<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>Level Up House</title> <atom:link href="/category/cleaning-organizing/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link></link> <description>Home is the best place on earth</description> <lastBuildDate>Sun, 23 Feb 2014 21:05:59 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5</generator> <item> <title>My Super Fast Bathroom Cleaning Technique</title> <link>/2013/fast-bathroom-cleaning/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mandi]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 05 Aug 2013 20:05:31 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Cleaning & Organizing]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=1929</guid> <description><![CDATA[Get ready to punch your bathroom IN THE FACE. This is my <30 minutes, 4 bathrooms, scrub-fest circuit. Your toilets and faucets won’t know what hit them when you’re through this super fast bathroom cleaning circuit. You wouldn’t guess that my house has 4 bathrooms – 2.5 bathrooms, maybe, but not four. The builder loved […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><strong>Get ready to punch your bathroom</strong> <strong>IN THE FACE.</strong> </em></p> <p>This is my <30 minutes, 4 bathrooms, scrub-fest circuit. Your toilets and faucets won’t know what hit them when you’re through this super fast bathroom cleaning circuit.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/fast_bathroom_cleaning.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1935" alt="fast bathroom cleaning technique make your bathroom sparkle" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/fast_bathroom_cleaning.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/fast_bathroom_cleaning.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/fast_bathroom_cleaning-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>You wouldn’t guess that my house has 4 bathrooms – 2.5 bathrooms, maybe, but not<em> four</em>. The builder loved bathrooms, but I hate cleaning and I especially hate cleaning bathrooms. I also work full time, have lots of hobbies, and I want this chore <em><strong>done</strong></em>. Like, yesterday. I got very good at cleaning bathrooms very quickly. If you’ve ever wondered how to clean your bathroom(s)(s)(s) as fast as possible, read on!</p> <div> <h1><strong>The Setup</strong></h1> <div><strong>Bathroom-Specific Supplies</strong></div> <div>I have a dedicated set of toilet-cleaning supplies in each of the bathrooms. Toilet brush, toilet brush holder-cup thing, and toilet cleaning gel. This saves me having to carry any dirty toilet brushes or blue liquids over the carpeted rooms and hallways these bathrooms are attached to.</div> <div></div> <div><strong>Traveling Bathroom Supplies</strong></div> <div>I have a bottle of Lysol spray, scrub brush, and paper towel roll that I carry with me to each bathroom. I store these portable supplies in the first bathroom of the sequence.</div> <h1><strong>The Circuit</strong></h1> <p><strong>Round 1: Toilets, Wastebaskets, Towels</strong></p> <div>I start in Bathroom A and repeat this sequence in Bathrooms B, C, and D. <br clear="none" /></p> <ol> <li>Lift the toilet seat and lid and squirt toilet bowl cleaner around the bowl</li> <li>Take out any used towels and toss on floor outside bathroom</li> <li>Stack / sort any reading materials that made their way into the bathrooms</li> </ol> <div>Bathroom B has our only functioning shower. For this special case room, I add this step:</div> <div> <ol> <li>Spray the walls and tub with shower cleaner</li> </ol> </div> <div>As I move from one bathroom to the next, I drop towels into the laundry and collect their wastebaskets at the top of the stairs. When the first round is complete, I start round 2.</div> <div></div> <div><strong>Round 2: Scrubbing Countertops</strong></div> <div> <ol> <li>Spray the countertop and scrub it clean</li> <li>Spray the sink and faucet, scrub them clean</li> <li>Scrub the toothbrush holder (if applicable)</li> <li>Rinse everything and wipe dry with paper towel</li> </ol> <p><strong>Round 3: Toilet Cleaning</strong></p> <ol> <li>Spray toilet with Lysol, use toilet paper wipe all surfaces including seat top and bottom</li> <li>Grab toilet brush and scrub the bowl itself</li> <li>Wipe toilet seat and surfaces dry with toilet paper, toss into bowl</li> <li>Flush toilet to send blue water and used TP on its way</li> <li>Clamp toilet brush between seat and bowl so it can drip dry into the bowl</li> </ol> <p><strong>Round 4: Finishing Up</strong></p> <ol> <li>Wash my hands now that I’m done with toilets</li> <li>In Bathroom B, I turn on the shower head and spray the shower walls clean. Grime and mildew (if any) usually washes away, but if not, I scrub it away. I give the tub a quick once-over with the scrub brush.</li> <li>From Bathroom C, I get the bag of toilet paper rolls and refresh every bathroom’s stock of TP and then return the bag to Bathroom C if any rolls remain</li> <li>I collect and empty all wastebaskets into the garbage and recycling bins in the kitchen and put the bins back into their respective bathrooms</li> <li>Turn off lights as I leave each bathroom for the last time</li> </ol> <p>I can usually run this entire circuit in under 30 minutes. Headphones and some motivational (get this shit done!) music go a long way. :)</p> <h1>More Fast Bathroom Cleaning Tips</h1> <p><strong>Floors</strong></p> <p><strong></strong>I typically clean the floors in a separate pass because 1) ours don’t seem to get that dirty and 2) they’re not “critical path” the way faucets or toilet paper are (I don’t eat off the floor in the bathroom). When I do clean floors, I just vacuum. I wash the floors just once or twice a year. We’re pretty tidy (no shoes in this house) and our floors are covered in bath mats, which get washed more frequently.</p> <p><strong>Mirrors</strong></p> <p>Just spray and wipe, and repeat times however many mirrors you have. I usually do these in a windows & monitors pass. Again, since mirrors aren’t critical path (nor are they very dirty in our house), they don’t get included in the scrubbing circuit described above.</p> <p><strong>Don’t Make a Mess in the First Place</strong></p> <p>Prevention goes a long way in bathrooms.</p> <ul> <li>Don’t spit toothpaste all over the sink</li> <li>Don’t flick toothpaste onto the mirror</li> <li>Be a product minimalist and reduce how much clutter is kept on the counter tops</li> <li>Remove used hand towels <em>before</em> they pile halfway to the ceiling</li> </ul> <p><strong>Just Do It</strong></p> <p>…before it gets any grosser.</p> <p><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/frog_toilet.jpg"><img decoding="async" alt="frog_toilet" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/frog_toilet.jpg" width="512" height="384" /></a></p> </div> </div> </div> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>End the Chore Wars: How to Keep a Clean House (and your sanity)</title> <link>/2013/end-chore-wars-clean-house/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mandi]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 03 Jul 2013 13:00:12 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Cleaning & Organizing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[chores]]></category> <category><![CDATA[cleaning]]></category> <category><![CDATA[housework]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=1624</guid> <description><![CDATA[I hate chores, but I like the results. My husband hates chores and is 100% blind to mess. We are both too cheap to hire a cleaning service. So, after seven years of experimentation, we’ve met somewhere in the middle (because fighting over chores is stupid and annoying). Getting here was not easy. I imagine a lot […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I hate chores, but I like the results. My husband hates chores and is 100% blind to mess. We are both too cheap to hire a cleaning service.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Jim_Vaccuum.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1754" alt="chore wars = man vs vacuum" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Jim_Vaccuum.jpg" width="384" height="512" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Jim_Vaccuum.jpg 384w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Jim_Vaccuum-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" /></a></p> <p>So, after seven years of experimentation, we’ve met somewhere in the middle (because fighting over chores is stupid and annoying). Getting here was <strong>not easy. </strong><strong> </strong>I imagine a lot of 20-somethings go through this as they merge two established households, so today I am sharing 9 things that worked for us.</p> <h1>1. You MUST have less stuff than storage</h1> <p>Here it is, the secret to a clean house. <strong>If you don’t have somewhere to put everything, you will never win the chore war. You’re fighting with an army that’s already dead.</strong></p> <p>I grew up in a cluttered house. It was cluttered because there are more things in the house than there are places to put those things, so the things just sat out all the time. Cleaning a few rooms meant moving things to other rooms.</p> <ul> <li>If you don’t physically have space for all your dishes, your kitchen will <strong>always</strong> require some dishes to be on the counter.</li> <li>If your laundry basket can’t hold all of your laundry, your laundry will <strong>always</strong> be on the floor in between laundry days.</li> <li>If your closet cannot hold all of your clothes, your clothes will <strong>always</strong> be draped over chairs and piled on the floor.