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Spring Cleaning Tips: Time to Declutter Your Home

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Gloved Hand Cleaning Window With Rag

Clearing your clutter can be a very difficult task.  You’ll spend hours putting things in trash bags, listing them on eBay/Amazon, deciding what items you do or don’t need to keep.  Organization can also be a big issue when throwing away items or even taking out items you need for the spring. Here is a list of spring cleaning tips and new organization ideas for your home/apartment to make this season’s cleaning a little less excruciating!

Let’s Start with the Kitchen

Time to clean out the fridge! Your first task is to dispose of all expired fruits, vegetables, dairy products, or other foods.  Once you’ve cleared out the old products, the best way to actually clean your refrigerator is by using a combination of salt and soda water. The bubbling action of the soda water combined with the abrasive texture of the salt makes a great cleaner!

Steer clear of using soaps and detergents, which leaves odors that food could absorb. If you can’t seem to get rid of an odor, scatter coffee grounds on a tray, and leave it in the fridge until the odor disappears.

Cleaning Stainless Steel

cleaning sink

Stainless steel is known to be prone to stains from heat and water.  To remove them, apply white vinegar with a soft cloth and rub. Always dry thoroughly after washing to prevent a film from forming.

Freshen up kitchen cabinets

You can easily clean kitchen cabinets with hot water and paper towel mixture.

Removing grease stains on kitchen appliances

Take one tablespoon of baking soda, 1/2 tablespoon of dish soap, and a 1/2 tablespoon of water and add the mixture to grease stain and clean thoroughly.

 Now Off to the Bedroom

woman in front of full closet

Clean Out That Closet

After the brutal winter months, it is time to clean out that closet of all the extra clothes, personal items, games, and accessories that you do not need. Here are some guidelines to clearing your clutter with ease.

Extra items in your closet to dispose of NOW:

  • soggy board games (they were fun while it lasted)
  • miscellaneous (cables, wires, mouses, iPhone 3 chargers)
  • old receipts
  • that air mattress that leaks (you know you have it)
  • books you never read
  • expired makeup, skin care products, sunscreen
  • old tattered shoes
  • clothes that don’t fit anymore

Make a Schedule

Set aside an hour a day or a few hours on the weekend to clean it out.  Make a list of the type of items you would want to go through each day. For example, Day A is shoe day and Day B is accessories.

Second opinion while cleaning out clothes

If you’re playing head games because you feel attached, it’s always good to have someone to tell you to snap out of it or even make the decision for you!

Share items on Social Media/ Sell online

Something fun you can do with old items is to share them via social media or on a blog. For instance, maybe you came across some vintage clothing you had from years ago or an old Atari console. Tweet about it, post a picture on your Facebook page, or pin it on Pinterest. Your friends might get a kick out of it. If that is not successful, trying selling on eBay/Amazon.

If you blog, make a post about some of your odd finds, or write a post about the nostalgia you got from some of the things you found in your closet.

Donate

donation box

All those items that you think are outdated or don’t fit can easily be donated. So many people out there are in need of extra clothes and personal items. It is a great feeling knowing that you can perform a random act of kindness by giving to someone in need.  Some charities to donate to are American Red Cross, Goodwill and The Salvation Army.

Re-Gift (one man’s trash could be another’s treasure)

When it comes to re-gifting, try to use some discretion and follow re-gifting etiquette. Don’t give someone an old CD that is open and nobody would want, and never re-gift something to the person that originally gave you the gift. Stick to new items that haven’t been used.

Some popular items that you can re-gift are:

  • Baby clothes
  • Electronics
  • Movies
  • Giftcards
  • Books
  • Wine and alcohol
  • Candles
  • Picture Frames

Run out of space for extra items you want to hold onto? Store them with Box&Co today, starting at $3.50 per container/month!

Box&Co storage bin

Why choose Box&Co.? We will pick up, store, and return your items on demand, all for a low price. Give us a call today at 516-986-9578 or email us @ info@boxnco.com for more information.

The Super Bowl Checklist: Tips On How to Throw an Awesome Last-Minute Super Bowl Party in Your Crowded Home.

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Truth is, whether you’r a football fan or not, it’s an exciting time of the year with parties going on at every other house!  If you’re a Patriots or Falcons fan, it’s a great excuse to celebrate with your friends….. and then call in sick on Monday.  It’s also an excuse to eat all the game day food (BBQ, hot wings, nachos!).

So, did you finally step up and decide to throw the Super Bowl party this year?  Are you now worried because your apartment is far too small to accommodate all the people you already invited?  Here’s a checklist and tips on how to convert your tiny living room into Super Bowl Party Central, even if you’re just trying to watch Lady Gaga wearing some type of meat!

1.) Upgrade Your TV

During the week of the Super Bowl, it is culturally accepted to splurge a bit and upgrade to a huge television.  It is beneficial for everyone watching the game so no one is crowding around a small television trying to watch the replay of Matt Ryan (hopefully) or Tom Brady throwing a Hail Mary.

