Have you ever had an odor that lingered, kept coming back, or just wouldn’t go away? Today I’m sharing 3 simple odor absorbers that only require JUST ONE ingredient. Chances are you have these ingredients on hand – file the idea away and next time you have a lingering odor, open your pantry and eliminate that... (read more...) The post One Ingredient Odor Absorbers : Simple Solutions for Life’s Stinky Problems appeared first on Clean Mama. via Clean Mama http://ift.tt/299Kxsj
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When I dreamed up the What Would Jen Do series, I knew there would be a few spaces and ideas explored in which we may not ever know the final outcome. The idea is to share a problematic space, and then problem solve the solution in hopes that others in similar situations could find a tip or two (or five) useful as well.
Well, when I went to visit my dear friend Cassie a few months back, I picked her brain for fashion tips and she picked mine for organizational ideas. Isn't that the best part of having friends with a variety of amazing skills and passions? Not that Cassie really needed much advice in the organizing department either, but I was overly happy and excited to talk through her ideas and to come up with a few plans for higher traffic areas in her happy home. One space we chatted about was her laundry room, and I shared many of those details and ideas here. Well, I have some great news for you guys! Cassie is here to share a laundry room update and we get to see one of the ideas come to life! The best part is that it isn't an overly complicated system, yet it is incredibly space saving and hard working. Be ready to want to replicate this little setup in your own home in 3...2...1... Hello darling iHeart readers!! I'm thrilled to be back sharing our latest organizing overhaul with you. In fact, it's these contributor posts that give me the kick I need to tackle a new space every few months... So if it's been awhile since you've given a space in your home the ole heave-ho...don't worry, you're not alone! You may recall that Jen, the sweetest girl in the world (seriously, she's that sweet!), came to visit us in Texas earlier this year... and while we spent a fair amount of time gabbing and shoving tacos in our mouths, there was no way I was letting her go without picking her clever brain for every last organizing tip she had for our home. So after we created the Craft Closet of my dreams, I turned her attention to our Laundry Room. I had most of the design details down, but wanted her thoughts on making it as functional as possible... starting with the laundry and cleaning supplies.
As you can see, one whole wall consists of the utility sink, washer, dryer and cabinets. The opposite wall will be the mudroom (see those plans here), and the remaining walls are mostly taken up by a window and door. (See more of the room here.)
I considered several options and products, but in the end, decided the Elfa system gave me the most bang-for-my-buck... because if I'm going to use an entire wall, then I'm going to get the most out of it!!! I used these utility boards in the Craft Closet, and was immediately hooked #seewhatIdidthere They allow for complete customization, plus anchor directly to the wall without the traditional Elfa track system. Tip: Before mounting the board, determine how high on the wall it needs to hang based on your longest broom. You certainly don't want your husband to hang it, only to discover your Swiffer won't fit because it's too tall. #oops Once all the long-handled supplies were in place, I rounded up the remaining laundry and cleaning materials I wanted within easy reach. With these type of organizing projects, I always over-buy an assortment of bins and containers, then return the ones I don't need. Maybe not the most efficient method, but it helps me completely customize based on what I need, and takes the guess-work out of it when I'm at the store. Like a puzzle, I snapped in the bins, hooks, and tray, then made Jen proud by adding cute little labels. #teacherspet 'Crappola' is the official name for miscellaneous around here. Plus, it fits on the label better. Tip: Funny enough, the scissors are one of my most-used items in the Laundry Room... so many pesky tags and threads! Do yourself a favor and just add scissors to every junk drawer, craft & cleaning closet of your house... you know you're always looking for a pair! ;)
Obviously I have more supplies than just these, but they're stored elsewhere. For instance, the large jugs of detergent and dryer sheets are stored over the washer, and the majority of the cleaning supplies are under the Kitchen sink. But these are the items I reach for most, and having them together simplifies my almost-daily routine. (Does the Swiffering ever end?!?!)
I don't have to tell y'all how happy this little corner makes me... I know you get it! But please tell me I'm not the only one who Swiffers everyday?! See more of our Laundry Room makeover here, and find all the sources for building your own Laundry & Cleaning Station here. Happy organizing, lovebugs!
