Tag: let's get cleaning

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Fun Ways to Organize

Spring Cleaning

Hello all! Happy Wednesday!

The days are getting longer, the sun is setting later, and we are having more days that are warmer rather than freezing…there’s nothing quite like spring. I can hardly wait for next month!

Ever since the start of the new year I have been in cleaning and organizing mode. From closets, to cabinets, under beds and all around the house. I tossed and donated A LOT! I first blamed it on being coped up in the winter and wanting to get things tidied up after the holidays. Then I said I was getting my spring cleaning out of the way. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. The one thing I didn’t do was take any before or after pictures…blogger fail. So I apologize for the lack or pictures in this post.

If you are on the fence about doing some spring cleaning or need that extra push to get it done, I hope this post serves as that motivation.

Here’s some tips and tricks for spring cleaning:

  • Start small
    • It can get overwhelming to start cleaning and organizing. Don’t get too stressed out about the mess or clutter, instead break it up. Start with a closet one afternoon or cabinets one night.  For example, I did my closet on Sunday after work, then the following week, I worked on organizing shoes and donating ones that didn’t fit. The following week, I went through my drawers. I broke it up when I had the time and I worked on small areas. I had a sense of accomplishment at the end of each task but wasn’t burnt out after a mass undertaking of non-stop cleaning.
  • Make a List
    • If you can’t get to everything in one day or even one month, keep a running list of things of things you want to tackle. Sometimes I would be going about my day and would see a cabinet that needs organized or tidied up, if I didn’t have the time to tackle that in that moment, I jotted it down to clean it out when I had the time. I had a list to refer to when I had time to clean or organize and then it was always good to see how far you have come with organizing.
  • Use It or Lose it Rule
    • This is a question I ask myself if I’m on the fence about getting rid of something. There are some things I know can be an easy decision to donate or toss. But then there’s the other things that may be harder to decide to donate or keep. The first question I ask myself is “Have I used or worn this in the past year?”, yes, the pandemic makes it tricky, but if I have used or worn it then I keep, if I haven’t then I reconsider. The second question I ask myself is “If I keep it, will I use it within the next few months?”, if the answer is yes, then I keep it and I do my best to use or wear it. This is another way to make sure you are using or wearing what you have.
  • Don’t buy organizational tools while you are in the thick of it.
    • This is easier said than done. It can be easy to be cleaning something and then think, “I need to buy a new bin or desk organizer”. Hold off on buying a new tool or item, instead see what you must use. For example, for the longest time, I thought I needed a new jewelry box. I hunted for one for a while, but kept coming up empty handed. I went through my jewelry and ended up getting rid of things that were broken or I hadn’t worn and was able to reorganize my jewelry and turns out I didn’t need a new jewelry box. That’s another benefit of cleaning or reorganizing, you find new purposes for old things.

Those are just a few ideas or tips when it comes to spring cleaning. I have spent a lot of time over the past few months cleaning, tidying and reorganizing and it has been so nice to see more clean and empty spaces around my house and room. For those who enjoy spring cleaning and organizing, what are your top tips for cleaning? Drop them below!

Categories
Fun Ways to Organize

Keeping You Car Clean and Organized

Hey guys! 

Happy Wednesday!

I hope your weeks are off to a great start and you are staying healthy and warm, especially if you are living in a chilly place like myself. 

After all the Christmas and New Years celebrations are over, I always love to reset for the month of January. I think its a great time to get organized, do some deep cleaning, maybe even get rid of things you may not need, and start on some new goals for the year.

I’ve been doing pretty well with my resolutions which is always a good feeling. 

For many people, a goal for the new year may be to keep spaces clean or get things organized, whether it’s a specific room in your home, your workspace in the office, or your car.

While I wish I could offer advice for cleaning and organizing all these areas, you would be reading this post for the next day, but I can offer you some tips for cleaning specific areas. 

Today, we are talking about to keep your car clean and organized. 

