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15 Crazy Ideas to Make Your Life Saner
Keep a marker in the freezer: If you're the type of person who cooks a lot and freezes the leftovers, or someone who likes to buy in bulk, keeping a marker in the freezer might mean the difference between "what is this?" and "here's the pasta sauce I made last summer when the tomatoes were at their peak". Use it to label and date whatever you're freezing. Bonus: no more frozen mysteries, no more wondering where to find a marker to label stuff.
Collect pint size versions of your favorite toiletries and store them in your suitcase: This is one of those silly ideas that I used to scoff at until the TSA changed the rules and mini became the rule. Whether it's a flight across the country, around the world, or a quick overnighter, keeping small size versions of your toiletries in your suitcase means you're always ready to go. Since all the things I like and need don't always come in small sizes, I pick them up whenever I see them. Bonus: No last minute scramble, and they don't take up valuable real estate in your already crowded linen closet.
Pack up your beach or ski stuff: As for traveling, so for sports. In my beach bag I store sunscreen, a towel, a blanket, bathing suits; my ski boots share space with my ski clothes, handwarmers and another stick of sunscreen. Bonus: always ready to go.
Hang your keys on the back of your front door or have your lock changed so that it's one of the kind that you have to lock from the inside: When I moved into my home it was already equipped with one of these locks. Not only do I always know where my keys are, but I don't have to worry about accidentally locking myself out (something my neighbors have done). Bonus: safe, sound and, with no morning key scramble, sane.
A pen and a pad by my phone's charger: I used to keep them by my landline, now I keep them by the charger. Same purpose — taking notes — different era. Bonus: Being prepared to write down every detail, whether it's directions or a grocery list.
Arranging the medicine chest by how things are used: Yeah, this one's had me called crazy, but since I no longer rub toothpaste into my palms thinking it's handcream, the last laugh may be mine. Especially if you're as blind as I am without my glasses, this little bit of organization brings a lot of order to your morning. Bonus: a faster morning.
Having a place for everything in the refrigerator: Especially if you bake a lot or live with someone else, having a place for everything not only brings a little more sanity to your cooking times, you can see, right at a glance, if you actually have enough eggs or milk or butter — whether it's for that cake you were thinking about making or for breakfast. Bonus: no more overbuying.
Keep your daily meds in the refrigerator: Vitamins or prescriptions, I keep them in the fridge next to the milk. I know I'll be reaching for the milk for my morning coffee and when I do, it'll remind me to pop my pills. Bonus: Less chance of forgetting whether you already took them today.
Have a box for your first aid supplies and medications: If you have kids, keeping meds in the refrigerator might not be a great idea. But then, neither is keeping them in the medicine chest. Sure, you might want to make a place for your cough medicine if you're right in the midst of battling something nasty, but most of us have stuff around that we only grab on occassion. Stick it all in a pretty box (or a lock box if you have wee ones in the house). You may want to date stuff (even medicine has a shelf life); in which case, do as with the freezer and keep a marker in your box. Bonus: a medicine cabinet filled only with things you need, and knowing where everything is when you actually need it
Keep a set of cleaning supplies in the bathroom and in the kitchen: Avoid a marathon cleaning session by wiping down the sink (and, if you shed as much hair as I do, the floor) each morning with a rag and spritz of cleanser, or try those packages of pop up wipes. Supplies in each wet room means you're more likely to have them at hand, keeping these rooms clean. Bonus: Saturday mornings having brunch instead of cleaning.
Empty your pocket change into a jar by the door each night: This is one of those silly things a friend told me they did once when I asked them where they'd found the money for something (we were both equally broke at the time). It may seem super old skool (and it is) but it's also a painless way of saving and avoids the rattling hangbag or ripped pocket syndrome. Bonus: change for the laundry and less guilt about a splurge for the home.
Clean while you're on the phone: Whether it's doing the dishes, swishing the toilet, Swiffering the floor or feather dusting the counter tops, here's a simple way to multitask. Bonus: no mindless phone eating (my personal downfall).
The next time you line your trash can with a new bag, stick an old dryer sheet in the bottom and line the bin with all the trash bags at once: Then all you have to do is pull out the old bag; the new one's already in place. Bonus: come party time or a big mess, at least you won't be scrambling for trash bags.
Keep your laundry supplies at the bottom of your hamper: Are you sensing a theme here? Guilty. Also guilty of not having a lot of storage space. Also in my laundry bag: a roll of quarters, stain stick (it's right where I need it so I can treat a stain before it goes in the hamper). Bonus: the detergent and the laundry sheets also act as deodorizers for my dirty clothes until I get around to washing them.
Store your bedlinens under your mattress: I don't know about you, but I don't have loads of extra space to use for storing sheets and pillowcases. Instead, I fold up everything and stick it underneath the mattress (or between the mattress and the boxspring), next to my life savings (just kidding, though I'm sure you're thinking this idea's just as insane). (In the same vein, I also store my towels by hanging them on the back of my bathroom door). Bonus: Everything's close at hand, and I get that ironed look without ironing.
Got any crazy tricks of your own? Share them in the comments!
• You Can Do It: No Fail Ways to Finally Get Yourself Organized
• Pro Organizer Tips: What NOT To Do When Decluttering Your Home
• Yes, I Hired a Professional Organizer: Tips & Tricks
(Image: Adrienne Breaux / Shannon's Soothing Mix of Styles House Tour)
Re-edited from a post originally published 7/10/12 - JL
223 Comments
I do a couple of these. I like the laundry supplies in the hamper idea...except I would probably put them in my basket instead just in case I got behind in my laundry.
I do several of these! Not the laundry supplies, though, since I'm lucky enough to have a little laundry room off the kitchen, though I do keep my laundry basket (& cleaning bathroom cleaning supply tote) in that most prime piece of real estate- the bath tub! And my mornings would be a disaster if I didn't have my brush, deodorant stick, hand cream, etc all lined up in the order I use them. (If I could figure out a way to make coffee in the bathroom... Nah, better not think about that!) I do keep a bag packed (in the hall closet) for trips to the lake so that I am not scrambling all over trying to find sunscreen, bathing suit, towel, trashy beach novel, etc. Just grab a cold drink & snack & go! Several of the other ideas are great time/space savers as well. I can't store sheets under the mattress, though I like to change my pillow cases every few days so I keep a stash of them under the mattress. Yes, arrange things in the order you use them, the frequency you need them, excellent suggestions! (not all will work for everyone so just use the ones that apply to you & add your own suggestions to the list!)
I like the trash bags idea, I will definitely try it. My husband is responsible for taking the trash out (when he remembers) and he NEVER puts a new bag. I don't know why but I really hate when I open the trash can to throw something away and there's no bag inside, so hopefully this will help!
I like the bed linens between the mattress and box spring....I have no "linen closet" and have been using precious drawer space. thanks
The bed linens trick is pretty awesome! I usually keep a "go" bag in my car, but this can easily be applied to keep in the house. I have small toiletries, a small first aid kit, a comfortable outfit or two, cash, credit card and a roll of quarters, and a prepaid mobile phone. Ever since I was stuck in my car during a snowstorm for two days, I realized how important it was to keep an emergency bag.
The change jar is also such a great idea!
I don't think this list is OCD at all. Of course, that may just be because I have a bit of it myself. After all, every thing is relative.
I do a lot of these. Especially helpful is the cleaning supplies in the bath and kitchen. My partner thinks it is ridiculous but he does not have to clean either of those rooms. Running back and forth to get supplies is just misery. AND it really does make it easier to keep them clean. I find I do "quickies" frequently and therefore when big cleaning day comes, it is a cinch.
cleaning while talking on the phone.....a big hit!!! It would save me a lot of time as i spend half of my life on the phone.....
I have a little "piggy bank" that I empty loose change from my husband's pockets every other day. I love the little clink that the coins make as I drop them, a wondering trip back to my childhood days!
I also have a technology draw - that holds old chargers (you never know when you have to use them), batteries, data cables and what not. Its a mess now, but at least I know where is what!
I keep markers and post Its in the kitchen for when the milk runs out or as reminders to dry out the spice jars during the day. Always a pleasure ripping them off when the task is done!
OK, I'm putting vitamins in the fridge. Good idea.
I put bed linens together (sheets/duvet cover/pillowcases) in the matching pillowcase or sham when I pull them out of the dryer. No more digging in the linen closet to find the missing pillowcases when changing my sheets. Works great with my teenager's too. They can find their clean bedding easily.
I have a change jar, but I'm a bit more OCD about it - I actually have two jars. When I'm emptying out my pockets/wallet, I separate the change. One jar is used EXCLUSIVELY for quarters, while everything else goes in the other. This way, when I know I'm heading somewhere with parking meters (or other activities that rely on quarters), I don't have to dig around for anything!
I don't think it's a very good idea to keep cash and a credit card in your car. Do you park in a secured garage every night? Even then, sounds very risky...
I do most of these and never considered myself OCD at all.
I store bed linen sets together by size in the room where the correct bed is located, in other words, I keep all the king size sheets/pillowcases in the main bedroom, the double bed sizes in the 2 rooms with double beds, and the XL twin sheets in the room where the XL twin bed is. That way, I never grab the wrong size sheet out of the central linen cupboard again. I don't like folding sheets once, let alone twice!
I'm not sure about keeping medications in the fridge - many of them need to be stored in dry environments. Maybe store them in the fridge if in an airtight container.
An inside-key deadbolt is against fire code in Chicago, and pretty dangerous as well.
For years now, whenever I have something to donate. I toss them in the back of my car or trunk so that when I'm running errands (eventually the planets will all align and I will remember and/or be in the right neighborhood) to unload these all at once. I also do apply this for dry cleaning and any returns that I have to make (that do not require immediate attention). It's amazing how much stuff I can get rid of and I don't have to make several trips doing it.
I was throwing my spare change into a pretty soup tureen for years. Before moving, recently, I tree the loot into a cloth bag and cashed it in at the bank. I was so surprised that the loot was worth $197 !!! Those pennies, nickels dimes and quarters didn't look like that much.
Regarding storing sheets and towels under the mattress - I just bought a storage bed ( regular bed with drawers underneath) Useful storage in an elegant piece of furniture, I could not be happier.
Another tip for busy households: I usually shop for my groceries on Sunday, so that morning I make a list of the dinners I'd like to make for the week - usually 3-4. I try to add a new recipe or two to the list to mix things up. On top of the menu list I write the season (summer, autumn etc.), and on the back, my shopping list. I pin it to my fridge with a magnet so that I can hit the ground running when I get home from work. At the end of the week I put the menu in my fave cookbook, and now I have a collection of seasonal menus - including a grocery list - that I can just grab and take to the store when I shop - dinner solved!
I recently bough a concentrated multi-purpose cleaner with a scent that I like, the kind you dilute yourself, maybe this is just self-affirming, but I suspected I'd clean more often, and I do!
