You may have discovered that there is rarely enough space for all your stuff in your home.

The good news is that there are many ways to organize your home and get all that clutter under control. You just have to get a little creative with creating storage space.

Here are a few tips and tricks to finding a place for all of your things so that you can have enough space to breathe and not feel the cramped pressure of clutter.

Reduce Your Clutter

• Closets were meant for ‘now’ items like linens, clothes, shoes and jackets. If you only use it once a year, it needs another home.
• Under the bed and under the stairs are great places to stash stuff. Get the right sized containers so that nothing gets crammed anywhere.
• Attics are actually pretty lousy storage space because you’re having to climb up a rickety ladder with arm loads of stuff to put it up there. It’s not climate controlled and if there are critters living anywhere in your house, the attic is the most likely spot. It’s a great place for Santa to hide presents, but other than that most attics are full of hassles for storing things.
• In the kitchen you can de-clutter your cabinets by hanging your pots and pans, mounting a knife rack on the wall and hanging a fruit holder from the ceiling as well.
• Renting a small storage unit is the best for seasonal items like holiday decorations and outdoor summer equipment or pool toys. Just rotate items in and out based on their use and enjoy the freed up space in your home.

There is no reason to live under the burden of clutter.

You and your family will feel better if you have everything under control and out of the way.

Tim Eyre works in the self storage industry, regularly traveling to see locations like East Boston self storage facility. In many locations, like self storage unit in York, Tim helps his customers store seasonal sports gear when it is not being used for outdoor activities or equipment for home improvement projects that are waiting to happen.

There seems to be no limit to what you can do with old socks. My good friend Karen came up with a way to use them with the Swiffer.

As a pet owner, I love the Swiffer for keeping the hard floors clean. If you aren’t aware, you can also use it as a wet mop.

A greener option to the wet pads is using socks.

Take 2 worn out white socks and turn them inside-out. Run them under hot water with a few drops of dish soap and wring it out.

Stretch one over each end of a standard Swiffer sweeper. Make sure the rougher side is the part you will be using on the floor.

This cleans the floor better than the wet pads do because of the texture, and they are completely FREE.

Best of all, you can launder and reuse them!

I tried it out and it worked great. You can even replace the socks with dry ones to run back over the floor to dry it.

See more uses for your old socks.

Lemons are a natural cleaner

The acid in lemon juice helps cut through grease and removes dirt and rust stains. It’s especially effective when mixed with salt, which makes “an excellent scouring paste,” says Karyn Siegel-Maier, author of The Naturally Clean Home.

The many uses of lemons include:

Air Freshener:

Combine 1/2 quart hot water with equal parts baking soda and lemon juice (about a teaspoon each)

Cleaner for…

• Countertops: Dip the cut side of a lemon half in baking soda to tackle countertops; wipe with a wet sponge and dry. Don’t use on delicate stone, like marble, or stainless steel (it may discolor).
• Cutting boards: To remove tough food stains from light wood and plastic cutting boards, slice a lemon in half, squeeze onto the soiled surface, rub, and let sit for 20 minutes before rinsing.
• Dishes: To increase the grease-cutting power of your dishwashing detergent, add a teaspoon of lemon juice, but don’t use with silver.
• Faucets: Combat lime scale by rubbing lemon juice onto the taps and letting it sit overnight. Wipe with a damp cloth.
• Garbage disposal: Cut a lemon in half, then run both pieces through the disposal. “The lemon cleans it and makes it smell great,” says Linda Mason Hunter, a coauthor of Green Clean (Melcher Media, $17, amazon.com).
• Grout: Spilled morning coffee on your tile countertop or backsplash? Here’s how to tackle grout stains: Add lemon juice to 1 or 2 teaspoons cream of tartar (an acidic salt that acts as a natural bleaching agent) to make a paste. Apply with a toothbrush, then rinse.
• Hands: When you touch raw fish, the smell can linger on your fingers. Rub your hands with lemon juice, which will neutralize the odor.
• Laundry: To brighten whites, add 1/2 cup lemon juice to the rinse cycle for a normal-size load.
• Plastic food-storage containers: To bleach stains from tomato soup and other acidic foods on dishwasher-safe items, rub lemon juice on the spots, let dry in a sunny place, then wash as usual.

