Cupboards

Dishes should be stacked from big to little in like piles. Thankfully I don't have glass or open cupboards! It doesn't look perfect, but we can always find what we need which is the whole point!


When I cleaned out my kitchen the other week I thoroughly organized the spice/baking cupboard. I don't have a very big kitchen and a small pantry. But, by keeping like things together in an organized fashion I can always find what I need and it makes my kitchen feel a lot bigger. Small spaces will always seem bigger after a thorough purge and organization.

Bathroom cupboards seem too hold all different kinds of things, hair bows, combs, toothpaste, toilet paper, make-up, all kinds of things. I don't know about you, but my husband has one shelf and one drawer, whereas I have a drawer, a cupboard and three shelves. Now, I realize I sound like a broken record but the rules of organization are the same for every closet, cupboard, and drawer in your home. Keep like things together, throw out garbage and broken items, and maintain it! Whenever you put something away, put it where it goes! By maintaining all areas of your home you only have to do a major clean out twice a year.

Closets

1. Pick one and start there, don't try to do it all at once.

2. Purge, Purge , Purge! If you haven't worn it in a year it's gone! Unless you were pregnant! I have saved some special clothing, the sweaters we were wearing when we got engaged, my wedding dinner dress, my wedding dress, my favorite baby clothes from my kids, a dress I made in college and a few others. But the key is it I specifically chose to save each piece.

3. Make 4 piles: garbage, keep, donate, sell. Ebay is your friend!

4. Keep a box for clothes your kids have grown out of handy, in the closet if possible. When your child has grown out of an item of clothing, put it in the box, donate it to charity or a friend or family member who has children younger than you.

5. Have a place for everything, shoe racks, baskets for purses, tie racks, belt racks, hooks for hats. These can be found at any Target, IKEA, Wal-Mart, Bed Bath and Beyond, and for not much money.
6. Fold sweaters: it helps them maintain their shape and takes up less room.
7. Hang clothing by type, facing the same direction so you don't waste time searching for certain pieces. My closet goes like this: camisoles/tank tops, short sleeve under shirts (shade), short sleeve tees, nicer tees, short sleeve blouses, quarter length sleeves shirts, blouses, cardigans, long sleeve cottons, blouses, cardigans, jackets. Then there is a section for shorts, Capri's, and pants. Pants are hung from slacks to jeans. Skirts are hung by color and length.
It sounds like a lot of work but once it is done if you put back clothing where it belongs it is easy to maintain. I use the same method with all of my children's hang up clothing, they don't believe quite as strongly as I do about maintaining order, but what's a Mom to do!?! In my baby's closet I hang up clothes to grow into in the back up to one size, so I don't forget I have them. Put on some of your favorite music, get the kids involved, and remember to take it one at a time!

Kitchens

I've spent the last two days deep cleaning and purging my kitchen cupboards and the pantry. I still need to tackle the oven, my least favorite job in the whole world! I started with the pantry and baking cupboard. I threw away or recycled old stuff, are my kids the only ones who put back empty cereal boxes? Then organized the remaining food. Next the appliance cupboard where I took everything out, wiped out the cupboard then put everything I rarely use in the back and things we use the most in the front. Onto the tupperware/bowl/pots and pans. I pretty much just took everything out, wiped it out, then when I was putting things back I stacked them according to size. Once again I put everything I rarely use in the back. If you have those fabulous cupboard with drawers that roll out, count your lucky stars! From there I did the cups, dishes, and then I tackled the drawers. Have you ever noticed how gross the silverware container gets? I don't know how it happeneds, but the divider that holds my clean silverware gathers all sorts of crumbs. Gross. Everyone has different drawers and cupboards, but the idea is the same. Take everything out, wipe out, put back only the stuff you use and like stuff together so you know where it is. Don't forget to wipe down the outside of the drawers and cabinets too, especially around the handle. I also have containers to separate things within the cupboards or drawers, like a little basket for seasoning packets, a basket for cookie/cake decorations etc. In the drawers you can find awesome dividers in all sizes so you can put your spatulas in one, wooden spoon's in one, measuring spoons in another, etc. It isn't hard to find the right size for your needs and they can be pretty cheap. Have fun!