Organized House

Here’s a little help for those of you who need a few tips on keeping the house clean and organized.

Daily

1. Wash Dishes and Utensils
2. Clean kitchen counters
3. Clean kitchen sink
4. Sweep kitchen floor
5. Make Bed

Weekly

1. Dust furniture
2. Vacuum rugs
3. Damp mop kitchen floor
4. Clean out refrigerator
5. Wash Clothes and put away
6. Clean trash cans
7. Mow the lawn
8. Clean the bathroom

Monthly

1. Wipe wood trim
2. Wash windows
3. Turn over mattresses, end to end or side to side
4. Wipe doorknobs
5. Polish furniture
6. Wash inside and outside of refrigerator

Seasonally

1. Clean out closets, donate unused clothes
2. Clean out cluttered drawers
3. Pack winter or summer clothes
4.  Wash mattress covers
5. Change winter or summer bed covering
6. Change and clean drapes

Annually

1. Have furnace and air conditioning units serviced
2. Shampoo carpets ( if needed)

Kitchen Organization

Where to Put Things

Put items close to where they will be used.

Near your stove and microwave:

• Pots and pans(hanging or stacked by shape in cabinets)
• Potholders and trivets( in drawers)
• Mixing spoons( in drawer or fancy holding container on counter)
• Storage containers (for leftovers)- Place in a cabinet with lids on containers
• Glasses, bowls and plates ( stack bowls and plates on cabinet shelves and line glasses by size on shelves- larger ones in the back.)
• Silverware( in a silverware holder in a drawer organized by type)
• Cleaning supplies( cabinet under sink)

Near your coffee maker:

• Coffee, sugar, creamer
• Filters
• Measuring scoop
• Coffee cups

In your trash can:

• Garbage bags( place several clean ones in the bottom of trash can, ready for use)

Refrigerator/ Freezer:

• Organize shelves to fit your needs
• condiments and bottled water on door(leaves spaces for other items on shelves)
• Label / date freezer bags
• Store all-purpose flour in freezer (place bag in a freezer bag)
• organized frozen items in categories in the freezer( vegetables, fish, beef , chicken, bread)

Food Pantry Closet or Shelves

• Organize cans, boxes and storage containers by size
• Use chip clips or clear tape to keep opened chips, cookies and cereals fresh
• Check dates of all foods and spices periodically

Home Mixtures Naturally

All-Purpose Cleaner:

Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax) into 1/2 gallon (2 liters) water. Store and keep. Use for removal of water deposit stains on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome fixtures, windows, bathroom mirrors, etc.

Air Fresheners:

Baking soda or vinegar with lemon juice in small dishes absorbs odors around the house.

• Having houseplants helps reduce odors in the home.
• Prevent cooking odors by simmering vinegar (1 tbsp in 1 cup water) on the stove while cooking. To get such smells as fish and onion off utensils and cutting boards, wipe them with vinegar and wash in soapy water.
• Keep fresh coffee grounds on the counter.
• Grind up a slice of lemon in the garbage disposal.
• Simmer water and cinnamon or other spices on stove.
• Place bowls of fragrant dried herbs and flowers in room.

Bathroom mold:

Mix one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two parts water in a spray bottle and spray on areas with mold. Wait at least one hour before rinsing or using shower.

Carpet stains: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on stain, let sit for several minutes, and clean with a brush or sponge using warm soapy water.
For fresh grease spots, sprinkle corn starch onto spot and wait 15 – 30 minutes before vacuuming.
For a heavy duty carpet cleaner, mix 1/4 cup each of salt, borax and vinegar. Rub paste into carpet and leave for a few hours. Vacuum.

Coffee and tea stains: Stains in cups can be removed by applying vinegar to a sponge and wiping. To clean a teakettle or coffee maker, add 2 cups water and 1/4 cup vinegar; bring to a boil. Let cool, wipe with a clean cloth and rinse thoroughly with water.

Disinfectant:
To disinfect kitchen sponges, put them in the dishwasher when running a load.

Fabric softener: To reduce static cling, dampen your hands, then shake out your clothes as you remove them from the drier. Line-drying clothing is another alternative.

Home Cleaners

Here is a list of common, environmentally safe products which can be used alone or in combination for a wealth of household applications.

• Baking Soda – cleans, deodorizes, softens water, scours.
• Soap – unscented soap in liquid form, flakes, powders or bars is biodegradable and will clean just about anything. Avoid using soaps which contain petroleum distillates.
• Lemon – one of the strongest food-acids, effective against most household bacteria.
  
• Borax – (sodium borate) cleans, deodorizes, disinfects, softens water, cleans wallpaper,stops roaches,cleans painted walls and floors.
• White Vinegar – cuts grease, removes mildew, odors, some stains and wax build-up.
• Washing Soda – or SAL Soda is sodium carbonate decahydrate, a mineral. Washing soda cuts grease, removes stains, softens water, cleans wall, tiles, sinks and tubs. Use care, as washing soda can irritate mucous membranes. Do not use on aluminum.
• Isopropyl Alcohol – is an excellent disinfectant. (It has been suggested to replace this with ethanol or 100 proof alcohol in solution with water. There is some indication that isopropyl alcohol buildup contributes to illness in the body. See http://drclark.ch/g)
• Cornstarch – can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs.
• Citrus Solvent – cleans paint brushes, oil and grease, some stains. (Citrus solvent may cause skin, lung or eye irritations for people with multiple chemical sensitivities.)