Deep Clean Bathroom – Savvy Cleaning and Organizing July Task List

With the exception of a few general housekeeping items, we are going to really dive in and tackle the bathroom(s) this month. If you have wondered how to deep clean a bathroom, these simple tasks will get you a track. Even with regular cleaning bathrooms can get pretty out of hand and can use a bathroom deep clean now and then. If you have 2 bathrooms, or even 3 or 4 (who are you and can I come live in the extra wing in your house?) these tasks can still be done easily in just 15 minutes or so. If a certain task does not apply to you just grab yourself a glass of lemonade and enjoy your time off from the cleaning list! [Read more…]

Summer is here, the kids are home and likely more time will be spent outdoors. While June will find us entertaining outdoors we will still be spending a lot of time in the heart of the home- the kitchen. That is why this Kitchen Cleaning Checklist is so helpful. The kitchen is where we store and prep for indoor and outdoor entertaining so let’s give it a thorough cleaning to get ready!
[Read more…]

We are in the final weeks of spring and headed hard and fast towards summer! Time for vacations, leisure time, and all that summer brings. Let’s get the house ready for summer guests and summer activities that you can enjoy guilt-free because you are working so hard to clean and organize your home!

Kids will be out of school before you know it so we are going to focus on getting their spaces decluttered and ready for a technology light summer- indoors and out! This list will help you get ready for summer!  [Read more…]

Summer is bearing down on us and it’s time to start getting everything in order for entertaining and of course winding up tax season. Let’s work our way through the office (or at least the office area), the bedroom, bathroom, and end up outdoors to polish up the living space we will likely be spending a lot of time in for the next several months. This is my favorite time of year and updating and cleaning will make downtime much more enjoyable.

Take it one small task at a time throughout the year with our series and you can tackle it all easily! We want to help you clean and organize your home the way that works best for you!

Most tasks should take 15 – 30 minutes. If it works for you do each task on the corresponding date, if not just use it as a list of tasks, some days you may get more than one done. You may wish to take off the weekend and double up on weekdays or vice versa. I want you to be successful so do what works best for you.

My friend’s over at Grove Collective made a special Spring Cleaning Offer for my readers with Mrs. Meyer’s is featuring three limited-edition scents for spring: mint, peony, and lilac.

You can try the scents for yourself FREE from Grove Collaborative when you place your first order of $20 using my link.

Here’s what you’ll get:

• Mrs. Meyer’s Spring hand soap
• Mrs. Meyer’s Spring dish soap
• Mrs. Meyer’s Spring multi-surface spray
• Grove Collaborative bubble-up brush
• Grove Collaborative walnut scrubber sponges

Existing customers will get free Grove walnut scrubber sponges, which are perfect for all your spring cleaning.

Check out this special cleaning offer

It is so handy to have cleaning products come right to your doorstep and they make it easy to cancel auto shipments so you can just order whenever you want or you can easily cancel.

Sign up to get your free Clean and Organize List for Every Month This Year

Be sure to see the full list and helpful hints below the printable sign up!

Here is the full list of tasks with some links to tools that will help!

In the office…

1. Give your desk drawers a good end of tax season purging- If you don’t have a lot of time just spend 5 minutes on each drawer making quick decisions on what stays, goes, and reorganizing.

2 . Shred paperwork and bills you no longer need- Invest in an inexpensive shredder or you could also rip them up a bit and burn them in your fireplace/firepit.

3. Go through your email – Unsubscribe from at least 5 things to clean up that inbox, try doing this once each week for the month and you will have it cleaned up in no time.

4. Blow out keyboard- Hit the tower, printer, and any other electronics in the room with compressed air to keep your computer in top working shape.

5. Sort through pens and pencils on the desk-Toss out any that are no longer functional, a quick scratch on a piece of scrap paper will tell you if they are working.

6. Finish sorting and filing last-minute tax documents- Papers and receipts can be put in the tickler file, the last several years of returns can be stored away.

7. Swap out winter shoes for lighter ones- Make way for tennis shoes, sandals, and strappy heels in your closet.

8. Grab a garbage bag, set a timer for 10 minutes- Make a quick sweep through the house filling it with items to donate- hit the closet, kitchen cabinets, wherever you need to purge.

9. Change your bed linens for lighter- No only is it nice to use spring weights in warmer weather bright or clean colors add a touch of spring to your room.

10. Wash and store heavy throws in the living room- Add a few light ones in spring shades

11. Spray shower tile well with cleaner/mildew remover- Wait 15 minutes, then rinse well. Repeat if there are tough spots that are not coming clean.

12. Clean out your makeup- Toss old or broken makeup, treat yourself to a new bronzer or another item for your summer makeup bag.

13. Go through your purse- Purge out unnecessary items, swap out for a pretty spring/summer bag.

14. Replenish guest toiletries in bathroom and guest room- Make a nice basket under the sink with travel or full-size shampoo, soaps, razors, etc. In the guest room leave lotions, sprays, and other creature comforts for visitors.

