Not everyone is lucky enough to have a pantry, and those who actually
have one most likely have a relatively small and narrow one.
Our home in particular came with a built in door pantry, but like Ii
said, the pantry is very small, and very narrow. It fits canned goods in
it easily, but we really use it to squeeze in just about everything
that does not have to go in main cabinets or the refrigerator.
Keeping the pantry organized is what allows us to add more items into
it, rather than opening up the cabinet and having boxes of cereal or
containers of spaghetti landing on our heads.
The first is to keep larger canned goods at the very bottom of the
bracket. If your pantry goes down to the floors level, pile large cans
at the very bottom. Having a huge can of peaches or pickles land on
your, or your child's head could be very dangerous. So keep the heavy
stuff at the bottom.
If you have room, pile smaller canned goods on top of the larger
canned goods. If not, place them on the next shelf above them.
Other larger unopened containers of pickles, and so forth should also
be kept very close to the floor level, or the bottom shelf if there is
room. Heavier items not only pose a danger for falling on you, but they
could also cause shelving to actually dip, which in the long run will
call for replacement.
Cereal, and boxes of macaroni can go at the very top of the pantry for
easy storage. Placing them side by side, will allow for more room.
I highly recommend placing macaroni, and cereal in air tight
containers to keep out moths and other creepy bugs. Doing so will also
keep foods fresher for far longer.
If space in an issue, and you buy snacks that come sealed in
individual packages, you can remove each item from the box, and sit them
in the pantry on a rack that you can hang on the door, like the one you
see here.
Do not place jars, or other heavy items on this rack though. If you
pull the door open too hard, they could cause heavy cans to land on your
toes, which could actually call for stitches depending on where and how
it landed.
It is all basically a simple rule to remember; heavy stuff at the
bottom shelves or the floor, and lighter boxes on the top shelves.
Monday, July 21, 2014
Teach Your Child How to Organize His or Her Closet
Let's face it, cleaning up the house is not a fun task. Most adults have
full time jobs, and some of us work 2 jobs. For those of you with full
time jobs, and children in the home, getting them to pitch in can
sometimes be difficult. However a method my mother consistently used on
me as a child is a method I actually still use today, and pass on to
children in the family.
Making clean up, and organizing fun actually will do you a world of wonders. Plus it is one less thing you have to clean up.
Most kids already know how to pick up after themselves by the time they are 4. Their rooms may look pretty clean, but look under the bed, or the dreaded closet and it's usually a whole other story. A story of messes and mayhem.
My niece in particular keeps a neat and tidy room, however her cleaning method includes piling things up to the ceiling in her closet, and hiding garbage under her bed for when she is told to clean up.
Organizing her closet is like a nightmare, and after opening it up and realizing why, it all made sense. Her closet only consists of a hanger bar, and a floor. There were no shelves for organizing, no cubbies for placing items such as arts and crafts. Instead what we had was a pile of everything, all rolled into one huge mess. So badly that I doubt she would even look for something in there if she wanted to.
Organization boxes, and a simple shoe rack could have made a huge difference.
You can buy simple closet organizers at Walmart or Target, which keep children from piling things on the floor in the closet. Organizing shelves make it easier for children to neatly place their things in. You can even label shelves and cubbies to make it easier for them to remember where things go.
Plastic containers like these, can be used to place toys in quickly. Smaller containers can hold lose crayons and markers.
Purchasing a simple weekly clothing organizer like here, make organizing a lot of fun, and not so much a task. This organizer uses days of the week in order for the child to pick their outfits for the week.
To keep a child on top of keeping things organized in a closet, they are going to need organizers. You cannot expect them to keep things tidy and neat if all they have to work with is a hanger bar. You need cubbies, shelves, racks, and plastic containers in order to keep things neat.
You can buy things separately, or you can buy all out full closet organizer's such as these. Keep things fun by adding a reward system to keeping the room, and the closet neat. My mom would room check every single day, and on the wall there was a calendar where she would place a star sticker every time the room was neat. If we had 5 or more stickers by the end of the week, we got a reward in the form of a toy, a game, or whatever my brother and I could agree on. Reward systems always worked in my family, and they should work in yours too.