I live in a two room studio, so you'd think I don't need to keep two sets of spray cleaners. But the day I broke down and made two bottles of cleaner, one for kitchen, one for bath. . . that was day I became an adult. Or maybe that was the day I started making my bed every day, not sure.
Great ideas! Thanks!
I keep my cleaning supplies in a bucket under the kitchen sink. So when I'm cleaning other rooms of the house, I just have to grab my bucket.
I keep my vitamins at work, it's easier for me to remember taking them there since I eat breakfast at work usually.
I store pint-size bottles for travel too! I have a small stash in bathrrom drawer. I collect from hotels as well as save and refill containers like those from my daily moisturizer. They are the (perfect size) for overnight, short trips or airline or just to keep in my purse! Also I leave them out for guests! But mostly they are grab and go for whatever comes my way!
What I meant by that above comment was that I thought if I liked the scent, then I'd want to clean more!
an add on to the spare change jar...for those with laundry rooms or laundry areas..I keep a glass jar in there too....you'd be surprised how often loose change, and even the errant bill gets left in clothes and then comes out in the washer or dryer...I keep a jar there and throw the laundry change in there too....my beau and my son both know that if it's left in their clothes and winds up in the laundry...it belongs to the laundry room jar!
A keyless deadbolt (on the inside) as opposed to what you're suggesting above, is the law in most states. People have been trapped by fire or home invasion or robbery, with no exit due to a missing key on the inside of the home with a keyed deadbolt. THIS IS VERY IMORTANT. Keyed deadbolts kill. Heartbreaking and unnecessary.
I keep a small hammer in my freezer. A friend of mine started doing this a number of years ago and now many of my friends and I do it as well. Why? So we always know where the hammer is! Before we owned a house, the only tool we really had was a hammer (mostly for hanging frames) so it's not like we had a tool box to keep it in. It works because the hammer has a rubber handle and no moving parts so being in the freezer doesn't hurt it and it's so crazy that you will never forget where it is! :)
Before I had ADT I'd always done the key thing but with a twist: I put the keys on top of the lock. This way, if someone breaks into the house and turn the tumbler, the keys hit the floor with a loud clang, alerting me even in my sleep that someone else is trying to get into my apartment.
I keep a small piggy bank in the laundry room/area...all found change goes into it for special treats when it's full. I've managed to collect a fair amount from those in the family who fail to clean their pockets out completely.
Oh my gosh, so many great ideas! Both in the article and the responses!
For travel, I finally just got a roomy make-up case thingy and permanently keep EVERYTHING in there I might need - nail clippers, shower cap, pen, binder clips (you never know...) and on and on and on. And then, within that case, the liquids are kept in a gallon zipper bag. I usually throw my toothbrush in there too, so it's not separated from the toothpaste..
Also, I keep my packing lists on my computer for each kind of trip I make, i.e. San Diego/summer, San Diego/winter, Car-camping to Yosemite, etc. Next time I go there or somewhere climatically similar, I might need to tweak the list but it saves SO much time and effort. And during or after the trip, I can add items to the list that I find I forgot or didn't know to pack.
This goes also for the "Before the trip, do...." list as well as driving directions, motel phone numbers, notes on the airports, etc. Even what gift I brought my hosts, so I don't repeat it.
Great list :) We do a bunch of these. During beach season we keep a beach tote with everything we need inside our van. No searching around last minute for anything from charcoal to sunblock!
I never remember vitamins, so I'm sticking them in the fridge asap :)
In an effort to keep my grocery bill down and not thaw out more meat than two of us can use, I started taking apart those big trays of meat and repacking the meat in twos using sandwich bags. To organize my freezer, I used an old tupperware container of Mom's (formally for loaf of bread) and now I place those little sandwich baggies with enough meat for one meal in the tupperware. No more tiny packages floating around the freezer. Worked so well, I know have a plastic box for ice cream bars, lean pockets, the last eggo etc.
I do the sani-wipes in the bathroom thing between full cleanings, but I do the real scrubbing of my small master bathroom when I'm getting ready to shower anyway. Which means --yes--I clean it starkers. There's an image for you.
Some manufacturer of green cleaning products -- Method? -- used to run a print ad stating that X percent of people clean the shower when they're in the shower. I figure I'm in there anyway, so why not?
Oh, I forgot - and it's TODAY's task for me! - get one of the 3-section laundry hampers. Blues, reds, lights. When one section is full, it's time to do a load! I feel nuts for not having done this YEARS ago!
Keeping a hammer in the freezer is totally crazy. But the entertainment value makes up for it! You go, girl!!
@krystlevh...funniest thing here! Don't you have to let it thaw before using?
I do a lot of these already. Keys on the back of the door seems like common sense (doesn't everyone have a hook/bowl/jar by the door?).
I didn't know keyed deadbolts (on the inside) were a thing.
After going on a long trip where I forgot my contacts, toothpaste and deoderant, I decided I needed to be organized long before a trip was planned. I've found a lot of my favorite beauty products in mini sizes during sales and clearances at Sephora and the like. I then made a full travel kit with all my daily products plus some good travel products (shout wipes, hand sanitizer, etc.) . It involves a small initial investment but no more than it would be to buy a piece of luggage, and when it's time to pack you're set. The only things I add to my travel pack are my sonicare (buying two seeems excessive) and prescriptions.
I also keep an old down jacket in the car, in case of emergency. I've needed it. It's worth doing.
Also, $10 under the floormat. Yes, a thief would find that in a flash, but so what. I just needed it yesterday, in fact. Gotta go replace it. I'll stop talking now. Bye!
I recently starting using TSA-approved sizes for my gym bag toiletries, now whenever I go on vacation my toiletries are already packed and ready to go! It's a pain that they're 3oz now but I just keep refilling them once a month or so and it's not too bad.
The trash bag thing we do with the wastebasket next to my husband's seat in the living room(he's lazy). No food goes in there though...we use grocery bags to line it. I like the idea of the dryer sheet but I would be afraid to put all the bags in the bottom of the kitchen can in case it ever split and yuck got all over the other new bags.
We do the change thing, too. The laundry room one that Marilyn mentioned (sometimes paper money makes it there! Yay!) and in the bathroom closet. That way before the man's pants go in the hamper he can dump his change in a tray. I do segregate quarters like another poster. All the rest go in another bank next to the tray. I do all the work with that mind you! ;)
My family keeps batteries and a battery checker in a pretty gift bag, which sits on a shelf in a closet. Easy to access, and no errant batteries rolling around in desk drawers. We also keep tape in a gift bag: blue painter's tape, packing tape, duct tape, Scotch tape, stick-posters-on-the-wall tape. And I do the same for glue---white glue, twist-up glue sticks, super-glue, model glue, wood glue, epoxy, and the earthquake wax.
Yes, I am slightly OCD---aren't we all :) But keeping these things together really does save time and tempers, and makes putting them back up easier and more obvious.
P.S. That battery checker? Best money I ever spent---about $10 at Radio Shack.
I keep my pills next to my toothbrush so I remember when I am brushing my teeth! I dont know about putting them in the fridge unless I ask my pharmacist- some need room temperature storage (I would think!). Plus I dont always go into the fridge or they may get lost in the jumble of food!!
Also, I cannot clean and talk on the phone. I get so terribly distracted when I am on the phone so I have trained myself to go sit on the bed. No TV or anything on to distract me from my phone call. Luckily I dont chat on the phone much!
What's with the dryer sheet in the garbage can? What am I not getting about this one?
Bed linens under the mattress skeeves me out. Dead skin and dust mites crawling over "clean" linens?
My ground floor rental apartment has a keyed deadbolt because the door has glass panes, and it prevents an intruder from breaking the glass to turn the deadbolt. I like the extra light from the glass, but I can see how a keyed deadbolt could be a problem, especially if the apartment is on a higher floor. Not too worried because plan to keep my keys near me in my sleep, and also I can leave through a window, but I wouldn't install a keyed deadbolt if the front door is your only means of escape in an emergency.
We travel a lot, so I have a big plastic storage box in the attic labeled "travel" - in it are my Rick Steves carry-on backpack, the packing cubes, a transparent Muji travel etui filled with basic toiletries, a laminated copy of my passport, a headphone with airplane jacks, a doorstop, my flightsocks, a spork, the basic clothing that I tend to wear on holiday, and other bits. Not that we book THAT last-minute, but getting ready is a breeze this way.
Does that bathroom door that leads outside not have a curtain? Yowza!
Since I've started traveling more frequently for work I do keep a ziplock of TSA sized bottles ready to go, even have a designated travel toothbrush in there. Just top them off after every trip. It's such a convenience and mind-saver when you find out you have to be on a plane tomorrow.
So that I could keep my medicines separate from my kids medicines/bandaids/ointments, etc, I bought one of those organizers from bed bath beyond that looks like 2 shoe boxes on top of each other (they are drawers that pull out). A drawer for me, a drawer for them. That way, I don't have to leaf through our meds when I am in a rush to find kiddie tylenol or thermometers. For the baby's rectal thermometer, I also took a sharpie and wrote "rectal" on the outside JUST IN CASE it ever ends up in our medicine drawer! Also, my four year old is always wanting to pick through our bandaids to find THE PERFECT ONE with a certain "disney character" of the day on it. So that he could see the design, I pre-unwrapped all of our kiddie bandaids (except the backing, of course!), and put them in a 1/2 gallon ziplock bag. Saves us time and tears.
I keep a roll of blue painter's tape and a sharpie in the tupperware/ziploc bag drawer. When I'm putting leftovers or I-can't-use-it-before-it-goes-bad veg in containers, I stick a swath of tape and write what it is along with the date. I found that writing directly on ziploc bags, the ink wipes off in the freezer, eek! Using the painter's tape eliminates that risk and also allows me to label and re-use tupperware containers.
@HETTA13 - If they break into your car, you've got a lot more to worry about than losing a $20 spot.
Storing medications in the fridge seems like it may be a bad idea. A lot of medications have a specific temperature range required for storage. Pay attention to the labels, and follow the directions accordingly. Plus, if children can access the fridge then they may mistake these medications for candy. Store them in the cabinet where you keep the coffee, or even put your toothpaste in the medicine cabinet and your medications next to it.
I keep deodorant in multiple places including my linen closet, laundry room, and bra/pantry drawer (that one gets used the most). I swear I don't have a BO problem, you just never know where you might be getting dressed!
Keeping first aid stuff - especially cold medicine, etc. - in a box in the linen closet rather than in my overcrowded totally useful except that it's crammed with stuff I never use medicine cabinet? FANTATIC IDEA!! :-) Thanks!
Double deadbolts are against fire code in many places and are incredibly dangerous. I'd think you would have a hard time finding a license locksmith to install one in a residence.
