Our Top 12 Organization Tips

1. Start in one place

If you have several areas in your home you want to get under control, start with just one. You decide which one to start with — is it the area that gives you the biggest headache, or the area that guests to your home most easily see? Whatever your priorities, select one area and stick to it. Many attempts at organization fail when the task of cleaning up the entire house seems daunting and folks give up. When you complete one area, celebrate and then move on to the next.

2. Allow plenty of time

Don’t expect organization to happen overnight. Depending on the area to be organized, schedule a couple of hours each day to work on getting the area organized. Getting a garage whipped into shape will take more time than it takes to organize a linen closet.

3. Clean house

Once you’ve selected an area, go through the contents. Donate or hold a garage sale for anything you don’t or can’t wear or use any more. Use the two year rule of thumb — if you haven’t worn it in two years, it’s time to say goodbye to it. These items take up valuable space and probably won’t be missed.

See these tips in conducting a garage sale.

4. Take inventory

After you’ve removed extraneous items, take a look at what remains. Does it belong here? Does it make sense to keep it here? Is there another place where you’ve got more room to keep it, or another area where it would be more easily accessible for its purpose? For example, take that professional-grade mixer that you’ve been keeping in the back of your closet and move it to the kitchen. When it’s time to tackle that area of the home, you can incorporate the mixer into the new storage plan for the kitchen.

5. Look for wasted space

If you’re in need of more storage space, think creatively about additional areas that you can put to work. Prime examples include over doors and underneath beds. These areas are valuable real estate in your home and are often overlooked.

6. Maximize vertical space

If you don’t have a lot of room to work with, a surefire way to instantly create more space is to go “up.” Instead of only having a couple of shelves to house your kitchen items, take them up to the ceiling to really maximize the vertical space — you’ll store the things you need less frequently on the higher shelves.

7. Divide the space

By adding additional shelves to a single shelf, or by using containers that stack atop one another, you can divide the vertical space and make efficient use of the area you have to work with. By dividing the space, you eliminate the possibility of stacking tall piles of clothing, papers or other items that are destined to topple over.

8. Keep it moving

Consider storage options on wheels: to allow for greater flexibility and to help keep the clutter under control. Carts can hold an assortment of accessories in a small amount of space, and can be wheeled back into a closet or storage area when not in use.

9. Organize with color

Whether you’re working to organize the family room or striving to get your home office under control, use color to enhance your efforts. Assign each child a different colored container to keep his or her belongings in and keep them responsible for cleaning up after themselves. Organize projects, bills and other important papers by function and color in your home office.

10. Visibility

The three rules to organization are visibility, accessibility and flexibility. Choose containers that are either transparent or that you can easily label to help immediately identify the contents and save valuable time.

11. Accessibility

Make sure that the items you need most often are the easiest to access. Likewise, place the items you don’t need to get to as often on a higher shelf or in another area.

12. Flexibility

Select a storage system that can adapt to your changing needs. That way, you can reconfigure and reuse solutions to solve a variety of storage and organization problems.

How to Declutter Your Home: 10 Creative Decluttering Tips

The idea of living a simple life with less stuff sounds attractive to many.

But often, they begin to feel overwhelmed, anxious, and defeated around the idea of owning less. That’s too bad.

Learning how to declutter your home and (and as a result, decluttering your life) doesn’t need to be as painful as some make it out to be. And the benefits are numerous.

The Benefits of Decluttering Your Life

There are many benefits to owning fewer possessions. Even then, it’s tough to move into action. That is… until the many benefits of getting rid of clutter reveal themselves:

Less to clean. Cleaning is already enough of a chore, but having to clean around things you have zero emotional attachment to (or worse, actively dislike) makes cleaning the house much more stressful.

Less to organize. Finding things suddenly become easier. Things don’t just “disappear” anymore. You can actually move around your home and enjoy the space, instead of moving around things that are in the way.

Less stress. Looking around at the clutter is a nausea-inducing sight once your home becomes cluttered enough. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to look around and see a home you love?

Less debt. Spending less time shopping for material possessions and adding to the clutter means your wallet and bank accounts remain fuller, your credit cards’ statements are lower, and your home doesn’t get filled with costly things you don’t need.

More financial freedom. Most American households live paycheck to paycheck (59% according to a recent survey done by Charles Schwab back in May 2019.) Nearly half of those surveyed carry credit card debt. Decluttering, paired with minimalism, will help you build up savings to keep you protected in case of unexpected emergencies.

More energy for your greatest passions. With less debt, more financial freedom, and a clean home, you can now focus your energy on the things you enjoy instead of worrying about “Keeping up with the Joneses.” This will ultimately make you happier.

Ok, so now you know the benefits of decluttering your life, but you may be getting tripped up by the very next question… where in the world do you begin?

10 Creative Decluttering Tips

If you’re struggling and need guidance on how to declutter, you’ll need to get creative with your plans. Here are several interesting decluttering tips to get you started on decluttering your home:

  • Start with 5 minutes at a time. If you’re new to decluttering, you can slowly build momentum with just five minutes a day.
  • Give one item away each day. This would remove 365 items every single year from your home. If you increased this to 2 per day, you would have given away 730 items you no longer needed. Increase this number once it gets too easy.
  • Fill an entire trash bag. Get a trash bag and fill it as fast as you can with things you can donate at Goodwill.
  • Donate clothes you never wear. To identify them, simply hang all your clothes with hangers in the reverse direction. After wearing an item, face the hanger in the correct direction. Discard the clothes you never touched after a few months.
  • Create a decluttering checklist. It’s a lot easier to declutter when you have a visual representation of where you need to get started. You can use our decluttering checklist.

