When warmer weather arrives we want to spend our time outdoors. Finishing up indoor activities can be done if a cold spell arrives or on those rainy April days. This month we want to concentrate on our clothing and linens. This may seem a daunting task, but attacking one closet at a time over several days makes the task easier and usually more successful. If you are planning a yard sale, tackle those areas early in the month.
• Organize your wardrobe so spring and summer clothing is more convenient to reach and use. The back of the closet, a spare closet, attics, basements, garages or under the bed are all options for temporary storage of off season items. As you do this, check clothing for repairs or necessary cleaning.
Move out all the items that are no longer useful to you. If you are unsure of moving it on, pack it in a dated, labeled container and if you need it in the next year, you will know where it is. If you don’t use it in a year, move the contents of the container to a higher use or purpose by donating or selling them.
• As you change over the clothing for children, pack the too small clothing in containers that label the sex, size and season of the items in it. It will be easy to identify for a younger sibling later on or for a family member or friend who can use them.
• Organize the foyer or coat closet in the same way as your wardrobe. Lighter jackets should replace the heavier coats. Be sure the coats are cleaned and ready for use next fall.
• Replace heavier bedding with lighter weight items. Some quilts or comforters need only to be put through the “air” cycle on the dryer to remove dust. This is a good time to organize the linen closet and move out the towels, sheets and blankets that you no longer use. Animal shelters often need those worn or out of style washable items.
Consider rolling towels so favorite items can be reached without going to the bottom of stacked items. This is especially convenient for children who have their special towels. The rolls can be stacked or placed upright in containers for easy access.
Sheet sets can be folded and placed in a pillowcase so the items do not separate. If space is limited, they can be stored between the mattress and springs of the appropriate bed.
• Get the outdoor grill ready for use. Pull out your favorite grilling recipes and your favorite grilling utensils and put them in a convenient location. Purchase the ingredients you use most for outdoor cooking.
• When the heavier pollen season has ended, clean the windows so you can enjoy the beauty of the spring flowers and birds as they arrive. For information on the Windex Outdoor Cleaner, check out this link: http://organizingtipsfromorderlyplaces.blogspot.com/search?q=windex
• Get your outdoor furniture clean and ready to use. Don’t be tempted to keep items that are no longer needed, that have served their purpose and are beyond repair.
• Pick some early blooming flowers and dress up your dining room, foyer or living room tables. They will brighten the days with April showers.
Showing posts with label checklist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label checklist. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Organizing Checklist for February
January was a busy month. The aftermath of the holidays and the beginning of a new year creates much activity. February is not so hectic and should allow time for creativity to chase away the frigid temperatures. This month’s focus will be on the Books, DVDs, Cookbooks and Hobbies.
Reminders for Each Week (can include the new organizing strategies for this month)
• Remove one bag of items
• Eliminate one hour of electronics
• Clean and organize one drawer
• Clean and organize one cabinet or closet
• Remove back issues of catalogues, magazines and newspapers.
• If you have not done so already, clean out the file folders, update the yearly budget, and shred unwanted financial papers. Only this year’s information and legal documents should be kept in your nearby reference files.
• Clear the bookshelves of fiction you have already read and reference books. It is unlikely you will reread fiction and reference books become outdated quickly. Use the Internet to keep up to date on those topics.
• Cull the cookbook collection and consider online sites for new recipe ideas. Save only those with recipes you continually use or those with sentimental value.
• Sort through videos and CDs and remove those no longer used. Let’s face it, if you haven’t run them in the last couple of years, you probably will not. Our tastes in music and movies change over the years. Sell or pass them on to someone who wants them.
• Make the most of indoor time by finishing up indoor decorating projects and/or enjoying time on indoor hobbies. Sort through your supplies and remove those no longer useful. For more details on organizing hobbies and crafts, here is a link to my notes on it. http://organizingtipsfromorderlyplaces.blogspot.com/2009/08/crafting-can-get-crazy.html
• Begin planning for early spring activities. Buy seeds, sharpen garden and lawn tools.