I'm not sure she's saying that the deadbolt has to be one you use a key with, she's saying to switch to a lock that is not automatically in the locked position so you can't lock yourself out if the door swings shut, so I'm not entirely sure how it would be an actual deadbolt if it automatically locked. I've never seen a door where the deadbolt locked behind you without you turning either a key or the built in twist bolt mechanism. The auto-locked ones are usually the handle locks. So I'm thinking what she's talking about is instead of having an autolocked handle lock you switch the handle to be one of those doorknobs you have to push in and twist from the inside to lock the knob so it doesn't turn and there is no way you could lock youself in during a fire with those, because all you have to do is twist the knob from the inside and it unlocks.
I have however, managed to lock myself out of and my keys in a room which had a lock you could only lock from inside the room or if you had a key. The RA didn't even charge me the lock out fee because they couldn't figure out how the hell the door had gotten locked in the 2 minutes I was in the bathroom next door.
On the dearly departed Organizedhome.com boards, we used to talk about making kits for our various needs.
Mine include a yard sale/thrift/flea market kit with a small tape measure, jeweler's loupe, and measurements of any furniture or space I'd like to problem-solve on.
I also figured out that the flotsam and jetsam on my shelves near the door broke out into three categories: outdoorsy stuff (Eagle Creek wallet, hiking guides, rain poncho, stuff I leave off the bike when it's in the storage area); optical stuff (camera, binoculars, magnifying glasses); and get-out-the-door stuff.
The clear zipped bags that bedding often comes in are great for storing like with like and also for packing stuff in your luggage.
We have inside key deadbolts which were recommended by a locksmith. We leave keys in the locks all the time, except when we go on vacation, then we remove them. Obviously they are legal here, and I really don't see them being dangerous for us at all.
I used to work for a pastry chef who told me to keep all of my baking supplies in one cabinet, and all baking equipment in another. This way, you're not wasting time looking for a particular cake pan or figuring out if you have baking soda, baking powder, vanilla extract, 10x, Pastry flour vs. AP flour and so on. I followed her advice and I have to say, it is the best darn advice I have ever received. Now when I gather my mis en place for baking, it only takes me a few minutes to set up.
@aaakid - Is it more for the prevention of crime? I ask because doesn't leaving the key in the lock defeat the purpose of preventing someone from accessing your home via the door? I get the use for it if you're escaping a fire, but keeping a key in the lock just seems like the same problem you'd get when you have a regular non-keyed lock.
We keep a small bag with hammer, screwdriver, measuring tape and wrench in an out of the way spot near the front door. Recently tied a pen with a string to the fridge next to a magnetic note pad because I could never find a pen to write what I'd run out of, then forgot to write it down after I found a pen. We have tall cabinets and the one over the coffeemaker holds the coffee grinder and different bags of coffee, with the mugs on the bottom shelf.
I already do many of these things. Yay me. I will say storing sheets between/under mattresses grosses me out. DUST MITES! on CLEAN SHEETS! no no no.
We have a packing list on GoogleDocs, organized by person, activity, and season (ex, lists for each of our basics, plus specifics for car trips, winter travel, trips involving beaches, etc.) When our son was a baby, it was a great way to remember to bring regular diapers, overnight diapers, swim diapers, etc. At the end of the trip, we use the list to make sure we've re-packed everything we brought with us. We also make a single document with all of the details of our travels--especially helpful during our month-long road trip, when we had reservations at different motels each night, each with its own cancelation policy and reservation number! Again, we put this list on GoogleDocs. We print out hard copies to pack in our suitcases, but because the lists are on GoogleDocs, we can also access them if we misplace them.
Totally OT I just love that bathroom photo! I've seen it before and it's just so awesome
All this talk of deadbolts...when I replaced my front door I put on a lockset that has an emergency-deadbolt-release feature. When you turn the handle quickly from inside, the separate deadbolt opens. The only bad part is this makes it possible to lock yourself out.
My husband and I each have 2 laundry baskets in our respective closets: 1 for whites, 1 for colors. The laundry is sorted going in and out of the wash!
I also keep a broom and dustpan on each level of the house. Same concept as a cleaning bucket in each bathroom.
It's been posted before, but ya... folding all the sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers of a set and putting them in one of the pillowcases is the best tip I've ever gotten for organising. I know when I pull it off the shelf I'll not be looking for anything needed.
-My grandfather taught me the "empty your change into a coffee tin at night" trick. It's amazing how much it adds up to before you know it.
-I keep the roll of rubbish bags in the bottom of the rubbish bin. I never scramble looking for it. Same goes for the rubbish bin in the bathroom.
-My ex would cook Shabbos dinner, so I put everything he needed for it in one basket in the kitchen. No more scabbling around, getting all the ingredients together.
I do most of these things -- we once went to Italy on the money in the jar! We also will sometimes make a donation of dollars to the jar. For instance, if we're thinking of going out to dinner but decide instead to eat leftovers at home, we'll put something of the cost of dinner into the jar.
And my favorite trick -- keep a stash of one dollar bills near the front door (mine's in my kitchen cabinet) for tipping delivery people!
I'm in favor of double keyed deadbolts. I grew up with them. The key stays in a spot near the door so that noone can break the glass and reach in to get the key. All of the family knew the spot(s). When the family is gone, you remove the keys all together and anyone breaking in can only exit with whatever will fit through the window they'd have to break to enter. Years later with both a parent and grandparent with alzheimer's disease, they were a necessity. Both would wake in the night and not know where they were. No key in the door (but in a drawer nearby or on a wristband with one of the person staying with them) meant that we never had to worry about waking up to find they'd wandered out.
I keep sunglasses, first aid kit, sunscreen, etc in a backpack for trips to the beach, pool, mtns, etc. Also, a first aid kit and basic tools in each vehicle. In my main car, the first aid kit also has travel size toiletries. Those have been a lifesaver on more than one occasion.
Lots of good ideas! Hanging keys in the same spot beside the door has definitely ended my mad scrambles to find them.
The only thing I wonder - wouldn't lining the bin with all the garbage bags make them all (or at least the one or two nearest to the actual bag the garbage is in) smelly, and maybe even wet from leaks, before they even got used?
i store my spices, dry goods, canned stuff etc. by cuisine [thai, italian, middle eastern etc]. During a remodel, the washer went in the bathroom, so that is our laundry basket. i keep a basket by the front door of the things i need to take with me. minor first aid stuff is kept in the tool chest [and bandaids in my tool belt]. i use change for parking meters - including pennies. you usually dont get credit for them, but it keeps them from piling up. once a year i guy my husband a dozen of each kind of socks so we dont have to match them up, just keep two shoeboxes in the drawer. old dryer sheets are good for dusting. seasonal storage goes into oversize ziploc storage bags with dryer sheets so they dont smell bad when you unpack them. I try to keep my small tools & parts separated in buckets labeled by need [plumbing, electric, tile, etc.]
Careful if you decide to put a Sharpie in the freezer (even capped); the marker will start to melt when you take it out to write, rendering your water-soaked Sharpie useless.
I always keep the roll/box of trash bags in the bottom of the trash can, underneath the one being used. That way, they are always handy. We have 3M command hooks inside the coat closet door ready to hold keys as soon as we are in the house. I keep a number of return address labels in my purse to use when filling in forms at the doctors, the school, etc. I have tape tabs on the ends of my license and credit cards to make them easier to pull out of my wallet. Life can be made easier...
I keep my (clean) underwear in the linen closet in the bathroom, since that is where I am when I need it. Dirty underwear goes straight into the washer, which is also in the bathroom. My underwear never leaves the bathroom, unless I wearing it!
Love this! Thanks!
I read the fridge one as being 'that cake you were thinking about making for breakfast.'
Damn straight.
I like to keep a bathroom 'quick-cleaning while I brush my teeth' microfibre cloth hanging on the hot water pipe feeding into the sink. The hot water pipe gives just enough heat to dry out your cloth before it can go smelly and teeming with nasties.
This is an awesome list, and the comments were just as helpful! I have one tip to add for storing medication (which, I wouldn't store in the fridge unless the label says to do so). We stored our medications in an over-the-door shoe organizer with clear pockets. This offered multiple organization options; our medicines were organized by use (pain relievers, cough meds, first aid supplies etc.), by age (kids meds separate from adults), and even by person (prescription meds). We had a child safety lock at the top of the linen closet door to keep little finger out….
If I lock myself in and there is a fire,I go straight to the freezer for the hammer. Presto,breaking down doors have never been easier.
@kywoman, LOL! Yeah, and the fact that the hammer's cold means it helps put the fire out!
I like to clean while I'm on the other end of the phone. Unfortunately the person I'm talking to is usually offended when they hear the sounds of cleaning. :( Oh well, it means the place is clean when they come to visit.
Maybe I've mentioned this before, but whatever...I installed a stick-on paper towel roll in my bathroom so I always have paper towels to do cleaning and I don't have to go running around to grab a roll. Yes, paper towels are bad for the environment, but they're way better for surface cleaning than rags, which always leave little bits behind.
My tip: Keep all of your re-useable grocery bags in the truck of your car. I keep them all in one of the same bags. Get in the habit of getting out the bags you will need as you get in the car to go to the store, or as you leave your car in the store's parking lot. When you are done using the bags (after you have unloaded your grocery loot at home), the next person going out to the car returns the bags to the trunk. Now you'll have no excuse to use those not-healthy-for-the-planet bags in the store.
Bonus: You can also use your bags as individual seating mats at outdoor events, like picnics, fireworks, etc. The bags are already in your car...use them! No more grass stains and "damp seats" on your clothing.
Instead of buying mini-versions of all my toiletries, I just bought small plastic bottles (which you can find at Target, the Container Store, or probably any drugstore) and filled them with shampoo, conditioner, lotion, aloe vera, etc. It's cheaper, and when they're empty I just refill them.
@SEALBEACHY I'm with you on the linens stored under the bed. No thanks! My extra linens live in my suitcase. When go away I leave the linens on the couch and then I have to unpack right away when I get back. I typically only change what sheets I use for the winter (otherwise I just wash, dry and put them right back on the bed) or when I have company and need to make up a spare bed.
Count me in the keyed deadbolts on the inside are dangerous group. If you leave the key in, it defeats the point of the lock and if you hide it nearby you could lose valuable seconds in the event of a fire. During a fire it could be your only exit point. Do you really want to worry about having the presence of mind to locate and open the lock? Or even worse, if you have a child they might not be able to reach. There are far better ways to protect your home or avoid locking yourself out that don't add risk in the event of a fire.
As a pharmacist, I really have to advise against storing most medications in the refrigerator unless the manufacturer says it's ok to do so. Most medications need to be stored at room temperature, and the stability of the active ingredients may be compromised by storing outside of recommended temperatures. (Also, the bathroom is not a good place to store them due to excessive moisture!)
What I enjoyed most was the photo above the article, showing a bathroom just inside the door of the house! I'd love to come in from outdoors and pop into a nice bath like that!
