Last week we worked on cleaning up our sock drawer and undie drawer. Today it’s time to tackle another article of clothing – t-shirts.

We all have a bazillion t-shirts. Or we could, if we kept them all. And while they definitely have their place in today’s wardrobes, there can be a few too many if we’re not careful.

Start by putting every t-shirt you own on your bed. They’re going to come from all over – from your dresser and from your closet, from your workout clothes and your work-around-the-house clothes, from your career wardrobe and your nightlife wardrobe. And men have undershirts, too.

When they’re all on your bed, you can see which category they belong in, and how many you need in each group. It’s good to have a couple of nice white stretchy T’s to wear under a suit or with something a little dressier – but do you need seven? It’s good to have a couple of shirts you can paint in, or do yardwork in, but do you need to keep all 25 shirts that are too worn for anything else? It’s good for men to have plenty of undershirts – but do you need to keep the grayed out ratty ones? Probably not. Pare them down.

• Get rid of any t-shirt that’s torn or stained or says something embarrassing on it.
• Give away any t-shirt that’s still in good condition, but is just not needed. Or it’s a bad color. Or you never wear it anyway.

There’s going to be a lot more room in your dresser and closet. Won’t that feel great?

(Hey, if you’re excited about this – do it with your other shirts, too!)

Yesterday you cleaned up that sock drawer – today it’s your undies. Starting your day by looking at a few organized drawers can really make you feel accomplished. And isn’t that a great feeling to have before the day gets complicated and difficult?

Toss those old baggy undies that even Aunt Mabel would be embarrassed to wear – that includes anything with stretched out elastic. Get rid of anything you don’t want the paramedics to see if you’re hit by the proverbial bus. And for Pete’s sake, if they’re too small, get rid of them.

This is a good time to see what undies you need to replace. You may want to invest in some of the new microfiber undies, or something that doesn’t leave you with VPL. You may want to splurge on something bright or pretty (winter can be long and gray). You may want to try a different style – a thong or boy-shorts for the ladies, boxer-briefs or bikini style for the guys.

Take 15 minutes to straighten out your drawers.
(get it? drawers?)
You’ll like the result. We promise.

You know how, when your life gets a little out of control, if there’s one small thing that’s “together” and organized and working well – and you can count on it being that way every day – that there seems to be hope for the rest of your life?

Maybe it’s just us, but having a couple of really organized drawers makes all the difference in the world when we’re getting ready to face another day of chaos.

Today, go through your sock drawer and get rid of the socks that don’t have mates, the socks that have holes, the socks you never wear (because we all have some socks in funky colors, or that just feel weird, or that are some crazy holiday gift that fall into that “if I’m hit by a bus, I don’t want anyone in the emergency room seeing me in these!” category).

Get rid of the tights and nylons that have runs, or have funky patterns that make your legs look diseased, or that are really too small or too big – you know, the ones that have the crotch that doesn’t stay up, or that give your ankles elephantitis.

Then put back the socks you like in neat, logical stacks. Keep your workout socks separate, and maybe stack the rest by color or length or season.

With 15 minutes of effort, you can enjoy that sense of “all’s right with the world” every morning when you open your sock drawer.

As you move through your living space, always keep an eye on what needs to be thrown out, put away, or taken to another part of the house.

Pick it up and deal with it when you see it.

Keep this up, and your home will start to declutter itself.

• Make sure your home is entertainment worthy. Get your holiday music, potpourri, and candles ready to go. And make sure you have toilet paper.
• Check your menu and make sure you have all your groceries. Perishables can be purchased, and if you have a turkey to thaw, today’s probably the day for that.
• Confirm any special orders or deliveries – fresh flowers, linens, tables and chairs, wine and liquor, or groceries.
• Design and plan the finishing touches for your tables. Are you using “kids’ tables” and “adult tables?” Do you have place cards? Centerpieces? Consider themed tables – elf, reindeer, Santa, etc. Have guests draw one of those names for their table assignment.
• Consider activities for the kids (and adults?) to keep them occupied. Some ideas – crafts, singing Christmas carols, Christmas charades, or watching a classic holiday movie.
• For a classy touch, you may want to make menu cards. Use a fancy font or try calligraphy. Put a menu at each place, and keep one for the kitchen, so you remember to serve all the food.
• Have a plan for the other meals of the big day/weekend, too. Simple recipes and meals that can be prepared ahead are good choices. Don’t forget the groceries you’ll need for those meals.
• Decide who will be responsible for every assignment and chore on the big day (don’t forget cleanup).

Number one on our Christmas list this year is a Closet Genie. No, that’s not something we saw on a late night infomercial. It’s someone who can organize our closets for us.

