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! 

Project Clean Up 2020...Week 4: Organize Gift Bins

This week was fairly easy as I just had to go back over my notebook since Christmas. Let me let you in on what my gift bins are:

I buy all year long. I begin the day after Christmas and watch out all year for just the right gifts. You never know when you will find that "ultimate" item (and at a great price too)

So, here is my system. Each member of my family has an 18 gallon Rubbermaid type bin that I keep in my garage (younger ones have 2 due to sizes of toys)

Each bin has their initials added to the end. Simple black marker written on an index card and attached with packing tape or get your own self stick labels...you know your storage space, have at it!

I am lucky. My kids do not go near them. In their defense though, they are stacked 4 bins up!

I keep a notebook of all items bought. Just a 70 sheet spiral notebook written in pen. Example of my pages:

Pg 1: Mom
Pg 2: Dad
Etc...

I love to get it written down immediately and put away, but sometimes I have to do a quick run to the garage and items do end up out of place sometimes so this week is an imperative week of organizing.

If you would like to have a gift system (and save money in the long run) here are your instructions:

**1 Bin per Immediate Family Member

-Label each end with their initials (index card with marker, tape on with clear packing tape)
-Store all gifts per person in their designated bin (includes gifts and clothing)
-Keep a large Ziploc bag in each bin for smaller items so they don't get overlooked (stocking and basket stuffers, jewelry)

I also have one bin for my extended family (all go in this one together...Mom, Dad, Sisters, etc...) and my husband has 1 bin that covers his extended family.

Keep a Notebook

One page per person.
List all gifts on the front of one page.
List all Clothing on the top part of the back side of that page.
List all small stocking/basket stuffers on the lower part of the back side of that page.

Keep notebook and pen in a place in the same area as your bins so you will remember to immediately write down and stay on track.

My notebook seems to go on forever so gifts can get moved around a bit to other people or even knocked completely off if not used in a reasonable amount of time. If that happens, I determine whether to keep in extra bins (*read about these a few paragraphs down) or it goes into a yard sale box.

If you already have this system, simply go through and make sure all items are written down and placed into their designated bins. Be sure to check what you currently have and make sure it still falls under that designated person. Example...are they still within range for a board game waiting in their bin to be gifted, etc...

Be sure to shop all year for Christmas, Birthdays, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day and any other holidays!

I also keep extra bins; Women, Men, Girl's, Boys. When I come across nice items for a great price, they are roaring and ready to go for a last minute birthday party, host gift, etc...Also, a place I put items that I choose to keep on hand that were originally purchased for a family member and then never gifted.

Happy Organizing!

I am now in week 5...Great Room cleaning and organization. See you next week!

Project Clean Up 2020...Week 3: Organize Personal Items

Into Week 3, time to organize all of those bills, papers...you know, personal stuff. This one was more up my hubby's alley as he is the one who files it all away. Remember, you do not need to junk up your house by keeping years and years and years of old bills.


Organize Personal Items


The bills are my husband's territory so I sent him into the cave....


-Decide on a place to keep the next year of paid paper bills and receipts; file cabinet or storage bin. Label file folders with each month. File per month. Keep in a place where you can get to it once a month so bills do not build up and become clutter.

-Shred old bills and papers.

We don't do a shredder as it takes way too much time for us...we prefer it burn (he even pulled out his chair for the event)

Could you easily locate your family's birth certificates if you had to? Personal info is something you would automatically keep stored away in your brain, but could you access this info in case of an emergency?

Organize Your Personal Information

Decide where you would like to store this information. Store on computer or write it down on index cards and keep them in a small box. If on your computer, be sure to save a backup copy to a disk or jump drive (store this in your fireproof box) Make sure to completely remove from hard drive if you ever get rid of the computer. 

Label each category so it can be easily referenced. Here are some examples of what to record in each category:

A. Finances

__Your credit score

__Your credit card number(s) and the phone number to call if your card is lost or stolen (do the same for debit/check cards)

__Your bank account numbers and the phone number to call if your checkbooks lost or stolen.

__A budget for your income, expenses, savings and personal goals. 

B. Health

__Allergies (to food, medicine, animals, etc..)

__Your blood pressure

__Health issues that run in your family

__Your cholesterol level

__Your blood type and those of your family members

C. Safety

__Emergency Contact Numbers

__License plate number and VIN

__Current photos of every member of your family labeled with their heights and weights.

__Photocopies of your passport and the passports of your spouse and children.

D. Just in Case:

__Your measurements and clothing sizes.

__Your partner's measurements and clothing sizes.

__Your children's measurements and clothing sizes.

Purchase a Fireproof safety box if you don't already own one. Important documents that should be stored in here may include:

__Marriage certificate                                  __Wills

__Birth certificates                                       __Death certificates

__Adoption papers                                       __Household inventory list

__Automobile titles                                      __Valuable contracts

__Stocks and bonds certificates                   __Passports

We all have different items when it comes to personal things. I may change up this list next year based off of this year, but for now, this is what I have come up with for this year.

