In no particular order, here are the individual tasks I am tackling each day this month:
- Make cleaning supplies
- Cycle clean appliances
- Clean out cars
- Clean out microwave
- Wipe down cabinets/appliances
- Wipe down trim/doors
- Clean out one drawer
- Clean out fridge
- Clean out freezer
- Vacuum under furniture
- Vacuum mattresses
- Clean oven
- Clean out one closet
- Wash out garbage can/recycle bin
- Wash windows
- Scrub grout
- Clean out one cabinet
- File paper piles
- Purge bathroom toiletries
- Clean out pantry
Today I am chatting about the extra task: Clean Out One Drawer
Up until this morning, I assumed that today I would finally dump out the junk drawer in my kitchen and discover all sorts of good hidden treasures. Then I woke up and looked over at my nightstand and knew that all month I had been planning to clean out the wrong junk drawer.
Oh, wait, my nightstand actually looked more like this when I opened my eyes:
It is like my nightstand is the counter of our lower level; everything lands there. Jewelry, bobby pins, books and magazines, more bobby pins...
Lipstick, chapstick, nail polish, a bin full of random project items and even a label maker? Then, inside was worse. A jumbled mess of items, some I hadn't used in a very long time; everything from lotions to journals to my kid's stuffed animals. This drawer was the ideal candidate for today's cleaning task!
I started by clearing off the top of the nightstand along with emptying the contents of the drawer. I placed everything into a pile on the floor for sorting.
Using a dusting mitt, I went over the entire nightstand, getting into all of the grooves in the wood and along all of the edges. I followed up with wood polisher {homemade version is 1/2 cup lemon juice, 1 tsp castile soap, 4 drops essential oil}.
I then vacuumed the interior of the drawer.
I didn't purchase any organizers or products for this quick task. I just purged, put quite a few things back to the places they truly belonged and was left with a simplified nightstand top and drawer.
I used some existing organizers to corral the mints and lip balm, along with a few other personal items.
Everything else was just tucked back inside in a single layer so I would no longer have to dig to find anything. Expiration dates for any lotions/cosmetics were checked and only things that I use frequently enough made the cut.
As far as the top is concerned, just as I prefer to wake up to a clean kitchen in the morning, I really love to look over and see a clutter free nightstand when waking up.
Just as I was for the interior of the drawer; I was also selective about what returned to the top of the nightstand.
A small dish to hold any bobby pins from my daily hair bun and my favorite daily jewels, along with a brass elephant statue which is perfect for my rings.
Oh! And I finally swapped out the drawer pulls which I had found inside the bin.
And because every drawer clean-out needs a before and after photo....
Tada! Drawer clean out day is done! Only one week of the challenge left! Happy weekend my friends!
Looking for something? Check out my favorite cleaning products below:
Great post. I haven't sorted my bedside cabinets for a looong time. I'm going to get on this task later today!
ReplyDeleteIt looks so pretty. Love the elephant.
ReplyDeleteWhat was wrong with the first drawer pulls? Mine need replacing badly. So ugly.
My top drawer is full of nickers which I really should purge.
Thanks Natalie!
DeleteAnd nothing necessarily wrong with the pulls, just doing a little switcharoo with things around here.
xo!
Loving these cleaning challenges by the way. My house is feeling much fresher even in the midst of our extension mess.
ReplyDeleteLooks like mine!
ReplyDeleteLooks great.....what color are your bedroom walls???
ReplyDeleteThanks Stephanie! The wall color is Behr's Frozen Pond.
Deletexo!
I love the elephant ring holder! I think I need a bigger side table so I can keep my one line a day book next to my bed!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I really need to get going with my cleaning! I've recently done my bedside table too...forgot to take a before piccie though! I best blog about it now it is organised though. Couldn't believe the junk I found in there! Thanks for the inspiration x
ReplyDeletei love all of these.. thanks for the inspiration! little goals make the big picture much simpler.
ReplyDeleteLooks lovely. I'm in love with the elephant!
ReplyDeleteGreat job as always! I liked that instead of buying a bunch of organizers that you choose instead to simplify what went in the drawer. By the way, where did you get that alarm clock? I've been hunting for a nightstand clock for months, and that one is amazingly perfect! Thanks for this helpful series!
ReplyDeleteThank you Karen! Here is the source for the alarm clock: http://bit.ly/1hi1I5j
Deletexo!
Every week I make the same list of things that I have to do. I should say that it is very convenient because you will not forget about anything because it is written in the list. It is also very pleasant to tick off the things that you have already done.
ReplyDeleteI found this sooo funny, because last night, in a hazy, sleepy stupor, I was rummaging through the drawers (3) of my nightstand looking for ear plugs. This morning when I woke up there were tissues, lotions, and all sorts of crap all over my floor where I'd pulled things out (oh, including the small bag of ear plugs that I never found). And I swear, my first thought was, I bet Jen Jones' nightstand is perfect. I bet she could have found those with her eyes closed!
