experience is that I was cut, while rifling in our family's junk drawer.

Now that I've shared (group therapy at its best), I feel like we can move on.

 

I myself emptied the drawer and started placing like items in piles on the kitchen table.  This really is the catch-all place but because I don't have very many drawers in the kitchen to begin with, there are mostly odd and end kitchen utensils in there.  It seemed more manageable to spread things out, but it also made me realize just how MUCH useless stuff I have too. 

A few of the items were placed into Ziploc bags, so as to not have them lose (like all the turkey sewing needles went together) and I also used twist ties on the cords to the electric thermometers for the oven and crock pots.  Otherwise, I didn't use containers to separate things out.  After purging and then neatly putting back, this is how it looks:

 

It really is satisfying to get this accomplished and knowing that this was done, helped me not be so nervous when I pull the drawer open again.  Darn traumatic childhood memories!

Japanese Corn Soup

Yummy!

Kitchen tools needed:

stove

knife

sauce pan (2 qt.)blender

medium stockpot (6 qt.)

can opener

whisk

spatula

measuring spoons

Ingredients needed:

3 chicken bouillon cubes

2 tsp. minced dried onion

1 lb. chicken breast, cubed

2 c. water

6-14.75 oz. cans creamed corn

14.75 oz. whole kernel corn, drained

3 large eggs, beaten

2 c. whole milk ~or~ 2 c. soy creamer

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

Directions:

1. In saucepan, boil water with chicken, bouillon and onion until meat is cooked through (approx. 10-15 min.).  Let cool.
2. Using blender, liquefy/puree on high the creamed corn (2 cans at a time) until smooth.  When each batch is complete, pour into stockpot.
3. Take cooled chicken and broth and put in blender; pulse a few times to shred/pulverize meat.  Add to stockpot along with egg and milk/creamer.
4. Fold egg, whole kernel corn and milk/creamer into mixture along with salt and pepper.
5. Simmer soup on low heat (approx. 10-15 min.) until bubbles begin to form.  Be sure to stir constantly to insure it does not burn on the bottom of pot.
6. Serve and enjoy!

28 Day Organization/Cleaning Challenge (Day 3 - Linen Closet)

Well, I procrastinated, plead and tried bargaining with myself...then, just threw my hands up and said, "Let's roll!"

The much dreaded day of this organization/cleaning challenge, has arrived.  You may ask yourself why I start breaking out in hives over a closet.  I mean, really, it's just a bunch of linens, right?  It's that darn fitted sheet!  We are at odds.  With that said, I decided one little thing shouldn't keep me from achieving a goal and put that fight aside for later.

So THIS is our linen closet.  You might be scratching your head...yes, it is practically empty.  Why, you might ask?  Well, of all the things in our house to fall into the cracks when it comes to upkeep, this is the spot.  It's probably because of that good-for-nothing fitted sheet.  But, I digress...anyway, this is how I started out.  It's quite narrow with a big open space at the bottom, perfect for catching all the stuff that I have no idea where else to put.

I at least have good intentions...
Each shelf has already been labeled as to what type of linen should be placed there (quadrants again, it's a household organizing theme).  We have: Bath towels, hair towels (they are a little smaller and thinner/kind easily wrapped around my head), hand towels, floor/bath mats, washcloths, pool towels and then sheets/pillowcases.  

Every item is white.  I like  to replace things as they wear out, without needing to match them to something as well as being able to bleach.  So, white they are.  It really does make it easier in the long run...I'm not saying to run out and get only white linens but you may want to consider it when/if you are buying new.  I find it makes my life a bit easier and germy'er-free.

In order to maximize how much I can get in (when there is stuff there), I have folded items in a specific way. We don't hang towels on a rack, so I'm only concerned about storage when folding.

Here is how I fold a bath, hair and pool towel:

Step 1: Fold towel in half

by taking the bottom 

hem and fold up.

Step 2: Taking hem, fold
down in half again.

Step 3: Begin folding in
three from left to right.

Step 4: Finish trifold by

folding in on itself, from 

left to right.             

...and here is how I fold a hand towel, floor/bath mat and washcloth:

Step 1: Begin folding in

three from left to right.

Step 2: Trifold again by

folding from right to left.

Step 3: Fold in half from

top to bottom.

When I place things on a shelf, there aren't any finished ends showing...it looks showplace nice.

Here is the finished product...

Along with stocking the shelves, I also purged out some of the unnecessary items from the floor.  Our humidifier had cracks in the tank (which, I'd been unaware of until dusting it off), the baby tub had been outgrown and beach towels have found another location.

As for the sheets...well, that's going to be the topic of another post.  It took me a while (I won't admit to the actual amount of time because you might have me committed), but I have conquered THE FITTED SHEET.

28 Day Organization/Cleaning Challenge (Day 2 - Pantry)

Okay, okay...so I got a little ahead of myself earlier and actually skipped ahead to Day 4's assignment.  Thanks to my co-sponsor, The Family Frontier (thefamilyfrontier.blogspot.com), I'm back on track.  Real-life example of how having someone else along for the journey can be helpful and provide sometimes the support you need!

Anyway, onward and upward...

Today's feat is conquering the pantry.  I myself, keep a tidy and organized one.  So before pictures really looked similar to these after ones, with the exception of adding a few more containers.

As you can see,

I am a labeling fool.  It wouldn't be far-fetched for me to go into a panic if I lost my Brother P-touch 1100.

Like other locations in the house, I organize by quadrants.  It really is helpful to keep like items together.  Another thing I do it keep the items like juice boxes, fruit squeezers and breakfast items at a level that our school-ager can reach.  This way if he needs a snack or something to eat, the foods he is allowed are reachable while the cookies, sweets and chips are up top and out of reach.