Tag Archives: Clutter

January 17, 2019 · 4:14 pm

4 Things To Put In Storage To Make Space In A Cluttered House

The older you get, the more valuable space and storage become in your home. You accumulate so many things over time, from Christmas decorations to furniture, not to mention seasonal items like skis, paddle boards, kayaks and more.

Skis

Every foot of storage space in your home become precious and needed for all the things you use on a daily or weekly basis. Many people need to make tough choices and decide what they want to or need to keep and which things need to be donated, sold or discarded.

So what can you do? Get rid of everything and go the minimalist route? Do you just accept that some rooms in your home are going to resemble a hoarder’s house? Fortunately, you don’t have to take things to either of these extremes, there’s an easy solution – self-storage.

Self Storage

According to Livible, a Boston storage company, “keeping your possessions in a secure facility away from your home has become one of the best ways to not have to deal with a crowded house. It gives you the freedom to use your valuable space for the things you use every single day.”

Self storage units are a solution that suit many people, lifestyles, life circumstances and budgets. If you’re thinking of putting things into storage, this list of the best things to store may help you clear out your home and organize your life.

Baby Gear

If you are not done growing your family , you don’t want to get rid of big-ticket items you will need in the future. However, you don’t need to store all this furniture and gear in your home between children or grandchildren.

Items like strollers, cribs and changing tables can be wrapped up safely and kept in a storage facility. You will be able to easily pick up this furniture and baby gear when you need it.

baby, crib

If you have an heirloom bassinet, high chair or other baby items that are sentimental, it’s natural for you to want to keep them. Thanks to self storage options you can do that without sacrificing space in your home.

Old Gadgets & Appliances

When you get a new TV, washer, dryer or refrigerator, you might not want to keep the old one. You may have children who are young adults and planning a move to their own place who may need these appliances in a few months.

washer, dryer

Having a storage unit is the perfect way to store these items for them. You can rest assured that your older children or other family members will appreciate being able to pick up these appliances when they need them.

Seasonal Stuff

Christmas trees, Halloween decorations and seasonal clothing are not used year round, so why not free up precious space and keep them in storage until you need them. You will be amazed when you see how much space you have, when you move these things to a storage unit.

Furniture

Do you have furniture that you don’t have room for presently in your house, but don’t want to part with. Instead of letting it gather up dust in your garage or back porch, put that furniture in a storage unit until you need it again. If furniture is wrapped up properly, it will do very well kept in a cool, dry place. Furniture is one of the best things to store in a self storage unit.

Take advantage of storage facilities in your city and keep things you don’t need or use all the time there. It will free up precious space in your house and give you peace of mind knowing your items are stored safely until you need them.

antique, furniture

Today, most storage units are climate controlled, making it easy to store items that need to be kept cool and dry. Another benefit. is that these units are extremely safe and secure. So next time you’re looking at your stuff and wondering what to do with it, consider calling your nearest storage facility.

storage unit

This is a collaborative guest post. The ideas and views do not necessarily reflect those of Mommy Ramblings.

4 Comments

Filed under Decorating, Home, Home & Garden, Kitchen

Tagged as Clutter, home, self storage, storage space

May 21, 2018 · 3:45 am

Cluttered Concerns – How A Messy Home Negatively Influences Your Life

A messy home can have a surprisingly negative affect on our mental health and wellbeing. From clutter and filth, to dust and decay, the consequences of mess go beyond aesthetics and can cause debilitating emotional, social and physical distress.

Nasty Surprises

One the the most obvious and disgusting outcomes of a messy home is that it is prone to attracting unwanted, pesky visitors, such as rodents, cockroaches, spiders and ants. These creatures are attracted to leftover food scraps, accumulated waste and other debris.

Piles of clothing and clutter also make excellent hiding spots for spiders. Species such as the much maligned white-tail spider are known to frequent clothing piles, and enjoy making their homes in your piled laundry.

For infestations of these pests, as well as mice, rats and roaches, it’s best to call in a pest control professional to locate the source of any nests and block any existing entry points. If you’re wanting to decrease the frequency of these infestations, it’s a good idea to practice better home hygiene, beginning with the kitchen.

Make sure to wash all soiled items after use, and wipe surfaces clean of crumbs and debris. Reseal used products and place them in the fridge or in a sealed cupboard. For bedrooms and bathrooms, store fabric items and clothing on hooks and hangers.

