85 An Organized Cleaning Cabinet

Earlier this week I shared our new laundry room built in.  One of the main reasons that we created the wall-to-wall unit, was to give ourselves a tall cabinet to hold all of our cleaning supplies.  Previously, they had been spread out all over our home, everywhere from the garage to the kitchen to the linen closet.  Heck even the mop and bucket were being stored in the main bathroom shower.  Although the basic everyday all-purpose cleaners remain under our sinks in the bathrooms and kitchen, the remainder of the supplies are living happily in their new cabinet.

Although the above image shows a few of the items we use throughout the week, it doesn't show the stockpile of additional products that were being stashed on a tray on the opposite side of the room.

We have been making our own cleaners and laundry detergent for awhile now, and with that, comes the need to stay stocked on supplies such as baking soda, washing soda, borax, bars of soap and lots of vinegar {the bottles of "water" are actually vinegar, which I transfer to old water bottles for smaller under sink storage}.  We have also been reducing the number of paper towels we use, by switching over to microfiber cloths and sponges.  The goal was to not only store our already made cleaners in the cabinet, but all of these products that we use to make the cleaners as well.

The closet was already off to a great start with the addition of a few grip clips to hold the brooms and mop, however, there was still so much potential.  The large solid wood door was begging to act as additional storage; so I listened and agreed.

I purchased two cabinet organizer racks and a small double rod towel bar.

To install the organizers to the back of the cabinet door, I placed a few of the items within the rack and held them on the door while my husband marked my desired placement.  I made sure that the items I was placing into the rack {especially the lower one}, were simple to put away and take back out.  I also made sure that the items would clear the shelving built inside the cabinet.

Because we built the door ourselves and it is made out of solid wood, we were able to drill right into the door to install the organizers.

Something funny to mention, we initially installed the double towel bar upside down.  Oops!

Everything was stocked into the organizers, which of course, is my favorite part always.  Something about seeing everything fit and nicely organized makes my heart race.

During a recent trip to Target, I picked up a new handled duster for our hard to reach nooks and crannies {previously I was just using a hand mitt to dust}, and also found some really great cleaning clothes I got a little too excited about.  

We have been using special microfiber for dusting and cleaning glass for quite awhile now, but after a use or two, it is always hard to remember what was used on glass and what was used on the wood and dirtier surfaces.  Target had a box of clothes that come pre-labeled with the type of cleaning they are intended for!  I was oddly excited and astounded, and it should now mean no more cleaning mix ups for the Jones family! 

The double towel bar was a perfect spot for all of the extra rags, a hand towel and my cleaning gloves.

The floor of the cabinet was just a painted finish, and although the paint has cured, it was susceptible to chipping and scratching due to the storage of the vacuum cleaner.  I had purchased some shelf liner in a pretty yellow color, however, upon opening it I realized it was not in a finish that would allow for me to wipe it up should something spill or while cleaning.

Once I placed down the yellow liner, I installed a layer of clear over the top.  Problem solved!

The upper shelf holds our mop bucket and laundered mop heads, along with our cleaning caddy.  The bulkier boxes of cleaners and supplies were also tucked on the shelf behind the caddy.

We also added one more clip to hold the new duster, which I love because I have a self diagnosed even disorder {a.k.a. an odd love for symmetry}.

All of these sweet little additions have now doubled the amount of storage inside of the closet!

And made it a bit more cheerful!

I don't love to clean, but I love a clean house.  Hopefully having this new storage setup will make the process even easier.  And the nearby folding counter has already proven to be a really great place to also whip up a new batch of homemade cleaner.

Anyone else been scooping up cleaning supplies that are making your cleaning routine a bit smoother?  Am I the only one that lets out giggles of excitement in the shopping aisles when I discover something new?

38 UHeart Organizing: Taking the Junk out of Junk Drawer

I have always loved a big room overhaul, but let's be honest.  Sometimes it is the single drawers that make us the happiest.  Clutter free counters are great visually, clutter free drawers are great for sanity.

Ashley from the blog 7th House on the Left, is here today to share how she organized a drawer in her oh-so-beautiful kitchen.  I don't know about you, but seeing organized drawers always kicks me in the booty to go dump one of my own out instantly.  And I really love the reasoning behind the items in her specific drawer, it has really made me rethink the items we throw in ours.  Here she is now!

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been gearing up for Spring cleaning and organizing every single nook and cranny of our kitchen. It wasn’t extremely messy to begin with, but it needed some fine-tuning and reworking to make the space more functional and pleasant for my organization-loving self to work in. Okay, well, maybe that wasn’t the case for the notorious “junk drawer” to the left of the stove. It was an absolute mess:

As you can see, this drawer was in dire need of organization. It’s basically where everything ended up, slid around and just… remained generally unorganized. Pretty sad (and embarrassing) for a self-professed organization freak, right?

