2013 FOCUS - Storage - 9/30/13 - Fourth Round

[Harriet]

Here are Indiana's steps to a clean Storage area, from February 15, 2009

As we continue to maintain our homes, the key is maintaining our homes through out the year instead of a full deep cleaning once or twice a year.

Adjust the rooms to fit your home.

Not all the things listed need to be done this round. Some may be done daily, weekly, monthly, every 3 or 6 months or yearly. I have marked possible times for doing the chore. Look at each area with fresh eyes to see what should be done this round.

As you do each room dust, vacuum, wash, wipe, wax, sweep, mop, detail, straighten, and declutter any surfaces that need to be done.

Storage

Ceiling and corners - quarterly
Ceiling light - quarterly
Walls - quarterly
Doors and hardware – weekly (finger prints)
Door and floor trim - quarterly
Light switch - weekly
Dust lights - weekly
Cold/hot air vents - quarterly
Window – quarterly if needed
Window treatments - annual
Floor – weekly
Throw rugs – weekly if needed
Drawers, cupboards, and shelves – quarterly if needed
Storage containers – group like items together, label, purge, relocate
Manage clutter - daily
Repairs – either repair or put on a list for the future
Buy – replacements or something new if needed
Declutter – outdoors (next focus area) and post accomplishments in Harriet’s declutter thread. This is a great opportunity and will make maintaining the closets easier.

Remember not all the things listed need to be done this round. Some may be done daily, weekly, monthly, every 3 or 6 months or yearly. Use the list as a guide.

[BookSaver]

Thanks so much for keeping us on track in the Focus schedule, Harriet.

I haven't posted much each week because I've only been able to do 1 or 2 things in each area. Very little "cleaning" -- almost exclusively sorting, dejunking, problem solving. However, I just realized that those few things have stuck, have not come undone -- so I'm counting that as a victory.

When those Focus areas come back around, I can pick right up where I stopped, and not have to re-do the same things over and over. It may not be much, but it is progression all the same.

For this round of Storage Focus, I am continuing to nibble away at my office closet. Such a tiny amount of square footage, but stuffed full of a bewildering oddball variety of items. No wonder there's no room for the actual office supplies that belong in there!

[blessedw2]

thank you d harriet

[Harriet]

It's our second round through our storage areas. Time to vacuum into some dark corners! Does anyone else use P and P's method of index card summaries of what's in a container?

[Nancy]

<- This icon @ dgd's request
Harriet I thought you wrote submarines for what's under counters! I need to go check on that one! Did some checking to see what thread I"d need for the rooster fabric for totes aprons or

[blessedw2]

cheers for storage focus success for you all.

my time to do focus has to come back into my schedule...

[BookSaver]

I'm sorry for missing the update to Third Round FOCUS this week. I was distracted by getting ready for a 3-day sewing day camp/retreat Thurs-Fri-Sat.

When I saw we'd almost skipped a week, I was disappointed at lack of attention to Storage because I have been attempting to do at least 1 thing in each Focus area on schedule. Then I realized that in fact I did work in "storage" because I had to go through my sewing supplies and tools to organize what to take to my event.

Decluttered and reorganized a few containers of sewing supplies -- hopefully it will be easier to find what I need next time I'm able to sew.

I have a couple of ideas for long-term storage areas to make them more efficient.

[BookSaver]

Fourth round for the storage area(s).
Do you need to adjust for the changing seasons?