If you have that organizing skill, consider giving your services as a gift to your friends. Most of us cannot make rational decisions when it comes to getting rid of the “best date I ever had” outfit from 1989. Or the “these make my booty look amazing” jeans that haven’t fit in this century.

While we wait for the Closet Genies to appear, here are a few tips on organizing your own closet.

1. Remove everything. This lets you see exactly the space you have to work with. Prepare to be shocked by the pile of stuff that came out of that closet.
2. Now that you can see the light of day, give your closet a good cleaning from top to bottom. If you can, follow that cleaning with a fresh coat of white paint.
3. Separate the items you removed into three piles: keep, sell/donate and throw away. Most people hate this step because it means getting rid of everything they do not use or wear. Face it – all of the stuff you’re looking at is not ever going to fit in that closet again, so take a breath and just do it. Here are some general sorting guidelines to follow.

Keep: Put only items into this bin that you have worn or used at least twice in the past year. Be brutally harsh. If it doesn’t fit today, it’s not likely to fit anytime soon. Get rid of it. If in doubt, do not put it into this bin.

Sell or donate: Clothes and other items that are not right for you (seriously – you never wear them, so you know they’re not right) but still have a useful life for someone else should go into this bin. What you consider ugly may be perfect to someone else. Take them to a consignment store or donate them to the Salvation Army or Goodwill. You may get a tax break, but more than that you’ll feel good. Put all of these items in your car. You’re more likely to get rid of them quickly if they’re in the passenger seat staring at you.

Throw away: Clothes and shoes that are worn out, hopelessly stained, broken or in some other state of calamity go into this bin. If you won’t wear it because it’s wrecked, no one else wants it either. Use a black plastic yard waste bag, so you can’t see what throwing away.

Okay, this next step is for the advanced class. If it sounds like too much work, move on to step 5. Better to make a little progress you can feel good about, right?


4. Divide the “Keep” bin by season, type and use. If possible, keep out-of-season items in a separate storage place in your home. Next, sort your work or professional clothes and casual attire. Now divide each pile into common-wear and infrequent-wear, arranging them so the items you wear most often are the most handy.
5. Use closet organizers. At the minimum you need a sturdy shoe rack, good hangers and shelves in addition to your standard hanging rod. Investing in a few good organizational pieces will make organizing your closet, and keeping it organized, a snap!

Tonight’s the night to change your clocks if you live in the USA.

While you’re at it, do a few other things.

• change the batteries in your smoke detectors
• change the batteries in your carbon monoxide detectors
• check the charge in your fire extinguishers (look at the gauge)
• disconnect and blow out your dryer hose (dryer lint is a fire hazard)
• change your furnace filter
• check your thermostat for an appropriate temperature and check the setback times if you have a setback thermostat
• remove your showerhead and soak it in vinegar water to get rid of the mineral deposits
• vacuum out the car (and the trunk)
• make sure you have a scraper/brush, a spare set of gloves, and a blanket in each car
• swap out the screen door for the storm door (note: take the screen out before the trick-or-treaters come, and put the storm door in the next day – one less door to open, and the kids freak out when your hand comes out unexpectedly)

Image by Jasper Greek Golangco

• Check your water heater. Wrap it in an insulating blanket (made just for water heaters) to increase its efficiency. Check the steam valve. Check the water temperature setting.
• Change your furnace filter.
• Get your boiler or furnace inspected every 5 years.
• Check your thermostat settings. Add a sweater before you add a degree.
• Have the heating ducts cleaned or vacuumed.
• Check your doors and windows for air leaks. Caulk where necessary. Replace door seals if needed.
• Make sure the damper in your fireplace is closed until you build a fire.
• Use an area rug or a “door snake” to cut the drafts at the bottoms of doors.
• Sign up for the budget saver plan with your utility company. Leveling out your utility payments across 12 months is much easier on your bank balance.

Develop an efficient system for shredding all your old and unnecessary financial paperwork.

Always protect your identity. It can be a nightmare to establish a good credit rating after an identity fraud. You know those credit card offers are already pre-printed with your name and address, right? Shred ‘em.

If you receive financial data from groups or organizations you’re affiliated with (as a board member, committee member, etc.), be sure to shred that information or offer your copies back to the organization.

Make sure your shredder is conveniently located and always ready to receive (the basket needs to be emptied for recycle day!), so your paperwork won’t pile up.

When you get that beautiful fresh produce home from the store or farmer’s market, be sure to remove it from the plastic bag or wrap. That’s a surefire way to keep it from ripening properly and to ensure it rots faster.

Store produce in brown paper bags or cloth produce bags. Both of these draw moisture away from the produce, but keep the air moist.

Wash out your veggie drawer, dry it really well, and line it with paper towels or an old dishtowel. Again, they will draw the moisture away from the food, but help to keep the air moist. And cool, moist air is perfect for storing produce.