Clients, friends, family (and even strangers) all tell us that they don’t know where to start when it comes to organizing their spaces or they are overwhelmed half way through the project and abandon it.
We get it. It’s a daunting task.
But it’s important not to tackle too much at once - stick to one manageable space at a time.
We recently spoke to Realtor.com and discussed the best organizing projects to tackle based on how much time you have.
As families are starting to think about back-to-school and the dreaded task of setting up dorm rooms, we’ve been receiving questions from clients about our favorite dorm room organizing products. Prepping for dorm life is challenging. There’s limited space and very rarely are the layouts and measurements provided ahead of time.
We put together a list of products that maximize space, fit in almost any space, and most importantly, assist with productivity and efficiency which is crucial for those attending college, especially for the first time.
Check out our list below for some of our favorite dorm room essentials.
This is the perfect solution for a bedside table. This storage compartment fits at the foot of your bed, and it’s super roomy with eight different sized pockets!
We’ve talked about these bamboo charging stations more than once simply because they are fantastic. We have so many devices to charge these days - laptops, AirPods, smart watches, iPhones, iPads, Kindles - and the cord situation can get unruly. This keeps everything contained and eliminates all the tangled wires everywhere. Plus having one home base to charge everything makes a huge difference in productivity.
Shoe storage can be tough in a dorm, especially if closet space is very limited. We love this shoe cabinet because it is extremely slim but can still fit a number of shoes. This would be a great shared system if you have roommates!
This rolling cart has been a sneaky favorite of ours. We bought this for a very narrow space in a bathroom and were pleasantly surprised at its utility. We find ourselves using them in bathrooms, offices, kitchens and playrooms. It comes with hooks to hang items and we’ve added separate containers to the trays to corral smaller items like paper clips. It’s simple to put together too.
We know there are restrictions in dorm rooms, like drilling holes in walls, so we like to use these floating storage units because there is no drilling required. Simply attach to the wall using the adhesive strips. These are also great for interior cabinets or the back of doors.
Laundry baskets can be so cumbersome and the laundry bags still look like a pile of clothes on the floor. We like this lightweight collapsible basket and it can be stored underneath the bed when not in use.
A shower caddy is a must-have on the dorm list which is why there are a ton of versions out there, but after a lot of research we chose this foldable, plastic caddy that takes up little space when not in use.
Another Tidy Nest favorite….storage trays, compartments, organizers, containers, whatever you want to call them… we love them! You can find these products in a variety of materials, styles and price points. In this case, these plastic trays are budget-friendly, easy to clean, come in pretty colors and can be used in desk drawers, dressers, or that rolling cart we mentioned above!
It seems like every guide we create has some kind of hanger. We are very particular about our hangers and while we usually don’t love plastic hangers, these are a great space saving option for small closets.
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Our friends over at OZ Moving put together an article on the importance of decluttering before moving and we wanted to share it here as we find the decluttering step the most important step in any move.
by: Oz Moving
Nobody likes clutter. People who paint your house don’t like it because it takes up too much room and they can’t move about. Exterminators don’t appreciate it because of how much Connecticut-born pests love cramped, piled-up spaces. Not even the movers in Connecticut like clutter, even though transporting lots of stuff can earn them quite a bit of money.
So, if you decide on either painting, exterminating, or moving (which sometimes contains the previous two), you must declutter your home. Though it might seem like a hassle, like it’s too much tiring work before something as major as moving homes, it’s absolutely necessary. In fact, it’s important to do both before and after you move to another home.
In this article, you will learn why getting rid of unwanted, excess things is actually beneficial for your health and wellbeing. Moreover, you’ll figure out how to best deal with clutter in general.
Modern homeowners have too many things in their rooms. In fact, they might have so many items that it borders on hoarding. After all, do you really need old receipts and papers from 17 years ago? What about all of those empty pill bottles and cardboard packages of old branded items?
By reducing the clutter in your home, you get rid of everything you know you simply will not need. With that reduction process done, you will only be left with your important items. And that reduced number of items is much easier to keep track of than the number you originally had. Plus, it helps you save money when hiring movers. The fewer items you take with you, the lower the transportation price. Identifying your most
important possessions should be one of the first steps you take when planning your move.
It’s simple science — clutter can cause a whole range of different physical and psychological problems. It directly affects your mental state, causing feelings of anxiety, depression, and even a few panic disorders. Moreover, if your clutter is in a cold, damp space, mold and mildew might start to grow, and it can gather lots of dust and grime. And as we mentioned earlier, pests and insects love inhabiting tight spaces that don’t get moved about for a while.
