Organizing Challenge: Automatic Bill Payment & Electronic Bills

Sorry the challenge is late for today!  It's been a busy week and I sort of fell asleep before I got around to writing this .  Let's just say my organizing and cleaning skills have been put to the test this week! 

My significant other is currently on deployment so I had to move all of his stuff to our new place on my own.  Pro tip:  When you pack your storage unit do it in the reverse of how you'd want to take the stuff out.  I brought home all the boxes and little things first just to get to the furniture at the bottom and then had to shuffle around mounds of stuff so I could get the furniture in place. 

In the midst of all the chaos I got two emails on my phone: An electronic statement for my power bill and an email saying I'd automagically paid it.  I have everything I possibly can set up on auto pay for just this reason. Sometimes life is busy and I probably would've forgotten to pay the bill on time and then got slapped with a fee.  I also love the electronic statements because they don't take up any extra physical space and it's less stuff in the mail.

Here's the challenge for this week: Proactively reduce clutter and make your life easier by signing up for automatic payments and electronic bills.  Spend ten minutes and go through all of the bills you normally receive.  Look for their website and, if you haven't already, create an account.  Look for an option for "paperless billing" and also for paying your bills automatically.  Viola!  Never have to worry about whether you remembered to pay that bill on time again.  It will also save you money on checks and stamps.

You do still need to check the statements you receive electronically each month.  I'm a bit paranoid and I don't do automatic payments on my credit cards as I like to check all the charges before they're paid, but I've never had a problem.

Know Thy Self

A friend recently said of me:

"You are totally the next domestic goddess just waiting to happen. Like Martha Stewart, but without the air of smug superiority, smarminess, or felony fraud conviction."

While I'm totally flattered (and also maybe a little curious why she assumes my criminal record is clean) one of my big character flaws is honesty, even when it's not to my benefit.  Yes, I've got a good mind for organizing and cleaning but it's part practice and part masterful illusion.  I like things to be neat and my concept is clean is a few notches above the average, but I don't really like to clean.  I like the results of cleaning.  I also like pie but you're not going to catch me making pie every day.

The truth is some parts of my home are currently a disaster (there will photographic proof next week).  When my life is busy the dishes pile up and I will sometimes only do laundry when I have worn even the ugly shirts that I tell myself I will only wear in a laundry emergency.  I also know that at some point a clean home isn't as important as the rest of life.  When I was studying for my finals  in Anatomy & Physiology II, my boyfriend came to do dishes and cook for me because I had not had a real meal or a clean kitchen in weeks. It's bad when your man will drive 1.5 hours on a week night to come clean your kitchen for you so you can keep studying.

That's kind of the whole point behind 7 Days to Clean.  As much as I like the idea of having an army of cleaning minions out there making their beds every morning (go you, by the way!), what I really want is for you to understand your limits and be okay with them.  There is such thing as an acceptable level of clean and it's not only good enough for yourself and your family, but for visitors as well. It doesn't take 4 hours of cleaning every day.  It doesn't mean that there aren't crumbs under the edge of the kitchen counters some days or finger prints on the windows. It does mean that you did just what you needed to make your home a place where the rest of your life can go on.

There was a study published a few years ago that showed that human beings have a limited capacity for willpower. I think organization is really the capacity to exercise willpower in a specific way.  A good bench mark for me is whether I made the bed that day. If I didn't it means that the balance of fun in my life is off kilter. If I can't even do the 2 minute, practically free, self-loving cleaning of making a bed then how can I hope to do any of the other cleaning and organizing that makes my life more pleasant?  Usually when I find myself in this situation it's because I've totally overloaded myself with projects and commitments.

Don't be afraid to do a job 1/10th of the way if that's how much you can get through that day.  If it's a 3 hour job and you want to set a timer for 15 minutes ever day and only do what you can in 15 minutes that's perfect.  You are a domestic goddess (or god) and you did a minor miracle by moving whatever that mountain is, even if it's going to be a two week journey to the finish line.  This cleaning and organizing stuff, it's what you do to make your life better. The second it's not improving your life is when you need to drop the duster, whip off the rubber gloves and go have fun*. 

* This is a direct order from the Domestic Goddess of the Organizationally Challenged.  I will totally smite you** if I catch you cleaning while thinking "this sucks, I want to watch Glee and eat chocolate chip cookies." 
** I may possibly not really be able to smite people, but I will go all brutally honest on you about your need for priorities.  There could even be finger wagging.  I'm fierce like that.

Organizing Challenge: Your virtual inbox

I have something like 7 email addresses.  I have two that I actively use and a bunch of random ones that I either had no choice about having (such as my student email address) or set up for the express purpose of collecting junk mail, like the one I created for use when applying for scholarships.  I'm the kind of person who prefers to communicate via email so I end up with quite a number of random things in my inbox.  About every two weeks I like to go through and clean out the flotsam that has collected in there.

Today's challenge is to clean up and consolidate your email inboxes.

