Need To Get Organized?

11 Home Office Organization Tips And Tricks!

These 11 Home Office Organization Ideas will help tame your out of control home office! An organized work space relieves stress & improves productivity!

11 Home Office Organization Tips & Tricks

Working from home sounds like a dream come true — until you see your home office is a hot mess! Home Office Organization is something some people struggle with. Between all the files, paper, and overall general clutter, it can be hard to keep your home office neat and organized. I recently just had to stop and reorganize my office, and it helped me feel so much more focused! That’s why I decided to share these 11 Home Office Organization Tips & Tricks! I knew how much it helped me!

A disorganized home office makes you less productive. Would you believe that according to the National Association of Professional Organizers (YES! It IS a thing! lol), the average person wastes 4.3 hours every week searching for papers? That’s a lot of wasted hours! I think I can definitely attest to that, too! lol I am guilty.

The mess and the clutter can even contribute to your stress levels. Even if you don’t think of yourself as a neat freak, keeping your home office space organized can really pay off. If you don’t know how to begin, I prepared some tips on how you can organize your home office and turn it from a hurricane into a beautiful Pinterest-worthy board – well, that might be a stretch, but, you get the idea :).

You might also like: 9 Home Organization Tips!

Start From Scratch

Begin organizing with what you have. Clear out the filing cabinets, drawers, and organizers, and start over. My desk drawers… oh my – I am actually STILL cleaning them out – one by one. I have been dreading this chore for a few years, so, you can envision what they look like! But, I LOVE opening the ones I have done so far – they look so clean and organized and much less like the chaotic mess they were before!

Take everything out of your cabinets, put them in a pile. Then begin sorting your things in three different piles: What You Need, What You Don’t Need, And What You Can Donate.

This might take a lot of work, but, you’ll be surprised at how much clutter you have and what you can get rid of!

Throw Things Out

This is a hard decision to make. But, you need to ask yourself: Do you really need 30 pens, 5 staplers, and a dozen paper binders?

If you haven’t used them in 3 to 4 years, it’s unlikely you’ll need them again.

Do you really need those old magazines? Are those pens still working? If, No. Get rid of them.

Organize Your Drawers

Drawers tend to be dumping grounds. Are you guilty of clearing off your desk by sweeping everything into the drawers? Now is the time to break that habit.

Take everything out of your drawers and sort through the contents. Throw out whatever is no longer needed and useful. Move whatever is misplaced back to it’s proper location.

Use a plastic organizer tray and place things back into the drawer. Use the different sections of the organizer tray to keep everything separated and easier to find. Like these:

STORi 6-Piece Clear Plastic Vanity And Desk Drawer Organizers

Madesmart Tray Organizer

Whitmor 6-Section Drawer Organizer

Clean Your Desktop

Look at your computer desktop. Are there a lot of files all over the place? Can you easily find the document that you created last week… or yesterday?

It’s now time to declutter your digital desktop. Set up directories on your hard drive and start moving the files off your desktop. You can also take advantage of free services from Google Drive or Dropbox.

Sort those pictures. Do you have thousands of pictures all in one folder? Take some time to sort them into folders that makes sense. Like Holidays: Christmas 2018, Thanksgiving 1999, Chloe’s 9th Birthday. I actually have a folder for each person I often take pics of and I sort them into their folders: kids, grands, friend, other family.

Get Rid Of Tangled Cables

The more electronics you have, the more cables there are – I, personally, think they must be duplicating themselves. I often find a few that aren’t even plugged into anything! And don’t even ask me about the “cord box” I keep in the office closet….

Besides being a fire hazard… tangled cords look terrible, especially if they’re exposed.

The good news is that there are a lot of cable organization systems out there. It can be as easy as cable ties to tame your cable mess. Like these:

Honyear 50-Piece Conventional Cable Ties

Aventree 20-Piece Reusable Cord Organizer

Pasow 50-Piece Reusable Cable Rope Holder

Keep Your Desk Clean

What is the most important place for productivity? Your desk.

It can be tempting to place a modern looking and cute stapler, tape dispenser or pen holders on top of your desk, but, that can add to the clutter. Make sure to keep your desktop clear. Keep all your supplies in your drawers.

You will be surprised at how clean your desk will be if there are no random items lying around on it.

Create A Mail Station

To maintain control of the paper coming in, create a mail station. You can make a folder for incoming and outgoing mail or you can also use a letter holder.

As soon as the mail comes in, file it in the mail station. Once a week, go through the folders and throw away anything you don’t need anymore. Check these out:

Blu Monaco Wooden Mail Organizer

Designstyles Black Metal Wall Double File Holder

PAG 3-Pocket Hanging File Holder Wall Mount

Categorize Your Things

Organize your home office into categories. Place like items together to make and keep your home office organized and more functional.

Store tools like a paper cutter, stapler, staple remover, and hole punch in one container and your writing tools in another. Have a place for your stickies and labeling tools, too.

Use A Bigger Trashcan

An overflowing trashcan is a sign of an unorganized home office.

Get a bigger trashcan that can hold all your trash or get a small shredder.

A larger trashcan will also remind you to throw things out instead of placing them in a corner, drawer, or on your desk. Which, in turn, will make Home Office Organization much easier.

Scan Them

Paper can result in a big clutter. You don’t need physical copies of receipts! If that 5-year old fridge invoice from Walmart is important to you for warranty purposes, you can scan it.

You can buy a cheap scanner and do it yourself. You can also take everything you need scanned and go to a copy center and let them do the job for you. You can also use your phone and download a scanning app.

Once you’re done scanning all your documents, make sure that you save the file and create a backup. You can either save them on multiple flash drives or back them up using Dropbox. These might help:

Epson WorkForce DS-30 Portable Document & Image Scanner

Brother DS-620 Mobile Color Page Scanner

Epson Perfection V19 Color Photo & Document Scanner

Stop Over-Organizing

If you love to organize, always remember that you don’t need those trays with a dozen dividers, that cubby, and that bin. Those organizing tools can eat up so much space that it will no longer be an advantage to keeping your home office organized.