</li> <li>If you have more toys than you have space to store them, your toys will <strong>always</strong> sit on every surface available.</li> </ul> <p>No one – not you, your husband, your wife, your children, or your hired help can win at this rigged game. If your partner isn’t helping out around the house, it might be because he knows he can’t “win”.</p> <p>This is really friggin’ hard, especially since most of us live in too-small homes (our first was about 1100 sq. feet!) with too-big hobbies (bikes, games, books, PCs… not to mention cookware, clothing and extra TP).</p> <p>The only solution I know of to this problem is to<strong> get rid of things.</strong> Everything you own has to do double or triple duty AND it has to be small enough to fit into one of your already-full closets when you aren’t using it. Good luck.</p> <h1>2. Don’t “take turns” on chores</h1> <p>…lest you just argue over whose turn it is while work piles up. The first shots in the chore wars are fired over who didn’t do what.</p> <p>No, what you should do is split your chores up so that you can do yours and your partner can do theirs seperately.</p> <p><strong>My jobs:</strong> toilets, bathrooms, vacuuming, cars (inside and out), fridge, mail, dusting, monitors/mirrors, lawn mowing, organization, decorating, project planning/management</p> <p><strong>Jim’s jobs:</strong> taking out garbage, dishwasher (loading and unloading), laundry (washing and folding), sweeping, bill paying, watering, weeding</p> <p>Jim can do his jobs even if I haven’t done mine, and vice versa. Of course, we’re both competent in each other’s jobs for those times when someone’s sick or just needs an assist.</p> <h1>3. Work your strengths</h1> <p>My chores are like “management and organization” and Jim’s chores are like “ongoing maintenance”.</p> <p>I’m the one figuring out how to organize our tools and determining what project to start next; Jim’s the reason we aren’t up to our eyeballs in dishes and laundry. This split works well for us, and plays to our strengths. I need interesting work; Jim likes to daydream while doing a simple task.</p> <p>The key here is to find a split that works for you and keep adjusting until both of you are happy with the arrangement.</p> <p>If you both hate something, grow up – no household chore is<em> that</em> bad! If it is bad, it’s probably because you’re doing it too infrequently and letting it build up to disgusting levels.</p> <h1>4. You both have to <em>want</em> to help</h1> <p>It’s critical that you and your partner be in this together. All the tips and tricks in the world can’t make someone who doesn’t want to help out actually start helping.</p> <p>If you or your partner doesn’t <strong>want </strong>to contribute, figure out why. If after months/years of asking/begging/planning/bribing, your partner still won’t pull their weight, then take that at face value. Your partner might be lazy, overwhelmed with other responsibilities, or just an ass.</p> <p>Your step now is to decide whether you accept this arrangement, or whether you leave and look elsewhere for partnership.</p> <p>This sounds extreme. But chores are a daily thing, forever and ever, and your partner <em>has</em> to contribute.</p> <h1>5. Make chores fun-er</h1> <ul> <li><strong>Tell stories </strong>as you work on stuff together. Bonus points if they’re completely made up.</li> <li><strong>Make fun </strong>of the work – seriously, most of this stuff is ridiculous.</li> <li><strong>Play music</strong> (earphones or otherwise). Our Sunday morning yard work warsong: Imperative Reaction’s remix of Caustic’s <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUad5PCX3Pk&NR=1&feature=endscreen">White Knuckle Head F**k</a> (we like to replace “head” with “yard”…yup.)</li> <li><b>R</b><strong>ace each</strong> other to completion on two separate projects</li> </ul> <h1>6. Simple > Complex</h1> <p>Never ask your partner to “clean the kitchen”. Break it up into smaller, manageable pieces. “Empty the dishwasher” and “empty the sink” are much more doable and less intimidating.</p> <p>Furthermore, don’t bog your chore routine down with apps and programs designed to “gameify” chores. In the time you spend setting these up and maintaining them, you could finish a chore or five. Besides, even “quickly” using your phone or computer is just another distraction from completing the task.</p> <h1>7. Micro-clean for the win</h1> <p>When both partners work 45+ hours a week, cleaning seems to happen in short bursts or horrible weekend marathons. I personally hate chore marathons, and doing little things all week long seems to help us avoid them. Chances are, your day is filled with opportunities to do “micro chores”.</p> <p>For example, I need more time to get ready to leave in the morning (we leave at the same time) so my husband uses the wait time to sweep the floors and put the breakfast dishes into the dishwasher.</p> <p>More ways we micr0-clean:</p> <ul> <li>I sort mail at the mailbox rather than letting it pileup inside</li> <li>When heading downstairs, I bring down dishes or a full wastebasket</li> <li>When going upstairs, I bring folded laundry or filing papers up with me</li> <li>Improve one thing in a room before leaving it</li> <li>Wash cookware right after using it</li> </ul> <h1>8. Say thank you!</h1> <p>Appreciation is always appreciated.</p> <p>Pay attention to what your partner accomplishes around the house and compliment the outcome. Your partner gave up some of their free time to help keep the household running, and that’s worth recognizing.</p> <p>It’s this easy:</p> <p>“The kitchen countertop looks great, thank you for cleaning it.”</p> <p>“Thanks for taking out the garbage.”</p> <h1>9. Lighten up! You won’t die :)</h1> <p>The chore wars were over once Jim and I accepted each other’s ways of doing things as “good enough”.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Small Pantry Organization: 25 Free and Cheap Ideas to Tame Your Tiny Pantry</title> <link>/2013/small-pantry-organization-budget/</link> <comments>/2013/small-pantry-organization-budget/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mandi]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 26 Jun 2013 13:00:48 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Cleaning & Organizing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[organization]]></category> <category><![CDATA[pantry]]></category> <category><![CDATA[small]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=1325</guid> <description><![CDATA[Updated for 2014! Added even more organizational ideas and some links to helpful products! Let’s get organized! As a Small Pantry Owner™, I am somewhat of an expert on stuffing a ton of food into a too-small space: This pantry is little! Having lived in two places without a pantry, though, I must say I am glad […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><strong>Updated for 2014! </strong>Added even <strong>more</strong> organizational ideas and some links to helpful products! Let’s get organized!</em></p> <p>As a Small Pantry Owner<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/2122.png" alt="™" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />, I am somewhat of an expert on stuffing <strong>a ton of food into a too-small space</strong>:</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pantry_1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-1588" alt="Small pantry organization - cramming way too much into too little space since forever!" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pantry_1.jpg" width="269" height="358" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pantry_1.jpg 384w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pantry_1-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes="(max-width: 269px) 100vw, 269px" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>This pantry is little! </em></p> <p>Having lived in two places without a pantry, though, I must say I am glad to have a pantry in the first place. My pantry hails from an era of, well, less. Food came in smaller packages in 1977 (as probably did people, too). Maybe people had less of it on hand, too. New construction homes have pantries that are practically walk-in closets, large enough in size to rival some bathrooms.</p> <p>When we first toured this house in 2010, I could tell that the previous owner was struggling with food storage. Not only was this pantry overstuffed with food, but so were three shelves in the garage.</p> <h1><strong>My Small Pantry Organizational Challenges</strong></h1> <ul> <li><span style="line-height: 13px;">Two-person household with almost <strong>no food overlap</strong> between us (he eats peanut butter, pasta, cereal, I don’t; I eat popcorn and hoard bake mixes, he doesn’t)</span></li> <li><strong>My kitchen sucks for storage</strong> in general with just two tiny drawers and a U-shaped countertop with just a couple cabinets underneath</li> <li>I <strong>love</strong> to cook</li> <li>My husband<strong> loves</strong> to cook even more</li> <li>I <strong>hate</strong> running out of things</li> </ul> <p><strong>This used to be me, but I’ve reformed my ways!</strong></p> <p><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/smallPantry_1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter" alt="small pantry organization tip 1 less packaged food" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/smallPantry_1.jpg" width="269" height="358" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Life without a pantry was brutal and messy.