• If you have email addresses you no longer use, cancel them.  
• If you receive automatic emails that you never look at, open one up and look toward the bottom for the unsubscribe link so that you'll no longer receive them.
• Create sub folders for various emails that you keep, for example I have one for all things related to college, another for correspondences about my current job search, another for emails that are personal that I want to keep for sentimental reason, and additional folders for information about bills or accounts I keep.
• Lastly, take the time to set up message rules to automatically sort your email.  If you don't know how to do this, do an internet search for your particular mail program. 

Everday Cleaning Tools Essentials

Part 1: Everyday Cleaning Supply Essentials

If you've been in to the cleaning supplies aisle of any store lately, you'll see a dazzling array of cleaning tools to go along with your cleaning products.  If you're like me, you'll probably feel like a kid in a candy store, but beware, not all tools are created equal.  Read on to learn which tools you need and how to find the best of each type for the job.

Mops

When looking for a mop, stay away from sponge mops. While you can slop water on the floor with them, they don't pick it back up very well and once you get dirt in a sponge it's hard to wash out.  Cleaning should make things cleaner, right? Look for a mop with a removable head that is designed to be cleaned in a clothes washer --I prefer the kind with wide cloth ribbons.  Not only will this make using your mop more sanitary, it'll increase the longevity of the mop head.  I am not a fan of disposable products in general.  It's not good for the environment or the pocket book. 

That being said, a Swiffer is not a mop.  It's not even a good broom. It's a dust mop at best.  My experience is that the wet cloths will do okay on a smooth surface, but if it has any kind of texture it won't be wet enough to loosen the dirt from the surface. 

Brooms

Natural bristle brooms are best left to riding around under the pale moon.  Go with a sturdy synthetic bristle broom with an aluminum handle and it might be a couple of decades before you're buying a new broom.

Look for a dust pan designed to clip on to the broom handle so they're always put away together. My grandmother had an awesome vintage metal dust pan that I really loved, but a rubbery plastic will be more flexible and you can always throw it in the dishwasher to clean it.

Again, a Swiffer is not a broom.  It works well on fine particles, making it more of a dust mop, but doesn't do well to pick up crumbs are large pieces of dirt.  The flexible bristle of a broom make it easy to sweep dirt out from under the edges of counters that a Swiffer will leave behind..  A broom also doesn't need special cleaning clothes that you have to purchase again and again.  If you're really stuck on your Swiffer, at least consider purchasing or making reusable Swiffer clothes. If you do want a dust mop, look for one with a removable cover that can be washed.


Cleaning Cloths

I don't use sponges.  If you've ever smelled a dirty kitchen sponge, you'll understand why.  No matter how much you rinse it, it will still be dirty.  Keeping yourself in clean sponges could break the bank.  If you find you can't imagine giving up your sponges, you can sanitize a wet sponge by putting it in the microwave for 45-60 seconds.  It won't get out the dirt but it will kill the bacteria.

Instead of using disposable products like paper towels, cleaning wipes, or sponges, consider using cloth rags.  You can use old towels or t shirts.  It's not only cheaper but more environmentally friendly.  I keep a plastic tub on the dryer where I deposit the soiled clothes, then I wash them in hot water and borax once a week.

You can also use newspaper to replace paper towels.  It is good for cleaning glass, but I also use it for catching bacon grease by putting it beneath a cooling rack and laying the bacon over the top.

Scrubbing Brushes

I use a scrub brush on my dishes, another for the shower, and of course a toilet scrubber.  I recommend having a toilet scrubber that has its own holder for each toilet in your home.  It'll make it more likely that you'll clean it when it's dirty and the thought of carrying a used toilet brush around the house makes me squick.

For dishes I like a long handled scrubber that has a sharp edge for scraping.  If you have non-stick cookware you shouldn't use anything but plastic on it anyway.  I also like that you can throw it in the dishwasher to clean it.  I don't feel strongly either way about whether it's a replaceable head or all one piece, but if you buy one from a brand name you'll be more likely to find replacements in the future.

Vacuums

If you have several hundred dollars to blow, I would recommend a Dyson.  It works better than anything I've ever used and they sell replacement parts for nearly the whole unit.  If, like me, you don't have that kind of money for a vacuum, make yourself a wish list.  I got a perfectly good vacuum for $35 on sale and I like it better than other vacuums I've used for twice the price because it has a powerful motor, goes automatically from carpet to floors, and is bagless. It's also light weight which is important when you're small like I am.

Pay attention to how it is emptied because some designs are messy to empty.  If you have pets or allergies you should choose a vacuum that includes a HEPA filter as it will prevent allergens from reentering the air and you can dispose of them.  Some vacuums come with filters that are also made to be washed and reused which can reduce the cost of using it.  If you have long hair you might also consider models where it's easy to remove and clean the roller brush.

Cleaning Challenge: Expiration Expulsion

When I was helping my beloved clean out his apartment and put everything in storage, we ended up throwing out two 13 gallon bags of expired food from the pantry and fridge.  In his defense, being in the Navy means not always being around to eat things before they go bad.  I have no excuse for my own fridge except that I hate cleaning out the fridge.  I ended up cleaning out his fridge in stages over a period of about a month because in addition to the expired food there were dozens of plastic containers; I swear they were breeding because every time I thought I'd got the last of them I'd find another one.

