Project Clean Up 2025...Week 3: Organize Personal Items

 

For Week 3, Bill Clean out! This week is all about the personal stuff. I put my hubby on this job every year because he is the one who takes care of all of that stuff. 

 

 

 Find a place to store all of this; paid paper bills and receipts. 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. Whether you use a file cabinet, a bin...always have a place to store. Might be important to get a fire proof safe as well for the really important personal papers. 

                        Rid the old stuff. If you no longer need, shred. Not have a shredder?

 

 

 

 

JUST GET RID OF IT! 

Granted, our yard is full of deep snow and it will take a one horse open sleigh to make it to our burn pile, but when we really want to get rid of it, that's where it goes. 

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

Once you have originally completed this system, you just have to check it all for next year. Not so much work. On my end, I use this time to go through and clean out texts, the notes on my phone, unfollowing tik toks influencers I no longer watch...you get the drill.

Week 3 is kind of a break for me as my guy really does his thing. Week 4 though, is Gift Bins. Do you have gift bins? You know, bins that hold gifts you buy for people ahead when you find good deals? Not do this? You need to! Saves so much money! See you soon with details on that! 

I am also pulling Christmas down at this point AND I am painting! That's right. 2 of our older boys have been out of the house for a while and our 18 year old is ready to move into his older brothers' old room. Lots to do in there! Removing everything including large shelves nailed into the walls which means some putty and sanding, paint, wainscott, throwing out things, purchasing new things...the whole shabang! 

 

Will I stay on track or start to fall? See you all next week! 

Project Clean Up 2025...Week 2: Organize All-Occasion Wrap/Gift Bags/Greeting Cards/Stickers

Week 2 is finished and boy did I go in different directions! It's supposed to be Organizing my All-Occasion Wrap/Gift Bags/Greeting Cards/Stickers...and I did, but ran all the way around in circles to do it. 

 

 

As my husband would say, if you give a mouse a cookie....I'm the poster child. I start a project, then think about another one that should be done first, eventually getting back to the original. 

 

 

Onto the list....

The first part hit is always the wrap. I have a big container of rolls of wrap because I do still prefer wrapping over throwing into a bag (don't think I nix the bags though, they have a place as well) In this area, I make sure all rolls are rolled tightly and secured. If I find any torn, I cut it straight and roll. I had just enough this year so, none to get rid of. 

Next is the gift bags (see, I wasn't playin') I still have a ton of these as well. You tend to gain a lot when you have 8 kids with birthdays. These are just all-occasion bags and do not include Christmas (those were cleaned out in Week 1 and made their way to our other garage) I go through these and put in order by occasion; Birthday, Valentine's Day, Easter, Solids, etc...Toss out any that may have come apart and detach any tags on the handles that have been written on and this bin is finished!  

Next is my wrap cabinet. This cabinet is full of little gift boxes, gift card holders, etc...I organized this one really well last year so this year, it was all about making sure I still needed everything and adding things to the bins I created to hold everything that may have not been put away. I am the same with all-occasion as I am with Christmas. I use all kinds of containers to gift. Mini buckets, gift card holders, jewelry boxes, netted bags, wine bottle tubes, etc...

My biggest bin, aside from my greeting cards bin is my tissue paper. I have it separated by color and design. Have you ever noticed how much more expensive colored paper is than white? So, yes, I am that mom who folds her tissue paper after use.

 

 

Hey, no shame in my game. I would rather use that money for something I need. So, a nice color coordinated stack is what I deal with each year.

Next is the Greeting Cards. I usually keep all cards because I do send out quite a bit to various people; family, friends, strangers, but if I am just not feeling a certain card or haven't used and it has been sitting for a while, it goes to the sale pile. These are my files of cards. 

 

I did rid a few this year that have been around forever and not used...

The one thing I did not really get to is my stickers, but I can do those somewhere along the line at night when I am watching a movie. It's piddly, but needs done. I just need to make sure they are in my file box and in the correct areas. I use a lot during the year. 

On this work bench are also a few other fabric cubes. One holds spools of paper ribbon that I use for gifts and gift baskets. There is also one for fabric ribbons. One other for bows. Those stay on the neat side, but I did rid a few spools. 

Check out that fabric one. What am I...80? 

That is all for Week 2. Up next Week 3: Organizing Bills, etc...

See you soon! 

