This week The Cleaning Crew is looking at simple and effective ways for refreshing and organizing your bedroom. Don’t think of it as needless pampering — you probably NEED it more than you know!
OK, let’s start with a couple of housekeeping items, i.e. chores. Here are a couple that may actually make more of a difference in your mood and attitude than you expect!
Surprise! Making Your Bed EVERYDAY Makes Your Day Better!
Maybe our moms were more on point with this one than we (or they) knew! People study all kinds of things these days, and making one’s bed is now one of them. In these studies they found that making one’s bed as a daily ritual is associated with:
- better productivity
- sticking with a budget
- and greater HAPPINESS (what?!)
That’s right. Making your bed on a consistent basis helps make you a happier person. Who knew? Most just associate it with doing a chore! You can read some of the research here.
Cleaning & Refreshing Your Bed: How to Deep-Clean Your Mattress
Maybe you don’t like the way your bed looks though, this might be a contributing factor to you not wanting to make your bed. If this is the case then it might be a good idea to get a new bed. Why not check out something like this high gloss bed to give you a better idea of what you could get. Another thing you could do is just make sure you wash your bedding. Of course everyone knows to wash their bedding on a regular basis, but how about the actual mattress? When was the last time you cleaned your mattress? Or has reading this made you realised that you are long overdue a new Leesa king size mattress? If you aren’t sure how to go about cleaning your mattress, here’s an oft-overlooked cleaning task that should be part of our regular cleaning routine.
What You’ll Need:
- 16-ounce box baking soda
- Essential oil
- Vacuum cleaner
This simple combination of baking soda and essential oils will deodorize, eliminate moisture and kill dust mites in your mattress. Essential oils like eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender or wintergreen essential oils have the added benefit of safely and effectively remove dust mites as well as being naturally antibacterial. If you’ve just bought a new mattress, it’s important for you to care for it, if you’re not sure how, read this mattress care guide.
- Open the box of baking soda and add 10 to 20 drops of your favorite essential oil. Close the box and give it a good shake to distribute the essential oil and break up any large clumps.
- Sprinkle the baking soda over the bed, using the entire box. Now it’s time for a mattress massage! Rub the baking soda mixture into the bed, which really gives your mattress a deep cleaning. Let the baking soda and essential oil work its magic for at least an hour.
- While you’re waiting, toss your bedding in the wash, and fluff duvets or feather beds in the dryer. Wipe down the walls around your bed and the bed frame, creating a nice and clean sleeping area.
- After an hour, vacuum the mattress, working slowly to ensure all the baking soda has been removed.
- Along with freshening your bed, the mixture helps lift dirt and residue while wicking away moisture. And giving your mattress a good vacuuming sucks away any lurking dust mites, which makes everyone sleep easier. Make the bed, and you’re ready for some serious slumber.
Furniture Refresher – Restore Shine to Your Wood Furniture
In addition to tending to your mattress, how about your bedroom set? If your bedroom furniture is constructed of wood, it may be due for some freshening up. Here’s why and how.
Wood loses its shine for two reasons: it gets dirty and it gets worn. Oil, dirt and any number of other things can build up on the surface of wood. If it’s not removed regularly, it can create a build up over the surface of the wood and make the wood dull.
- The first step is to clean your wooden furniture. Vinegar is very effective at cutting grease and removing grime. Plus, it’s all natural and non-toxic. Start by using undiluted white vinegar on a sponge or cloth to wipe down your furniture.
- Next, in a small mason jar mix one cup of mineral oil and three drops of pure lemon essential oil.
- Dab a bit of the mineral oil mixture on a soft cloth or sponge and rub it into the entire surface of the furniture. If your wood is very dry, you may need to do this twice. Let the oil sit on the furniture for at least five minutes.
- Using a clean rag, gently buff the furniture, wiping away any excess mineral oil. The wood should be smooth to touch – not tacky or sticky.
Ideally, you should repeat this process about once a month to keep your furniture looking its best.
Next, let’s turn our attention to some organizational tasks. How our bedrooms are set up and organized contributes significantly to how we feel when we’re in them.
Consider Your Paint Choices – What are the Best Colors for the Bedroom?
Many bedrooms never move beyond “off-white” on the color wheel. Or, maybe you bought a home recently and inherited a bedroom color that’s not sitting quite right with you. Changing your bedroom paint is one of the bigger bang for your buck changes you can make?
But, what color is best? Glad you asked!