Onto week 4: Organize Gift Bins. Do you buy gifts ahead of time when you find a good deal? Keep them organized! See you in a week! 

Project Clean Up 2020...Week 2: Organize All Occasion Wrap/Bags/Boxes/Stickers/Cards

Week 2 is down and wow! What a job!!! This job could easily take longer than one week and as of last night, I had run out of containers so I still have to grab those to technically say I am finished. Items not in correct containers are in makeshift containers until then.

This week's organization consisted of go through All Occasion Wrap items. These items are stored in my 2 car garage and I have a large counter where I am able to do wrapping, but through the year, if I am doing a quick clean up after a party, the bags, boxes, etc...tend to get piled up waiting to be put away. In this area, I have a hanging shelf that holds my gift bags and box bins. Also, a bin of all occasion greeting cards. Then, there is a cabinet that holds various sizes of jewelry boxes, buckets, netted bags, gift card holders, wine bottle boxes and tissue paper. The counter has a bin of rolls of paper and containers of individual ribbons/fabric ribbon strands and toppers/tags. I also have a container of stickers...and there are a ton!!! 

Here is what I accomplished;

Converting boxes to plastic bins where needed.

On the Counter;  

-Rolls of Wrapping Paper: Wrapped tightly and taped down. Added new rolls that were on the counter to the bin, labeled the bin.

-Bows, Ribbons, Tags, Toppers: Tossed smashed bows, rolled ribbon spools and secured, rolled fabric ribbon and secured, placed into makeshift containers until bins bought. After bins are purchased, will label those and line up on the counter. Spools of paper ribbon will be in one bin, fabric ribbon/toppers/tags will all go in another. 

-Stickers: Threw out any that were no longer sticky or bent. Sorted through and separated into sandwich baggies by style and then into a manila envelope with the season it belongs to written on the outside. For example; Back-to-School, Fall, Halloween all were individually bagged and then placed in a Fall Manila envelope. Envelopes are then placed into the container. 

This is only a small portion of the amount of stickers I have!!! 

After cutting, I placed them into envelopes such as these...

In the cabinet: 

-Jewelry Boxes in various sizes: Removed from metal box they were stored in and arranged neatly into a plastic bin. Removed any that wouldn't fit and placed in yard sale bin, labeled bin. 

I had to be able to snap the lid shut on this and amazingly, only got rid of 4 little boxes.

-Gift Buckets: Were stored in cabinet on their own, added to their own plastic bin, labeled bin. 

-Gift Card Holders: Removed from box they were once held in, added to their own plastic bin, removed any that had marks and tossed, labeled bin. 

-Tissue Paper: Separated tissue paper by color, folded neatly and stacked in cabinet.

-Netted Bags: Sorted through and kept only so many of each color and size, excess went into the yard sale bin, labeled container.

Here is the end product of this cabinet (sorry about the lighting, it was evening in the garage)

Hanging Shelf: 

-Gift Boxes: Tossed any boxes with tears or heavy tape marks and any extra pieces without matches, labeled the bin, lined up neatly on hanging shelf.

-Gift Bags: Paired down to those more currently bought. Removed any former tags, added ones won't be using to the yard sale bin, separated by colors/occasion, moved from cardboard box to a plastic bin, discarded box, labeled bin, lined up neatly on hanging shelf.

Lined up neatly on the shelf....

-All Occasion Cards: Made sure all cards were sorted into corrected file folder. Examples; Birthday Children, Birthday Adults, Note cards, Congrats, Get Well, Individual Holidays, etc...

Now, granted this year, I put more work into the stickers than I ever have and that may have taken more time than I originally had planned which is how I was right up to the wire. I definitely did not think this week would take the entire week which is why I only gave it one week, but you just never know based off of your schedule of everyday life. I am happy to say that with the exception of needing to purchase the 3 bins for the counter to transfer the makeshift containers to, it was done and done well. This job was so satisfying!!! 

Week 3 began today!!! Organize your finances/personal. See you next Monday with the results!