Project Clean Up 2025...Week 1: Organize Holiday Wraps/Stockings/Christmas Cards

Well, I flew through the first week of "Project Clean Up" 2025. My wrapping station is in my Master Bedroom and lets just say, it looks like a mixture of wrap, bows and boxes exploded all over my room. That's right! For an entire month, my room is the hideaway for all things Christmas wrapping. Bags, Boxes, Rolls of Wrap, Tissue Paper...oh my! What's funny about this sad scene is that it is my favorite place at Christmas! There is nothing better than taking my seat, turning on my fave wrap movie, The Family Stone and locking myself away for hours at a time. Kids...find your own entertainment for the night.

 

I just LOVE wrapping!! I do! It ranks right up there with matching socks. (Side note: I love to match socks too) Each gift is wrapped with that individual in mind. From the design of the wrap to how it's wrapped to the ribbon and gift dangle. I put as much time into my wrapping as I do finding just the right gift. Gift bags, gift card holders...they all have their own place as well. I love handing these gifts off to the recipient and see them unwrap! It's worth every second 💓

When January begins, so does my Clean Up which lasts 52 weeks. Week 1 is all about cleaning out, adding to and freshening up my gift wrap bins before sending them on their trek to the garage for the next 11 months. 

First is going through the rolls of wrap. I graduated from a tall box to a tall plastic bin this year. Unfortunately, I cannot fit a lid on this bin. Planning is always on the mind and one day, that bin will magically appear before me at a store. The first job is to look through the wrap and rid any rolls that don't have much left, are no longer a pattern I want to go with or just have not been used at all and won't be. If I have had a pattern for 2 years and haven't used, it goes to the sell pile. I also send wrap from the year that I only have 1 roll left of. I have certain patterns I like to go with per year and they do not always match for the following year. 

 

These rolls are heading out to sell. 

Gift Boxes: I do remove all pieces of tape, match with their bottoms and throw out any torn ones. I have many sizes, but they are all in a nice order. 

I had heck of gift boxes to get rid of this year. I didn't buy much last year, but used a ton this year so I stocked up big time the day after Christmas. Unbelievably, I think everyone gave me back the boxes to reuse and I ended up with an over abundance! 

 

Needless to say, selling off some...

 

Next, I go through my gift bag bin and stack in order by size. Just a few thrown out due to tears. 

 

Next is the gift card holders. I have sleeves, cards, tins, etc....Aren't some of these just adorable? Mini mailboxes, Sweaters and even Santa's wallet. 

 

 

 

Could you just scream in a baby voice?!! 

 

 

 

I do get rid of a few if they are not used over time or if I bought a large package and have too many. Off to the sell pile for these...

 

 

 

 Some fabric ones...aren't they so cute? 

 

 

 

Then you have the paper ones. These are all duplicates. I wouldn't give up all of the cute ones..trust. 

 

 

 

 

 These are my package dangles. You see Christmas tree ornaments, I see a beautifully decorated gift! I buy these on clearance the day after Christmas and watch out for unique ones here and there throughout the year. It's like giving a little gift...with the gift! I just love giving that extra smile, especially around the holidays. 

Sometimes, I don't use all of them and sort through what I have and put into the sell pile. Someone else may be able to use. Now sometimes, I purchase large bags of items and only want a few so what's left also goes up for sale. Here is my sale pile for this year...

 

 

 

 

I have to admit something right here and now. I am a gift tag hoarder. I said it. Not purposely. I always think I am out of tags so I pick more up. Then, pick more up. Then...well, lets just say, there are A TON. I purchase sheets of stick ons, but have also had the old fashioned ones you can tape on for years. I also cut old Christmas cards to use. Ok! I have a problem, I know. I went through my bin and got rid of a few. Here is the highlighted group I got rid of...a real blast from my past! 

I mean, I am 48. Probably about time to pass these onto whichever generation picks up our trends 💗

 

I actually ran low on Christmas cards this year and had to stock up. I only grabbed 2 boxes. Hope it is enough. We usually print a photo that we send out for our closer friends, but keep regular ones on hand as well.  

My tools tin is filled as well. Scissors, tape, pens, markers, ribbon shredders. No searching for anything come next year.

Normally, I pack all of this away and am able to enjoy my bedroom Christmas decor, but due to 2 of my sons getting married this year, I got way behind so the second floor, with the exception of the hallway, did not get decorated. To be fair, our house has 3 livable floors and 2 floors did get decorated (That's 10 rooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 halls decorated) That's one less floor to take down this year.