After cleaning everything out and figuring out what needed to stay in the drawer and what needed a new home, I started out with what every drawer needs: dividers! Luckily, I already had these on hand and wasn’t using them for anything else. On the bottom of each tray, I attached a Command Picture Hanging Strip to keep them in place when the drawer opens and closes. I like using the Command Strips because they don’t damage the wood finish on the inside of the drawer. Specifically, the Picture Hanging Strips are great for this because they have a velcro-like “bonding mechanism” so you can easily detach it, take it out whenever you need to and snap it back in.

I filled the first tray with the primary essentials like pens and Sharpies, Post-Its, a small measuring tape (for quick project measurements), push pins (for the cork board inside the cabinet right above the drawer - more on that here), scotch tape, a small pair of scissors, assorted washi tapes and a deck of cards (we’re just weird like that).

I filled the tray near the back of the drawer with the less-essential items: gum, mints, hand lotion and lip balm. Side note: I like keeping this particular lip balm around in the kitchen because it doubles as a salve for minor burns - and I tend to be a bit accident prone from time to time, haha. I left one compartment open for my rings/jewelry when I’m cooking or working on a project.

Nestled between the dividers is a stack of small notepads. Now, I know these are extremely common (you can get a pack of 5 for $5 at Staples or pretty much any office supply store), but I love these things. It seems like every time I’m in an office supply store, I’m picking up a set (or two). They’re the perfect size to jot out lists, projects and ideas. I always spruce up the binding on the top with a piece of washi tape.

Oh, and in the very back of the drawer, we keep a box cutter for hard-to-open packages. It’s particularly handy here in the kitchen, since the peninsula is the place where we sort through the mail, open packages, and unpack anything we bring home from shopping trips.

So, there you have it, the transformation of our embarrassing “junk drawer”. Now that it’s neatly organized and functional, it doesn’t make me cringe every time I open the drawer to get a pen. Now, since it’s not junky anymore, we just have to come up with another name for it! Happy organizing, everyone!


"I'm Ashley from 7th House on the Left - a blog where my husband, Greg, and I talk about renovating, decorating and living in our first house here in Hanover, Virginia. I’ve been an interior design enthusiast and a long-time fan of all things organizing. Yep, I was the kid with the perfectly arranged Disney stuffed animals, alphabetized coloring books and the categorized and color-coded sticker book. When I'm not busy writing or doing projects around the house, I love classic TV shows (particularly I Love Lucy) and curling up with Greg, Bentley (our 9-pound Pomeranian), a blanket and a good black and white classic movie – I’m a complete sucker for Audrey Hepburn, Doris Day, Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant films. I'm thrilled and honored to be a part of the IHeart Organizing team and excited to get to work!"

20 Let the Organizing Link Party Commence!

A couple of months have passed since our last organizing link party, and I have to say I am going through withdrawals.  Seeing your projects keeps me feeling excited and inspired, so today is a very good day!

My organizing always slows down a little during the holiday season.  Well, organizing junk drawers and closets that is.  Of course, I can't be completely cut off from my habits.  I still managed to get a few things done, even with the hustle and bustle of the busy month of December.

• With everything going on during Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year, I put together a Holiday Binder to keep all of my thoughts and checklists in one happy place.
• Washi tape was taking over my office space, so I corralled it all together in a sweet little organizer, which allows me to find it and use it as my heart desires.
• Ornaments were my best friend during my Christmas decorating escapades.  I had fun sharing our decked out spaces during our holiday home tour.

• Organizing my gift wrap supplies was probably one of my most favorite projects to date.  I find myself just gazing at it and smiling quite often.  
• Although, organizing the remainder of the area under the stairs comes in at a close second place.  Those stacking drawers have been such game changers in my day to day routine.

• Having a neat and tidy place to workout was just the inspiration I needed to hop back on the treadmill.

• In January we started working on our laundry room folding station, and it all started by finding the perfect baskets.  They needed a little love, so I shared how I stained them to get the look I was after.
• I don't have a lot of sewing supplies, but I did want to keep then out in the open.  I created the easiest pegboard project ever, and am totally smitten with the end result!
• I love experimenting with ways to create new labels, and jar lids were a surprisingly fun solution.
• We consider our hallway as another room in our home, so it received a little lighting upgrade out of capiz shell tealight holders.  They made a really playful difference in a very high traffic area of the house.

