I was recently browsing pinterest (as I do) and I came across the tip below.  Does your whiteboard look like the picture to the right? Mine does at times but my main struggle is actually getting the marker off.  

I have used all known methods such as metho and white board cleaner to get it off, but it doesn’t work.  The metho was the best method, however I needed alot of muscle to remove the marker.  After reading the tip I was eager to give it a try: 

“Use Air Freshener to clean a white board with dried on ink. Spray the board and wipe, it also helps ‘recondition’ old dry erase boards.”

I used Dettol Glen 20, it worked a charm! No extra muscle needed.  My son took this video below just to show you how easy and muscle free it is.  I love finding different purposes for products.

Thank you to Dettol for sponsoring today’s post

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Thank you to one of our readers Fiona for sending in this tip, to use bread tags to label your power cords to easily distinguish cords, as we all know they can become a tangled mess. Clever way of repurposing too!

Original idea from: Realsimple.com

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Follow these steps:

1. Print the weekly planner, calendar or get your diary and write in all your appointments for the month.
2. List your priorities
3. Determine what your weaknesses are
4. Create a plan.  Use the Cleaning Checklist and gradually make your way to a cleaner home.  Use your planner, calendar or diary to create a cleaning routine for yourself. 

List your priorities and weaknesses

What are your priorities?  My priorities are:

• exercise
• balancing work and family
• follow my cleaning routine
• finding time to relax

Each morning I make the kids and hubby’s lunches and ensure that washing is always on the line (I like to put it out the afternoon before), along with completing a few other chores.  While I have my breakfast I have 5 minutes computer time.  I take the kids to school and have now learnt to put me next.  Before, I would more than likely come home and blog or fluff around on the computer which can easily draw you in for a few hours.  Now I have prioritised, I am putting me first….

1. As soon as I drop the kids at school I head to the gym
2. Come home, shower
3. Complete my cleaning tasks
4. Make dinner (2 day’s a week I need to start during day as we have after school sports to attend) or do some baking.
5. Then….it is my blogging/computer time or coffee with a friend, go shopping, attend appointments etc
6. Pick the kids up from school.  Here I have also learnt to have computer free time between 3-7pm

You really can do whatever you want, set your mind to it and please at least try.

What are your priorities?

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I love meeting people who read my blog and hearing their stories of how I have managed to help them, however some say “I wish I could be as organised as you” or “your house must be perfect”.  I want to let you all know you can be organised too… just find YOUR WAY, adapt my ideas to suit you.  I have my short cuts in being organised, I am a perfectionist however these short cuts are give me more time to enjoy my family, home and find time to relax.  

My Top 5 Perfectly Imperfect Organising Tips

1.  Let your dishes air dry over night

2.  Bundle kids face washers in drawer, don’t fold

3. Don’t pair socks, bundle together and the owner can take the time to do it

4.  As much as I would love to straighten the kids beds after they have made them, I resist because a) They have put in the effort, for that I am grateful, and b) I don’t have time.

 5. I don’t like dusting.  It’s on my weekly cleaning plan but it usually isn’t completed when I’m doing my other chores.  However, I do manage to get it done while chatting on the phone. 

Do you have any perfectly imperfect organising tips?

Another imperfection:

A few readers recently have picked up on my ‘imperfect’ use of the apostrophe.  I want to say that whilst I appreciate and don’t mind people pointing out my errors, please do so kindly.  I put a lot of work into this blog and the facebook page to help, motivate and inspire all my readers.  I am ‘one’ person running The Organised Housewife plus my household, please be nice.

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Thankyou to lovely reader Malinda for sending in the following tips

I have small baskets for each person that I put folded clothes in and then they go to the person’s room…even if it takes an extra day to get put in drawers they are out of the way…and not my responsibility anymore haha {image credit}

Another idea is to do all bill paying online on one day…setting up bills to be paid in advance…i used to do it on a friday, but now work that day so now do it on a Thursday…

Another idea is having a nappy box or similar in kids cupboard to automatically put clothes that are too small into. Then the box can go straight into a storage area.

I must say I love your blog. I have picked up quite a few ideas from it…but I am surprised at how organised I really am…with two small kids and another on the way and part time work.

Thanks, Malinda

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• To remove the baked on food at the bottom of your oven sprinkle with bicarb soda.  Fill a spray bottle with vinegar, then spray this over the bicarb, allow to sit for an hour.  Then it should be easy to remove, if not, repeat the process.
• To clean the shelves, place a few old towel in your bathtub (enough to prevent scratches) then put in your shelves and sprinkle nappy-san over top.  Fill bath with HOT water enough to cover the shelves.  Leave for approx 1 1/2 hours.  Gently scrub grime, should easily come off.

See HERE for more general kitchen tips

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Vicky – I was just reading your post on decluttering the kitchen bench from last year HERE. I do this every 2nd day and it is driving me insane!!

The kitchen bench seems to be the hot spot area, example, when you come home you place the mail, along with junk mail, your handbag, the kids school ‘stuff’ groceries. Create a new routine for yourself and home for other items.

• I have an a hook on the wall for my handbag HERE.
• I put my groceries on the floor instead of the bench and in the cupboards, fridge straight away.
• Kids have an area where they place all their school paper HERE.
• I also have a junk mail bin in my pantry where I throw the junk straight away
• Deal with other mail eg, filing or placing in ‘home’ to pay bill.
• Clean the bench every night so it doesn’t build up

What sort of cooking utensils do you have?

In the drawer:

• Potato masher
• Ice cream scoop
• Knife sharpener
• Egg slicer
• Love this utensil set from IKEA, the scoop spoon (2nd in image, image {credit}) is my favourite, perfect for making lasange or other mince dishes in the fry pan then easy scoop transfer to the baking dish, no spill….love, this is my new favourite utensil.
• Can opener
• Pastry brush
• Soup spoon
• Rice scoop
• Pizza cutter
• Salad servers
• Garlic press (which I never use, as I use mince garlic, more economical)
• Fork for cutting roasts
• Meat mallet
• Icypole cozies
• Kitchen twine
• Corn cob holders
• Bottle opener
• Carrot julienne peeler

I have another draw for baking items, that’s a whole other post

More information about organising kitchen drawers HERE.

Do you keep them in a drawer or in a caddy for ease of reach?

Yes, i have items I use regularly in this pot I purchased from IKEA.

• Pasta scoop
• Wooden spoons
• Tongs
• Spoon
• Whisk

How do you arrange your drawers?

I use plastic drawer organisers purchased from Target.

Sits on my kitchen bench along with knife block

If you have any questions, tips or advice you would like to share, please email them through so I can publish next week. Use the contact form above to easily send an email.

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