Saturdays - Clutter Reduction/Organization

Today's tip:

Looking at your entire home, sighing, and saying to yourself, "I've got to get organized one of these days" is just not going to work. You need to break this task down into component parts. That way, it's less daunting and you're far more likely to actually get something accomplished. Saturday postings are going to mainly cover short organizational tasks which will generally take under an hour. What do you do with the remainder of your time? Either tackle something new, finish whatever wasn't finished from the previous week, or straighten out items which will be remaining in your home.

Here's today's task:

The holiday season doesn't come but once a year. It comes all the time, in the form of birthdays, weddings, Mothers' Day, Fathers' Day, Secretaries' Day, Bar Mitzvahs, christenings, baby showers, etc. etc. etc. I'm talking about all of the accoutrements: wrapping paper, bows, ribbons, gift tags, scissors, tape, cards, address labels, your address book, stamps, pens, etc. But how do you keep it all from taking over your house?

A few suggestions:
* Keep everything together that's specifically intended for holidays. That is, everything except for the stationery items. "Organizer kits" are sometimes sold for wrapping paper, etc. but I've always found them to be overkill unless you buy a lot of wrapping paper. Otherwise, keep wrapping paper around its original tubes (use some string or ribbon, loosely tied, to keep it together. Do not use a rubber band to tie the paper together as that will tear the paper) and store in a closet. The remainder can go in a box - any box - which you should label accordingly.
* Use up any specialty wrapping paper you've got (e. g. the stuff that says, "Congratulations on your graduation" or whatever) and then only buy the following colors of wrapping paper in the future: silver and white or off-white. Use the silver for things like weddings, bridal showers, engagement gifts, formal parties and hostess gifts. Use the white/off-white for everything else. Differentiate your holidays with different colors of bows and/or ribbons. E. g. for a baby shower for a boy, use the white/off-white and blue ribbon. For Secretaries' Day, use either color wrapping paper with the secretary's favorite color ribbon or bow. For a birthday but the item you're wrapping is dark, so the white won't cover it, use the silver and the honoree's favorite color bow or ribbon. For Christmas, use either color paper with red ribbon and a green bow (or vice versa). Etc. etc. etc.
* Get gift tags that are as generic as possible, or make them yourself, from leftover wrapping paper.
* Keep a set of scissors and tape with the wrapping goods and you'll never have to hunt for them again.
* For the stationery, buy only general cards with no sentiment inside. These are easy to find at museums, Unicef and other charitable organizations, and they're often very reasonably priced. This way, you can use the cards for every occasion and need not run around at the last minute hunting for the perfect card. What this means, of course, is that you will write the sentiment in each card. Sound daunting? It isn't. For a birthday, all you really need to do is hand-write "Happy Birthday!" and sign your name. For Chanukah, just hand-write "Happy Chanukah!" and sign your name. Boring? Perhaps, but most people will remember a hand-written note, however short, long after a store-bought sentiment. Plus, you'll be supporting a non-profit or two, or showcasing an artist's work.
* Use your blank cards for thank-you notes as well You remember thank-you notes, don't you? Again, what you write doesn't have to be fancy: "Dear __, Thank you very much for the ____. That was very thoughtful of you. I will use it for ___. Thanks again. Love, ___" Again, it may seem dull, but most people will appreciate this quick note in your own handwriting far more than a card which is pre-printed with "Thank you" to which you've merely signed your name. Plus, the time difference isn't much between the handwritten card and the pre-printed card, e. g. the handwritten one will take you maybe five minutes more than the pre-printed one but will mean far more to the recipient.
* Keeping all of the stationery implements together will also make bill-paying easier. I'll write about electronic bill payments at a later date, but if your bank doesn't have them yet (or you can't keep the minimum balance required), you'll need to have a small box for stamps, address labels and pens. Even if you do pay all of your bills electronically, there may be one or two wherein you need to pay the old-fashioned way. And, you'll need a backup in the event that your hard drive crashes or your Internet service is unavailable.
* Only get self-adhesive stamps. The old-fashioned glue kind will stick together in humid weather.
* Address labels are cheap and can be ordered in bulk. Or, you can contribute to a charity (nearly any of the major ones) and they'll start sending you free address labels. You're under no obligation to reciprocate with cash again (and certainly under no particular dollar obligation), but of course this is a good community gesture and the tax deduction never hurts. We have labels from the Humane Society and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Fund and several more whose names I can't recall off the top of my head.
* Your address book doesn't have to be fancy. It should just be a small looseleaf notebook with letter dividers. That way, when addresses inevitably change, you can simply replace a page once it's unreadable. Keep a written record of birthdays and anniversaries with the addresses if you're going to commemorate them (E. g. John and Cindy, m. 6/1/85, daughter Debbie b. 8/1/91, son John, jr. b. 5/1/93, John b. 4/1/55, Cindy b. 2/1/57). Transfer all anniversaries and birthdays you're going to commemorate onto a sticky note (or notes, if you have a lot of commemorations) placed at the front of the address book.
* For every month, at the end of the month, check your list of commemorations for the following month and send all of your cards out on or about the first of the month. Even if someone's birthday is August 31st, they won't fault you if you send a card on August 1st. If you're sending gifts, being early is also a good idea as that will cover any issues with the postal service.
* Electronic cards are great and will save you time and money. However, you'll still need some paper cards as not everyone has a computer. Plus, if you are sending a gift, you will need a card anyway.
* Consider in-store gift wrapping or catalog gift-wrapping. In-store is usually free for generic paper and reasonably priced for a specialty. Catalogs cost more to ship either in a gift box and/or wrapped, but you avoid the hassle (and you don't need to store the paper and ribbons, etc.), plus the catalog company assumes the risk of getting the shipment in on time and in one piece, so long as it's not a truly expensive item (e. g. jewelry, cut crystal, etc.). For those items, purchase insurance for added peace of mind.

