Real Solutions For Living...Organizing Topic of the Month

It's that time of year to air out, wipe down, sort through, and spiff up. It's time to Spring clean!

Have you started yet? If not, I suggest you begin with creating a master list of chores that need to be done. Write the name of each room in your home and list each chore you would like to accomplish under the name of the room.

Now that you have decided what projects to do within each space of your home, you are ready to determine what supplies are needed. Will you be doing any upholstery cleaning? Will you need to buy more window cleaner? Do you have enough rags on hand? Do you have extra bags for your vacuum cleaner?

Gather all of the supplies you think you'll need and place them into a container with a handle on it. This will make it easy to cart your cleaning materials from room to room.

Chores to be done are listed, supplies needed have been gathered, so now all you need to do is set aside some time to work on the cleaning.

I suggest you begin with one room and concentrate on completing all the chores you're wanting to accomplish in that room before moving on to the next. If necessary, set aside small blocks of time every day for a week until the room is completed.

Repeat this for each room on your list.

Words of caution: have sufficient ventilation when using strong cleaners; do not mix household cleaners unless the directions say otherwise; be realistic as to what you can do -- keep in mind your physical limitations and any other factors that may dictate how much can realistically be accomplished in each room.

Be careful not to be too ambitious and bite off more than you can chew! Of course we all have our "ideal" we would like to strive for, but seriously consider what chores you can successfully manage and concentrate on those. Delegate the others or hire them out.

So grab your dusters, put on some fun music, fill a glass with ice water and get hoppin'!