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Hi, I'm Cassie, a DIY and design-obsessed Texas girl, and lover of travel, fashion, sarcasm and Mexican food. When I'm not hanging with my sweet and funny family, you can find me kicking the '80s out of our home, one budget project at a time, on my blog Hi Sugarplum! via IHeart Organizing http://ift.tt/2927Fad
Heeeey everyone! How are you guys? How is your start to summer? It has really become amazing in the weather department here in the Midwest and I couldn't be more thrilled about it. As someone who is naturally cold ALL of the time (I am the girl who will wear a sweater in Florida in July), I live for warm and sunny days!
First of all, I really want to thank you for all of the comments and conversation in last week's home office post. It was fun to have such great engagement, and it felt like the good ol' days of blogging. It got me thinking about how I have been wanting to get back to a "coffee with pals" feeling around here; where we just chit chat about random things we love, things that don't quite work out as planned, our favorite foods/recipes, books, tips and tricks... Those small purchases for the home or even free re-arranging that creates a fresh new look, but might not warrant an entire post. And I always love a good Craigslist find! It might be just some general iHeart Organizing news, a life topic, a home topic or maybe a small organizational tip, but those are the only parameters I am setting. For months I have been trying to mentally organize how I want these posts to look, and I am finally deciding to run in the opposite direction and am just going wing it. #wildchild I actually wanted to start something similar back in December, and tried with an overly long "Happenings Around the Abode" post. Truthfully it was just too much to put together, write and read, although I really loved the overall concept. So this time I am going to try and condense my thoughts down to three bullets, and just try to do these posts more frequently, maybe a couple of times per month and see how things evolve. We can't work on projects around the clock and I miss you all when I am not posting a tutorial, so what do you think? Good idea? ONE Last weekend I was scrubbing tirelessly to remove some stains from our cast iron pot, and I was thisclose to cursing and giving up until I remembered I had some Bar Keeper's Friend Soft Cleanser. I had heard that this stuff is magical for cleaning so I gave it a whirl and sure enough, I was an instant fan. I had previously tried everything from baking soda to scrubby sponges and my arm was ridiculously tired, but with the Bar Keeper's I just applied it on the trouble spots, let it sit for a minute or two, and then used a mildly abrasive sponge to wipe away the stains. I was so excited about how well this stuff worked that before I knew it, I had scrubbed down every last pot and pan in our cabinet! This might be old news to some of you, but it was too good not to share for those like me, who had zero clue how fantastic this stuff really is. TWO The kids are home for summer! I am always a split decision parent on this time of the year; I absolutely LOVE having them home and am so grateful for the opportunity to soak up these quick and precious years with them, but miss my quiet time and my ability to get anything accomplished. It tends to take us a few weeks to find our groove and then we really hit our prime just in time for the boys to head back to school. Then the next summer comes, and they are all at different life stages and needs and everything is rocked again. Here are a few posts I have shared in terms of figuring things out in the past, we have tried summer schedules and routine/chore lists. I have definitely learned that my kids thrive on routines and boundaries. When they know their expectations up front, we struggle much less than we do when we just let things go willy nilly. I am already in the process of updating my printables and making sure they know what is expected out of them in terms of chores, general daily commitments and technology time this summer. Random thought: This hot spot in our garage continues to be a daily lifesaver. Anyway, where I really struggle is with the work boundaries. Although they are all at ages where they are quite self sufficient, it seems as though they have trouble understanding my work hours. If I am in the house, they will hunt me down and ask me for a cup of water, to tattle on one another, to ask if they can go play or have a friend come over (x3), to give me surprise hugs, to inquire about how to do a chore they have done a hundred other times without question... they really crutch on me even if I push back. In their defense, it also goes the other way. As I sit here typing, I am listening to their footsteps above (and the occasional dreading that the ceiling about to come crashing down from overhead), their disagreements I want to help them through, the door opening and closing and kids knocking every few minutes. Even when I set strict "No Mom Hours", we all have a hard time sticking to it without interruption and finding the best practices for implementing them. Of course, the obvious solution is to just leave and work somewhere else, but that really isn't practical for me. I am asked so frequently about finding a good work/life balance, I thought it would be nice to hear what you all do during summer months? Any suggestions from fellow work-from-home parents? How do you juggle all of the activities and commitments, some summer fun bonding and also getting work done? All tips welcome! PLEASE! THREE I have been reading Vanessa's blog, Decor Happy, for quite some time now; her home is one of my all time favorites on the www. I am infatuated with her use of color, the wallpapers she brings into her spaces, and that she creates looks that are relatable and obtainable. #sogood
Her home was recently featured on Canadian Living's website, and I just wanted to share that lovely eye candy with all of you. She is definitely my "One To Follow" right now.