I glued the cap of a soda pastlic bottle, cut a inch long slit near the top and I had a "piggy bank" that i could not cheat, and was virtually free AND invisible to most. (chose a tinted bottle)
Under my mattres i store either winter coats, posters or tablecloths....
keep a dry-easer marker in your bathroom so you can write reminders in your mirrow (or tabs in what have you weared in the week)....
those silicon "do not eat" bags in the medicine box or a few tablespoons of baking soda in an organza bag (the one they give out at weddings with mints) works tha same for moisture...
i keep needles, thread and safetypins in a jewerly box.. and have other for bobby pins...
As I'm winding down to the end of paper tower rolls, I replace with a fresh one and put the almost used up one in the bathrooms.Always the towel when you need one.
Good post, good comments. I have separate cleaning supplies in the kitchen and bathroom; wouldn't consider doing otherwise. I just got keyed deadbolts -- I had questions about their safety because they were illegal in some of the other towns I lived. The locksmith put them in without an objection, but he was otherwise a jerk. I have ADT too. What can I say? I live in an up and coming neighborhood and my family is PARANOID about my safety.
I live together with my girlfriend in a verry small 50m2 apartment since a year now. Because this is our first home together and we were used at quite a lot more space we had to invent smart solutions to keep the apartment spatial. Here are my tips:
I recently bought a small box which I applied at the inside of a kitchen cabinet. Here I save al the things I need to wash dishes and clean the counter top. So the counter top is always empty and free of stuff.
I safe typical hollyday needs like the snorkels, beachtowels, swimmingshorts and skiclothes in my suitcase since I will almost never use these when I'm not on a holiday.
The same goes for my sporting clothes. I safe them in my sportsbag when they are washed. Since I'm cycling a lot I keep my cycling gloves, cycling glasses and the sports bottle in my helmet to have them ready when I'm ready.
I try to empty the change out of my pockets in the car. So I always have coins for the shopping cart and in case I forgot to bring my credit card it will buy me at least a few litres of fuell.
Since we're only with the two of us I'm trying to splitt everything up in sandwich bags before I put it in the freezer. This goes for large packs of meat and vegetables.
I trie to keep at least two pieces of the groceries I use the most. I hate it when I run out of something. And when I empty out one of them I always got one left and add it to my grocery list. This goes for my breakfast cereals, milk, coffee, ketchup, limonade, rice, pasta as well as for cleaning.
I also advise against NOT putting medications in the fridge. Some medications do have to be stored in the fridge but most are probably best stored at room temperature. Cool temperatures and humidity in the fridge could render some medications not as effective. The necessary storage requirements are usually found on the paperwork that comes with each prescription refill.
Errr, off-topic here, but can anyone tell me which house tour that bathroom pic came from??
I remember that it was my favourite house tour EVER, but I forgot to bookmark it.
My past 2 apartments have had doors with glass panes. I wouldn't dream of not having a double keyed deadbolt on those doors. I keep the key near the door consistently, but not in arms reach. Popping that pane , reaching a hand in , and turning the lock would be so easy. My current apartment came with such lock, I purchased one for my previous apartment and the management installed it for me.
nope, you're not as OCD as you think. I like everything at my fingertips, so I too store my OTC meds in the order I use them most...as well as most of my other types of toiletries and beauty products...and I alphabetize my CDs (soup? not just yet) Also reusing pop up cleaner containers for your plastic bags; using one big brown bag to store your other brown bags; and attaching a dowel inside my one of my bathroom cabinets to hold a roll of paper towels so I don't have to run to the kitchen each time. Also, as I'm an iced coffee fanatic, I make a big strong batch ahead of time (great recipe here: http://tinyurl.com/3evn7d3) and store it in the fridge...then I can just pour and go!
All great tips. Sharing mine: I put a "color" catcher sheet in my washer, then add dirty clothes until it's full and run it (no hamper needed!). Put wet dish sponge/rag in the microwave for 1 min to disinfect; the "steam" helps to make the microwave easy to wipe down, too. My plants are a mix of real and artificial for less overall upkeep--no one even knows! When I sew, I create a sticky surface for loose threads, etc. by turning a piece of packing tape onto itself and sticking it on the front or side of the machine. And for hands-free mopping, I wear dust mop slippers when I'm brushing my teeth or I'm on the phone (it's good exercise, too!).
To the people who keep their dirty laundry in the washing machine - doesn't it get smelly?
To keep my front loader smelling fresh, I find I have to be pretty careful about keeping the door open, etc. Seems like having it full of dirty clothes all the time would be asking for trouble.
+1 for those locks being really dangerous. My grandma was visiting a relative's house that caught on fire. The relative kept the key on the doorway directly above the door. My grandma didn't know and therefore barely got out of the house alive. She spent three months in a burn center. You may know where the key is, but will your guests?
Large plastic, lidded bins are your friends! :) ...
Except for oft-used pet combs and fur-picker-uppers, I keep cat supplies in one box; various non-prescription pharmaceuticals in another box; and spare lightbulbs in another box, all stacked inside a hall closet, since I don't frequently need any of these, but when I do need them, I Really need them.
I keep an extra garbage bag in the bottom of my kitchen garbage can (still folded; I have this idea that if it's already unfolded, it could absorb odors from the used bag, but then again, maybe the clever dryer-sheet idea would take care of that).
I keep travel toiletries in a couple of plastic ziplock bags.
I usually buy Christmas and birthday gifts throughout the year, and keep them all in one box high up in my closet. (The only risk there is buying Too Far in advance, and your intended recipient winding up with similar or, gasp, duplicate items in the meantime.)
Because I don't live near a drugstore or grocery, I always try to keep an extra unopened bottle of contact lens cleaner and contact lens soaking solution on hand at all times.
I used to never keep spare cash on hand at home, but I've gradually learned my lesson. Now I always have a spare 20 on hand, plus a few ones for bus fare. To pump up my quarters collection for doing laundry (esp. since our condo complex's laundry room doesn't have a change machine), I occasionally use a BART transit ticket that I know will be short on return fare, and then use their Add Fare machine to break a bill, add a small portion to my exit ticket, and get a ton of change back (it's mainly in quarters).
Solution to locking-self-out problem: leave a set of spare keys with a relative or friend who lives nearby.
I just moved to a place that has a keyed deadbolt on the inside. I'm not planning on using it when I'm home; my front doors have two other locks, which should be plenty in this neighbourhood (very safe). I don't need to be grappling with a key in a fire.
good post.
but....the sharpie in the freezer to label foods.....what about using the sharpie to write down the DATE the food was placed in the freezer????? please excuse but it is the scientist in me. m
Just wondering what percentage of those saving their coins eventually take them to a machine to be sorted and pay the eight cents on the dollar...
sticking a magnet on your sharpie or pen by putting a magnet under tape (i use red duct tape) makes your pen easy to find anytime and no risk of leaky sharpie near your frozen goods. i also use this same wrapped magnet for my broom so it doesn't fall down in its spot near the fridge and sticks to my metal doorways in my condo. it's just a little thing but not having your broom falling over every time you set it down is nice. also i like the look of the bright red band on the broom handle!
Rinchen, my bank has a machine for coins that doesn't charge anything.
I don't understand the dryer sheet in the trashcan either. What? I don't use them anyway since I think they smell terrible. Is it supposed to "deodorize" the trash can?
These are good tips mostly, not OCD, they remind me of the kind of Heloise Household Hint sort of books my mother used to read in the 1960s!
I wish people would stop saying how dangerous key bolts are. In my (very high in crime) neighborhood it's much more dangerous to have a regular deadbolt because of the glass and access from the ground. We have locks on the windows too, and all the businesses around us have security bara. We keep a key on a clearly designated keyhook near the door and keep a key in each of our pants pockets next to our bed at night. It's so much safer for us, it just might not be for a high rise dweller.
Sorry to bust this list up, because a lot of this is good... but you should NOT put vitamins in fridge! Ah! People! Condensation/moisture breaks down vitamins rendering them useless in no time. (As in within a few days to a week.)
Re: sports, it's worth keeping together all items for each activity. For ski stuff, clip the gloves together, and hang with the goggles, and the jacket/suit on the same hanger. Stuff the hat, neck warmer and sunscreen into a pocket. Roll up the socks, and stuff them into the boots. There's nothing worse than hunting around for equipment just before a trip, or forking out for new stuff because you couldn't remember where you stored something.
If you don't have open shelving in the kitchen, keep glasses and smaller items of crockery in baskets that can be pulled out. In fact, I find this more efficient than shallow open shelves where the few items that fit on them always look a bit precariously arranged, and things that are not used regularly get greasy/dusty.
If you have kids, a portable first aid kit in the kitchen is a must. With only one bathroom it seems like my kids always needed a bandaid when the bathroom was occupied. I keep a RED washcloth in the first aid kit, too. No need for the little ones to see the bright red blood of cuts and scrapes on a white washcloth. Cuts down on the hysterics.
We use the coins from a year of saving in the "penny jar" for mad money on vacation. The one souvenir or silly thing we want and wouldn't normally have the budget for comes out of the accumulated change.
OCD is a legit disease that can be completely crippling, and I am so sick of it when people say things like "Tee hee, I'm so OCD, I have my shoes organized by color!" Even more fun in this article is your use of "crazy" as synonymous with "OCD." Words have meaning, boys and girls, and the words you're using are ableist crap.
It's not even like you needed to use OCD/crazy to get your point across! There are much better, more accurate words that don't marginalize anyone who has a serious disorder.
Already do many of these, not realizing that they were indicative of OCD!! Keep a full compliment of travel supplies (toiletries, OTC medicines, corkscrew, collapsable cup, etc.) in suitcase always, including copy of passport but never thought (duh) about laminating it -- thanks, *LYNN* !!!
My dad, an engineer, always kept a grease pencil with a magnet taped to it on the fridge for labelling items and I do too. The grease pencil works great, no smearing like a felt-tip and wow! so much fun to peel off the paper when the point gets low! But they are very hard to find nowadays :(
Beach things live in the beach bag which lives in the trunk in the summer and storage in the winter, same for the wicker picnic hamper, filled with utensils, plates, cups, napkins, a paring knife.
Whomever is worried about leaving money in car clearly doesn't live near me! I always have a roll of quarters in the thingie between the front seats which has saved my derriere many times for tolls, meters or just a cold drink!!
Have a "floorplan" for the fridge -everything lives in its own spot. Same for linen closet, under sink cleaning supplies, etc. I never realized that other people didn't because this is how I was raised. I nicknamed my mom "Felix" - but ah! I date myself...
I agree Mosfette!! Thank you! I've been more careful not to throw around ADHD based on my own family's recent experiences, but I'm going to be much more careful with OCD references. Maybe we can come up with some other moniker? OTTO - over the top organized?