</em></p> <p style="text-align: left;">From my 7+ years of experience, here are my <strong>25 free or cheap ways to get more out of your tiny pantry.</strong></p> <h1 style="text-align: left;">Cheap Pantry Organization: Coming Soon to a Small Pantry Near YOU</h1> <h2>1) Short racks increase vertical space</h2> <p>If your pantry’s short but tall, <strong>use that height to your advantage</strong>! Stackable racks are great for adding “layers” to the vertical space.</p> <p>I have a few of these humble wire stands. They’re super cheap and basically double the amount of vertical space available for use:</p> <div id="attachment_2758" style="width: 263px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LNVXIY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000LNVXIY&linkCode=as2&tag=leveluphouse-20" rel="nofollow"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2758" class="size-full wp-image-2758 " alt="wire_shelf_rack" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wire_shelf_rack.jpg" width="253" height="117" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wire_shelf_rack.jpg 253w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wire_shelf_rack-185x85.jpg 185w" sizes="(max-width: 253px) 100vw, 253px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-2758" class="wp-caption-text">Put plates under it <strong>and</strong> on it!</p></div> <div id="attachment_2759" style="width: 258px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0030LZCCM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0030LZCCM&linkCode=as2&tag=leveluphouse-20" rel="nofollow"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2759" class="size-full wp-image-2759 " alt="small pantry organization double deck rack" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/double_shelf.jpg" width="248" height="209" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/double_shelf.jpg 248w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/double_shelf-185x155.jpg 185w" sizes="(max-width: 248px) 100vw, 248px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-2759" class="wp-caption-text">Got a lot of vertical space? Get a double deck rack!</p></div> <div id="attachment_2760" style="width: 260px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008UOXJIS/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B008UOXJIS&linkCode=as2&tag=leveluphouse-20" rel="nofollow"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2760" class="size-full wp-image-2760 " alt="under_shelf_basket" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/under_shelf_basket.jpg" width="250" height="240" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/under_shelf_basket.jpg 250w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/under_shelf_basket-185x177.jpg 185w" sizes="(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-2760" class="wp-caption-text">An <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008UOXJIS/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B008UOXJIS&linkCode=as2&tag=leveluphouse-20 rel=" target="_blank">under-shelf wire basket</a> makes use of that often-underutilized space right below a shelf.</p></div> <h2>2) Keep fewer snack foods on hand</h2> <p>Reducing how much stuff I kept on hand made a <strong>huge</strong> difference in how overstuffed the pantry was. It also meant fewer things were going stale before I could eat them, which in turn saved me a lot of money.</p> <p>I used to keep oatmeal, cereal, pasta, chips, Cheez-It, cookies, fruit snacks, candies, canned fruit, jellies, etc, all jammed into my pantry. A dozen or so boxes of all of my favorite snacks so that no matter what I wanted, it was on hand.</p> <p>But having “one of everything” was bad for a few reasons:</p> <ol> <li>All those <strong>snacks took a lot of space</strong></li> <li>It was <strong>easy to eat a lot more than I should have</strong> since so much was available</li> <li>The <strong>snacks weren’t that good for me, anyway</strong></li> </ol> <p><strong>The experiment:</strong> I picked <strong>2-3 of my favorite “pantry snacks”</strong> to keep on hand.</p> <p>I thought this would be hard and I was sure I’d be sad about it, but it was <strong>great</strong>. Two or three packages of cookies and chips takes up way less space than twelve; and when I have less on hand I eat less of it. If I buy three bags of popcorn, I eat the first one right away because it’s like an extra “bonus bag”. But if I just buy one bag, I ration it more carefully.</p> <h2>3) Stop buying cake and cookie decorations</h2> <p>Ugh, I had a <strong>serious</strong> cake decoration addiction. I’m in recovery now.</p> <p>I wanted to have the cutest cookies and cakes at every party, and that required food dyes and sprinkles in every color. My collection got <strong>huge, </strong>and my collection was <strong>growing faster than I was using it up</strong> because every holiday meant a new set of decorations!<strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Then I had a realization:</strong> drunk partiers <em>don’t give a damn about cookie decorations</em>. I used up what I had and downsized my collection to a few versatile color gels, a couple sets of sprinkles, and that’s it.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pantry_halloweenDeco.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-1598" alt="pantry_halloweenDeco" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pantry_halloweenDeco.jpg" width="358" height="269" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pantry_halloweenDeco.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pantry_halloweenDeco-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 358px) 100vw, 358px" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Sad but true: drunk people don’t give a crap about your adorbs cupcakes.</em></p> <h2>4) Don’t keep bakeware for things you don’t make</h2> <p>For me, this was <strong>cupcake tins</strong> and <strong>cupcake papers, </strong>of which I had <em>many</em>. By admitting the truth about my feelings about cupcakes (do not like), I was able to get rid of three cupcake tins and numerous packages of cupcake papers and reclaim the space in my pantry.</p> <p><em>But what about muffins?!</em> you say. Eh, muffin recipes can be made as a loaf of bread.</p> <p>Maybe for you its pie tins, or cookie cutters (I had a giant box full!) or four different sizes of cake pans. Take a serious look at your bakeware and toss anything you don’t absolutely love to use.</p> <h2>5) Downsize your spice collection</h2> <p>You probably have a handful of go-to spices and the rest you wouldn’t miss if it disappeared. Go ahead and toss the weird stuff you only use once a year. Your small pantry will thank you.</p> <p><strong>These are my essential spices – your preferences may differ:</strong></p> <ul> <li>salt</li> <li>pepper</li> <li>Red Robin spice</li> <li>cinnamon & sugar blend</li> <li>nutmeg</li> <li>cumin</li> <li>paprika</li> <li>onion powder</li> <li>garlic powder</li> <li>basil</li> <li>oregano</li> </ul> <h2>6) Label the tops of your spices</h2> <p>I use a black Sharpie marker to <strong>write the names of my spices on their caps</strong>. This way, I can store them in a drawer (like I did in my apartment) or in a flat organizer. Next time you’re searching for a spice, you can read the tops instead of shuffling them around.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pantry_organization_labeledLids.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1635" alt="small pantry organization tip 6 label spices" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pantry_organization_labeledLids.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pantry_organization_labeledLids.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pantry_organization_labeledLids-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Small pantry organization tip: label your spice caps. </em></p> <h2>7) Throw out old food</h2> <p><strong>Tossing old food is a no-brainer</strong>, but it’s easy to miss as older things get pushed to the back and forgotten about. If it’s old, let it go. How’s that for cheap pantry organization? You don’t even have to buy anything!</p> <h2>8) Find supplemental storage areas</h2> <p>I use some of the garage shelving to <strong>small kitchen appliances</strong>, <strong>canned goods</strong>, <strong>unopened bottles of marinades and sauces</strong>, and <strong>seldom-used kitchen tools like my rolling pin</strong>.</p> <p>I don’t recommend storing foods that might attract pests in your garage.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/small_pantry_extra_storage.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1636" alt="small pantry organization tip extra storage in garage " src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/small_pantry_extra_storage.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/small_pantry_extra_storage.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/small_pantry_extra_storage-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Supplement your pantry with other storage areas. </em></p> <h2>9) Use it all the time? Just leave it out.</h2> <p>B- for looks, A+ for functionality! I use these spices, this cooking spray, and this skillet <em>every morning</em>, so they get to live on the countertop. Not having to dig through the pantry for them = win.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pantry_onCounter.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1589" alt="small pantry organization tip keep commonly used items out" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pantry_onCounter.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pantry_onCounter.