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Short on Time? Here’s How to Clean Your Home in 20 Minutes

October 7, 2014 by

Whether you have guests coming over or you’re simply exhausted after a long day at work, sometimes a deep apartment cleaning just isn’t in the cards. Don’t fret, because it is entirely possible to clean your living space without spending a lot of time doing it. Here are a few tips to help you clean your apartment in 20 minutes or less.

  1. Remove clutter. The easiest way to create the illusion of a clean apartment is by removing all of the unnecessary clutter. Hang up the clothes that are lying on the floor (or at least toss them in the closet), and gather up all of the food or magazines scattered around the living room.
  2. Empty the sink. A sink full of dishes is a sure sign of an unclean apartment. Even if you don’t have time for much else, wash the dishes!
  3. Take out the trash. Nothing will blow your clean apartment cover faster than a smelly garbage can. Empty the trash in the bathrooms, bedrooms, and the kitchen.
  4. Freshen up. Spray couches and chairs with a neutral scented fabric refresher, and place some candles throughout the most high-traffic rooms. Even if you didn’t clean every nook and cranny, this will make things feel fresh.

Clean your home in less than 20 minutes [She Knows]
9 Tips For Speed Cleaning [About Home]
30 Quick and Easy Cleaning Tips [Woman’s Day]
Speed Cleaning: Tips For Fast & Efficient Housekeeping [The Inspired Room]

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: , , ,

How to Manage Your Time More Effectively

August 5, 2014 by

Whether you’re a student or a business professional, procrastination is faced by anyone with a looming big project or a hectic schedule. It’s important to manage your time wisely when you’re working on a deadline, and these smart tips will help you to reduce stress and accomplish much more each day.

  1. Make a list. This tried-and-true method may seem obvious, but you would be surprised how much a to-do list can help with managing your time more effectively. To-do lists help forgetful people to stay on top of all of their daily tasks, and they force frequent procrastinators to hold themselves accountable for the items on the list.
  2. Prioritize. You may be tempted to complete smaller tasks first, but it’s actually much more effective to prioritize based on which jobs are more important or timelier. Complete pressing tasks first, and then move on to the rest of your work.
  3. Create a distraction-free zone. Whether you work in an office or in your home, be sure to clear your workspace of all clutter before beginning your daily tasks.
  4. Don’t overexert yourself. The most organized people are the ones who realize when they’re spreading themselves too thin. Turn down jobs or favors that you don’t feel like you have enough time to complete, as this may result in shoddy work (not to mention a whole lot of added stress).

How to Manage Your Time Effectively [University of Kent]
Manage Your Time More Effectively to Accomplish More Each Day [Right]
How Does One Manage Time More Effectively? [Forbes]
Managing Your Time and Study Environment [Bucks County Community College]

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4 Uses for Coffee Beyond Your Morning Mug

June 3, 2014 by

You already think coffee is a lifesaver, but what if we told you that it has other uses aside from your morning mug? There are a variety of different ways to use coffee beans, grounds, and coffee itself, and many of them have nothing to do with that morning jolt of caffeine. Here are some helpful ways to use coffee around the house.

  1. Exfoliate your skin. If you usually use a cream-based face wash, turn it into an exfoliant by adding coarse coffee grounds. Wash your face as you normally would, and the grainy texture will slough away dry, dead skin cells.
  2. Freshen the air. In rooms like the kitchen or bathroom, use coffee as a unique air freshener. Place a small bowl of coffee grounds somewhere out of the way to mask and absorb odors.
  3. Scrub pots and pans. If your pots and pans are covered in grease but you don’t want to take steel wool to the non-stick surface, try coffee instead. Smear some grounds all over the surface of the pan, and then use a sponge or thick rag to apply pressure in small, circular motions.
  4. Create a natural insect repellant. Sprinkle some coffee grounds in closets, on an outdoor patio, or anywhere that bugs frequently visit.

16 Genius Uses for Coffee [All You]
13 Surprising Uses for Coffee [Reader's Digest]
20 Unusual Uses for Coffee [Yahoo!]
Top 10 Uses for Coffee Grounds [Curbly]

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: , , ,

Simple Kitchen Organization Tips

February 4, 2014 by

Kitchens are often cluttered with pots and pans, spices, snacks and leftovers. But these brilliant tips from handy home websites will help you organize your kitchen at The Augusta!

Try a Lazy Susan
These revolving trays are helpful anywhere that clutter normally takes over, including spice shelves, snack cabinets and even the refrigerator.

Store items by frequency of use
In cabinets and drawers, pull things that you use every day to the front or put them on the lowest shelves, and leave the rest for the hard-to-reach places.

File plastic containers
Rather than stacking the lids of plastic leftover containers in a messy pile, file them in a drawer like you would papers.

Get a chalkboard
It can serve as a fun grocery list, silly message board or even a calendar for the whole family.

Place a wire shelf in the fridge
Add more storage in cramped refrigerators with elevated wire shelving.

24 Smart Organizing Ideas for Your Kitchen [Real Simple]
Kitchen Organizing Tips [Martha Stewart]
8 Smart Organizing Tips for the Kitchen [Tidy Mom]
22 Kitchen Organization and Storage Tips [Better Homes and Gardens]

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Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: , , ,

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