Love all the ideas except one. You should NEVER, EVER, EVER leave your keys inside one of those door locks that lock from the inside. Any semi-skilled burglar can easily use magnets to turn the key and unlock your door within a matter of seconds. ! I live in Europe where these kind of locks are the norm and any locksmith will tell you the same thing.
P.S. I was informed of this by a "reformed" burglar who used to use this trick all the time.
Instead of keeping emergency cash in my car (though I do keep one cup-holder full of spare change for tolls), I keep it between my phone case and my phone. If you have an iPhone with one of those snap-on cases, it works really well. My phone is the one thing I always have with me, so if I'm ever in dire need of 20 bucks, voila!
I use 3x5 index cards to make lists. Their size is ideal for any list. They easily store anywhere and can't be mistaken for other types of paper when kept in my pocket. I keep a few along with a pen in the bathroom and near the phones, in my handbag. I couldn't live without them.
When I boil eggs, I punch a little hole in the shell with a push pin. I keep a few push pins pinned in a cork (from a wine bottle) in a kitchen drawer.
I always keep an Ikea blue bag to collect things to give away. When full, I put it on the sidewalk, on a sunny day, and first thing you know, it is gone. I rarely have to bring my stuff to a second hand store. Whenever I go to Ikea, I buy a bunch of bags.They are sturdy and easy to carry.
When each of my three kids left home, I gave them each a tool box with the basic tools plus a few extras such as plumbing tools, level, tape, screws, nails, measuring tape etc.
re: cleaning while you are on the phone--I would say it is NOT wise to wash dishes while on a cell phone! I lost a phone this way, when plunk! it landed in the soapy hot dishwater. way lame.
It never occured to me people would use the same cleaning supplies for both the bathroom and the kitchen. This seems gross to me. I don't want something that's been around my toilet anywhere near my food.
My thing: I keep a calendar beside the fridge and, as I'm unpacking groceries, note any expiration dates. This way, I can see at a glance whether I need to finish the milk by Friday, for instance, know what I need to re-buy, and don't have to open the fridge door to do it.
@a.stams - If you clean your kitchen, then put your cell phone on the counter, you're introducing a lot of germs back into the kitchen anyway. Just because a nozzle gets somewhat close to a bathroom counter doesn't mean it's gross to be used in a kitchen counter. If you're that concerned, spray the cleaner on a rag or something first.
I like the idea of keeping linens under the mattress. However, the idea is unthinkable until I resolve one major issue............where will I keep the excess cash which is not insured by the FDIC? I know of people trying to reclaim their assets, 2 years after several banks ceased to operate in the U.S. I have to laugh because my boyfriend doesn't have a clue as to what he sleeps on each night.
I also would like to share one of my apartment tricks, which apparently most people are already aware of. I've been using Bounce for many purposes and it works quite well. The best places to keep smelling fresh at all times: inside sneakers overnight - especially in the summer, under all trash bags and inside the pillowcase cover which goes between the pillow and the case. Before that. I used Febreze (which has a pleasant scent but sometimes stays damp for awhile). If anyone can't find solid solutions for everyday household management, I'd be happy to share some very unique ideas, proven to be workable. I'm ADD, so I'm always trying new things and passing them along to other members of my ADD group. We love challenges. It's the simple boring stuff we struggle with daily - the things we keep pushing to the bottom of our 'to do' lists, meaning they seldom get done.
Great post. I enjoyed reading all of the comments as well.
If you travel frequently, keep your passport/green card/currencies handy in one place. As soon as I get back from one of my frequent trips to Canada (from the US) I put all my Canadian cash in a plastic bag with my passport and always keep it in the same place. It's nice to have cash handy as soon as you cross the border, especially when driving.
In the bowl by the front door that holds keys, I also keep a roll of stamps, so I and I my husband always know where they are.
A document well worth creating, and updating every few months, lists every bit of data someone might need to know about you if you're suddenly very ill, comatose, in an accident. It happens and your business/finances/health can be hurt if someone you trust can't access the information they need quickly.
I print it out and make sure my husband always has the latest version; when single, one of my parents would have it and sometimes a close, trusted friend. It includes my medical history (dates and procedures and surgeries and diagnoses and all doctor contacts); all bank info and PINs; all investment info; current debt payments (when and to whom), etc. It has all my passwords as well.
I keep my coffee in the cupboard above the coffee maker. I keep my vitamins right next to the coffee. No way to forget them in the morning!
@PI - what makes you assume I'd do that with a cell phone, anyway? (Not that mine would ever be as dirty as a toilet -- is yours?) Instead of launching into a description of my habits, which nobody cares about, suffice it to say your example doesn't apply whatsoever.
I'm NOT a salesperson, but I have to say my FoodSaver makes our lives so much easier. We like to bulk shop, and when we get home everything gets packaged into smaller sizes. Frozen veggies and bulk meat purchases get pre-seasoned, and in the case of frozen veggies, they are packaged in FoodSaver steamer bags. Dinner preparation is so much easier. We also switched our house locks with KwikSet's access locks. A six digit code gets us into the house, and we are never locked out. This is great for coming home with full hands and pets that want to investigate the great outdoors. Also makes locking the house a breeze in the morning with one touch lock. We have a pop-up camper that stays ready to hit the road. At the end of each trip the sheets are cleaned and stored in vacuum bags which store perfectly flat.
@ a.stams - Cell phones are dirtier than a toilet. They are feeding grounds for bacteria.
At my last house, the dead-bolt on the front door was keyed on both sides because it was a glass door. Having a thumb-latch deadbolt in that situation equals why have it at all? I kept the key nearby, but honestly if there had been a fire there were windows adjacent that would have been easy enough to climb out.
I'm guessing places where those style locks are illegal there are few people with glass doors...
Label everything in the freezer - our Sharpie lives in the cutlery drawer. Cleaning supplies under each sink. Small suitcases get stacked inside larger suitcases, duffle bags and bulky ski gear get stuffed inside those to make a compact package. Refrigerator floor plan too. Basic rule is, put something with like things, find it a home, or we don't need it.
Does anyone else use the shared iPhone lists? I can add something to the grocery or warehouse store list, and it automatically is shared with The Boy. So whoever goes to the store first doesn't forget to take the list with them or need to ask if the other needs to add anything - it's all right there. We also use it to keep track of new restaurants or activities to try, so when we have a date night we don't get stuck in the same old rut.
Love these ideas - we have a 'go-bag' for our dog - it has plastic bags, a small bag of treats, a pop-open water bowl, bottle of tap water, towel for dirty paws, leash and harness. This makes spontaneous trips to the dog park a breeze! We also refill a medium sized container with his food to keep it fresh, but also as an easier way to transport food in case of emergency or road trip!
If you are a small household and just have one extra set of sheets per bed, instead of the under-the-mattress thing you could get some pillow shams or covers that zip or button and put them in those.
We use ice cube trays and it seems as though there is always one that leaks and causes the ice cubes in the bin to freeze together. Since putting an ice pick in the freezer I am much less frustrated!! By the way, had to buy my ice pick at a flea market. Not readily available at Target, etc.
When making cups of coffee/tea I store my teaspoons in an odd cup next to the Coffee/Tea/Sugar canisters which is next to the Electric Kettle all of which is under the shelf with cups (if you use milk, find a place near the fridge).
Disinfectant wipes are quite expensive so I use baby wipes, they're thicker and cheaper. Quick swipe on bathroom and kitchen surfaces - awesome for the stovetop and small stains on the floor. I only need to scrub my stovetop and mop my floor once a week.
Have one set of cleaning supplies in the kitchen/bathroom/laundry - saves running around like a mad dog on cleaning day.
We use a large plastic fold-a-bag under the bench for recycling, and empty when full. It saves time going out to the Recycling Bin everyday (and arguments).
I leave a notepad and a few pens in the kitchen, bedroom and office for phone messages. Somehow a pen here and there always goes missing. Kids drawings and failed printing jobs on A4 are cut in quarters and used for notes (unused side).
I buy lemons once a week for cleaning and cooking - handy for deodorising the microwave. Bowl of water, squeeze of one lemon and microwave for 1-2 mins. Lovely.
I forgot, a previous AT post included new scissors..... I thought this was silly UNTIL the day I dropped a pair of scissors into the toilet bowl (long story). So I went online and bought myself Fiskars scissors in their famous orange (nostalgia). Our kids are banned from them because they are super sharp, even for me. Yes I cut myself :(
In relation to this post, a pair of sharp scissors and good quality string are great additions to every home!
I use a quick release plastic snap shackle for my keys and hook them on a ring on my handbag. Sure they jingle when I walk and it's kind of an old lady thing to do. But I never lose my keys and I AM an old lady!
to make life saner....go to your dollar tree and buy a bunch of shower curtain liners, and wine glasses. for the shower curtains, you toss when dirty and the wine glasses you can put in the dish washer without a care. all for a dollar...m
We accidentally bought a keyed deadbolt when we changed the locks after buying our condo, but we leave the key in the lock. Now you've all got me thinking that I need to replace the lock again, since I have little kids and they could possibly remove the key! This NEVER occurred to me. Thanks, all!
One of these reminded me: I got a hanging toiletry bag that I use for both travel and the gym. So, I have a compact, organized bag that's permanently packed with everything I need. It has served me well in overseas travels where I've found myself with no bathroom counter space and only a door hinge for a hook. (I use the detachable little bag for liquids---easy when flying somewhere.)
This is similar to the one I have.
Love the tip about putting cash in your phone case - I'm def doing that!
Many Years ago, before wipes were so readily available, my mum would pour disinfectant into a canister of 'wet ones' wipes, and we'd take them when we went trekking in Nepal.
When we renovated our bathroom, we had to say goodbye to the laundry 'chute' the previous owners had installed (Brilliant design - on opening, one of the drawer fronts had an angled bottom that emptied into a cupboard in the adjacent laundry)
We didn't have space for a laundry hamper in the new design, so I had a lightbulb moment, and turned one of the shelves in the bathroom cabinet into the dirty clothes section. Bottom shelf has clean towels, top shelf has dirty laundry. It just means that there isn't undies and socks on the floor, and it's never in there long enough to get smelly, as every day or so I just empty into the bedroom hamper as I carry it on the way to the Laundry.
If you use a professional drycleaner perhaps use the plastic covers for storing the things you place under the mattress? I don't know about everyone else, we ALWAYS receive mail for other people, so I made 'RETURN TO SENDER' labels and place these near our letter holder. Slowly but surely less mail is coming in for other people. Bathroom/Medicine Cabinet is not always as handy as they were meant to be - I find I am always cleaning it because of the condensation. Our medicines + personal grooming seperated in baskets in the linen closet = dry. As for medications/vitamins one should follow the directions of the manufacturer and re-check Use By Dates.
@CARA LYNNE - Ditto!