15. Take 10 minutes and go through toiletries- Toss out nearly empty shampoo bottles, out of date creams, etc.

16. Toss ice, lemon peels, and baking soda in garbage disposal- Run it through a cycle, this task is best repeated monthly to sanitize and sharpen blades.

17. Spend 15 minutes playing with your kids-  Help them choose 5 toys to donate to charity or toss out.

18. Go through board games- Toss out those with missing pieces, donate no longer used ones.

19. Descale coffee pot with vinegar- Run several water cycles through to rinse well afterwards.

20. Change out air/heat filters-Replace them with good new hepa air filters. Consider calling in a professional to check and service your system before the hot season.

21. Grab a cleaning cloth – Wipe down all interior doors and doorknobs, don’t forget the trim ledge above!

22. Clean oven- Spray with cleaner, leave overnight and wipe it out in the morning.

23. Do a quick walk through in your garage- clear out empty paint cans, oil bottles, etc.. Be sure to dispose of them properly, items like this can’t just be thrown in the trash. Your local dump usually has areas for such items and they can process them the right way.

24. Fertilize- Add fertilizer and grass seed to your lawn with a spreader or by hand if it’s a small space.

25. Go through outdoor equipment-Bikes, balls, swing sets, etc… and make necessary repairs or toss items out.

26. Clean leaves and other debris from your ac’s evaporator/condenser- Turn power off at the breaker and give it a rinse with the hose as well.

27. Give the kids outdoor toys some attention- Spray with bleach let it sit 10 minutes, hose clean. Items like playhouses, sandboxes, and other large items tend to get dirty and often covered in mold from sitting outdoors. Looking for some more fun outdoor toy for kids check them out here. 

28. Start packing up spring/Easter items in storage- The end of the month is a good time to start packing these items back in storage to get ready for summer time.

29. Pull out your stored patio cushions- Give patio furniture a good scrubbing, replace cushions that need it, and reset your outdoor sitting areas.

30. Place 1/2 dozen pretty new plants in the ground- Or in containers to brighten your yard. Annuals from home improvement stores or your local nursery are cheap and add a pop of color to the yard.

More great info here

Simple Steps to Help Keep Your House Clean 

Routines to Help you Get Your Home Organized 

Get Organized with a Nightime Routine

Get your own Deep Cleaning House Checklist to help you organize your spring cleaning.

With the weather warming up, you may be considering tackling some spring cleaning. There is something about warmer weather, sunshiney days, and things growing beautifully outside that gets the cleaning bug really going. Here are a few things you may want to tackle when you get ready to spring clean your home. Additionally, we made a deep cleaning house checklist for you that you can print and mark off after you finish the tasks. There also is a deep cleaning calendar if you want to assign certain tasks to certain days. 

Here are a few more details for the spring cleaning list

Furniture

If your couch cushions have removable covers, take them off and throw them in the wash. Otherwise, use an upholstery cleaner to clean them well. Then remove the cushions and vacuum all of the crooks and crannies. This Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner looks like a great tool for this type of job. 

Strip your beds and vacuum and flip the mattresses. Now would be a good time as well to wash the dust ruffle and other decorative linens. While the bed is stripped, check underneath (if you dare) and see if there are dust bunnies that need to be evacuated. This is also a good time to replace your bed pillows. The rule of thumb is to replace your pillow every 1 to 2 years. Certain types of pillows last longer than others, due to the quality and construction of their materials.  

You most likely polish your wooden furniture with cleaner or a duster frequently, but now is a good time to remove everything from your shelves and furniture and thoroughly clean. Take a furniture pen and buff out all of the scuffed and marred areas. 

Kitchen

Kitchens are a great place to focus your spring cleaning efforts. Start with your pantry and food cupboards. Go through and check expiration dates and throw out foods that are no longer good. Donate foods to a food pantry that you don’t think you’ll ever use.

Tackle your utensil drawer – you know the one. The one that has a specialty tool for every kitchen job. If you’ve only used that hot dog slicer or avocado caddy once since you bought it, get rid of it. Organize all of your cooking and serving utensils. Get rid of orphaned food container lids. 

Thoroughly clean all of your appliances, both small and large. From your freezer to your toaster, make sure to get everything really good and cleaned. Clean your oven and oven door to get your statement appliances looking great.

Clothing

Now is the time to put away the winter clothing and pull out all of the summer items. Go through your children’s clothing before packing them up and donate or hand down items that no longer fit. Get rid of the items that are worn or threadbare. With the adult items, get rid of clothing that hasn’t been worn in a long time.