These household supplies can cause injury or death not only if swallowed, but also if improperly handled. You must store these cleaning supplies properly in your home to ensure the health and safety of your family. Though many cleaners sold today are called “green” because they are made from all-natural ingredients, this only lessens the chance of harm and does not completely eliminate it.

No matter which type of household cleaning supplies you keep in your home, you must store and dispose of these products in a safe manner. An added benefit is that proper storage will prolong the useful life of your cleaning supplies.

Here’s a list of the ten most useful tips for storing cleaning supplies in your home.

• #Tip 1. Always place cleaning supplies far out of reach of children by placing the containers in storage cabinets mounted high above the floor. Even though it is handy to do so, do not keep your dish washing liquids and dishwasher detergents in a cabinet under the sink.
• #Tip 2. Install child-safety locks and child-proof latches on all floor-level cabinets in the bathroom and kitchen, even if you’ve stopped storing cleaning supplies there (chemical traces may still linger from when you did store the supplies there). Don’t forget about the cabinets under the island counter top.



• #Tip 3. Store all cleaning supplies in their original containers. If the original container is ripped, broken, or otherwise compromised, throw the container and its contents away according to the dictates of your local trash disposal laws. Never store cleaning supplies in other containers, especially any that were originally made for food or drink – a child may see a soda bottle full of bleach and think it’s a bottle of soda!
• #Tip 4. Read the warnings on the labels of all cleaning supplies to determine which ones might be flammable. Keep flammable cleaning supplies in a cool dry location in your house, and never near a flame, an electrical ignition source, or in sunlight. Keep these flammable cleaning supplies in their marked original containers in a locked storage cabinet.
• #Tip 5. Another potential problem can also be averted by reading the label. Never ever store cleaning supplies made with a base solution (such as ammonium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide) next to cleaning supplies made with an acid solution (such as acetic acid (lemon or citrus cleaners), sulfuric acid, or hydrochloric acid). Acids and bases are substances that are totally incompatible with each other – if an acid solution comes in contact with a base solution, the disastrous result will be toxic fumes and, possibly, an explosion.
• #Tip 6. Use cleaning supplies only in a place that has proper ventilation. If not stored properly, some cleaners may emit fumes that can overwhelm you when you open the container. Be sure that the place where you will be working is properly ventilated. If, while working, you begin to feel light-headed or faint, seal the container and go outside for some fresh air.
  
  
  Make sure the storage space you are using to store your cleaning supplies is also ventilated. If you smell an overwhelming odor when opening such a storage space, move away and open doors and windows to ventilate the area. A container may have burst and might be leaking – check back later with breathing safeguards and dispose of the broken container properly.
• #Tip 7. Never ever leave a bottle or container of cleaning supplies open and unattended while you’re doing your cleaning. Always close and put away the cleaning supply if you are interrupted. You do not want any temptation sitting around that may harm your child out to explore what you had been doing.



• #Tip 8. When cleaning, take only the proper amount that you need from the container, seal the container back up, and store the container away immediately. Use the proper equipment for handling the cleaning supply material, as recommended on the label. Do not ignore any warning that says you should use such protective gear such as gloves or goggles.
• #Tip 9. When you are all done with cleaning, properly dispose of the materials that touched the cleaning chemicals. At this point, rags and paper towels may now be very flammable. Government safety standards (again, on the label) will tell you how to dispose of this waste material in the least dangerous manner.
• #Tip 10. Know what to do if a problem arises with human or animal contact with these cleaning supplies. Based on the information on the warning labels of the cleaning supplies, create and keep nearby a first-aid kit that includes any emergency-wash liquids.
  

  Keep a list of telephone numbers in the kit for:

  

  • National Poison Control (1-800-222-1222)
  • Your doctor
  • Your nearest hospital
  • Your local ambulance service

James Adams writes and is a reviewer at SparesNextDay.co.uk, suppliers of the cheapest hoover bags.

Is a cluttered and disorganized office space getting in the way of your productivity?

Is the task of straightening up your desk daunting?

