Less Mess, More Yes

Don’t Dread Packing up Your Halloween Decorations – Store Smart!

By Heather Kilduff of Sterilite Corporation

November is upon us and with Halloween less than a week away, it’s time to start thinking about packing and storing all of your Halloween decorations and costumes. During this process I ask myself, "Will I really use this again?" The question is, will I? It’s nice to have the option so – more often than not – I choose to store it. I like to take this opportunity to re-organize and account for my Halloween decorations to avoid losing more next year.
I store my costumes and decorations in storage totes and latching boxes. Cardboard boxes all look the same and identifying a label handwritten in marker does not always prove to be an easy task. Using totes and latch boxes is a festive way to identify Halloween decorations without the effort of labeling, and when I see the Halloween colors, I know I have found all of my decorations. Unlike cardboard, these storage boxes are durable and will not rip or bend in the basement or attic. I chose to recycle my cardboard and eliminate the scariness from storing my Halloween decorations.

Get creative and Spook-ify on a budget!

by Jen Montbleau of Sterilite Corporation

Halloween brings out the kid in most of us. The air starts to cool, pumpkins adorn yards and before you know it there is less than two weeks to go until All Hallows Eve (eek!). Whether you throw a Halloween bash or just want to impress the neighborhood trick-or-treaters with a haunted scene, it's easy to get into the spooky spirit and decorate on a budget.

To start off my decorating task, I searched my home for anything I already had that could be put to good use. I came across some handy pails and, since they are white, it became obvious what I was going to make – ghost faces!

If you don’t consider yourself a crafty ghoul, don’t fret – giving your ghost a face is simple:

Step 1: Take a piece of paper and tear it in half.
Step 2: Fold your paper in half once each way (this will help you know where the center of the paper is).
Step 3: Sketch your face with its nose (if it has one), at the center of the paper and remember to make it big.
Step 4: Tape your illustration to the inside of the pail.
Step 5: Take a small flashlight and shine it behind your sketch so your illustration shows through the plastic.
Step 6: Take a marker and trace your illustration onto the pail.


The best thing about these ghost faces is that they can be used in a lot of ways. Place your ghosts all around your house for your Halloween bash. Don’t be skittish – there is no need for a protective spell to keep your food safe.


If you have a split entry home like I do, you probably have to be a little selective of how much and what kind of decorations you put on the stairs. As it turns out these pails fit perfectly on the steps so I don’t have to worry about tripping over them. When I hear the shouts of “Trick or Treat!” I grab a pail full of candy on my way down the stairs and hold it out for the little ghost and goblins.


Every Halloween I scatter skeleton bones, plastic chains, headstones, and graveyard-like decorations all over my lawn. Because trick-or-treaters are eager to get to the next piece of candy, most cut through my haunted cemetery on their way to my front door. It happens every year, no matter how out of the way I put the headstones – someone trips over them. This year I decided to be a little creative in solving the problem. I placed a couple of LED tea lights in each pail and placed them through out my cemetery. As the children approach my front door, they will have to pass by the illuminated tombstones and bones, making for a thrilling Halloween nighttime walk. Hopefully this year, no one trips!


If you have a spooky spirit remember that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to decorate for Halloween. The best ideas come from things you already have in your home. You just need a few tools, some supplies and your imagination to have a boo-rific Halloween.

Have you used any of your Sterilite items for Halloween? We’d love to see what you brewed up!

Disposing of the Stink

by Jen Montbleau of Sterilite Corporation

Moving into a new residence can be an interesting experience. After you’ve settled in, the adventure begins as you start to learn things about your new place. My challenge began with the “pig,” more commonly known as my garbage disposal. Garbage disposals can make food cleanup in your kitchen much easier, and although they are self cleaning, occasionally bits of food can build up on the inside walls and grinders. When this happens – and you'll know because you'll notice a phantom odor – it's overdue for a good cleaning.

An easy way to clean your disposal is to fill the sink up with a few inches of warm water, a half-cup of baking soda and a quarter-cup of vinegar, then turn the disposal on and let the sink drain. This is better than simply running the water because the entire disposal will fill up with water. This should take care of the odor.

Now that your garbage disposal is clean, the next step is to maintain it. For this, garbage disposal ice cubes are an ideal solution. Besides a good ice cube tray, there are only two things you will need to make garbage disposal ice cubes: white vinegar and citrus fruit.