A good tactic for the adult clothing is to turn all of your clothing with your hangers hooked the opposite direction than they are supposed to. When you wear that item, place it back in the closet with the hanger in the correct direction. At the end of the season, any hangers that are still facing backward, that item gets donated. You may want to consider a capsule wardrobe to lessen the number of pieces of clothing you purchase. 

This is a good time of year to tackle any mending that needs to be done. Turn on your latest Netflix binge, or some great music, and sit and relax while mending hems and replacing buttons. Another clothing item that you may need to tackle is the dreaded sock basket. The same theory can apply – make it enjoyable with a movie or music. 

Miscellaneous

Decorative linens are another thing that you may not think to clean on a regular basis. A great way to clean curtains is just to take them down and toss them in the dryer with a dryer sheet for about ten minutes. It will get all of the dust off, the wrinkles out, and give them a fresh look and smell.

Make sure to wash all of your decorative throw pillows and blankets as well. This is a good time to get rid of any of those pillows and blankets that have become badly stained or worn throughout the year.

Electronics could also use a spring cleaning. Get a pack of canned air and use it to blow out all of the vents of your gaming consoles, television, and computer tower. Use the same product to clean your laptop keys as well. Use electronic cleaning wipes to give all of your devices a good wipe down.

These are just a list of some items that you may not have considered tackling during Spring Cleaning. Be sure to sign up below to get your printable spring cleaning checklist.

As I’ve gotten get older (and busier), I’ve learned that spring cleaning doesn’t have to to be a huge, time-consuming affair in order to be effective.

Even if you don’t have time for a deep clean, something as simple as throwing open the windows or wiping down the countertops with a spring-scented cleaner can breathe new life into a tired space.

To help you refresh your home, my friends at Grove Collaborative are offering a free spring cleaning set with your first order of $20:

• Mrs. Meyer’s Spring hand soap
• Mrs. Meyer’s Spring dish soap
• Mrs. Meyer’s Spring multi-surface spray
• Grove Collaborative bubble-up brush
• Grove Collaborative walnut scrubber sponges

Existing customers will receive free Grove walnut scrubber sponges — they’re sustainably made and perfect for all your spring cleaning tasks!

After a dreary winter, I always look forward to the return of spring and Mrs. Meyer’s spring scents: Mint, Peony, and Lilac. Mint smells just like the real thing — sweet and cool. Peony and Lilac are subtle floral scents that remind me of a spring garden in bloom.

To me, a clean home begins with the products you use — so I’m always looking for ways to eliminate toxins in my cleaning routine. All of Mrs. Meyer’s products are made with plant-derived ingredients and essential oils, so I can feel good using them around my family.

In addition to Mrs. Meyer’s soaps and multi-surface spray, the spring cleaning set comes with a limited edition Grove Collaborative bubble-up brush with a beautiful wildflower print. Not only does it look beautiful sitting next to my sink, it also makes the task of doing dishes much more enjoyable!

Now that sunny days are in the forecast, I’m all for anything that helps me get things done faster and have more time to enjoy the outdoors.

That’s where Grove Collaborative comes in! Grove makes creating a healthy, beautiful home effortless and affordable. They hand-select the best natural products and deliver them (carbon offset) right to your doorstep, on your schedule. Grove has you covered for all your spring cleaning needs.

After your first order, Grove will recommend a personalized monthly shipment so you never run out of the products you love. You can add or remove products or change your shipment schedule with a few clicks.  You are not required to get a shipment each month. You can change the shipment date to whatever works best for you and you can cancel at any time. 

When you sign up for Grove using my link, you’ll get the spring cleaning set for free with your first order of $20. Plus, if you spend at least $39, you’ll receive a beautiful stoneware tray for free! It’s the perfect size to hold your hand soap, dish soap, and bubble-up brush.

Once you’ve submitted your Grove order, you’ll be signed up for the free 60 day VIP trial.  I love being a VIP because I get perks like free shipping, free gifts, price matching, exclusive sales and personal service.

I absolutely love their kitchen towels. There are so well made. I want to throw out all my other kitchen towels and just use these.

Here is a great sample cart to get you to your $20 so you can get all the other items free. (You will need to just search kitchen towels and countertop cleaning set to find the items on their site)

• Two pack of kitchen towels – $9.95
• Countertop cleaning set – includes 28 oz Antibac All Purpose Spray, Set of 3 Microfiber Cloth – $11.99

When you sign up for Grove using my link, you’ll get the spring cleaning set for free with your first order of $20. There is no obligation to buy anything more and you can cancel at any time. I am hooked though and order every few months 🙂

I hope this helps you make spring cleaning easier.

If you are interested in getting cleaning checklists sent to your inbox each month, you may want to join our cleaning and organizing challenge. Where we give you simple cleaning and decluttering tasks to complete throughout your home each month. Take it one small task at a time throughout the year with our series and you can tackle at it all easily! We want to help you clean and organize your home the way that works best for you! Most tasks should take 15 – 30 minutes.

