Author: Uncommonspaces

I USED TO HATE DOING LAUNDRY.

Hated it so much that I would avoid it for as long as I could. When I did do laundry, it would be the bare minimum. After the clothes were washed and dried, (hopefully in the same day) they rarely made it into the drawers or closets. It would sit in piles or in baskets in each room.

I took it personally too. I thought to myself, “why can’t I get it together and just get it done.” What was holding me back?

But over the last few years. since committing myself to being a more organized person I have finally broken thru the obstacle and figured out that keeping up with the laundry isn’t really that big of a deal. In reality, its a really simple and surprisingly easy task. If your doing it right.

HERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT HELPED ME GET MY LAUNDRY ACT TOGETHER

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1 Sort your clothes…or don’t

If you sort your laundry, get multiple hampers so you can sort as you go. I suggest four, one for cold water, warm water whites, warm water colors, and towels. This way, when you do laundry you just grab a basket and go.

But before I changed my game on laundry, it was my short cut to just wash it all in cold water. No sorting necessary. FYI – the laundry police have not showed up yet!

All laundry is safe in cold water. Its the warm water that makes things shrink or causes colors to run. Plus cold water is more energy efficient. Hello savings!!!

Yes, warm water is better on stains or really dirty clothes, but if your looking for a corner to cut, this one most likely wont cause you any trouble.

So, sort your clothes as you go… or don’t sort them at all. Either way, you’ve eased some of the pain of doing laundry. High five!

2 WASH AND DRY IN 2 MINUTES FLAT

The amount of time spent on this part of the process is incredibly small. It takes like 60 seconds, maybe, to turn on your washer and let it fill while you pour in detergent (and fabric softener) and add the clothes. It seriously is so easy.

Once you are done with that, then comes the hard part, for me…remembering to move it to the dryer. Figure out a way to remind yourself… leave the light on as a reminder, set a timer on your phone, or figure out when in your schedule you will come back and take less then 60 seconds to move clothes from the washer to the dryer. Just don’t forget!

So far, we have done 2 minutes of laundry. Why do we avoid this exactly?

3 FOLD< HANG< AND PUT AWAY FASTER!

Now this is the part I would dread about laundry. I would procrastinate this step for so long that my clothing situation was a night mare. Here is how I made it easier.

De wrinkle your clothes before you start.

Forget ironing. If your clothes have been sitting for a while after drying and gained a bunch of wrinkles, then toss them back into the dryer to get the wrinkles out. 5 minutes in there (on any setting that involves heat) goes a long way!

Take your clothes straight from the dryer to your closet.

Because I hate this part of laundry, when ever I do it I try to make it fun. By doing it while I watched tv. I love to multi task, si if I can watch a favorite show or you tube video I know it will be more enjoyable.

But… It took me a while to realize that this made the process take longer. It only takes 5 minutes to fold one load … not a whole episode! Also, if you do it in the living room, or even the laundry room, its a whole extra step to collect all the piles and carry them to the correct rooms. So cut out the middle man and fold or hang the laundry right by the closet or dresser it belongs in.

Stop sorting socks!

It takes so much time to match them up and secure them together. I’m usually about variety, but I’m happy to sacrifice unique socks to make life easier all my socks are the same, and they get stacked not bundled. I use a lingerie bag in the washer to keep all the socks together.

4 LESS CLOTHES = LESS LAUNDRY

If you’ve got a bad habit of waiting until you’re out of clothes to ware before doing laundry… then maybe its time to get rid of some clothes so you run out faster. I’m kidding – kind of lol!

If you have to many then you will end up with too much laundry to do. If you only have what you need, then your house wont be busting at the seams with piles of clean and dirty clothes.

Its just logical. If you can manage to go 3 weeks with out doing laundry, then don’t be surprised when you have 3 weeks of laundry to do at one time. If you limit the amount of clothes that you own, you also limit how far behind you get.

5. MORE LAUNDRY = LESS LAUNDRY

Say what?!?!