  • Take the 12-12-12 challenge. Locate 12 items to throw away, 12 to donate, and 12 to be returned to their proper home.
  • View your home as a first-time visitor. It’s easy to “forget” what your home looks like to a new visitor. Enter your home as if you’re visiting the home of a friend. Write down your first impression on how clean and organized the home is and make changes.
  • Take before and after photos of a small area. Choose one part of your home, like your kitchen counter, and take a photo of a small area. Quickly clean off the items in the photo and take an after photo. Once you see how your home could look, it becomes easier to start decluttering more of your home.
  • Get help from a friend. Have a friend or family member go through your home and suggest a handful of big items to throw away or give to someone else. If you defend the item and want to keep it, your friend has to agree with your reason. If they don’t agree, it’s time to get rid of it.
  • Use the Four-Box Method. Get four boxes and label them: trash, give away, keep, or re-locate. Enter any room in your home and place each item into one of the following boxes. Don’t skip a single item, no matter how insignificant you may think it is. This may take days, weeks, or months, but it will help you see how many items you really own and you’ll know exactly what to do with each item.

No matter which decluttering tip you choose to get started – whether it be one of these ten or one of countless others – the goal is to take your first step in decluttering your life with excitement behind it.

There is a beautiful world of freedom and fresh breath hiding behind that clutter. Deciding how to declutter your home is up to you.

General FAQ About Decluttering Your Home:

Do I need a professional organizer to help me get rid of clutter?
Absolutely not. Getting rid of the clutter in your home can be done by yourself. It can even be a fun family activity when using the decluttering tips found in this article.

How can I declutter quickly? Can it be done in a day?
Removing clutter from our homes and our lives doesn’t need to be rushed or done in a single day. It’s something that can be done over time and may even need to be done on a semi-regular basis. As long as you start the process today, you’re further along than you were yesterday.

Will owning less make my home look empty or boring?
Simple doesn’t mean sparse or boring. The opposite is true. With fewer mess and distractions, your home can become more peaceful. You can view your home as a space for rest and comfort, instead of a source of stress.

What’s the difference between declutter and unclutter?
They’re both interchangeable, though I prefer using “declutter.” The “de-” hints at being complete and permanent. I like to think of decluttering as something that solves the problem forever.

When should I declutter?
This is a personal question. When you find yourself overwhelmed by your possessions and tied down, it usually means you’re ready to start making a change. Note that this feeling is just a broad litmus test. The feeling of overwhelm can be different for everyone.

Step-by-Step Guide to a Clean House

When you hire a maid, you’re hiring a professional. One of the marks of maid’s professional cleaning service is that they clean your home with a game plan in mind. A strategy that takes on cleaning in a systematic, organized way (while having the flexibility to incorporate your custom wishes).

Surprised we’d share our secrets? We love to clean and love to train. And, we know our customers love our service. Besides, sharing is good. Use our house cleaning checklist to clean your home efficiently and thoroughly:

  1. Before you start going room to room, pause first to put on some great, lively music. That’s better. Now pick up clutter, and as you go, feel free to second-guess your belongings. The less you have, the less you have to put away, clean, and dust: scrutinize books, magazines, newspapers, DVDs, furniture, toys the kids have outgrown, old computers you’ve outgrown, old clothes and shoes in the closets…is it time to donate and recycle? Turn off light bulbs and ceiling fans as you go for the upcoming dusting work.
  2. Speaking of closets, if you have any that you’re afraid to open, face your fears its time to minimize and organize.
  3. Dust (go left to right, top to bottom) with microfiber cloths. This will lower allergens and improve the air quality in your house. Dampened cloths tied to the ends of mops and brooms work great for removing cobwebs. For slatted blinds, use the string to close them one way and dust, then close them the other way and repeat…it’s effective and a lot more efficient than trying to do one slat at a time. Don’t forget to hit the tops of doors, fans, light fixtures, picture frames and yes, each of your knick-knacks (keep them in display cases to reduce dusting work). For the face of framed photos, TV screens, and computer monitors, use glass cleaner on your cotton cloth or microfiber to avoid streaking.
  4. Vacuum. Make sure your bag/compartment isn’t already full, and use the right settings and attachments. Hit the floors in the whole house, and upholstered furniture. Be amazed at all those missing items (socks, your favorite pen) that you find under your couch cushions.
  5. Sweep/mop/treat floors (except kitchen). For mopping, start at the farthest corner of the room and move back toward the entrance. Rinse mop after completing each 4 x 4 foot area.
  6. Furniture freshening. Every now and then, some wooden furniture needs a good waxing.

KITCHEN

  • Wipe down countertops and cabinets (start at immediate right of the stove).
  • Clean face of appliances (refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher).
  • Wipe down stove top.
  • Clean inside of microwave.
  • Soak stove drip pans and knobs in sink.
  • Clean inside and around sink.
  • Sweep and mop floor (go light on cleaning product in the water to avoid build-up).

    BATHROOMS

  • Remove rugs/wastebaskets (if you haven’t already when vacuuming earlier).
  • Remove everything from tub/shower.
  • Place bath mat in tub/shower.
  • Wet tub/shower walls with warm water.
  • Apply tile and grout cleaner, allow to sit.
  • Spray/clean everything with all-purpose cleaner except toilet, vanity, shower/tub, mirror.
  • Fill bucket with ¼ cup all-purpose cleaner and water to prep for floor cleaning.
  • Stand on bath mat and scrub tub/shower walls and door (use grout brush in-between tiles as needed).
  • Apply tile and grout cleaner to tub/shower floor and scrub.
  • Clean shower rack/soap dishes.
  • Clean shower track.
  • Rinse off walls of tub/shower and dry with cloth.
  • Vanity: spray tile and grout cleaner in sink, soap dish.
  • Spray countertop with all-purpose cleaner.
  • Scrub sink.
  • Use grout brush along faucet and drain.
  • Rinse the sink and your rag.
  • Wipe the vanity countertop.
  • Wipe down cabinet fronts.
  • Clean mirror: spray glass cleaner on soft cloth and buff.
  • Shine the faucets.
  • Wash the floor with solution in the bucket and allow to dry.
  • Replace rugs, bath mat and wastebaskets.