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And that is all I have for today, I am off to baseball with the boys! Feel free to comment on any of these quick topics, or let me know what other types of items we can chit chat about down the road. via IHeart Organizing http://ift.tt/290IDIN Since launching Clean Mama Home at the end of 2015, I have been overwhelmed by the excitement and sales of this little dream shop of mine. I thought it would be fun to highlight my #1 selling product today and tell you a little bit more about them. All microfiber cloths are on sale this week... (read more...) The post Clean Mama Home : Microfiber Cloths – sale + giveaway appeared first on Clean Mama. via Clean Mama http://ift.tt/2909N3z It’s almost July and that means that it’s time for July’s FREE cleaning calendar! Every year I choose a new theme for the cleaning calendar and blog and this year it’s COME CLEAN. 2016 is the year to get your cleaning routine in order, find some new and workable solutions for organizing, hold yourself accountable, and... (read more...) The post Come Clean – Free Cleaning Calendar for July 2016 appeared first on Clean Mama. via Clean Mama http://ift.tt/28WFmiO Between my husband and me and our active kids, we have gathered quite a collection of active wear. We love it for working out in, playing golf and sports and general running around. What I don’t love, however, is the tendency for activewear to hold on to the general sweat and body odor smells from... (read more...) The post How to De-Stink Active Wear appeared first on Clean Mama. via Clean Mama http://ift.tt/292kZfO
Well pals! This week I began my first in home client project and I am SO excited to dive in and help a wonderful family take back control of their kitchen and entryway! Although we still have a few projects around our own home to finish up, I am really looking forward to helping other folks organize and simplify their spaces. In fact, it has been my dream for the past six years, however, my blog and shop had consumed my time and I let my end goal drift away a bit. Organizing is such a passion, but it is far more enjoyable and rewarding when I can work on spaces with others.
Speaking of lingering projects... We have quite a few that have been in the works for the past year. Instead of rushing through each one to get to a big reveal day, I have decided to slow down, live in our spaces and take things one day at a time. I can thank blogging for helping me realize that I just work better this way, and it really allows us to make better overall decisions and investments for our home. Late last year, I decided to do an impromptu home office/playroom swap with our boys. They are all in school full time and have lost interest in Mr. Potato Head and Duplo blocks. Their playroom would sit empty all day, while I worked in a windowless cave in our home. When the boys agreed that it would be fun to trade spaces, I just started packing things up and moving things around on a whim one night. Although, I had to take a few breaks and wipe away a few tears. This move meant my boys were growing older and hitting new milestones in their lives. That I would never see their little dimpled hands dump out every bin and dig for their favorite Little People figures, or fumble as they create towers and bridges direct from their imaginations. #slowdowntime
For the most part, the furniture from the playroom fit my old office, and my old office furniture fit their playroom. There were a few exceptions, as the two rooms are different in terms of lighting, available space, layout and functionality. The boys' new area will become a more mature place to hang out; a place for games and popcorn with a side of Lego. So I left them my large table and bench, and will be adding in a mini fridge and pantry. When it came to my space, I had just about everything I needed, with the exception of an actual workspace. We finally were able to give my favorite aqua hutch a new home, and have plans to open the wall to give me access to my under-the-stairs storage. The desk was the missing link. We no longer needed the large entertainment center or the TV that it held, so I sold both on Craigslist, giving me my new desk budget. I really made sure to think about how I planned to use my office long term. What have I liked and disliked about previous work spaces? How could I set up a space to help me stay productive and also fit my organizational desires? This time I decided to go full on function, and worry about making it pretty later. So I began taping out a few desk options on the floor. My main goal was to create a space that can offer a dual workspace. A place to grow my team and allow for my husband and children to visit and work with me. A place to meet with future clients and have conference calls. Working from home alone can be so isolating, so it was crucial to change that. And certainly I had enough room in my new, bright space for two desks? I was almost certain this would be the route I landed on, as it had the most flexibility with the type of desk I could select. But once I started taping things out, I was really starting to realize I only had one good full wall to work off of, and that my space wasn't as big as I thought it was. Beyond two work spaces, I also had to account for my filing cabinet and my large printer. Where would they go? And then it became more and more challenging to source two desks I liked that fit my available space. So I looked at another option. This was definitely it, until I taped it off. I was surprised how little space I would have, especially when the filing cabinet and printer were brought back into play. And how awkward to work facing a corner, and if I was joined by someone, to be crowded near the secondary work area. Not to mention, this option didn't make use of the large area in the center of the room. Third time was a charm. By going with a T-shape workspace, each individual can have their own private work area, facing the window. There is room for a printer below in-between each side, and the filing cabinet also fit below the base of the T. This layout also allows me to spread out. I make such a mess when I work, and love having an area for my computer, and another for writing, planning, bill paying, crafting, etc... The L shape provides a space for me to easily transition from computer to blank space just by turning my chair. It also allows me to chat with the person across from me. I was able to find a few desk/table tops from IKEA to put together this setup inexpensively. I didn't want to have to build and paint something, I looked for tops that had a nice and smooth factory finish. And months and months later, I can attest that this setup really does work perfectly for me. I wouldn't change a thing functionally but I still have some tweaking to do visually, so I will be sure to share all of the desk details once I make a few more small updates. The desk is the only item I have purchased for the space, everything else I already had and came over from my last office space. Every last basket and bin and box and tray... This view is my current favorite. I love that I have a bright window and my hutch! I would love to eventually build something in to make the most of the width and height of this strange little nook. Something pretty like these make my eyes giddy.
