We just returned from Chicago (boy can those Chicagoans party!), where green clothes of any kind, green bow-ties, green leprechaun hats, green beer and even a green river ruled!

At 11:00 am this morning, the St. Patricks Day Parade marched up 5^th Avenue in Manhattan with more than 150,000 participating this year. I just love those kilts and bagpipes!

In Ireland, the St. Patrick’s Day festival ranks among the best celebrations in the world and is celebrated for six-days. It takes 18 months of planning and a full staff to manage a calendar of activities to celebrate this most traditional day we have come to know

Where ever you are around the world, Erin Go Bragh! For all of us that don’t’ know what this means (but wonder!), it translates to “Ireland until eternity”, according to Wikipedia!

Happy Organizing!

Mrs. O’Organized

Photos from: Woman’sDay.com & StPatricksFestival.ie

Here is a list of tools you may want to gather when you are Spring Cleaning your Kitchen:

Over Cabinet Towel Rack, Drawer Organizers, Utensil Caddy, Cabinet & Shelf Organizers, Pantry Organizers, Under Sink Storage, Trash & Recycle Bins

Now that you have all the tools you need, it’s time to get started.  Here’s how:

Now…the hard part, let’s conquer the fridge! First, go through the doors and throw away any expired condiments and products you don’t use. Once you are left with the items you’re keeping, remove them temporarily and wipe down the shelves and door with a cleaning cloth and all purpose cleaner. Then you can return all items to the shelves. Next, do the same with the drawers in the refrigerator and continue throughout the fridge, throwing away expired products. When placing items back, group them together so they’re easy to find; Milk/Juices, yogurts, cheeses, deli meats, fruits, vegetables, etc. Don’t forget to go through the freezer and toss out old items, especially those with serious freezer burn! Sort freezer shelves by category; frozen meals, frozen vegetables, desserts & ice cream, etc.

Drawers, Cabinets, & Pantry…Oh My! Not to worry, it’s what we do. Get a stylish Utensil Caddy to sit next your stove, all your frequently used utensils are easier to grab from here. Dedicate a drawer to the rest of the utensils using a utensil organizer to keep them neat. Flatware caddies are essential for your everyday forks, spoons and knives. Organize your other drawers into categories; measuring cups/spoons, specialty cooking tools, smaller appliances, oven mitts and pot holder, cutting boards etc. Upper cabinets can be as organized as you want them; you could use plate racks, shelf inserts, lazy suzan’s, spice shelves…see for yourself! Roll out drawers are especially handy for lower cabinets to store pots and pans, lids, small appliances and tupperware. Get inspired by our solutions to organize your pantry with wall grid systems, shelf organizers, spice storage and more! You’ll be amazed how sometimes the simplest of things can make your life that much easier.

At this point you have learned how to “Tackle the Tough Spots” & “Spring Clean by Room” and now it’s time sit back and relax and start thinking about the good times and great weather ahead.

Happy Organizing!

-Mrs. O

Here is a list of tools you may want to gather when you are Spring Cleaning your Kitchen:

Utility Caddy, Gloves, Mop, Cleaning Cloths, Countertop Spray, All Purpose Cleaner, Brush/Scrubber, Broom, Bucket with Handle, Dish Drainer, Garbage Disposal Care

Now that you have all the tools you need, it’s time to get started.  Here’s how:

Start with a basic clean up and clear out! Run dishes through the dish washer; put away any dishes on the drying rack. Throw kitchen towels and rugs in the wash. Clear off all the contents on countertops, around the sink, and kitchen table. Once the room is back to basics, it’s ready for a good scrub.

Take a bucket with warm water and pour in the instructed amount of all purpose cleaner. With a cleaning cloth or large sponge, scrub the walls and corners of the kitchen. Then move onto mopping the floors with the same solution and let dry for 10-20 minutes. Next, spray the countertops with a countertop cleaning spray and wipe down with a cleaning cloth. Wipe down the sink and if you have a garbage disposal, now is the time to throw some disposal cleaner down there. Next, remove the burner covers and spill catchers off the stove and spray with an all purpose cleaner, let the solution sit for 5 minutes to break down the grease, making it easy for you to wipe up. (Tip: Have a baking dish or pan with tough to remove grease? Let it soak with warm water and insert a dryer sheet, they pick up the grease in no time!) Once all of your countertop and table surfaces are dry, place the items back where they belong. Take a damp cloth and wipe down all small appliances and other countertop accessories. Appliance covers come in handy to keep dust off year round.

Stay tuned tomorrow for Spring Clean Your Kitchen Part 2.

Happy Organizing!