Making clean up, and organizing fun actually will do you a world of wonders. Plus it is one less thing you have to clean up.
Most kids already know how to pick up after themselves by the time they are 4. Their rooms may look pretty clean, but look under the bed, or the dreaded closet and it's usually a whole other story. A story of messes and mayhem.
My niece in particular keeps a neat and tidy room, however her cleaning method includes piling things up to the ceiling in her closet, and hiding garbage under her bed for when she is told to clean up.
Organizing her closet is like a nightmare, and after opening it up and realizing why, it all made sense. Her closet only consists of a hanger bar, and a floor. There were no shelves for organizing, no cubbies for placing items such as arts and crafts. Instead what we had was a pile of everything, all rolled into one huge mess. So badly that I doubt she would even look for something in there if she wanted to.
Organization boxes, and a simple shoe rack could have made a huge difference.
You can buy simple closet organizers at Walmart or Target, which keep children from piling things on the floor in the closet. Organizing shelves make it easier for children to neatly place their things in. You can even label shelves and cubbies to make it easier for them to remember where things go.
Plastic containers like these, can be used to place toys in quickly. Smaller containers can hold lose crayons and markers.
Purchasing a simple weekly clothing organizer like here, make organizing a lot of fun, and not so much a task. This organizer uses days of the week in order for the child to pick their outfits for the week.
To keep a child on top of keeping things organized in a closet, they are going to need organizers. You cannot expect them to keep things tidy and neat if all they have to work with is a hanger bar. You need cubbies, shelves, racks, and plastic containers in order to keep things neat.
You can buy things separately, or you can buy all out full closet organizer's such as these. Keep things fun by adding a reward system to keeping the room, and the closet neat. My mom would room check every single day, and on the wall there was a calendar where she would place a star sticker every time the room was neat. If we had 5 or more stickers by the end of the week, we got a reward in the form of a toy, a game, or whatever my brother and I could agree on. Reward systems always worked in my family, and they should work in yours too.
Clear the Clutter in Your Home
I come from a family of hoarders. We like to save everything, and our
preferences and tastes change nearly every year, so the clutter tends to
add up pretty quickly.
In the past, on one end table in our home we may have a Halloween decoration still laying out in the winter months. Or a snow globe that managed to sit on a windowsill for far too long.
De-cluttering the home can be done by simply labeling boxes according to seasons, and placing things that you have lying around that do not fit with the season. Doing this not only will clear a lot of clutter, but it also makes decorating according to the seasons a lot more easy, and a lot funner.
Another thing that I personally do every time I clean up messes in the house is stopping and asking myself whenever I pick something up that has been lying around for a long time;'do I need this?'
Usually the answer is no. If I cannot find a reason, a good reason, to keep the object I will ask other relatives in my family if they want it. That way I don't have to throw it out, and I know they will use it.
If no one wants it, I toss it into a large plastic bin and label it with the words Yard Sale. If I have no need for it, and no one else wants it, I figure I could at least make a few dollars off of it at the end of the year. Usually whatever does not sell at our yearly yard sales, I will donate it to local community charities.
Another way to keep clutter out of your house is to stop yourself every time you lay something down on a table, or counter. If you recently removed the clutter from the counter, old habits usually resurface. So while you enjoy the cluster free environment for a short amount of time, it is not long before it builds up again.
Instead of just lying something down on a counter or table top, put it where it would actually belongs. Most clutter in people's homes are simply objects that were placed down where they did not go, and sheer laziness caused it to remain there for way too long.
I personally have a bad habit of doing this. I usually will buy something, place it down on the table, and tell myself I will use it later, or put it away later. I realize now, that telling myself 'I will do it later' is basically a lie. Instead of doing it later, 'do it now'. It will save you hours of clean up time down the line. It's a habit you will have to get comfortable doing, but over time with force, it does work.
Clearing clutter in the home is not a difficult task at all, but keeping the home clutter free is.
Like I said, if you keep certain items in boxes and only bring them out on the appropriate holiday, it will clear the clutter, and will allow you to keep things you want, without having to throw them out.