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pantry_onCounter-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>I use these things every day, so I just leave them out. </em></p> <h2>10) Install door organizers</h2> <p>This <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001MY6A3E/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001MY6A3E&linkCode=as2&tag=leveluphouse-20" target="_blank">back-of-the-door spice rack</a> came with the house, and it’s super useful for storing small items like spices and jellies. The only thing I don’t like about it? It had to be attached to the door with screws, permanently damaging the door.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pantry_doorStorage.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1590" alt="small pantry organization rack on door" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pantry_doorStorage.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pantry_doorStorage.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pantry_doorStorage-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Small pantry organization secret: door racks!</em></p> <p style="text-align: left;">Are you looking for a sweet organizer that <em>won’t</em> damage the door? This <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00683MM9K/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00683MM9K&linkCode=as2&tag=leveluphouse-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">deluxe-size over-the-door pantry organizer</a> on Amazon.com is inexpensive, adjustable, and won’t damage your door. I don’t own this, but I like it better than what I have. If I was organizing an apartment pantry or didn’t want to drill holes in my pantry door, I’d buy this in a heartbeat.</p> <div id="attachment_2753" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00683MM9K/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00683MM9K&linkCode=as2&tag=leveluphouse-20" rel="nofollow"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2753" class="size-full wp-image-2753 " alt="small pantry organization deluxe over the door pantry organizer" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/over_the_door_pantry_organizer.jpg" width="290" height="620" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/over_the_door_pantry_organizer.jpg 290w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/over_the_door_pantry_organizer-140x300.jpg 140w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/over_the_door_pantry_organizer-185x395.jpg 185w" sizes="(max-width: 290px) 100vw, 290px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-2753" class="wp-caption-text">To be honest, I’m jealous.</p></div> <h2>11) Combine food into one box</h2> <p>If you have more than one box of something, putting everything into one container can save you a bit of space. Cheap pantry organization at its finest!</p> <h2>12) Hang things from the pantry walls</h2> <p>This <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001GM57C2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001GM57C2&linkCode=as2&tag=leveluphouse-20" target="_blank">two-pronged bathrobe hook</a> is great for storing oven mitts and pot holders. <strong>Bonus:</strong> It looks like a lopsided octopus.<strong> Another bonus:</strong> It’s dirt cheap but doesn’t look it.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pantry_hook.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-1591" alt="small pantry organization hang items on walls" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pantry_hook.jpg" width="269" height="358" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pantry_hook.jpg 384w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pantry_hook-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes="(max-width: 269px) 100vw, 269px" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Small pantry organization tip: hang things on hooks! On the opposite side is our fly-swatter. :) </em></p> <h2>13) Buy the small version</h2> <div id="attachment_2755" style="width: 142px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/crisco_tiny_can.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2755" class=" wp-image-2755 " alt="crisco_tiny_can" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/crisco_tiny_can.jpg" width="132" height="121" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-2755" class="wp-caption-text">Buy the economy size and save big – on SPACE!</p></div> <p>A gigantic tub of cooking oil might cost less per ounce, but there’s a hidden cost at work here: the <em>space requirements</em> are expensive. This is why we don’t shop at Costco or other bulk retailers: <strong>I just don’t have the space.</strong> And if your house is like mine, you probably don’t either.</p> <p><strong>Added bonus:</strong> Having less of something on hand seems to encourage us to be less wasteful. I won’t cook the whole bag if it’s the only bag in the house, but I will if it’s one of six. I’ll stretch less cooking oil further, use less butter, and eat less overall simply by having less available.</p> <h2>14) Keep only the best supplies</h2> <div id="attachment_2754" style="width: 191px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/oxo_oven_mitt.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2754" class=" wp-image-2754 " alt="oxo_oven_mitt" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/oxo_oven_mitt.jpg" width="181" height="217" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/oxo_oven_mitt.jpg 226w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/oxo_oven_mitt-185x221.jpg 185w" sizes="(max-width: 181px) 100vw, 181px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-2754" class="wp-caption-text">One mitt to rule them all: I tossed my crappy oven mitts and replaced them with one <strong>awesome</strong> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001HW3VG0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001HW3VG0&linkCode=as2&tag=leveluphouse-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Oxo mitt</a>.</p></div> <p>I used to have 1 good oven mitt and at least a half dozen inferior ones. No surprise here: I <em>never</em> reached for the inferior mitts. They just sat in a big pile taking up space. So I donated the inferior ones and bought one more really awesome oven mitt, an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001HW3VG0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001HW3VG0&linkCode=as2&tag=leveluphouse-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">OXO Good Grips Silicone Oven Mitt</a>. Now I have 2 <em>great</em> mitts instead of 6+ okay ones.</p> <p><strong>Same goes for knives:</strong> do you favor a particular one? I love my OXO Santoku. Once I realized I’d go out of my way to wash the Santoku instead of using one of the inferior but already clean knives, I rounded up all the inferior ones and donated them.</p> <p><strong>What about coffee mugs?</strong> Do some of yours suck? Toss ’em.</p> <p><strong>Got a favorite cutting mat? Dinner tray? Scrub brush?</strong> Toss the rest and reclaim a <em>ton</em> of space.</p> <h2>15) Get rid of anything you haven’t used in a year+</h2> <p>Sort of related to #14, <strong>when I realized I hadn’t used my griddle in nearly 3 years I decided to give it to the local charity drop-off.</strong> The griddle was large, but it never got hot enough to compete with cooking in a smaller skillet on the stovetop. Donating this unused appliance freed up half a shelf(!) worth of pantry space.</p> <p>What’s frustrating though, are items I <em>do actually use</em> a couple times a year. For me, that’s the toaster, the blender, the coffee maker, and electric hand-mixer. The best solution I’ve found for these items are to keep them in their original boxes (so they stay clean and so they can stack with other storage items) and store them somewhere outside the pantry. Since the pantry is so small, it has to be for commonly-used items, not once-in-a-blue-moon items.</p> <h2>16) Stop storing so much food in the first place</h2> <p>Even in this age of 24-hour grocery stores, I find this one super challenging. I include it in this list as a goal to strive for, but I fail at it all the time myself.</p> <p>I apparently have a lot of hoarding baggage to get over, and it extends to a fear of running out of food. No, I’m not <em>really</em> going to run out of food but this problem is exacerbated by stores like our local Safeway that seem to have inconsistent stock of certain items. I suppose we’re at the end of the shipping lines here in the PNW, but it just drives me nuts to run out of something.</p> <p><strong>Limited edition/seasonal foods:</strong> ugh, limited edition foods are my bane. Those mint M&M that only come out at Christmas? I buy 20 as soon as they hit shelves in November because they aren’t available after mid-December! (And they really are the best mint chocolate candy.)</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/christmas_mint_mm_collection.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1594" alt="christmas mint m&ms are to die for" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/christmas_mint_mm_collection.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/christmas_mint_mm_collection.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/christmas_mint_mm_collection-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Every Christmas I buy a year’s supply of mint M&Ms. No, the year-round mint variety is not nearly as good. </em></p> <p><strong>Also not helping:</strong> those items you can only get at stores you don’t go to all the time. For me, that’s DeLallo pizza sauce from Fred Meyer and Quinoa chips from Trader Joe’s. I don’t want to go to these stores every single week, so when I am at one of these stores, I often leave with like 3 or 4 of the item I can only find at this store.