Project Clean Up 2020...Week 8: Coat Closet

Isn't it just amazing how much can be crammed and unorganized into a small space? This was one of my goals I set out to accomplish and I have been doing great! Do I have a messy house? No, but I am all about organization and simplicity at its best so week-to-week I go!

This week, I hit the main floor coat closet. Boy, do I wish this closet actually had room to hang guests coats when they visit on a regular basis, but 10 people x more than 1 coat/jacket = Yikes!!! I have always made it a point when there is a party or big event that all of our coats get moved to my bedroom for a short period of time and that works, as that is honestly our only option. However, everything else needed a home.

Before, I had things simply stacked on the top shelf, 1 random turquoise basket just to keep things somewhat together. Bags of school supplies hung from hooks, etc...

Sorry the pic is not further back. This is a small hallway on the way to the powder room. Here is how it now looks...

This closet has all of our coats/jackets, school supplies, coloring books/crayons, a chest of winter scarves/hats/gloves and pool towels.

Here is what you need to do: 

__ Empty out coat closet

__ Dust down walls, wash if able

__ Wash or vacuum floor, whichever is applicable

__ Sort items as you return them to the closet

__ Store out of season items

__ Sell or donate unwanted items

Added my own care as well:

__ Add space saver hangers for light jackets and thinner coats. Keep all those in one area, mine are to the right.

__ Purchase white plastic open baskets to hold items. The left has coloring books and a bin of spare crayons. The right one holds packs of markers, colored pencils, glue sticks and bottles. 

__ Pool towels are folded neatly and stacked in 2 columns on the right of the baskets.

__ Clean out mini wooden chest. Keep winter gear needed, remove items no longer needed and place into yard sale bin.

__ Label a bin with lid per each Elementary/Middle School child. Add items used for homework; crayons, colored pencils, pencils, eraser, pencil sharpener, glue stick and scissors. 

__ Label a bin for school supplies used throughout the year; book covers, mini packs of tissues, mini bottles of antibacterial hand gel.

__ Label a bin for pencils/pens

__ Label a bin for mini flags that go on the hanger in the rock garden

__ Label a bin for Flea Market spotlight props

__ Neatly store box of chalk and textbooks to the right of bins

Moving onto a bigger room this week, really no clutter, but lots of cleaning spaces; Dining Room. See you next week! 

Project Clean Up 2020...Week 7: Powder Room

Ugh! I am so late on my post! President's Day threw me off this week. I thought Monday was Sunday so my Monday post is here...Tuesday! So sorry...

I had a smaller room this week, the Powder Room. Trust me though...there is more to do in here than you think as it is a bathroom..aka...germ room! Toilet, sink, walls, mirrors and glass...and don't forget in a house of 10 people including 6 total guys...floors!

A shot from the hall into the powder room...

Back towards the sink...

Here are the steps (beyond the normal ones) for a beautiful powder room...

__ Open windows

__ Empty all cabinets and vanity. Wash inside, replace items neatly. Discard expired medications and cosmetics.

__ Wash outside of cabinets and vanities.

__ Clean toilet, inside and out. Remove seat and clean around seat bolts.

__ Clean sink drain.

__ Shine faucets.

__ Clean mirror and frame.

__ Dust light fixtures.

__ Wash windows and window sills. Take out and wash window screens.

__ Wash switch plates. Wash walls and trim. Wash doors and door knobs.

__ Wash floor registers and other vent covers.

__ Sweep and wash floors.

__Reseal grout lines if necessary.

__ Wash curtain, toilet cover and rug.

__ Scrub trash can or purchase new one.

__ Scrub toddler potty chair.

Added my own items as well...

__ Replace toilet scrub brush.

__Purchase fresh hand towels.

__ Add a plastic knob protector to the wall behind door.

__ Replace switch plate with a new one.

__ Buy new 1st floor toothbrushes, toothpaste and individual plastic closing cases for each. Label.

__ Stock first aid kit.

Onto Week 8...Coat Closet! See you next week! 

Project Clean Up 2020...Week 6: Foyer

So, this week was an easier one...our main floor foyer. Though 2-stories high, it is all windows and trim for the most part. That is definitely a lot of glass, but is done very quickly. Stairs and floors do take some time, but there is definitely less "piddly" work in this room, for sure! Check it out!

My biggest task, honestly, is the cleaning of the half wall on the staircase...child hand prints a plenty! I sometimes use a bar helper because I don't like marks that a magic eraser makes though the magic eraser doesn't take nearly as much elbow grease. 

Here is how everything was done in this room...

__ Dust Light Fixtures.

__ Wash walls and trim.

__ Wash doors, knobs and switch plates.

__ Wash bench or other furnishings. Launder bench cushion. 

__ Clean or replace entry mat. 

__ Sweep and scrub floors.

__ Reseal grout lines, if necessary.

Week 7 currently in effect: Powder Room. See you all next week! 

Project Clean Up 2020...Week 5: Great Room

My goodness did my week end up getting really busy! I almost thought the Great Room wasn't going to hit the deadline! Mind you, in the midst of Project Clean Up 2020, I also have 8 kids being run to and fro, Dr appointments, everyday housework, homework, meals...the list goes on and on. I hadn't even had a chance to put up even a room of Valentine's decor as I am still taking down Christmas stuff!

Mantle is all decorated for Valentine's Day too...boy, am I good! 

What do you think? I'm thinking just the right touch of romance...

So, this room is big. I mean, BIG. This is one of the rooms that attracted me to our house when we bought it 14 years ago. It is the room with the highest ceiling, tall walls, lots of windows, ceiling beams, lots of furniture, fireplace and hardwood floors. Here is how I made it all happen...

__ Open Windows

__Vacuum sofas

__Spot clean sofas, if applicable

__Launder throw pillows and blankets

__Dust shelves, furniture and decor

__Clean lamps and lampshades

__Wash windows and sills

__Take out and wash window screens

__Clean TV screen

__Carefully dust electronics

__Tidy electronics wires. Tuck nicely out of sight. Label them, if practical.

__Sort through music and DVD collections if in this room. Purge things that no longer suit your families interests. Organize what is left in an attractive manner.

__Sort books and magazines. Donate or recycle ones that no longer suit your families interests.

__Wash hard plastic children's toys with warm soapy water. Rinse and dry. Launder stuffed toys. Donate or store toys that your children have grown too old for.

__Wash switch plates

__Wash walls and trim as needed

__Wash doors and door knobs

__Wash floor registers and other vent covers

__Clean floors

Whew!!! What a room! This week is not so tough so I can relax a little. Onto Week 6: Foyer.

See you next week!