You might also like: 11 Ways To Organize Your Home

When it comes to cleaning and Home Office Organization, there is no better time than now. Go ahead and get started. Start looking around you and throw away, scan, or shred what you don’t need. Also, take your time – Rome wasn’t built in a day – you didn’t accumulate that mess in one day. Give yourself a break and tackle a few things at a time.

Do you have other Home Office Organization ideas you can share with us?

7 Ways To Organize Your Fridge!

by Dian Leave a Comment

No More Mess: Organize Your Fridge With These Ideas!

Do you need to know How To Organize Your Fridge? With these 7 ways to organize your fridge you'll be set. It's super easy, saves money, and time!

It’s funny how the simple things make us feel relaxed, accomplished, and happier. Every time you open the door to your organized fridge, it gives you that feeling. An organized refrigerator helps you save a lot of time, too, especially when you’re trying to put a meal together.

By keeping an organized fridge you’ll be much less likely to run out of anything. You’ll be able to see everything at a glance and know when something is running low or out.

No More Mess: Organize Your Fridge With These Products!

However, organizing your fridge can be a daunting task! But, you can organize your refrigerator like a pro by using items that keep everything neat and tidy, and that makes the task much easier.

You might also like: 9 Home Organizing Tips!

Say hello to a cleaner and more organized refrigerator and say goodbye to expired leftovers with these ideas:

Clear Storage Container

Invest in a set of clear storage containers so that you can easily access the items in your fridge. It also helps you see which ones are expired or running low. It makes it easier to pull out a basket to make a meal with, too, if you keep like foods together.

Greenco 6-Piece Refrigerator and Freezer Stackable Storage Organizer Bins with Handles

Adorn Home 6-Piece Refrigerator and Freezer Organizer Bins with Handles

Kitchen Shaq 6-Piece Refrigerator and Freezer Organizer Bins with Handles

Stackable Storage Containers

Toss those old plastic takeout containers and use stackable storage containers instead. These containers make it easier to go from the fridge, to the microwave, to your dinner table. You can also place items like peanuts, seeds, onions, garlic, and leftovers to make it easier for you to access them when needed.

77L 3-Piece Plastic Food Storage Container

Prepworks by Progressive 6-Piece ProKeeper Set

Verones Airtight Plastic Storage Container

Under-Shelf Sliding Drawer

Do you need additional space in your fridge to store your vegetables and fruits? Use an under-shelf sliding drawer! It also helps keep extra items like breads and snacks separated and easily accessible.

Hineway Fridge Storage Sliding Drawer

Multipurpose Fridge Storage Sliding Drawer

Waqia Home Fridge Storage Sliding Drawer

You might also like: 11 Ways To Organize Your Home!

Can Organizer

One of the reasons our fridge looks unorganized is when our soda and favorite drinks are scattered. Using a soda can organizer is a neat and tidy solution to keep cold beverages conveniently organized in the fridge — all in one place.

SimpleHouseware Stackable Front Loading Beverage Can Dispenser Rack

InterDesign Refrigerator Soda Can Organizer

Sorbus Soda Can Beverage Dispenser Rack

Egg Holder

You can never have too many eggs! You can cook them for breakfast, for snacks, and even use them for baking! We go through about 2-3 dozen eggs a week with just 4 people in the house! An egg holder allows you to stack eggs for extra fridge storage space. It can hold up to 14 eggs and are completely stackable for easy storage.

Rekukos 34-Pieces Egg Holder

InterDesign 21-Pieces Egg Holder

Eslite 18-Pieces Egg Holder

Produce Keeper

Keep all your fruits and vegetables fresh and extend produce life by using a produce keeper. These produce keepers can fit perfectly on the shelf or in the door and can hold bunches of grapes, carrots, green beans, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, kale, and more! They maintain the fruits and vegetables’ moisture, too.

Rubbermaid FreshWorks Produce Saver Food Storage Container

OXO Good Grips GreenSaver Large Produce Keeper

Signoraware Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Food Keeper Saver Storage Container with Air Vented Lids

Fridge Liner

Messy fridge no more! Fridge liners can be placed on the shelves and under bins, serving as a barrier between the food and the glass shelving. So, once there are spills or messes, just remove and wash the liner and they are ready to use again.

Sulimy 6-Piece Antibacterial Fridge Mat

Dualplex 6-Piece Refrigerator Fridge Mat

Bakhuk 9-Piece Refrigerator Shelf Liner

You might also like: 10 Household Cleaning Hacks!

Organizing your kitchen starts with your fridge. It not only saves a lot of money by eliminating the need to waste money on expired food, it also minimizes your preparation time!

Be worry-free and mess-free with these fridge organizing products!

How about you? Do you have other tips when it comes to organizing your kitchen?

11 Ways To Organize Your Home!

by Dian Leave a Comment

Out With The Mess, In With The Clean: Habits For A Clutter Free Home!

Looking for ways to organize your home? These home organization tips will help! Whether you need to organize your room, or need room by room organization tips.

Keeping a clutter-free home makes doing daily chores easier. One of the ways to do that is get rid of the clutter. I am so happy I have been able to get rid of clutter and get better at my own home organization in the last few years. It makes cleaning so much faster and easier.

Our homes are not meant to be a storage space — they are meant to be a living space! We don’t need to constantly be playing musical chairs with our clothes, toys, and shoes! There are some essential home organization habits that can help to get your clutter under control!

Here are home organization tips, simple steps, and habits you can implement to create a clutter-free home!

Make The Bed

Can you still remember when your parents telling you to make your bed every morning? If your bed is messy, the whole room will look disorganized.

Spend the first five minutes of your time to make your bed as soon as you wake up. Your bed is the focal point of your bedroom. Your bed is a big indicator of how the rest of your room and possibly home will look.

If you’re bed making is a time suck – opt for an easier set up. I use a comforter and a couple of pillows, I can throw the comforter up to the top of the bed, lay the pillows out and I am done. Find a quicker way to make up your bed even if it means new linens and/or pillows.