</p> <p>Realistically, the best I can do here is to not stock up on things I know are plentiful or interchangeable with another store’s version. This leaves room for the harder to find items that I buy lots of.</p> <h2>17) Resist bargains</h2> <p>Somewhat related to #16, I find “stock up and save!” and post-holiday deals borderline irresistible.</p> <p>For example, Halloween Funfetti cake mix gets deeply discounted on November 1st. This is my favorite Funfetti mix because I’m easily entertained and enjoy the novelty of black sprinkles.</p> <p><strong>How much does this really save me, though?</strong> A couple bucks a box? And it comes at the high cost of having to store a stack of cake mixes for months and months.</p> <h2>18) It’s okay to throw perfectly good food away</h2> <p>I definitely struggle with throwing away food that’s technically still good but I don’t like eating. If you don’t like eating it, take it to the office. Or just throw it away. No one will know and the planet won’t suffer.</p> <h2>19) Don’t try new foods all the time</h2> <p>When I first moved out on my own, I wanted to try everything in the grocery store. This resulted in having way more food in the house than I had room for, since I wasn’t eating it fast enough to keep pace with new and exciting stuff coming in. Don’t buy something new until the old one is eaten up / thrown out. You’ve got your whole life to eat your way through the cookie aisle, there’s no rush. :)</p> <h2>21) Don’t buy gimmicky organizers that are larger than you need</h2> <p>You know what I mean – <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Q4I9LM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000Q4I9LM&linkCode=as2&tag=leveluphouse-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">giant knife-holders</a> that take up a square foot of countertop space and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004165MWA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004165MWA&linkCode=as2&tag=leveluphouse-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">giant spice racks</a> that would make the East India Trading Company jealous. I started life on my own with these oversized organizers, but all they did was make me think I was supposed to have 8 specialized knives (when all I ever used was <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000A13OES/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000A13OES&linkCode=as2&tag=leveluphouse-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">my favorite OXO Santoku</a>) and twenty spices (when I kept reaching for the same three again and again). They also took a lot of space. Ditching the organizers also let me downsize my collections of things, which in turn ended up using way less space.</p> <p><strong>Note:</strong> If you do actually <em>use</em> this much variety in knives and spices – like, you cook all the time and you’ve touched everything in the organizer in the last few months, by all means, keep these things. But don’t keep them around because you feel you have to. I don’t care how you organize it, one good knife always takes up less space than eight.</p> <h2>22) Organizing pots, pans, and skillet lids</h2> <div id="attachment_2757" style="width: 171px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0052EOP9Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0052EOP9Q&linkCode=as2&tag=leveluphouse-20" rel="nofollow"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2757" class=" wp-image-2757 " alt="pan_organizer_rubbermaid" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pan_organizer_rubbermaid.jpg" width="161" height="240" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pan_organizer_rubbermaid.jpg 269w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pan_organizer_rubbermaid-201x300.jpg 201w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pan_organizer_rubbermaid-185x275.jpg 185w" sizes="(max-width: 161px) 100vw, 161px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-2757" class="wp-caption-text">This <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0052EOP9Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0052EOP9Q&linkCode=as2&tag=leveluphouse-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">heavy duty Rubbermaid pan organizer</a> lets you stack pans without touching bottoms to cook surfaces.</p></div> <p>If you’re like I used to be, you probably have more pots, pans, and skillets than you actually use.</p> <p><strong>The first step to decluttering your pot/pan collection</strong> is to figure out which ones you <em>actually use</em>. You probably have a few favorites, and the rest are just there “in case”. Identify the favorites, and donate the rest to a charity.</p> <p>Now that your pan collection is more reasonably sized, you might find you already have enough room to store them without stacking them. I don’t like stacking skillets because their cook surfaces are usually some magical non-stick surface that shouldn’t come into contact with metal, such as the bottoms of other pans. <strong>If you have to stack your pans to get them to fit</strong> in your limited storage space, the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0052EOP9Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0052EOP9Q&linkCode=as2&tag=leveluphouse-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Rubbermaid Kitchen pan/lid organizer</a> is a good choice. Heavy enough for cast iron and big enough for two 14″ pans, this thing holds more skillets than most cooks should need.</p> <p><strong>What to do with lids?</strong> I like to put lids on the pans they go with. I’ve futzed around with “lid organizers”, but I don’t like how they separate lids from the pots/pans they belong with. Getting out cookware turns into a lame matching guessing game, usually done at shin-height in a dark cabinet. Boo on that.</p> <p><em>Remember, only keep what you actually use.</em> Don’t feel bad about breaking up a set – whoever gets that skillet or too-big-pot you donated because you never use it will be thrilled. :) I have two small skillets, two medium skillets, a cast iron skillet (it’s huge), and two pots (one small, one large-ish). I used to have a gigantic pot, the kind you’d see in an Italian kitchen with an avalanche of pasta spilling out, but I realized pretty quickly that <strong>1)</strong> I never cook that much pasta at once and <strong>2)</strong> I don’t even like pasta. Ditching what you <em>don’t</em> need is essential for getting everything organized.</p> <h2>23) Pick one food storage system</h2> <p>I’ve known people with, like, four decades worth of Tupperware bowls. The styles change so nothing stacks with anything, and it all takes up a lot of space. When I started out on my own, I bought everything from the same system. I was poor when I was starting out, though, so I bought these cheap <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&field-keywords=gladware&linkCode=ur2&node=3760901&qid=1388968684&sr=8-1-acs&srs=3029532011&tag=leveluphouse-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Gladware containers</a>. Turns out, I love ’em. They stay on the market for years without changing, and the same-size containers all stack with each other.</p> <p>Whatever you do, don’t buy a dozen different sizes. This is my chief complaint with most storage systems: you get 2 of this size, 2 of that size, 2 of this other size, and on and on. You don’t need that much variety. I store all my fridge food with just three sizes. Check out the variety at your local store and build your collection slowly. Don’t add a new container type until you’re absolutely sure you need it.</p> <h2>24) Hang your brooms and mops</h2> <div id="attachment_2756" style="width: 192px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002V37ZM/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0002V37ZM&linkCode=as2&tag=leveluphouse-20" rel="nofollow"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2756" class="size-full wp-image-2756 " alt="broom_organizer" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/broom_organizer.jpg" width="182" height="280" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-2756" class="wp-caption-text">Rolling balls adjust to the handle size and each clamp holds 7.5 lbs of weight.</p></div> <p>I used to jam my brooms, mops, dusters, Swiffers (that thing was a waste of money), etc, into whatever corner would hold them. Then I got a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002V37ZM/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0002V37ZM&linkCode=as2&tag=leveluphouse-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">broom organizer</a> for my garage and now they’re neat and tidy. (I immediately bought another for my rakes and shovels, they’re seriously awesome.)</p> <p>Oh, and as long as we’re on the subject of brooms and mops – consider whether you have too many. I did – three brooms was excessive, so we tossed the worst one and kept the nicest broom for inside the house and the second-best for the garage. I hate mopping, so I donated my mop while I was at it. I’d rather crawl around with a bucket and a rag.</p> <p>I had a wet Swiffer but that thing was an exercise in futility. Maybe our home is dirtier than most, but those wet pads just didn’t do anything. My floors have to be scrubbed with elbow grease to make any difference.</p> <h2>25) Eat it!