A few other organizing posts for you:

• Simple Ideas for Holiday Organizing
• January is the Month of Storage
• My Favorite Organizing Supplies
• You Asked:  Where Do I Begin?
• Labeling 101:  Label Holders

Now it is your turn!  Time for you to share with me some of your happenings over the previous two months.

An InLinkz Link-up

As always, an over-sized thank you to all who participate in these challenges.  Checking out your posts is my guilty pleasure every month, so bring it on!

IHeart Organizing is not responsible for the content uploaded and shared within the Monthly Link Parties on within the #wiorn hashtag feed.  However, it is a great way to join together in making organizing fun, so let's use our best internet etiquette and have a great time with this social party!

79 Built-In Laundry Sorting/Folding Station

Just before Christmas, I schemed up a plan to put in the ultimate gift wrap station in our new under-the-stairs storage closet.  I get these ideas where I start looking around our home at every piece of furniture with a mischievous eye.  After some measuring, I realized that our previous kid's craft cabinet turned laundry room linen storage cabinet was the perfect size.  All of my baskets, supplies, and gift wrapping items would fit inside the cabinet, and the cabinet itself fit in the nook under the stairs as if it were built for it specifically.  The stars aligned and off it went.  And that left my laundry room wall looking like this.

The cabinet previous held our beach gear and some linens for when we entertain guests.  It also had a clothing rod for hanging clothing items out of the dryer.  After a few weeks of living with piles on the floor where the old cabinet once lived... we decided that this blank slate was the perfect opportunity to put in some storage we have been dreaming up for a very long time.

We have always wanted to add pedestals under our washer and dryer, so we have been looking at alternative solutions for a folding station/table.  This blank wall presented itself as the ideal place to add in an area for folding linens, hanging clothing and sorting down a few of the specialty items we wash (delicates, linens and whites). 

The tall cabinet shown above was another wish list item.  Our home wasn't designed with storage in mind when it was built 12 years ago, and that has forced us to get creative in more ways than one.  And you guys know me, I love to keep "like" items together whenever possible.  But that just has not been happening in terms of our cleaning supplies.  A cleaning caddy under the kitchen sink, brooms hung in the garage, a vacuum cleaner down the hall in a linen/first aid closet and our mop bucket/mop in our main bathroom shower.  Yes, I just outed a secret that we stored our mop in our shower.  No judging, please.  In the winter it cannot be hung out in the garage to dry, because it would just freeze.  So, it lived in our shower in-between uses.  By installing a tall cabinet, I could finally store the majority of our cleaning supplies in one central location (still leaving a few basic cleaners in commonly used areas such as under the bathroom and kitchen sinks).  It would also give me a place to store those items I use to create our DIY cleaning solutions.

We shared the step-by-step process on how to build the entire unit, over at the Home Depot blog here.  It started out with a brainstorming session between Bryan and me, creating our dream list and sketching up potential options.  Of course, it started out basic and simple sorting station that eventually grew to an entire wall to wall built-in unit.  Don't you love how that happens?

The entire process took about a week start to finish.  In typical fashion, we worked on evenings and the weekend tag-teaming the process of building, priming, and painting.   The process itself was pretty straight forward and having a plan going into it made it so much easier once we got started.  Here is the finished product.

All of the linens and beach supplies went back into the cabinets in the upper portion of the built-ins.

While the tall cabinet ended up being everything I was hoping for in terms of a cleaning closet!

I still have some tweaks to make to the cleaning closet itself.   I would like to line the floor and add some additional storage to the door for the rest of the supplies still sitting in a pile on the opposite side of the room.  More on that soon, but until then, the space for the tall supplies and the added clips for mops and brooms has been so fabulous. 

We reinstalled our clothing rod and I gave half of my hangers a coat of Lagoon spray paint.  I am a fan of loving the places I do chores, so bringing in bursts of color was a must.

I shared my tutorial for the easiest pegboard project ever right here.  Now you can see how it fit into my overall plans for the space.

The open shelving to the right holds my smaller fabric pieces and swatches, along with my sewing machine.

Recognize those baskets?  Yep, they are the same ones I dressed up with a bit of stain.  I found them just for this build and we sized everything accordingly.  They are perfect for sorting and toting around the house, I just need to add some labels to the front and maybe play with those liners a bit.

We have been using the area for a couple of weeks now and the folding counter has been one of those eye-opening additions that I wish I would have added years ago.  In fact, the entire project has really made the entire room so much more functional and gave us storage for items that have been a thorn in our side for quite a while.  And of course, the kids are not complaining about the missing mop and bucket from their shower.

Again, you can snag the supply list, build process and every last detail over at the Home Depot blog here.

Anyone else been adding life-altering storage to your laundry space?  How do you give a little love to the areas you work the hardest within?