    BEDROOMS

If you’ve already removed clutter, dusted, and vacuumed the house and tidied your closets, your bedrooms will be basically done. To finish up, simply:

  • Return any furniture (chairs, diaper bins, etc.) that you put up to vacuum earlier.
  • Make bed.
  • Straighten.
  • Special projects: Organize your sock drawer? Fold laundry and put in dresser? Put a mint on your pillow?

    WINDOWS

  • Use a streak-free glass cleaner (don’t spray on too much) and wipe with newspapers.
  • Clean large and hard-to-reach windows with a professional-quality squeegee.
  • Clean window screens by removing from frame and scrubbing with all-purpose cleaner mixed with warm water. Scrub each screen with a bristle brush, rinse with outdoor hose and insert back into window to dry.

13 Secrets of People Who Always Have a Clean House

If you’re among the section of the population struggling to maintain an orderly home, you probably find yourself wondering how “clean” people do it. Wonder no longer, the secrets of the clean house crew are about to be revealed.

They know how to make space

Even if you don’t consider yourself a collector of “stuff,” that “stuff” always seems to pile up in every corner and on every countertop. “Start following the one in, one out rule going forward,” says Nancy Haworth of On Task Organizing in Raleigh, North Carolina. “When you buy something new, toss, sell, or donate an older item to create space for the new item.” For more expert advice from clean freaks, check out what professional house cleaners do in their own homes every day.

They smooth surfaces

Junk drawers have a habit of spilling out onto what should be an otherwise clean, empty surface. Countertops and tables are practically begging to be littered with stray mail and other odds and ends. People with clean homes tackle that problem immediately. “When you keep large, flat surfaces clear, not only are they more visually appealing, but easier to wipe down as well,” says Carrie Higgins, author of Organization Hacks and founder of the blog Making Lemonade. “Don’t store appliances on countertops or clutter on your desk.”

They set cleaning systems in place

Clean homes don’t just miraculously clean themselves—neat people have a protocol in place to keep things maintained and orderly. “People with neat homes tend to have a cleaning schedule and routines so dirt and laundry don’t have time to pile up,” says Higgins. “For example, they set a designated day to vacuum or do laundry every Monday so those big tasks don’t get skipped.” Be mindful that you’re not actually over-cleaning your house in one of these 10 ways.

They think clean when they step in the house

Sometimes it really is the little things that lend themselves to a sparkling abode. Bailey Gaddis, a certified professional organizer and author of Feng Shui Mommy, starts with a shoes-off policy. “When shoes are left at the door you prevent toxins, soil, leaves, and other goodies that quickly dirty up floors from making their way into your home,” she says. Find out even more reasons you’ll want to institute a “no-shoes” policy in your home.

They have a place for everything

“If you have too much stuff without a place to go, the clutter and piles in your home become impossible to actually clean,” says Jennifer Snyder, owner of Neat as a Pin Organizing Experts in Waco, Texas. So if you have a peg in the kitchen for your keys or a shelf for your mail, use them.

They clean as they go

“People whose homes always appear clean don’t wait until it looks like a bomb went off,” wrote Brittany Bergman on HuffPost. Rather, they have routines. “This might mean rearranging throw pillows and folding blankets when they’re done in the family room each night, having kids put squishy toys back in the toy box, hanging up clothes at the end of each day, and folding the laundry right when it comes out of the dryer.” Here are some more organization tips you’ll wish you had known all along.

They find clever ways to store more

People with clean homes use their smarts when it comes to products that help them stay organized. “An over-the-door organizer has a variety of clear pockets where you can store jewelry and make-up, sorting by type—pencils, lipsticks, brushes, and eye shadows,” says Paloma Baillie, a DIY expert with the 5mile app. “Everything is laid out, so you have easy access and can see items more clearly.” You can do a similar thing with office supplies if you don’t have room for a desk.

They hire help

Not every household budget has room for a regular professional cleaning service, but those who do tend to keep up with daily maintenance for one very important reason. “It’s a good motivator to get things put away or moved along into the recycling bin when you know tomorrow is cleaning day and your house won’t get as clean if the cleaning service has to clean around all your stuff,” says Mary Gagliardi, Clorox’s in-house cleaning and laundry expert.

They know how to delegate tasks

Unless you live alone, mess and clutter is a group effort; therefore, cleaning should be a group effort as well. “Everyone should have weekly chores (dusting, emptying trash, vacuuming, sweeping, etc) that not only build responsible adults out of kids but also makes it easier to keep the home clean—something everyone in the home should care about,” says Gagliardi. Teach your family these smart storage hacks to beat clutter.

They make cleaning feel less like a chore

If it’s not your thing, it’s hard to imagine putting a fun spin on cleaning. But there are ways to complete a task while distracting your mind. Think cleaning as an exercise especially for figure conscious moms. Just put on your waist training corset if you have one and continue with the cleaning like usual and you’ll be surprise with the result. “Make cleaning enjoyable by listening to your favorite podcast,” says Tisha Morris, author of Clutter Intervention: How Your Stuff Is Keeping You Stuck. “Get wireless Bluetooth headphones to give you the freedom to move all around the house. You might even get enough steps in on your Fitbit for it to count as a workout.”