Week 2 is currently in full swing; Organize All-Occasion Wrap/Gift Bags/ Greeting Cards/Stickers. The good news is, I am able to do it in front of the tv while catching up on some Christmas movies during these snowy months.

See you all at the end of the week! 

Project Clean Up 2022...Week 8: Foyer

I finally got my foyer finished! Can you believe it??? This is the room that everyone enters first and is usually the cleanest room as it is the first seen, but lately, we have had shoes, baseball equipment, band instruments and more dropped in this area. After having a talk with the kids...

I was finally able to get myself back on track. 

This room is not huge, but has very high windows, lots of stairs, flooring, walls and woodwork. That's a lot of wiping and scrubbing. 

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

__ Dust and Windex Light Fixtures.

I am not a huge fan of this light fixture, very dated, however it allows just the right amount of light I need for my sales job. It collects a ton of dust so when it is cleaned well, it is definitely noticeable. 

__ Wash walls and trim.

__ Wash doors, knobs and switch plates.

__ Wash door cart. 

__ Clean heating register

We have hot water heat in our house since we live in the middle of nowhere and there is no gas available out here. We have these heat registers in all the rooms. The metal always needs cleaned down and each space between the metal pieces has to be meticiously cleaned out. I use a bamboo skewer to pull the dust between each out. A vaccuum hose will not work, I have found so this is what I do ever year in every room. Takes time for sure. 

__ Clean or replace entry mat. 

__ Sweep and scrub floors.

I love this vinyl that we picked the last time we did flooring. It hides dirt well, but also can stain easy. I hand scrub this whole floor during my clean up. 

Don't forget the stairs. Since these are hardwood, I hand scrub with Murphy's Oil Soap and dry immediately with a towel. These stairs get so tracked up. Whether with shoes or the oils from your bare feet, 10 people in a house can cause a lot of damage. I do what I can to get the dirt cleaned and they look very nice for the year. 

It always looks so nice when finished! 

__ Wash and Windex Windows.

 

This is the biggest job in this room....Windows! Almost the entire foyer is made up of windows. They are so high. I have to stand on the tip top of a 6 ft ladder in many areas to get the full window and the trim above each. This is towards my front door.

 

These are the windows going up the stairs. They get wiped down all year of course, but a thorough wiping is this time of year. 

Dining Room is the next blog to come...

Project Clean Up 2022...Week 7: Coat Closet

So I know I said I would do the Foyer on Week 7, but it is such a large job that I am taking care of the smaller ones first (My OCD is starting to fight me though). Decided to go ahead and tackle the Coat Closet just outside the Powder Room since it is right beside the last room I did. Doors are open and I dive in! 

It never seriously hits me how many people live in my house until I hit this closet. More than one coat per person, especially. I always swear that we never need more than one coat per person, but then you have to count light jackets, wraps, etc...so much! 

No, it's not like that. It is indeed pretty organized because of last year's Project Cleanup, but just so much! 

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

My own additions:

__ Wipe out coloring book bins

__ Check Coloring Books and Art Supplies. Throw out broken crayons, old glue, dry glue sticks, full coloring books. Arrange colored pencils and markers in packs to make sure all are there and get rid of any that are not complete. 

__ Pool towels are checked for holes and those are tossed. What is left is 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.

__ Check Preschool/Elementary supplies bins. Wipe out bins. Check that all items are in bins for homework; crayons, markers, colored pencils, pencils, eraser, pencil sharpener, glue stick and scissors. 

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

__ Bin for pencils/pens. Check that all pens still work. Get rid of excessive amounts of both that have gained over time and toss any pens that no longer work. 

__ Bin for mini flags that go on the hanger in the rock garden. Check that all are still to be kept.

__ Seasonal Headpieces. Check that all are still in good order. 

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

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

I am not going to say which room will be done next because I keep changing it, but it will either be the Dining Room, Den or Foyer. I guess it will be a surprise....ha! 

See you next time! 

 

Project Clean Up 2022...Week 6: Powder Room

Running behind, but determined to get these blogs up! I decided to switch Week 6 and 7 and did my Powder Room first (Foyer will be Week 7) I really needed to get this room clean and cleaned well. 

So, although a small room, there is a lot of detail to clean in here because as we all know...

Walls, Ceiling, Baseboards, Heater, Sink Cabinet, Sink, Toilet and Floors....it all gets hit! 