While spring is still a long way away we can still make it feel fresh, clean, and airy indoors with some deep winter cleaning. Take it a day at a time with these small tasks to clean and organize and watch your house sparkle!

Instead of spending a month breaking your back getting it all done instead we will help break it up into smaller tasks over the entire year. We even have a printable monthly checklist that you can laminate and hang on your refrigerator or slip into your planner. I will be sharing 365 simple tasks that can be done each day to help you get your house in order this year.

Most tasks should take 15 – 30 minutes. If it works for you do each task on the corresponding date, if not just use it as a list of tasks, some days you may get more than one done. You may wish to take off the weekend and double up on weekdays or vice versa. I want you to be successful so do what works best for you.

Sign up to get your free Clean and Organize List for February

Be sure to see the full list and helpful hints below the printable sign up!

Here is the full list of tasks with some links to tools that will help!

Clean and Organize February Task List

Thin out Takeout menus, condiments, and supplies – We all have one of those drawers or baskets that overflow with sweet and sour sauce and sporks. Weed out menus and condiments, wipe it down if needed.

Wash throw pillows throughout house, place in dryer with a tennis ball to help shape- Remove cases if pillows are not machine washable, this will really help freshen up the living space.

Wash throw rugs, hang area rugs outdoors to air out, spot clean as needed- Pound rugs with a sturdy stick to remove dirt if they can’t be laundered and attack spots left over from the holidays before they set in.

Wipe down kitchen chairs from top to bottom and table legs or base with wood cleaner- A dreaded task to be sure but toast crumbs and dust add on on these spots and they need it!

Go through 2 kitchen cabinets toss or donate unused mugs,etc..- Most of us have a cabinet filled with mom mugs and chipped saucers, let’s thin it out!

Run a vinegar then water cycle through your coffee pot- I run a full pot ( or about 2 reservoirs full for a single cup brewer) and then several water cycles to rinse.

Swap out 5 photos in the frames hanging up on your wall to freshen up the area- Changing things up just a bit creates a new area for your eyes and makes it feel updated.

Grab a garbage bag, set a timer for 10 minutes- Make a quick sweep filling with items to donate. Hit every room in your house and grab at least one or two items from each.

Scrub behind and at the base of your toilets- Let cleaner soak for 10 minutes before wiping away, use a toothbrush around the floor bolts to get in really good.

Wipe down all switchplates in your home with antibacterial cleaner- It’s a good idea in the middle of flu season to hit those forgotten areas and kill the germs.

Clean off the top of the refrigerator- Wipe with a good degreaser and avoid putting anything back if you can help it. Keep clutter to a minimum!

Go through t shirt drawer, get rid of stained, ill fitting, or unwanted tops – One drawer at a time and before you know it we will have the dresser in order!

Rub coconut or olive oil onto your wooden cutting boards to recondition them- Add a drop or two of your favorite essential oil, work it in with a soft cloth and remove excess. This will extend their life and make them look pretty on your counters.

Season your cast iron pan- Seasoning your cast iron pan keeps it in top shape and will make your recipes turn out perfect everytime. Scrub cast iron with hot soapy water, dry well, rub with a thick coat of vegetable oil using a cloth, bake upside down in an oven preheated to 325 for one hour (place a piece of foil on the lower rack to catch drips).

Clean out under kitchen sink, safely dispose of chemical bottles- Toss out empty containers, add items you are low on like sponges to your shopping list.

Dust/Clean all TV screens throughout the house-  Dust builds up and while it is not as noticeable as the TV is running it shows terrible when it’s dark. This electronics cleaner can make the job easy!

Put a fresh box of baking soda in the fridge and freezer- If you haven’t changed it in awhile now is the time. This 1 minute job makes a big difference on the smell or lack thereof in your fridge and freezer.

Take 15 minutes to gather and organize tax information- Begin tidying and making a folder for your receipts and other documents you may need for taxes.

Wipe down all interior doors throughout the house with a damp rag- Use a magic eraser for stubborn marks and scuffs.

Have items waiting for repair or dry cleaning? Make a trip around town and drop them off, stop for an iced coffee or ice cream to treat yourself for a job well done.

Wash pet bedding and any clothing they may have, air dry- Your pets and your nose will really appreciate fresh clean smelling bedding. Add a comfy blanket to keep them cozy through the remaining winter.

Clean hair brushes thoroughly- Use a comb to remove as much hair and dust from brush as possible. Soak brushes in hot soapy water for an hour, rinse, and allow to dry.

Dust all pictures and decor on the walls- Use a telescoping handle to get high and cut the dust down on out of reach photographs. This microfiber duster set with extendable handle makes the job easy.

Wipe down window sills throughout the entire house- A quick swipe of the sills takes just a minute but will have a big impact.

Scrub the front door well, change out your winter wreath if you have one- Create a welcoming front door that sparkles.