Organizing office paperwork can be intimidating, but getting the job done opens up the opportunity for much greater achievement and a far more pleasant office. An organized office us really worth it, so find the time to work through it, and apply these organizational tips to your own situation. Once you have clean, tidy and organized, make it a habit to keep your office neat. Of course it will be hard work, at least initially, but the final result will be satisfactory.

1. Set Apart Time to Organize Everything

Make time to tackle the job of organization. By doing it all at once, you will finish the project sooner, and be able to enjoy a clean workspace right away. Plan on having to take more time than you think you will. Be careful when working to not let yourself be distracted. Do take breaks at set times throughout the process, and reward yourself when you complete it.

2. Clean Off the Desk

Keep your desk area clean. Put away all papers. With everything filed, you will be able to find what you need more easily than if it were sitting in a stack on your desk. Organize drawers to have the most used items nearest to you. Keep important items, like the computer, printer, telephone and card file on the desk, but put all papers and other tools away. You will be more productive with less distraction and more space to spread out.

3. Thoroughly Organize Your Files

If you don’t have one already, set up an organized filing system. Label filing cabinets and files alphabetically. Sub-divide files as needed. Put every paper into a file that is accurately labeled and easy to remember. Use a color coding system, if it will help you. If files are exstensive, keep a list of the names handy.

4. Throw Away Anything Unneeded

Don’t keep clutter you do not need. Throw out scrap paper and old printed emails and memos that are no longer important. Toss junk mail as soon as it comes in. However, be careful not to throw away papers that are important. If you are unsure about something, set it by in a designated place to ask about.

5. Set Up a System for Dealing with Incoming Papers

Have trays to sort incoming papers. Create separate spaces for papers that need filing, ones that need immediate attention, and ones that need to be passed on to someone else. Empty these trays into the correct files regularly. Sort through incoming mail as soon as it arrives. This will save on time otherwise wasted in looking for things, sorting through unimportant documents, or working too close to deadlines.

6. Work on One Project at a Time

If a project is not actively in the works at the present, put the papers into the file. They will be easily retrievable when the time comes to use them. This will keep files from getting lost or disorganized, and it will keep you from being distracted. By having one project on your desk, you will be able to give it your full attention.

7. Clear Your Desk Daily

At the end of every work day, clear off your desk. You will be able to start every morning fresh. Important documents will not be lost or misfiled. You will stay on top of your organization, because you devote time to it every day.

8. File Papers Immediately

When papers come in, don’t let them stack up. Place them in the correct trays, and deal with them immediately. Put files into their folders and binders. You may have to let them pile up in a tray for a short time, but never let it get out of hand. Think about whether it takes more time to sort the papers into files now or later. Find out which is more efficient, and go with that process.

9. Store Boxed Files Annually

Files will accumulate. Every year, pack up the ones that are not used regularly and store them out of your work space. With more room to work in, you will save time by not having to deal with the clutter of unused, though organized, files.

10. Be Strict about Keeping to the System

Do not slack off on keeping everything organized, even when you are busy. Letting the system you have set up go for even one day could send you back to where you were when you started. Save that time and the discouragement that would come by taking the effort to put things in their place. Organizing your office will reward you!

John Brook is a writer who works at OfficeKitten.co.uk, a leading supplier of stationery online for businesses located in the UK.

Organize the contents

The chances of something getting lost in the back of the freezer are greatly reduced when you organize like items together. It’s also easier to see what you have.

Group items by categories on each shelf. For example:

• Breakfast items – such as sausage, bagels, waffles, and juice cans
• Vegetables/sides
• Meats
• Desserts/snacks – such as ice cream, Hot Pocket-type snacks, and popsicles

Mark frozen items with a date

If you like to stock up on meat while it is on sale or freeze 1/2 of dinner for another night, use a permanent marker to clearly write the date you froze the food item on the outside of the package. Most food tastes better if you use it within a few months.

Newer items go in back

Make sure you are using up your older items by placing newer ones in the back. Think of how a grocery store stocks their shelves with the oldest food items in the front. This assures you are using up your food while it is still tasty, and reduces the chances of things being forgotten in the back.

Did you know?

