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Cleaning Your House: Drawers and Closets
Start with the drawers
Clean House: It is Spring Time
There are several ideas about when and how spring cleaning originated. There is some thought it was a Jewish tradition before Passover celebration in the spring. Other theories come from the Iranian or Chinese culture. Anyway it is the time of year when life starts to bloom again and a good time to get the house in order so we can all enjoy other things in life. Another theory is that we come out of the winter blues and lethargy and start to get ambitious.
My Theory
Whoever invented spring cleaning must have spent a lot of time at home during the winter.Apparently this person kept checking drawers and closets and found them getting messier and messier.This person also kept looking at the floors, the windows and finally said one day "time for a spring cleaning"
I personally do not love to clean but do enjoy a clean, tidy and well organized house. I rarely put things back in place and often am looking for this or that. My house is reasonably clean especially bathrooms and kitchen. The biggest problem with cleaning is that you are creating a temporary situation. It takes a lot less time to mess a room than to clean it.I decided to tackle the spring cleaning different this year and break it up into parts. I am going to talk about drawers and closets in this hub. I like starting from the inside out.
Empty the drawers and closets
First of all turn on some lively music that you can listen to for a long time. Start this emptying out process one room at a time, or if you feel you can do the entire job in a day do these steps in each room.
- Put a large sheet on the floor in each room as you empty the drawers.
- Empty the contents of all the drawers in different piles.
- Go through the contents and set out three piile -throw outs, give aways and keepers.
- Put the throw aways and give aways in two separate bags.
- Do the same process with your closet in this room
Vinegar, Water and Baking Soda for Cleaning
Clean Each Drawer and Closet
Clean and sanitize all the drawers and closets
- Mix in equal parts water and white vinegar along with 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a spray bottle and shake well.
- Spray all the drawers, shelves and walls of the closets and drawers
- Dry everything with a microfiber rag.
- Mix 5 or 6 drops of essential oil-lemon, orange or lavender with water in a small spray bottle and spray all the drawers and closet and allow to dry. You will love the fresh scent.
Organize the drawers in every room
Arranging the Drawers
Arrange the Drawers
- Put drawer dividers (silverware holders work well for this) in drawers where you have small items.
- Arrange the items according to usage. Always have the things you use most often easily accessible and in front.
- In drawers that you have large items arrange according to needs. For example if you have a hair blow dryer, keep your curling iron, brushes, combs and hair spray in the same drawer.
This simple process will work with most drawers and also keep you organized to find things when you need them.
This is the perfect closet
Add some pretty hangers
Closet Cleaning Time
Arrange the clothes in three piles again.
- Have a bag for give aways and another bag for throw aways
- Set the clothes and items you are keeping in a separate area.
- Spray all the shelves and walls with your white vinegar mixture.
- Dry everything with your microfiber rag.
- Vacuum the floor if it is carpeted or mop the floor.
- Spray the entire closet with the small spray bottle of essential oil and water.Allow to dry.
- Set up your clothes according to items: blouses, skirts, pants, etc.
- Fill in with some new hangers to perk up the closet.
- Arrange any shelves you have in your closet with sweaters, t-shirts and scarves.
- Put shoes you wear infrequently in shoe boxes and label each box.
- Dust off any shoes or boots with the microfiber rag.
- The shoes or boots that you wear frequently set on a shoe rack or keep at one end of the closet.
Finale
You will feel proud of yourself when all the drawers and closets are clean, smell fresh and you know where everything is located. This task does not have to be accomplished in one day but worked on as you have the time. I personally think cleaning is a great activity on cold or rainy days. I do occasionally get into the cleaning mood every once in a while. And if the mood never strikes, you will have to dig in a clean anyway.
Having organized and clean drawers is about 3/4 of spring cleaning to me. As I am writing this I am feeling guilty so I better sign off and head for the drawers and closets.
Clean Your House
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Comments
As simple as it sounds, I never thought of putting a sheet down first and dump the entire drawer on it. Closets take such a long time. I normally only get one done at a time. Very detailed and useful, thank you for sharing.
Very good Hub! I like your drawer and closet arranging ideas. voted useful and shared.
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thanks for stopping by and lovelycomments.
This is a very useful hub that I will have to come back and revisit. I always thought spring cleaning came about because the spring season inspires renewal. Whatever the cause, I am compelled to clean my cabinets and drawers this time of year. It is always nice to see them organized.
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I know what you mean...I still am walking around the house thinking about getting started...I actually do it in small bits and pieces...I think you have to be in that tiger mood. Thanks for stopping by.
I REALLY need to do this next week! Everything gets so cluttered and stuffy over the winter. I actually look forward to spring cleaning - just to be able to open the windows and air out the house feels so great!
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Thank you Louise Lately for stopping by on time. I appreciate the vote..
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Bake like a Pro..Thank you so much and I appreciate the visitvotes and share.
Great hub! I was spring cleaning this weekend and some guidance like was just what I was looking for! I have used the distilled vinegar/baking soda combo and it really works - voted up
I was thinking about doing a spring cleaning myself. Great tips Carol. I like your theory about the person who created this idea. Pinned, voted up and sharing.
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Okay...I give you permission to do your taxes...
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Thank you for stopping by and votes and sharing. I think I need to follow some of my own advice.
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Thank you midget and for the sharing...So appreciate.
hi carol,
thanks for the tips
I do indeed think that it is the time for spring cleaning
and getting rid of the things we no longer need thanks for the hub
Voted up and shared
Carol, thanks for the tips...you make spring cleaning less of a task! Will go about it less painfully now!
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creativelycc: Thank you for dropping in and nice comments.
I really like the idea of using an essential oil mixture and letting it air dry. Great ideas - thank you!
