Organizing 101/ Oct & Nov - Closets and Kitchens

[BernardandMissBianca]

So we missed Octobers room so I’m combining October and November.

First up, Closets.

Goal – Get ready for the change of season
Treat - New hangers, shoe racks, over the door storage system.

Declutter:
- Go through closets, culling anything that doesn’t fit, doesn’t belong, needs repair or doesn’t appeal to you anymore. Remove clothing you haven’t worn in a year and put a box to give to your kids or favorite charity.
- Group remaining items by category; shirts, pants, sweaters, belts, bags, and coats.

Clean:
- vacuum and clean walls, shelves, floors, and any storage containers.
- Dry-clean or launder out of season clothes and coats and make necessary repairs before storing them somewhere.

Maintain:
- Rehang and store your grouped belongings in designated closet sections.
- Set up a crate or storage bin for each member of the family in communal closet areas.
- Hang mesh storage bags on hooks to hold seasonal sports equipment and school athletic uniforms.
- Install over the door storage systems or hooks to hold belts, accessories, shoes, hats, mittens, and scarves.
- Keep a bow or crate in the bottom of the kids’ closets for clothes they ourtgrow during the year.


Links to previous months:
Jan/Family room
Feb/Office - scraproom
March/Basement
April/Living room
May/Attic
June/Dining Room
July/Bathrooms
August - Bedrooms
September - Garage

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Kitchen

Goal – Get ready for the holidays

Treat – Go out to eat (keeps the kitchen clean longer)

Declutter:
- Empty cupboards, drawers, and other storage units and group together similar items, making piles for things to keep, donate, toss, or store elsewhere. Check for bug infestation.
- Strip bulletin boards and fridge doors, tossing the outdated stuff and finding a proper home for the rest.
- Cull recipe boxes or rarely used cookbooks to toss or store elsewhere.

Clean:
- Vacuum and clean shelves, walls, baseboards, ceiling, cupboards, light fixtures, windows, screens, and curtains.
- Unplug and clean microwave, kitchen fans, stovetop, and oven.
- Unplug and empty the refrigerator. Clean gaskets, shelves, storage bins, and freezer compartment; vacuum coils. (I don’t unplug it but that’s what it said to do)

Maintain:
- Rearrange cupboards so items are closest to where you use them.
- Store duplicate utensils or seldom -used items in a labeled box in the basement, or give to a friend or charity.
- Divide the bulletin board to give each family member a special section to check for messages and reminders.
- Clean out the fridge right before you go shopping.
- Quick clean a drawer once a month while talking on the phone.
- Restock fridge and pantry shelves by grouping food in categories; vegetables, condiments, dairy products
- Label and date canned goods as they are stored. Use the old before the new.
- Use Ziploc bags or canisters to seal out bugs from flour, rice, and pasta.

 

[aroyer]

Ewww....

Ok, ok, I will try to tackle A closet. Maybe.

The kitchen might be a little less daunting.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Ewww....

Ok, ok, I will try to tackle A closet. Maybe.

The kitchen might be a little less daunting.

I did the front hall closet about 2 weeks ago. It wasn't too bad. I did have DH go into the loft this week and pull down the bins of winter clothes so my room is trashed! I need to clean out my closet which has major ewww factor! LOL

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

But the closets are where we hide the stuff that we don't really want to acknowledge that they should be thrown away.
Guess I'll have to do the kitchen. I like the eating out part of the treat.

 

[PrincessNancy96]

I'll start on this in a week..got to get through this weekend first!!! My gosh.. this week is like a blur!

DS11 & DS7's closets were cleaned last weekend.. DD's is a lost cause.. I cleaned it last month...and it's already trashed... it drives me nuts..
DsS's closets are not my domain..that is DHs deal to tackle..
DH cleans out closet out routinely.... LOL I guess that is what you get when your DW refuses to put our laundry away after putting away 5 kids' clothes away and re-straightening their drawers every WEEK!!! EERRRRRR!!!!!!!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

But the closets are where we hide the stuff that we don't really want to acknowledge that they should be thrown away.

 

[aroyer]

But the closets are where we hide the stuff that we don't really want to acknowledge that they should be thrown away.

That's what I was thinkin! My closet seriously needs to be cleaned out. I just don't wanna!!!

 

[Lisa]

Organizing 101/ Oct & Nov - Closets

If I clean out the closets, where am I to hid my junk?

