This post is part of my September challenge (even if it's October!). I aimed to organise/declutter one small area of my home each day for the month of September (and did ok, until other things got in the way!).
The topic of this post is paperwork. Bills, certificates, bank statements, any sort of important document. I used to have mine in four different places, and each time I'd need a piece of paper, I'd have to remember which category it was in, and where that category was stored. Once I decided to overhaul it, it became one big pile, and stayed that way for a few weeks. Eventually, I'd had enough and devoted a long afternoon to the job.
I used Brooke from Slow your Home's guide to banishing the paper clutter. It's amazing, so well thought out and easy to follow. I just noticed it was posted on my birthday, which makes it even more amazing. Just sayin' ;)
I started by collecting everything and dumping it all on the floor in the living room. Every single file and bit of paper I could find. This is what I came up with:
Confusing? I think so. As luck would have it, I knew exactly where to find different bits of paper, but in the effort to simplify my life, I wanted it all in one place. My new filing system is based around an idea I found at the Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking.
I tried to find a suitable basket, but as I'm not willing to spend any money on my projects, I searched around the house first, and found a box that was the perfect width. It's made out of thick cardboard. I bodged a banana crate from a supermarket, I basically cut out the middle part to shorten it and stuck it back together!
I then covered it in brown paper to hide the holes, and all that sticky tape! I wanted something plain and simple, because the suspension files I had available are bright red. It's no good having clashing colours (not for me anyway).
I followed Brooke's guide step by step , did all three days work (3 parts) in 5 hours and was so satisfied when I got it done. I shredded a tonne of paper that I didn't need, and finally got everything into one place:
I had the opportunity to test this out tonight. I needed a bank statement, and it was so easy to find because this box sits in the corner of my living room, and it's the only place now where I store paperwork! I was even able to put it back in its place, which I must say is an achievement for me!
Do you have a paperwork monster lurking in your house?
This post is part of my September challenge. I am organising/decluttering one small area of my home each day for the month of September.
By beauty products I'm referring to all make-up, lotions, creams, moisturisers and medication that I own.
I've recently become interested in the ingredients list on these products. Chemicals. Unnatural names for unnatural substances. Something concocted in a chemistry lab. How do we know what these are doing to us?
One particular ingredient that has had a lot of attention are parabens. They are used in lots of products, as a preservative. These chemicals mimic oestrogen, and who knows what that might be doing. Alternatives might take some searching for, but they are out there. I found a good article that reviews some products made from natural ingredients. The GoodGuide has more in-depth analyses, but doesn't feature many products I find in the UK.
For this little project, I started by collecting EVERYTHING in my whole flat that falls under the scope of this challenge. This is what I found:
The goal was to fit all of this into my two bedside table drawers, shown above, and the two lilac baskets which live in the top drawer of my dresser. I use the contents of those baskets every single day, and they are very accessible there.
Then I sorted everything into categories.
oh and my make up (why aren't there 5 picture collages?)
I'll briefly outline what I got rid of from each category:
1. Hair: Duplicates of products that I use very rarely. I had two combs and two hair brushes. I only need one of each.
2. Lotions: Any containers approaching empty and that had been open for over a year. Anything that used to smell nice, but now smells off. You'll know. Anti-bac hand gel that attracts wasps and bees (lavender). I am phobic of wasps!
3. Nails: I love painting my nails. I managed to get rid of 4 bottles - the colours I won't wear anymore (black, bright red and princess pink).
4. Meds: Anything out of date. I trimmed down meds for conditions we hardly ever suffer from.
5. Make-up. I'm not a big fan of caking make up on so it's an inch thick. I found an eyeliner that was more than 10 years old, and surprise surprise had parabens in it. I don't think they're supposed to last that long! Chemical breakdown + my eyes = not a good combo.
In the end I managed to empty the plastic crate, so now I can fit everything in the two drawers and two baskets. Yay!
In future, there is a definite one-in-one-out policy in place. I will have to surrender something I have already if I want something new. That way, hopefully, the drawers won't overflow!
Also, every new product will be researched. If I buy less of them, I might be able to afford to spend a teensy weensy bit more to avoid the nasty chemicals.
How do you feel about the synthetic ingredients?
This post is part of my September challenge. I am organising/decluttering one small area of my home each day for the month of September.