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Thank you Eddy as always.. Always nice to have a visit from you.
Another interesting and useful hub carol;. I vote up and share.
Eddy.
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At least once you do the job of the drawers and closets you have some time before repeating...Housework is a thankless job that is repeated way too often. thanks for votes.
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I am tired thinking about it also. I keep looking at drawers and closets..And say tomorrow is the day. Thanks for dropping in Nell always good to see you my friend.
Hi Carol,
We have been tackling one closet at a time...totally emptying them out and culling what goes back in. If it goes back in it is dusted or cleaned. The culled things get donated. We still have a few closets to go...but like this hub and it gives inspiration to keep going. Up, useful and interesting votes.
This is definitely the time to start, can you come and do mine? lol! great hub and ideas, now I am exhausted just thinking about it!
I love the idea of spraying the essential oils in the drawers and closets when you're finished cleaning...what a great idea. Now we're all thinking about spring cleaning and when we have to start...I have to do my income tax first ;)
Voted up, useful, and interesting.
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Thank you so much. I appreciate the sharing and your stopping by.
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Sometimes I just grab everything from a drawer and stick it in the washing machine. Keeping the drawers and closets clean and neat help a lot.
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DDE Thank you for dropping by..
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Thank you Vocal Coach...cleaning is a daunting job that never seems to get finished. However being organized does help. Thanks for votes and sharing.
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Thank you Rajan Jolly: Thanks for votes,sharing and always being such a good friend.
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pstraubie48: Talking about all this cleaning is making me feel guiltier by the day. Thanks for coming by with your wonderful angels.
This article is awesome and timely. Oddly one week in March that task is slated for vacation. I am thankful of the tip on cleaning the drawers. I have a challenge now with that affecting T-shirts that sit too long now worn.
Awesome and telling friends of this
tim
This article is awesome and timely. Oddly one week in March that task is slated for vacation. I am thankful of the tip on cleaning the drawers. I have a challenge now with that affecting T-shirts that sit too long now worn.
Awesome and telling friends of this
tim
Great ideas here for spring cleaning, son to be here simple ways to follow.
Did you write this hub for me? I sure need this marvelous help with organizing my bedroom closet and drawers. Love the idea of spraying essential oils into drawers and closets.
Placing a sheet on the floor and making three different piles of clothes is a magnificent idea.
Voted up +++ and sharing. Thanks.
Great job and very useful ideas and tips. Thanks for sharing, Carol.
Voted up, useful and interesting. Shared too.
Spring cleaning used to be a biggie in my house as a little girl in VA. One of the big ones was washing ALL OF THE WINDOWS inside and out. That was huge as we had a skadillion windows.
Here in FL particularly this winter I have been able to do a lot of early spring cleaning. I am kind of a cleaning nut so I may go a bit overboard...I think it has to do with being OCD.
Anyway .....I found this helpful and informative, Carol...love that vinegar.
Thanks for sharing... sending you many Angels this evening :) ps
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Thank you Bill: Music gets the engines going. Thanks for stopping by and commenting and continuing support.
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hawaiianodysseus: Thank you kindly for your remarks and I always appreciate a visit from you.
Great tips Carol. I'm actually looking forward to a good Spring cleaning. I like the idea about putting on the music. My wife does this when we are in the cleaning mode. Some great tips here.
Love these tips, Carol, even though I always want to make myself scarce when it's that "honey-do" time of the year. Just the eternal Huckleberry Finn in me. I like how you organized this hub...in a sense, it perfectly exemplifies what spring cleaning is all about--tidy, clean, balanced, and a positive contribution to one's well being. Great job!
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Grandma Pearl.. You are just too nice. Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate the sharing and kind words.
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kidscraft..what a cool idea. Take a picture.. If I could only return things where they should be..alas...My downfall. Thanks for stopping by and I so appreciate the visit and kind words.
Carol this is too good! I'm bookmarking this for my spring cleaning chores. You use my favorite solution: vinegar and baking soda. I really like the idea of using lavender oil and water in a spray bottle for the drawers. That is something I will definitely do this spring. Thanks for sharing all these great ideas. Now I will share them!
Grandma Pearl
I love things super well organized but since we had massive worked done in our basement last May... I am still behind. So that makes me sad...but I will get to it!
When I organize a drawer with a lot of different sections I take a picture of my drawer before so it takes less time to reorganize later. I am a visual person...si I like visual tools to help me :-)
I love your hub...well organized like any drawer should be!
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Oh No..write yourself a note. Thanks for lovely compliments.
Very well organized, and written, hub, carol. But I would expect no less from you, m'dear. I am fairly organized about putting things away. My problem - I forget where I put them!
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Not my secret pleasure ...just a total pleasure...We have moved so many times and probably have given or thrown away ..many, many things. I am thinking about spring cleaning..just in the thinking stage..until the moment hits..There is so much to do...However, I did do the baseboards and polish all the wood. Next are the insides which take the most time.
I love when my house is organized and clean. One of my secret pleasures is throwing things out!
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thanks for stopping by and we should have a contest to see who gets done with the job first.
It is time to think about spring cleaning again, even though you can certainly get a head start and really be able to enjoy spring when it gets here!
Hey carol777, I personally love your theory on the invention of spring cleaning. LOL - I think you are so right :-).
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Thank you of fair dragonfly...
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Same here. I did clean the kitchen pantry and now on to the rest. Thanks for visiting and continued support.
More great tips. Thanks Carol.
Jeez, I'm exhausted just reading this hub. Now I'm not sure I'm looking forward to spring. LOL Very thorough look at a job I am not dreading. :) I know it has to be done but darn it, I don't want to do it.
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