Visit the kids closet and pluck out 12 items to add to your donation box- Clothes, toys, games, etc…Even if you did a Pre Christmas cleanout you can surely squeeze out a few more items.

Give couches , throw pillows, and drapes a good spray with fabric deodorizer-  I love this natural alternative to Febreze. After the many bodies that have graced your couches during the holidays( some sleeping on them all night) they need a good freshening up!

Spend 10 minutes on the game shelf, toss games that are missing pieces, donate those not played with. Treat the family to a game night tonight! Looking for fun new family games? We love Exploding Kittens and Apples to Apples.

Grove Collaborative has a special offer of a healthy home essentials bundle to help people keep their homes stocked with the best products…all while staying warm inside.  When you place your first order of $20 from Grove using my link, you’ll get:

• Mrs. Meyer’s Hand Soap
• Mrs. Meyer’s Dish Soap
• Seedling Paper Towels
• Seedling Bath Tissue
• Grove Walnut Scrubber Sponges
• Free Shipping & VIP Trial

If you’re already a customer, you’ll get a free set of Grove walnut scrubber sponges, which are so pretty you won’t mind leaving them out by the sink.

Plus if you spend $39, you’ll get a beautiful stoneware tray for free! It’s perfect for holding your soaps and a sponge.

Check out this special cleaning offer

It is so handy to have cleaning products come right to your doorstep and they make it easy to cancel auto shipments so you can just order whenever you want or you can easily cancel.

The easiest way to be successful in meal planning for your family is to always have certain items on hand.  These tips for building the ultimate meal planning pantry and pantry inventory will help you to have a lot of things on hand when needed to supplement your recipe list for easy meal planning. If you purchase the items for your meal planning pantry when they are on sale you can really save as well. [Read more…]

A new year always makes us want to start every aspect of our lives off on the right foot. Diet, exercise, family time, and of course cleaning, organizing, and decluttering often top the list. To help you clean and get organized in 2018, we are having a fun challenge. We will be sharing a new list of tasks that can help you get on track each month this year. (We ran this same challenge in 2017 and 2018 and people loved it!) 

Instead of spending a month breaking your back getting it all done instead we will help break it up into smaller tasks over the entire year. We even have a printable checklist that you can laminate and hang on your refrigerator or slip into your planner. I will be sharing 365 simple tasks that can be done each day to help you get your house in order this year. Most tasks should take 15 – 30 minutes. If it works for you do each task on the corresponding date, if not just use it as a list of tasks, some days you may get more than one done. You may wish to take off the weekend and double up on weekdays or vice versa. I want you to be successful so do what works best for you.

Sign up to get your free Cleaning and Organizing List for January

Be sure to see the full list and helpful hints below the printable sign up!

Here are all the tasks we have included for January and some helpful tips.

Dust blinds, remove cobwebs from corners, and wipe off window sills–  Something like this blind duster makes quick work of this chore. A damp cloth with a bit of all- purpose cleaner is great for the sills.

Remove and rewash curtains in main living areas of the house, rehang– I occasionally dust my curtains but sometimes they need a good refreshing that only a wash and hang can give them. Some curtains can be washed and rehung while still slightly damp and you won’t need to iron them, otherwise for formal curtains you can send them off to the dry cleaners.

Scrub the oven, and toss out pots, pans, and baking sheets in rough shape- After this task, you should treat yourself to a nice new pan if you need one! I could not believe how bad some of my baking sheets looked!

Start a donation box, put at least 15 items in it immediately- Toys, clothes, extra kitchen items, whatever you come across that you consider clutter and needs a new home. This is essential for helping you feel more organized and overwhelmed. I wish I had stayed on top of this the last few years. It was a HUGE project when we moved to Germany and I could not believe the number of things we had in our home we no longer needed. I know even with the amount of items I got rid of it will still be easy to find 15 more items. 

Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures, replace burned out bulbs- This should take no more than 10-15 minutes to do and will make a big impact.

Replace ac/heating filter, dust vents, make service appointment to have it checked- Stock up on filters you will see this pop up every few months and keeping your filters changed regularly will keep your unit running better and longer.

Test and replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms- This task takes just a few minutes but makes an important difference in your family safety!

Remove 1 pair of shoes, and 8 clothing items that you don’t love, add to donation box– Purging always feels good, dig into your closet or your kids and add to your donation box (if you want to add more, feel free). If you want to 

Reorganize pantry, toss out expired items including spices- Check dates and toss anything past expiration, take a few minutes to reorganize and add items to your shopping list if needed.

Dump out your junk drawer, rehome items that don’t belong, reorganize- Consider grabbing one of these drawer organizers to help keep your drawer from returning to its cluttered state.

