Tuesday, January 24, 2017

DECLUTTER 365: DAY 24

15 minute missions to make a decluttered, clean, organised home!
   
Today's Goal: Declutter Old Refrigerator Food
1. Take before picture (optional).
2. Remove all items from the kitchen cabinet (or work on one shelf at a time).
3. Wipe down shelf.
4. Discard broken/damaged items.
5. Donate unwanted items.
6. Make a list of items required.
7. Sell any unwanted items.
8. Return items to the cabinet shelves neatly.
9. Think about storage methods/systems: rows, racks, etc.
10. Take after photograph (optional).
   
"" -Megan
   
Resource: http://www.home-storage-solutions-101.com/declutter-calendar-january.html
http://www.home-storage-solutions-101.com/eat-leftovers.html
http://www.home-storage-solutions-101.com/food-storage-guidelines.html

Monday, January 23, 2017

DECLUTTER 365: DAY 23

15 minute missions to make a decluttered, clean, organised home!
     
Today's Goal: Read Organised Home Challenge #4: Fridge & Freezer
http://www.home-storage-solutions-101.com/organizing-refrigerator.html
     
Resource: http://www.home-storage-solutions-101.com/declutter-calendar-january.html  

Sunday, January 22, 2017

DECLUTTER 365: DAY 22

15 minute missions to make a decluttered, clean, organised home!
     
Today's Goal: Declutter Kitchen Cabinet Shelves
1. Take before picture (optional).
2. Remove all items from the kitchen cabinet (or work on one shelf at a time).
3. Wipe down shelf.
4. Discard broken/damaged items.
5. Donate unwanted items.
6. Make a list of items required.
7. Sell any unwanted items.
8. Return items to the cabinet shelves neatly.
9. Think about storage methods/systems: rows, racks, etc.
10. Take after photograph (optional).
    
"One cabinet shelf at a time - it's quicker than I thought when I set the timer for 15 minutes and then start cleaning and decluttering. Glad that other days will be designated to decluttering dishes, mugs/cups, storage containers, pots and pans, bakeware and water bottles, cookbooks so that I don't get overwhelmed with the daily decluttering (and keep my house in order whilst reducing clutter, too" -Megan
   
Resource: http://www.home-storage-solutions-101.com/declutter-calendar-january.html

Saturday, January 21, 2017

DECLUTTER 365: DAY 21

15 minute missions to make a decluttered, clean, organised home!
     
Today's Goal: Fill Out Pantry Inventory
1. Print off Pantry Inventory chart.
2. Fill out chart.
3. Laminate chart (optional).
4. Stick chart to the inside of the pantry door.
5. Update chart as required.
    
"I love making printables. The pantry inventory chart is definitely helpful in planning not only what is in stock in our pantry, but also what is out of stock and needs to be refilled. Buying in bulk and storing in airtight containers saves in the household budget, too. Having the inventory in zones helps with shopping list planning too" -Megan
   
Resource: http://www.home-storage-solutions-101.com/declutter-calendar-january.html

Friday, January 20, 2017

DECLUTTER 365: DAY 20

15 minute missions to make a decluttered, clean, organised home!
     
Today's Goal: Declutter Pantry Shelves
1. Take before picture (optional).
2. Remove all items from the pantry.
3. Wipe down pantry shelf.
4. Discard expired food (i.e. compost).
5. Donate unwanted food items that are still in date.
6. Make a list of food items needed to refill any empty containers (or spaces).
7. Return food items to the pantry neatly.
8. Think about storage methods/systems: rows, racks, etc.
9. Note down any excess food items for menu planning over the next few weeks (especially if you have too many to store in the pantry neatly). 
10. Take after photograph (optional).
11. Before going shopping, check your pantry so that you don't buy excess food, or to check what has run out and needs restocking in your pantry.
    
"Since canned food and spices are already decluttered and organised, the rest of our pantry is mostly in Tupperware containers. This means usually just filling up containers, putting them back in order and noting down what needs refilling. Some of the local shops are good at refilling directly into my Tupperware, which makes shopping and unpacking much easier and reduces wastage (i.e. buying something we already have). Frugal weeks of menu planning is usually looking at what is in the pantry and then cooking from there - boosting with fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables. It is very satisfying seeing everything neat and tidy, labelled clearly and easy accessible, grouped into categories i.e. cereals, breakfast spreads, tea/coffee, pasta, rice, baking, flours, sugars, dried fruit/nuts/seeds, etc. Our pantry is currently two shelving units but I am looking at buying proper pantries within the next few months now we have reorganised the kitchen" -Megan
   
Resource: http://www.home-storage-solutions-101.com/declutter-calendar-january.html  

Thursday, January 19, 2017

DECLUTTER 365: DAY 19

15 minute missions to make a decluttered, clean, organised home!
     
Today's Goal: Discard Old Spices and Organise Spices
1. Take before picture (optional).
2. Remove all spice jars from the pantry.
3. Wipe down pantry shelf.
4. Discard expired spices (i.e. compost).
5. Donate unwanted spices that are still in date.
6. Make a list of spices needed to refill any empty containers.
7. Return spices to the pantry neatly.
8. Think about storage methods/systems: rows, racks, etc.
9. Note down any excess spices for menu planning over the next few weeks (especially if you have too many to store in the pantry neatly). Marinating meat for the freezer is a good way to use up excess spices too (or flavouring salt for example).
10. Take after photograph (optional).
11. Before going shopping, check your pantry so that you don't buy too many of the same herbs/spices you already have, or to check what has run out and needs restocking in your pantry.
    
"My husband built me a wooden 3-tier shelf to display my spices, since I enjoy using them on a daily basis. I don't buy blends/mixes - I mix my own as needed. I use Tupperware spice containers because they are neat and high quality (although expensive) and being rectangular, fit better onto the shelf so each one can be grabbed quickly. Each container holds 1-cup of herbs and spices. I used a Dymo label machine to label each container, and a round sticker on the base has the best before date written. They are sorted alphabetically so I can find ingredients quickly" -Megan
   
Resource: http://www.home-storage-solutions-101.com/declutter-calendar-january.html  
   

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

DECLUTTER 365: DAY 18

15 minute missions to make a decluttered, clean, organised home!
     
Today's Goal: Declutter Tinned Food, Organise What's Left and Donate Excess
1. Take before picture (optional).
2. Remove all cans from the pantry.
3. Wipe down pantry shelf.
4. Discard expired tins (i.e. compost contents, recycle cans).
5. Donate unwanted tinned food (i.e. items your family don't consume) - that are still in date.
6. Return canned food to the pantry with the oldest at the front so they are used first (and most commonly used items at eye level/arm's reach, less used items at the very top or bottom of the pantry).
7. Think about can storage methods/systems: rows, racks, etc.
8. Note down any excess tins for menu planning over the next few weeks (especially if you have too many to store in the pantry neatly).
9. Take after photograph (optional).
10. Before going shopping, check your pantry so that you don't buy too many of the same food you already have, or to check what has run out and needs restocking in your pantry.
    
"We don't buy a lot of tinned food - mainly fish and milk but it is good to have a few tins here and there once our jars of bottled tomatoes etc have finished. I always rotate tins so that the oldest is used first, and in frugal weeks of cooking, menu plan from pantry items first and then boost with lots of fresh vegetables. The can storage systems would be great to add in the future to our pantry - at the moment we just do a row of each item. More and more lentils and beans are being used to prepare healthy, filling, vegetarian meals for our family - and this helps to keep the budget down and reduce food waste!" -Megan
   
Resource: http://www.home-storage-solutions-101.com/declutter-calendar-january.html