Forcing yourself to place things where they really belong also helps keep the home free of future clutter.
In the past, on one end table in our home we may have a Halloween decoration still laying out in the winter months. Or a snow globe that managed to sit on a windowsill for far too long.
De-cluttering the home can be done by simply labeling boxes according to seasons, and placing things that you have lying around that do not fit with the season. Doing this not only will clear a lot of clutter, but it also makes decorating according to the seasons a lot more easy, and a lot funner.
Another thing that I personally do every time I clean up messes in the house is stopping and asking myself whenever I pick something up that has been lying around for a long time;'do I need this?'
Usually the answer is no. If I cannot find a reason, a good reason, to keep the object I will ask other relatives in my family if they want it. That way I don't have to throw it out, and I know they will use it.
If no one wants it, I toss it into a large plastic bin and label it with the words Yard Sale. If I have no need for it, and no one else wants it, I figure I could at least make a few dollars off of it at the end of the year. Usually whatever does not sell at our yearly yard sales, I will donate it to local community charities.
Another way to keep clutter out of your house is to stop yourself every time you lay something down on a table, or counter. If you recently removed the clutter from the counter, old habits usually resurface. So while you enjoy the cluster free environment for a short amount of time, it is not long before it builds up again.
Instead of just lying something down on a counter or table top, put it where it would actually belongs. Most clutter in people's homes are simply objects that were placed down where they did not go, and sheer laziness caused it to remain there for way too long.
I personally have a bad habit of doing this. I usually will buy something, place it down on the table, and tell myself I will use it later, or put it away later. I realize now, that telling myself 'I will do it later' is basically a lie. Instead of doing it later, 'do it now'. It will save you hours of clean up time down the line. It's a habit you will have to get comfortable doing, but over time with force, it does work.
Clearing clutter in the home is not a difficult task at all, but keeping the home clutter free is.
Like I said, if you keep certain items in boxes and only bring them out on the appropriate holiday, it will clear the clutter, and will allow you to keep things you want, without having to throw them out.
Forcing yourself to place things where they really belong also helps keep the home free of future clutter.
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Hanging Christmas Lights in Hard to Reach, High Places Has Never Been Easier!
Decorating the home with Christmas lights is one of my favorite things
to do around this time of year. Last year however it took us
approximately 8 hours of decorating.
We go wild; we go nuts; we are the neighborhood Chevy Chase.
This year though, we discovered one simple tool that literately saved us hours of time, and not to mention this tool made hanging lights in high places a heck of a lot safer!
Gone are the days of having to tug a huge ladder along with us. Gone are the days where we had to worry about falling off of the ladder, and gone are the days of drawing straws to determine who was going to be the person who had to climb the ladder to hang the lights in high places.
The simple tool you ask?
It's called a No Ladder Light Hanging System, and it can be easily located in the Christmas lights and decorations isle at your local Home Depot. The price may have you wary ($19.99), but trust me, you will be glad you spent the money on this one.
It's a tool I wish I would have discovered years ago!
It comes packaged with a pole that can be extended up to 11 feet. It has a small hook attachment that allows you to pop on the plastic gutter clips. After you have the clips in place on your gutter, you then run the Christmas lights through a groove located on the pole, and you raise it up, and place the lights onto the gutter hooks. An entire roof can have lights rigged up in less than 10 minutes. A job that normally would take an hour.
Everything worked simply, efficiently and quickly! I was seriously amazed at how much time this simple little tool saved us. The best thing about it was that not once did we have to bring out the ladder.
Adding lights into very high trees we could not reach before was now done simply, easily, and in less than a few minutes.
While we watched our neighbor across the street struggle with a large ladder, we quickly rigged up lights in half the time, allowing us more time to decorate even more areas in our yard than we normally would.
If you have not set up your Christmas lights yet, than I suggest you go out and get one of these kits immediately!
But what if I don't have a gutter? Why do I need this kit?
If you do not have a gutter, and have no use for a kit that contains gutter clips, than you can use a painters pole that had an extend-able arm to rig lights up in high trees.
