How to Corral Clutter and Organize Your Kitchen

Your kitchen is one of the most commonly used areas in your home, and between your morning coffee and the evening’s meal, it can also get messy. To avoid constantly navigating a cluttered kitchen, use these smart tips for keeping yours clean and well organized — even if you only have a few minutes to spare each day.

  1. Add a bin for loose items. If your kitchen countertops commonly collect things that are meant to go in other rooms, add a bin to corral those loose items. You can throw your keys, mail, and magazines in that bin to keep them from cluttering the counters.
  2. Install extra cabinet storage. If you notice that your cabinets just don’t work for the things inside of them, add extra shelves or temporary organizers. This will keep plastic containers from spilling out and enable you to make use of that extra space in tall cabinets.
  3. Hide the trash. Instead of leaving the recycling and trash cans in plain sight, tuck them away in a closet or cabinet to create a clean, tidy look.
  4. Store commonly used items on the counter. Add a large jar for everyday utensils, keep your most-used cookbooks handy, and even consider storing appliances like the coffeepot or toaster right on the counter.
  5. Purge the refrigerator. Once a week, go through your refrigerator and toss out any leftovers, check expiration dates, and give the whole thing a good cleaning.

How to Organize Your Kitchen [Real Simple]
24 Smart Organizing Ideas for Your Kitchen [Real Simple]
15 Minute Clutter Sweeps for Every Room in Your Home [About Home]
How to Organize Kitchen Cabinets [Better Homes & Gardens]

Where to Shop Monogrammed Gifts Online

Whether you're shopping for yourself or a friend, a monogram instantly transforms an ordinary gift into a keepsake. Here are two places to shop monogrammed items online.

1) Mark and Graham
Chic and classic personalized gifts are the focus of this online-only retailer, a sibling brand to Williams-Sonoma, West Elm, and Pottery Barn. Shop initial pendants and wristlets for her, monogrammed tech cases and pocket squares for him—even customizable leashes and collars for Fido. Note that Mark and Graham's sibling brands also offer personalized gift items.

3) 2PreppyGirls.com
The web presence of this online retailer is rooted in "Southern charm and a love of all things pink and green." If your style skews preppy, you'll be delighted to peruse everything from monogrammed flip flops, aprons, and belt buckles to beach towels, car decals, and coasters.

Give Old Furniture a Paint Makeover With These Must-Know Tips

Furniture is expensive, which is why you can’t exactly run out for a replacement when your sofa starts to look worn or your coffee table shows some signs of wear. With a bit of elbow grease, you can make over your outdated furniture and turn it into something fresh and new — without spending a fortune.

  • Choose the right paint. If you decide to paint a piece of furniture to give it new life, be sure to buy paint that's made specifically for the material of your piece. Use a high quality brush (or an easy-to-use spray) that won’t leave behind stray bristles or residue.
  • Sand away old paint. If your furniture is already painted — and most is — be sure to start with a rough sandpaper and sand away the old paint. Finish with a finer grade paper to create a smooth, blank canvas.
  • Add a primer. Many first-time painters don’t realize that some pieces of furniture require a primer before painting to help the paint stick. If you’re worried about how thorough you were with your sanding, a primer might be a good choice.
  • Fill in holes. If your wooden furniture is filled with nicks and holes, make it look like new again with a simple wood filler from your local hardware store. Fill the holes, let it dry and sand away the excess for a smooth finish.

Paint Makeovers: An Expert Tells All [Bob Vila]
How To Paint Furniture [Live Love DIY]
Quick Furniture Makeovers for Fashionable Results [Benjamin Moore]

The Internet’s Best DIY Photo Album Sites

Nothing can give a space a personal touch quite like framed photos of friends and family. Whether you're looking to spruce up your home or give a personalized gift to that special someone, these two photo service websites are for you.

Shutterfly
Arguably the internet's most popular photo service site, Shutterfly makes it easy to create custom photo albums, collages, stationery, calendars, and much more. Simply upload your favorite photos from your computer and start designing. The gift portion of the site allows you to design mugs, canvas prints, totes, tees, smart phone cases, magnets, mousepads—even blankets!—using your favorite photos. Better still, the website's prices are affordable, and frequent online coupon codes promise even more bang for you buck.