Soak all shower heads in vinegar, clean and replace caulk where needed. Snake hair out of drains.- Slip rubber band over your shower head, then place a baggie filled with vinegar over it, secure with rubber band, leave in place for a couple hours then remove. This easy trick removes hard water buildup and mildew. If you are anything like me your hair sheds like crazy in the shower and they need a good snaking now and then.

Clean keyboard, delete unused apps and pics off phone– If you have done all of this recently find something else to do similar like moving computer photos to a zip drive, cd, or usb.

Flip mattress, clean out under bed, and replace bed pillows if needed- A good spring cleaning of areas like this is a good idea several times a year.

Sort through medicine cabinet, toss out expired medicines- Call your local pharmacy or hospital and see if they have a disposal program in place. I was able to take expired medicine to my local police department. 

Empty refrigerator, give it a good scrubbing, throw away nearly empty or expired containers-This one may take more than 15 minutes to do and can be broken up over a couple days if you like.

Create a family command center, add a few organizational pieces if necessary– Use a chalkboard or dry erase, hooks, and whatever else you need to streamline family life.

Wash fabric shower curtains, take out old towels and cut up for rags- If you have a vinyl curtain you can soak it in a tub with soap and a bit of bleach to sanitize.

Spend 15 minutes tackling an area that has been bugging you for awhile- Set a timer and attack that desk or tidy up the mudroom.

Go through your jewelry box, take items in for repair, get rid of single earrings, and unloved pieces.

Toss magazines older than 3 months, unsubscribe to virtual subscriptions you don’t use.

Rearrange furniture and pictures in the living room to give it a fresh new feel- Sometimes this is all you need to get out of a winter funk and freshen up your living space, and it’s free!

Vacuum and wash car, put air in tires, top off all fluids. Don’t forget to empty the trunk!

Sweep off front porch, put away any holiday decorations still out, add a new plant- Giving the front of the house a freshen up will make you smile every time you come home.

Find 5 more items to add to the donation box- Outgrown kids clothes, an extra toaster, unused rice cooker, etc… You can go over 5  of course but at least make it the minimum.

Replace ragged kitchen towels and potholders with new ones- Pass usable ones on to the garage in a rag bucket, throw away others.

Clean out dryer filter, toss mismatched socks, buy new laundry baskets if needed– I can not believe the number of mismatched socks in my home. Where do the matches go?!?

Go through PJ’s, socks, and underwear drawers– Toss or donate overly worn out items. Treat yourself to some scented drawer liners. 

Empty spam, delete emails and answer a few-feels good doesn’t it?

Dust the tops of high furniture pieces- Those places we forget like the top of the entertainment center, cupboards, and armoires need attention now and then.

Wipe down baseboards throughout house- If you are so inclined after giving them a swipe with cleaner you can go back over dry trim with a dryer sheet to help repel future dust.

Take your full donation box (or two) to a local thrift store or charity center- You can pat yourself on the back for cleaning out the house and doing good!

Learn some easy meal planning tips when dealing with restricted diets and food allergies.

Sometimes we have a food intolerance or even food allergies that create issues when meal planning. Because this is more and more common, here are some tips to help you manage meal planning for restricted diets. This can be for food allergies, food intolerance, food aversion, or even dietary restrictions or health-related diets. These tips will make it easier for you to manage a meal plan that works for your family.

Meal Planning Tips For Restricted Diets and Food Allergies

Meal planning for restricted diets doesn’t have to be impossible. In fact, it is often much easier to accommodate a dietary difference when you plan ahead than by having last-minute meals prepared each night. These tips will help you to keep everyone in your family safe, happy, and satisfied with the options available for dinner.

Create a Master Recipe list

 This list is a great resource for helping you keep a rotation of menu items on your list without eating the same thing over and over again. Making a master recipe list that is acceptable for diets but also pleasing to everyone will help you to remember those meals that you may have forgotten. As you try new recipes that work for everyone, add them to the list to rotate out the next month.

A master recipe list is also a great tool to help you know what items to keep in your pantry. This can easily give you a way to save more money when you notice sales on items that you use regularly. By purchasing when on sale and storing for future meal planning, you can cut back on grocery expenses in the long term.

Sign up for my Meal Planning Tips and you will receive a special offer on meal planning printables and printables to make your own Meal Planning Binder.

Learn about Proper Dietary Substitutions

 There are so many different dietary restrictions that could be at play, that it is hard for me to cover all of the tips for working them into and around your meal planning. There are basic tips, but a lot of things come down to you personally learning about proper substitutions for the things you can no longer have. With things like food intolerance, food allergies, gluten sensitivities, lactose intolerance, and even sensory or textural issues, it can be difficult to create easy menu plans that accommodate all diets.

Some great substitutions that work well for many diets:

• Unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, or hemp milk for non-dairy diets.
• Rice pasta, quinoa pasta, and quinoa for those who are gluten-free or low-carb.
• Beans and lentils instead of meats in soups, stews, and casseroles
• Stevia, honey, and molasses in place of sugar.