The cupboard under the kitchen sink is home to all our cleaning materials, tea towels, spare cloths, and some random bits and bobs. It was looking very messy and disorganised! We have a very small kitchen so space is at a premium.
Here is the before photo:
Nothing was organised in this cupboard. Cleaning products everywhere, bin liners scattered in 3 different places. I will point them out, using little stars in the next photo:
See them?
I tackled this cupboard by first removing everything (except the paint box from the landlord)
Then I sorted everything into categories:
By the way, the photo above shows pretty much the entire floor space of the kitchen.
I decluttered and organised one category at a time. I tried to remove as much packaging as possible. For example, I took all of our jiffy cloths out of 4 separate packets and used a plastic wallet to store them all. I took all of our sponges, and put them in an empty box I found in the cupboard.
I used boxes and containers I found in the house. I didn't spend any money for this project at all, and encourage everyone to make do with what they have already. My sponge box is just a box from my scales, but it's the perfect size for the job. The items in the cupboard are not on display, so function over aesthetics this time :)
Then I put everything back in the cupboard:
1. Cloths in plastic wallet and spare sponges/scourers
2. Cleaning products (I use white vinegar, lemon juice and bicarbonate soda for most things)
3. Laundry products
4. Bin liners (compostable, recycling bags, and black bin bags). Now all my bin liners are in once place woooo!
5. Reusable shopping bags. (I have more hiding elsewhere, this might become their new home!)
I also created some labels with card, a felt tip, and some sticky film (like laminating but easier)
Now for the most exciting bit. Before and after shots!
Now I know where everything is, and it's easier to put stuff back in the right place.
When I complete these projects, I get the satisfaction of crossing them off my list.
Has anyone else been organising under their sink?
Sometimes, projects and ideas just don't work out. The best thing to do in those cases is to come up with new ideas, or refine the old ones. Last month, I started a project called 30 things in 30 days. I was attempting to find a way to continue with decluttering over a longer period of time, instead of taking the tasks in bursts and getting bored too quickly.
But, it didn't work because I wasn't motivated to do it. And that's ok. I found another similar approach, which involves writing a list of 30 areas that need decluttering, and tackling one area per day (read more here) It appeals to me more because the areas are distinct, and at the end of each day, I have organised/decluttered a specific area in my home. Result!
Each morning, I generate a random number, and then choose the item corresponding to that number from the list. I take before and after pictures of the area, and take pictures of everything that I'm committing to get rid of. At the end of the month I hope to have a collage of photos of all the things that have left the flat.
So far, it's working!
Here is my list of 30 areas:
1. Bathroom shelf (we keep toothbrushes, mouthwash, floss etc. on here)
2. Bathroom cabinet (extra shampoos, shower gels, lotions)
3. Cupboard under the kitchen sink
4. Food cupboard (we only have 1 to store all dry goods/groceries)
5. Cereal and tea shelf
6. Cutlery drawer
7. Kitchen counter (main counter)
8. Kitchen counter by window (lots of random things end up here)
9. Beauty products (lotions, medications, hair products etc.)
10. Floor of the wardrobe
11. On top of the wardrobe
12. Pyjamas
13. Sides of the wardrobe (can you tell things are crammed into every crevice in my flat??)
14. Suitcase full of clothes (that I boxed up when I started Project 333)
15. Crate of clothes (also boxed up due to Project 333)
16. Linen cupboard (also where we keep lounge wear, hoodies etc.)
17. Bedside table
18. Winter clothes box
19. Hallway - small storage cubbies
20. Hallway - Top 3 large shelves
21. Hallway - Bottom 3 large shelves
22. Books in the living room
23. Paperwork
24. Dropzone (where we dump our stuff when we come in the house)
25. Sewing box
26. Sentimental/keepsakes box (yikes! I'm most scared of this one)
27. Junk corner (random things accumulate here)
28. Junk bag in the study (leftover from previous organising)
29. Craft shelves in the study
30. Box of DVD's and books
Sheesh that felt long! I can also think of more areas that I want to add to the list! Some areas are easier than others, but I think it's important to have some easy ones on the list too, so as not to get overwhelmed by the difficulty.
My aim is for this challenge to help me create a simpler, frustration free life.
Anyone want to join me?
