*Note to readers:  I don't know how I messed up my posts and scheduled them for next week (????) so I'm combining Thursdays Organizing and Friday's Laundry posts...sorry!*


Spring cleaning is the best time to organize!!  You've got everything out and cleaned so why not get it in order, right??  I've found some great tips, tricks and projects to help you get organized!

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  Clipping Magazine Articles: Instead of piling up stacks of magazines, flyers and newspapers because you want to save or clip certain articles when you have time, just tear out the article you want, store the torn clippings in your household inbox or file folder to cut neatly later and toss the magazines, flyers and newspapers (recycle). Really helps cut down on the magazine and newspaper piles.
  
  

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  Cluttered Refrigerator Notes: With a hole punch handy and a magnetic hook for the refrigerator, it’s easy to keep the refrigerator paper clutter at bay. For the paper items you like to stick on the refrigerator (like school newsletters or team practice times), just give them a quick hole punch and organize it by subject (or date) on one single magnetic hook. It’s so easy to flip through the items to find what you’re looking for and keep the rest of the refrigerator paper free.
  
  

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  Organize Take Out Menus & Coupons: Keep a file folder for menus from your favorite restaurants as well as restaurant flyers and coupons you receive in the mail. Highlight the dishes that your family liked and note the items you didn’t care for. This not only saves time from flipping through the yellow pages, it also keeps your coupons organized and saves you a bit of money since they’re not forgotten in a pile of flyers.
  
  
  

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  Treat stain as soon as possible, a fresh stain is easier to remove.
• Test treatment on a hidden or unseen area of the clothing, test for color fastness before treating stain in a visible spot.
• Avoid hot water on the following stains: blood, egg and milk.
• Follow directions of commercial cleaners, be aware of any precautions noted.
• Do not dry garments in a hot dryer until you have removed the stain, this can set the stain and makes it harder to remove.
  

Here's a few tips for some common stains:

• Blood Stain Removal

Apply hydrogen peroxide to the stain, cover with salt, then sit for several minutes. You should see the blood draw up from the garment. Remove salt once stain has lifted and launder as usual. Test a small, hidden area first to make sure the color won’t be bleached.


Try rinsing the stain area in cool water then sprinkle on meat tenderizer. Sit for a few minutes then launder as usual.


You could also use hydrogen peroxide plain, apply to area, sit for a few minutes then launder in cool water (first test a small hidden area to make sure the garment color won’t be bleached).

Make a batch of cold, salty water and soak garment overnight. General guideline is 1 TBS salt per 2 1/2 cups of water. Launder as usual.

• Chocolate Stain Removal

Mix 4 TBS borax with 2 1/2 cups of warm water, soak garment in solution. After soaking, place stained area under cool running water, if stain doesn’t disappear, rub with a bar of laundry soap. Launder as usual.

• Grass Stain Removal

Before washing items with grass stains, try dabbing a generous amount of vinegar into the stain first. Launder as usual. This should help lift the stain right out.


Wet stain with water and cover with sugar. Leave for at least 1 hour then launder as usual.

• Lipstick Stains

Saturate a clean white cloth with household winger, rub lipstick stain lightly until it is removed

• Perspiration Stains

Mix a solution of water and vinegar (60/40) then sponge onto stain areas. Launder as usual.


Mix a solution of 1 quart warm water with 4 TBS table salt, soak garment. Wash as usual

• Ring Around The Collar

Try rubbing toothpaste along the stain before tossing in the washing machine. Careful on items that aren’t white, the toothpaste could cause discoloration.


Use 3 parts baking soda to 2 parts vinegar to make a paste, rub into stain and allow to set for 60 minutes, launder as usual

• Rust Spots On Cloth Items

Try treating the stains with a 50/50 mixture of lemon juice and water. Let sit for about 30 minutes before washing.


Rub powdered Cream of Tartar into stain, then wash in hot soapy water. You can also boil garment in water mixed with Cream of Tartar (4 tsp Cream of Tartar per pint of water).


Rust stains on laundry can happen if your washing machine or dryer has a part that’s rusted. It can also be caused by hard water or if the clothing was accidentally washed with something metal that rusted in the wash.

Did you know: Chlorine bleach will make the rust stains harder to remove or even permanent?

• Wine Stains

Mix 1 1/4 cups of water and 2 tsp borax, apply over stain. Soak for 15 minutes, launder as usual.




I hope my posts help you during your spring cleaning, I know they're going to make my cleaning a little bit easier!!