Must-Haves

Here’s my must haves for your car (these can be kept in your trunk or in the back of your car):

-Emergency kit for cars or first aid

-Blanket

-Water 

-Non-perishable snacks (nuts or crackers-filling and something that lasts long)

-Change of seasonal clothes (in case of emergency or you get stuck and are in need of a quick change)

-Jumper Cables

*all of these can be put in the trunk or back of the car*

Here’s a look at what I keep in the trunk of my car.

-Cell phone charger

-Important Car Documents

-Hand Sanitizer or Wipes

-Extra masks (in today’s day and age, it’s a must)

*these can go in your glove compartment or center console*

Here’s what I keep in my center console.

Other things that I keep in my car that aren’t musts but are useful to have:

-Body spray/perfume/cologne (depending on girls or guys, I always have travel bottle of body spray in my car whenever you need a quick refresher)

– Towel (for rain storms, messes or a quick clean-up)

– Go-to toiletry bag (this is just any must-haves you may need in a pinch (for girls- hair tie, chapstick, contact solution, tissues, gum, anything you may think you could need in an emergency)

-Recyclable bags (these are helpful for trash or any wet towels or clothes)

I always have go bag and boots if I ever need it for work in my trunk too. (I have storage below where I keep emergency things)

Keeping it Clean

Once a week I do a quick car clean. I use a Clorox wipe to clean off the high touch point areas like the handles, the wheel, and the controls. I use a leather wipe to clean the seats and headsets.

I got a mini car vacuum for Christmas (yes, you know you are old when you get excited about getting a vacuum for a gift) and I like to use that for quick cleaning.

This mini vacuum is definitely a new favorite for me!

Now, for a more extensive cleaning, I turned to an expert in car cleaning, someone who taught me everything I know about cleaning, my boyfriend, Ethan. He helped me write the second half of this post!

“Routine car detailing doesn’t have to be hard, time consuming or expensive. With the right mix of affordable products and a little bit of know-how, keeping a car in top-notch condition is a relatively simple task.

Exterior Cleaning

The first step is to clean your car. Start with the outside, and rinsed the vehicle. Then, using a dedicated car wash soap that you can buy at any auto store, fill one bucket with soapy water according to the instructions on your soap. Fill a second bucket with clean water. Then, using a microfiber washing mitt or cloth, liberally cover the car in soapy water. As you wash, make sure to rinse the mitt periodically in the clear bucket.

After thoroughly washing the car from top to bottom, rinse it off with a hose and dry it with a microfiber drying product like a towel or cloth.

Interior Cleaning

Then, move to the inside, and when it comes to car detailing, if you can only do one thing, vacuum. Vacuuming will make the biggest difference in the appearance of your car, and it’s fairly quick to do. Make sure to thoroughly vacuum every interior surface including seats floors and floor mats. Make sure to remove the mats and vacuum beneath them.

After a very thorough vacuuming, it’s time to zero in. If your mats have not been cleaned in a long time, use a cleaning product like Tuff Stuff. It’s an aerosol spray, and it works wonders lifting out dirt. It’s also super versatile and can be used on most surfaces in your car. Best of all, it’s affordable. Handle the mats with tuff stuff and a stiff-bristled brush, mixed with some elbow grease. Wipe them dry with a microfiber towel, and then vacuum again. On your car’s interior, I like a two-in-one clean and shine. Unless your car is especially grimy, this will clean and polish in one step. If your car is beyond belief, use tuff stuff to blast away dirt, and then apply the polish with a microfiber towel. Cloth seats can be cleaned with tuff stuff, and leather ones need a dedicated leather cleaner. 

Finally, clean the windows, but DO NOT USE WINDEX. It can ruin the tint. Use a dedicated car window product, and make sure to roll the windows down to get the tops. 

When you’re done, stand back and admire your work. 

For emergencies, I always keep a few microfiber towels in my trunk. That way, I can touch-up my interior in a moment, and if I spill something, I have a super absorbent towel ready to limit the damage.”

So there you have it, some tips on how to keep your car clean and organized and some must-haves. I’m by no means an expert but I hope this helped you with some ideas on how to get started when cleaning your car can seem like a daunting task.

Happy cleaning!