Let's get organized in 2015 !

 I love a clean and organized house, I love having only as much stuff as I need around me..

but somehow, especially in January, I always find myself amids a messy and dusty house

 filled with all sorts of stuff that is only cluttering up my space.

So, January again..time to get cracking and clean that house!

My problem is that I find Pinterest, DevianArt, Facebook..you name it.. 

a lot more interesting then cleaning up all the mess around me.

To give myself a bit of a guidance where to start tackling the mess I made a printable chart

 of which room to clean on what day, a weekly cleaning chart so to say.

 That way, if you slack off for a while, you can just pick right up again

 and have a clean(ish) house again in a week.

Feel free to print out my chart and use it to your advantage in the war against dust and clutter!

I will add some useful links and ideas that I come across that will be helpful on the road to getting super-organized ect..one has to have dreams no? :)

Good luck!

click here to download .pdf

Your road map to get organized:

1. Be realistic! 
Don’t try to get it all done in one day, 30 minutes every day will get the job done too.
Don't beat yourself up because you haven't been cleaning or decluttering, it's never to late to start.
You are researching how to be the boss over the mess right now, so be proud of yourself!

2. Do it for yourself.
Don't try to impress anyone but you. Not the neighbors, not the family - you.
Don't mind living in a mess? Just give it a try and see if you feel differently about yourself.
I have found for myself that a clean surrounding gives me inner peace, the more organized
 my surrounding is the more organized and balanced do I feel myself.
That's just me though,  give it a shot and see if you feel any different about yourself too.
If not don't worry, clutter and mess is like a boomerang, it will be back soon enough again 8D

 3. Don’t procrastinate - just do it, now!
  Start with 15 minutes today and then be proud of yourself that you made a start!

4. Create a starter zone!
Clean one area of any clutter and mess - your desk, your table, the kitchen counter
or your couch area in the living room. Start small, just this zone!
There is one rule: nothing can be placed here that doesn't belong in this zone!
If you use the table, de-mess it afterwards right away! If you place a coffee mug on your desk, 
clean it away when you leave the area!
 Keep this zone tidy and decluttered and celebrate this zone! :))

5. Three Boxes and a bag!
 Get yourself three boxes, plastic or cardboard, it doesn't matter, but big enough to hold some stuff, and a trash bag. 
If you don't have boxes don't put it off until you have some! (don´t procrastinate, remember? )
Just get bags instead.
Take the boxes and the trash bag to the area you want to declutter. 
The boxes are for the following: 

    Box 1:  Stays in this room
                Box 2:  belongs in another room 
Box 3:  Sell/Give away
 

The trash bag is for everything that is broken, that is obvious trash 
or that you think no one will want.
Now start working in you declutter zone - pick up and item and make a decision! 
The first question you should ask yourself is: do I really need this?

For a lot of people this is an easy question but I personally know people who have a real problem with this. Parting with things can be a real problem, especially if something isn´t obviously broken or useless. But remember: these are only things, they don´t define who you are! Things never fulfill, they can be nice to have and make you somewhat content, they can be darn useful and fun, but they will never change the real you, 
change your persona or lift up your self-worth. 

Even more, they can become your enemy if you let them take over your house/life. 

So ask yourself: do I really need this? 

 If yes: 

does it stay in this room? -> Box 1does it belong in another room? -> Box 2
is it too nice to throw away but I don't really need it? ->Box 3

If no:
put it in the trash bag

Clean one area like this and then throw the trash away and try to clean out the boxes -
the sell/give away box might stay around for a while but try your best to get rid of the things in box three! Try to stick to items that people really would still like to have too,
those knitting magazines from the 80ies are probably not really useful to anyone anymore so bye bye 80ies!



6. Everything needs a home!
 Give everything in your house a "home", a fixed place where it should go, where you store it, where it can live a happy life. If you catch it somewhere else return it to its home! End homelessness in your house!


7. Never go empty handed!
 If you have to go somewhere in the house - from the living room to the kitchen, from the bedroom to the bathroom, from the kitchen to the study - quickly look around you and check if there is anything that needs to go to that room (or towards that general area). If so take it with you! You're running around the house all day anyway
so you might as well clean up while doing so!


8. Have a "needs to go upstairs" box near the stairs
(but not on the stairs for safety reasons)

Next to my stairs I have a wooden crate where I put everything from downstairs that needs to go upstairs. If you go upstairs or catch a family member on the way up ask them to take something from the box to the room they are going to! It doesn't take any effort at all to quickly check the box but it will make your life so much more easy!

9. Develop rituals! 
  Two rituals that I try to nurture are making my bed in the morning and always clean out and polish my kitchen sink in the evening. Two small things but for me they make a big difference - they make me feel somewhat in control and make me happy in the morning when I see my shiny kitchen sink and happy in the evening when I see my nicely made bed. By the way, not making your bed so the dust mites have a hard life might be true, but by the time I'm done in the bathroom and got dressed at least 15 minutes have passed, plenty of time for a messed up bed to air.
Before I got downstairs I can savely make my bed.