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 if needed. Make list of any items running low. Fold hand towels and stack neatly. 

__ 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. My light fixtures have glass shades, cleaned the glass, change bulbs if needed. 

__ 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.

Added my own items as well...

__ Replace soap.

__ Change out magazines in rack. 

__ Replace toilet scrub brush.

__ Put out fresh hand towels.

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

__ Stock first aid kit.

__ Stock toilet paper. 

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

The cabinet has all of our necessities. Everything gets pulled out and cabinet gets scrubbed down. A list has to be made for restocks. New toothbrushes in cases. Also, add items that need replaced in first aid kit.

I wanted to find a better place to keep extra rolls of toilet paper and came across this great basket that will hold around 3 rolls so, grabbed it up! 

When I originally redesigned this bathroom, I knew I wanted a magazine rack that looked like a work of art. This record holder needed nothing done to it and fit the bill. I change out magazines every few months so there is always something fresh to read.

 

Onto Week 7....Foyer! 

Project Clean Up 2022...Week 5: Great Room

 So, who feels absolutely lazy and ready for a nap when it is cold and snowy out? 

I swear that starting my Project Cleanup in the wintertime is sometimes the hardest decision, but in order to get it all done, the time is exactly right! 

Excuse the mantle. When I took the pics, I was getting ready to bring out Valentine decor and had one piece up that I had created during a craft night, but you get the just of the room. Some people say that I am a minimilist. I guess I do kind of fall in that category. I do like the room to look lived in, with a hint of museum neatness. 

This room is very well lived in. My kids scatter crumbs and spill drinks. I pull wrappers out of the cushions sometimes and I run a business a few days every 2 weeks in this room. You can imagine how often I broom sweep, dust...it can become quite a mess if not kept up on. This is a great time to really get down to the nitty gritty of the room. 

A few other angles of the Great Room...

So, as I've told you before, this room is big. I mean, BIG. 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...

__Vacuum sofas

__Spot clean sofas, if applicable

__Febreze Sofas and any pillows that cannot be laundered

__Launder throw pillows and blankets

I just love a clean, fluffed sofa! Decorative holiday pillows coming soon. 

I am totally loving my new coffee table decor, actually just moved from one area to another. These items were once down underneath my tv stand where you could just barely see them. 2 photography books, an old camera and an old wooden box. The box now houses my remote controls so it serves a purpose which I love! I am all about everything having a purpose. 

__Dust shelves, furniture and decor

__Touch up black furniture with marker

Now for a few new pieces...

After dusting this shelf, I added the blue flash piece. I had one identcal here, but it had fallen off of the shelf and cracked. I bought a box of photography accessories from an auction and was very excited to find not only 1, but 2 identical ones (now I have an extra) 

Another new "retro" camera added to my collection after dusting down this shelf. 

Check out these nice vintage jars that were made for editing back in the day. Perfect  "new to me" decor pieces...

I had this camera, but I grabbed a jar and filled it with hallogen bulbs for a cool look. 

This is what the lower portion of my tv stand looks like. I clean and touch up all black furniture with a marker so it looks like new again. The right shelf once housed the items that are now on my coffee table. These 2 baskets are new. The right basket holds magazines and the left one is still up in the air. Will figure it out. 

__Clean lamps and lampshades

__Wash windows and sills

__Take down curtains and handwash, dry, rehang

These are the windows towards the back of our room, towards the pool area. There are 3 other high windows in the front of the room, but these are the only curtains that have to be taken down, handwashed and dried. 

__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 dvd's in basket under coffee table. Keep any under that are currently watching, put others back in dvd cabinet. 

__Wash switch plates

__Wash walls and trim as needed

For anyone who has never seen this (I use on my stove) or used for other areas, did you know it will get scuffs off of your walls? Be very careful if you have colorful painted walls as it can remove paint if pressed too hard, but it is amazing with scuffs and marks (it's good for your tennis shoes as well) 

__Wash doors and door knobs

__Wash floor registers and other vent covers. Hose sweep as far down in vent as possible. 

__Clean floors; broom sweep, shopvac sweep cracks of plank wood. Mop, Dry. 

We have plank wood flooring so I get the Shop Vac going and sweep thoroughly between the cracks. That is when you really have that feeling of the room being clean. 

__Vacuum area rugs 

__Sweep cobwebs and stink bugs out of fireplace

Onto Week 6: Foyer.

See you next week!