Batch Prep Foods

Meal planning isn’t just about creating freezer meals or writing down a menu on your calendar. It also can include preparing foods in advance to use in simple meals throughout the week. The concept of batch cooking as part of your meal planning routine can be totally life changing in your kitchen. Instead of cooking exact recipes, you instead prepare ingredients so they only need to be added to your menu items. This is a great way to throw together meals that can include items everyone can enjoy, but also have the option of adding in other things that are against the diet for some.

The most popular ways to batch cook include preparing meats, starches like rice or potatoes, and select vegetables in advance then freezing or canning for future use. Instead of adding your menu items to a freezer container to be cooked in a slow cooker or in the oven, you would cook them in advance and separate into portions that can be added to fresh sides and starches to create a meal in a hurry.

Grill, roast, boil, broil, or bake things like chicken, pork, steak, or even ground meats with simple salt and pepper seasonings. Allow to cool then divide into portions suitable for a meal. Label and freeze. On the day you want to make something like tacos, quesadillas, or even a simple casserole, you grab a portion from the freezer, thaw, and add to your recipe.

My friend Alea even wrote two cookbooks that are great tools if you want to try prep ahead and simple batch cooking. I have them both and love them.

Families are busier now more than ever, and nobody understands that better than busy mom and food blogger Alea Milham. With Prep-Ahead Meals from Scratch, she brings a unique batch cooking concept that will streamline weeknight family meals like never before. She shows you how to use simple prep-ahead techniques to stock your refrigerator with precooked ingredients that can be combined with fresh produce to easily create wholesome meals. Leave prepackaged foods and take-out behind as you learn the many easy ways to cook ahead from scratch to save time and money during the busy week. Alea breaks down the classics into convenient weeknight dinners using fewer ingredients and smarter techniques.

Prep Ahead Meals From Scratch

This new recipe collection is bursting with fresh, time-saving ways to fuel your family and yourself. Ready to end the days of skipped breakfasts and takeout lunches? With Alea’s expert advice, you’ll have your fridge stocked with homemade grab-and-go meals, full of ingredients you can feel good about. Simple do-ahead techniques help you savor even the busiest weekday mornings.

Prep Ahead Breakfasts and Lunches

Test substitutes before meal planning

Instead of adding a new ingredient into a bunch of meals you are prepping in advance as freezer meals or for batch cooking use, make sure you test them out first. New ingredients don’t always work out as expected. That means you could potentially waste a lot of money in the process. Instead, do a small test run to make sure that your family likes the substitute.

Label everything with details

 If your meal planning routine includes freezer meals, it is really important to make sure you have all ingredients well labeled. We usually label freezer meals with the recipe name, directions for cooking, and portion amounts. If a restricted diet is in play, then labeling with all of your ingredients is even more important. Add a list of all ingredients to every package so you are able to easily tell if it is an acceptable meal for everyone to eat. There are many types of labels include chalkboard or dry erase labels that can be used over and over again so you aren’t wasting money on new labels every time you create meals for your freezer.

Prepare in separate areas to avoid contamination

 If your restricted diet issues with meal planning are about contamination because of allergies or severe food intolerance, then preparing meals in advance or batch prepping foods is vital to cutting back on your time in the kitchen. Creating a clean and safe prep area is the most important thing you can do. That means you need to prepare meals that are “clean” away from other meals or menu items. Simply create all restricted meals first, then do your other meals separately.

Respect others restricted diets

 If your meal planning will include food for friends or family that are spending time with your family, then it can seem frustrating to you to include different foods for their diets. It isn’t always convenient, but planning ahead can make meal planning for any restricted diet easier to manage. Respecting others and their individual dietary needs is just part of being a good human being and friend. Check about allergies, aversions, and sensitivities when planning for guests, and do your best to provide them with yummy foods that are safe for them to eat.

Get a Prepared Meal Plan

If your restricted diet concerns are around flour or sugar, I am a huge fan of this no flour/ no sugar meal plan. Healthy food can be delicious. This meal plan features easy-to-prepare, hearty, healthy recipes for your family to enjoy. These meals are big on veggies and protein from whole foods that you can find in any supermarket. Enjoy a Salad of the Week, and an optional Easy Protein of the Week. No flour or artificial sugars added.

Check out all the meal plan options here

Meal planning for any dietary restriction doesn’t have to be frustrating. Simply use a few simple steps to make sure you are protecting those with food allergies and aversions while adapting existing recipes. Our tips will make this easier to manage no matter your budget.

Need more meal planning tips? Be sure to sign up below.

Plus more articles on Meal Planning

Meal Planning Tools

Monthly Meal Planning And Prep

Meal Planning Pantry and Food Inventory 

Meal Planning Made Easy with an Instant Pot

Meal Planning with Picky Eaters

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Looking for easy stem activities for elementary and middle school kids? Check out these stem projects and stem subscription boxes for kids.