Neat ideas:

Store your bed sheets in their own pillow cases

Idea from Martha Stewart

Hack your Life - Storing bed sheets

Store your bed sheets in their own pillow cases -

sometimes the most simple ideas are the best!

Thank you Martha Stewart for this grand idea. 

Hack your Life - Cleaning with laundry detergent

If you finished a bottle of liquid laundry detergent don't throw it away!
Instead fill it up with some water (depending on how much detergent is still left in there, there is always a little rest stuck to the bottle).
I use this newly won solution for cleaning all kinds of things, it especially works well on our steel kitchen counters! Never do I get them so clean and shiny with anything else, its amazing.
It seems that the enzymes in the detergent break down the dirt into smaller, more water-soluble pieces which can then be washed away more easy.
Plus, it smells sooo good! :)

Hack your Life - Extraordinary uses for nail polish

Extraordinary uses for nail polish:
In the Sewing Room

from Readers Digest.



Protect pearl buttons

Delicate pearl buttons will keep their brand-new sparkle with a protective coat of clear nail polish. It will keep costume pearl buttons from peeling as well.

Prevent loss of buttons

Keep that brand-new shirt in good shape by putting a drop of clear nail polish on the thread in the buttons. It prevents the thread from fraying, so taking this precaution in advance could save you some embarrassment later. Put a dab on just-repaired buttons as well.

Make needle threading easier

Do you fumble with your needle and thread, licking and re-licking the frayed thread end until it's too floppy to go through the eye? Try dragging the cut thread end through the application brush of nail polish once or twice, and then roll the thread end between your thumb and forefinger. It will dry in a second, and your thread end stays stiff enough to thread in a flash. Your sewing box is a great retirement home for a nail color you no longer use.

Keep ribbons from fraying

The gift is perfect, so make sure the wrapping is just as nice. Brush the cut ends of ribbon with a little clear nail polish to stop them from unraveling. This is also the perfect solution for your little girl's hair ribbons on special occasions; at least one part of her will stay together all day!

Stop a run in your hose

It's a helpless feeling, realizing that a small run in your stocking is about to turn into a big embarrassment. Happily you can stop runs permanently and prolong the life of fragile stockings with a dab of clear nail polish. Simply apply polish to each end of a run (no need to remove hose), and let it dry. This invisible fix stops runs, and lasts through many hand launderings.

Hack your Life - Extraordinary uses for nail polish Part 2

Extraordinary uses for nail polish:
Around the house

from Readers Digest.




Make buttons glow in the dark

It happens all the time. The lights are dimmed, you grab the remote control to increase the TV volume, and darn, you hit the wrong button and change the channel instead. To put an end to video flubs, dab glow-in-the-dark nail polish onto frequently used remote buttons. You can also use phosphorescent polish to mark keys and keyholes and other hard-to-spot items.

Mark your thermostat setting

When you wake up with a chill and don't have your glasses, it's easy to return to your comfort zone if you've marked your dial-type thermostat. Simply set it to your preferred temperature and then make a thin mark with colored nail polish from the dial into the outside ring.

Mark temperature settings on shower knobs

Don't waste precious shower time fiddling with the water temperature. With the shower on, select your ideal settings, then turn off the flow to the shower and make a small mark with bright nail polish onto the stationary lip of both the hot and cold knob indicating the handle position that's best. Once it's set, no sweat!

Make cup measurements legible

Find your measuring cup markings faster, especially if you like to measure "on the fly" while cooking. Use a very visible color of nail polish to trace over the basic measurement levels. This also works great for those dimly lit, late-night bottle feedings, when you need to see how well Junior has tanked up. And you won't have to squint to find the correct dosage on little plastic medicine cups if you first mark them with a thin line of dark polish.

Mark levels inside a bucket

When you're mixing in a big bucket, you don't typically have the opportunity to lift the bucket to check the quantity. Besides, the bucket you use for mixing might not have the measurements clearly marked at all. Make sure you know you're using the right amounts by marking pint, quart, and gallon (or half, full, and other liter) levels with lines of nail polish. Use a color that stands out against the bucket's color.


Label your sports gear

You share a lot of interests with your golf partner, including the same brand of golf balls. Make it clear who got on the green first, by putting a dot of bright nail polish on your ball supply. This also works well with batting gloves and other items that don't have enough room to fit your name.

Label poison containers

If everyone in your home has easy access to your cupboard, prevent someone from grabbing dangerous items in haste. Use dark red or other easily visible nail polish to label the poisons. Draw an unmistakable X on the label as well as the lid or spout.

Seal an envelope

Do you have a mild distrust of those self-sealing envelopes? Brush a little nail polish along the underside of the flap, seal it, and it won't even open over a teakettle! Add some flair to a special card by brushing your initial (or any design) in nail polish over the sealed flap tip, as a modern type of sealing wax that doesn't need to be melted first.

Smudgeproof important drug labels

Preserve the important information on your prescription medicine and other important medicine labels with a coat of clear polish, and they won't be smudged as you grab them after getting your glass of water.

Waterproof address labels

When you're sending a parcel on a rainy day, a little clear polish brushed over the address information will make sure your package goes to the right place.