UPDATE: Is it the day before the Super Bowl and you still have a small, non-flat screen television in your house? It is time to upgrade my friend!  Stop by to your local Walmart or Best Buy for some great February deals!
tv

2.) Buffet of Easy Picking Food

One of most important items on the checklist is food.  Serve a mix of items to satisfy everyone, and go for finger foods that are easy to pick up and eat.  We recommend sandwiches, chips and dips, wings, and pizza—and heartier fare like chili and barbecue to balance out all that beer.  Make sure you have a high quantity of food; guests will want to replenish often during the game.  It’s best to set up a buffet table near the couch where people can load up on main-course items.
Check out our Pinterest board for some Super Bowl Food Tips!

3.) Entertainment for All

Have a separate room open for those who want to chat about the Bachelor.  If you live in a small apartment, keep your kitchen and bedroom open for those social butterflies.  Just keep in mind to hide your personal items.  Also have board games and cards for people who are not into the game.  If you are too lazy for that, just inform people to download games on their phone to play with everyone. (HEADS UP!)

4.) Super Bowl Party Decorations

The best way to get into the spirit of the Super Bowl is to throw a themed party in honor of the day.  Come on, no one wants to go to a Game Day party with no decorations.  Time to boost your creativity with these clever decorations ideas!  Check out these awesome ideas below.

Super Bowl Party Ideas – A Thrifty Mom

5.) Betting Boxes

Simple Life Fact: people are more likely to participate in an activity when there is money involved.  To really get people into the game, it is best to set up a sheet of Super Bowl Squares.
super bowl betting grid
I know you are thinking by looking at this picture that it is way too complicated.  However, these simple directions can help you realize that it is very simple and will further enhance your Super Bowl experience. Check out the directions below.
Super Bowl Squares – How To Play

6.) Store Super Bowl Items with Box&Co.

Do you only use your Game Day party items during a certain time of year and don’t know where to put them all when you are done?  Store your items with Box&Co today, starting at $3.50 per container/month!
Box&Co. bin

Have a wonderful Super Bowl!

If you’re looking to make space for your Super Bowl party, give Box&Co. a call! We will pick up, store, and return your items on demand, all for a low price. Give us a call today at 516-986-9578 or email us @ info@boxnco.com for more information.

10 Simple New Years Resolutions For Organizing Your Home

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It’s the New Year again, when everyone is saying to themselves, “New Year, New Me.” One of the top resolutions for most people is be more organized like Martha Stewart or an HGTV celebrity.  However, it is much easier to start with simpler resolutions to make yourself a much more organized person.

1.) Make a Routine

Write down a schedule of simple chores that include vacuuming on Tuesday, mop the kitchen on Wednesday.

weekly cleaning schedule

2.) Make a Chore List for You and Your Roommates / Alternate Weekly

If you have roommates, assign a weekly list of chores for everyone to do.  At the start of each week, rotate each jobs so that those chores do not become repetitive.

chore schedule

3.) Declutter the Most Used Spaces

It can be your kitchen, bedroom, or shoe closet.  Whatever it is, gather every item in that space and ask yourself two questions: Do I like it? Do I use it regularly?

woman organzing closet

4.) Make Your Bed Every Morning After You Wake Up

 The best thing to do right after waking up is to make your bed.  It starts your day out feeling organized.  It is also a great feeling knowing that your bed is clean after a long hard day of work.

woman falling onto bed

5.) Keep a Donation Box

Take a few minutes out of the day to go through your closet to see if there are any items that you would not need and store them in a donation box.  It’s the winter, there are plenty of people in need of extra warm clothes and shoes.

box of donated clothes

6.) Clean If You Have a Minute

If you’re on a commercial break or just completely bored, take a few minutes to clean and tidy up one part of the house.  There are so many small tasks you can take care of when you have a couple minutes to spare.

woman wiping table

7.) Use All of What You Have Before You Buy More

If you have leftover food that’s unexpired, or toothpaste, or dish soap, make sure to use it all up before you buy and end up with several half empty boxes of the same item.

toothpaste

8.) Neatly Fold and Put Away All Your Clothes Before Sleeping

Right before you fall asleep, neatly fold your clothes into your closet or drawer. Another tip is to decide what clothes you’d want to wear the following day so you don’t take twenty minutes in the morning of what shoe you want to match.

pile of folded clothes

And at least put some effort into it!

folded sheets meme

9.) Put on Music While Cleaning

The most annoying thing to clean is most likely the dishes, especially when you are deprived of a dishwasher. Putting music on that you love will get you through anything quickly, especially those nasty dishes. While your sweeping you can also pretend that you’re Mick Jagger.

woman with air guitar broom

10.) Use BoxNCo to Store Your Things

Have you already decluttered, but are still need of extra storage? Why not store your extra items at Box&Co. We will pick up, store, and return your items on demand, all for a low price. Give us a call today at 516-986-9578 or email us @ info@boxnco.com for more information.

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Start Living Clutter Free!

-Box&Co