On the other hand, decluttering comes with plenty of health benefits. Yes, it handles all of the issues mentioned above. But above that, it also helps you focus, concentrate, and think more clearly than before. Doing a mundane job like decluttering will boost your brain’s logical thinking and reasoning. And you’ll need every active piece of grey matter to pull the move off without a hitch.
Most often, people don’t move alone but get others to help them pack and organize the items. So, if you want both you and your family members to do the move right, you will need some breathing room, both proverbial and literal.
By decluttering your home, you’re left with lots of walking space. That space is crucial for maneuvering around the house with empty boxes of various sizes. And if you want to pack properly and with minimal errors, you need a space where you can think clearly and without pressure. The people who are helping you move will also appreciate the effort. As a matter of fact, you can also ask them to help you declutter. It will serve as a decent warm-up exercise before the actual move itself.
Extra items don’t always need to go to the landfill. When decluttering, you can contact organizations like Goodwill and Salvation Army and donate the items you don’t need. By doing so, you will be helping someone less fortunate and doing the right thing. An old couch for you might be the item that saves a poor family of ten. And if you do it right, you can actually use some of these donations as tax write-offs.
Selling old items is also an excellent way of reducing clutter, and there are plenty of platforms that you can use to do just that. Doing it will earn you some money, and during a move, you will need every single dollar you can get. Though you might not earn too much or sell everything before the moving date, you can still greatly reduce your massive load of items through regular or online retail.
Do you want to enter your new home clean and fresh? Well, so would the person who wants to move into your own home, i.e., the home you’re about to leave. So, in order to provide them with that feeling, you will need to keep it clean and fresh. More importantly, it will give you a sense of closure, as if an old chapter in your life is finally finished and you’re about to start a new one without any lingering emotions or unfinished business.
As odd as it might seem, you will also want to declutter after you move for three major reasons:
It helps you reduce those remaining useless items and earn some more money
You get to bring something special to your new community
It makes you feel refreshed and ready to go.
Let’s discuss each reason a bit further. As stated earlier, you won’t be able to get rid of all the clutter before you actually move house. So, when you’re settling in, you will want to finish the job and get rid of as many useless items as possible. This second round of reduction is perfect, as it only leaves you with what you really need.
You can get rid of these items by either selling them or donating to them. Either way, this is a chance to get on your new community’s good side. By hosting a garage sale or donating to local charities and churches, you can show how willing you are to contribute to your new neighborhood. Plus, it’s an opportunity to meet your fellow neighbors and socialize.
Finally, there’s that feeling of closure again, but this time in a bit of a different sense. By decluttering right after the move and right before settling in, you get to use some of that moving energy and tie up all the loose ends. Then you can kick back, relax, and take the moment in. You’re in your new home, and it looks clean, neat, and amazing.
Believe it or not, even if you have remaining clutter, you don’t have to pile it up and ruin your desired decor. Instead, you can take the advice of maximalist artists and turn said clutter into art. By using simple color coding and design hacks, you can take excess books, dishes, trinkets, and knick-knacks and transform a room from a warehouse to a veritable miniature museum. It will certainly be a conversational piece among the neighbors. But more importantly, it won’t impede your living condition in any way, shape, or form.
The Spruce recently published “What Pros Buy Every Year for Spring Cleaning”. Check out the article to learn about Shannon’s favorite cleaning supply.
Lemon Essential Oil by Grove Collaborative
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We mentioned that one of our goals for 2022 is to read more books and share our findings with all of you.
So first up is a book that sparked my interest in Feng Shui - Simple Shui for Every Day: 365 Ways to Feng Shui Your Life by Amanda Gibby Peters
Amanda is the "Martha Stewart of Feng Shui" so no wonder I was drawn to her (We all know my love for Martha). Amanda makes Feng Shui more digestible and accessible. Her approach is "home improvement-meets-self empowerment" - a combo we can all use.
This book has 365 prompts to help you incorporate Feng Shui practices in your life and home. Some pertain to clutter, some pertain to the 5 Chinese Elements, some pertain to space clearing. There's something for everyone.
We’ll be sharing our monthly take aways here on the blog and each week on Instagram, we’ll share how we implemented it into our own space.
Here are some of the practices we incorporated in our home throughout January.
January 3 - Do one nice thing for your space every week until the end of the year. The first week of January, we smudged our entire house and added new crystals to our space. The second week of January we decluttered the entire home and donated items we longer use or need. Next week we'll be adding fresh flowers to our spaces!