• Make preliminary plans for spring or summer vacations. Early reservations are usually less expensive. Insure all travel tickets.
Stay warm. This cold weather has to end sometime!
Reminders for Each Week (can include the new organizing strategies for this month)
• Remove one bag of items
• Eliminate one hour of electronics
• Clean and organize one drawer
• Clean and organize one cabinet or closet
• Remove back issues of catalogues, magazines and newspapers.
• If you have not done so already, clean out the file folders, update the yearly budget, and shred unwanted financial papers. Only this year’s information and legal documents should be kept in your nearby reference files.
• Clear the bookshelves of fiction you have already read and reference books. It is unlikely you will reread fiction and reference books become outdated quickly. Use the Internet to keep up to date on those topics.
• Cull the cookbook collection and consider online sites for new recipe ideas. Save only those with recipes you continually use or those with sentimental value.
• Sort through videos and CDs and remove those no longer used. Let’s face it, if you haven’t run them in the last couple of years, you probably will not. Our tastes in music and movies change over the years. Sell or pass them on to someone who wants them.
• Make the most of indoor time by finishing up indoor decorating projects and/or enjoying time on indoor hobbies. Sort through your supplies and remove those no longer useful. For more details on organizing hobbies and crafts, here is a link to my notes on it. http://organizingtipsfromorderlyplaces.blogspot.com/2009/08/crafting-can-get-crazy.html
• Begin planning for early spring activities. Buy seeds, sharpen garden and lawn tools.
• Make preliminary plans for spring or summer vacations. Early reservations are usually less expensive. Insure all travel tickets.
Stay warm. This cold weather has to end sometime!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Organizing Checklist for April
With warmer weather definitely replacing colder days, it is time to finish up all indoor activities so there will be nothing keeping us from enjoying the outdoors.
• Organize your wardrobe so spring and summer clothing is more convenient to reach and use. The back of the closet, a spare closet, attics, basements, garages or under the bed are all options for temporary storage. As you do this, check clothing for repairs or necessary cleaning. Move out all the items that are no longer useful to you. If you are unsure of moving it on, pack it in a dated, labeled container and if you need it in the next year, you will know where it is. If you don’t use it in a year, move the contents of the container to a higher use or purpose by donating or selling them.
• As you change over the clothing for children, pack the too small clothing in containers that label the sex, size and season of the items in it. It will be easy to identify for a younger sibling later on or for a family member or friend who can use them.
• Organize the foyer or coat closet in the same way as your wardrobe. Lighter jackets should replace the heavier coats. Be sure the coats are cleaned and ready for use next fall.
• Replace heavier bedding with lighter weight items. Some quilts or comforters need only to be put through the “air” cycle on the dryer to remove dust. This is a good time to organize the linen closet and move out the towels, sheets and blankets that you no longer use.
• Set the crock pot aside and get the outdoor grill ready for use. Pull out your favorite grilling recipes and your favorite grilling utensils and put them in a convenient location.
• When the heavier pollen season has ended, clean the windows so you can enjoy the beauty of the spring flowers and birds as they arrive.
• Organize your wardrobe so spring and summer clothing is more convenient to reach and use. The back of the closet, a spare closet, attics, basements, garages or under the bed are all options for temporary storage. As you do this, check clothing for repairs or necessary cleaning. Move out all the items that are no longer useful to you. If you are unsure of moving it on, pack it in a dated, labeled container and if you need it in the next year, you will know where it is. If you don’t use it in a year, move the contents of the container to a higher use or purpose by donating or selling them.
• As you change over the clothing for children, pack the too small clothing in containers that label the sex, size and season of the items in it. It will be easy to identify for a younger sibling later on or for a family member or friend who can use them.