As a parent, you want the best for your kids, and that includes teaching them the skills they will need to survive in the world! Did you know that by the year 2020, nearly 100% of new jobs will be in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics? With these statistics, it is more important than ever before to encourage STEM learning at home.

What is Stem?

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. It also includes teaching skills and subjects in a way that resembles real life. Part of the STEM learning approach, is that kids learn science better when they are actively involved. Learning like this can be done in a school setting but also can be done at home.

Here’s your guide to the best easy stem activities that can be done at home.

Complete Science Experiments

Science is all around us; in the food we eat, the plants we see, and the physical world we live in. Here are a few great science experiments you can do at home.

Work on Observations with fruits and veggies.

What happens as a fruit or vegetable starts to decay? What does it look like, smell like? Answering questions about real-world items puts science into a perspective they can understand. These are great stem activities for preschoolers and elementary students

Make Volcanoes

This is one of the most fun for kids. They can create a realistic volcano and watch it erupt. This teaches them chemical reactions as well as gives a real-world example of how volcanoes erupt as the pressure builds up.

Here are directions for a simple volcano for preschoolers.

Here are directions for a more in-depth volcano experiment for elementary and middle school children.

Make your own rock candy

That’s right, there is science behind candy. And, if you thought candy was all hardened sugar, you were right. All you need is water, sugar, a pan, a stove, and a glass jar. My daughter did this with her brownie troop and loved it.

Here are easy directions to make your own rock candy

Utilize Your Technology – Best STEM apps

In this day of digital natives, kids love technology. Though you may not want your kids looking at a screen all day, technology is a key component of the STEM learning, and there are many apps that incorporate science, technology, math, and engineering without your children knowing they are learning. Here are some of the best STEM apps.

SkEye Astronomy: A great app to see what’s in the sky. If you are interested in viewing the heavens above with your telescope, try the SkEye : Astronomy app. SkEye is an advanced sky mapping application that doubles as a PUSHTO guide for telescopes. It works by using your phone’s sensors as a guide for telescopes. All you need to do is briefly strap the phone onto the telescope’s optical tubes; from there, you can navigate the night-sky with your telescope.

Toca Lab: Chemistry has never been so fun with Toca Lab. Explore the colorful and electrifying world of science and meet all 118 of the elements from the periodic table. Discover elements by experimenting with the lab tools!

Crazy Gears – Are you ready to watch your child kick their learning into high-gear? Crazy Gears is a new-aged digital puzzle game, designed with a real mechanical engine and with children’s critical thinking skills in mind! Hours of fun guaranteed for everyone who is up for the challenge, yes, even you Mom & Dad!

Hopscotch – Coding For Kids – Learn to code and make your own games with Hopscotch. Easy-to-use visual tool makes programming fun and social.

Get a STEM Subscription Box

Subscription boxes are very popular these days, and why wouldn’t they be? Everyone loves getting something with their name on it in the mail (except when its a bill). Now, you can bring the fun of science, technology, math, and engineering right to your doorstep on a monthly basis. Here are some of the best STEM subscription boxes that include fun stem activities and stem projects for kids.

Green Kids Crafts

With a new theme every month, you get 4-8 science, technology art and math kits per month for kids ages 2-10. Looking for educational toys, science kits, STEM subscription, monthly subscriptions for kids, monthly crafts for kids, a monthly science box, monthly craft box or kids craft subscription? Green Kid Crafts, maker of award-winning science and arts and craft subscription boxes, has you covered!

You can now take 50% off the first month of a Junior Discovery Box Subscription (ages 2-4) or a Discovery Box Subscription (ages 5-10+). Green Kid Crafts’ award-winning Discovery Boxes pack a lot of fun and learning into convenient packages. Each monthly box contains up to 8 STEAM Science and Art Kits including a free 12-page kids magazine and bonus extension activities. Sibling and literary add-on options are available, too. Offer expires midnight October 31, 2018. Use code STEAM50

Learn more about Green Kids Crafts Here

Genius Box

Genius Box provides a creative hands-on approach to learning science, math, technology, and engineering. Genius Box provides a creative, hands- on exploration of science, technology, engineering, and math concepts that engages curious kids in the world around them. Genius Box is recommended for kids ages 8-12.

Click here to learn more about Genius Box

Tinker Crate

For ages 9-16, the Tinker crate gives your child the tools to create and explore engineering in a whole new way. Get 30% of Your First Month’s Order with code SHARE30.

Each month you get:

• Materials to create a creative, innovative STEM project
• Detailed step-by-step instruction
• Tinker Zine,
• Additional science experiments and activities
• Online tutorials with tips and tricks

Learn More about Tinker Crate Here

What other ways have you found to incorporate STEM learning in your home? Share your STEM projects in the comments below!