Finish One-Minute Tasks Immediately

Sometimes, the clutter in your home is a result of procrastination. Putting off small jobs can result in a much bigger problem.

Any chores that will take you a minute to finish, do them immediately. Don’t wait to put the remote back, to toss the dirty clothes in the hamper, put your used dish/cup in the dishwasher, to sweep the kitchen floor, or take out the trash.

Tackling the smaller jobs will help to minimize the impact of the bigger tasks.

Also, utilize helpful tools. I recently got this Eyeless Vac that allows you to sweep and it sucks it up instead of having to use a dustpan. For me, this means I don’t have to bend over and keep trying to get that last small line of dirt in the dustpan, plus the grand kids think it’s fun so they enjoy sweeping! Win-Win! lol

I also have this robot vacuum that I can run often that will run over all the floors, rugs, and carpet making that one less thing I have to think about daily.

Live Within Your Means

If you want a simpler, less cluttered life, live within your means. Let the size of your home dictate how much stuff you have.

If your closet has a ton of clothes, instead of getting a bigger closet, pare down your clothes to fit the space that you have. If you have a smaller living room, instead of using a large sectional, fit a medium-sized sofa bed or two-seater. It will make your home feel bigger and you’ll feel less crowded.

Have A Place For Everything

Have a place for everything.

If you have a lot of things on the table, countertops or the floor and you are struggling to find a place for them, maybe you need to have additional storage space. Or maybe you need to remove some of the things you don’t use often. You can use a filing cabinet, a clear plastic bin or a console with a lot of drawers.

Spend 10 Minutes Tidying Up

Before you head to bed, do a quick run through and make sure everything is put away. You’ll be happier and less discombobulated when you wake up to an uncluttered home. It shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes to check the following:

Clear off kitchen countertops
Put any wet laundry in the dryer.
All clean and folded clothes are put away.
Playroom tidied up and all toys are put away.
Dirty dishes are in the dishwasher.

You might also like: 9 Home Organization Tips!

Cut Down On The Decor

This may be a tough one, but, cutting down you home decor can help minimize the clutter. You can still create a beautifully decorated home without going overboard!

Too many decorations can take up valuable space. Placing a few, tastefully placed decorations can make a room. Too many and you begin to feel cluttered, crowded, and it can add to feelings of being overwhelmed.

Clean The Dishes After Every Meal

Piling up your dishes can make everything look messy — even if your kitchen is clutter-free.

Washing the dishes or filling the dishwasher immediately after every meal can take less time. Plus, it’s easier to wash them since the food won’t be dried on. Waking up to a clean kitchen can make your day start off much more upbeat than waking up to last night’s dishes.

Start A Paper-Free Home

Paper is one of the most common items of clutter in a home. A pile of letters on top of your kitchen table can make everything look messy.

It might be a daunting task but scanning all the documents that you have can make everything easily searchable and you’ll have less stuff to manage. There are a lot of apps, like Evernote, which allows you to search scanned documents. You can also use a document scanning system to keep better control of your receipts, bills, and important documents.

Put All The Clothes Away

Clothes can be the ultimate visual clutter in your bedroom. If you often leave clean clothes on the floor or on top of your bed because you don’t have enough time to put them away, consider washing in smaller loads. Only wash the number of clothes that you can easily put away.

Dirty clothes can be a huge problem, too. Instead of taking off your clothes and immediately putting them in a stack in the corner of your room, hang up the clothes so you can wear them again or put them in your laundry hamper immediately.

For Every New Thing Remove Another

Even the little things can add up fast! Make it a habit to get rid of one item in exchange for anything that you add to your home. Even if you buy something new, it won’t be adding to the clutter in your home since you are removing one.

This can apply not only to the things you buy, but also for any gifts that you receive. Keep your home decluttered and under control by making sure that for every item that comes into your home, you remove another to leave space.

Store Things Off The Kitchen Counter

Clutter attracts clutter and messes attract messes. The better you store clutter out of sight, the less it will accumulate.

Your kitchen counter is the perfect example.

Once you use the countertops to store things, more things will begin to collect there. If you keep your countertops clean, it can make the kitchen space more calm and in order.

You might like this: 10 Tips To Declutter Your Home!

Creating a clutter-free home does not happen overnight. Maintaining the cleanliness and orderliness of your house may take some time — but, don’t give up! Keep a clutter-free and tidy home by maintaining these daily habits.

9 Home Organization Tips!

by Dian Leave a Comment

9 Home Organization Tips!

Are you in need of some Home Organization Tips? Can you still remember the last time when you opened your dresser drawer and found your favorite pair of jeans right where you left them?
Can you remember the last time your coffee table, kitchen table, or counter were neat and organized? It seems the kitchen table and counter just gather all sorts of .. stuff! From mail to newspapers to shopping bags, snack wrappers and more… maybe that’s just my house… lol

If you find yourself searching for your keys, phone, shoes or a pair of socks as a part of your everyday morning ritual, this is the time to break the cycle.

Organization is the key to having a more relaxed and peaceful life. When you’re not frantically searching for missing items, life goes much smoother and believe it or not you more time on your hands! lol A lot of us have accumulated a lot of stuff. You might not have noticed it, but, it piles up really fast.

Keep your stuff and your life in order. Anyone can enjoy and maintain an organized home. It just takes a little bit of effort and a stronger sense of commitment. Also, it’s much easier to teach your kids from a young age and they’ll be glad you did.

Say goodbye to the morning rush, trying to remember the last place you saw your keys, and the closet that has way too much stuff in it you never wear and don’t need! There’s always a solution. We’ve gathered a list of the things that will help keep your home neat and organized.

Plastic Storage Bins

These plastic storage bins come in different sizes, shapes, and colors. From narrow shoebox-style bins that you can use to organize your bathroom supplies to under-the-bed boxes for your seasonal clothes to oversized bins for your linens, quilts, and comforters, there is always something that you can use to store your stuff.

These plastic storage bins are made for stacking. They’re sturdy and won’t budge, even if you stack three to four storage bins.