• Organize the foyer or coat closet in the same way as your wardrobe. Lighter jackets should replace the heavier coats. Be sure the coats are cleaned and ready for use next fall.
• Replace heavier bedding with lighter weight items. Some quilts or comforters need only to be put through the “air” cycle on the dryer to remove dust. This is a good time to organize the linen closet and move out the towels, sheets and blankets that you no longer use.
• Set the crock pot aside and get the outdoor grill ready for use. Pull out your favorite grilling recipes and your favorite grilling utensils and put them in a convenient location.
• When the heavier pollen season has ended, clean the windows so you can enjoy the beauty of the spring flowers and birds as they arrive.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Organizing Checklist for March
Spring arrives this month, at least on the calendar. For those living in 4 season zones, it may be too cold to think about outdoor activities, but when the warm weather does arrive you want to be ready.
• This is the time to get indoor tasks finished so you can enjoy the outdoors as soon as the warm weather is here. Whatever the project, do not let it drag on or remain unfinished until next winter. You may want and wait on cleaning windows until after the spring pollen has subsided.
• Review the attic space and determine if any items can be removed to sell, donate or pass on to family or friends. The rush to clean up after the holidays is usually not a good time to purge that space but you should do it before the summer sun makes it impossible.
It is best to store items in air tight containers in order to discourage pests from getting into them. Do not store photographs, candles and some plastic items as the attic heat will ruin them
• Clean out the garage. Hopefully you have made room for probably your most expensive investment other than your children or house—the automobile. If not, consider a renovation that includes space to park it there.
Create zones for the items you store in the garage and keep as many off the floor as you can. Separate sporting equipment, gardening items, cleaning supplies, tools and other hobby equipment.
• Get your summer furniture clean and ready to use. As soon as warm weather arrives, you want to be able to enjoy it. If you do not have a covered deck or porch, cover it after cleaning in the event an early spring storm should arrive.
• This is a good time to consider the possibility of having a yard or tag sale. It is never too early to plan and prepare for one. As you clean these areas and move out winter items later on, you have the opportunity to sort and price items that would be good to sell. Any items that remain after the sale can be donated to a local charity or thrift store.
• As the the month comes to an end and days are longer and warmer, remove the heaviest clothing, bedding, etc. for summer storage. This may mean to the back of the closet, to another closet or storage area, or out of the house permanently. If they will be part of a future yard sale, store them in the area set aside for that.
• This is the time to get indoor tasks finished so you can enjoy the outdoors as soon as the warm weather is here. Whatever the project, do not let it drag on or remain unfinished until next winter. You may want and wait on cleaning windows until after the spring pollen has subsided.
• Review the attic space and determine if any items can be removed to sell, donate or pass on to family or friends. The rush to clean up after the holidays is usually not a good time to purge that space but you should do it before the summer sun makes it impossible.
It is best to store items in air tight containers in order to discourage pests from getting into them. Do not store photographs, candles and some plastic items as the attic heat will ruin them
• Clean out the garage. Hopefully you have made room for probably your most expensive investment other than your children or house—the automobile. If not, consider a renovation that includes space to park it there.
Create zones for the items you store in the garage and keep as many off the floor as you can. Separate sporting equipment, gardening items, cleaning supplies, tools and other hobby equipment.
• Get your summer furniture clean and ready to use. As soon as warm weather arrives, you want to be able to enjoy it. If you do not have a covered deck or porch, cover it after cleaning in the event an early spring storm should arrive.
• This is a good time to consider the possibility of having a yard or tag sale. It is never too early to plan and prepare for one. As you clean these areas and move out winter items later on, you have the opportunity to sort and price items that would be good to sell. Any items that remain after the sale can be donated to a local charity or thrift store.
• As the the month comes to an end and days are longer and warmer, remove the heaviest clothing, bedding, etc. for summer storage. This may mean to the back of the closet, to another closet or storage area, or out of the house permanently. If they will be part of a future yard sale, store them in the area set aside for that.
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