January 5 - Oranges represent "the sweet life" so keep a bowl of oranges in your kitchen and more opportunities to enjoy your life will come your way.
January 11 - Introduce mother nature to your office. Add plants to reduce fatigue, add bright colors to bring life into your surroundings, incorporate natural materials as their chi is more powerful.
January 12 - Remove anything in your home that suggests "struggle". We got rid of all our expired food (and we're embarrassed to share that it was more than we thought), we removed any dying or dead plants (sorry mom) and discarded anything that was worn out or damaged beyond repair.
January 14 - Open your windows once a week. Think “out with the old and in with the new”!
January 18 - Clean that oven! It’s super important in Feng Shui as it attracts personal and financial abundance.
January 21 - Replace photos around your house to make your space feel more alive!
January 25 - Clear off your nightstand - too much stuff in one place causes brain fatigue.
January 28 - Items from nature nurture chi magic in our homes. Find unique ways to incorporate items from nature into your spaces - we have crystals, rocks, plants and feathers everywhere!
January 30 - Amanda says it so well “When you tolerate clutter, energy doesn't flow freely - and if energy isn’t moving, your money situation isn’t either.” Tackle those stacks of papers, magazines and random piles. I was embarrassed to find a year worth of old magazines in my office.
disclaimer:
If you purchase from one of our LTK links, we may earn a small commission.
Keep that nightstand clutter-free
Your bedroom should be a place of rest and relaxation, so bringing anything into the space that negatively alters that energy is a hard no for us.
Inevitably the nightstand tends to be a catchall for all the wrong things - paperwork, iphones and ipads, to-do lists, medicine, stacks of books, too many candles, and in my case, a few too many crystals.
Here are some quick tips to keep your nightstand clutter-free:
🛌 Use your drawers
📥 Add drawer dividers to keep everything corralled; otherwise you're going to be fighting a losing battle against a junk drawer
🧺 If you don't have drawers or if you have exposed shelves, use baskets to contain your items
🔌 Move your electronics outside of the bedroom - it's a big change, but it's well worth it
📚 Stick to one or two books (but no work books allowed!)
Let us know what your nightstand looks like!
Bathrooms tend to be one of the top problematic spaces for our clients.
Space is limited.
Cabinets and drawers are never the right size.
Beauty products come in odd shapes and sizes.
We recently spoke with Family Handyman and shared some of our favorite organizing tips for bathrooms.
On every job, our clients mention their dislike for their junk drawer(s) - it doesn’t close, they can’t find anything, it causes stress when they open it, etc.
We always say the first step in fixing the problem is to stop calling it a junk drawer. A junk drawer will attract….junk. So let’s call it a utility drawer instead.
Sometimes we come across situations where there’s no room for a utility drawer so we have to create an alternative. We spoke to Apartment Therapy about some of our recommendations if you’re tight on space.
Looking for more help with your utility drawers?
Check out our tips in this Apartment Therapy article:
6 Things You’re Probably Doing Wrong With Your Junk Drawer (Apartment Therapy)
The two topics we LOVE the most are organizing and travel. So you can imagine how happy we were to speak to Forbes about organizing travel gear!
Mesh Drawer Systems
The Container Store’s Elfa White Wide Drawer Solution
(image from The Container Store)
Weathertight Totes
The Container Store’s Weathertight Totes
(image from The Container Store)
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We’re always asked about our favorite storage bins so when Apartment Therapy asked us to share our favorite containment at various price points, we had a lot to say!
A favorite under $50
A favorite over $50
If you purchase from one of our LTK links, we may earn a small commission.
Packing for a trip? Packing for the gym? Packing for your commute? Some people love it...some people dread it. You probably know where we stand….Yup, we LOVE it. Especially because we have super fun pouches and bags and lots of checklists. Many clients have ask us for packing tips so we designed a bunch of different checklists to help with the process. If this is new to you, it may seem like extra work, but these checklists are a foolproof way of ensuring that you never get on the plane only to realize you forgot to pack your headphones!
Our team all have different ways of doing things, so we made sure all of our styles and techniques were represented in our new checklists.
If you'd like our packing checklist series emailed to you, sign up for our newsletter and we’ll send them over to you!
Keep it Air Tight: Food should be transferred into airtight containers like the OXO POP canisters, mason jars, or Stasher bags to extend shelf life.