You can find simple painters poles at Home Depot for half the price of this kit. You will want to make sure you attach a paint roller piece to the pole though in order to drape the lights over as you raise them up into the high branches of your trees.
Have fun, and Happy Holidays!!!
We go wild; we go nuts; we are the neighborhood Chevy Chase.
This year though, we discovered one simple tool that literately saved us hours of time, and not to mention this tool made hanging lights in high places a heck of a lot safer!
Gone are the days of having to tug a huge ladder along with us. Gone are the days where we had to worry about falling off of the ladder, and gone are the days of drawing straws to determine who was going to be the person who had to climb the ladder to hang the lights in high places.
The simple tool you ask?
It's called a No Ladder Light Hanging System, and it can be easily located in the Christmas lights and decorations isle at your local Home Depot. The price may have you wary ($19.99), but trust me, you will be glad you spent the money on this one.
It's a tool I wish I would have discovered years ago!
It comes packaged with a pole that can be extended up to 11 feet. It has a small hook attachment that allows you to pop on the plastic gutter clips. After you have the clips in place on your gutter, you then run the Christmas lights through a groove located on the pole, and you raise it up, and place the lights onto the gutter hooks. An entire roof can have lights rigged up in less than 10 minutes. A job that normally would take an hour.
Everything worked simply, efficiently and quickly! I was seriously amazed at how much time this simple little tool saved us. The best thing about it was that not once did we have to bring out the ladder.
Adding lights into very high trees we could not reach before was now done simply, easily, and in less than a few minutes.
While we watched our neighbor across the street struggle with a large ladder, we quickly rigged up lights in half the time, allowing us more time to decorate even more areas in our yard than we normally would.
If you have not set up your Christmas lights yet, than I suggest you go out and get one of these kits immediately!
But what if I don't have a gutter? Why do I need this kit?
If you do not have a gutter, and have no use for a kit that contains gutter clips, than you can use a painters pole that had an extend-able arm to rig lights up in high trees.
You can find simple painters poles at Home Depot for half the price of this kit. You will want to make sure you attach a paint roller piece to the pole though in order to drape the lights over as you raise them up into the high branches of your trees.
Have fun, and Happy Holidays!!!
The Benefits of Installing an Under Sink Water Filter
Bottled water in the long run can cost your family a lot of money, and
if you actually add it up at the end of the year, bottled water could
cost you hundreds of dollars.
If you were to buy an under sink water filtration system it would of saved you a ton of money at the end of the year; not only that, you'd be keeping the planet cleaner and greener. Most people use the excuse that tap water is dirty, or that it does not taste right. People actually look at you funny if you drink water straight from the tap these days.
Recently, thanks to the included digital reader that came with Zero Water, I discovered that bottled water is not much cleaner than your tap water. So you can throw the bottled water is cleaner than tap theory out the window. That bottled water that you are drinking consistently is just as healthy as that tap water you refuse to drink.
At any rate, no one wants dirty water. Everyone wants healthy, clean water, and to achieve such water you have to have a filter. You can buy a pitcher filter like Zero Water and store it in your fridge, or you can buy an under sink water filtration system.
Don't panic, it only sounds expensive. I'm sure the reason most avoid an under sink water filter is that they think it's out of their league as far as costs go, but there are many under sink water filters that you can easily attach to your sink, and the cost is very fair.
You can buy a Culligan for as low as $60.00. The system comes with a reminder of when to change the filter.
As wonderful as the Zero Water Filter has been (you can read review here), it does require a bit of shelf space in order to store it. A benefit of installing an under sink filter is that it won't take up any space at all.
Other obvious benefits are of course not having to throw out bottles and bottles of water. Besides that, after testing bottled water, it's quite clear that it's not as purified as one would imagine.
An under the sink filter will clear your water of 99% of all contamination.
The reasons for choosing an under the sink filter are obvious. It takes up no space, there are no plastic bottles to waste, earth stays greener, and your water is cleaner. Mostly, buying a filter saves you money, which is what all of us could use more of.
If you were to buy an under sink water filtration system it would of saved you a ton of money at the end of the year; not only that, you'd be keeping the planet cleaner and greener. Most people use the excuse that tap water is dirty, or that it does not taste right. People actually look at you funny if you drink water straight from the tap these days.