The kitchen

Today's tip:

Cleaning the microwave should be done every week although a thorough cleaning should be done perhaps once every few months. Today we'll do a thorough cleaning of the microwave.

Grab a soft rag or paper towel and spray with an ammonia-based cleanser. Go over the sides, door and especially the top of the microwave oven. Much of the food dirt (generally from foods that 'explode' because they've been overheated and trapped water has boiled) will be lodged in the top of the unit. If necessary, unplug the microwave and turn it over, as it'll be easier on your muscles if you press down to scrub rather than try to push up to dislodge food dirt.

This is one of those jobs wherein you can, if you don't watch it, spend a good hour. Don't. Take about 25 - 30 minutes for the thorough cleaning and let that be it. Once the time has elapsed, rinse the inside of the microwave very well. You need not dry it, as the next running of the microwave will dry out the interior. Don't forget to turn it right side up and plug it back in!

Spend the remainder of the hour cleaning the rest of the kitchen. For the next few months, when you clean the microwave, you'll do so with a quick wipe and rinse, until about three or four months have elapsed (use your best judgment as to how long you wish to wait between thorough cleanings), and then do another thorough cleaning. This second thorough cleaning should be easier than the first one. Thorough cleanings will continue to get easier as you go along.

Glass surfaces/Mopping

Today's tip:

It's raining out, so it's a perfect day to clean the windows! Of course you can clean windows any day (and it's a large job that you truly cannot make easier or go faster unless you buy special expensive windows or hire someone to do the work for you), but it's best to do so on any day that isn't sunny so that you don't streak the windows. If you spray window cleaner on a sunny day, it will dry before you are done wiping the cleaner off the window. Hence, it'll streak. So try cleaning your windows on a cloudy day, or at least out of direct sun.

Vacuuming

Today's tip:

Much like with dusting, there aren't a lot of ways to 'teach' someone how to vacuum. You know, you turn on the machine, you put on an attachment, and you run the machine along the carpet or floor. Hence, the Wednesday pages are going to mainly be about minimizing your time spent vacuuming or comparing various products.

Hepa filters - do you need one? Hepa filters cost a lot and yes, they do work. But, are they absolutely necessary? In this, as in all things (of course!), use your best judgment. However, I'd say that most people don't need a Hepa filter. Here's who probably would:

* Advanced stage lung patients (cancer, emphysema, etc.)
* Advanced stage cardiac patients (heart disease, several heart attacks, etc.) so that they don't have to labor at breathing in any way
* Extremely elderly patients (90s or older, even if healthy)
* Persons with extreme allergies to pollen, dust or pet dander
* Persons living in extremely polluted areas

I'm no doctor so of course you might be told differently if you ask yours about Hepa filters. And, if you want one, no one's stopping you. But the difference between a regular vacuum and a Hepa filter-style vacuum is generally about $250 or more. If you just want regular cleaning, and no one in your home is in dire pulmonary straits, you really don't need a Hepa filter.