Prevent rust rings from metal containers

If your guests are going to peek into your medicine cabinet, you don't want them to see rust rings on your shelves. Brush nail lacquer around the bottom of shaving cream cans and other metal containers to avoid those unsightly stains.

Make a gleaming paperweight

To create paperweights that look like gemstones, or interesting rocks for the base of your potted cactus, try this: Find some palm-size, smooth clean rocks. Put about 1/2 inch (1.25 centimeters) water into a pie pan, and put 1 drop clear nail polish onto the water. The polish will spread out over the water surface. Holding a rock with your fingertips, slowly roll it in the water to coat it with the polish. Set the rock on newspaper to dry.

Prevent rusty toilet seat screws

If you're installing a new toilet seat, keep those screws from quickly rusting. Paint them with a coat or two of clear nail lacquer; it will also help prevent seat wobble by keeping the screws in place.


Paint shaker holes to restrict salt

If your favorite saltshaker dispenses a little too generously, paint a few of the holes shut with nail polish. It is a good idea for those watching their salt.

Tarnish-proof costume jewelry

Inexpensive costume jewelry can add sparkle and color to an everyday outfit, but not if it tarnishes and the tarnish rubs off the jewelry and onto your skin. To keep your fake jewelry and your skin sparkling clean, brush clear nail polish onto the back of each piece and allow it to dry before wearing.

Protect your belt buckle's shine

Cover new or just-shined belt buckles with a coat of clear polish. You'll prevent oxidation and guarantee a gleaming first impression.


Seal out scuffs on shoes

On leather shoes, it's the back and toes that really take the brunt of the wear and tear that leaves scratches on the surface. Next time you buy a new pair of shoes -- especially ones for a kid or an active adult -- give these areas the extra measure of protection they need. Paint a little clear nail polish on the outside of the back seam and over the toes. Rub the polish in a little to feather out the shine of the polish. After it dries, you'll be a step ahead of those perennial shoe problems "driver's heel" and "jump rope toe."


Keep laces from unraveling

Neaten the appearance of frayed shoelaces, and extend their life. Dip the ends in clear nail polish and twist the raveled ends together. Repair laces in the evening so that the polish will dry overnight.

Hack your Life - Extraordinary uses for nail polish Part 3

Extraordinary uses for nail polish:
Making Repairs

from Readers Digest.



Mend a fingernail

You just split a nail, but don't have a nail repair kit handy? Grab an unused tea bag instead. Cut the bag open, dump the tea, cut a piece of the bag into the shape of your nail, and cover it with clear nail polish. Press it onto your nail, then apply colored nail polish. You'll be good to go until the break grows out.

Temporarily repair eyeglasses

So you sat on your glasses and one lens has a small crack, but you can't get to the optometrist right away? Seal the crack on both sides with a thin coat of clear nail polish. That will hold it together until you can see your way to the doctor's office.

Fill small nicks on floors and glass

Have the children been playing hockey on your hardwood floors? Fill those little nicks by dabbing them with some clear nail polish. It will dry shiny, so sand the spot gently with some 600-grit sandpaper. A thick coat of clear nail polish also helps to soften the sharp edge of a nicked mirror or glass pane.

Reset loose jewelry stones
If your jewelry has popped a stone or two, you don't have to put it in the "play dress-up" box yet. The stone can be reset using a little drop of clear nail polish as the "glue." It dries quickly, and the repair will be invisible.


Repair lacquered items

Did you chip a favorite lacquered vase or other lacquered item? Try mixing colors of nail polish to match the piece. Paint over the chipped area to make it less noticeable. Caution: You may lower the value of an antique by doing this, so you probably only want to try this with inexpensive items.


Plug a hole in your cooler

A small hole inside your cooler doesn't make it trash-worthy yet. Seal the hole with two coats of nail polish to hold in ice and other melted substances.


Fill washtub nicks

It's a mystery how they got there, but your washing machine tub has one or two nicks near the holes, and now you're concerned about snags in your clothes or even rust spots. Seal those nicks with some nail polish, feathering the edges so there is no lip.

Keep chipped car paint from rusting
If your car suffers small dings and chips, you can keep them from rusting or enlarging by dabbing clear nail polish onto the damaged areas.


Smooth wooden hangers
If you've noticed a few splinters or nicks in your wooden hangers, no need to toss them out. Brush some nail polish over the rough edges to smooth the surface again and keep your coat linings safe.


Tighten loose screws

You're not rough with your drawers and cabinets, but you find yourself tightening certain pull screws once too often. Keep them in place by brushing a little clear polish on the screw threads, insert the screws, and let dry before using again. This is also a great solution if you've been keeping a Phillips screwdriver in the kitchen for loose pot handles. You can also use clear nail polish to keep nuts on machine screws or bolts from coming loose, and if you need to take the nuts off, a twist with a wrench will break the seal.

Mend holes in window screens

You notice a small hole has been poked in your window or door screen. If the hole is no more than about 1/4 inch (6 millimeters) in diameter, you can block the bugs and keep the hole from getting bigger by dabbing on a bit of clear nail polish.

Fix torn window shades

Got a little tear in your window shade? Don't worry. You can usually seal it with a dab of clear nail polish.