Making your disposal ice cubes is easy. Just follow these steps:
Step 1: Mix equal parts vinegar and water
Step 2:  Cut your fruit to fit into the cell of your ice cube tray
Step 3: Pour the liquid mixture over the fruit, making sure they are submerged, and freeze


As a preventative measure, I throw a hand full of kosher salt and a few of my homemade ice cubes down the disposal every week. The kosher salt and ice removes the build up of food while the vinegar clears away any bacteria and the odor it causes. The citrus helps deodorize your disposal leaving your sink smelling fresh. This seems to do the trick for my “pig” and I haven't noticed an odor since. Now I always have a supply of disposal ice cubes stored in my ice cube bin.


Because I selected Sterilite’s ice cube tray, it only made sense to use its companion ice cube bin. It’s handy for ensuring I never run out of disposal ice and its narrow shape saves space in my freezer. I leave the ice cube tray, empty or full, stacked on top of the bin. It’s the perfect “lid” to the bin, ensuring that these ice cubes only end up in the disposal and not in my drink.

October is a time to get creative!

Michelle Wood of Sterilite Corporation

October is a fantastic month – autumn is in full swing with perfect sweatshirt weather, colorful foliage and of course, the excitement of Halloween. Just as the month begins, I am prompted to unpack my favorite fall decorations, which I store in 18 Gallon Totes in my basement. They are easy to find in the stack of storage totes as they are appropriately colored for the season. However, trendy colored storage isn’t the only great fall product Sterilite has to offer – with the many fall activities to take part in and Halloween at the end of the month, it’s time to get creative!

It’s apple-picking season! Take advantage of the beautiful weather by packing up the family and heading to your local orchard for a day of fun. Don’t forget to bring along a sturdy 10 Quart Pail! Using a pail makes picking easier, especially for little hands. The pail handle is comfortable and keeps the apples level making them more likely to stay in the pail (verses falling out of those flimsy plastic bags that lose shape and structure). No one likes a bruised apple! Also, with a flat bottom, the pail is easy to set down while reaching those high top branches where the most perfect apples are often found.


You’re probably thinking, “What am I going to do with all these apples?” Bob for brains! Make a game of it for fun with the family, or add it into your Halloween party game list. I took my 24 Quart Latching Utility Can and gave it a ghoulish Frankenstein makeover with some cut construction paper and double stick tape. It’s the perfect height to set on the ground and let the kids try to sink their teeth into the smooth apple peel. If they succeed they are rewarded with a sweet and healthy snack, and you are rewarded by being able to use your utility can for future storage.


Need another great Halloween party game? Try “What Did the Ghost Gobble?”. By cutting and taping on black construction paper, I was able to transform these 3 Gallon Round Swing-Top Wastebaskets into a group of happily smiling ghosts. I filled one with cooked spaghetti, one with Jell-O chunks and the last with individually wrapped mini chocolate bars, but you can use anything creative you can think of that has a unique feel. This is a great game for younger kids as it encourages them to use the sense of touch. Have them reach into the can and try to figure out what is in the ghosts “tummy” that he is so happy about!


After all those activities you might be thinking about what is in your own tummy! Sterilite has many great kitchen products to make your fall baking and party planning easier and more fun. Consider adding Halloween gummies to Sterilite Ice Cube Trays to give your family and guests a spooky surprise when they take a sip of that ghoulish green punch.

Have you used a Sterilite product in a fun and creative way for autumn? We would love to hear about it!

Fall Window Cleaning Made Easy

By Cheryl Mailoux of Sterilite Corporation

With the change of seasons happening this past weekend and the chill already setting in the air in New England, I thought it would be perfect to inspire all of you to do a little fall window cleaning.

Growing up my mother was always a fanatic about making sure the windows were cleaned every spring and fall and she always took pride in having a clean home. Her trick was to use newspaper and glass cleaner to wipe the windows clean, however I was never a fan of the ink getting all over my hands, even if the windows looked great when we were done.  Since then I have come up with my own process, which is a little less messy and requires a little less elbow grease. Hopefully you will find some useful tips that you can use to get started fall cleaning your home today.