Frozen food is good indefinitely. Only the quality is reduced over time.

Find out more information on food safety and freezing foods at USDA’s website. Scroll all the way to the bottom of this fact sheet for a list of recommended storage lengths for optimum quality of your frozen foods.

Cleaning out the refrigerator

Are you avoiding this project?

Are you growing a specimen worthy of an award-winning science project in the back?

Rest assured it will take less than an hour to have a sparkling clean refrigerator again. Since my little one spilled a liquid-filled bowl of fruit all over mine, it was the perfect time to clean it.

Step 1: Preparation

Line a trashcan with a new bag. Use a heavy duty lawn leaf bag if you are going to be tossing a lot of yucky stuff since it is less likely to leak. Keep the trashcan nearby to dump out things that aren’t going back in the refrigerator.

Remember some containers are recyclable, so rinse and recycle them.

Step 2: Empty out the refrigerator

Work your way down two shelves at a time so the food will stay cold. As you move items to the counter, check expiration dates and toss the old items.

Step 3: Wash the shelves

Fill the kitchen sink full of water with some dish-washing detergent. Wash off the shelves and dry them with a towel before returning them to the refrigerator.

Step 4: Wipe the inside walls

Before returning the shelves to their spots, wipe off the walls of the refrigerator to remove any splatters of food.

Step 5: Line the vegetable and meat drawers

The drawers stay cleaner if you line them with two layers of paper towels. Now if that cucumber you forgot about starts to ooze, you can just replace the paper towels so your vegetable/fruit bin is clean again.

Step 6: Organize your shelves

Put like items together. I have one shelve for yogurt and fruit that I call the “snack” shelve and one for dinner ingredients. Beverages are on the bottom. Find what works best for you and organize your refrigerator so things don’t get lost in the back.

Don’t put it off

It took me only 30 minutes to clean the refrigerated side.

I’m going to go admire the results again. I can see through the drawers!

What? Yes those are refrigerated cookies in the drawer. Shhh..you didn’t see that. They could ruin my bake sale reputation.

Plants need a good dusting

When you’re cleaning, don’t forget about your plants.

Dust on the leaves can reduce the plant’s ability to photosynthesize at an optimum rate.

How do you dust a plant?

You can mist smaller plants with a spray bottle. Take larger plants outdoors on a nice day and gently spray them. Allow the leaves to dry off in the sun before bringing them back inside.

Don’t forget plastic plants need love, too

My tomato plant

Dusting fake plants

Needless to say, my house is full of fake plants. I have plant shelves in almost every room in the house and greenery on each one.

Collect the fake greenery and place them in the bathtub/shower. Spray them off with the shower head and let them drip dry in the tub.

Don’t forget about the fake trees

The same goes for my fake trees which I lean into the tub and spray them off to keep the base dry.

They are dark green again!

Handmade gift idea

Bake some delicious cookies and present them in a beautiful gift package created from a Pringles can.

This is a great idea for a back-to-school gift for your child’s new teacher. Add a tag saying “Have a great year!” to the front.

Find the recipe and package creation instructions at The Paper Pony. Print this easy gift idea and keep it in your Custom Cookbook in a tab called “gift ideas”.

Endless cooking advice and recipes

Ever realized you are missing an ingredient and wish you know what you could use as a substitution?

Check out Chef Tom’s recipe forum at Recipesnoop.com. It is full of recipes, tips, definitions, and advice. I don’t think there is a cooking question that doesn’t have an answer in this extensive collection of cooking information.

You can get his free cookbooks, too. I have been trying out his recipes 2-3 nights a week for awhile, and they are easy and delicious.

Quarterly room clean out

I periodically go through the kids’ rooms and clear out the junk, but I like the idea of scheduling it on a quarterly basis. Find out more at PenelopeLovesLists.com.

Cheap decorating idea for a small kid’s room

Check out how cute little dresses hanging on a clothesline looks in a little girl’s room at Momspark.net. You could use sports-type shirts and baseball hats to create a boy version.

Shameless self promotion

Check out my new blog at Finding The Humor. My favorite post is “What I could have done with $900″.

Did you discover any cool finds this week?