Swift To-Do Jobs: Accomplish These Chores in 60 Minutes or Fewer
Fresh Take:
Are you the type of person who keeps their space impeccably organized? Or do you leave things scattered until they're overflowing and driving you crazy? If you're one of the latter, don't fret! Here's a list of quick and dirty tasks you can tackle to get your home looking fresher and feeling less chaotic, all in an hour or less. These tips come straight from the pros, so you know they work!
The Hourly Organization Guide
Sink-ercise (For your bathroom sink)
Got a medicine cabinet stuffed to the brim under the bathroom sink? Mindy Godding, a pro organizer and owner of Abundance Organizing, suggests emptying the cabinet and grouping items into categories like cleaning supplies, haircare, and skincare products. Toss out anything that's damaged or expired, and donate unwanted items. If something better belongs somewhere else, like towels or lightbulbs, evict it. Wipe the cabinet down with an all-purpose cleaner, then use storage solutions like bins, caddies, or modular drawers to maximize your space. Put your most frequently used items in easy reach.
Underboob Jubilee (For your underwear drawer)
Lucy Milligan Wahl, a professional organizer and the owner of LMW Edits, says that underwear drawers are often neglected. But, they can make a big difference in your day! Start by emptying the drawer, removing any damaged items, and wiping it down if it's dusty. Sort your items by type (underwear, bras, socks, etc.) and if it helps, have separate sections for sports bras and daily bras. Use fabric-lined cardboard inserts to organize the drawer. No need for painful folding; any jumbled categories will do as long as they're separate.
Medicine Uppercut (For your medicine cabinet)
Reach into your medicine cabinet for a band-aid and find yourself going cross-eyed from all the clutter? Sarah Dunn, a professional organizer and the owner of Ready, Set, Organize, can help! Empty the cabinet and sort everything into categories (medications, toiletries, makeup, and skincare). Discard any expired medication, and take it to a drug drop-off location nearest you (find them on the DEA's website if you're in the US). Once the cabinet is empty, wipe it down. Place your most frequently used items back in the cabinet, grouping them by morning/evening routine, user, or height to make finding what you need a breeze.
Coatimundi Coat Closet Spruce-Up
Has it been a while since you've cleaned out your coat closet? Don't let it become a breeding ground for dust bunnies! Take everything out, vacuum the floor, and get rid of coats you no longer wear or like, or that don't fit. Store the remaining coats on matching hangers and color coordinate them, or group coats by person if there are multiple people in your household. Use storage bins for accessories like hats and gloves, and label them for easy access.
Junk Dombuster
Contrary to popular belief, it's possible to have a junk drawer that's actually organized! Start by pulling everything out, grouping similar items together (e.g., office supplies, tools). Check each item for viability and dispose of duplicates, damaged items, or things you'll never use. Wipe the inside of the drawer with a non-toxic cleaner. Place your most frequently used items back in the drawer, ideally at the front. Use drawer organizers or small plastic containers to group similar items together.
Tupperware Transformation
Tired of your kitchen drawer full of plastic food storage containers and mismatched lids? Sarah Dunn, a professional organizer, suggests taking an hour to set those bad boys right. Start by taking everything out, matching containers with their lids, and tossing any without a matching part. If you end up with more containers than you need, consider parting ways with some. Remove any tattered, chipped, or stained pieces. Store the remaining containers with their lids on, or stack them if necessary.
Linen Clean-Sweep
Your linen closet can easily become overcrowded and dusty over time, so it's important to clean it out and reorganize it regularly. As always, start by clearing everything out. Group items into categories (sheets, blankets, towels, toiletries, paper goods, etc.). Sort items by size and type, clear out what you no longer need, and donate slightly damaged linens. Place frequently used items at mid-height for easy access, and use bins or dividers to maximize your storage space and keep everything tidy. If multiple people are helping with laundry and putting away clean linens, label the shelves to make things even quicker!
- If your medicine cabinet is cluttered and difficult to navigate, consider following the 'Medicine Uppercut' method to organize it effectively, as suggested by Sarah Dunn, a professional organizer.
- Underwear drawers are often neglected but can make a significant difference in your day. Lucy Milligan Wahl's 'Underboob Jubilee' method can help you organize your underwear and keep it tidy.
- If your home is feeling chaotic and you're stressed, try implementing some simple organizing hacks from the pros, like the 'Sink-ercise' for your bathroom sink, the 'Coatimundi Coat Closet Spruce-Up' for your coat closet, or the 'Junk Dombuster' method for your junk drawer.
- To streamline your kitchen storage, follow Sarah Dunn's 'Tupperware Transformation' advice and take an hour to organize your plastic food storage containers, matching them up and discarding any without a lid. This will make it easier to find what you need and prevent unnecessary clutter.