</h2> <p>If you don’t have room for it, you gotta eat it, right?</p> <p>At least, that’s the logic we use when we discover the last four cookies on the sheet won’t fit in the container we’re using to store them.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/fudge.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1595" alt="small pantry organization eat what doesn't fit :)" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/fudge.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/fudge.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/fudge-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Made more than you can store? Well, you know what you gotta do…</em></p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Note to readers:</strong> Some of the links in this article are Amazon Affiliate links. They are provided to help you go straight to the recommended product. If you shop through an affiliate link, a tiny % of your purchase (if you make one) helps support this site with a tiny kickback at no cost to you. As always, I encourage you to shop around and price compare to be sure you get the best deal!</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>/2013/small-pantry-organization-budget/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>5</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Home Organization: Clear Plastic Bins for the Win</title> <link>/2013/home-organization-clear-plastic-bins-for-the-win/</link> <comments>/2013/home-organization-clear-plastic-bins-for-the-win/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mandi]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 23 Jun 2013 13:30:20 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Cleaning & Organizing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[bins]]></category> <category><![CDATA[organization]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=573</guid> <description><![CDATA[Q: What do all of these storage areas have in common? A: Okay, besides the fact that I have too much crap and should really get rid of it. The answer is: they’re all using the exact same storage bins! Like me, you probably have loads of stuff that isn’t in use but isn’t useless. […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Q: </strong>What do all of these storage areas have in common?</p> <p><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/bins_1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1517" alt="bins_1" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/bins_1.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/bins_1.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/bins_1-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/bins_2.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1518" alt="bins_2" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/bins_2.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/bins_2.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/bins_2-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/bins_4.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1520" alt="bins_4" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/bins_4.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/bins_4.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/bins_4-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/bins_3.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter" alt="bins_3" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/bins_3.jpg" width="512" height="384" /></a></p> <p><strong>A: </strong>Okay, besides the fact that I have too much crap and should really get rid of it. The answer is:<strong> they’re all using the exact same storage bins!</strong></p> <p>Like me, you probably have loads of stuff that isn’t <em>in use</em> but isn’t <em>useless</em>. You want this stuff handy when you need it, and out of sight and easy to store when you don’t. If you’re even more like me, you have very little storage space in your home and need to make the most of closets.</p> <p><strong>My solution: put it ALL in bins. </strong></p> <p>I’ve used this system for over ten years and I’m convinced it’s the best:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Easy stacking</strong></li> <li><strong>Bins are more durable</strong> and more waterproof than cardboard</li> <li><strong>Bins are easy to label</strong></li> <li><strong>Transparent bins</strong> are easy to see inside of</li> <li><strong>Stuff stays clean</strong>, dry, and good-smelling when it’s stored inside a closed bin</li> <li><strong>Bins are interchangeable</strong>, so when you need fewer in one place and more in another you can take from your own stock</li> <li><strong>Makes moving easier and faster</strong> when stuff is already packed</li> </ul> <p>How to start your own clear storage bin empire:</p> <h1>1) <strong>Choose a major nationwide retailer.</strong></h1> <p>It’s not that I think gigantic chains are particularly deserving of your business. You need these bins to be available on the market for a long time because you’ll come back for more later. You may move cross-country.</p> <p>I acquired the first bins of my set in 1998 from WalMart and have continued to purchase more bins of the same set ever since. I don’t like shopping at WalMart, but I’ll be a customer for life because they carry the bins I use throughout my house.</p> <h1>2) <strong>Find a bin that meets these qualifications: </strong></h1> <ul> <li><strong>Stackable: </strong>an absolute must</li> <li><strong>Transparent:</strong> another absolute must. Solid color bins won’t do you any favors when you’re desperately searching for something months/years later.</li> <li><strong>Multiple capacities with same size lid:</strong> a nice bonus</li> <li><strong>Rugged:</strong> thick bottoms, thick lids, no broken ones on store shelves</li> <li><strong>Handleless lid design:</strong> Avoid “locking” plastic lid handles, they’re just one more thing that can break. They’re also just not as rugged.</li> </ul> <p>The bins I use are Sterilite brand, still sold in Walmart stores and at many retailers online. Sterilite’s offered this design for at least 15 years, and every time I stray I regret it. I’ve never broken one of these bins, but I’ve broken/bent plenty of lesser brands.</p> <p><span id="leveledup"><a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-28-Qt-Storage-Box-White-Set-of-10/15442447"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1523" alt="sterilite_7gallon" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/sterilite_7gallon.jpg" width="256" height="192" /></a></span></p> <p><span id="leveledup"><a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-14.5-Gallon-58-Quart-Storage-Box-Set-of-8/10401038"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1524" alt="sterilite_145" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/sterilite_145.jpg" width="256" height="192" /></a></span></p> <p>The white lid/clear plastic combo is my favorite, but if you shop during back to school season (July/August) and the winter holiday season (December), you can find them in rarer color combinations. I scored a collection of red/green/gold bins a couple Christmases ago.</p> <h1>2) <strong>Buy a TON of this bin. However many you think you need, buy more. </strong></h1> <p>Yes, this is an investment, but it’s an investment that pays off whenever you’re looking for something, reorganizing, or moving.</p> <h1>3) <strong>Sort sort sort your stuff. </strong></h1> <p>This may take you days/weeks worth of free time. Break it up. Do an hour a weekend. You’ll get through it.</p> <h1>4) <strong>Label! </strong></h1> <p>I like to use a torn off bit of masking tape and a permanent marker. Easy to create, easy to remove if you re-purpose the bin later on.</p> <p><strong>*BONUS POINTS*</strong> Put a date on the label. This will help you in future reorganizing efforts. It’ll also make it easier to get rid of things you haven’t used in “a while” when you realize “a while” is four years.</p> <p><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/datedLabel.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1522" alt="datedLabel" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/datedLabel.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/datedLabel.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/datedLabel-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p> </p> <h1>5) <strong>Put away! </strong></h1> <p>These bins fit nicely under beds, at the bottom of closets, on closet shelves, and on my <a href="http://www.target.com/p/room-essentials-black-5-tier-wire-shelving/-/A-13892293?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=Google_PLA_df&LNM=%7C13892293&CPNG=Furniture&kpid=13892293&LID=PA&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=13892293&gclid=CInj84_J-LcCFQdyQgodw04AbQ">favorite wire shelving from Room Essentials (sold at Target</a>).<br /> <span id="leveledup"><br /> <a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/bins.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1526" alt="bins" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/bins.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/bins.