Sterilite 4-Pack 70-Quart Ultra Latch Box With Lid

Ziploc 4-Pack WeatherShield 44-Quart Storage Box

IRIS USA 10-Pack 5-Quart Stackable Clear Storage Box

Hanging Closet Organizer

Store anything with a vertical hanging closet organizer. From shirts to purses, sweaters to hats, you can also use these closet organizers in your craft room, hallway, or utility closets to store your paper towels, cleaning supplies, or craft items.

StorageWorks Hanging Closet Organizer With Drawers

Magicfly 6-Shelf Hanging Closet Organizer

MustQ 6-Shelf Hanging Closet Organizer

Broom And Mop Holder

Brooms and mops are often left scattered in the utility room or garage. By the time you need to clean something, you will find the mop head too dirty to use without cleaning it first. Using a broom and mop holder can help keep everything organized. It’s also perfect for other items such as dustpans, or rakes, anything with a handle. Stick ‘em to the hall closet, garage, laundry room, or utility room door.

Command Broom Gripper

Carlisle Roll ‘N Grip Mop, Broom and Tool Holder

ONMIER Mop and Broom Holder With Hooks

Kitchen Wrap Organizer

Store boxes of aluminum foil, zip locks, and plastic wraps in kitchen wrap organizers to clear out valuable drawer space.

InterDesign Axis Over the Cabinet Kitchen Storage Organizer Basket

DecoBros Wall Door Mount Kitchen Wrap Organizer Rack

Home Basics Wrap Organizer

Lid & Pan Organizers

Rummaging through your kitchen cabinets just to find a frying pan or the right pot lid can be a mess… or in some cases LOUD – lol. Avoid the mess and keep everything in order with a Pans and Lids Organizer.

This organizer can hold up to five pans or lids. You can use a free-standing, a vertical or a horizontal rack. Most Pan and Lid Organizers fit into a compact kitchen cabinet with no problem at all.

Deco Brothers Pan Organizer Rack

BetterThingsHome Expandable Pan Organizer Rack

mDesign Pot and Pan Organizer Rack

Colorful Key Covers

Let’s face it — sometimes, with a dozen keys on our keyring, it takes us some time to try to figure out which is the right key for the front door.

Solve the problem by attaching colorful caps to your keys. These caps can make it easier for you to identify which key goes to which door.

16-Piece Plastic Key Cap Covers in Assorted Colors

30-Piece Key Caps in Assorted Colors

5-Pack Durable Leather Key Covers

Shelf Dividers

Don’t just throw your jeans, sweaters, and shirts in a dresser drawer where you have to dig through to find the right one. Plus, they take up so much space in a drawer. Keep them separated and prevent them from falling on the floor by using shelf dividers.

These shelf dividers can be used on your closet for your clothes or in your linen closet to store towels and linens. They’re made of chrome, or steel, they’re durable and can last for years.

Evelots 8-Pack Closet Wood Shelf Divider

Lynk Vela 2-Pack Fabric Shelf Dividers

Plow and Hearth Jumbl 4-Pack Chrome Shelf Dividers

Drawer Organizer

Prevent your things from being misshapen and mismatched with an undergarment drawer organizer.

These organizers are handy storage units. They come in fabric or plastic and can fit any closet and most dressers.

KIMIANDY Foldable Fabric Underwear Organizer

Homyfort Foldable Cloth Underwear Organizer Storage Cube

Adorn Foldable Cloth Organizer

Baskets

Baskets can be used to store things you use every day. We often see them, but, we don’t use them. A few years ago we switched from our ages old waterbed to a regular mattress, the one thing I thought I couldn’t do without was the headboard storage. Waterbeds always have ornate, but, practical headboards with storage. My daughter grabbed 2 baskets from my closet and filled them with all the “stuff” from my headboard and slid them onto the shelves of my bedside table… so simple, yet an effective and super quick and easy solution – I would have never thought of it!

Place a basket or two in your bedroom and store extra bedding. You can also place one on top of your kitchen counter to store vegetables and fruits. You can put the cleaning supplies you use for each room in it’s own basket and pull that basket out when you clean that room – like the bathroom or kitchen.

Titan Mall 4-Pack Stackable Basket Bins

TheWarmHome Grey Linen Storage Basket

Sterilite 6-Pack Medium Ultra Basket

To help you with your Organization journey, I prepared two printables for you! You may print it and stick it to your fridge or kitchen cupboards as a reminder.

Organizing your home doesn’t have to be expensive, complicated, or time consuming. With the right tools and materials, you can transform your cluttered home into an organized haven.

Do you have any Home Organization Tips to share? Please leave them in the comments!

10 Tips To Declutter Your Home!

by Dian Leave a Comment

10 Tips To Declutter Your Home!

No matter how clean your house is, if there is a lot of clutter lurking about, it may still look dirty and unorganized. Believe it or not, the best way to keep a home clean and organized is to get rid of the things that you and your family no longer need. In other words, don’t be a hoarder! lol These 10 Tips To Declutter Your Home will help!

Our oldest son has always been the most organized of our kids, I’m not sure where he gets it from. But, his apartment is always so neat and clean. Once all of the kids moved out I started taking stock and looking at how he stays so neat and clean. Then I realized he doesn’t keep anything that he doesn’t use. Keep in mind this was the boy who collected EVERYTHING growing up, from bottle caps, rocks, Hot Wheels, to stacks and stacks of commemorative cups from each ballgame he attended (he would go around after the game and collect them).

I soon followed suit and I have to say I am thrilled at how much easier it is to keep things neat and tidy. Everything now has a place and stays in it’s place, there’s no papers, magazines, books, empty cups… laying around anymore. I LOVE it! (Thanks, son!)

Clutter brings nothing but trouble to your home! You can’t find anything in a hurry when you need it, the house is in a constant state of disarray, it can affect your mood and state of being, for sure. While most of us tend to hold on things that we no longer use due to sentimental value, there are still quite a lot of things that don’t really hold that kind of value and they are just taking up space. That’s why it’s a good thing to declutter your home.