@REXRAYFAN - Storing clean underwear in the bathroom GENIUS. Only if one has a roomy bathroom.
@PELICOLINA - Excellent idea. I am always asking my Fiance to get the screwdriver out from the Garage so now I'll be buying seperate tools for the kitchen where I use them most.
@RURAL AND RUEFUL - I thought it was just me! I always scrub the showers before having a shower myself, it really does make sense as you come out nice and clean yourself.
@ANA@721 - I have a change jar in the laundry room too. Whatever I find there goes into our son's money jar as we don't give out pocket money, but when money falls out of pockets (literally) during wash day BONUS for our son!
My 80's era townhouse has keyed deadbolts on both front and back doors. I thought it was weird when I moved it, but all I did was have a couple of copies made of the key and just leave them inside in the locks.
No different than a twist-to-lock.
Getting rid of all my "gladware" and fake tupperware. Too many mismatched lids/etc.
Now, I use existing items I have (Casserole dish with foil over top, dinner plates with plastic over top, a glass measuring cup for dressing/sauces, etc). If you take stuff to work, that can be a challenge,though. :)
To the person who has a box of spaghetti cables & wires all tangled up my top tip is to stand lots of cardboard toilet roll middles upright in a box and then fold each wire so that the two ends stick upwards out of a toilet roll middle- then you can see easily when you open the box which wires/cables are which - e.g. USB to iPhone etc - although of course you probably won't actually need any of those old cables anyway :)
I started putting cleaning supplies a couple of months ago in the bathroom and kitchen. Another helpful change I made is to tuck a small box under the entry way bench for all the junk mail to go as soon as I come in the door, it keeps my house clutter free and makes the stack of mail more manageable.
I also subscribe to a farm delivery service so that I have a box of organic veggies magically appear every few weeks. Less grocery shopping for me (saves time!) and I get to try new seasonal organic veggies. I tend to gravitate toward the same ones at the store when I go shopping. This way I never know what I will get every time I open the box and there is no excuse not to eat healthier!
We do a lot of these already.
I do the sheets sets together in their pillowcase.
I also keep small canning jars, masking tape and a sharpie pen in a handy place in my kitchen for freezing small amounts and labeling them (uh, not IN my freezer). For example, when it is "taco night" we always eat about 1/3 of the jar of salsa, and the rest doesn't stay fresh for next taco night. So I divide it into tiny canning jars, label them and freeze it. Next taco night I just pull one out to defrost in the morning before I leave for work. No more moldy jars of salsa in the back of the 'fridge.
In New York City, the double cylinder locks you are suggesting are illegal. Think about it. There's a fire in your place and you can't find your keys. Now what?
Keep a spray bottle of vinegar/water and a scrub sponge in the bathroom. Before a shower, spray the tub and walls, then hop in and scrub it down while you shampoo.
The toiletry bag tip is a great idea. I do a lot of weekend trips so I buy small versions of my favorites and because they are so expensive I just refill them with the large bottle I already have. I tried using the clear "generic" travel bottle but would always forget what was inside! I did label them but they didn't look pretty. Yes, I'm weird.
Also, I keep vitamins beside coffee supplies and take them when the coffee is brewing.
Love this list!
I don't think this is a crazy idea, but I don't see it very often in people's houses so here goes: hang a whiteboard in or near the kitchen. I got mine from a website that makes custom sizes. I use it for shopping and to do lists, which get written on 3x5 index cards when I'm ready to run errands.
Kids love doodling on them, and when they're done, it's all easily wiped up. It's great for brainstorming and problem solving (like math homework) as well. Also very handy when I'm hosting a dinner party - I write out the menu and use it to remind myself what tasks remain to be accomplished before guests arrive. If the whiteboard is magnetic, you can attach papers to it like a refrigerator, useful for those of us whose fridges are not magnetic.
If you are thinking about a whiteboard, I suggest you get a high-quality one and make it big enough to be useful. The cheap one-square-foot ones you see at Staples aren't worth it.
Great ideas & I'm going to use (or adapt) many of them. I don't think you're OCD; you've thought out some great solutions for efficient space & time management. You'd love my daughter's NYC apartment - beautiful & SO efficiently organized!
I tried your freezer marker idea - my marker froze, so I've just attached a magnet to it & keep it on the outside of the fridge.
I do have a problem w/ storing sheets & pillowcases between the mattress & box spring -- unless they first go into a zippered, plastic encasement (have you seen how the mattress is full of "stuff" - even w/ a dust-mite-proof cover, I'd want sheets protected). And storing under the bed is fine in a plastic bin (again, have you seen how dust accumulates quickly under a bed?).
if you store something (linens or clothes) under the matress chances are you are not using that for a while, so do not bother with zipper bags, just wash it before using.
I store my wool coat and winter blankets under my matress, but it stays there for 8 months at a time..... even if inside a bag i NEED to wash it, so i just dont bother with the bags.
For loose change i either go to the bank or a small store, they usually apreaciate the coins and my bank has a "day" a week for loose coins. As i dont live in the USA the idea of collecting pennies is strange, when on holiday i always end up giving all small coins (pennies, five cents and dimes) to charity boxes.
When I collect coins, i usually commit to a kind of coin that can quicly amount to someting but still not affect my budget. (the equivalent in USA will be 50 cents and dollar coins i guess)
I've developed a system to address TSA's 3-1-1 rule for toiletries and such that works great otherwise as well. I bought a see-thru clear zipper quart size bag from Flight 011 which I put all my liquid/gel/wet items in. I have another smallish freebie zipper bag from a cosmetics company I use for dry items such as hair elastics, hair brush, nail clippers, small scissors (which are allowed now), band-aids, etc. Just about everything is a duplicate of what I keep at home so I don't have to "pack" toiletries except to ensure I haven't run out of the liquids (I could refill at the end of a trip but usually forget to). Only problem is that the zipper on the 001 bag has broken so theoretically stuff could be dumping out and TSA may not like.
Going to the beach? Buy a large spray bottle from the dollar store. Fill 2/3 of the way with water. Cut up half a cucumber and put in the bottle as well. You can freeze it or just leave it in the fridge. But I use it to spritz myself and the rest of the family...very refreshing. It's also nice when you're just hanging out on a hot day.
As for the sheet sizes getting mixed up, I write the sheet size on all the labels (flat. Fitted, shams, pillowcases) with a sharpie. If possible, I save the bags they came in and store them in the bag with the size marked on the bag. I started doing this about 1year ago. What a difference!
@CHARLIE26 The house tour you are looking for is linked at the bottom of the article.
I've recently been unwell (something along the lines of crazy) but I'm usually a very organized person with a clean apartment. My sister helped facilitate a way that people who came to see me could help maintain a tidy organized house while I was incapacitated. This would work well for somebody who had just had a baby or surgery too.
- A list on the fridge of simple helpful tasks that visitors could undertake, whether it was to put on a load of laundry, wipe down the benches or help me change the sheets (which I too keep in the pillow case of the matching set). If I thought of something that needed to be done but wasn't able to manage it I could add to the list. This way people could also feel like they were helping without overstepping my personal boundaries.
- A lot of caring friends and family sent over food but my sister then froze it in individual portions and wrote a list of what was in the freezer and also how to reheat it so I could decide what to eat before opening the freezer
- I divide up my medication at the beginning of each week which makes sure my dosage is correct plus I get an advanced warning when i need to refill my prescription. Similar idea to keeping it in the fridge, but without the temperature issues, I keep it next to my tin of tea (not a coffee drinker) for first thing in the morning
Finally, my other tips for organized life are to print out labels with the addresses of people you want to send postcards to when you're on vacation. Guarantees you have their address and you keep track of who you still need to send postcards to.
The other one I do is keep a list of which fruits and vegetables are seasonal and at the changing of the season I spend a while looking up recipes that will use those ingredients and make note of them. Using seasonal vegetables is not only better for you and the environment, it also usually saves a few dollars on your grocery bill.
Please take note of storage recommendations on prescription medications. Many are not to be stored at refrigerated temperatures (OR in a hot, humid bathroom). You may be compromising their efficacy. Mostly not a big deal, but if you have a critical med, just be sure to double-check!
charlie26 wrote: "To the people who keep their dirty laundry in the washing machine - doesn't it get smelly?"
I can't see how this is a problem if one is washing their clothes with water & detergent! The water & detergent clean your smelly clothes that have been in a hamper, so they will clean the smell from the washer. How smelly can a metal washer drum get anyway? Metal doesn't absorb odor. Right now I live in a house that has a laundry room off the kitchen. But when I lived in places with the laundry room off the bathroom using the washer as a dirty laundry receptacle posed no problems smell wise!
The keyed deadbolt idea is dangerous, as several people mentioned above. Just get a hook to install on the door frame or wall nearby. That's what I have now, and it's an easy habit to just hang the keys there.
When I studied abroad, my host family had a door that locked like this, and my first morning on my way to school, I couldn't get out of the house because my key didn't work. It was terrifying, and there was no emergency.
Perfect way to refresh new and old ideas.
@KEWISER: i was scrolling and scrolling to find this. i would be vary wary to store my meds in the fridge if they weren't directed to do so - thank you for verifying that it's indeed not a good idea.
I would really not want to store garbage bags in the garbage can under the one currently in use. What happens if the bag tears or breaks? You have potentially destroyed it and all the ones under it!
Years ago I put a lanyard on my keys. If I didn't already have a table by the front door, I would just automatically hang the lanyard from the doorknob. Presto, no lost keys ever. Bonus? I have a messy purse but I can always find my keys with the long lanyard attached. Everything else, not so much :)
Great article! I travel a lot, so like you, I keep a toiletry bag packed. But i have mutiple bags. I have one for overnights (eye makeup remover wipes, travel toothbrush and paste, small moisturizer, tiny dry shampoo and hairclip, and mascara so I look a little refreshed in the a.m.) and a bag for weeklong trips (which includes everything I need including a travel hair dryer and tiny flat iron). I sometimes even keep that one in my suitcase ready to go!
Thanks for the other great ideas!
I have a coin jar that I usually empty out my change into. About time for a new jar too. ;)
We enjoyed this article so much that we are sharing it on our facebook page!
Thank you,
East Hill Cabinetry
I do store my laundry supplies in my hamper- but me detergent always leaks which is frustrating (I still do it though). Don't forget to check that your detergent is leak-proof!
And ps. the bed linens idea is pure genius- just have to remember when I get a new mattress to get one a little lighter. Current mattress is a struggle to lift up.
I do the same thing as Rural & Rueful - I scrub the bathroom down in my birthday suit before I get in to take a shower. Figure I'm getting sweaty and have to rinse the shower anyway...
