Spring Cleaning the Fridge and Freezer

Spring is the perfect time for a refresh of your home. There are plenty of areas that need organization and cleaning but today we’re focusing on the fridge. You use it every day but how often are you cleaning it? Here are some great tips to make it clean and organized for your family.

 

1 – Pull everything out and start making piles on the counter. A pile for dairy, a pile for produce etc.

 

2 – The door of the fridge can hold lots of old condiments and jarred items. Go through them and decide which ones are past their prime and need to get tossed.

 

3 – Now is the time to clean! Make sure the fridge is empty and start scrubbing. Pull out any removable drawers and let them soak in the sink.

 

4 – Once the fridge is back together start organizing. Choose a location for each food group/category. Add small bins/organizers for an extra, neat touch!

 

5 – Now that you’ve done the fridge….you guessed it! It’s time to do the same for the freezer.

 

6 – Soak and clean any ice trays or ice buckets before putting them back in.

 

7- Don’t forget to clean the exterior. If your fridge is stainless make sure to use an appropriate cleaner when wiping it down. If you’re one to hang things with magnets on your fridge now is the time to reorganize those items as well.

 

5 Tips for Back to School Success

September is here and that means back to school! Whether you are a student, teacher or parent, going back to school can be a big change. Make the transition back to school easier in your house with these helpful tips…

 

1 – Move bedtimes up. We all get in the habit of staying up late during the summer. Now that September is here it’s important to establish a better bedtime routine (especially for kids). Move bedtime up by at least 30 minutes.

 

2 – Keep a calendar. Everyone has busy schedules in the fall with school, sports, clubs and activities. Keep a printed calendar of all of these weekday events.

 

3 – Make a kitchen command center. This is a great place to put your calendar and schedule for everyone to see. Keep hanging file folders or shelves nearby to keep important documents that the kids will need for school. (Think medical documents, permission slips, teacher’s contact information etc.)

 

4 – Meal prep. If you’re back to packing lunches it’s a great idea to meal prep on Sunday to be prepared for the week. This will save you tons of time in the morning when you’re trying to get out the door on time.

 

5 – Get caught up on laundry. There’s nothing worse than having nothing to wear while you’re running late in the morning. Take time to catch up on laundry so everyone in the house has what they need during the week clean and read to wear.

Organizing the Linen Closet – At Home With Princeton

Spring cleaning has never been easier! With more time at home we can tackle one organization project a week and our homes will feel cleaner in no time. Today we’re going to help you tackle the linen closet (hall closet, bathroom closet are other names that may be used for this specific spot). Let’s get started!

 

1 – The easiest part of this project is step one. Pull everything out! It’s easiest to see what you’ve been hoarding when it’s all laid out in front of you.

 

2 – Wipe down all of your surfaces inside, vacuum the floor and give it a quick wash. Now you have a clean slate for storage.

 

3 – Check out the quality of your bath towels. If some are faded, thin, have holes, etc. it’s time to part ways. Recycle some as cleaning rags and get rid of the rest. The ones that are making the cut can be folded or rolled and stored back on an empty shelf.

 

4 – Check out your toiletries. If you have a stash of shampoos, soaps, etc organize them on shelving. Put the items in order so you can pull new ones from the front as you need them and continue storing. Have items that are old or expired? Now is the time to toss.

 

5 – Get fancy with your storage. If you’re one of the lucky ones that has a surplus of toilet paper these days, find a fun way to store your extras. A decorative basket can be put on the floor of the closet and filled with rolls. Items like soaps, tissues, sprays etc can also be stored in baskets.

 

6 – See what items are left. If they were meant to be in the linen closet they can stay and continue getting organized. Use small baskets, boxes etc for storage so you don’t have too many items just thrown on shelves. If they need to be stored somewhere else now is the time to find their new home.

5 Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Pantry

When we think of spring cleaning we usually think of packing away clothes and washing the floors. Don’t forget to clean what’s behind your pantry door too! Get yours in tip top shape for the season with these great tips

1 – Start from scratch. Pull all of the items in the pantry out and put them on your counter so you can vacuum the floor and clean the shelves.

2 – Take inventory. See how many items you have, what can be donated, what is expired and decide which items are going to stay.

3 – Reorganize your shelves. Decide what is going where and stick to it. Put the kids snacks on the bottom shelf and the canned goods above. When you’re looking for what you need you’ll know exactly which shelf to go to.

4 – Consider using some baskets or plaster containers to help with your organization. If you buy snacks in bulk you can save space by emptying and recycling the large boxes and keep your snacks in a basket instead.

5 – Stick to it! Don’t let your hard work get ruined the next time you go grocery shopping. Keep your pantry in tip top shape by following these steps every couple of months.