Forget “laundry day” Please don’t make your self spend hours doing laundry every other Saturday. Its the worst! Do some laundry every day.

Doing laundry more often will allow it to take less of a toll on your life. Find your rhythm, figure out how much needs to be done on a daily basis to stay on top of it.

I would rather spend 10 minutes a day keeping up with laundry then skip it all together and end up needing to spend hours on it. Laundry is a never ending chore. But it doesn’t have to be miserable. keep it simple, and keep it moving.

Spread the word!

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Think your home is clean? Some obvious, (and not so obvious) spots could be collecting epic amounts of gunk, grime, and bacteria. Here are 10 of the biggest dirt and germ magnets in your home and the best way to clean them.

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Dryer lint trap :

Do you use dryer sheets? If so, simply pulling the lint out of the trap every couple of loads isn’t enough. Dryer sheets are covered with a silicone based film that can build up on the lint trap filter and create an invisible barrier. WASH it every six months to improve performance of your dryer and increase its life span. Just use warm soapy water and a cleaning tooth brush, let it dry over night. Vacuuming the lint trap is also important to remove any lint stuck in the trap which could be a fire hazard.

Inside the dish washer:

Why would something that gets washed out with soap and hot water need to be cleaned? Well, tiny bits of food, grease and soap scum can cling together and get deposited in the corners of the dish washer. As time passes, they can make your dish washer look and smell bad, while also decreasing its working order. You can deodorize and santitize the entire appliance by sprinkling a cup of baking soda on the bottom of the empty dishwasher and let it sit over night. The next morning add a cup of vinegar to the dishwasher and run it on the hottest cycle possible. It will be clean and odor free.

Refrigerator coils:

Spending just 15 minutes every 6 months cleaning your refrigerator coils can eliminate 70% of refrigerator malfunction, extend the life span, and keep it running at maximum efficiency. When dirt and dust clog the coils they cant release heat properly, causing it to work harder then it should. Take a vacuum cleaner brush attachment, run it long the coils to remove dust. Remember to unplug the fridge first before doing this.

kitchen sink:

Studies show there is more e coli in a kitchen sink then in the toilet after you flush it. Not so appetizing, right? Bacteria love its wet atmosphere and feeding on food particles left on dirty dishes and put down the drain. Clean the sink basin daily with a disinfectant made for the kitchen to kill all the bad stuff.

The trash can:

Traces of food and liquids can escape the trash bag and contaminate the can itself. The inside of the cans lid is an especially likely culprit for bacteria, mold, and mildew. Use disinfecting wipes on the lid every time you take out the trash. And deep clean once a month. You can sprinkle baking soda on the bottom, let sit for 10 minutes, to deodorize the can.

Bed pillows:

Did you know an accumulation of dust mites and their waste can make a pillow double its weight in 2 years? (mattresses can double in 10 years) We may never sleep well again lol! In addition to the dead skin that rubs off, and the occasional drool stain, bed pillows no longer sound like a nice place to lay your head. The good news is that most are washable! And should be washed twice a year. To wash them, place 2 at a time in the wash. Use a gentle detergent and run through the heavy cycle. Dry on low heat heat with tennis or dryer balls until there is no moisture left to avoid mold.

Door knobs and light switches:

EVERYONE touches these almost every time they enter or exit a room. Making them one of the dirtiest places in your home. Start wiping them down with a disinfectant during your regular cleaning to stop the spread of germs. It will also help remove marks from dirt and grime.

Computer keyboard:

Dust, crumbs, grease and stickiness from who knows what can add up to one grimy keyboard. And do your kids use your computer? Imagine where those grubby little hands have been. Some studies show the keyboard has more bacteria then a toilet seat. To clean, start with compressed air which will dislodge the crumbs and hairs from inbetween the keys. Follow with electronic spray, tech wipe or good old rubbing alcohol.

The cell phone:

Each square inch of your cell phone has about 25,000 germs making it dirtier then your pets food dish, a shoes sole, and of course, a toilet seat. To clean your smart phone with out damaging it, all you need is some antiseptic wipes which can be found at any drug store and are individually packaged, making it easy to toss one in a purse or laptop bag.

