Organizing and a cleaner way to clean!

It's really easy to see your stuff and become overwhelmed by it. It's hard to organize everything. Where will it go? Is that the right place for it? Do I have space for it? What will I "contain" it in? Will it look nice? Why are containers so expensive? Can I afford to organize?

First - stop watching videos and convincing yourself that you HAVE to do things the way you see on YouTube and TikTok. You don't have to have custom glass jars, and expensive clear boxes to get organized. Start on something small and give yourself a W. (Win for those of us born before 2010).

The first step for me - is to get my bedroom organized enough that I can make my bed everyday - with the extraneous bed cushions that it seems, only women understand.

Extra pillows!

By "organized enough to make my bed" I mean - that there is a place to put my pillows when I'm IN the bed. For me - that's the chair in front of my dressing table. It can't be full of clothes that need put away, or a laundry basket, or piled with things that don't belong in the room. That chair has to be cleared off. Always. If I don't manage anything else every night - that chair is cleared off so I can put my extra pillows on it.

Next up - cleaning supplies!

First - you probably have WAY more supplies than you need. I know I do! Second - I got these containers for $10 (as a set) at Walmart. Could have done even better if I'd gone to the Dollar Tree (even though they are now the Dollar and a Quarter Tree - haha!)

Find something that will fit well in the space you have, get rid of anything you don't USE! How many all purpose cleaners do you really need? How many different glass cleaners?

Do you need 13 sponges? I have more than I need here - I'll use it up and have made up my mind not to re-purchase most of this. I'll share a few cleaner recipe's below - no one needs this many chemicals in their house! As I cull and use up this stuff, I'll reduce the number of boxes I use to organize it all, as well.

I have a handy dandy label maker that my husband bought me about 15 years ago, but you don't need one. Just use a sharpie to write on the box.

Can't afford the boxes? Re-use cereal or other food boxes - wrap them in paper bags (us old folks remember doing that with our school books) - or excess wrapping paper - and write on the outside of them. It can be free and still cute with a little upcycling!

Getting this one area organized was a huge win for me. I have MILES to go, but it's ok to start with one thing. It can be one area per week, per month, per quarter - doesn't matter as long as you are making forward progress!

Here's a list of cleaners you can make at home for WAY cheaper than you are buying them. Plus, it's better for the environment and your health! Let me know if you try any of them and have an amazing day!

• Window / glass cleaner
  • White vinegar - 1 cup
  • Distilled water or tap water - 1 cup (if you have hard water, consider using distilled in place of your tap water)
  • Newspaper or advertisement papers (non glossy)
  • Add vinegar and water to a spray bottle - add essential oils if you dislike the smell of vinegar - and spray on mirror or window. Use a wad of newspaper (or other lint free cloth) and use as you would any glass cleaner.
• All Purpose Cleaner
  • White vinegar - 1 cup
  • Dawn (or other dish soap) - 1 tablespoon
  • Distilled water or tap water - 2 cups (if you have hard water, consider using distilled in place of your tap water)
  • Add vinegar, soap and water to a spray bottle - add essential oils if you dislike the smell. Spray on surface to be cleaned and wipe with clean cloth
• Comet / Barkeepers Friend
  • Replace with baking soda
• Dusting
  • Use the recipe for all purpose cleaner - but add 2 tablespoons of either olive or coconut oil to the mix. Use as you would any other dusting spray
• Wood preservation / repair
  • For scratches - rub a walnut over the scratched area - the oil from the nut will help cover the damage
  • For "water rings" - add enough mayonnaise to the area to completely cover the water damage - leave for an hour or two. Buff off excess with a clean cloth
• Clogged drain (Draino)
  • Pour about a cup of baking soda into the drain - if there is standing water, add a "mound" of baking soda over the drain area.
  • Next pour about 2 cups of hot vinegar over the baking soda. Let stand until all foaming / bubbling stops.
  • Pour about 4 cups of boiling water into the drain. If the drain is still not clear - repeat.
• Toilet Cleaner
  • Any soap you have. You can use a bit of liquid soap from your sink, a bit of dish soap - whatever you have on hand. Add soap to bowl, use brush to clean and flush. Soap is soap. No need to pay $5 for a bottle of toilet cleaner - you're still killing germs in there with regular soap - you clean your dishes with it - it should be sufficient for your toilet.
  • For surfaces outside the bowl - use your all purpose cleaner.