Do you feel sometimes like all you ever do is clean up and put away clutter? No matter how big your space is, it seems like all of our “stuff” just takes over, making it harder and harder to have a clean and tidy space.
The secret to a clean, orderly space is very simple: have fewer things around that take up space and force you to care for them. Here are 12 things you definitely can get rid of and won’t miss! (Or things you can avoid buying so you save money, too!)
1. Ironing Board
Your mother (or maybe grandmother) probably spent a fair amount of time standing by the ironing board, meticulously ironing a large pile of laundry. But I’m willing to bet you spend almost no time ironing… with the advent of wrinkle-free fabrics and our society’s general trend towards the less formal, ironing is (mostly) a thing of the past. Even if you occasionally iron, just put a towel down on your counter or table and use that instead of a huge ironing board that takes up a lot of space.
2. Draining Board
When I first moved into my house, we had a draining board to put wet dishes on. However, I soon found out that those clunky boards take up tons of space under the sink when not being used and lots of space on the counter when they are. Consign the draining board to the scrap heap, and just get into the habit of drying dishes right away. Spread clean dishcloths or even an absorbent dish mat on the counter, and place your wet dishes on it right away. You can then toss the mats or towels into the washer, leaving for a much more sanitary and far less bulky experience
3. Apple Corer
This is true for any specialty cutting item, but an apple corer seems to just take up so much space in your drawer, often jamming the drawer closed so you can’t get to the basic knives that you need. If you need to cut an apple, just use a regular knife – it’s not that much harder and will save you lots of space.
4. Herb Scissors
Unless you are a very fancy chef, and truly use your herb scissors all the time, I’m willing to bet your pair aren’t in use that often. This means those scissors are taking up valuable drawer space and preventing your drawer from being the neat place it can be. Need to cut herbs? Use a knife or multi-purpose kitchen scissors.
5. Fancy Knives
Same concept as the previous tip. Most of us aren’t fancy chefs. We might have purchased or gotten a large set of knives as a gift, but we don’t use most of the knives in the set. There are a few knives we use all the time, and the rest just take up space. I know it can be hard to “break up a set,” but if those extra knives aren’t serving a purpose, get rid of them!
6. Alarm Clock
Back in the day, no bedroom was complete without an alarm clock. Nowadays, though, most of us just use our phone as an alarm and to tell the time in the middle of the night. Your alarm clock is just taking up space on your bedside table. Consign the clock to the donate heap and revel in the empty and clutter-free space you now have instead!
7. Popcorn Maker
Did you find a popcorn maker on sale and decide you simply had to have fresh popcorn all the time? It’s a healthy snack, after all! Well, that appliance is taking up space and getting in the way of your neat and organized kitchen. Instead, use a heavy pot to make popcorn. It will taste just as good (if not better), and save you valuable cabinet real estate!
8. Deep Fryer
Oh dear. Someone got suckered into buying a deep fryer one holiday season, right? Here’s the thing about deep fryers: they take up a lot of space, and worse, they encourage you to deep fry! Your cabinet space and your waistline both agree: get rid of that deep fryer! If you ever have a time when you must deep-fry, just use a large, heavy pot. (Sensing a theme here?)
9. Cookbooks
I have a pile of cookbooks, but I tend to always go back to my tried and true. Whenever I want to try something new, it’s usually based on a recommendation from a friend or family member that they send me online or a blog or some other online post that I read. In short, your cookbook collection is probably collecting dust, and you can use the shelf space for something else. Just take pics of the recipes you use, digitally store them, and pass the cookbooks along to someone else who might read them for fun!
10. Stemmed Wine Glasses
These delicate wine glasses are difficult to store properly, often break, and are truly not needed. They also often don’t fit nicely in the dishwasher (a deal-breaker for me!) Unless you are a real wine aficionado, stemless water glasses will do the trick just as well. Invest in a few high-quality ones, and let the stemless ones go to a wine snob who will use and appreciate them
11. Throw Pillows on Your Bed
I know, I know. It’s tempting to make your bed look super fancy, like a magazine spread. But all those throw pillows are just obstacles in the way of a good night’s sleep! They often end up on the floor and make making your bed that much more complex. Go for a clean and simple look (you can even upgrade your linen to a fancy set if you prefer!), and stay away from all those extra, unnecessary pillows.
12. Chip Clips
While these don’t take up a ton of space, they are an expense that can add up! They are also bulkier than necessary. Instead, opt for binder clips. Those are much cheaper, usually take up less space, and can be used for many different things, including cord organization. Ditch the chip clip and streamline your pantry!
12 Things People Don’t Realize Belong in the Fridge
In our daily lives, we all rely on the trusty refrigerator to keep our food fresh and beverages cool. However, there are many items that people often overlook when it comes to refrigeration.
It’s not just about the groceries or leftovers; several surprising things actually belong in the fridge to maintain their quality and longevity.
12 Things People Don’t Realize Belong in the Fridge
12 Household Items You Can Throw Out Today (You Really Don’t Need Them)
Do you feel sometimes like all you ever do is clean up and put away clutter? No matter how big your space is, it seems like all of our “stuff” just takes over, making it harder and harder to have a clean and tidy space.
The secret to a clean, orderly space is very simple: have fewer things around that take up space and force you to care for them. Here are 12 things you definitely can get rid of and won’t miss! (Or things you can avoid buying so you save money, too!)
12 Household Items You Can Throw Out Today (You Really Don’t Need Them)
8 Ways to Create a Relaxing Oasis in Your Rental
It’s always a great idea to improve our living spaces. After all, most of us spend most of our time at home, so wouldn’t it be nice if the place you spend most of your time is nice? But how do we execute this effectively?
Here, we have summarised some of the easiest ways to upgrade your humble renting abode, and the best part is that it won’t even cost you a pretty penny.
8 Ways to Create a Relaxing Oasis in Your Rental
3 Outdated and Overdone Bathroom Design Trends That Are No Longer Trending
One could say that bathrooms are equal parts utility and sanctuary. Essentially, they’re the place where you can light a candle and wind down from a long day, but at the same time, it’s the exact spot where most of your grooming and getting ready for your day (or bed) happens. In terms of aesthetics, we do want our bathrooms to feel welcoming and serene, but, at the same time, they need to be functional.
3 Outdated and Overdone Bathroom Design Trends That Are No Longer Trending
15 Home Trends That We Wish Were Already Over
The home design trends that are so popular today will be out of style tomorrow. The “in” styles usually start at the designer level before trickling down to the public. It’s helpful to look ahead at the next trends when having work done for your home. What’s in today among the public may already be on its way out and no longer be used by designers.
15 Home Trends That We Wish Were Already Over