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/bins-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></span></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>/2013/home-organization-clear-plastic-bins-for-the-win/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Decluttering: Closets and “Junk Room”</title> <link>/2013/decluttering-closet-clean-ou/</link> <comments>/2013/decluttering-closet-clean-ou/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mandi]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:01:20 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Cleaning & Organizing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[clutter]]></category> <category><![CDATA[downsizing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[stuff]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=1178</guid> <description><![CDATA[The ongoing war against clutter continues. This weekend’s decluttering target: the “junk room”. Yes, where some people have a nursery or a hobby room, we have a “junk room”. I’m not proud of it, but we just seem to have so much more stuff than we have legitimate storage so we had to go rogue […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The ongoing war against clutter continues. This weekend’s decluttering target: the “junk room”.</p> <p>Yes, where some people have a nursery or a hobby room, we have a “junk room”. I’m not proud of it, but we just seem to have so much more stuff than we have legitimate storage so we had to go rogue and turn a room into a walk-in closet. I already packed all the <em>normal</em> closets. Unfortunately, this directly violates the #1 rule of home harmony:</p> <p><strong>Volume of stuff shall not exceed capacity for stuff.</strong></p> <p>Much household harmony flows from adhering to this simple principle, yet it is very hard to follow. Stuff has inherent value, both sentimental and monetary. Houses have pathetically little storage, hence the need for constant decluttering.</p> <p><strong>Over the years, I’ve used techniques to expand my storage capabilities: </strong></p> <ul> <li>stackable bins</li> <li>standalone shelving underneath/in place of existing closet shelving</li> <li>those crazy bags you stuff items into and then squeeze the air out of so things take less space</li> <li>additional standalone closet rods</li> <li>using an <strong>entire room</strong> as walk-in storage (see: our smallest bedroom)</li> </ul> <p>This was good enough for a while, but now I need to reclaim our smallest bedroom for potential guest use, which means its days as a glorified walk-in closet are coming to an end. This is it on a good day. Remember, I’ve been working on emptying it for six months now.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/2013/06/decluttering-closet-clean-ou/storageroom1/" rel="attachment wp-att-1179"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1179" alt="The focus of my decluttering efforts: my junk room in all its glory. " src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/storageRoom1.jpg" width="384" height="512" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/storageRoom1.jpg 384w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/storageRoom1-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" /></a></p> <p><strong>Getting rid of things is difficult for me. I blame…</strong></p> <ul> <li>Hoarding behaviors inherited from my parents (who basically have a time capsule starting in the early 1960s, covering all of my childhood, and all the life that’s happened since, packed into their basement).</li> <li>My frugal sensibilities, and having to re-buy something I discarded would seriously send me off the deep end</li> <li>My terrible tendency to anthropomorphize objects, that is, I (quite insanely) give them feelings and human characteristics. Throwing something away means sending it to the dump <em>where it will be sad and lonely</em>. WTF, evolution? (Also, big thanks goes out to whatever asshole wrote the junkyard scene in The Brave Little Toaster in which sentient cars are crushed for scrap. I saw it 20 years ago and I still bear the scars.)</li> </ul> <p><strong>The completely rational part of my brain says that keeping things I don’t need is ridiculous. </strong>I have to be in a particularly unsentimental mood to start getting rid of things, and when the mood hits it’s time to act.<strong> </strong>These are things I keep in mind as I de-clutter:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Hoarding is a serious problem.</strong> Watching just a few minutes of Hoarders gives me temporary super powers to get rid of things.</li> <li><strong>Space costs money</strong> – if we keep acquiring more stuff, we’ll need a larger house</li> <li><strong>Clutter has an emotional cost:</strong> the guilt of knowing I should be dealing with it, the wistful thinking that occurs when I stare into the cluttered abyss and wish for a useful room to take its place</li> <li><strong>Reorganizing stuff is a massive time-suck.</strong> I’ve lost countless weekends to shuffling crap around my living space.</li> <li><strong>Someone else needs this more than I do.</strong> 1000 times this – the world is full of needy people who only wish they had the things I’m</li> </ul> <p><strong>When I start on a room or a closet, I first go after easy targets: </strong></p> <ul> <li>Clothes that clearly don’t fit, haven’t for a long time, and probably never will again</li> <li>Craft supplies I still haven’t found a use for</li> <li>Anything I bought in Illinois (4.5 years ago) and still haven’t used/deboxed</li> <li>Broken things of little sentimental value</li> <li>Cheap things that I’ve since replaced with better versions</li> </ul> <p>I immediately load these things into the car. If the Goodwill truck is open, I’ll drive to it immediately and unload. If not, I go on the way to work the next day. Sometimes in between deciding to get rid of something and actually getting rid of it, as much as a quarter of it comes back into the house. Taking things to donation immediately is critical to success.</p> <p><strong>Once that low hanging fruit was picked, I go after higher level targets:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Clothes I don’t feel awesome in, even if they do fit. <em>Maybe someone else will feel awesome in them!</em></li> <li>Broken things of mild sentimental value</li> <li>Things of shitty sentimental value – that is, things I got from someone or some place that should probably have meaning to me, but actually just depress and/or anger me. I only have room for happy things in my house</li> <li>Anything I bought, ever, that I haven’t used (or missed) in a year. <em>I bet someone else needs this!</em><i><br /> </i></li> </ul> <p>The hardest stuff to get rid of are things my mother purchased for me when I moved into my apartment. She wanted me to have all the comforts of home, and she lovingly bought me so many nice kitchen tools, dishware, linens, you name it. Some of it is an indispensable part of my household operations, some of it I never got the hang of or liked as much as things I purchased later. But all of it is imbued with Mom, and all of it is hard to get rid of for that reason. I try to imagine her saying, “Oh, just get rid of it and buy yourself something nice!” but it’s tough. The associations between stuff and being cared for are powerful. Now that I’m 2000 miles from my parents, who used to handle everything from scheduling doctor’s appointments to doing my laundry for me, being cared for is a rarer and more precious feeling. I feel like recognizing it is the first step. Hauling it to the car? That’s like ten steps. <a href="/2013/06/decluttering-closet-clean-ou/freecornerjune16/" rel="attachment wp-att-1181"><br /> </a></p> <p><strong>Here’s what I accomplished on Saturday: </strong></p> <p>The black shelving was emptied and squeezed into the back of our master bedroom closet, which I “lovingly” refer to as a “galley closet”. Many of the things on it were either put in the car for donation or moved into the master closet.</p> <p><a href="/2013/06/decluttering-closet-clean-ou/storageroom3/" rel="attachment wp-att-1180"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter" alt="storageRoom3" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/storageRoom3.jpg" width="384" height="512" /></a></p> <p>I put this over the toilet shelf, IKEA laundry basket + bathroom organizer, and 17″ VGA monitor onto the <a href="/2013/06/free-corner-magic/">free corner</a>. Unbelievably, the toilet shelf never fit over any of our 4(!!!) toilets so I used it as standalone shelving for a few years. Decluttering over the last six months reduced my need for them, and finally, it was time to let them go. The monitor hadn’t been used in over 5 years as we’ve upgraded to larger widescreens.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/2013/06/decluttering-closet-clean-ou/freecornerjune16/" rel="attachment wp-att-1181"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter" alt="the free corner: my best friend in the decluttering process" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/freeCornerJune16.jpg" width="384" height="512" /></a></p> <p>In typical household project fashion, working in one room somehow messes up another. Cleaning out the storage room necessitated cleaning and organizing my sewing room closet as well. From this closet, I filled two bags with clothes for donation and folded all of my club/concert wear into bins to free up precious bar space.</p> <p><a href="/2013/06/decluttering-closet-clean-ou/storageroom4/" rel="attachment wp-att-1182"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1182" alt="storageRoom4" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/storageRoom4.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/storageRoom4.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/storageRoom4-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>I am amazed at how much clothing I have. I’ve managed to fill the walk-in master bedroom closet and this sewing room closet. I’m not even fashionable, like, AT ALL. I don’t own any extra shoes, accessories, or jewelry. How do people who are actually into clothes and shopping manage?