They make organizing look pretty

If you consider storage and organization as part of your decor, as many with clean homes do, it makes the project a feast for the eyes. “I separate my wardrobe so all my dresses are together, all my jeans are together, sweaters, tops, coats, skirts, etc. Then I color code each category,” says Rachel Parcell, style and design expert behind Pink Peonies. “I love the way it looks and it’s easy to find things.”

They deal with dishes

If you wake up to a sink full of dirty dishes, you’re practically setting yourself up for failure. For one thing, you’ll have to do those dishes and pans first thing, which sets you back a crucial five to ten minutes, essential time on a busy morning. Worse, all that food and grease will be caked on and it will take even more time to get them clean. Do yourself a favor and load the dishwasher—and run it if it’s close to full—and wash the pots and pans before going to bed. Find out the things professional organizers do every night before going to sleep.

They use everyday items to keep things clean

Don’t put off cleaning because you don’t have supplies. “You can clean windows without leaving streaks behind with the help of a coffee filter,” says Larry Patterson franchisee of the Glass Doctor in Dallas. “Coffee filters and old cotton t-shirts also work well to remove remaining lint left behind from dry cloths.” Another pro tip? If you wiped vertically outside, make sure to wipe horizontally inside. Then, you’ll know whether the missed spot is inside or outside. Smart! Learn more about other simple housecleaning tricks that will make your chores so much easier.

This Is How Often You Should Clean Your Home, According to Science

If you’ve been avoiding giving your home a thorough once-over, you’re not alone. For many of us, the thought of steaming our carpets or cleaning out the refrigerator makes us want to crawl under the covers. Since we all can use some extra motivation to get our rubber gloves on, we’ve obtained some expert advice on how often you should clean everything and, more importantly, why.

As it turns out, your home is harboring more bacteria than a public trash can. But it’s not just your toilet seat that’s riddled with germs; experts suggest computer keyboards and microwaves are also likely culprits. Motivated yet? Take a deep breath and read on to find out how frequently you should be cleaning your house. Truth time: It’s more than once a year.

Microwave

Frequency: Every week

For years, the conventional wisdom was that cooking food in a microwave oven was a great way to kill bacteria (and made it safe to eat). Although, new research suggests that microwaving food doesn’t kill bacteria. That said, keeping your microwave splash-free is crucial. We recommend wiping it down once a week then doing a deep cleaning twice a month. You can even clean it with a DIY concoction. Simply mix 1/2 cup of water with 1/2 cup of white vinegar in a heat-safe dish, microwave it on high until the window steams up. Finish by wiping the interior with a sponge. Easy.

Bed Linens

Frequency: Every one to two weeks

Surprisingly, fresh findings suggest your bed linen isn’t as dirty as you might think. “We’ve done research that showed that you don’t get as much exposure to dust mites [when] in bed as we once thought,” Euan Tovey, head of the Allergen and Upper Airways Group at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research told Ninemsn. He says you’re subjected to dust mites whenever you’re moving, not when you’re lying in bed. But before you forgo washing your sheets, take note: Results vary depending on your sleeping routine. If you don’t shower after work or snooze in the buff, opt to wash bed linens with hot water every one to two weeks.

Bathtub

Frequency: Every week

The toilet has a reputation for being one of the dirtiest areas of a bathroom, but according to new research, it’s got nothing on your bathtub. Elizabeth Scott, PhD, co-director of the Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community at Simmons College in Boston, compared the bacteria she found in tubs to trash cans. Believe us—the findings are pretty foul. Scott found a serious skin infection–causing bacteria in 26% of the tubs tested, compared to just 6% of garbage cans. So yes, your bathtub is officially grubbier than the trash. The verdict: Clean your bathtub as often as your toilet—ideally every week.

Refrigerator

Frequency: Every month

Brace yourselves: Scientists say salad drawers contain 750 times the safe level of bacteria, making them one of the main places to clean regularly. Don’t wait for a spring-cleaning reminder; this part of your home deserves monthly attention.

Computer

Frequency: Every week

A massive 70% of Americans eat lunch at their desk, making computer keyboards a breeding ground for bacteria. One study found that keyboards harbor five times the bacteria found on a toilet seat, but 10% of people never clean them (eek!). Set aside time every Friday to give your desk a once-over with disinfectant spray. Don’t forget to pay attention to the mouse, and use an alcohol-dipped cotton swab to clean between keys.

Pillows

Frequency: Every three months

Pillowcase protectors can help shield your bed from dust mites and daily grime, but don’t forget to wash the pillow itself. In fact, Wilson tells Huffington Post that every three months is ideal. Depending on your allergies, pillows should be replaced as often as every six months, although he admits most people are fine to keep them for three years.

Mattress

Frequency: Every two months

You might regularly wash your linens, but what about your mattress? Carolyn Forte of the Good Housekeeping Institute says mattress pads need to be washed every two months and that you get bonus points for cleaning your mattress while the protector is in the wash. Her cleaning hack? Sprinkle the mattress with baking soda to absorb odor, vacuum it, then spray the mattress with Lysol to kill bacteria.

Carpet

Frequency: Every six to 12 months

We hate to break it to you, but vacuuming doesn’t count as carpet cleaning. If you don’t regularly steam your floors, research suggests it could be harming your health. “Indoor air quality can be eight to 10 times worse than outdoor air quality if you don’t clean your flooring, clean your drapes, and let air inside regularly,” says Robin Wilson, an interior designer who specializes in allergy-free homes. But that’s not all: Another study suggests your carpet could contain up to 200,000 bacteria per square inch. Have we convinced you yet? Opt for a professional steam cleaning every six to 12 months, or more frequently if you have a pet.