I also do these things (my friends think I'm a little loopy), plus a couple more that have made my life more sane:
-in addition to markers on the freezer (not in) and paper/pen near the fridge and door, I keep a pack of post-its, a pen, and some small snack-size ziploc baggies in important places around the house (my desk, nightstand, the kitchen, by the doors, in the car, bathroom). Yes, I sound loony, but it saves me the hassle when I want to write things down and the pen/paper has disappeared into the vast universe!! Ziploc baggies help in any circumstance- I also keep them in travel bags and my purse. You never know...
-write things I need to buy at the grocery store directly on the fridge with a dry erase marker (only some fridges can do this- spot-test before you try it!!). Then when I go shopping, I just write the whole list on the paper or post-it in the kitchen. Good when those grocery lists get sucked into the universe as well....
Charlotte, I think the point of the dryer sheet in the trash can is not to deodorize but to reduce static buildup between the plastic trash bags, that way you can pull the top one out without them all coming out with it.
Thaaank you for saying this! I was scrolling and scrolling and seriously thinking nobody was ever going to call this out. OCD isn't a cute quirk or organizing your meds and keeping a marker in the freezer. It's also not crazy. I know you posted this forever ago and I'm late to the party.
Not to be literal, but pint-sized (16 oz) is actually very big for toiletries! ;)
I typed up a packing list and taped it to the underside of my dressing table lid as I am always packing at short notice. At the bottom are questions: Will it be cold? Hot? Smart?
These jog me into more appropriate responses than some I remember now with shame.
My husband and I have a change jar in the closet that we empty our pockets into each night--every year, we cash it in and it pays for Thanksgiving dinner!
I think I will have to steal the bed linen idea--my linen closet is to the max and sometimes I'm afraid everything will fly out like a jack-in-the-box when I open the door.
I've always saved my change! I usually end up with mutliple containers, both at home and in my office, and then before a big trip I'll collect them all and take them to the bank. Whatever amount I end up with can be used for some kind of treat on the vacation (a nicer dinner than I would normally have, paying full price for theatre tickets, renting kayaks, buying a nice souvenir, etc.). I've ended up with hundreds of dollars every time!
In my car I keep a really big beach towel, which can serve as a towel, blanket, or picnic blanket. I also keep around $5-10 in there. I usually have cash on me, but there have been times when I'm out running errands, really want to pull through a drive-in for a pop, and don't have any cash! Plus, it's enough for adding a couple of gallons of gas in an emergency. I would NOT recommend keeping a credit card in there, though. In the winter I also keep a foil blanket, collapsable shovel, non-clumping kitty liter, and a couple of scraps of carpet (yay northern winters!).
I like the idea of keeping garbage bags in the bottom of the can, but on rare occasions I have had bangs leak and I wouldn't want to risk ruining a whole box of them. And the idea of linens beetween the mattress and box spring grosses me out, too.
I don't really have a place in my kitchen or pantry for a spice rack, so I bought baskets that I put all of the spices in (one for baking-type seasonings, one for more savory spices). Now when I'm cooking I can just pull out the baskets and keep them out until I'm finished. It's especially nice for things that I'm seasoning as I cook, because I can keep the whole basket right by the stove. I also bought baskets for liquids (oils and vinegars, Worcestershire, honeys, etc.), so I no longer have to carry armfuls of bottles and jars into the kitchen.
Pocket change?
I am surprised that anybody still pays with paper money. I pay with plastic for absolutely everything, even if it's $2.25 for iced coffee. I collect points on my PC Mastercard and they really add up if you pay for everything by a CC.
When you say switch out your lock for one that you need to lock from the inside, do you mean that you have to lock it with your keys? Be VERY careful if this is what you mean as this can be a severe fire hazard! If for some reason, your keys are not in the lock at the time of an emergency.. this can be a life or death situation!
Medications and vitamins and such like do not belong in the fridge, the freezer NOR the medicine cabinet! Moisture makes them useless. I keep those items in a pull out drawer in a kitchen cabinet. Also, for me, when my door locked from the inside only I ended up spending almost $500 in locksmith fees. It's a long story... Now I have a deadbolt only that must be locked from the outside. Talk about simplifying your life.
My handy hints:
1. Everyone in the house gets their own box which is by the door. It has their inition on it.
2. We keep baskets in the linen closet and each basket has an assignment such as just soap or just shampoos etc.
3. We keep swimming bags in the car complete with sunscreen and towels.
4. We keep coupons in the car so we'll actually use them along with a folder they go in.
5. I keep blank notes on pretty stationary with envelopes in the car, you never know when you're going to need to Thank Someone or drop off a check for something etc.
6. We line our cat bowls with coffee filters so when the kitty does eat all the food, you don't have to scrape the bowl forever.
7. We keep all insurance cards in a box by the door with our pens so they're always handy.
8. When we travel, I pack everything in hanging square cloth sweater dividers. When we get to the hotel, I hang the whole thing up, it houses the pants and the shirts...no need to put everything in the drawer and as a bonus-if there are no drawers at the hotel...whallah you're done. This is great when you travel as well.
9. I keep a piggy bank in the laundry room and next to it is a lint jar.
10. We keep folders for each of our children by the door so when they're done with their homework and they bring it home (corrected, etc.) we keep it in their folder. At the end of the year we go through their folders and keep the keepsake homework in a notebook for that year so they can look back at it fondly.
Whoops, and we have a menu drawer for nights that we want take-out. I keep all the food/take out coupons WITH that folder.
Oh, and we keep a toiletry bag packed at all times with luggage and sleeping bags just in case.
I did the lanyard and then improved on it because I lost my keys on a roadside one summer.I now use a neon colored shoe lace and loop it through the key ring knotted.
I would NEVER have a door that locks from the inside. The worst experience for me was when I moved into a rental and didn't know that the door locked this way. I went out to pick up the mail, only to find that I was locked out and my 6 week old baby was locked IN. Another time, another house, did know this, but my small child pushed the button without my knowledge and I had to wait for a locksmith outside with my (next) baby, toddler and 6 year old. Couldn't even get in the garage...
1. i always carry a nylon re-useable grocery tote (folded into a small ball) in my purse/handbag and several in my car (living in Calif). this way i will always have a carrying bag for whatever I buy, be it grocery or general shopping.
2. i have a recipe box with dividers that i use to toss in receipts by month. this helps me to log in expenses in my excel budget file to track my spending habits and where my % goes.
3. i think about my next week's lunch menu a week ahead so that i can find time to grocery shop necessary items during lunch in the week. it is easier to stick to cooking home made lunch on Sunday when all the ingredients are already bought.
4. i make a priority to transfer money from checking to savings account in another bank that offers no debit card right after each pay day so that i won't have too much $ in the checking to enable impulse buys (using debit card).
5. I always unpack bags and store away items after each trip no matter how late or how tired. if i don't, i find that they will just stay where they are for weeks.
All my baking supplies (flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking soda...) are in airtight containers in one drawer, plus I bought cheap plastic measuring cups and spoons, separated them, and one lives in each container of dry goods (the 1-cup in flour, 1-tsp in baking powder, etc.). This way, you don't have to use & wash measuring cups/spoons every single time you bake.
THANK you!! That was my first thought and I was reading through all the comments starting to think maybe I was crazy. Apart perhaps from underwear, bed sheets and bath towels are the laundry that I would want to keep in the cleanest place possible; between the mattress and box spring does not fit that bill.
Two pieces of advice to add:
1. Pick the calmest day of the week and do all the chores. I take a weekend, usually Sunday, to do all the dishes, laundry, sweeping, cooking, bed making, and general yak shaving. Then during the week I let the house descend into chaos without worrying about it too much. Having everything prepped makes starting the week much easier, and having a day dedicated to "deep cleaning" keeps the mess from becoming unmanageable. It really doesn't take as much time as it feels like it should either.
2. Another "kit" idea - I usually keep a cheap blanket, jacket and kite in my trunk. They have been great for impromptu picnics or trips to the beach. The blanket is especially useful.
A double keyed deadbolt is not only dangerous when the key can not be found in time, it is just as dangerous when left in the lock, in the event of a fire. The key can break when turned if it gets too hot. I saw a demo of this once and it was frightening. The top just snapped right off.
How is this OCD I do all of this. Also I find a sharpie works better in the freezer. The off brand markers tend to freeze so they wont write.
I keep a little "hand broom" in each bathroom right next to the toilet brush and plunger (one of those in each bathroom too). I can just sweep the bathroom whenever I happen to be in there and notice there's dust or hair or leaf bits on the floor. It nests into a little dustpan so it's really easy.
And seriously, have a toilet brush and plunger in each bathroom. You don't want to be running down the hall for the plunger when something awful is happening in the master bath. And I clean both my bathrooms on the same day. Carrying a just used toilet brush through the house to the other bathroom is just gross to me.
I do think putting a pen in the freezer is just silly. Put it in the same drawer as the ziploc freezer bags or the cabinet with all the leftovers containers. There's no place in the freezer suited for a little marker, and various sizes of bags and hard-sided containers. The marker will just get lost.
I ought to be pretty freakin calm because I already do all this stuff except keep my meds in the fridge (I set them out the night before and I know if they're gone I took them). And I don't put my change in a receptacle by the door. I put it in a convenient but less likely place so it won't be stolen in the event of a break in. BTW, money and keys should never be kept anywhere they can be seen through a window.
Thanks for compiling this
"Keep your daily meds in the refrigerator: "
Next to the coffee maker or other device you use every morning works well, too.
When our house was built, we bought into a new development and had to agree to some defaults that the builders chose. This included a keypad front door lock -- essentially a combination lock. (I probably would never have thought of it.) Most of the time, we keep it locked and enter through the garage, by activating the garage door openers. But now that I'm walking for exercise early in the morning much more, it's fantastic to not have to carry keys -- when I get home, I punch in the code and enter. We don't have a deadbolt currently, but one could be added if we felt the need.
Just wanted to suggest, for those who can implement it, keyless locks are wonderful! (You have to change the battery once a year or less, and you can reset the codes as often as you want -- we have one for us and one we can give to contractors or friends and then change after they no longer need access.)
If you have online banking, check if they track expenses for you! I know Bank of America and Wells Fargo track and categorize your spending. It's really helpful data for budgeting and keeping yourself in check. Mint.com does that, too. It's helpful if you're not a fan of data entry and keeping paper around :)
Daily meds by the toothbrush! That's (I hope) one thing that everyone is 100% certain they'll do every day.
I think this list boils down to: have a place for everything and make sure you keep it there.
Also, co-sign emptying change into a jar. Loose change is annoying. But saving change doesn't quite give you the buying power it used to. Although saving quarters (I separate mine out like a couple of the commenters above) means that I don't have to go get quarters when it's laundry time.
Wonderful tips! I do a bunch of these already, and so glad to learn the new ones! Thanks for sharing!-R
I store sheet sets together in a pillow case. Fold top sheet, bottom sheet, one pillow case (for a double bed) then slide the whole thing into a second pillow case. I do this when I'm folding the laundry. Then just pop onto shelf in linen closet. No more looking for matching pieces when making beds. And it's easy to put clean sheets out in guest room, too.