</p> <p><strong>Here’s where I left off by end of day Saturday: </strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/2013/06/decluttering-closet-clean-ou/storageroom5/" rel="attachment wp-att-1183"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1183" alt="My junk room now, after hours of decluttering effort. Some items live on to see another day." src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/storageRoom5.jpg" width="384" height="512" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/storageRoom5.jpg 384w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/storageRoom5-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" /></a></p> <p><strong>So what’s left in here now? </strong></p> <ul> <li>Hangars from a ton of donated and/or boxed clothing</li> <li>River inner tubes I have no idea where to store</li> <li>Empty closet bar I may collapse and store elsewhere</li> <li>Upright cabinet (empty) moved from sewing room to make more closet space</li> <li>Artwork not currently on walls</li> <li>Ironing board that I leave set up</li> <li>Broken oscillating fans (I should garbage these, but… Mom bought them for me! Ahhh!)</li> <li>Bin full of kitchenware I haven’t used in a long time (I should donate these.. but… Mom bought them for me! Ahhh! And what if I want to make cupcakes even though I hate cupcakes? Arrgh!)</li> <li>Our awesome Jaime & Cersei Lannister cosplay costumes</li> <li>A box of sentimental stuff from my previous job and my childhood</li> </ul> <p>These are decluttering challenges for another day, though. Another day when I’ve just seen an episode of Hoarders and am mentally refreshed. :)</p> <p> </p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>/2013/decluttering-closet-clean-ou/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>2</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Free Corner Magic</title> <link>/2013/free-corner-magic/</link> <comments>/2013/free-corner-magic/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mandi]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 11 Jun 2013 14:27:54 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Cleaning & Organizing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[clutter]]></category> <category><![CDATA[disposal]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=1150</guid> <description><![CDATA[The “Free Corner”, as we’ve come to call the SW corner of our property, is a magical place. Anything we’ve put here with a “FREE” sign on it has disappeared, sometimes within an hour. We’ve offered up decorative shelving, plastic chair mats, ancient yard tools, decorative cabinets, and more, and it’s all disappeared. Sunday’s Free […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The “Free Corner”, as we’ve come to call the SW corner of our property, is a magical place. Anything we’ve put here with a “FREE” sign on it has disappeared, sometimes within an hour. We’ve offered up decorative shelving, plastic chair mats, ancient yard tools, decorative cabinets, and more, and it’s all disappeared.</p> <p>Sunday’s Free Corner Special was a “Cook’n Ca’jun II” with rust on the inside and eight cans of various bright colors of latex paint.</p> <p><a href="/2013/06/free-corner-magic/freecornermagic/" rel="attachment wp-att-1151"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1151" alt="freeCornerMagic" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/freeCornerMagic.jpg" width="384" height="512" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/freeCornerMagic.jpg 384w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/06/freeCornerMagic-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" /></a></p> <p>These items were left to us by the previous owner and disposing of them through “proper channels” has proven difficult. I was convinced a rusted grill and paint from 2003 was beyond the capabilities of the Free Corner, but this stuff was gone by evening. Woohoo!</p> <p>I like to think that giving to the Free Corner pays into some larger “free stuff karma” account. We’ve definitely withdrawn more from the Freebie account than we’ve put in: a great nightstand for our guest bed, a large mirror we use in the garage gym, an office chair I use in my sewing room, and a large IKEA desktop that I’m typing on right now, all neighborhood “Free” items, all in fantastic condition.</p> <p> </p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>/2013/free-corner-magic/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Hazardous Waste drop off day</title> <link>/2013/hazardous-waste-drop-off-day/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mandi]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 25 May 2013 18:04:37 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Cleaning & Organizing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[disposal]]></category> <category><![CDATA[household waste]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=1074</guid> <description><![CDATA[Yay, it’s Wastemobile day! This is a once-or-twice-a-year event in my town where you get to drop off stuff that’s otherwise impossible to properly dispose of. In other words, I can finally get rid of the shit the previous owners left for me: – Old deck stain of some sort – Car fluids – Can […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Yay, it’s Wastemobile day! This is a once-or-twice-a-year event in my town where you get to drop off stuff that’s otherwise impossible to properly dispose of.</p> <p>In other words, I can finally get rid of the shit the previous owners left for me:</p> <p>– Old deck stain of some sort</p> <p>– Car fluids</p> <p>– Can of liquid we assume is gasoline</p> <p>– Bottle of liquid insect killer</p> <p>– Dead fluorescent lightbulbs and broken ballasts</p> <p>– Old deep fry oil (oops, this one’s ours :) )</p> <p><a href="/2013/05/hazardous-waste-drop-off-day/hazmat/" rel="attachment wp-att-1075"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1075" alt="HazMat" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/HazMat.jpg" width="384" height="512" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/HazMat.jpg 384w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/05/HazMat-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" /></a></p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Disposing of Old Electronics at Best Buy</title> <link>/2013/disposing-of-old-electronics-at-best-buy/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mandi]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 01:19:37 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Cleaning & Organizing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Best Buy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[electronics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[old]]></category> <category><![CDATA[recycle]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=1080</guid> <description><![CDATA[This post could also be titled: Holy shit, I can’t believe I’m plugging Best Buy, the dying electronics behemoth of North America. Disposing of old electronics at best buy is great! We took our box of electronic crapola to Best Buy today and they took it, no questions asked. No wait. No disposal fees. No bullshit cellphone contract […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_2216" style="width: 161px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Global-Promotions/Recycling-Electronics/pcmcat149900050025.c?id=pcmcat149900050025"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2216" class="size-full wp-image-2216 " alt="disposing of old electronics at best buy" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/bestbuylogo.jpg" width="151" height="151" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/bestbuylogo.jpg 151w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/05/bestbuylogo-150x150.jpg 150w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/05/bestbuylogo-120x120.jpg 120w" sizes="(max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-2216" class="wp-caption-text">Even if you didn’t buy them here, you can get rid of them here!</p></div> <p>This post could also be titled: <em>Holy shit, I can’t believe I’m plugging <strong>Best Buy</strong>, the dying electronics behemoth of North America. </em></p> <p><em></em>Disposing of old electronics at best buy is great! <strong>We took our box of electronic crapola to Best Buy today and they took it, no questions asked.</strong></p> <p>No wait.</p> <p>No disposal fees.</p> <p>No bullshit cellphone contract or warranty sales pitches.</p> <p>For the three minutes I spent inside the store,<em> I wasn’t miserable</em>.</p> <p>We have (had) several boxes in our closet dedicated to old electronics:</p> <ul> <li>Cell phones (like, half a dozen)</li> <li>Motherboards from ancient computers</li> <li>IDE cables</li> <li>Power supply</li> <li>Video cards</li> <li>Memory</li> <li>Processors and processor fans</li> <li>An old computer case</li> </ul> <p>We’ve sat on this stuff (even moved a lot of it cross-country) out of inability to throw it away. It’s not right to throw it in a landfill. Yesterday we heard about <a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Global-Promotions/Recycling-Electronics/pcmcat149900050025.c?id=pcmcat149900050025">Best Buy’s electronic recycling program</a>. I know what you’re thinking: wtf? Best Buy is useful?</p> <p>I highly recommend it. Box up your crap, take it to Best Buy today. It feels great.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> </channel> </rss>