Snapfish
Whatever the occasion, Snapfish likely has a commemorative gift with which to remember it by. Create a wedding photo album, design graduation announcements, or put a personal touch on greeting cards and stationery. Like Shutterfly, Snapfish also offers a wide variety of photo gifts, from mugs and calendars to blankets and jewelry. Or you can just keep it simple and order standard prints!

5 Steps Toward a Cleaner, Clutter-Free Apartment

So you’re not exactly the world's tidiest person — no problem! You can still create a clean, stylish apartment without spending hours cleaning. Use these smart and savvy tips for creating a clutter-free home.

  1. Purge your closet. One of the easiest ways to limit your amount of clutter is by simply owning fewer thing. Start with your clothing: Donate unused items to a local charity or toss stained or torn items.
  2. Make your closets work. Instead of thinking of closets as places to hide away all of your lesser-used items, make them neat and functional. Add more shelving or extra clothing racks, depending on what you use them for, and organize the contents based on what you reach for most often.
  3. Streamline your kitchen. Donate all coffee mugs and glasses that aren’t a part of a set, pare down your cookware to only the essentials, and only keep the number of storage containers that actually fit in your cabinets.
  4. Get rid of unused furniture. You may not realize it, but having too much furniture in a room can make it feel more cluttered. Take a look around and eliminate small items that don’t serve a purpose in your home.
  5. Add a landing pad. If you frequently dump your coat, keys, and bag right in front of the door, add a hall tree or other storage unit for housing those everyday items.

How to Get Rid of Clutter [WikiHow]
Clutter-Busting Secrets of the Pros [Real Simple]
18 Things You Can Get Rid Of Today [Family Circle]

How to Remove Stubborn Grass, Oil and Sweat Stains

You're elated that your child's slide into homebase cinched the game; you're not so happy about the grass stain that you need to remove when you get home. Keep these stain-fighting tips handy so you can meet common household stains with a plan of attack.

To remove grass stains:
This tip should help save Junior's uniform: As soon as possible, pretreat the grass stain with liquid detergent, then rinse thoroughly. If the garment can be bleached (check the label), then soak the garment in a diluted solution of bleach and water for no longer than fifteen minutes. If you'd prefer to steer clear of bleach, you can try rubbing a mixture of white vinegar and baking soda into the grass stain, letting it sit, then rinsing.

To remove oil-based stains:
Oil-based stains include mayonnaise, salad dressings, cooking oils, butter, face creams, and grease. First, apply talcum powder or cornstarch directly to the stain; this will help absorb the oil but may require several applications. Scrape or brush off the powder between applications, then toss the garment into the wash on a regular cycle.

To remove sweat stains:
Sweat stains are equally embarrassing and stubborn, but can be conquered if you follow the correct steps. Attack the stain with a cocktail of equal parts water and lemon juice, then hang the garment outside in the sunshine. (You'll need nice weather for this one.) The sunlight will help bleach the stain.

17 Easy Stain Removal Tips [Lifescript]
The Entertainer’s Guide to Stain Removal [Real Simple]
Quick 'n Easy Stain Removal [Ohio State University]

Bedding 101: How Often to Wash Your Bed Linens

You probably know the exact amount of time your favorite tee or trusty pair of jeans can go between washes, but can you say the same for your bedding? If you're confused about how often you should be changing your sheets, check out our handy guide below.

Sheets
Because we come in contact with our bedding on a daily basis, it's important to maintain a regular laundering schedule. Sheets should be changed every one to two weeks, or more often as needed. Wash sheets in the warmest temperature allowed by the fabric. Adding a quarter cup of lemon juice to the wash water is a natural way to bleach white sheets.

Pillows
Pillowcases should follow the guidelines of sheets. Pillow covers, like those that prevent allergies, should be washed twice per month, while the pillow itself should be tossed in the wash at least twice per year. Washing two pillows together can help keep the washer balanced. Run the pillows through the rinse cycle twice, then dry them in the dryer until no moisture remains; dampness can lead to mold.

