 The kitchen is the hub of most homes. It’s where people congregate to eat, do projects, share experiences, and relax. Because we spend so much time there, it’s important that the kitchen is organized and functional. Likewise, the often-neglected bathroom needs upkeep to make mornings flow smoothly, from shower to shave. Follow these tips to keep the most-used rooms in the home in tip-top shape.
• Determine what purpose your kitchen serves. Do you use it for activities other than food preparation, such as completing homework or paying bills? Set up a specific area in the kitchen for those tasks and gather supplies. For example, to set up a bill-paying center, you’ll need: checkbook, envelopes, stamps, return address labels, pens, and a place to store bills to be paid. • Clear the clutter! Get rid of the gadgets, small appliances, and mismatched containers you never use. For remaining items, store those frequently used (more than once a week) on the countertop or easy-to-reach upper cupboards. Store seldom-used items (once a month or less) in the lower (harder to reach) cupboards. • Make the most of every inch. Install hooks under cabinets for mugs, pans, and small colanders. Mount can openers, paper-towel holders, and radios there, too. Place a cutting board over one side of the sink. Utilize space inside cabinet doors to hang a corkboard to post phone numbers and to-do lists. © 2020 Articles on Demand™ Remember, if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com  • Allow only pressed, clean, ready-to-wear clothes in your closet. If an item needs to be mended, cleaned, or ironed, it should not be in your closet. Keep your ironing or mending pile in a convenient spot so that you can tackle it while watching TV or talking on the phone.
• Place hooks on the back of the closet door to hang bathrobes, belts, or ties, or to lay out your next day’s wardrobe. • Be sure to use the entire closet space, including the vertical space under hanging clothes. For instance, underneath short-hanging garments, place a low trunk full of sweaters. A set of plastic drawers or a simple wooden dresser can hold lingerie, swimsuits, and socks. • It’s helpful to standardize your hangers. It doesn’t matter what type you prefer, just make them consistent and always hang clothes in the same direction. This will help reduce visual clutter and allow you to review your clothes at a glance. Wooden, padded, plastic tube, or velvet "huggable" hangers, rather than cheap wire ones, will keep your clothing in top-notch shape and avoid tangles. Get rid of extra hangers, which just take up space. See if your dry cleaner can recycle your unneeded wire hangers. • For shoes, consider clear plastic shoeboxes, which keep shoes dust-free and easily viewed. Or use over-the-door shoe bags or a neat shoe rack on the floor. • Building closet management into your weekly routine will reduce time and stress in your daily quest for determining what to wear. It will also allow you to make the most of your wardrobe and feel great about getting maximum use out of clothes you already own. This project may seem daunting, but its rewards are many! If you’re stuck, consider enlisting a trusted friend or professional organizer to help you with the process, especially the clutter-clearing steps. © 2020 Articles on Demand™ Remember, if you need professional organizing assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office, you are cordially invited to contact ... Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, Metro West and Eastern Massachusetts Contact 617.640.2366 www.energizeandorganize.com |
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