Metaphorical Mountains

Symbolism can be important when it comes to our emotional wellbeing, and you don’t have to look far in a messy home to find your first metaphor. If you’re the type of person who likes to collect mountains of stuff, or considers the floor an appropriate place to store clothing (ie; a floordrobe) it can be an indication of other emotional or physical issues which might be affecting you.

Cleaning and organising can seem both needlessly tiring and unnecessary at times, especially if you’re already stressed or tired. Unfortunately, the benefits of a clean house will be most obvious to you in those times of emotional distress, and can further impact your ability to pull yourself out of it.

To combat mess or clutter building up over time, set yourself small and completable tasks to complete every day which are non negotiable. For example, wiping down the bath or shower after using it, or cleaning the toilet every third day. By putting small and manageable routines into place, you can stop insurmountable or stress-creating mess from ever building up, and in turn give yourself a cleaner, healthier space to live in for those moments when you’re truly craving peace and clarity.

Visitors? No Thanks!

Another not-so-nice consequence of a messy home is its potential impact upon your social life. A messy home can create the inability to host guests in your home, resulting in a lack of social connection. For many people this can be isolating and lead to further stress and discomfort.

If you’re trying to create a neater, more easy to manage space in order to improve your social life, start gradually. A good place to begin is in the kitchen. A clean kitchen is a more inviting space to cook in, and it’s often a hub of activity and social happenings within a house. Regularly clean your stove, cooking utensils and dishware. By doing so you’ll always have clean dinner dishes and cups for tea and coffee in the event of guests.

Once you’ve made an effort to clean your kitchen, try to organize your living and dining space into a more social-friendly space. Create an area with clustered chairs so that it’s inviting for guests to sit at. From there, move gradually to cleaning the bathroom, any outdoor areas, and then bedrooms.

Reforming a messy house into a more manageable and liveable environment will have positive emotional and social outcomes for you and your family. By starting slow and engaging professionals where necessary, you can regain control over your house and your clutter – one small step at a time.

This is a sponsored guest post that does not necessarily reflect the views or ideals of Mommy Ramblings.

2 Comments

Filed under Home, Home & Garden, Life, sponsored guest post

Tagged as Cleaning, Clutter, home and garden, Mental Health, sponsored guest post

January 16, 2018 · 2:56 am

10 Simple Ways to Organize Your Kitchen

If your kitchen is like mine, it is Grand Central Station for your home. I know when my kitchen is organized, it is easier to find what I need, and to work more efficiently. Here are 10 simple ways to organize your kitchen.

Purge Your Cabinets

Take everything out of your cabinets and drawer. Think carefully, do you really need it all? I am almost sure you will find, there are many things you need to get rid of or donate. Put back only what you need. Place the items that you want to donate in a box and put the box by your door. On your next trip out to your vehicle, carry the box to your car, so it is ready to be dropped off.

Group Similar Items

With your cabinets empty, start to really think about the best way to group items in them. Look at the things you are keeping and arrange baking things together, serving pieces together and so on.

Think About Your Space

Next, think about the best cabinet or drawers to put those things. Drinking glasses are probably best by the sink and dishwasher. Remember, you want things to run as smooth as possible, so have your coffee maker near your mugs and your pot holders near your oven. Be mindful of this as you decide where everything you are keeping goes.

Use Clear Plastic Bins

Use clear bins and containers to organize things inside your cabinets. Small bins are perfect for containing hot cocoa packets, oatmeal packets and more. Food in tiny boxes like pudding, can be stored in clear containers, so it does not get lost among larger items.

Another food or pantry storage idea, is to use clear mason jars. You can even vacuum seal them if you have a Food Saver with a jar device.

Go Through Your Food Storage Containers

Go through your food storage containers and get rid of anything you don’t have a lid for. Organize what you have left by placing the lids in a clear plastic bin, so they can be stored vertically. If all you have is just a bunch of tired Chinese food containers with no lids, think about throwing it all out and starting with a set of quality food storage containers.

Utilize Space Effectively,

That cabinet above your refrigerator, microwave or oven can be fitted with vertical rack dividers that allow you to store cookie sheets, trays, platters and more. In my new kitchen, I chose to have these dividers built in. I can tell you, it is much easier to store cutting boards, baking pans, large platters, trays etc. I did this to the cabinet above my oven and the one over my refrigerator.