The remote control:

You may have heard that the remote control in a typical hotel room is disgusting, but the one in your home isn’t any better. People are constantly handling it – often while coughing and sneezing – making it one of the germiest house hold surfaces. The most efficient way to clean the remote is to use the same wipes as for the cell phones.

So there you have it! 10 things we seldom clean, or clean enough. BUT…. you now have the know how and the what to – to get it done.

As usual, HAPPY CLEANING!

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As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, All spaces present design challenges. Some people are just born with and eye for decorating and design. Others learn the skill and are able to use it successfully. And then, there are those of us who lack the ideas for design. But a few basic techniques can go a long way.

These rules and principles are easy enough that any one can use them. Your home might not look like it belongs on HGTV, but it will look presentable.

Something to consider, before going into the 7 tips I have for you. Set the tone at the front door! Follow the rule of odd numbers, (rule of 3’s) Odd numbers are a foundation that can create harmony and visual interest. It helps to have groupings of objects in varying sizes, shapes and textures.

Here are the 7 tips that will help make your home amazing.

1.- Bring on the plants! We don’t just crave nature, we are happier and healthier when it is a part of our lives. Plants can improve your indoor air quality. And can improve productivity by 15%! They are also beautiful peices or decor.

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15 plants that purify the home.

• 1. Peace lily
• 2. Rubber plant
• 3. English Ivy
• 4. Snake plant
• 5. bamboo palm
• 6. Aloe vera
• 7. Dunb cane
• 8. Heart leaf philodenron
• 9. Spider plant
• 10. Corn stalk dracaena
• 11. Chinese evergreen
• 12 money bonsai
• 13. Devils ivy
• 14. Boston fern
• 15. weeping fig

2- Pair low ceilings with high furniture. Many people have low ceilings in their home. But higher furniture will make the look higher.

3- Get creative with your lighting. lighting for your home is important. This includes natural light, ambient light, and task lighting. Balancing the lighting will help minimize shadow and glare. As well as add depth. Choose lamps that speak your personality!

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4- Challenge yourself to go beyond beige. It can be temping to stick with a neutral color base. But you should decorate your home to be as colorful as you are. So throw in that slightly bolder color, as long as it makes you happy.

5- Design a way that promotes conversation. New trends show non tradtitional sofa shapes that are designed for conversation and hosting. Rather than focused on TV. Curved sofas add an element that promotes conversation. If this isn’t an option for your space, try putting chairs and sofas facing each other rather then the TV.

6- Fill your walls with your favorite art. It is an AMAZING design tool. It totally transforms the room. Play with color and style, while choosing pieces that can be focal points.

7- Incorporate meaningful souvenirs. When it comes to art, don’t limit yourself to just the walls. Think about throw blankets, pillows, vases, small scultpures, or whatever else speaks to you.

Happy designing!!

Kids art work… precious, important, and everywhere! We all love the master pieces our little ones create. But if we kept it all, family and friends would begin to wonder if we had turned into hoarders!! Creative efforts like these deserve to be displayed, but its hard when multiple pieces are made each day!

I will be the first to admit, I throw most, but not all away. I fold it up discreetly and slip it into the trash. And pray like crazy that no one opens the trash can and sees! UNLESS, it meets 3 points.

• 1. Are they proud of it?
• 2. Is it uniquely special?
• 3. Is there space to keep or display it?

If it meets these 3 requirements, It either goes in the keepsake box, or the child’s personal album. Where I keep special certificates, class pictures, cards they have given me for special occasions, and other such things. For the really special art work that is display worthy will be covered a little latter in the post.

By placing items in categories like this helps with organization. When placing things in a keepsake box, place them directly on top of each other. That way it will automatically be in order by year and age. For the album, I purchased 3 ring binders for each of my children. And used page protectors to file class pictures and certificates and such. Each time you add a section, place it either to the end, or to the front of your album. Wal-lah!! perfect order again. By the time your kids are 18, you will have a beautiful collection to give them!