Get rid of the clutter in your home and your life. Live in a clean and more organized house with these 10 essential tips.

Can’t Think Of A Good Reason To Keep It? Throw It Away!

Go through all of the items in question. Empty your closet and all the drawers. Take all of your stuff, gadgets, and clothes and put them in a pile.

Place the pile in a large and clean area of your house so you can see everything and it’s easier to organize. While looking through your things, ask yourself these three questions:

Do you love it?
Do you use it often or will you be using it soon?
Does it hold a memory that is important for you?

If you cannot think of any way or any time you need to use an item, it’s time to toss it. Toss items that are stained, ripped, broken, outdated or have missing parts. Here are some items you’ll want to toss:

Expired food
Receipts that are not tax deductible
Broken appliances, electronics or toys
Old makeup
Broken jewelry
Old craft supplies
Worn-out clothing and linens

Divide your pile into three piles:

First Pile: Things you use on a daily basis and things you love or holds a sentimental value to the family.
Second Pile: Things you use at least once a week or once a month.
Third Pile: Things you will not use for the next six months or one year and you can get rid of for good.

Once you have sorted your piles, place the first and second piles in stackable containers and the third pile in a clean box.

It might be easier to opt for a clear box so that you don’t forget what you stored in it. Or place a label on the front of the box. It makes everything more accessible and easier to get to whenever you need it. Here are some helpful containers:

6-Pack 12-Quart Stackable Storage Box

4-Pack 27-Gallon Utility Black Box

4-Pack Fabric Foldable Basket Cubes

4-Pack 7-Quart White Stacking Drawer

Give It Away Or Donate It!

Give or donate all the items in your third pile that are still in good condition. There are a lot of places that accept donations such as clothes, linens, and toys.

You are not only decluttering your home, but, you are also helping those in need.

Take The 12-12-12 Challenge!

This is easier than the piling method. Locate 12 items that you can donate, 12 items you can throw away, and 12 items that can be returned to their proper home.

You can make this challenge a family competition: It can be fun and exciting to see which items you don’t really need, or what items you spouse or kids think you don’t need. They may have valid points be sure to share why they aren’t needed. Once you have chosen 36 items, place them in their proper place, in moving boxes, and/or garbage bags to throw or to donate.

25-Pack 4 x 4 x 4 Moving Box

6-Pack 16 x 16 x 15 Moving Box

25-Pack 6 x 6 x 6 Moving Box

6-Pack 20 x 20 x 15 Moving Box

Take Control Of Your Paper Clutter!

One of the hardest areas of clutter in your home to control is your paper clutter.

You don’t need to keep all the physical paper — go digital! Follow these tips to help get you started in controlling your paper clutter:

Enter the information from your business cards pile into a digital contact list then get rid of the hard copies.
Come up with a system to file bills and your important paperwork.
Scan receipts — use your scanner or take a photo of your store receipts.

Or try one of these awesome machines that scan everything in for you!

Put Apples With Apples And Oranges With Oranges!

Sometimes as the years pass we accumulate things and duplicate items, sometimes multiple items of the same kind. But, we have our favorites and the others just take up space.

Start in the kitchen and you’ll probably find many things you can do without. I recently gathered several items in my kitchen and I laid them on my table, took a picture and texted it to my daughter and daughter-in-law. Within 2 days everything was gone! I had many things I just wasn’t using and they were happy to get them!

Place all your spoons, spatulas, pots, and pans in separate piles and toss those that you don’t need. Group the related items and give them their own labeled drawers: Cooking Utensils, Stove top Supplies, Specialty Items or Baking Supplies.

You can either have a specific theme on every shelf or drawer or place them into separate boxes and containers like these:

2-Tier Sliding Cabinet Basket Organizer

Pantry Pan And Pot Lid Organizer Rack

66-Liter Clear Latch Box With Lid

5-Tier Spice Racks Organizer

Or you can make my Under $1 DIY Spice Rack below.

Give The Oprah Closet Hanger Experiment A Try!

Identify the wardrobe pieces that you need to clear out by hanging all your clothes in reverse direction. After you wear the item and washed it, return it to the closet with the hanger facing the correct direction.

After six months, you will have a clear picture of which pieces of clothes you can get rid off. This can also apply to other items in your house: Your cleaners, kids’ toys, linens, and craft items.

Make Use Of Your Under-The-Sink Storage!

Instead of piling all your bathroom essentials in the vanity space or on your bathroom shelves, take advantage of the space under the sink.

Place labeled bins, baskets, or stackable plastic drawers to tuck everything away in a much more organized way.

2-Shelves Chrome Plated Pedestal Storage Rack

Multipurpose Double Door Storage Organizer With Shelves

Bamboo Vanity Cabinet

Use The Space Under Your Bed!

If you have a smaller closet space, you can use the space under your bed!

You can store your seasonal clothes or accessories in space-saving vacuum storage bags or fabric boxes:

6-Pack Jumbo Vacuum Storage Bags

20-Pack Small, Medium, Large, and Jumbo Vacuum Storage Bags

6-Pack Small, Medium, and Large Vacuum Storage Bags

Detangle All Cords And Cables!

One of the places we neglect when it comes to decluttering your home is our desk. It can quickly become a maze if you leave your chargers, cords, and wires out in view. Having a messy desk causes a lack of creativity and can even drag you down and overwhelm you.

Secure your wires in a cable box to keep things tidier. You can also install a shelf with cable ports. Using decorative washi tapes to label your cords can make it easier for you to know which cord is which when you need one.

Have A Landing Station

Does your family enjoy piling things in one place once they walk in the door?

Create an entry station in your home.

Use a ceramic dish where you can toss your phone, keys, or loose change.

Alpaca Ceramic Decor Dish Organizer

Marble Ceramic Organizer

Install a wall pocket by your door or place a pretty basket on your entry table for your mail and magazines.

5-Shelves Free-Standing Magazine Rack

Woven Seagrass Magazine Rack

A multipurpose ottoman in your living room is a good place to store your blanket when not in use.