Organize Your Drawers

Pick up some bamboo drawer dividers to organize your utensils and cutlery. You can find ones that expand to fit a variety of drawer sizes. Smaller plastic bins can help you contain pens, pencils, tape scissors etc. Allow yourself only one junk drawer if possible.

Tackle Your Refrigerator

Clean out your refrigerator. Wipe down all the surfaces inside and out. Go through all your food and condiments, and get rid of anything that is old, expired, or you don’t use. Grab some plastic bins and use them to organize your food especially smaller items like juice boxes, food pouches and smaller condiments.

Another idea that can save you time is to organize items that you use to pack lunches for yourself or your kids. That way you can quickly grab things like yogurt, cheese sticks, juice boxes, fruit etc.

Finally, if you like to keep a lot of cold drinks on hand for yourself or the kids, you may want to consider getting a dedicated refrigerator for these items. The best beverage refrigerator by Danby can hold up to 120 cans and is quite compact so it won’t take up much space in your kitchen.

Get Under the Sink

Maximize your space under the sink with a 2 Tier Expandable Adjustable Under Sink Storage Shelves. This will maximize your space to store your cleaning products, soaps, sponges and more.

Hang It Up

Organize your mop, broom, dustpan and more with a hanging storage rack that you can mount to the inside of a closet or pantry door.

It is easy to organize your kitchen when you have the right tools. Weeding out the excess and organizing what you have will maximum your kitchen’s efficiency. With a streamlined and more organized kitchen you might find you like cooking and entertaining even more.

9 Comments

Filed under Home, Home & Garden

Tagged as Cleaning, Clutter, Declutter, garden, home, Home Tips, Homekeeping, Organizing, Simplify, Transform

January 5, 2017 · 11:11 pm

Is Facebook Creating Hoarders?

I have written about extreme couponing before and my major gripe with it was that the products people were stockpiling were toxic. They out-gas their containers and create toxic air in their homes. Not to mention, they are filled with toxic ingredients and using them can result in miscarriage, infertility, birth defects, cancer and more.

Today, there is something that is gaining great popularity on Facebook and other social media that I feel is responsible for out of control buying of all kinds of products. They are called glitch groups and the members post about all kinds of pricing mistakes online and in stores.

This week, one of the glitches posted was not really a glitch but a clearance price of $.30 for a can of holiday scented Febreeze spray at a major retailer. Photo after photo of people walking out of the store with shopping carts full of these holiday scented, fabric fresheners was posted. Many were walking out with cases of Febreeze.

Now, if you don’t know, Febreeze is one of the most toxic products you can use, it can cause central nervous system damage among other things. Try to share a word to the wise and it is obvious they are not wise and you are a hater. That is fine, if they want to stack their cancer-in-a-can, fabric freshener in pretty little rows in their stockpile, there is not much I can do. Even speaking to them as the mother of a cancer survivor, they do not want anyone to steal the joy that a cart full of Febreeze can bring them.

Worse are the ones who are not stacking it in neat little rows but coming home and adding it to rooms that are already stacked to the gills with other glitch, clearance or sale items they have found. It is not hard for things to get out of control and I truly believe it is a dangerous addiction.

I know how exciting it can be to find the deal of the century. I used to shop like that, it was not for toxic things but if I found games, toys, kitchen items, craft items etc. at a great price, I bought them up faster than you could say C-L-U-T-T-E-R. I ended up giving so much of it away in an attempt to clear my garage of boxes of the stuff that for a time, I used to sell on eBay until they raised their fees so high, it did not pay.

I know some of these Glitchers are selling at local swap sales, online yard sales, Craigslist, Amazon or other sites. Good for them! If they are moving products out for a profit that is super. The problem lies when things are not moving out and more and more things are moving in. This out of control bargain shopping addiction can be brutal.

Recently, they were posting about Christmas trees for a penny at a major retailer. I found a 12 ft. tree and since we did have to replace ours, I was thrilled to find one ringing up at around $60. It was a beautiful 12 ft. pre-lit tree, almost exactly like our other one that needed replacing that retailed at over $800.