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

If I clean out the closets, where am I to hid my junk?

basement??? there should be room, we did that in March remember???

 

[123SA]

I did it! I cleaned out the coat closet! I matched all gloves and threw out the singles. Washed all hats, gloves, and scarves. Vacuumed and rearranged! I am hopeless as a housekeeper so I am quite proud of myself!

DH and I did DD7 closet this weekend. The plaster walls are being replaced in her room today, so we had to do it. Not sure if it counts yet though. The stuff is out and sorted through, but not yet replaced.

I did DS4 and DS2 in early October when I got out the change of seasons clothes (even though it was still 80+ degrees).

I don't think I'll be doing any more closets -- I'll be cleaning up plaster dust for the next month.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Susan!

You are awesome. Matching gloves? Whew. I have so many not matching ones, but I just wear those. Much to the dismay of my children.

 

[AlreadyexcitedGrammy]

ah ............ I cleaned out the "hall" closet over the weekend - the one where I stash gifts that I buy throughout the year - yep - it is clean as a "whistle" BUT the spare bedroom (recipent of the hall closet goods) looks like a cyclone hit it right now

Couple of weeks ago, my DH cleaned the coat closet AND matched gloves etc AND was sure to let me know that he had done so - I do believe there was a message in there, that he had "waited long enough" for it to happen that he finally took care of himself.......... now, I might know the secret........ I bet I can out wait him on the other closets too

I am printing the schedule and going to see if I can tackle some it - thanks for the incentive

 

[ddavis860]

Couple of weeks ago, my DH cleaned the coat closet AND matched gloves etc AND was sure to let me know that he had done so

OMG...that's my DH too! IF he does something that is out of his ordinary stuff (he loves to do the wash), then he has to show me... " Oh Honey, this looks lovely" or " Thanks so much for doing this for me..." Ya know, encourage the good behavior and all

HOWEVER when I clean that toilet, floor, closet, fridge...well you get the picture... it never gets mentioned... I don't have to take his hand and "show" him my big accomplishment...the bright shiney toilet

So, I ask you, what's up with that???? Men, they are just so funny!!

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

I don't have to take his hand and "show" him my big accomplishment...the bright shiney toilet

I did, once.

He thought I was nutz.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I just yell that the toilet is clean and don't touch it! LOL with 4 boys in the house it doesn't stay that way for long though.

Let's see, where I'm at in cleaning......

Closets:
1 closet is done, DH just needs to go through and clear out some coats. He's worse than a girl and her purses.
I washed all the hats and gloves and sorted, paired, and tossed.
Wool scarves are in the dry cleaner bin to go there.

Next up is the boys closet but that's easy. I need to paint it but I need to finish cleaning their room first.

My closet is 1/2 done, got all DH's summer stuff out, now I need to shove all the winter stuff in. That will be his project on Sat while I'm scrapping!


Kitchen:
Drawers are done, DH cleaned out under the sink. That was gross, cause the trash is under there too. Thank god I didn't have to do that job!

That's it so far. Not bad!

 

[aroyer]

Closets:
1 closet is done, DH just needs to go through and clear out some coats. He's worse than a girl and her purses.

 

[New England Eeyore]

I'm lucky - DH and I are totally reverse stereotypes when it comes to cleaning. When I do something major I totally show him and brag (Like a guy). I do try to be appreciative when he does his stuff though. He really does an amazing job on the bathrooms - they do sparkle and shine when he's done and I OOH and AAH over them appropriately.

He does the cleaning, and I do the organizing and de-cluttering, and I do a darn crappy job on my end as you can see by my poor showing on these monthly challenges. This one is half-easy, half-hard. Our closets are in pretty good shape already. 3 bedrooms are fine, front hall is fine, den is fine - it's just 1 bedroom that I use as overflow storage for summer clothes, etc and the kitchen closet need to be reorganized. The kitchen cabinets are in need of some serious attention - I need a good solid day to just go through them and I'm not sure if that will happen this month.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I got my closet done today. Don't ask me how I managed to get all DH's stuff in there but I did. I also got all the suitcases and other misc summer stuff out of my room.

And I organized the furniture side of the loft over the garage! DH is going to be so impressed!

Oh and I just mopped the kitchen floor. I'm mopped into the living room so I figured I'd DIS a bit while the floor dries. LOL

 

[aroyer]

Hey, I cleaned a shelf yesterday!!!

And I mopped the living room and am mopped into my room so I am DISing.