Fun in the sun often means dirt in the home. To keep those #summer messes at bay, think ahead and outsmart the mess, says Clean My Space. Lay down a liner or tarp before loading the car to prevent dirt, mud, gravel and pet hair from adhering to auto upholstery. Leave moisture-laden sporting goods, beach towels and coolers outdoors to dry rather than leaving them inside your vehicle or home. Keep sunscreens and bug sprays sequestered in freezer bags so they don’t leak on other items. Wet bags and totes can keep the mildewy funk of wet swimwear, beach toys and towels in check, too! #SummerMesses
Tag: clutter
Handling Some of Summer’s Worst Stains
Winter may be messy, but summer has its own set of #cleaning and tidiness challenges. Some of the most difficult stains to handle result from the grease and oils that spatter from favorite cookout foods such as burgers, steaks and potato salad, says Blueland. Blot stains immediately with a rag or paper towel whenever possible. Then, presoak garments in a 1:1 water and vinegar solution for half an hour. Scrub the area with a soft brush such as an old toothbrush. Use an oxygen bleach laundry product and wash in cold water before hanging to dry — and repeat if necessary. #SummerMesses
A Dad’s Guide to Decluttering
Father’s Day is June 15, and — like most people — #dads sometimes need a little help with #decluttering. Whether they’re #minimalists when it comes to extra #stuff or irrepressible #packrats, there’s always room to streamline.
Of course, every dad is different. Some are juggling family, kids and career in starter homes with little space to spare, and others may be dealing with the weight of a lifetime of accumulated paperwork and other #stuff post-retirement.
His hobbies will have an effect on the level of #clutter. If Dad is a woodworker, mechanic or tinkerer, he may have hundreds of tools and parts to #organize. He may even have duplicates! Help him sort out his favorites — the ones that really get used — and #donate or sell the rest.
If he’s an avid athlete, sportsman or musician, he will probably have more than one piece of specialized equipment that takes up a lot of space when not in use. And even if Dad just likes to read or listen to music, chances are he has a lot of accumulated books, papers and media.
Young dads with kids may not have as much stuff of their own, but struggle to keep the family #organized. Brooklyn’s Tidy Dad believes that #decluttering, #cleaning and #organizing responsibilities should be shared in a household, since everyone contributes to the #clutter and mess.
His advice? Know what makes a space seem #messy and #cluttered. Reassess the “hypothetical someday” to determine what’s really in use. Find a balance of possessions, space and everyday life. Schedule #decluttering on the calendar. And make #tidying tasks manageable and routine.
Ultimately, he says, #tidying is more than decluttering — it’s a way to create space for every part of your life. Young or old, the idea is for dads to have “just enough” #stuff and systems in place to make it easy to maintain an equilibrium.
Once you’ve helped Dad declutter, tidy up and organize, contact ClothingDonations.org for a #free #donation #pickup. He’ll be happy you helped, and in turn, happy to help the nation’s #veterans with his donation. #DadsDecluttering
Observing National Get Organized Day 2025
National Get Organized Day is Saturday, April 26! It’s a great day to #declutter, #organize and generally improve your space and productivity. #Clutter and disorganization can undermine progress in all aspects of life, creating anxiety and stress. The average American spends about 8,700 hours of their lives looking for #things, the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) estimates, so you will save time and money by putting the things you need into their proper places. Get started today, and your #decluttering and #organization efforts will snowball until they become second-nature. #NationalGetOrganizedDay
The Meaning Behind Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras — a.k.a. Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday — is the final day of the Carnival festival season. In the Christian tradition, Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent, a penitential season of abstinence and sacrifice.
Mardi Gras is the “last hurrah,” in effect, before 40 days of abstinence from foods such as meat, eggs, dairy and alcoholic beverages. Most people are familiar with the local fish fry on Fridays, held to serve Catholic families and others abstaining from meat.
Observant Christians also often pick an indulgence of their own to give up. Similar to a New Year’s resolution, such personal challenges might mean eschewing alcohol or sweets, or trying to break a bad habit such as smoking or gossiping.
Whatever your faith, the Organizing Blog suggests that you spend the season abstaining from #clutter. It will be a test of your will, to be sure, but you will be better off and maybe even a bit more righteous if you can do it. Here’s how:
Cut the clutter. Over the next 40 days, dedicate a set amount of time to #decluttering and #organizing a space in your home. As little as 10 minutes per day spent rearranging a drawer or shelf can add up to real improvements over time.
Avoid spending. If you want a real challenge, simultaneously abstain from buying anything new; any attempt to #organize will be easier if you don’t add to your #stuff. If something urgently needs replacement, vow to eliminate twice as many like items as you bring in.
Exercise charity. Set aside any castoff clothing and household items that might have some useful life left in them and contact ClothingDonations.org for a #free #donation #pickup. Quality, lightly used goods will be resold to benefit programs that help the nation’s #veterans.
Today, celebrate! Have a paczki, a big bowl of gumbo or an adult beverage. Tomorrow, make good on your vow get rid of #clutter and get #orgnaized. By the time Easter rolls around, you and your home will be unburdened by excess #stuff.