Foldable Linen Ottoman

Round Fabric Ottoman

To declutter your home is not a hard job. In fact, it can be fun and challenging! Sometimes we just need to get going. Clearing your house of the clutter will make it look better, and make you feel accomplished and less overwhelmed.

Do you have other decluttering tips that you can share? Please leave them in the comments below.

Christmas Decoration Storage Ideas And Solutions!

by Dian Leave a Comment

Christmas Decoration Storage Ideas!

Do you need a better way to store your Christmas stuff? I know these Christmas Decoration Storage Ideas helped me tame the beast! Every year I had the saddest little way of wrapping ornaments and precious holiday decorations, until now, – I wrapped them in toilet paper or old torn up towels and put them in a shoe box… it’s a wonder I had any at all when the season rolled back around!

Every year we all seem to collect more and more Christmas decorations, wrapping supplies, boxes, bags, ornaments, and lights. That adds up over the years to quite a large supply. Even a first year supply can be quite large.

Each year, your collection will grow and each year, it can be harder and harder for you to organize everything. Having a nice, full collection of decorations can be satisfying, but, can cause serious space issues — especially if you don’t have much storage space..

With the holidays over and a new year looming, start with a CLEAN slate! Here are some Christmas Decoration storage tips you can use to organize your all your decor,gift packaging accessories, and more.

Store Them In Containers

There are a lot of different kinds of containers that you can use for your Christmas decorations, but, using stackable plastic tubs with lids are a favorite choice.

You can opt to keep all your decor in one area or you can also group them according to types and place them in different boxes, too.

6-Pack Stackable Clear Storage Box

We have tips for everything from Christmas light storage ideas, storage ideas for Christmas trees, to Christmas ornament storage ideas & more.

6-Pack Stacking Shoe Box

6-Pack 61-Liter Latching Box

6-Pack 28-Liter Clear Storage Box

Having a separate container for lights, ornaments, inflatables, etc, makes it easy to store and find each year. If you are stacking them together and you are planning to use them next Christmas, don’t forget to label them! Try using a chalkboard label and labeling each container.

Store The Wreath With Care

Most Christmas wreaths are large and can be difficult to store without them getting dusty. Luckily, there are some handy containers that can help you store them easily.

Christmas Wreath Holder in Red

Christmas Wreath Holder in White

Organize Your Tree Neatly

A lot of people enjoy the convenience of buying an artificial tree, but, it can be a pain to store, because of the space they require. Here’s a great idea for storing an artificial tree.

Buy a two 8″ concrete form tubes. Wrap each layer of the tree in twine and place half of the tree in each tube. You may then slide the tubes in your garage rafters or you can place it in any empty space in your storage area.

If you don’t want to use a concrete tube, you can also place your trees in bags and boxes specifically made for Christmas trees! Check out these storage ideas for Christmas trees.

Christmas Tree Holder in Red

Christmas Tree Holder in Green

Santa’s Bag Upright Tree Storage Bag

Large Christmas Tree Storage Bag

Don’t Let The Ornaments Roll

The more ornaments and decorations on your Christmas tree, the better looking it is, right? But, once you need to store them, where are you going to put them all? Check out these Christmas ornament storage ideas.

Try a box with dividers. A segmented cardboard box or an ornament holder is a great place to store your sturdier ornaments. A cardboard box is better than a plastic one as it doesn’t trap moisture. If you can, don’t store your decorations in the attic or basement as humidity and temperature can destroy them. Instead, place them in a closet or under the bed.

Ornaments Holder in Red

Ornaments Holder in Green

Ornaments Holder in Translucent

Simplify Ornament Storage in Red

Paula Deen Ornament Storage Container And Closet Organizer

Keep The Lights In Working Condition

One of the most frustrating things we experience each year when it comes to storing Christmas decorations is dealing with Christmas lights. Whatever you do, you always find they get tangled up, right?

But, with a little effort, you can keep them in order for the next year. Check out these Christmas light storage ideas.

Make a loop with each strand and wrap the ends around the loop. Then place them in a zip lock bag to avoid tangling. Leave some air in the bag to act as a cushion to protect them from breaking.

You can also use cord winders (like the ones used for headphones) to keep lights from tangling. Once you’re done, place it in a zip lock bag again.

There are also storage bags specifically made for storing Christmas lights. For a good price, you are assured that your Christmas lights are in pristine order and you can use them again next year.

Christmas Lights Carrying Bag Case

All-Purpose Light And Cord Wind-Up Value Pack

Store Wrapping Paper In An Orderly Fashion

Do you want to know how to store wrapping paper in a neat and orderly fashion?

Make a wrapping paper corral by screwing a small section of a wire closet shelving vertically to the side of a closet wall. Slide the rolls in and out of the corral.

You may also place your unused Christmas wrap in poster tubes, organizers, or even on a gift cart rack! Don’t forget to label it, in case you need to use it!

Poster Tube in Red

Organizer With Clear Pockets And Hook Hangs

Wrapping Paper Storage Bag With Pockets

Gift Wrap Cart

Welcome the new year with a more organized, less-cluttered house. Trust me, you’ll feel better without all the clutter!

Do you have some great Christmas Decoration Storage tips? Please share them with us!

17 FREE Organization Printables!

by Dian Leave a Comment

17 FREE Organization Printables! I am definitely not what I would consider an organized person. Although I think as I get older I become more repetitive in the things I do and the way I do them. So, I suppose that could be part of being more organized than I used to be.

I have never been a list maker… well, I say that – but, to be honest – I can make a list of things I want to do or need to do and because it’s usually written on scrap paper or a napkin it never actually gets completed because it gets lost or thrown away.

I love that you can find FREE printables to help with anything you need online! You can find printables to help you cook better, clean house more efficiently, budget, save while shopping, and even chore charts for kids! It’s amazing all of the FREE resources you can find online!

Today we are going to look at 17 FREE Organization Printables to help you (and me 🙂 ) organize life!

17 FREE Organization Printables!

BOGO Chart: How To Use BOGO Coupons With BOGO Sales!