Towels

Frequency: After every three uses

How often do you clean your bath towels? If your answer is every one to two weeks, science suggests that’s not enough. Researchers have found that washing your towel after only three uses removes millions of dead skin cells (yes, you read that right). Be sure to wash hand towels every three days to avoid that musty scent.

Kitchen Countertop

Frequency: Every day

If you cook regularly, chances are you already wipe down kitchen surfaces daily. That’s a great start, but there are a few key zones to focus on. According to experts, countertops are dirtiest near the sink area because people tend to use sponges contaminated with food. The bottom line is that you should wipe surfaces daily, and swap out your kitchen sponges and washcloths every week.

Home Clutters: Reasons Why You Should Start Home Decluttering

Cluttering is a process of piling up things you don’t need in your home, and it can be both tiring and unhealthy. You will spend more time cleaning and searching for things that you actually need, which can cause so many problems. 

 

There are many reasons why people will consider decluttering their homes. Here, we will take a look at some of the ways your life will improve with this decision. Of course, one of the main decluttering benefits is safety. But since you are already used to having all the junk in your home, making a change can be scary. But trust us — it is a change for the better! 

It Relieves Stress and Anxiety

Living in a place that’s filled with unnecessary items can be stressful, and it can cause anxiety. Clutterers are well aware of the stress, but it’s often difficult making the first step. The only way to improve the situation and make yourself feel better is by decluttering. 

 

There is no secret that our environment will have an effect on us, but it is up to you to decide what type of effect it will be. So, the first step towards living in a stress-free environment is to start getting rid of the clutter in your home. Anxiety will start appearing if you have tons of items all around your house and no idea how to start making the place look better. 

Shapes up Confidence and Self-Esteem

We absorb so much from our surroundings, and if you live in a place filled with useless things, you will start to feel like that as well. Doing something for yourself and your home will do wonders for your confidence, mental health, and self-esteem. You can follow the recipe by Marie Kondo and ask yourself whether the items in your home spark joy. If the answer is no, then they have no place in your new decluttered home. 

 

As soon as you start fixing your environment, you will start feeling better about your life. Of course, you don’t need to be too harsh. No one is telling you that you need to throw away everything from your home. Start slow, and build your way up. 

Physical and Mental Exercise

Based on the amount of clutter you have in your home, removing it can be a great form of exercise. You will need to start throwing away things you don’t need, and the process can often be exhausting. But at the same time, you will need to plan for new storage spaces, organizations, and how things will look after you’re done with it. 

 

It doesn’t matter if you want to start in your living room or laundry room or just want to declutter your bedrooms. You will still need a good plan, and it can be a nice mental exercise as well. Needless to say, getting rid of things is not easy, especially if you think that you need to keep everything. And this is why the best course of action would be to start small. Once you start to notice the benefits of decluttering, you can continue with the process and enjoy your clutter-free life. 

Increases Productivity

As soon as you start seeing results, your mind will become freer. It will result in increased productivity, and you will be able to achieve so much. First of all, you won’t spend hours trying to find something, which will leave you enough time to do something that’s more important. 

 

Regardless of the decluttering method you choose, your ability to focus will improve, and so will your productivity. As you are probably aware, having peace of mind will help you achieve so many things in your life, and if you have a healthy environment, it will allow you to feel good in every room in your home. 

You Give Space to Important Things

Getting rid of physical clutter means one thing, and that’s having space for something that matters to you and your family members. We all have items in our homes that mean nothing and that are just taking space. But imagine being surrounded by things you care about! And yes, not every physical item is clutter. 

 

This is where the KonMari method really shines. All you need to do is ask yourself whether something brings you joy. If the answer is yes, then it is something that should be in your home. Otherwise, it should go in the trash so you can have more space for good memories and important things. 

It Keeps You Ready for Everything

Decluttering your home and cleaning your environment will help you feel prepared for whatever the future holds. You will have more time and energy for new things and experiences, and you will feel better when spending time in your home. 

 

Furthermore, you won’t need to worry about unexpected guests since your house will always stay clean and spotless. It is so much easier cleaning something that isn’t filled with unnecessary items. Keep in mind that no one is saying that hoarding disorder is easy to overcome. If you have problems with cluttering, the only way to solve them is to take the first step. After that, it will get easier. The important thing is that you are willing to make a change and make your life better. As soon as you realize that some objects in your home are just clutter, you will be ready to transform your living space into something beautiful.

The Only Russian Nesting Doll Intro You’ll Ever Need

This story briefly describes the origin of the Russian wooden dolls. This material may be useful and interesting to primary school teachers, educators of older kindergarten groups. Information about the matryoshka can be used on thematic class hours. But what is a Russian nesting doll really? Let us find out.

Probably, in every house you can meet everyone’s favorite wooden doll. This is a toy that embodies kindness, wealth, family well-being.

The first Russian matryoshka was an eight-person: A girl with a black rooster was followed by a boy, then a girl, and so on. All the figures differed from each other. The last, the eighth, depicted a baby.

Initially, this doll did not even have a name. But when the turner made it, the artist painted it with bright colors, then the name appeared – Matryona. Perhaps this is due to the fact that at various evenings tea was served by servants with that name.

Why it that everyone’s favorite Russian toy doll is was called “the nested doll”?

  • Many believe that this name comes from the female name Matryona, very popular at that time in Russia. The name Matryona in Latin means “noble woman.” Looking at the matryoshka, there really is an image of a portly noble person.
  • Matryoshka won love and recognition as a symbol of Russian folk art.
  • There is such a belief – if you put a note with a desire inside this wooden doll, it will surely come true. Matryoshka, from the very beginning of its origin, symbolizes warmth and comfort in the house.

