Spring is almost here! You know that that means, it’s time to start your spring cleaning check list! Don’t know where to start? If you are unsure on what needs to be done, we’ve got a few tips just for you.
Purge The Fridge. Dump old lingering leftovers, spoiled food, and open bottles of condiments. It’s a good idea to remove glass shelves and bins and wash them. If there is a strong odor in your fridge from spoiled food a fresh box of baking soda absorbs odor.
Manage Microwave Messes. I don’t know about you but sometimes I forget to cover my food before I heat it up in the microwave. Which means, you are left with your soup splattered all over the inside of the microwave. If this happens to you, cut up fresh lemons and put them in a bowl with water, cook on high for two minutes. The steam will soften hardened food inside as well as eliminate odor.
Toss Old Toiletries. In the bathroom check to see if your toothbrushes or your loofah needs replacing. You should get a new tooth brush every three months and new scrubber every 30 days. Don’t forget to check your medicine cabinet for any expired medicines.
Oven Spill Cleanup– Burned blobs on the bottom of your oven can cause odor and smoke. It is recommended that you run a self- cleaning cycle. If you don’t have time you can try taking a metal spatula and chip off any loose burned blobs.
Deep Clean Your Carpets – As we start to transition into spring that calls for a detailed vacuum in all the nooks and crannies throughout your home. Carpets that have absorbed winters worth are in need of a deep cleaning.
Don’t forget to make your check list! Leave us a comment and let us know what’s your number one thing on your spring cleaning checklist.
Are you constantly searching for food items in your pantry but you can’t seem to find them? Don’t those non-stackable half opened bagged beans, pastas, and flour get in the way? Taking the time declutter and reorganize your pantry will save you and your family a lot of time and money! Follow these tips to help you save time in the kitchen.
Declutter – The first to step to organizing the pantry is to get rid of old and expired food that you know you and your family will not eat. If you have extra food that you know that your family will no longer eat then you can always donate it to your local food bank.
Categorize – Next, categorize the remaining food. Here are come common major categories: dry goods, canned goods and jars, boxed items, spices, beverages, and lastly pet food and treats. Once you have categorized you might come across duplicates of certain items.
Pantry Inventory – Make a pantry inventory list so you know what you have. Using and inventory list will help keep you organized in the future because you will not run out of staple items.
Organize and Containerize Your Food – Now that you have everything categorized, put everything back away in organized containers. Do this by removing all packaging and using stackable containers or mason jars. You do not want open food containers because that will attract pests.
Mason Jar Chalk Labels – Storing your grains like rice, and quinoa in mason jars is a great way to keep track of how much you have and makes for a pretty display as well. All you need is chalkboard paint, painters tape, and chalk. Write the contents of your jars on the label and attach them to either the front or on top of the mason jars. Don’t forget add the cooking time and liquid ratios to the label!
Organizing your pantry is easier than you think! Let us know if you have pantry storage tips you would like to share.
Getting organized ahead of time to file your taxes can alleviate a lot of the stress involved with meeting the April 15th deadline. Now is the time to start on this year’s taxes if haven’t already started on your 2015 tax return. Below are helpful tips and reminders to make sure you have all the information you will need when its time to file your taxes.
Designate a space for tax organization – Whether it be your home office, kitchen table, or even a storage unit, make sure your tax record keeping has a designated spot.
Decide on a filing system – If you use paper clips, accordian folders, color-coded post-it notes, or some other filing system, decide on how your going hold together important paperwork and documents. If you do everything online and decide to do paperless, be sure to keep electronic records.
Gather all income statements and documents as well as receipts – Group together all sources of income, including W-2, 1098 or 1099 forms, as well as paid invoices or any other evidence of income you have received in the past year. Keep your receipts in a separate folder.
Plan Ahead – To limit last minute stress, create a calendar to plan your tax time to-dos, and aim to have your taxes filed in advance. You will want to have a schedule for keeping your documents organized. Is it that you will file the proper items at the end of the work week? Create a habit, use alarms, and set reminders to help you create this habit.