Recently, thanks to the included digital reader that came with Zero Water, I discovered that bottled water is not much cleaner than your tap water. So you can throw the bottled water is cleaner than tap theory out the window. That bottled water that you are drinking consistently is just as healthy as that tap water you refuse to drink.
At any rate, no one wants dirty water. Everyone wants healthy, clean water, and to achieve such water you have to have a filter. You can buy a pitcher filter like Zero Water and store it in your fridge, or you can buy an under sink water filtration system.
Don't panic, it only sounds expensive. I'm sure the reason most avoid an under sink water filter is that they think it's out of their league as far as costs go, but there are many under sink water filters that you can easily attach to your sink, and the cost is very fair.
You can buy a Culligan for as low as $60.00. The system comes with a reminder of when to change the filter.
As wonderful as the Zero Water Filter has been (you can read review here), it does require a bit of shelf space in order to store it. A benefit of installing an under sink filter is that it won't take up any space at all.
Other obvious benefits are of course not having to throw out bottles and bottles of water. Besides that, after testing bottled water, it's quite clear that it's not as purified as one would imagine.
An under the sink filter will clear your water of 99% of all contamination.
The reasons for choosing an under the sink filter are obvious. It takes up no space, there are no plastic bottles to waste, earth stays greener, and your water is cleaner. Mostly, buying a filter saves you money, which is what all of us could use more of.
Tips on Installing a New Bathtub Drain
When installing a new bathtub in your bathroom you will also have to
install a new bathtub drain, the idea alone of having to do it yourself
is aggravating sometimes, and most folks simply hire a plumber to do the
job. The reality though is that you can save yourself a lot of money if
you just did it yourself.
Most hardware stores sell bathtub drain kits that you can use to replace an old drain.
Most kits come with everything needed in order to install it correctly.
Step by step instructions are also always included. You can find such kits ranging from $20.00 to $200+.
Installing the drain is relatively simple; however before you install it, you have to make sure your bathtub is already installed and in place. You cannot attach a drain without first having the tub where it is supposed to be. That's really common sense though.
-For those of you looking to replace old bathtub drains due to leaking, or consistent clogging and flooding, you can do the exact same thing as those installing a new bathtub. You will first have to unscrew your old mechanism and remove it from the tub.
-You will then want to go out and find a bathtub drain kit. Do your best to find a kit that matches your old drain set up. The best way to go about this would be to bring your old one with you when you go to the hardware store. This will make it a lot easier when you need a match.
-Once you have your kit, install it in the same manner that you took it apart. You can also follow the directions inside of the new kit. That's honestly your best option.
If you are having problems with the drain lever not going up to drain the water, you could always remove that, and install a simple rubber plug. Rubber plugs are not as flattering as standard drain plugs, but they do the job, and most of them cost less than $2.00.
If it is a clog that is keeping the drain top up, you could always try to clear the clog with a long metal hook, or a coat hanger.
Installing a new bathtub drain is not as large as a hassle as many assume. Calling a plumber will of course be the easiest option, but it certainly is not your cheapest option.
For drain kits you can check online by using your favorite search engine and looking up drain kits.
Most hardware stores sell bathtub drain kits that you can use to replace an old drain.
Most kits come with everything needed in order to install it correctly.
Step by step instructions are also always included. You can find such kits ranging from $20.00 to $200+.
Installing the drain is relatively simple; however before you install it, you have to make sure your bathtub is already installed and in place. You cannot attach a drain without first having the tub where it is supposed to be. That's really common sense though.
-For those of you looking to replace old bathtub drains due to leaking, or consistent clogging and flooding, you can do the exact same thing as those installing a new bathtub. You will first have to unscrew your old mechanism and remove it from the tub.
-You will then want to go out and find a bathtub drain kit. Do your best to find a kit that matches your old drain set up. The best way to go about this would be to bring your old one with you when you go to the hardware store. This will make it a lot easier when you need a match.
-Once you have your kit, install it in the same manner that you took it apart. You can also follow the directions inside of the new kit. That's honestly your best option.
