Once you’ve discarded old spices and dealt with duplicates, the next step is to find containers and a labeling system that works for you and your space.
Organizing spices can cause people a lot of grief. If you have a collection of spices that’s been building for several years, it’s probably because you’re trying to avoid the pain of a one-two punch of being wasteful with money and food. We can get stuck convincing ourselves “it’s still good” because there’s still a faint smell. (You just have to get your nose deeper in the jar. So deep that everyone watching turns away in disbelief not wanting to think about the contents of your nose potentially being in the contents of the dinner they’re expect to eat.) The spices kinda smell like they should, they’re a few bucks a pop, and no one likes to throw away food that seems, you know, good. So back into the cupboard the duplicate and triplicate spices go, and you try to ignore the fact that with the four thymes of various eras and containers (metal, glass, cardboard, and plastic!) this is not the spice drawer, this is your personal spice museum.
Do you ever get frustrated with your spouse or other family members who never seem to put things back where they belong? It may seem unfathomable that they wouldn’t know where things go just as well as you do, but actually, this may be the case. Even if someone has lived in the house just as long as you have, they may not interact with the organization system to the extent that you have. In fact, the logic of your system may not even be obvious to them — or they might not even have noticed it.
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Did you know that changing the air filter on your HVAC system every six months will keep your unit running more efficiently, and save you money on your electric bill? Likewise with cleaning the coils on your refrigerator. And are you aware that cleaning your coffee maker regularly will keep your morning java perky? In fact, most of the appliances in our homes have recommended maintenance schedules that help them work better, last longer, and use less energy.
READ MOREOnce you’ve got things organized in your home the way you like them, it’s important to get everyone involved on board with your system. This includes your housekeeper, who may well be used to your old system — or their own — and might have a tendency to put things away where you can’t find them. To avoid having “cleaning day” become “disorganization day,” try out these tips
READ MORESometimes a coat closet seems to be a repository for everything but coats — while coats themselves get strewn about an entry way or wherever they are shed. What really should go in a coat closet, and how can it be organized? The answers, of course, will vary depending upon the space available as well as the needs and habits of the people using it. But here are some general guidelines to consider in your quest to spiff up your coat closet this spring
READ MOREFor weeks, I’ve been dreaming of putting away my warm winter gear. In the spirit of if you build it, they will come, here is my favorite one-hanger solution for storing all your warm winter gear together. Even if it doesn’t actually make spring come faster, getting organized can help chase the winter blues away!
READ MORESomewhere between ages three and six, most kids start wanting to do things for themselves. You can support that developmental milestone with your use of the closet.
READ MOREWhen a child is born, new parents have a lot to be amazed at. Not least is the fact that the quantity of “stuff” they own suddenly seems to triple! Today’s focus is on how to manage a closet for your tiny tot so that this proliferation of goods doesn’t become overwhelming.
READ MOREHow often do you start the day looking in your over-stuffed closet and saying, “I have nothing to wear!” Time to ask yourself why you’re hanging onto clothing that doesn’t work for you.