-Mrs. O

Here is a list of tools you may want to gather when you are Spring Cleaning your Office:

Cleaning Cloths, Wood Wipes, File Storage, Cord Control, Drawer Organizers, Charging Station, Mail Sorters, Message Board, Calendar, Media Storage, Office Boxes, Equipment Stands, Storage Cubes

Now that you have all the tools you need, it’s time to get started.  Here’s how:

Start by cleaning out your desk and emptying all the drawers. The only things left on or in your desk should be your computer, fax machine, copier and other electronics. Wipe the insides of each drawer, cabinet, and desk equipment. Wood wipes or a damp cloth come in handy for these sensitive surfaces.  Once everything has been wiped down, start putting only necessary items back in their respective drawers and relocate or toss out unneeded items.

If you haven’t already created files in your cabinet for your bills and documents, there’s no time like the present! Label file folders (Electric, Water, Pay Stubs, etc.) and file your papers in cabinets or boxes. Try to only keep items on your desk that need attention soon. Handy task clips will remind you what to prioritize first. Make use of wall space with message boards and wall mount magazine racks. Erasable calendars help keep your schedule on track!

Happy Organizing!

-Mrs. O

Here is a list of tools you may want to gather when you are Spring Cleaning your Bathroom:

Utility Caddy, Gloves, Mop, Cleaning Cloths, Brush/Scrubber, Squeegee, Shower Cleaner, Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Toilet Bowl Brush & Plunger, All Purpose Cleaner, Countertop Spray, Drawer Organizer, Cosmetic Organizer, Canisters, Hooks & Racks, Shower Caddy, Hair Care Organizer

Now that you have all the tools you need, it’s time to get started.  Here’s how:

Take everything out of the bathroom and we mean EVERYTHING! If it’s not nailed down, then it has to come out. This includes rugs, toilet paper, soap, toothbrushes, shower curtains, towels and everything inside the drawers and medicine cabinet. Throw all the towels, rugs and washable shower curtains in the wash.

Now get the essential bathroom cleaning ingredients together and get scrubbing (don’t forget the rubber gloves!). Apply toilet bowl cleaner and shower spray to let sit while you work on the rest. Next, wipe down EVERYTHING; the sink, fixtures, countertop, medicine cabinet, inside the drawers…basically everything with a surface. Scrub the toilet with any basic toilet scrubber. Lastly, take a sponge to the shower walls and tub, and a squeegee to glass shower doors.

Once the room is sparkling, you can begin to put everything back. As you sort through items from your medicine cabinet and drawers, toss out expired medications & cosmetics, old brushes and hair care products that you no longer use.

Find products to organize your medicine cabinet and drawers. Like drawer organizers, canisters and stacking bins. Hair care organizers for under the sink are perfect for containing hair dryers, irons, sprays and combs. By now you’re bathroom should be spotless and organized for everyday use.

Happy Organizing!

-Mrs. O

Here is a list of tools you may want to gather when you are Spring Cleaning your Entryway:

Message Center, Key Rack & Mail Sorter, Magazine/Catalog Rack, Entryway Furnishings, Umbrella Stand, Coat Rack, Shoe Rack, Doormat, All Purpose Cleaner, Glass Cleaner, Cleaning Cloth, Floor Mop, Broom

Now that you have all the tools you need, it’s time to get started.  Here’s how:

Start with a clean up. Put away shoes that just sit there in the way, recycle old catalogs & junk mail, and store winter coats that you won’t need until next season. With a cloth and all purpose cleaner, wipe down the front door (knobs especially!), tabletops, and walls in the entryway.

Next, spray windows, mirrors, and glass tabletops with glass cleaner.  Then vacuum, sweep, and/or mop the floors.  Don’t forget to shake out indoor and outdoor rugs… or better yet, replace them with new ones for spring!

Now that everything is all spick and span, it’s your job to keep it that way! Find solutions that keep mail and keys in their place and off the tables, like a mail sorter and key rack. Magazine racks are handy places to store catalogs. Spring showers are a given, so be prepared with an umbrella stand and coat rack. If you store shoes in the entryway, kick them off into a stylish shoe rack. With these simple solutions, you’ll have a place for everything and your entryway will be organized.

Happy Organizing!

-Mrs. O

Here is a list of tools you may want to gather when you are Spring Cleaning your Garage:

Heavy Duty Storage Bins, Lawn and Garden Storage, Sports & Bicycle Storage, Overhead & Attic Storage, Wall Storage Systems

Now that you have all the tools you need, it’s time to get started.  Here’s how:

Once you’ve gone through all the cabinets, boxes, old holiday decorations, etc. and decided what you want to keep, it’s time to organize everything; and we mean everything! Buy matching bins for all storage items, you’ll be amazed how clean your garage feels with coordinating storage containers. Store items you need access to frequently on lower shelves, and seasonal or keepsake items up high.