If you are having problems with the drain lever not going up to drain the water, you could always remove that, and install a simple rubber plug. Rubber plugs are not as flattering as standard drain plugs, but they do the job, and most of them cost less than $2.00.
If it is a clog that is keeping the drain top up, you could always try to clear the clog with a long metal hook, or a coat hanger.
Installing a new bathtub drain is not as large as a hassle as many assume. Calling a plumber will of course be the easiest option, but it certainly is not your cheapest option.
For drain kits you can check online by using your favorite search engine and looking up drain kits.
Tips on Installing a Towel Bar in Your Bathroom
We've got two towel bars in our bathroom and two towel rings. The first
bit of advice I'd like to offer you would be to completely avoid those
ridiculous suction cup towel bars; they don't work, and if you
accidentally grab on to one for leverage when getting in or out of your
shower, you could really hurt yourself if it lost its suction.
With that said, the next thing you want to do is determine the length of the towel bar. Do you have a small bathroom or a large one?
Pick a towel bar that will look proper in your bathroom. Recently I was in a friend's smaller bathroom that had a towel bar that ran across the entire wall. It looked stupid, and really if you are not going to practice your ballet with the bar, then don't install one that's too long.
Your next thing when installing a towel bar is to base it off of your wall. Towel bars are a lot easier to install in a standard wall, but some people have tiled walls. When purchasing a towel bar think about the trouble involved depending on your wall type.
If you have tiles, do you want to drill into them and risk cracking one, or would you rather apply one using a silicone caulk. Safer than suction cups, but not guaranteed to stay on the wall forever. If you have tiled walls, then use the silicone caulk to install the towel bar. You really want to avoid cutting tiles if you don't need to.
For those with regular walls, one problem many face is finding the wall stud. When installing the towel bar you really want to make sure each end is even with your wall studs. This sometimes can be an impossible task, especially if you have a smaller bathroom.
If you cannot find two studs, then you can always install one end of the towel bar to a wall stud, and install the other end of the bar using a wall anchor. You want a lot of support for wet towels so the towel bar does not fall down. The stud and wall anchor should provide plenty of support to heavier, wet towels.
Basically when installing a towel bar, find your wall studs before going out to buy the bar. After you find the studs, determine what type of towel bar you want, and install it depending on your wall type as discussed above.
Another personal tip of mine would be to steer clear of plastic towel bars with metal rods inside of them. Our last one broke with the weight of the towel. The metal bar stood intact, but we had to remove it due to the broken plastic.
With that said, the next thing you want to do is determine the length of the towel bar. Do you have a small bathroom or a large one?
Pick a towel bar that will look proper in your bathroom. Recently I was in a friend's smaller bathroom that had a towel bar that ran across the entire wall. It looked stupid, and really if you are not going to practice your ballet with the bar, then don't install one that's too long.
Your next thing when installing a towel bar is to base it off of your wall. Towel bars are a lot easier to install in a standard wall, but some people have tiled walls. When purchasing a towel bar think about the trouble involved depending on your wall type.
If you have tiles, do you want to drill into them and risk cracking one, or would you rather apply one using a silicone caulk. Safer than suction cups, but not guaranteed to stay on the wall forever. If you have tiled walls, then use the silicone caulk to install the towel bar. You really want to avoid cutting tiles if you don't need to.
For those with regular walls, one problem many face is finding the wall stud. When installing the towel bar you really want to make sure each end is even with your wall studs. This sometimes can be an impossible task, especially if you have a smaller bathroom.
If you cannot find two studs, then you can always install one end of the towel bar to a wall stud, and install the other end of the bar using a wall anchor. You want a lot of support for wet towels so the towel bar does not fall down. The stud and wall anchor should provide plenty of support to heavier, wet towels.
Basically when installing a towel bar, find your wall studs before going out to buy the bar. After you find the studs, determine what type of towel bar you want, and install it depending on your wall type as discussed above.
Another personal tip of mine would be to steer clear of plastic towel bars with metal rods inside of them. Our last one broke with the weight of the towel. The metal bar stood intact, but we had to remove it due to the broken plastic.
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