Comforters
As with any bedding that comes in direct contact with the body, duvet covers and decorative quilts should be washed weekly. However, if your comforter is encased by a duvet cover, then the comforter itself only needs to be washed as you see fit. Be sure to use an industrial-sized washer equipped to handle the weight of a heavy comforter.

Is this the schedule you follow? Any tips for breezing through laundry day? Let us know!

Bedding Care 101 [Martha Stewart]
The Importance Of Washing Bed Sheets Regularly [Symptom Find]
The When-to-Wash-It Handbook [Real Simple]
How Often Should I…? [Quick and Dirty Tips]

5 Household Uses for Borax

Are spray bottles filled with various cleaning solutions stealing your valuable cabinet space? Consider streamlining your cleaning routine by using borax, a naturally occurring white mineral more aptly known as sodium tetraborate. This eco-friendly powder can be used in many applications throughout the home, from cleaning and deodorizing to DIY bouncy balls for the kids. Here are a few uses for borax:

1. Laundry Booster
Add one-half cup of borax to your washing machine to help boost the effectiveness of your regular detergent.

2. All-Purpose Cleaner
Fill a spray bottle with two tablespoons borax and two of cups hot water. Use the solution to clean countertops, kitchen appliances, sinks, and cookware.

3. Bathroom Cleaner
Remove soap scum and hard water deposits by combining one cup borax and 1/4 cup lemon juice to create a paste. Apply the paste to your sink and tub using a damp sponge, then rinse thoroughly with warm water. To apply borax in dry form, you can store it in an empty parmesan cheese shaker for easy sprinkling.

4. DIY Dish Detergent
Save money by making your own powder dishwasher detergent. Simply combine one tablespoon borax and one tablespoon baking soda.

5. Make Your Own Bouncy Balls
Here's a fun, educational activity for the kids: Combine borax, glue, cornstarch, food coloring, and water to make your own bouncy balls. (Find the complete instructions here.) While borax is an all-natural product, you still need to remind your kids that it's not for eating. Be sure to keep your box of borax out of the reach of children.

Borax and 25 Ways to Use It [Apartment Therapy]
25 Household Uses For Borax [Homesessive]
Uses of 20 Mule Team® Borax [Mule Team Borax]
30 Little Known Uses for Borax [One Good Thing]
How to Make a Borax Bouncy Ball [Creative Bug]
Borax Changed My Life! [Stacy Makes Cents]

Must-Read Tips for a Perfectly Packed Suitcase

More often than not, you have to limit the amount of things you pack in your suitcase on a vacation or work trip. This often involves packing and unpacking items, and maybe even sitting on top of your suitcase to force it to zip! These helpful tips will help you pack a perfect suitcase and even save room for that last minute item.

  • Try a roll up. Instead of a normal fold, which can waste space and often result in messy wrinkles, roll your clothing into tight tube shapes.
  • Utilize shrink-wrap. If the rolled fold still doesn’t give you enough space, vacuum-sealed plastic bags will surely do the trick. This is especially good for winter coats, towels, or other bulky items.
  • Check the weather. This may seem like a no-brainer, but we’ve all forgotten a bathing suit, umbrella, or a warm jacket for chilly nights out when traveling in different climates.
  • Properly pack toiletries. Avoid leaks by only filling soap and shampoo bottles halfway, then squeeze the excess air out and cap them tightly.
  • Protect your shoes. If you have to pack expensive heels or leather loafers, stuff them with tissue paper and then place them in a cloth bag to prevent scuffing or crushing.
  • Check your list. After you finish packing, cross-reference your suitcase with your checklist. You’ll thank yourself later if you realize you forgot deodorant on your beach vacation!

How to Pack a Suitcase [Travel + Leisure]
How to Pack a Suitcase Efficiently and Perfectly [LifeHack]
Packing a Suitcase [Martha Stewart]
How to Pack a Suitcase for Airline Travel [USA Today]
How to Pack a Suitcase [Instructables]

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