The very idea of creating such an unusual doll encompasses a deep philosophical meaning: in order to find the truth, you need to get to the point, opening, one by one, all the parts of the wooden doll. In other words, there are no easy ways to solve various problems. It is worth making a lot of effort to achieve a certain result.

Perhaps the idea of a wooden toy, consisting of several figurines that fit one into the other, was submitted to the master who created the matryoshka containing Russian fairy tales. Take the tale of Koshchei, with whom Ivan Tsarevich is fighting. Let us recall the story of the search for “koscheevoy death”: Koshchei’s death is hidden far away: there is a green oak on the sea, on the island on the Buyan there is a green oak, an iron chest is buried under that oak, a hare in that chest, a duck in a hare, a duck in an egg; one has only to crush the egg – and Koschey instantly dies.

In the image of the russian dolls, the art of the masters and the endless love of folk culture are united. Nowadays, you can buy all kinds of doll souvenirs for every taste.

But all the same, when we hear the “matryoshka”, then surely in the head there is an image of a cheerful Russian girl in a bright folk costume. Love for our beloved doll will be passed, I think, from generation to generation. After all, the history of the origin of nesting dolls is the history of our culture.

Bear, balalaika, vodka and of course, the doll! Leaving Russia without a doll is just a crime, it is known and loved all over the world. If you have met in any country of the world a Russian cafe, a shop and the like, there is a matryoshka in it. It could not be otherwise.

Nesting dolls are a symbol of the Russian spirit, but why?

These are just wooden figures, brightly decorated, which are smaller than the other, which is why they can hide in each other. But where is Russia? What we deserve such a symbol?

First of all, the nested doll is an element of decorative art, it’s essentially a doll, it embodies the identity of a people because of its color, because it’s always national, classical. Russian style, Russian character – all this is in the doll. This symbol appeared in the 19th century, but the story itself of the appearance of the doll has two options.

The first hypothesis says that the Mamontov family was presented with an interesting Japanese statuette, and this family was rich (philanthropists and industrialists). The statuette is an image of a Buddhist saint named Furukuji, it was broken into two parts, and inside there was another one the same – only smaller. What do we see? The principle of nesting dolls. So, all inside the figurine there were five figures, and already the Mamontov family decided in response to present a different gift – the same dolls, only in Russian folk style.

But the second version of the origin of nesting dolls says that the eastern analogue looked very funny, that is – the second version also grows out of Japan. So, according to her, Furukuma (Japanese sage) was depicted on the figures as a bald old man, and his head was greatly extended upwards, it is believed that such ailment was in his thoughts and thoughts. And this version says that it was in this way – by copying the form, a Russian matryoshka was created, and they began to produce it right in the Mamontov workshop, and then sell it in the “Child care” store. But the creator of the idea itself is called a certain master named V. Zvezdochkin.

The Birthplace

The birthplace of the Russian nesting dolls is SergievPosad, it is the center of handicraft production of toys. The masters of this city do not lag behind the trends in the world of toys, they do everything that they themselves can do with their own hands.

The nesting doll produced by the Mammoths also made a big impression on them, they also began to create it, and in 1900 they all knew what a Russian nesting doll is and how it looks. Why in 1900, it was just then that she was brought for the first time to the World Exhibition in Paris, after this master’s fur in SergiyevPosad simply did not have time to fulfill orders, there were so many who wanted. Since then, the nested doll has already been brought to various exhibitions in Leipzig and London; they brought the Russian symbol to Greece, Turkey and even the states of the Middle East.

The Right Appearance

The appearance of the nested doll, of course, was not always the same as we know it today; the Russian doll was even with the faces of ancient Russian boyars, knights, fairy-tale or historical characters. Can you imagine a matryoshka doll with the face of Kutuzov and Napoleon? But such existed.

The city of Semenovo and the village of Merinovo were also places where the dolls were made, these particular dolls were the most colorful in the national plan. I must say that the toy was encrusted with straw and such work couldn’t be put on the conveyor, the craftsmanship was what played the main role in decorating the dolls.

When talking about Russian dolls what comes in mind is history, political, cultural and action figures but as sport became an integral part of human life. It is not surprising that different sport games and teams are selling sport matryoshka dolls where you can see the different faces of sport icons.

The Cozy Pajama That Captures The Young And Young At Heart

Onesies is a big, warm and cozy pajama with a trendy print or an anime character. The fashion for Onesies came to us from Japan, and the name actually consists of two words: “kiru” (to wear) and “nuigurumi” (soft toy). The actual translation is fully consistent with reality, because in such pajamas you will look like a big, beautiful and very cute soft toy. Onesies are worn by both boys and girls, as this is a unisex model.

Where to buy Onesies?

We recommend visiting the onesies online store. You can read the catalog at the website. Buying here, you can be sure of the quality of pajamas, since the store has been on the market since long. Online stores are the first in America, began to engage in the sale of soft onesies, so far they remain leaders in this industry. In the assortment, the company has more than 100 models, they are all in stock in America, and so the pajamas you like do not need to be ordered in advance. Shop offers you a onesies from premium fleece, as well as velsoft, with a more detailed description of the materials can be found on the website. The price category of pajamas is very diverse, so every buyer will be able to pick up the goods on their own. Onesies pajamas have been bought for more than one year, yet we do not recommend saving. Choose models of high-quality tailoring and genuine design..

All the coolest winter onesies and kigurumi designs you can find more at kigurumi.co.

Where to wear onesies?