ReplyDeleteOh boy! I have had nights like that! And I promise, as much as I love to organize I am not always organized. Maybe that should be my new tagline. :)
DeleteThank you so much for starting this challenge Jen! I'm a little late to the party, but the format of the cleaning schedule is pure genius. This is just the kick in the pants I need to get started on sprucing up for Spring.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I just posted about this on my blog to spread the word (linking back to you of course). Thanks so much for the inspiration!
Thank YOU Kimberlee!
DeleteLove the new drawer pulls! It is a nice update! I also love that you didn't need to buy anything for this quick job! I think I may be inspired to clean my nightstand...
ReplyDeleteHi Jen! I am a big believer in breaking house work in small segments, like you've been doing in this series. With four kids and a large house to maintain and clean, this is exactly the approach that I find most effective. Every day I do one task, whichever fits my plans for the day. Instead of "all or nothing" it lets me to accomplish SOMETHING:) Set schedules for cleaning don't work for me, because I constantly need to adjust my plans to fit in the schedule. I'd say cleaning style is a personal thing-- what works for one, won't work for another!
ReplyDeleteExactly! I have been loving the feeling of getting one thing accomplished each day! It is something I hope to continue after this series. :)
Deletexo!
I think this is a great idea and I've been wanting to organize every drawer in my bedroom to make life a little easier. P.S. I love your lamp! :)
ReplyDeleteLuvandlaugh.blogspot.com
This may be a crazy question...but I'm going to ask anyway. I've been looking for a good furniture polish. Your recipes looks great...but do you have to keep it in the frig because of the lemon juice?
ReplyDeleteNot a crazy question. One I was a bit curious about as well, but I read it does not need to be stored in the fridge because the vinegar sort of preserves the lemon. Not an expert but I haven't had problems with mine going bad before I get through it all.
Deletexo!
Awesome...it's next on my list of homemade formula's to try. Thanks! :)
DeleteAbout a month ago I cleaned out and organized my nightstand (as part of doing spring cleaning of my entire master bedroom). It still doesn't look anything as pretty & organized like yours I'll have to try another attempt and think I just need to go into ruthless mode! lol
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the links for the cleaning items you use that you've put at the bottom of these posts! Now if you could gather all your cleaning recipes into one spot that would be so awesome!
ReplyDeleteI will try and do that within the final post or a recap post.
Deletexo!
Is your homemade wood polish in a glass spray bottle? Where do you buy them?
ReplyDeleteIt is actually an old Method wood cleaning bottle. I try and reuse my old cleaning bottles whenever possible. I have also found some good options at the Container Store and even seen them at the dollar store as well.
Deletexo!
Where did you get the vase for your flowers?
ReplyDeleteHi Robin,
DeleteI purchased it at IKEA awhile back, I can't seem to locate it on their website any longer.
xo!
Quick question: How long can you keep your wood polisher solution? Love the idea!
ReplyDeleteI have kept mine for a few months at a time {until it runs out}, and haven't had any issues with it going bad. :)
DeleteI just bought this a month or two ago for my nightstand so I don't loose earrings anymore and actually have a place to corral my jewels I take off at night! The upside down umbrella is perfect for rings!!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/home-giftswelove/27809920.jsp;jsessionid=8643AA0B5BC93FA603EF3EDEC11B15CC.anphlpapp04-store02
Ever wanted to visit DC? Can I just hire you to overhaul my whole house?? ;-)
ReplyDeleteIt is on my bucket list actually! Well, the DC visit is anyway. ;) Although an entire house overhaul does sound equally as fun to me!
Deletexo!
I had a question about you cleaning recipes. I know you've said you have simplified them since your initial post with the printable recipe list and the stickers- can you possibly update the printable, and if you ever found a good dish detergent to make, can you add that to it? Most of my recipes are just vinegar and water, with borax and citric acid and baking soda here and there, but I really just don' get store-cleaner results.
ReplyDeleteHi Gigi!
DeleteI haven't gone to making my own dish detergent yet, but if I do, I will be sure to share!
xoxo!
It looks so great, this whole series has inspired me so much! Ok, so I have a totally off subject question, but I recently got the same nightguard and am having a super hard time wearing it. Did it take you long to adapt to it?
ReplyDeleteYes, it definitely took me a bit! I still don't love wearing it and have had it over a year now, but I know it will help my grinding and save my teeth. Wish there was a better way! Hope you adapt to it quickly. :)
DeleteThanks so much for the response! :o)
DeleteCan you tell me where your nightstands are from? I am seriously in love with them!!
ReplyDeleteThank you! My mom purchased them for me as a moving out gift 14 years ago. :) They were from Slumberland at the time.
Deletexo!