Throwing out expired stuff can give you more room in your fridge/pantry and it's not as scary as tackling the mystery foods in plastic containers, so this is the assignment for the week!  Go through your fridge, freezer, and pantry and toss out anything that's past its expiration date.  You might be tempted to keep food that's expired but I would caution you not to.  There's actually no such thing as "stomach flu".  If you've ever been sick to your stomach you've probably had a case of food poisoning.  It can be dangerous for adults but deadly for children or the elderly so it's not worth keeping food around if it's suspect.

You might be tempted to keep around stuff in the pantry like baking mixes, but those use chemical leaveners which lose their effectiveness over time and you could fail to rise.  While things that are kept in a perfect sub freezing environment will last indefinitely, your freezer is not a perfect sub freezing environment.  For one thing, you open and close the door almost every day.  For another, your freezer uses a thermostat similar to the one for your heat or a/c.  It goes off and on as the temperature rises and falls which causes food to freeze and thaw repeatedly.

Some day I'll get around to writing an article about how to prevent yourself from wasting food, but for now let's just get rid of anything that's not good.  While you're at it, if you have any boxed or canned goods that are still good but you know you'll never eat, put them in a bag and drop them off at the food bank.  Your grocery store might even have a collection bin to save you a trip.

Everyday Cleaning Supply Essentials

One thing I've learned from cleaning other people's homes is that it is difficult to clean when you don't have the right stuff, or the stuff you have isn't organized well.  If you have to go hunting for toilet bowl cleaner you will turn a 30 second job in to a 10 minute job.  Conversely, you don't need a giant stash of cleaning supplies in every room.

I clean most of my house with a 1:5 parts mixture of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle.  Vinegar is cheap and can be used for more than cleaning hard surfaces.  In the wash it'll act as a fabric softener and deodorizer. If you ever forget a load in the wash and it smells musty or sour, run it again with a cup of white vinegar and dry as usual. You can also use vinegar in place of more expensive rinsing agents in the dish washer.  It's also non-toxic and fairly environmentally friendly.  If you're worried about the smell, it dissipates quickly and it is a lot healthier to breath than bleach or ammonia.

I have powdered scrubbing cleanser that I use for cleaning sinks, tubs, and toilets or I can mix it with a small amount of water to make a soft scrub for stubborn kitchen messes.  I also keep a bottle of multi surface floor cleaner /polish; I prefer the kind that is sprayed directly on the floor so I don't have to drag a bucket around with me.  I don't have any wood furniture that would warrant it but if you do you might want to add furniture wax to your caddy as well.  I also keep dish washing detergent under the kitchen sink, and laundry detergent along with a stain stick in the laundry area. 

In order to keep your supplies handy but organized, look for a cleaning supply caddy like the one pictured here.  It will allow you to carry the supplies around from room to room, then put it back in one spot so you know where to find it when you're ready to clean again.  You should use this for the supplies you use on daily basis, but not things like oven cleaner which you might use only ever few months.

Everday Cleaning Shopping List

• Combination glass and surface cleaner (or a vinegar water solution)
• Powdered scrubbing cleanser
• Hand dish washing soap
• Laundry and dish washing detergent
• A stain stick for stubborn laundry stains
• Multi-surface floor cleaner/polish
• A caddy for your supplies

Stay tuned next week for essential cleaning tools and how to choose the right tools for the job.

Cleaning Challenge: The Microwave

Hi all!  The cleaning challenge for this week is your microwave.  I don't use mine much so I'm a bit lackadaisical about cleaning it right after making a mess. Then a few days later I'll open the door and notice how it looks like a food murdering B horror flick occurred inside.

Grab your multipurpose cleaner of choice and pop open the door.  Spray the glass tray and then move it to the sink to soak while you work.  If the plastic ring the tray rides on is removable, spray it and take it out as well.  Spray the ceiling, sides and bottom of the inside of the microwave as well as the inside of the door thoroughly and let set for 2-3 minutes.  If your microwave is especially dirty, soak a rag in a mixture of vinegar and water and nuke it in the microwave for 60 seconds before spraying the inside with cleaner.  The steam will help the food release from the walls.

While you're waiting for the inside to soak, spray some cleaner on your rag and wipe down the outside of the microwave.  Mine sits right next to the stove so I make sure to get all the grease cleaned off the outside.  Don't shy away from using your nail to press the cleaning rag in to cracks and crevices.  I've been known to bust out a qtip to clean tight spots.

Next, wipe down the inside.  Start with the ceiling first, you might want to crouch down so you can see it because they are usually contoured and you'll miss dirt if you try to do it by feel.  I usually fail at this and clean the walls first, then have to clean them again when I wipe off the ceiling.  Continue wiping down the walls then the floor and sweep any chunks in to your hand.  Do the same with the inside of the door.

If your microwave sits on the counter top, take a moment to move it and clean underneath.  Dirt is tricksie and loves to hide in dark places.  Wash and dry the glass plate and plastic ring.  Place them back in the microwave and you're done!  Back pats for everyone.

If you don't own a microwave, take a moment to feel smugly superior and then go clean another kitchen appliance.

So, did anyone do the Hump Day Half Hour of Housework this week?