You can wear funny pajamas not only at home, although she easily replaces several sets of home clothes. In Onesies you will become a real star of the dance floor at any pajama party that is so relevant lately. Even onesies can be used as a carnival costume, celebrating New Year or Halloween in it. And if you like to be in the spotlight for no reason, wear Onesies and run to the nearest shopping center. Today, you can often find teenagers with colored hair in stylish and colorful onesies, just scurrying around the streets. For the older generation, this may cause bewilderment, but for young people only a smile. If one person in cartoon pajamas may still look weird, then the whole company of cheerful people is not. Gather friends, put on Onesies together and bring a touch of positive in the gray days.

Onesies is wonderful full-size pajamas for cartoon characters and animals, perfect for youth parties, festivals, children’s matinees and other events. Onesies is the pride of avid fans of anime and manga, cosplayers and just all those who like the colorful street-feshen of Japanese teenagers. They sleep in, walk around the city, hang out with friends, skate on skates in the summer, and skiing. Onesies is a great opportunity to spend an unforgettable time with your loved one, making him a romantic gift in the form of a favorite anime character costume.

As a rule, many people are completely unfamiliar with such a word as onesies, so often you want to find the answer to it. In the event that you have heard it for the first time and want to understand the meaning, then know that this is about Asian origin. Indeed it is so, because this is the homeland, where they create unusual, attractive and original clothes – Japan.

What is onesies? Special features

In general, this word is translated from Japanese as “life-size puppet”. It is worth noting that under this term it is customary to raise a one-piece jumpsuit, it in turn is able to cover both legs and arms, often supplied with a hood. It is worth to see something similar one day in order to understand that costumes really look attractive and stylish.

Pajamas, in turn, are usually associated with sleep, a warm blanket, but the designers from Japan decided that this banal and traditional set can always be done better, and as a result, they set to work. Thus, the original, interesting and funny Onesies pajamas were born.

As a prototype for creating such amazing and unique clothes, these or those animals come from various fairy tales, cartoons, but also, of course, anime, so you should take note. If you decide to purchase such a suit, because today they are really in demand and popularity, then you should know, first of all, you need to take into account the material from which it will be made.

For example, it is often used for this velor, fleece, can be found on sale and pajamas made of polyester, veloosoft, in any case, they are relevant and in demand, and therefore you can safely buy them. Quality is no less important than beauty, since comfort will depend on a well-chosen material.

Most mothers want to buy such suits for their children, because this is really a wonderful and excellent alternative to matinee clothes, so you should consider this. You can always find bunnies, tigers and other characters that will suit your kids, but remember that onesies must be sewn strictly from natural fabrics.

What sew onesies?

Having dealt with the question of what is onesies, you need to study from what materials and fabrics sew these outfits. The traditional material for home socks is flannel, fleece, velsoft, velor and thin polyester. The main requirement for the fabric they should not interfere with the natural thermoregulation of human skin and the evaporation of excess moisture.

If you plan to wear onesies on the street, then it is better to choose a suit made of fleece or velsoft, it will perfectly protect from cold wind even snowboarding or alpine skiing on snowy slopes. Choosing from which material to buy onesies, please note that velsoft costs less, but less wear-resistant than fleece. In addition, velsoft is sometimes unpleasant and out of place unnecessarily electrified. Onesies pajamas are best bought from the flannel.

And most importantly the costume should be free and comfortable, and the elements of the faces or tails should not interfere comfortably to sit or lie down. In order to know more about this you may always choose to take help from internet.

Unbelievable Things You Never Knew About Love Mom Bracelets

The silver bracelet should not be too short or too wide, and therefore you should know your size, after all, the good piece should neither press nor slip over the wrist. How to find out the exact length? Measuring by you is easy. Simply place a tape measure where you want to wear the bracelet approximately. Now measure the circumference and put another finger in between so that the bracelet is not too tight. Since most bracelet lengths are given in centimeters, you now only need to compare and find the right size easily.

Mix and match for silver bracelets

Accessories: No matter whether it’s the bag, the big XL scarf, the sunglasses or the tied braided belt silver bracelets are real styling all-rounder. Therefore, they can be easily mixed with other pieces of jewelry in different colors, but also with towels, leather accessories or hats. Be brave and try it out.

Be sure to check out all lovely designs for love mom bracelets only at braceletworld.co.

Jewelry: Sometimes it is not so easy to combine pieces of jewelry, but silver bracelets make it easy for us. Especially filigree models can be worn well with wide bangles or ladies’ watches. But also with other bracelets results in an exciting look. However, you should pay attention to the ornaments gold and silver can be combined great, but too many stones and pendants in different tones are taboo. Stay in a world of color and style. The navy look, for example, can be supplemented small anchor with a blue and white striped bangle and a fine cord around the wrist. While not original, jewelry is a gift that is sure to be cherished by her for a long time. The man can give his female fiance earrings or a necklace or even a bracelet  are a very good gift for special occasions like birthdays and valentines day. Chains, earrings, and rings should also be chosen in the same style. Otherwise, the style seems too messy.

Clothing: Fine outfits are created when you wear a cocktail dress in intense colors or a shift dress in restrained black. Her bracelet with subtle stones makes for chic. At work, a variant with a small charm looks serious and fine to the business costume and at leisure. Here more unusual styles are allowed. Everything that pleases can be carried. So make a statement with a gold-plated link bracelet with a large closure, a loose cotton shirt, a leather jacket, and casual boyfriend jeans. Get the most out of it and combine your bracelet with style and creativity.

These features make silver special

Much jewelry is made of silver. It is relatively cheap, looks classy and can be easily processed. However, since pure silver is too soft, it is often mixed with copper when making jewelry. This makes it less sensitive and more robust. The most common variant is sterling silver takes its name from the British currency, which is also called 925 silver. Here are 925 of 1,000 parts silver. Also, the alloys 800, 835 and 935 are offered. So that the surface does not start so fast, most of the pieces are coated with silver again. If this happens, forms dark silver sulfide, which is quite harmless and easy to remove again. To do this, polish the piece of jewelry with a silver cleaning cloth or dip in a silver bath.