Price Book Sheet Tutorial

FREE Grocery Coupon Shopping List Printable Tutorial

When To Buy: A Monthly Guide

Free Printable Weekly Menu Planning Page

Free Printables to Keep Your Resolutions on Track! Frugal Homemade

20 Day Budget Challenge: Day #19 – Shop For Christmas & Birthdays All Year Long!

DIY Simple Household Planner | FREE Printable Planning Sheets

Weekly Meal Plan Printable

Essential Kitchen Tools for Easier Meal Preparation {Printable Checklist}

Take Back Your Finances Challenge #6: Time to Organize Your Debt

My Simple Grocery List Maker

50 Organizing Ideas Every Mom Should Know

29 FREE Home Organization Printables

Conversion Chart Printable

Knowing How Much Things Cost +FREE Printable Item Price Tracker

5 FREE Meal Planning Printables + Freezer Inventory Check-List

DIY Dollar Tree Spice Rack Under $1!

by Dian 4 Comments

DIY Dollar Tree Spice Rack Under $1! Since changing to a sugar free lifestyle a few years ago and I lost over 100 lbs (Aarn has lost almost 2oo lbs), Hubby has been doing all the cooking – for dinner anyway. He has become very knowledgeable in this way of eating and living that it just made the most sense to let him do all of the cooking. (Am I really gonna argue?! lol) I do the dishes, and he does the cooking – sounds good to me!

Well,… except… he began to accumulate spices – a TON of spices, all sorts of spices. He bought some, he got some for Father’s Day from our DD, who made an adorable basket filled with spices and rubs and things for grilling out, he got some for Christmas from his parents, and he got some from companies who want him to use them and write about them. Now we have large bottles of spices, small jars of spices, bags full of spices, boxes of spices, and even cans of spices taking up residence in the kitchen.

Over time, these spices had filled up 2 cabinets and his favorite spices, JUST his favorite ones, began to fill an entire counter! So, a while back I posted a picture on the GSFF Facebook page asking for help with his spice “area” in my kitchen – it was a mess! I didn’t know how to corral them or take my counter back!

I did get a lot of great suggestions, one of my favorites was to use 2 round cake pans – one on the bottom filled with marbles and then one on top filled with the spices and it works like a Lazy Susan. Unfortunately I couldn’t find large enough pans to hold this mess AND I wanted my counter back!

Then my DD told me of another solution for a DIY Dollar Store Spice Rack – one that was super cheap and super easy – that fit my criteria! lol So, I set out to accomplish this task and I am happy to say it worked great! AND it WAS easy!

I got everything I needed at Dollar Tree and it cost about $13. Which makes each one cost about $0.55!

All you need is:

Twine or zip ties
Needle nosed pliers (which you can get at Dollar Tree)
Wire baking racks (these come 2 to a package for $1)
Command hooks – any you prefer, I used 3 different kinds

That’s it!

You start by bending the “feet” on the cooling racks out flat with the pliers. The arrow (not great image – lol) shows how they should look once you flatten them.

Then you want to count in to about the 3rd wire and bend the rack up on one side, then set one of your containers down on the flat side of the rack and see how many wires it covers.

If it sits on 3 wires then, move it, count over 3 wires and bend up the other side. Some of mine took up 2 wires and some took up 4 or more. So, you want to make sure they will fit so, make different sizes.

Once you have bent it up on both sides, then you’ll need to secure them so nothing falls out the ends. You can use twine:

you can also use yarn, tape, or ties like these:

Once you have them finished you can then hang them where ever you like. I used a few different types of Command hooks on mine, I wanted to see which worked best. You can hang them on the back of a door in a cabinet, or pantry or on the wall.

I have a large, long pantry so, I opted to hang them on the wall.

I made 8 in all and I LOVE them – they hold all of his spices perfectly and they are out of the way!

What household hacks have you found that worked well for you? Share them with us in the comments below!

If you’re into DIY – check out these DIY Shower Jellies! Looking for more frugal home DIY projects? Check out these DIY Furniture And Upcycling Project tips!

DIY Makeup Brush Or Pen & Pencil Holder!

by Dian Leave a Comment

Today we are going to make this DIY Makeup Brush Or Pen & Pencil Holder!

Keeping kids organized can be difficult… well, actually it IS difficult! But, to me, girls are harder to keep organized! They have more … stuff… just stuff! lol I have 3 boys and 1 girl, the oldest, her room was ALWAYS way more messy than her brothers – even when all the boys shared one room – hers was by far the most unorganized mess.

Even as a teen – she would organize it a couple of times a year and make it all nice and neat … and then… she would lose something… oh… my! lol I would go in there after her “hunt” and it was like a tornado had been through there – and then of course she would be late for something and have to “leave it for later”! lol

One day she had organized it so well and it looked great, her Uncle walked past her room and the door was open, he said “You have carpet in here?” lol

Now that my daughter has kids of her own and a daughter of her own – she is living my life all over again! lol She has 3 kids 2 boys and a girl, the girl is in a constant state of needing organization.

Today we are sharing this super easy and cute DIY Makeup Brush Or Pen & Pencil Holder my daughter just made for her daughter to help her organize her makeup area.

I thought it was perfect for small spaces to spruce up an area yet save space. It would be great for a college dorm room or desk, or any work area! It’s very cute and super easy and she bought all of the supplies at the Dollar store for less than $10!

DIY Makeup Brush Or Pen & Pencil Holder!

Here are the supplies you’ll need:

Vase or Candle Holder

Marbles (enough to fill your container about 3/4 of the way)

make up brushes

Pens & Pencils (if using it for that)

“We used a flower vase we already had. This is one is pretty large, so, it took 5 bags of marbles that I purchased at Dollar Tree for $1 each. If you don’t have a vase or candle holder that you want to use they have some really cute ones for $1 Dollar Tree, you can use 1 big one or a few smaller ones.”

Add the desired amount of marbles to your vase
stand the pens, pencils, or makeup brushes up in the marbles

That’s it, so easy – but, it looks great and makes things look so much neater and organized! If you have a kid that needs help in the makeup area or study area, this could be a perfect idea for you! Sometimes some fun new functional decor can help inspire them to organize the rest of the area.

