Homistic

Archive for June, 2010

If you are like most homeowners then house cleaning is probably not among your favorite things to do. In
fact, you probably hate it so much that you probably put it off until when you have more time. However,
you know what they say: there’s no time like the present. So if you are ready to turn your house from a
mess to an epitome of cleanliness, here are some tips to make it easier.
One of the most discouraging things about cleaning is the amount of clutter that you see on almost every
surface of your home. So the first thing you need to do would be to remove all these clutter from sight by
dividing them into what you will keep and what you will trash.
Once you home is free from clutter, it’s time to start dusting and wiping. It’s usually best to have a system
so you can avoid “missing a spot”. It’s usually better to clean the higher spots first like the tops of drawers
and work your way down. This way, you can sweep all the dust and other debris that falls on the floor.
One of the best ways to make sure that you get your cleaning done is to prepare all the materials you need
beforehand. Nothing can disrupt your cleaning more than finding out that you don’t have a duster or you
ran out of cleaning detergent.

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” is a saying that perfectly applies to individuals who like to collect items—stamps, dolls, old coins, porcelain figurines, etc. However, if your collections are beginning to greatly resemble trash in your home then you might want to do a bit of re-organizing. Here are some tips to help you avoid making your collections look like clutter.

If you have more than one collection then it might be a good idea to rotate these collections when it comes to displaying them. Displaying all your precious items all at the same time can be a bit overwhelming and can take up a lot of room in your house.

Instead of placing all your items in one even surface, make your display a bit more interesting by displaying the items in different heights or even against different colors of backgrounds. Speaking of color, you might also want to choose a contrasting background to make your items stand out. For instance, if you collect coins that are mostly of silver and copper color then a deep blue background may give them a more dramatic appearance.

If you are collecting particularly small objects, you might want to place them in a tray or any type of container before putting them on display. Not only will a container prevent your items from getting lost but they will also give the contents a more important appeal.

If you are like most regular people then you probably have what is called a “junk drawer”. A junk drawer is precisely that—a drawer that has nothing but junk in it. Even though it’s very common, having a junk drawer can certainly add to your clutter and stress. This is why it’s time to clear out that junk drawer of yours.

1. The firs thing you need to do would be to remove all the contents of the drawer. Chances are your drawer is located on your desk or counter so you automatically have a surface where you can put the contents on. Try to lay out an old newspaper on the surface to protect if from dust or any sharp items.
2. The next thing you need to do would be to put your belongings in categories. For instance, gather all paper clips, gather all pens, gather all bookmarks, etc. If you have mostly tiny items in your drawer, find a way to put them order like using an old ice cube tray or anything with divisions.
3. The last thing you need to do would be to decide which items you will keep and which you won’t. Chances are you will find plenty of items that you can give away or sell.

The New Year may be long over but this doesn’t mean that you can’t make a fresh start, especially when it comes to organizing your home. If you’re like most homeowners then organizing your things is one of the challenges that you constantly face. Having a messy home not only affects the appearance of your home but can also increase your stress. Here are some tips to help you clean up.

The first thing you need to do is to get rid of the items that you have no need or use for. A large part of your clutter includes these items—clothes and shoes nobody wears, horrendous-looking gifts, piles of magazines, etc. Go through your clutters and throw or give away belongings that have no function anymore.

Paperwork is something that can also contribute to the clutter. Bills, invitation, official documents, newsletters and other papers can quickly become a messy pile. What you can do is purchase a paper storage product that will help you categorize and store all your paperwork.

If you have children then school supplies probably turn up on every corner of your home—pencils, colored pens, books, notebooks, pieces of paper, etc. To avoid this, designate a corner in your house that will serve as your children’s study area.

If you’re like most homeowners then clutter is probably something you find yourself battling on a regular basis. Even though you have a relatively big house, chances are you find yourself wishing that you have more space sometimes. What you don’t know is that you probably have all the space you want but you are losing most of it to clutter. Here are some ways to clean off the clutter from your home and become more organized.

If you don’t have any cabinet or drawer space in your home then one of the things you can do is go to a hardware store and purchase a sliding shelf. These attachable shelves can be installed in your existing cabinets and drawers so you can add more space to them.

You might also want to invest in wall shelves. Wall shelves are fast becoming one of the popular storage methods in modern homes. Not only are they affordable and easy to install but they can also be attractive additions to your home. Use wall shelves to display books, CDs, memorabilia, framed photographs or other items that you would like to display.

Another great way to maximize the storage in your home is to invest in furniture that double as storage areas—such as benches that have shoe storage or antique coffee tables that have magazine racks under them.

Whether you’re a high school student who still lives at home or a college kid who resides in a dorm or student apartment, chances are one of the regular issues that you face is the problem of clutter. If you spend most of your days living in a room full of piles of papers, books scattered on the floor and other school supplies dumped in every available corner then you seriously need to clean up. Having a clean, clutter-free and organized space will help you breath easier and study better.

The first thing you need to do would be to break down your major goal into smaller goals. Trying to turn into a neat freak can be challenging, especially if you’ve been a clutter creature for years. Take it one step at time. For instance, make it a point to keep your books aligned for this week. Next week, purchase storage items to keep your schools supplies in place.

If running late to your class every single day is the story of your life, make it a point to prepare everything you need in the morning the night before. This includes your clothes for the day, shoes, accessories, bag, books and other necessities.

Do you have trouble finding items that you put down in your house or apartment? Does it seem like the rooms of your house are getting smaller and smaller everyday? Is every corner of your place filled with stuff that you barely use or need? If you answered yes to these questions then you obviously need to clean up your place. One of the best ways to begin is to remove the items that are taking up the most space in your home. Here are some of these items.

Magazines are great to have around the house—you can read them during those vacant hours and have something for your visitors to read. However, if you already have a pile of magazines from all your subscriptions over the last several years then you are wasting a lot of space in your home. Instead of throwing all of them out, go through each one and cut out articles, pictures, recipes and other content that you want to save.

Mementos and souvenirs can also take up a lot of storage space. If you have a dozen boxes that contain trinkets from every place you’ve traveled to, every occasion you’ve attended, every restaurant you’ve eaten in and every date you’ve gone on then your past is taking up too much of your space in the present. Narrow the mementos down to two boxes at the most.