Decant Packaged Food: Decanting packaged food will help if you’re bothered by “label noise” and inconsistent packaging (bags, boxes, tins, etc)… It’s a little extra work, but the result is totally worth it. Why is it worth it you might ask? For three main reasons:
For Convenience - you no longer need to dig through bags of grains or jars of spices labeled in various ways. Everything is uniform and clearly labeled.
For Continuity - you won’t be bombarded with various brands and their in-your-face labels and everything fits evenly on your shelves. This is ONE of Shannon’s pet peeves (there are many).
For Freshness - have you noticed your brown sugar becomes a brick instantly after opening the package? Most of the time the packages your food comes in does not preserve freshness.
Glass Over Plastic: Recycle mismatched plastic containers and invest in a matching glass set. It’s better for the environment, eliminates bacteria, looks nicer, and it’s safer to use in the microwave!
Pro Tip: If you’re editing your mismatched Tupperwear and you happen to need drawer organizers, try using your mismatched plastic containers. It will save you some money and help to organize another space.
Labels: You know by now we LOVE a label. Jot down the expiration date AND the date the package was opened and attach it to the container. We like to use washi tape for easy removal. Labels help you identify when you’re running low and need to replenish, eliminates wasted time spent looking for items and helps the rest of the household find items without asking.
Reminders are key
Labels show the household and guests where to find things and act as a reminder to store things in their proper home.
Avoid running out of an item
Labeled areas help you identify when you’re running low and need to replenish.
Add notes
Add expiration dates and cooking instructions to decanted containers using washi tape or masking tape. Conceal the expiration date by placing a label on the bottom of the container.
‘Miscellaneous’ is not a category!
Avoid using this label. It invites a junk drawer/basket/shelf. Everything should have a home.
Get Creative
You don't have to buy fancy labels or an expensive label maker; just use what you have around the house. The back of business cards, masking tape, paint swatch cards, etc... Just be sure your labels are uniform, that they’ll last and that they’re legible (remember, you're not the only one who will be reading them).
A client recently asked us to share some of our go-to productivity tips (both personally & professionally). As members of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals, and as owners of an organizing business, we love getting these kinds of questions. Here are 6 quick Tidy Nest approved productivity tips that we use every day.
1. Create a to-do list (every night)
Always end the day by creating a to-do list for the next day (whether it’s for work or for personal tasts) in order of priority. This way you’ll know exactly what needs to be done before you wake up. There’s no wasted time figuring out what needs doing or coming up with the day’s schedule. Wake up and dive right in!
2. Designate time slots
At the office, designate time slots for answering emails otherwise you will be answering emails all day....think proactive vs reactive! At home, designate time slots for your self-care practice...if your mind and body are not recharged, your productivity will suffer the following day.
3. Take breaks
There’s no rule for the amount of time you should work and break - just do whatever works for you. Shannon likes to work for an hour and take a 10 minute break. Taylor likes to work for a few hours and take a longer break and Jared takes breaks based on project completion, not necessarily specific timing. Just have some sort of break factored into your day!
4. Identify time traps
Try to identify time traps - what takes a long time to accomplish? Can someone help lift the burden? Is there an app / program / system to help streamline the process? Is the task a good use of your time? Everyone is super busy so it’s important to weed out the unnecessary tasks so you have more room for the important items on your agenda (and more free time for yourself/family/friends).
5. Only touch something once
When tidying, only touch something once. Otherwise you may find myself moving the item from room to room or even counter to counter and never actually dealing with it. You can apply this to tasks at the office - get a project or task done first before moving on to something else.
6. Tackle Quick Tasks First
If a task can be done in less than five minutes, tackle it immediately. Don’t add it to your to-do list for a later date. As Benjamin Franklin (and Shannon’s grandma) would say “don’t put off until tomorrow, what you can do today.”
We asked our clients to identify some of their back-to-school organization woes. Below are their answers along with our tips to help reduce back-to-school stress.
Getting Dressed
Getting everyone dressed for school can be a nightmare for some parents. We suggest taking inventory of each child’s clothes - remove the items that no longer fit, are stained, out of style, or that they just won’t wear again.
Make sure you have each type of clothing grouped together (long sleeve shirts, pants, school uniforms, polos, etc.) to avoid digging through the closet for that specific item.
This may be an ambitious ask, but ask your child to pick out his/her own clothes the night before, or help you select their outfits. This way, you avoid morning meltdowns right before it’s time to catch the bus.
Managing the supplies
Homework assignments and projects tend to require extra supplies like posterboard, construction paper, index cards, art supplies, etc. Have the basics on hand before the school year starts.