This would also be a great space saver in a dorm room study or makeup area, too! It’s so cute and functional all while organizing and space saving – how practical and cute can you get?

If you decide to make this DIY Makeup Brush Or Pen & Pencil Holder, take a picture and tag @GroceryShopForFREE on Instagram <— here! I’d love to see yours! If you have other ideas for helping kids stay organized, take a picture and tag me on Instagram with those, too! I’d love to see your creations!

Here’s another funa nd easy project: DIY Shower Jellies! Looking for more frugal home DIY projects? Check out these DIY Furniture And Upcycling Project tips!

For more DIY projects <— click here

How To Season And Care For A Cast Iron Skillet!

by Dian Leave a Comment

How To Season And Care For A Cast Iron Skillet!

My Cast Iron skillet has seen a lot of love over the years. From sizzling steaks to homemade flour tortillas, this pan has seen it all, but you’d never know by looking at it. Why? Just like your favorite risotto recipe, your Cast Iron pan needs to be well seasoned and cared for.

Unlike stainless steel, you can’t just stick it in the dishwasher or soak it in hot water until you feel like giving it a deep scrub. You’ve got to give it some love and attention. Yes, Cast Iron pans can be a bit more high maintenance to use, but the reward is worth it. In return, they’ll crust your steak to perfection and gently toast your tortillas as though it was a Mexican brick oven.

Why Use Cast Iron?

Cast Iron cookware is in it for the long haul. You can easily use the same Cast Iron pan you received at your bridal shower to cook your own granddaughter’s welcome home dinner, some 40 off years later.

Cast Iron is also versatile. It can be used on the stove top as well as in the oven. Unless you’re using an expensive dutch oven, most household pans aren’t designed for use in the oven.

Finally, say goodbye to pancakes that are undercooked on one side and charred on the other. Cast Iron provides an even heating element making it simple to cook a variety of foods which require even cooking.

How To Season A Cast Iron Pan

You MUST season your Cast Iron pan prior to first use and on the occasion you see the seasoning coating wearing off. This creates a “non-stick” like coating to the pan and prevents rusting. To season a Cast Iron pan start by turning on the oven to 350 degrees. Apply a thin coat of vegetable shortening or cooking oil (vegetable or canola) to the Cast Iron pan and distribute evenly using your fingers or a paper towel. Make sure every inch is well coated, even up the sides. Transfer the pan to the hot oven and let “set in” for an hour. Turn off the oven and let the pan cool to room temperature. Wipe off the remaining oil. Your Cast Iron pan is now seasoned and ready to go!

How to Clean A Cast Iron Pan

Cast Iron pans are super easy to keep clean once you know what you’re doing. Unlike other pans you don’t want to soak, scrub and repeat. All you want to do is remove the leftover food without removing the seasoning. Think slow and gentle.

As soon as the pan cools, cover the food spots with coarse salt and a small dot of cooking oil. Scrub in a circular motion, using a paper towel, until the food is removed. For really tough jobs use a slightly soaked paper towel (with hot water) or use a metal spatula to scrape it up.

That’s it! That’s how to shower your Cast Iron gem with love and attention. It’s easier than it sounds, but most people aren’t aware of the “rules” of owning a Cast Iron pan.

I’ll leave you with this….PLEASE use an oven mitt at all times. Cast Iron pans retain heat for long periods and will quickly blister skin. Take it from me. It hurts…now don’t say I didn’t warn you.

This article is brought to you by Darcey from FoodieandWine. Darcey is well versed in the art of creating unforgettable dishes (such as Coconut Shrimp and Prime Rib) and overly serving brightly colored cocktails to guests! When she’s not soaking in the San Diego sunshine or pouting about her lack of “British royalty” roots, she’s experimenting in the kitchen to develop the next FoodieandWine recipe.

Need To Get Organized?

11 Home Office Organization Tips & Tricks

Start From Scratch

Throw Things Out

Organize Your Drawers

Clean Your Desktop

Get Rid Of Tangled Cables

Keep Your Desk Clean

Create A Mail Station

Categorize Your Things

Use A Bigger Trashcan

Scan Them

Stop Over-Organizing

No More Mess: Organize Your Fridge With These Ideas!

Clear Storage Container

Stackable Storage Containers

Under-Shelf Sliding Drawer

Can Organizer

Egg Holder

Produce Keeper

Fridge Liner

Out With The Mess, In With The Clean: Habits For A Clutter Free Home!

Make The Bed

Finish One-Minute Tasks Immediately

Live Within Your Means

Have A Place For Everything

Spend 10 Minutes Tidying Up

Cut Down On The Decor

Clean The Dishes After Every Meal

Start A Paper-Free Home

Put All The Clothes Away

For Every New Thing Remove Another

Store Things Off The Kitchen Counter

9 Home Organization Tips!

Plastic Storage Bins

Hanging Closet Organizer

Broom And Mop Holder

Kitchen Wrap Organizer

Lid & Pan Organizers

mDesign Pot and Pan Organizer Rack﻿

Colorful Key Covers

Shelf Dividers

Drawer Organizer

Baskets

10 Tips To Declutter Your Home!

Can’t Think Of A Good Reason To Keep It? Throw It Away!

Give It Away Or Donate It!

Take The 12-12-12 Challenge!

25-Pack 4 x 4 x 4 Moving Box﻿

Take Control Of Your Paper Clutter!

Put Apples With Apples And Oranges With Oranges!

Give The Oprah Closet Hanger Experiment A Try!

Make Use Of Your Under-The-Sink Storage!

Use The Space Under Your Bed!

Detangle All Cords And Cables!

Have A Landing Station

Alpaca Ceramic Decor Dish Organizer﻿

Christmas Decoration Storage Ideas!

Store Them In Containers

mDesign Pot and Pan Organizer Rack

25-Pack 4 x 4 x 4 Moving Box

Alpaca Ceramic Decor Dish Organizer