One of my favorite items by Sterilite is the Large Ultra™ Caddy.  This item is very spacious and allows me to keep all my cleaning products neatly organized under the kitchen sink, so I always know where to find them. The large comfort grip handle makes it easy to carry items from one job to another around my home.
Once the cleaning products have been gathered, I pick a section of the house to get started on. First I remove all the curtains. I have learned over the years to save a little money on dry cleaning by washing most of my curtains (including drapes) on the gentle cycle using cold water and a mild detergent and then hanging them to dry. Most will need a little pressing when dry, but the dollar savings are well worth the time and effort. Then I vacuum out all the windowsills and vacuum the screens to remove the dust and dirt that can easily be removed. 

Helpful Tip #1: Can’t devote a full day to fall cleaning? Then select a room a day to accomplish until the whole house has been done so that the task is not so overwhelming.


Next, I fill the 16 Qt Dual Spout Pail with warm water and 1 cup of Lestoil. The Lestoil helps to break down all of the grime that may be stuck on the windows & sills from the harsh weather elements so that it may be wiped away easily.

Helpful Hint #2: Be sure to empty your pail often and refill with water and Lestoil  after you have finished cleaning 2-3 rooms or when water is really dirty.


Next I take a Magic Sponge® by Mr. Clean® that has been soaked in the water with Lestoil® and start by making small circular motions all around the window until the entire window has been washed and then dry with a lint free towel to quickly remove the water.

Helpful Hint #3: You may want to try the Extra power Magic Erasers which claim to hold up stronger against tougher jobs compared to the original erasers I used here.


Next follow up by spraying the window with glass cleaner for the final wipe down. This will ensure that your windows sparkle and help to remove any streaks that maybe left by the drying towel in the previous step. Repeat these steps for each side of the window until all windows have been cleaned.


Finish by rehanging your curtains and standing back and admiring your job well done. I hope you find these tips helpful in making your windows sparkle and your home a little cleaner this fall.

Do your Kids have a Study Spot?

This week's post is written by Professional Organizer Monica Friel, president of Chaos to Order based in Chicago and Atlanta. They have been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and Hoarding: Buried Alive, as well as in Better Homes and Gardens, just to name a few. You can find them on the web at www.chaostoorder.com

Children have headed back to school and now is the perfect time to begin new routines, start fresh, and get organized. One of the most important ways parents can help their students succeed is to ensure that they have a well-functioning homework station. We have a nook under our stairs that makes a great, out of the way, quiet spot for homework and study. Containers from Sterilite help to keep all the necessities of a homework station organized. They contain supplies that include everything from extra paper to calculators and school supplies. Address labels in the front make it easy for kids to recognize where things are. The pull out drawers are perfect for collecting graded homework assignments. Kids can empty their folders into the drawers so school papers don't start flying all around the house. Have kids keep finished assignments in the drawers so you can then empty them regularly. Save what will be kept in a keepsake box and toss the rest--don't forget to regularly check the drawer so they don't get crammed too full. Pencils, markers, note pads and extra paper should all be stocked in the homework station so kids have everything they need at their fingertips. Give them no reason to have to leave their seat until the homework is finished!

 

Setting up a routine after school to help create good study habits is crucial for every student. A quiet, well-lit space, along with a regular time to get work done will help create good habits that can last a lifetime.

Craft storage-throughout the years!

By Michelle Brooks of Sterilite Corporation

I have always loved to draw, color and design.  Not only do I find it relaxing but it’s fun to see all the things you can create with your own two hands.  When my kids were little, we would always have quiet coloring time – time away from the TV and time to use our imaginations.  But with little fingers (and little feet) there would inevitably be broken crayons and missing colors.
When re-stocking the art supplies one day, I looked for a way to organize and protect them.   I found plastic containers that were the perfect size.  The easy to open lids were great for small hands.  I grabbed three– one for each of my kids – filled them up and customized the boxes.My kids liked the idea of their “own stuff” and it was easy for them to grab and go.  I continued this tradition for many years.  Over time, the materials have changed – things like beads, gimp, colored pencils, foam and glitter replaced crayons and markers.  I shopped for containers that would keep all these things together and off the floor.  Clip boxes were a great solution – they come in different sizes and stack to give everything its own place while saving space.  The lids stay on securely to prevent spills!