Dusting

Today's tip:

It is truly difficult to find ways to make dusting easier. After all, we all know what to do - spray cleaner and then wipe. Or, just use an electrostatic cloth and no cleaner, and just wipe. Big deal! Hence, the Tuesday pages are going to mainly be about how to minimize your time spent dusting.

Dust bunnies (or dust rhinos if you've been really remiss) are composed of dust, of course, but what holds them together? Usually, the answer is stray hair. Hence, one way to cut down on the amount of accumulated dust is to cut down on the amount of stray hair. How? Here are a few suggestions:

* If anyone in the family has their hair cut at home, have the haircuts done outside as much as possible. When weather does not permit, clean up the area immediately.
* Brush pets outside, and do so frequently. Even short-haired dogs and cats shed, of course, and they need regular grooming, as much as Poodles or Old English Sheepdogs. Although cats aren't normally brushed, this will help to cut down on the number of furballs. Again, if weather does not permit, clean up the area immediately.
* Clear out hairbrushes and combs over trash cans. Clean dust and accumulated hair gel which lodges between the bristles by using cotton swabs soaked in hot water.
* Try combing conditioner through hair while in the shower. Some hair will naturally fall out (even if you're not losing your hair, you usually shed about 10 - 100 strands per day). Clear the drain after every shower or bath.

Bathrooms

Today's tip:

The "dirt" at the bottom of a bathtub or shower, unless someone in the family has a job wherein they get really dirty (construction worker, leather tanner, landscaper, etc.), is generally composed of soap, shampoo and conditioner residue (collectively referred to as soap scum) and hair.

Hence, adding more soap is only going to contribute to the buildup of sticky, soapy products on the bottom and sides of the tub (and perhaps also on some of the tilework as well). Here's a method for dealing with the buildup:

Fill the bathroom sink about halfway with the hottest water that comes out of the tap. If possible, the water should be steaming. Place your scrub brush into the hot water (bristles side down) and let it get good and wet. While this is going on, remove all hair from the bathtub drain. Take out the sopping brush and don't shake it or dry it off. Scrub at the soapy buildup for about 10 minutes but for no longer (this is the kind of job wherein it's very easy to get into wanting to do the whole thing, but don't unless you have company coming and they'll be sleeping over. It's better to tackle this job in stages and to maintain it every week, rather than as one big chore done rarely). Rinse with hot water between scrubbings. Finish with 5 minutes of scrubbing with abrasive powder (such as Bon Ami or Comet). Since the tub and the brush are already wet, this will form a paste. Rinse well when finished.

If your tub's manufacturer does not recommend an abrasive cleanser, then try Softscrub. A greener solution is to use Baking Soda, which will scratch less. Personally, I have such an ancient tub, and it has so many scratches, that I just use Comet or Bon Ami - whichever one was on sale when I last purchased cleanser.

If your sink is not that close to the tub (so that you'd leave a trail of water when taking it out of the sink), get your steamy water from the tub. The reasons why I don't recommend using the tub are:
(a) You'll need to use more water to get the water to a level as high as desired
(b) You risk burning yourself by accidentally sticking a hand or elbow in the hot tub water (or having it splash at you) and
(c) You further risk burning yourself by accidentally touching the hot water tap (This is only true for older faucets. Newer mixing valve-style faucets don't get that hot)

You can get around this problem by filling a bucket with steamy water and using that.

Trash day/Outdoor work

Today's tip:

One of the biggest turn-offs when it comes to this task is the smell. Here's one way to improve that and, not incidentally, help keep your home cleaner.

Garbage from meat should never be placed into a composter (rats love that kind of stuff, as do the neighborhood dogs). And, bones should never be placed in a dispose-all. Here's a solution: take all meat garbage (if you have a dispose-all, you can place everything but the bones in the dispose-all) and place it into plastic zipper bags. Seal up the bags (you might want to double the bags if things are particularly stinky) and then throw it all away. Be sure to include the wrappings from meats. As for the foam trays on which meat and chicken parts are sold, these are recyclable. Be sure to wash them thoroughly (with soap) before putting into your recycling bin, so that animals won't knock over your garbage.