Keep the supplies in clear, labeled containers, and in one designated area. This will cut down on those late night runs to Target for pipe cleaners and glue sticks..
Keeping everyone on track
With the start of the school year comes the start of after-school activities / sports which invariably brings scheduling headaches. A calendar system is key to making sure everyone is where they need to be. Each household is different so it’s important to figure out what will work for you. A simple google calendar usually works well or a weekly paper calendar on the refrigerator can still get the job done.
Keeping equipment, uniforms, instruments, etc. in designated places will eliminate those frantic searches for the baseball glove. Take some time to create cubbies, a part of a closet or even bins/totes/baskets in the garage to corral the items for each activity.
Managing the paperwork and projects that enter the home
Create an inbox/outbox in a central location like the kitchen, family office or garage where important papers from school can be dropped off and picked up. Coach the household to drop off the important papers as soon as they come home, and pick up important papers as soon as they leave. No more missing permission slips!
Everyone loves to see the artwork and projects the kids work on at school but the quantity can be overwhelming. Create folders or containers for each child and have them drop their favorite artwork and projects in the folder or container throughout the year. At the end of the year, have them edit the collection and file away the keepsakes. Repeat each year.
If you’re a digital household, try Artkive. They will send you a box that you can full up with your kids’ art, you send back to Arkive, they’ll professionally photograph it and turn it into a stunning keepsake book. If you have time to photograph the art yourself, just download the artkive app! Click to learn more the Box or the App!
Organizing the snack cabinets
Creating lunches and packing snacks for after-school activities can be challenging if your cabinets are disorganized. A quick tidying of the cabinets will go a long way. Group like-items together such as breakfast snacks, lunch snacks, post-game snacks, etc.
Don't forget to label!
If your children are old enough, keep the snacks in a spot they can reach so they can serve themselves
Many of our clients struggle with storing their denim. There's no right or wrong method - it depends on the space, lifestyle, collection. Scroll through to see some methods we use to store denim.
Hang pants using pant hangers
Pro: Visually pleasing, open-end hanger design allows for fast access, non-slip coating, good for high inventory
Con: Hangers are pricey, need to have the hanging space in closet
Hang pants using crisscross method
Pro: Easily access the waistband to see size/style, great for closet with short hanging space, good for high inventory
Con: More time consuming to hang
Tidy Note: This is Jared’s go-to method for storing his denim because he has a ton of different styles and sizes.
File Folding
Pro: Quantity is visible, good for low inventory
Con: Challenging to identify different sizes and styles, need a drawer or basket, does not work on shelves
Tidy Note: This is Taylor’s go-to method for storing her denim because she has a low inventory and limited space.
(One File Folding Image)
Flat Folding
Pro: Quick method, good for low inventory, ideal for open shelves so inventory is visible
Con: Waist band has more material than the hem causing the stack to be lopsided - to eliminate this issue, you can alternate stacking the waistband and hem sides. Difficult to remove denim from bottom of the stack
Tidy Note: This is Shannon’s go-to method for storing her denim because she has a low inventory of denim (and her days working in retail have made folding denim second nature).
(Two Flat Folding images)
Editing is not just for clothes! Beauty products and skincare products need to be edited from time-to-time to avoid the clutter. Follow these easy steps to keep your product inventory manageable.
Lay everything out on a solid background - think white towel - so you can easily see colors.
Group items by makeup, skincare, haircare.
Check the consistency of the products - if things are discolored, smell different or the consistency has changed, set aside to discard.
Check expiration dates. Discard anything that has expired. Check out our recent blog post on beauty expiration dates here.
Eliminate duplicates (give to friends, create a travel bag, set aside to discard).
Place remaining inventory back in your storage system grouping by type (makeup, skincare, haircare) then subcategorize as you see fit. Check out our previous blog posts on the systems we like to use.
Repeat this a few times a year!
Pro Tip: When it comes to discarding - If it’s unused, donate it. If it’s been used and still good but not in your repertoire, offer it to a friend. If the product has expired, check the packaging to see if it can be recycled. Some companies like Lush and MAC accept empties. Companies like Colgate and Garnier have partnered with TerraCycle and will accept empty product packaging from any brand.
It’s Summer (yasssss) and that means lots of outdoor activities. To be properly prepared for each requires just a little bit of planning, and that little bit of planning can make all the difference in creating your picture perfect summer. We’re sharing some of our favorite Summer Organizing Tips to get you ready for the grill, the beach, road trips and picnics. Enjoy!