My other best tip -- keep a jar of singles in the kitchen. Those one dollar bills (in multiples of your choice) are handy for tips for delivery people and folks who do chores around your place.
Oh, and I forgot -- save your $5 bills. Adds up much faster than change. When you get 20, take them to the bank and exchange for a $100 bill. Much harder to spend than fives. Keep the $100's around for emergencies.... or a special treat -- dinner out, a splurge for the house, or even a weekend jaunt. Sometimes I've used one or two as wedding presents when I didn't have time (or just plain forgot) to buy a gift). Works really well for me.
I just cashed in my change jar. It contained $79.00.
It's a nice bonus for those tight budget months.
My vitamins, daily meds and ibuprofen for headaches are on the kitchen counter near the kitchen sink and water glasses.
I definitely like the garbage bag idea. I'm putting that into action tonight.
Some other ideas:
I keep my cold medications & Cold-Eeze in a ziploc under the bathroom sink ( but there are no little kids in my home).
I place my smaller travel bags into my large suitcase. It's so much neater and I only have to dust off the large suitcase when it's time to travel.
I have a black toiletries bag that when unziped, can hang off a hotel bathroom hook. It has compartments for makeup, shampoo, brush, toothbrush, nail clipper, etc. I keep it stocked with travel size toiletries and a separate set of makeup, so it's less stressful traveling.
Great article.
Marking contents of the freezer is, I can testify, very important. I freeze everything and anything, including leftover gravy (why slave over that only to bin the leftovers?)
However, imagine my hubbie's disappointment the day I got what I thought was pasta sauce out the freezer only to discover, once defrosted, it was actually gravy. That was a very disappointing supper!
From then on I have always labelled anything that goes in to freeze!!!
Crazy? Many of these seem like common sense to me. Every well-run home is teeming with tricks and rhythms to keep it humming along.
I can't believe I do all of these other than the doubled up cleaning supplies. However, if you have a windowed door, don't keep you keys on them! I have hook just out of arms reach from each of the doors for an extra set of keys. so even if someone breaks out the glass they cant just open the lock!
I actually do some of these things and they work well. I found a few I'm going to add to my routines like storing the sheets under the mattress.
Wow, the cat bowl/coffee filter idea is genius. Starting tomorrow...
I found adorable ceramic piggy banks that match my decor. I display them as "art" while I save loose change. Keeps my purse so light. But, I, too save quarters separately.
My daily pills are in an organizer on the kitchen counter right next to my charging phone. I never forget my pills that way.
Good memory helper...I write myself a reminder note and loosely tape or staple it around the handle of my bag. That way, when I leave the house or leave work, the note is annoying and unsightly....I rip it off and remember to pick up the dry cleaning or bring the cookies into work in order to throw away the note.
I keep tiny colorful folding steps tools in all of my closets so I never have a reason not to reach a top shelf. Flashlight is in my night table drawer...and rechargeable is plugged into the wall...for sudden power outages.
Hang a squeegee in each shower to remind guests to wipe down the shower door.
Put a ring holder, tissue box, water decanter, alarm clock, and sample toiletries on each night stand of your guest room. It really makes a guest feel welcome.
I have a beach house. I bought a coat tree to use for wet towels....much prettier than hanging over the shower door. I also have rolled up beach towels in a wicker basket near my patio door, next to the coat rack. Easy to grab a towel and run out to the pool.
And lastly, I treated myself to a robot that swiffers my floors electronically each day. Best $300 I ever spent!!!! (Look on amazon for MINT. It isn't that I couldn't swiffer my house every day...it's that I wouldn't!)
I am so tired of inane lists of obvious "tips."
I have the beach bag prepared for two, cleaning products in the kitchen/ bathroom, dusting products in the living room, a bag filled with wrapping supplies for birthdays, etc. I live on the 5th floor so I also keep an Ikea bag in the trunk of my car for groceries and a market bag for fruits and vegetables. I like to see my fresh produce, so I use white Dollar Store containers to contain and display tomatoes, onions, garlic, etc.
I have enjoyed reading all the ne ideas for making life simpler and cost saving in time and value.
For the intrepid soul who raced to the end of the list, my ideas:
Drape 5-6 folded trash bags over the lip of the wastebasket before you reline it. They stay cleaner in case something leaks.
A cleaning cloth stored in each room for quick dusting or spill clean ups without searching.
Common cleaning supplies in the front of the cabinet in a carry bin.
Love your idea of packing lists and using Google docs. I have done lists in word and printed them out and put them in my luggage. I love your idea of using Google docs.
We have double keyed deadbolts. We purchased those colorful wrist coils for our key sets. Each person has their own color and puts the coil containing their keys over their bedroom door knob. This way no one loses their keys in the house and everyone knows where their keys are in an emergency..
Great ideas here. I like your reminder note idea and the colorful folding step stools in your closets as well as your flashlight idea. We started putting small flashlights with cords over the doorknobs in case of power outages. We put tea lights in mason jars to light our public rooms for more long term outages.
Put half a cup of baking soda in the bottom of your kitchen garbage to catch any leaks from kitchen bags.
I agree completely that it is so important to have a toilet brush and plunger in each bathroom. Nothing is more embarrassing for a guest then having to inform the host about a toilet overflowing. Yes, toilet brushes and plungers are not attractive but they are very useful. Prevent unsightly and potentially larger messes by putting both a toilet brush and plunger in each bathroom in a clearly visible place.
i keep the mini toiletries in a gallon size ziploc bag in the side pocked of my travel duffel bag. easy to pop out going through security and large enough to put a full size tooth brush. I keep a toothbrush container in the same cup as my toothbrush i use. Don't store a used toothbrush. learned that the hard way as a kid. kinda gross.
have a glass, gallon sized pickle jar for pennies, dimes and nickels (full, can be about 200 bucks) and a glass quart size milk jar for quarters. i have a old Logitech webcam zippered pouch for a quarters purse, mu detergent and bounce sheets in a fabric shopping bag by the door.
i use an old baseball cap as a nightstand butler; keys, wallet, earbuds (i store them in a Altoids gum tin) my pen and smartphone fits right in.
About the double lock i.e. one you need a key to lock from the inside: they are almost always against code because they are a fire risk. If there is a fire and the door is locked and you can't find the key it can be very dangerous. Get a lock that does not need the key on the inside and hang your keys next to the door. Same thing but much safer. I have changed those locks on multiple apartments or made my landlord do it because of the fire risk.
It's weird that AT never updated this post. Numerous people, myself included, said the double deadbolt idea was horrible and illegal in many states, and should never be used.
Meds in the fridge are NOT a good idea... I am an RN and the temperature and the moisture could cause deterioration. Only meds labeled to be kept in the refrigeratopr should be....
I just started doing a bunch of this stuff about a month ago and it has helped TREMENDOUSLY! It really does make you more sane. A lot of these ideas are super simple and easy to enact, it's just a matter of doing it. Great suggestions! Thank you!
We keep a basket with hats (including spares) by the front door so it's easy grab one and find one to lend to visitors if we are heading down to the park. We also have an ikea shoe cabinet in the entrance, and that has a narrow drawer. It's perfect to fill with sunscreens, insect repellents etc
Interesting re the deadlock thing - I don't think it's illegal here (I thought it was recommended as it was more secure than a door that you lock with a press button). Perhaps it's because actual apartments with only one front door are rare here, so most homes would have several other exit points.
Also, you don't want to have your keys in the door--someone can break a window (should you have one) and get to the lock. They have your house keys, your car keys, everything.
Bathrooms~ I keep a good sponge~ the ones with the handle that you can refill with soap (Can't think of the of it name at the moment;) in my bathroom. I fill it with 1/2 Vinegar, baking soda & Blue Dawn. After bathing or showering I wipe down the tub with it. I've not had a nasty tub in years :)
I have a OCD problem with cleaning up the bathroom while my bath is running. If you use face wipes to wash your face you can also use it (when finished with face) to wipe down your sink or around your toilet. I also keep a roll of paper towels & a small spray bottle of diy windex under my sink to clean the mirror, counters & faucets real quick. Takes all but 5 mins to do these things and your bathroom is always "kept up." Oh~ I also keep 2 extra rolls of toilet paper on the cute little handle of my "toilet brush" that sits inside of a holder behind my trash can (that I always have extra bags at the bottom of) Great for guest as they never have to go looking for any if it runs out.
I am surprised and somewhat disappointed that the medicine in the fridge "tip" has not had a disclaimer added after it has been pointed out that low temperatures are not recommended for a large number of medicines. Someone could have serious health consequences if their medicine was ruined and they didn't realize it soon enough. Even my birth control pills say to store above this temp...unplanned pregnancies are are a serious matter. I almost followed this tip until I read some of the comments.
I don't use them myself but I'm assuming that a spent (used) dryer sheet would help to mask bin odours!
The door lock thing confuses me but I would definitely avoid putting keys anywhere visible near it. Mine live next to my bed, along with my mobile and my bag, while I sleep as these are the last things that I grab once I'm ready to go. I keep a spare set in my bag and, as I rarely switch bags, I keep these along with my travel card, 1st aid ID, face mask for resuscitating (heaven forbid I should ever need to use it, but you never know!), pen and small pad, in the front pocket, and a folded shopping bag in a big pocket with my brolly. I never keep anything in the bag with my address on it, because of the keys. But enough excitement!
Separate stashes of cleaners for kitchen and bathroom is a must and I don't stop at storing spare bags in my bins either, but do the same with my recycling bin and paper shredder as well. The only 'wet' waste I have is in the compost caddy and, as the bags for that appear to biodegrade even before collection day, spares are kept in the sink drawer instead!
Like many, I have somewhere to toss change and I used to let it mount up, bag it and change it at the bank but, reading this has made me realise that it's actually uneconomical. How often have you gone to pay for a small number of items with cash, been a few pence/cents short and used your card instead? I've now decanted a few coins into a little purse and put it into my bag so that I can break that habit. Better to have money in the bank doing something than to have a jar of change doing nothing but encouraging me to empty my bank account!
Thanks for some great tips, ATers!
Here's another, don't read them then!
Yeah, that thought put me off that tip as well. ;)
No meds in the refrigerator (not a good idea for meds in general because the temperature changes when you take them in and out may destabilize them).
No dryer sheets (yucky, chemical smells).
Resurection! This just showed up in my feed. I love the comment about a burglar using a magnet to "easily" open a deadbolt with the key left in it. First who uses the word burglar. Second, if a magnet can open a keyed double deadbolt it will work EXACTLY the same as a single keyed deadbolt. Aside from a hoax on youtube a few years ago, it is not possible.
No national code governs the double deadbolt, it's by city, state, or county. It can also differ by use. Example, in Minneapolis you can have one on your house, but not on a rental house.