Home Organizing Checklist January 2012

 January 2012 Home Organizing Checklist 

____ Jan 1 Happy New Year! Clean the outside of your refrigerator. Dust the back and wash the front, sides, and handles with hot soapy water or kitchen spray cleaner.

____ Jan 2 Update Christmas card list. Add, remove or change names and addresses if necessary.

____ Jan 3 Make a list of birthday, anniversary cards, etc. to be sent this year and stock up on greeting cards. Write birthdays for the year in red on your new calendar.

____ Jan 4 Wash and dry all throw blankets. Consider rearranging the location of throw blankets throughout your house.

____ Jan 5 Check for cob webs around the house on the ceiling, light fixtures and corners. Remove them with a rag on a pole. Wash and dust chandeliers and ceiling fans.

____ Jan 6 Go for a winter walk through the neighborhood or through a park. Be sure to bundle up. End with a cup of cocoa at a coffee shop or at home.

____ Jan 7 Clean the outside of your kitchen cabinets. Wash cabinets with a wood polish or a warm soapy cloth depending on the material the cabinets are made out of.

____ Jan 8 Clean out and organize your linen closet. Empty the closet and give away items not used. When returning items to the closet, organize by keeping like items together. Watch for January "White Sales" to replace needed sheets, etc.

____ Jan 9 Make a bird feeder. Tie a string to the top of a pine cone. Spread peanut butter around the pine cone. Roll pine cone in bird seed. Hang in a tree.

____ Jan 10 Remove decorations from Christmas tree(s) and around the house. Pack away carefully in boxes and label each box for use next year.

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____ Jan 11 Start a family puzzle. Set up a card table and pick a puzzle for all to work on.

____ Jan 12 Clean your china cabinet or any other cabinet for glass storage. Remove items, dust and clean the cabinet shelves, then replace items.

____ Jan 13 Clean out and organize your silverware drawer. Take out all silverware, wash out drawer and sorting tray. Let dry completely before returning to drawer and replacing silverware.

____ Jan 14 Use your slow cooker to simmer all day a large batch of home-made spaghetti sauce. When done, serve for dinner. Then divide leftovers for future dinners and freeze.

____ Jan 15 Wash and dry all throw rugs that are machine washable. Be sure to wash just two at a time or the number that your washing machine can wash in one load.

____ Jan 16 Plan an ice skating event or attend an ice skating show.

____ Jan 17 Go through your magazine rack and discard old issues. Cancel any subscriptions that you no longer read.

____ Jan 18 Wash the dials, knobs and surfaces of your stove top range. Take out reflecting pans and soak before cleaning thoroughly.

____ Jan 19 Plan a friend or family get together asking everyone to bring a favorite appetizer or fondue dipping food.

____ Jan 20 Take inventory of your sock drawer. Give away, discard and replace as needed. Then, organize your socks according to season or use.

____ Jan 21 Make cookies and share with your neighbor or house-bound person or call and chat with an elderly person.

____ Jan 22 Clean out your car's glove compartment. Take everything out and replace only items you need. Make sure to have required documentation in the car. Be sure your car's trunk has necessary winter emergency items such as blanket, water, flash lights, etc.

____ Jan 23 Chinese New Year Day! Consider having Chinese food on the menu for dinner tonight!

____ Jan 24 Assemble all video media i.e. DVD's, VHS, etc. Purge or give away material you no longer want or will view. Find one location to store all videos you want to keep.

____ Jan 25 Have an indoor picnic. Place a blanket on the family room floor. Use your bread board on the blanket for a flat surface to place beverages.

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____ Jan 26 Assemble all personal memorabilia. Enjoy a trip down memory lane. Then consider ways to store and display favorite keepsakes.

____ Jan 27 Thoroughly clean the dryer lint compartment.

____ Jan 28 Clean and organize the cabinet under the kitchen sink. Remove items, discard anything you never use, then wash the cupboard floor. Consider placing contact paper on bottom, then replacing and organizing needed items.

____ Jan 29 Get the entire family to agree on tonight’s dinner. Then, enjoy a winter family dinner picnic in front of the fireplace.

____ Jan 30 Inventory winter wear so far used. Donate unused and surplus coats, sweaters and hats to Goodwill.

____ Jan 31 Time to buy supplies for crafting home-made Valentines and/or plan dinner for Valentine’s Day.

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by Maria Gracia - Get Organized Now! http://www.getorganizednow.com