Next organize the wandering sports equipment and bikes. Using a large bin, rack, or multi-compartment sorter, your sports equipment will remain in one place and easy to find. Utilize wall and ceiling space with mountable bike racks.

Now we can get down to the important things…tools! Tools are only useful if they are accessible.  A tool board organizer is a great solution for organizing tools to have handy as fast as you can say Tim the Tool Man Taylor! The Schulte Grid System is convenient for storing larger, lawn and garden type tools.

Happy Organizing!

-Mrs. O

Here is a list of tools you may want to gather when you are Spring Cleaning your Junk Drawer:

Toy Bins, Boxes & Cubbies, Toy Hammock, Stacking Storage Boxes, Book Case

Now that you have all the tools you need, it’s time to get started.  Here’s how:

This might be the only time you tell your child, “dump all the toys on the floor!” This is a great way to see what you’re dealing with and can easily sort what your child wants to keep or decide what they have grown out of. Make a pile to donate or sell at your next garage sale.

Next, step into your child’s shoes and help him or her organize from the bottom of the room to the top. Most used toys should live on lower shelves, and higher cabinets or shelves should store the less frequently used toys and keepsakes. Sort the remaining toys by category: Books, blocks, trucks & cars, dolls & accessories, kitchen toys, happy meal giveaways etc. Use items like the Snap N’ Stack Container or Lego® 4-piece Square Stacking Basket to store smaller items. Large Bins are perfect for dolls & accessories, trucks & blocks, movies, games, etc.

Happy Organizing!

-Mrs. O

Here is a list of tools you may want to gather when you are Spring Cleaning your Junk Drawer:

Garbage Bag, Cleaning Cloth, All Purpose Cleaner, Measuring Tape, Utility Drawer Organizer

Now that you have all the tools you need, it’s time to get started.  Here’s how:

Dive right in! By emptying the drawer completely so it’s easy to start fresh. Toss out trash, old pens, unknown keys, expired batteries, etc. Remove any items that don’t belong in this drawer. While the drawer is empty, wipe down completely with some all purpose cleaner and a cleaning cloth. You’ll be surprised what has built up through the years!

Measure the height, width and depth of the drawer and find a drawer organizer that fits your drawer; or one that is customizable to fit most size drawers. Sort the remaining contents and group like items together, pens, keys, rubber bands, sticky notes, etc. Put back all the contents, organizing them into compartments with your new drawer organizer!

Happy Organizing!

-Mrs. O

Here is a list of tools you may want to gather when you are preparing your Winter Storage:

Garment Racks, Garment Bags, Storage & Space Bags, Under Bed Storage, Hangers, Lidded Storage Bins, Canvas Sweater Chests with Cedar Inserts, Labels

Now that you have all the tools you need, it’s time to get started.  Here’s how:

As you go through your winter gear, sort through what to keep or donate, while throwing away any damaged or broken items. It’s always a good idea to launder or clean all items thoroughly before packing them so they don’t sit dirty for 4-6 months.

With the remaining items you want to store, sort them into categories so you can easily label and find items for later use; for example: coats/jackets, sweaters, snow gear, boots, scarves, etc. Now start packing!

If you have little storage space: Storage Bags are a great way to protect and store your winter clothing while taking up little space. Under bed storage items are also a good solution for homes with limited space. Protect coats and wools by storing them in Canvas Sweater Chests with Cedar Inserts (Tip: be careful with mothballs, they are deadly to children and that’s why cedar is preferred to protect your clothing from insects).

If you have lots of storage space: Garment Racks are great for winter storage because they provide easy access to coats when needed. Be careful not to hang sweaters or knit items because over time this can cause the items to lose form. Plastic Storage bins are another favorable option, the clear containers allow you to see the contents and they come in all sizes to fit your needs. Once you have decided on storage containers, fill them with your hanging or folded items. Tip: Don’t over pack your containers! You want to ensure that air can still circulate.

Next, Labels! Labeling boxes, or if you have multiple garment racks or bags, is the easiest way to keep your clothes organized so you can find what you’re looking for without having to open it all up.

Last but not least, don’t forget the four storage necessities!
Clean: Wash the area thoroughly before storing
Cool: Choose a place that is not likely to be exposed to heat
Dark: A dark place will prevent fading and keep the area and clothing cool
Dry: Make sure the storage area is dry because moisture will attract mildew and insects

Happy Organizing!

-Mrs O