I have always loved watching my kids create -and I am so proud of their artistic abilities.  Now that they are in high school and college their art materials have become much more sophisticated.  The paints, pastels, and pencils need to travel back and forth to art classes with them.  I was thrilled when I found the perfect portable solution for them.  Show-off ™ containers allow you to easily store and carry your supplies – and most importantly, my kids think they are great!   It is so important to encourage imagination and creativity, especially in this age of electronics.  Having the right tools makes that easier and more fun.  Sterilite containers have helped keep our art supplies at the ready throughout the years – organized

Dough for Less “Dough” – Make Playdough at Home!

By Jen Montbleau of Sterilite Corporation

Entertaining young children can be exhausting. With the winter months coming and most activities contained to the indoors, it can get a little overwhelming to come up with new ideas for inexpensive activities.

Here is an easy, quick and inexpensive playdough recipe. It is super safe for little ones who want to put everything in their mouths, and it smells really yummy too! This is something all the kids will love playing with.


Playdough
Adapted from: cooks.com
1 cup of flour
1 package of Kool-Aid
1/4 cup salt
2 tbsp cream of tartar
1 cup warm water
2 tbsp vegetable oil


Combine the dry ingredients in a medium sauce pan: flour, salt, Kool-Aid, and the cream of tartar. Give it a little stir and try to break up some of the little clumps.


Next add your wet ingredients: vegetable oil and water. Turn your stove to medium and stir your mixture for 3 to 5 minutes.


As you mix you'll notice that everything will clump together and soon you will be able to form a ball. Don't worry about any sort of lumps or anything at this point, you'll work that out with your hands later.


Remove from the heat and dump out your ball of playdough onto a clean surface. After it has cooled down enough to touch it, knead it until all the remaining clumps are gone.


The playdough has the great Kool-Aid smell and the coloring will not come off on your hands.

To make it last longer, store in an airtight food storage container in the refrigerator. When the kids want to play with it all you have to do is pull it out of the fridge and let it warm up until it’s soft.

Playdough entertains the kids for hours and with this recipe, you’ll save yourself some “dough.” Enjoy!

Labor Day Barbecue!

By Heather Kilduff of Sterilite Corporation

Sadly, the end of the summer is fast approaching when Labor Day is in sight. Every year I have a Labor Day barbecue to wrap up the end to a wonderful summer. Hosting a barbecue can be simple and fun if you have all the right tools.

THE PREP
The hassle of prepping for any cookout can be simplified with the use of properly sized food storage containers. I like to use Sterilite’s Ultra•Seal™ line because I feel that the variety of shapes and sizes allow me to prep, store and serve all of my favorite side dishes easily.


THE MEAL
Mealtime is a cinch when you already have your side dishes in the refrigerator stored in a food storage container. When the guests arrive, I grab them from the fridge, pop off the lids and they are ready to serve. No dishes, no mess, no problem.


THE CLEANUP
The last thing I want to do after eating a grillious meal with my family and friends is to spend an hour cleaning it up. Those food storage containers save me again – I just pop the lids on and put them back into the refrigerator – or better yet, send them home with a guest!


Now I am ready to enjoy the rest of my Labor Day barbecue! Be safe this Labor Day weekend and feel free to try out my simple steps for a successful barbecue.

Chaos in the basement? Whip it into shape!

This week's post is written by Professional Organizer Monica Friel, president of Chaos to Order based in Chicago and Atlanta. They have been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and Hoarding: Buried Alive, as well as in Better Homes and Gardens, just to name a few. You can find them on the web at www.chaostoorder.com


When it's very hot outside, the best place to organize is the basement!  Do you cringe at the sight of miscellaneous stuff cluttered around your basement. 

Now's the time to do something about it. Grab some 56 Quart Storage boxes and get bu
sy. This size container is great for sorting. Don't just use them to store items in when you're finished, use them as your organizing to put like items together. Remove the lids, set several containers in a row and label them with the categories you need. For example: "Keepsakes," "Sports Equipment," "Yard Sale Items" (remember to price them as you go), "Donation," "Bring Upstairs".

These are all common categories we see when organizing basements. You can also use a container to toss trash into, the big size makes it easy to use for trash rather than opening a bag each time you have something to toss.

So grab some containers, beat the heat and head down to the basement to get organized today!