Yet theses Glitchers almost made me hang my head in shame that I was not able to get it for a penny. Had I not been aware of these Glitchers, I would have been thrilled to get this deal. Darn Glitchers making others feel bad. I was surprised when one of them found one of the trees but it was ringing up at $12 and she did not want it at that price. Say what? I don’t know about you but I thought $60 was a super deal.

However, I don’t think anything is a super deal if you don’t need it, are not going to give it to someone or don’t sell it. If you are buying just to buy, you are going to end up being on Hoarders:Buried Alive.

Clearance or bargain shopping used to be something that people enjoyed solo or with a spouse or friend. Sometimes they would tell family and friends about the awesome deals and that is where it ended.

With these groups now all over social media, it is becoming a contest of just how many Pioneer Woman frying pans you can score for $4 or how many $9 Barbie Dreamhouses you can fit in your car and still have room for yourself in an Instagram selfie. Posting the photo and reading the comments can be a real adrenaline rush. We know shopping addiction is real and I truly think social media is taking it to a level we have not seen before.

What do you think? Please share your thoughts.

Join Us For Peter Walsh’s 31 Days 2 Get Organized 2015!!! #31Days2GetOrganized

I am so excited! I love Peter Walsh! He is such an inspiration for releasing the “stuff” that holds us back. The other day I saw that he was asking us to recruit someone for ‪#‎31Days2GetOrganized‬ for 2015! I recruited a good friend, then I thought more about it. Why don’t we all do this? I think it will be a lot of fun if we all come together and let go of things we are hanging on to that are truly weighing us down. What a wonderful way to make a slow month like January much more fun and productive! So I am recruiting all of you! Please join me in the 31 Days 2 Get Organized with Peter Walsh.

If you have never heard of Peter Walsh and I can’t imagine anyone that hasn’t, but if you are in the dark about who he is and what he does, just click the video below to get to know him.

I want to make things really exciting so I created a closed Facebook group just for this. The closed group means that even your most cluttered closet is safe with us and there will be no judging or negativity. The link for the group is here and you can join now. In the group you will post your before and afters of the 31, ten minute challenges Peter will dole out each day. We can work to encourage and keep everyone accountable. I hope you will all join in this with me.

Peter has a New Year Message for us here:

Peter Walsh please join our Facebook Group so you can see our progress. Are you ready for the challenge? I sure am! Comment here and let me know you are up to the challenge and recruit someone to come along.

If you are chomping at the bit to get started you can work on this until Monday January 5th! I know you were so excited to start tomorrow but Peter says it officially starts on January 5th! Don’t worry take his advice and get your family and friends on board and in the meantime join the group and get aquainted. If you just can’t wait, you can get a head start on the challenge with Peter Walsh: 15 Declutter Projects for a Saner You. Of course follow Peter on Facebook and YouTube so you don’t miss a thing!

Want To Get Your Home In Order? Try Debbie Lillard’s “A Mom’s Guide to Home Organization.”

Are you frazzled by your family’s hectic schedule and chaotic household? Then try Debbie Lillard’s “A Mom’s Guide to Home Organization.” This book walks you through simple processes and tips for organizing your time, your stuff and your space. The second half of the book addresses how to teach your children the life skill of being organized. Written by a busy mom for busy moms. Buy Today on Amazon in Kindle or Print editions!

Mom's Guide To Home Organization

Create a Happy, Clutter-Free Home!

Do you dream of having a clutter-free kitchen, organized closet, tidy toy room and stress-free schedule? All of this and more is within your reach when you follow the practical and effective organizing advice in this book. In this ultimate home organization guide Debbie Lillard, professional organizer and mother of three, helps you gain and maintain order in three key areas of your family life:

Your Time: Learn how to get more done in less time by streamlining everyday duties, creating morning, after-school and bedtime routines, and effectively managing extracurricular activities.
Your Belongings: Use Debbie’s simple but effective C.P.R. method (Categorize, Purge, and Rearrange) to organize, toys, clothes, children’s artwork, paperwork, photos, collections and more.
Your Home: Follow the step-by-step instructions for organizing every room in your home, plus find help for keeping your child’s schoolbag, desk, locker, and home study area organized.

Follow the book from start to finish for a complete home makeover, or dip in here or there for help with one problem area at a time. The tried-and-true advice will help you simplify your life so you can spend less time struggling to keep up and more time savoring everyday moments with your family.

spacetospare