Now the fun part! There are so many different ways to display art work. We are not just limited to the fridge. We can get really creative with this. The first thing you will want to think about is WHERE you want to display. Are you able to have a designated wall space? If you are, then how much room is available? These are things that will help you determine how much you can display at one time.

The sky is the limit on ways to create a space for displaying artwork. An idea that i have used in the past was to take pictures using my phone. I then printed out smaller pictures to put in a frame. This is a way to display many at one time. This is changeable also, “in with the new, out with the old” so to speak. The old picture then can be filed away.

I worked in a daycare center for many years. And there was also art displayed on the walls. The kids loved to look up and see their special drawings or painting hung up. So I feel its so important to display them somewhere somehow, no matter our space. Maybe there is a special place in your childs bed room that would work for this.

I loved to make my classroom look like an art gallery, by using picture frames. Or by just putting a pretty background paper behind the picture to make it stand out. I had pretty much an entire room to dedicate to art. But what ever way you decide to use for display, remember these key rules.

• Consider the size of your space you will dedicate to the display.
• If there isn’t anymore room for new art, you will have to remove one and decide how or where to store it.
• If the art doesn’t fit the space, you will have to make adjustments. Can you trim the edges? Maybe have your child pick out their favorite part and only save that part.

If your child attends any type of daycare or preschool, your childs teacher has probably already dated the art. If not, make sure you do before putting it in an album or keepsake box.

I’ve never had the luxury of having a huge bedroom. But just because its small doesn’t mean it lacks space to use for organization. You just need to get a little creative. Here is a list of “creative” ideas.

• You can install a closet organizing system
• space saving hangers
• put dividers in your drawers
• fold clothes differently
• use space under beds, or behind doors
• add shelves
• use baskets

Your day begins and ends in this room. So keeping it organized will help keep you sane!

*Make your bed– It costs nothing, and only takes a few minutes. Its THE most powerful tool in making your room look better. Even if its cluttered and messy. So take a few extra minutes to smooth out your blanket and put back your pillows.

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*Time to purge– Yes, you knew it was coming! If you have read any of my previous posts, you have learned that its the first step. Soooo, gather up all of the clothes and shoes that no longer fit. The books you’ve already read, or the exercise equipment you said you would use. Let Goodwill benefit from your castoffs

*Take advantage of the space under your bed.- Why waste it? Its prime real estate! For shoes, seasonal clothes, exercise equipment, or any other bulky items. Use clear storage boxes with handles. So you can see what you have, and be able to pull them out easily when needed.

*Conquer the closet- Many of us are not blessed with a large closet. So first, lets get rid of anything that doesn’t belong. Even if it means walking all the way across the house. Just to put it in its home. Invest in a few closet organizers. I have a few ideas pinned on pintrest. (Simply saving spaces) If you’d like to check it out. A shoe rack is a must. Arrange clothes by type or by season. Which ever works best for you.

*Bedside storage- A small night stand can add a touch of beauty to a room. Choose a model that includes drawers. Now you have a place to stash your things that tend to clutter up. Such as kleenex, lotions, lip balm or books.

*Give jewelry a home- A traditional jewelry box is not the only option here. You can show it off by using a framed pegboard on the wall, rings and earrings on a pretty tray on top of a dresser. I have several ideas pinned on my board called bedroom organization on pintrest. (Simply saving spaces)

*Don’t forget the doors!- Use over the door hangers on the door of your room, or closet doors. Perfect for bathrobes, purses, belts, scarves, and coats.

*Add a trunk if you have the room.- Use this to store extra blankets, or out of season clothes. But be careful with this one. These types of area can clutter up easily. And keep in mind, you can always store the same items under the bed.

*Style your dresser!- Yet another place that can easily clutter up. But you can fix this by using baskets or decorative boxes to gather up small items that show up on the dresser.

So there you have it. Easy peasy! But remember, your room didn’t get cluttered over night. It will not get cleaned and organized over night either.