DON’T FORGET! Highs & Lows CLEAN OUT K tchen Kitci hen Confi dential onfi dential Cleaning out and organizing the


kitchen has a number of benefi ts, says Deborah J. Cabral, certifi ed professional organizer and author of DeClutter Your Life NOW! “When the kitchen is organized, you can see things clearly and access items in the refrigerator, freezer and pantry. It sets you up for success,” she says. To get your foodstuff s in order, “Take


everything out and sort it, checking expiration dates,” says Cabral. Toss those tempting treats you don’t want in the house. When items go back on the shelf, group them by category—fruits, cereals, canned goods. “If you have stuff you will never use, take those items to a food pantry,” she says. Use labels. “Give things a home, and be sure everything has a place,” Cabral says. “Labeling makes putting stuff away easy. When you come home from shopping, everything in the fridge and pantry should move forward and new items go to the back.” T is practice ensures that older items get used fi rst instead of wasting away out of sight.


co e h e fr m s in Finally, Cabral says, use what


you have! “Before you go grocery shopping, take stock,” she says. “Go to foodchannel.com, type in the ingredients you have on hand and recipes will pop up. Most of my clients save money right away when we organize their kitchens, because they discover that they already have a lot.”


22 goodneighbor® NOW IS THE TIME TO MOVE


FURNITURE AND RUGS to clean the fl oor. “An overlooked area is under things—under beds, nightstands, dressers, couches,” Clyde says. Smallin recommends cleaning under area rugs. “Roll them out of the way, clean the fl oor underneath, and vacuum the underside of the rug,” she says. Wall-to-wall carpet


manufacturers suggest a professional cleaning every 12 to 18 months. Smallin says to take the leap and call in the pros—“It will be done better, faster, than you can do it yourself.”


“MOST PEOPLE FORGET TO LOOK


UP,” CLYDE SAYS. “Do you see cob- webs? Is your ceiling fan or light fi xture dusty? What about air vents and exhaust fans?” Window treatments also collect dust. Smallin suggests putting sheer


curtains in the dryer on a fl uff cycle for a quick “dusting.” To clean blinds, she says: “Slip on a pair of cotton gloves, and dip your hands into a bucket of wa-


ter with the tiniest bit of suds. If they are really grimy, use a bit of vinegar.” Wipe


slats between your thumb and forefi nger, working top to bottom; then wipe each slat dry with a clean cloth.


Cleaner Ba h,


Cleaner Bath, Safer HomeSafer Home


T ink beyond the basic wipe-down. “Pull everything out from hard-to-reach areas in drawers and cabinets,” Justin Klosky of O.C.D. Experience says. “Put back only what is really being utilized.” Be sure your discard pile contains items


that may be unsafe to continue using: “Makeup that’s more than one year old, sunscreen more than two years old, anything past its expiration date and any toiletries you no longer use, even if there’s still some leſt ,” Smallin


suggests in Clear the Clutter, Find Happiness. Flushing pharmaceuticals is not recommended. “Ask your local pharmacy if they collect expired prescriptions,” Smallin says. Remove any identifying personal information from empty pill bottles before tossing.


LOOK OVER AND UNDER FOR THE P


OOK OVER AND UNDER FOR THE PLACES THA IN YOUR


CES THAT YOU MISS IN YOUR USUAL CLEANING ROUTINE.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28