Again, research indicates that color of our surroundings has a significant effect on the psyche. Soothing and softer hues are generally recommended, but bright colors don’t have to be banished. On the contrary! Our friends at HGTV.com have a few simple guidelines to follow when looking at new colors for your bedroom. Read through them here.
Nightstand Organization
Nightstands tend to collect lots of clutter: books, charging cables, magazines, pens, water bottles, etc. However, the rule of thumb for your nightstand is: the fewer the items the better. If you like to read before you go to sleep, pick one or two books that you most want to read. Make sure not to layer or stack things. We feel more peaceful when things are unobstructed and there is space between things. Stay diligent in de-cluttering your nightstand by sticking with just a few essentials. Add to this list of essentials very deliberately and carefully:
- A tray for smaller items like glasses, watches, rings etc.
- A box of tissues
- A small lamp
Technology in the Bedroom
Surveys indicate that a massive number of people sleep with their smartphone (or laptop or tablet) either next to the bed or actually IN the bed. However, research suggests this is a really bad idea. Huffingtonpost.com cites 7 really good reasons to eliminate the smartphone from the bedroom. Read the article here.
Follow These Tips for Getting Technology Out of the Bedroom
- Set up a charging station somewhere other than your bedroom, like the kitchen or a home office. Plug in the cords in a way that makes it inconvenient to move them around, so that you really need to make an effort to charge your devices somewhere else.
- Designate a time each night to retire phones and tablets to the charging station. Start with doing it right before bed, but consider doing it an hour or more before bedtime. Having time to unwind with your spouse is beneficial outside the bedroom as well.
- Buy or dig out an actual alarm clock so you don’t have to rely on your phone’s alarm to wake up in the mornings. Browse Amazon’s selection of alarm clocks here.
- If you or your spouse like to read before bed, start bringing physical books into the bedroom instead of a tablet or e-reader. If you’re dying to read your latest Kindle find, discuss guidelines before carrying the device to bed. Consider turning off Wi-Fi so you’re not tempted to check email or Facebook “just for a minute.”
Is There a TV in Your Bedroom? Ditch It Now
Removing the television from your bedroom will result in better / more sleep. Not only does television in the bedroom keep us up later at night, but there are also studies that indicate watching television before bed actually disrupts sleep cycles.
Illumination Inspiration
Choosing the right lighting in bedrooms is important for relaxing and rejuvenating the human spirit. Use these tips to bring your bedroom some much needed illumination inspiration. Check out Remodeling 101: Bedroom Lighting Secrets by
Well, there you have it! Clearly there’s more to consider, like freshening up your bedding, pillows, and art work. This surely this will get you started! Then branch out as you can.
Remember, if the need for a professional arises, The Cleaning Crew has home organization specialists that can transform your bedroom in a flash. Give us a shout:
541-601-6236 or email us: info@thecleaningcrewonline.com
Next week we’ll be looking at some bathroom organization ideas!
Til then, Shine On!
~The Cleaning Crew
PS. What steps have you taken to make your bedroom a more restful space? Leave a comment below!
When Everything Has a Place, It’s Easier to Put Everything in its Place.
Everything has a place. This is the number one organization tip. If you just abide by this rule, everything else will come easy when it comes to your disorganized home. So this means that every item in your home has a place, or home base that it belongs in. The hair dryer is in the drawer in the bathroom. Books belong on the bookshelf. The trick is putting them back, and putting them back right after you have used them. One such clutter forming place is the kitchen.
“The kitchen is the one room of the home that all family members use every day – yet so often it is one of the most inefficient rooms in the house. Who wants to cook when you can’t find what you need? Life in the kitchen is much easier when you can find what you’re looking for and you know what food is in the cupboard or the pantry!”
– Karen, Owner of The Cleaning Crew, LLC
Here are 10 tips that may help you create an enjoyable kitchen:
- Neatly stored items take up less space
- Organize your kitchen so that the every day dishes, silverware and glasses are close to the sink and/or dishwasher
- Coffee mugs…how many do you really need??? Think about those you use most often and how much space the rest consume
- Square and rectangular containers take up less space than round
- Go through cupboards and pantries once per year and toss what has not been used in a year
- Don’t purchase products in bulk unless you have a place to store them
- Small appliances you use often should be accessible – relocate appliances to hard to reach places that you do not use often
- Put canned goods with canned goods and boxes with boxes, etc. Break each down by category, such as fruits, vegetables, soups, beans, pasta, snack foods, etc…
- Install slide-out drawers in cupboards to easily access pots, pans, plastic containers, etc…
- Can’t install slide out drawers? Use clear glass or plastic boxes that can hold similar items, such as pasta, rice, snacks, baking goods – this way you can pull them all of the shelf at one time
With just a few hours of time and some products to help you organize – you’ll be well on your way to a kitchen that you can enjoy spending time in. It’s amazing the number of kitchen organizing products to help you control kitchen clutter – too many to mention all of them here.
