7 Tiny Ways to Fit Decluttering Into Your Morning Routine

Nothing is worse than coming home to a messy apartment after a long day, but finding the time to clean in the morning can be equally daunting. That’s why we put together a list of micro decluttering tasks that can easily be incorporated into your morning routine. Read ahead for seven super small ways to organize your space in the AM, so you can start the day off productively (and come home to a tidier place when it’s over).

1. Clean out the fridge while your coffee brews

If you’re anything like me (i.e. useless until you drink a cup of coffee in the morning), then chances are you stand around your kitchen desperately waiting for your coffee to brew. Instead of being totally ineffective before your morning cuppa, consider using those foggy few minutes to toss out some old leftovers and expired stuff in your fridge while you’re on standby.

2. Take some trash out with you when you leave

Whether it’s yesterday’s junk mail or a bag full of expired food, taking the trash out with you when you leave is a quick and simple way to tidy up your home—and keep it smelling fresh—without doing any extra work in the morning.

3. Pare down your closet while you get dressed

Too much of a good thing can be wonderful, unless you’re dealing with a ton of clothes and little-to-no closet space. Before you put off your yearly closet clean-out for spring, try this challenge every day for a week or more: As you get dressed in the morning, remove one article of clothing you don’t wear from your closet.

4. Slim down your medicine cabinet in the morning

Just like the closet tip above, you can make a commitment to a clutter-free bathroom while you get ready every morning. During your regular routine, every day for a week (or longer!), find one thing you can toss or recycle—like an expired product, ratty towel, or empty bottle.

5. Get your dirty laundry together before a shower

Looking for something proactive to do while your shower warms up in the morning? Use this sliver of time as an opportunity to get your next load of laundry ready, including the undies you’re about to drop, before you hop in the shower.

6. Clear off your coffee table before it’s phone time

If you prefer to pause for a moment to check your email or enjoy your morning coffee, don’t forget to declutter your coffee table while you’re at it. It only takes a hot second to throw out yesterday’s newspaper and put your remote controls away, but your whole apartment will appear neater if you do.

7. Make your bed as soon as you wake up

While it’s not technically removing any clutter, making your bed in the morning is a surefire way to minimize unsightly visual distractions when you get home. Take a moment to make your bed look nice in the AM, and you’ll have a much better time sliding into it in the evening.

Courtesy of ApartmentTherapy.com

Getting Organized

Organizing your home can sometimes seem like a time-intensive endeavor. Breaking down projects into two-minute tasks every day could help to make clearing clutter more manageable and easily attainable.

Simple tips like these can create a happier, healthier and more valuable home. Thank you for thinking of me for all of your real estate needs, and be sure to share my contact information with anyone you know of looking to buy, sell or invest in a home.

How to Clean Leather

Leather is a popular and durable material for shoes, furniture and purses. Even though leather is sturdy, it’s a porous surface that can absorb oils from skin and hands, causing stains. White leather is especially susceptible to stains. Here’s how to clean white leather.

Wipe leather regularly with a dry microfiber cloth to get rid of smudges and light soiling. For a deeper clean, use a commercial leather cleaner or make your own. Mix a solution of warm water, a few drops of Castile or liquid dish soap and a few drops of vinegar.

Dampen a cloth with the solution and wipe down surfaces. Do not saturate the leather, as too much water will damage it. Use a second cloth dampened with clean water to wipe off the soap. Dry thoroughly. Another recipe for a homemade cleaner: Mix ½ cup olive oil with ¼ cup of vinegar in a spray bottle. Spritz on the stain, let sit for five minutes and wipe. Whatever you do, avoid bleach or ammonia-based cleaners as they can damage the leather.

 

Wipe up spills as soon as they happen to minimize the chance of staining. Even if you’re fast with the cleanup, stains will happen so you need to know how to clean white leather shoes, how to clean a white leather purse and how to clean a white leather sofa. Grab one of these items and get going.

Courtesy of diynetwork.com

We All Need This

Help your house sell…make it shine!

Spring To Do List

With lengthening days and milder temperatures in many parts of the country, April is a wonderful time to freshen up the home inside and out. From windows that sparkle to a clutter-free garage, here are 13 tasks to make the most of the first full month of spring.

To-Dos: Your April Home Checklist

What do Buyers Want?

Selling your home when inventory is low can still be difficult if you don’t have a few simple things.

1. Paint a neutral color throughout your house
2. Semi-updated kitchen. If the cabinets are OLD then paint them and put on fresh hardware. If possible, install fresh flooring and update appliances and counters. KITCHENS SELL HOMES.
3. Staged to sell. The home has to look lovely, neat, and clean.
4. Smell – you don’t need a million air fresheners but dogs or cigarettes can kill a deal quickly.

These items may cost a bit of money but paint is inexpensive and when done right can add a lot of value to your home.

Don’t miss out on a great selling season.

Design on a Dime

 

Real estate agents love a home that is decorated beautifully and always shows like a designer show home. I know I do.

But not everyone can spend the cash needed for a home to look like perfection.

A few simple suggestions that are cost-effective will help any house sell:

1. Paint. Paint is the biggest thing that will change the look of any home you are trying to sell. Make the entire house the same shade of beige (with grey undertones) and white trim. It will make your house fresh and lend a cohesive look to the house.
2. Clean. Buyers like the smell of lemon scented Pine Sol. Not really…but they like the smell of clean. Don’t overload the plug in wall flowers but DO mop the floors before buyers view your home. Clean bathrooms are essential so buy fresh shower curtains with fresh liners. It is the little things that make a really big difference. Oh, and make the beds. White linens sell homes.
3. Light. Buyers like light and will be drawn toward a home that is shiny and light. Open all blinds, windows and in most cases…take down the old drapes.
4. Paneling. More than any other dated item in a home….faux wood panelling is the kiss of death for most buyers. Paint it or take it down.

I’ll put more suggestions up in the coming days. Obviously, I have lots of them. The above items are not expensive and really can make the difference. The return on painting alone is great and will significantly impact the sales price of your home.

 

Clean House

I am often asked what helps a home sell. While beautiful interiors are important (such as shown in the above photo), nothing helps a home sell faster than cleanliness.

Sounds simple but it is true. A clean house = a sold house.

Buyers like to walk through a home and feel that it has been well-cared for and loved. When you pass the white glove test, the buyer will be impressed and will pay attention to your home.

There are other factors that affect sale, but…a spotless home is highly desired.

It is just that easy.

Closing Advice – Tip #1

“One of the best things any seller can do is to turn over the home they have sold in immaculate condition. This means everything including the stove, bathrooms, floors, ceiling fans and window treatments. When a house is empty it shows a lot of defects and the buyer expects to walk in and find it in fantastic shape. I promise this is good karma that will come back around. Clean up and turn the keys over with a sense of pride.” ~ Linda Hutchinson