Create a caddy for BBQ supplies so you’re not rummaging through your kitchen cabinets everytime you want to eat outside. Pick a caddy that holds silverware, napkins, plates, condiments, etc.
•Target: Thirstystone Galvanized Steel Silverware Caddy
•Williams Sonoma: White Hapao Flatware Caddy
Grilling tools are cumbersome and shouldn’t take up prime real estate in the kitchen. Try storing them in a long lidded container, hang them on the grill using a rack or if you have room, get a weatherproof prep cart to store all BBQ supplies.
If you travel to BBQ… Camping Tool Organizer
If you have a grill… Grillinator BBQ Tool Rack
If you have the space…. Keter Unity Indoor Outdoor BBQ Entertainment Storage Table/Prep Station
Keep charcoal in a galvanized trash can to ensure it stays dry. Side Note: We use this for Bird Seed too (not the same can…)
Amazon: Galvanized Steel Trash Can
You’re most likely living out of your car during the summer months - traveling to parks, hiking, picnics, impromptu pool parties, etc. Keep a bag of essentials in your car to avoid packing each time you leave the house. We like bags with structure so they stand up - Scout Bags are super durable, multifunctional and come in fun prints. For specific trunk organizers try a solution with straps to keep secure.
Amazon: SCOUT BAG, Large Utility Tote Bag with 4 Exterior Pockets and Max-Capacity Zipper
Amazon: Drive Auto Products Car Trunk Organizer Storage with Straps
Having a picnic in the park or tailgating at a concert can be a lot of work gathering all the supplies. Pack a picnic supply kit in the beginning of the season and keep it on hand so all you need to do is pack food! We use Scout bags because we love our multifunctional they are (see link above). Mark & Graham has a smart design - three sections, collapsible and has a removable cooler.
Mark & Graham: Calistoga 2-in-1 Car Organizer, Thick Navy Stripe
Don’t forget to pack:
Picnic blanket
Frisbee / Lawn games
Playing cards
Bug spray and SPF
Reusable bottles, cutlery, napkins, plates, etc.
Bottle opener
First-aid kit
Baby wipes/ wet naps / antibacterial spray
Beach Towels
Bathing Suits
Sweatshirt
This one may not be as obvious, but with kids in and out of the refrigerator, more entertaining and (hopefully) a plentiful bounty from the backyard garden, the refrigerator can get a little chaotic.
While rainbow sorted refrigerators are gorgeous, they don’t work for many households. A quick fix - keep everything in glass containers and jars so everything is visible. Kids snacks should be contained in a drawer or area of the refrigerator so the don’t have to spend time rummaging around. We like to keep items corralled in bins and drawers lined for easy clean-up.
The Container Store: InterDesign Linus fridge bins (in various sizes).
If you’re avoiding plastic of any kind (good for you), try using baskets instead.
Spring is always a great time for home organizing projects. While Tidy Nest has been busy on-site helping our clients get ready for spring, we wanted to share some easy spring tasks that you can tackle on your own!
1. When switching out your winter clothes, use weather-tight bins to ensure your clothing is protected from moisture, dirt and pests.
2. This is a great time to identify the items you didn’t wear this season and donate or give to someone else who will enjoy them.
3. Add cedar & lavender sachets to your closet and storage bins to get rid of any musty odors. These are easy to DIY, or to find at an Arts & Crafts store or from Amazon.
4. Go through your pantry and discard any expired items and donate any non-perishable items you don’t use.
5. Take everything out of your refrigerator, discard any expired items, wipe everything down and add some baskets or see-through containers to corral loose items like kids’ snacks, fruit or that hot sauce collection.
6. Edit your food container collection, recycle anything that doesn’t have a top!
7. Find your sunscreen from last summer and check the expiration date. If it’s expired, you can actually use it as shaving cream, unless it looks and smells funky...then toss it!
8. Wipe down all your winter boots and shoes and store them in shoe containers to avoid dust and mold. Be sure to add one of your cedar & lavender sachets to keep the shoes smelling fresh. You’ll add years on to your shoes’ lifespan!
9. Pull out all your outdoor garden supplies, wipe everything down and take stock of what you have / don’t have so you’re not overbuying on that first trip to the nursery!
10. Clean out your car! Replace the snow brushes for the picnic blanket, throw away all those old receipts and food wrappers, and remove all the contents from your car console.
From your home, to your garden and your car, you’ll find yourself more inspired by the spaces you’ll be frequenting this Spring!
Happy Organizing!
-Tidy Nest Team
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