The UnCluttered Mother's Blog

Tackling Your Junk Drawer

Let’s stop kidding around with this drawer of terror! If you can get your junk drawer to open, tackle it immediately.  Try these two suggestions for a better psychological approach to your junk drawer:

• Rename The Drawer. Junk implies unwanted and unloved objects that no one wants. In reality, what you will find in this drawer are rogue shirt buttons, missing pens, recipes cards, paper clips, post-it notes, loose change, etc.  Things in this drawer are not unwanted but misplaced and are often there because we could not figure out where to put them at that moment. So let’s rename the drawer, “Relocation Services” because everything in it is just waiting to be relocated to a new home.


• Pre-Organize Your Drawer. Part of the problem with tackling this drawer is that when it’s opened, everything rolls astray all over the place.  Avoid this problem in advance by placing a small silverware tray, small box lids, or an office drawer organizer inside the drawer so when you place objects in there, you can go ahead and organize them. Tackling the drawer will be less daunting when everything already seems somewhat organized.

Now let’s get started on that junk drawer.  Approach, Open, Experience the Horror, Attack!

Drop me a line and let me know how it’s going for you.

#6 Let's Get Busy!

Family Meeting - Check! 
Timeline - Check!
Home stations - Check!
Rewards System - Check!
Cleaning Caddy - Check!

The project day has finally arrived! So let's get busy. Wait - do not start anything without a timer! It doesn't have to be anything fancy, you can use a digital watch, the timer on your stove, or the alarm clock on your cell phone. I don't recommend simply watching the time on the clock because I honestly think you'll fare better if you have that timer working it's "psychological tricks" on your mind. Somehow knowing that timer will sound off at any minute just puts more urgency in your step. 

Since it's your first time out on this huge project, start out with say 15 minutes and go from there. The most I would recommend you set the timer is only for 30 minutes. After that, it just seems too long and I've found that I'll drag my feet a bit because I think I have plenty of time to get a certain room done. However, if a longer time works for you, have at it!

So......Set the timer, get ready, set, now go!   

Next: We'll talk junk drawers, donations, recycling, storing items, etc.   Stay tuned.

#5 Stock Your Cleaning Caddy

I know what you're thinking: why didn't we make this cleaning caddy after suggestion #3, where we broke our home into stations? Well, I'll tell you.  After you completed the exercise of breaking down every room into individual stations, I thought it best to start thinking about rewards rather than barrel forward with this task - just in case the thought of cleaning each small area seemed overwhelming or caused you to want to throw in the towel.

The Cleaning Caddy - The caddy is for storing and carrying all of your cleaning supplies so make sure whatever container you use has a handle for easy carrying.  Each room will have unique needs so the cleaning supplies may be different. I'm not so firm on having a different caddy for each room because most of the cleaning supplies will be the same. However, I do think certain items in your caddy should remain separate such as any cleaning cloths or sponges. The bathroom, kitchen, and dusting cloths should not be used interchangebly - and you know why! Check your local dollar store for a cheap pack of multi-purpose wipes and you're all set!

Next: Let's Get Busy!!!!!!

Spring Cleaning Your Kitchen

The key to spring cleaning your kitchen is to start from the top and work your way down. Otherwise you’re going to end up cleaning some areas over and over again – most likely your countertops.  Check out www.springcleaning101.com for the complete article with tips on how to began your spring cleaning journey in your own kitchen.  

Spring Cleaning is Upon Us!

Spring has finally arrived and with it comes the need to spring clean your living space. Check out the blog at Spring Cleaning 101 for tips on starting your clean, homemade cleaning solutions, great uses for vinegar, and much more. 

Go to Spring Cleaning 101 here: www.springcleaning101.com

 Send me a few of your homemade cleaning solutions and I'll post them on the blog.

 

http://www.springcleaning101.com/2011/04/tips-to-consider-before-you-start-spring-cleaning.html