7 Favorite Kitchen Organization Products
- Turntables – Found in a variety of sizes, materials and colors, turntables are one of the best ways to organize bottles, jars, cans, spices – or anything that you do not want to get shoved to the back of the cupboard.
- Tea Bag Storage –Try a basket or container for your favorites teas and impress your guests
- 3-tier Expanding Shelf – Never sure if you have tomato soup on hand when you want a grilled cheese sandwich? Use an expanding, tiered shelf to solve the mystery. It’s like having a set of bleachers for your canned goods and spices.
- Drawer Double – Maximize the space in your drawers with a drawer double. It’s adjustable to fit the width of your drawer and has individual compartments. It’s perfect for use in a kitchen junk drawer – who said your junk drawer needed to look junky? It also works well in the drawer that contains all of your kitchen utensils.
- Grocery Bag Holder – Not only useful in the kitchen, but also a must for the laundry room if you use grocery bags to clean out the litter box! They also are useful in the bathroom under the sink. Mount on insides of doors, pantries or on the wall – or purchase the one that sits on a flat surface.
- Packet Storage – Excellent for quickly being able to put your hands on sauce, soup or drink mixes! They come in a variety of sizes and can either sit on a shelf, or some can be affixed to the door of a cupboard or wall in the pantry.
- Lid Holder – Do the plastic lids from your storage containers drive you nuts because you’re never sure what to do with them? Install a door mounted plastic cover holder and never wonder again where the lid is to your container. If this product won’t solve your problem, simply use one of the larger plastic containers to store the lids in.
Last but not least, be sure to take an honest look at what you are currently storing in your kitchen. Ask yourself; “when was the last time I used this?” “Will I ever use it again?” If the answer is “I can’t remember” or “No” then it may be time to let it go and make room for what you use everyday.
And let us know if we can help!
We’ve all seen those “dream closets” and wished they were ours. However, it’s easier than you think to make your glamorous closet dreams a reality. Here are a few organizing tips.
- Clean it out – The key to a clean organized closet is as simple as keeping out clutter. If you haven’t worn something in over a year, get rid of it. Chances are, you won’t want to wear it anytime soon.
- Consolidate shoes – Use baskets and adorable boxes, placing the ones you wear the most at eye-level and placing all your prettiest boxes on display.
- Install plenty of hooks – Purses can take up a lot of shelf space. hooks are a great way to hang bags and backpacks. Put them on the wall behind an open door for added storage space. You can purchase hooks and knobs in a variety of colors and styles, so have fun with it.
- Use scarf and belt hangers – They now make hangers that are built to store scarves and belts. They save shelf room and hang nicely next to pants. The scarf hangers especially add an extra pop of color to your closet.
- Use uniform hangers – If you have a hodgepodge of hangers, it can make your closet look unnecessarily sloppy. Purchase hangers that grip clothes and take up minimal room. Having your clothes all hanging on the same level, the same distance apart will give the appearance of organization.
- Organize by sleeve length or color – However you choose to sort your clothes, do so. If you always keep the same three sweaters in the back of your closet, you’ll forget all about them. Put them with the rest of your tanks so when it’s cool outside, you have plenty of options to choose from.
- Purchase cute storage – Try woven baskets with cotton lining to store items like clutches, gloves, hats and coin purses. They’re a great way to separate items without cluttering up your closet. Linen bins are a great option to store underwear and camisoles. A beautiful jewelry box can also be a fantastic investment piece.
- Paint it a bright color – Painting your closet in a bright hue can go a long way. Your closet will seem large and cheery and you’ll be excited about keeping it organized and cute. Keeping a mirror and/or chair in your closet can make it your own personal hideout.
- Utilize cork board – Lining a wall or back of a shelf with corkboard is a cute and functional way to utilize and organize space. You can also use pushpins as places to hang necklaces or bracelets and earrings can be pushed into the cork as well.
Check our more ideas on our Pinterest board and get started today!
Follow The Cleaning Crew, LLC’s board Organization and Storage on Pinterest.