I love the hutch and I love my thrift store chair, but I wonder if the two paired together are too much? Too sweet? Is it possible that too much sweetness can become a negative? And the birch tree stencil. Oy. Not my personal favorite, but I just haven't been able to bring myself to paint over it yet. Not until I know what I want to do with all of the walls... Covering up the stencil is going to require hours of dusty sanding, and a little hand holding because again... not ready. I can't believe I painted it over four years ago. #sigh We were only able to hang two of our wall system components, to add the third we will have to remove the window trim to allow enough room for the piece to slide in on the rail. We will do that when we paint, and make sure to re-center it appropriately. Cords needs controlling, and the printer is about to get a cart with pull out shelves and a spot for my scanner and paper trays. Until the opening to the storage closet is created, I have a few piles building from items I use daily; photography equipment, papers, backdrops and a bucket of "to do" items. I am debating if I want/need to door off the closet this time around, I sort of like the idea of leaving it open. The hutch makes up for the cabinets I lost in my other space, but I just can't seem to come up with a creative way to use the wine storage area... any suggestions or ideas? I killed my first live plant, so went faux this time around. Four months later and it is still thriving! A few other small accessories sprinkled throughout help keep daily desk items corralled. I removed the final wax from a candle and now use the jar for my favorite markers. Business cards in a jewelry dish.... An acrylic organizer for items I look at frequently; books, magazines, to-do files and paint swatches.
And stacking trays at the opposite end of my desk hold envelopes, stamps, notebooks and stationery.
I would also love to install a roman shade and crown moulding. And maybe paint the walls white to flow with the remainder of the basement, and doing something playful on the ceiling? OK, I am getting ahead of myself now. One day at a time.... So the space swap had a small trickle effect, but we will get there, a few small updates should make a huge difference. In the meantime, I am just thrilled to have a window that I get to look out of every single day. Everything else is just icing on the cake! via IHeart Organizing http://ift.tt/28PLAw8 If the thought of cleaning the baseboards in your home sounds daunting and more than overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be. I am always amazed by what a difference having clean baseboards makes. It is an easy task to tackle in a couple of hours if you are up to doing your whole home, or... (read more...) The post 3 Ways to Clean Baseboards appeared first on Clean Mama. via Clean Mama http://ift.tt/28O4yXZ Summer is here and so is my FREE summer cleaning checklist! I like to break chores and tasks down into musts and maybes – and that’s how I approach seasonal cleaning. I might not get to everything on the list but at least I’ve gotten a couple musts out of the way first. Here’s a little... (read more...) The post FREE Summer Cleaning Checklist appeared first on Clean Mama. via Clean Mama http://ift.tt/1Y3Dzdl I am a compensated 3M-sponsored blogger. Opinions are my own and additional products used in the project were selected by me. The summer is full of fun and sun and all things vacation, but with that comes some difficult cleaning conundrums too! I have some easy tips today to show you how to clean up... (read more...) The post 6 Unexpected Ways to Use Sponges to Clean Up Summer appeared first on Clean Mama. via Clean Mama http://ift.tt/28KUiWb |
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