Tip: If you want to save polishing, wrap your bracelet for storage in aluminum foil. So it is airtight packed and does not start.

Trendy styles – new trends

Silver bracelets are versatile. There is a suitable model for everyone because the trends also offer a lot of variety. Right at the top are variants with bright pearls. Either as a detail or allover, the delicate pieces of jewelry offer elegance for every day. The shimmering pearls make the shimmering chiffon dress with ballerinas look even classier and lend a dark blue blazer, white collarless blouse with concealed button placket and narrow cigarette pants the finishing touches. For the drink in the evening or the office meeting, these pieces are therefore ideal. But also charm bracelets are up to date in the next season. The many pendants provide for casualness. So they fit wonderfully to the comfortable everyday outfit of light blue jeans with cream fine-knit sweater and white sneakers. If you like it tender and special, you can rely on versions with fine details such as hearts, name tags or pebbles.

Bracelet – many possibilities

A bracelet brings femininity, looks classy and makes the outfit look more complete than ever. And just a piece of silver is indispensable for many women. Below is an overview of all the facts about silver bracelets.

Its beautiful luster, the different styles, and the relatively low price make this accessory a favorite among jewels. Made of delicate limbs and decorated with fine pendants, stones or pearls, it fits in with elegant styles.

But also casual outfits complement it quite uncomplicated. Wide models with large closure or multi-row pieces look cooler. And so everyone will find the right thing because the selection is huge.

Refined with pearls or pebbles, silver bracelets are currently the most fashionable. 925 or sterling silver is the most common alloy, so mixture, made of silver. Polished with a silver cleaning cloth, the surface then shines again.

Variants with stones

If you like it very petite, you can count on monochrome and small stones, because they make the wrist shine. Transparent crystals and gemstones are the restrained variants, while bright and intense tones bring summer luminosity. Wonderfully, these versions can be worn with matching color outfits. A pink bracelet looks wonderfully fresh to a slightly flowing tunic of the same shade, while clear stones can be styled to all tones.

Bracelets

These pieces present themselves particularly delicate and with filigree elegance. Most bright pearls shimmer discreetly and are often additionally provided with small silver elements. Single or multi-row, they look that extra something, so let a casual sweatshirt looks fine and gives cocktail dresses, even more, grace and grace.

Models with pendants or charms

With their adornment, they bring personality into the look, the more decors, and the more fashionable they look. But even with just one charm set accents. And best of all, you can always pick new followers and change them to your heart’s content. Now Love Bracelet is also popular along with silver ones.

Tip: So that the highlights of the bracelets are not covered by long sleeves, fine knit sweaters with half sleeves or carded blouses fit well.

Best Bracelets For Men

Bracelets are not only for women. Old-fashioned men might believe that the only piece of jewelry they should ever wear is a watch. If you are one of these men, it might be time to expand your horizons. In fact, you’ll surely notice that many stylish men wear bracelets if you take a closer look.

So how do you pull off a bracelet as a guy without looking like you just walked out of a yoga retreat? The rule of thumb is to stick to one or two bracelets. Anything more than that might be too much. After all, you don’t want to end up looking like a barista, do you?

Not sure where to start? The role of a bracelet is to emphasize your overall look, so find one that matches your style. Still not sure what to choose? Read this guide, and you’ll definitely find something you like.

Guitar String Bracelets

If you don’t want to spend a ton of money on your bracelet, but still want something stylish and elegant, consider buying a bracelet made of guitar strings. These bracelets are not only quite affordable, but they also make a great conversation piece. You can find them in gold, silver, and black. Furthermore, these bracelets bend easily to fit any wrist, so there is no need to worry about getting the right size. Just make sure you’ve played the guitar at least once in your life if you want to avoid awkward conversations.

Paracord or Rope Bracelets

From paracord survival bracelets to Miansai’s colorful woven nylon pieces, men’s rope bracelets never seem to go out of style. If you want something slightly different that will make you stand out from the crowd, try the Paracord Bracelet by Netherlands-based Monsieur Bojangles. You might also want to consider the Paracord Bullet Bracelet made by BRZN. These paracord bracelets have endings made of real bullets.

Leather Bracelets

If you want a bracelet that will last a lifetime and fit into almost any outfit, you should definitely consider getting a leather bracelet. They will look great on a casual night out, but they also work with formal outfits.

For a minimalistic look, try a simple leather bracelet with a button closure in the color of your choice. You really can’t go wrong with these, so they are the perfect choice for guys who are trying out bracelets for the first time. If you want something more daring, try the Double Wrap leather bracelet by Shinola.

Nautical Theme

Men’s accessories with a nautical theme are definitely the staple of country club fashion. They are also very popular during the summer. Canada-based SALTI, for example, offers handmade nautical-themed bracelets in a variety of colors.

If you want something more simple, on the other hand, we suggest something like the Captain’s Link Bracelet made by Maritime Supply co. This bracelet is made of real leather. It features a “Duncan loop”, a very common knot in sailing that also looks great on a bracelet!

Metal

If you are not really into the yacht club style, you might want to try wearing a metal cuff. The Brass Screw Cuff made by Miami-based Miansai is the perfect example of how a men’s metal bracelet should look. It’s elegant and not too flashy, so it will look great even with a suite.

If you are the type who likes to seize the day, check out the Carpe Diem ID Bracelet made by LHN, a jewelry maker based in Brooklyn.