Decide how you will file – Will you be using a tax filing software program, give everything to your accountant, or just file the paperwork by yourself? Whatever you decide, make sure you have everything in order prior to the deadline.
Tax season doesn’t have to be stressful. Stay organized and plan ahead of time. With these simple tips, tax organization should be simpler!
Need help selecting the perfect unit size?When it comes to renting a storage unit it can be tricky selecting a size. It’s important to get the right size because it means you aren’t wasting money on space you don’t need. Here are a few ways that can help you select the perfect size unit size.
What are you storing? Before you decide how much space you will need, you need to organize the items you intend on putting into storage. Start by creating a list of everything you are storing and start packing smaller items into boxes. Also, plan for the future. Will it be likely that you will be adding items later? Once you have determined all the items you plan on storing, it’s time that you consider their sizes and weights.
Check out website. Check storage facility website and see what they offer. Many local facilities offer promotions, deals, and discounts on storage. It is very important to do your research on all the options in your area. Most will offer videos to give you a virtual tour of their various unit sizes. This is a great way to get a visual of the units from the comfort of your own home. The website also lists each unit size and gives you an idea of what can fit in each unit. While on the website you may even be able to live chat with a storage consultant to assist you in selecting a size and even help walk you through renting online!
Give the storage facility a call. Storage experts can help recommend a size for your storage needs. They will help find a location most convenient for you, discuss your items being stored and preferred type of access to locate you the perfect unit. Most storage consultants can even reserve a unit over the phone to lock a space in for you 2 weeks prior to your need by date.
Still unsure? Stop by their location. Prefer to see some units in person? Store mangers would be happy to give you a tour of their clean, safe, and secure facility as well as show you some units to help you select the perfect one. Don’t forget to check their website for a location near you.
Follow these basic tips and take time to plan ahead! You will sure to be successful in choosing the right storage unit.
It is the time of year again where you reflect on the year and plan for changes and success for the year to come. I know for many people their new years resolution might be to get more organized. Being organized is extremely beneficial and empowering. It allows you to achieve more and not feel as stressed and overwhelmed. Now is a great time for you to start off on the right foot, and get more organized! The following tips will help make your home more organized without much effort.
Color Code Your Closet. Organizing your closet by color allows you to easily find certain clothing items you are looking for. Color coding your closet can also help you to identify where you have items in the most color and the least color.
Tension Rods. Tension rods are amazing tools! They come in various lengths, making them excellent for spacious or tight spaces. Tension rods are a great tool to maximize any cabinet or closet. You can use them to create storage space for baking sheets, cutting boards, as a hanging rack for spray cleaners under the sink, as drawer separators, as shoe rack, and the list goes on.
Store Matching Sheets With Pillow Cases. Don’t let your matching sheets get lost in the linen closet. A simple trick can save you time searching for matching sheets and pillow cases. Tuck the sheet set inside one of the pillowcases and then stack accordingly.
Use Mason Jars. Using mason jars is something that is so easy, affordable and cute. You can use them on your desk to keep all your pens, highlighters and other office supplies in. Also a great way to organize dry food and to keep them fresh. Mason jars are great for storing bathroom supplies such as soaps, cotton balls and toothbrushes. Mason jars also make cute decorative drinking glasses as well as many other creative uses!
Use Empty Tissue Box For Plastic Bag Dispenser. Most of the time plastic grocery bags, and retail bags take up a lot of space under the kitchen sink. The use of an empty tissue box can change all the clutter of plastic bags.
Save Toilet Paper Rolls For Cord Organization. Tangled electronic cords can be a real pain and frustrating to untangle. Toilet paper rolls are the perfect size to tuck cords into and act as the perfect label.
It’s a new year which means it’s time for new beginnings! Leave us a comment and let us know if you have any organization tips that you would like to share.
