There’s a huge difference between living out of a backpack to having an attic jammed to the rafters, however, and an easy way to combat the stuff is to be mindful about what comes into your household- and what can be headed off at the pass. Let’s begin!

• Acknowledge what is actually clutter to you…and what, decidedly, is not. Some of my clients cheerfully have hundreds of pairs of shoes. Some love knowing that they have the dining gear to host a backyard supper club at the drop of a hat. In short, if you like looking at it and having it accessible, then it’s not your clutter. It’s your home.

• Conversely: If you haven’t used it in over a year, have mixed feelings about why you still own it, or- my personal favorite- have no idea how it got there, then it’s clutter. Move it along, Sal.

• When possible, buy toys, games, clothing, books, and seasonal household items secondhand. Not only is it a greener, cheaper way to shop, but it’s way easier to get rid of things that you didn’t spend a fortune on. (I call our neighborhood thrift store “rent a toy.”)

• When you do buy, make it count. When you invest in the good socks, blankets, coffee mugs, cookware, and furniture, they’ll last longer- and you won’t have to buy other items to supplement the ones you have that aren’t quite right. (Besides, didn’t you save all that money buying thrift store Halloween decor in November last year? Ahem.)

• Shift your mindset from selling your stuff (and ruminating about getting your money’s worth or recouping sunk costs) to donating your stuff. Or- better yet- sharing it. Our neighborhood has an amazing FreeBox group on Facebook where people can list items to share or post “in search ofs” for upcoming events or holidays. That moment when you realize your unloved costumes will make someone’s tiny princess birthday dreams come true? Oof. “Shared” stuff starts flying off the shelves- and out of the home.

• When one thing comes into the home, another related thing has to go. I get it. This is a toughie. I love shoes and handbags to an almost weird degree, but I’m the first to admit that if I’m crushing on a new pair of sneakers, there’s definitely a tired pair in my closet that won’t be worn again for a long, long time.

• Ask for- and give- experiences and items to be used up as gifts for holidays and birthdays.

• Another great thing to give? Permission for your gifts and hand-me-overs to be shared or donated whenever the recipient sees fit. (Can we all agree to stop being so precious with things we hand to people? Because can you imagine if everything you were ever given out of love had to be buried with you because it was so dang special? You ain’t a pharaoh.)

• Super related: Give yourself this same permission as well. Because while things that remind us of dearly departed loved ones can make us feel good, keeping things simply because the person is now gone is a one-way ticket to Clutterville. Also, moving these items out neither offends said departed person, nor does it cause them to show up in anger and demand an explanation. (I’ve tried the latter. Doesn’t work.)

• Acknowledge that mental clutter is real, too…and move that nonsense along. The more items you see, move, and step around in your home each day, the more your brain will view those items as tasks to be solved. Be nice to your brain. (As my kids used to say when they were preschoolers: Kiss your brain.)

…And then give your decluttered brain a rest. ‘Cause I bet there’s a cleared-out path to the couch now, isn’t there?

You know what to do.

The post 10 easy ways to quit the STUFF cycle! appeared first on Tidyish.

Tiny li’l annoyances

All right, class, I’ll go first: I own a tank top that I love. The color’s great, the fit is perfect, and every time I wear it someone compliments me. That said, I rarely put it on. Why? Because there’s always something about it that annoys me on some micro level. I usually combat this by trying it on, deciding “eh, not today,” and putting it back. The other day I actually wore the darn thing and figured I’d just muscle through whatever was bothering me about it. (I wasn’t being brave- my other tanks were in the washing machine.)

That day, however, I happened to catch a glimpse of my own reflection as I walked past my kids’ mirror; there, on my upper back, was an absolutely gigantic tag sticking out from the top of my shirt. Then I had a moment of “Oh, RIGHT, the first time I wore this tank top I thought, ‘this tag won’t stay tucked, that’s gonna be a problem.'”

So guess what I did right then and there? I cut the tag out of my shirt and promptly loved the tank top again forever and ever, Amen. (This is an embarrassing example, granted, but let my cautionary tale inspire you to cut out annoying tags, sharpen the broken pencils on your desk, and change the laundry room lightbulb that’s “been on the fritz.” Do it. Now. Before you forget again. HURRY.)

Bigger, eyeroll-inducing annoyances

Do you ever walk into a room and actually step around something to get where you’re going? That’s what we call “a tell.” A room should have flow. Your brain knows this, even if it’s not admitting it.

If you have an end table that’s never used for coffee cups or living room objects- but which blocks you from accessing an electrical outlet or doesn’t give you enough floor space- move, sell, or donate the darned thing.

Is your entry way table intended for keys and mail, but your keys end up by the door closest to the garage and the mail finds its way into the kitchen with you? Get rid of the entry way table, put a key hook by the back door, and place a basket in the kitchen for sorting and reading mail. (But grab a cup of tea first- you’ve earned a break.)

Large annoyances

Sometimes trouble spots occur in the home not because you’re disorganized and not because your home doesn’t have a good flow, but because of mechanical problems. If your cabinet door sags slightly when you put away dishes, if your desk drawer squeaks every time you return a tape dispenser, and if a knob seems loose every time you reach for it- you are less likely to deal with that corner of your home. Hence: “To do later” pile!

Sometimes it feels pretty great to triage those problems as they arise- and as you actually acknowledge them- and spend a few moments whack-a-moling. Prep for those moments by creating a small (small!) basket filled with a screwdriver, super glue, and WD-40. Nothing can stop you now! (…Except for that hilarious meme which won’t send itself to your sister.)

Other times? You look at yourself and say “Self? I see you. I see you not fixing any of these problems today.” And during those times, you pencil in a block of time to knock out three of those problems.

With a sharpened pencil, of course.

Your turn to share: What’s your “object aversion” spot?

Comment below!

The post 3 annoyances around the home- and how to kick ’em to the curb appeared first on Tidyish.

Ok, I have a question- I have boxes of stuff in my basement that I haven’t gone through in ages, and a fair amount of (gulp) old love letters. Or maybe not even love letters, but correspondence with ex-girlfriends. What does one do with those? Just toss ’em? Seems callous. Then again, I haven’t read them in…well, 30 years, at least. What doth an expert say? -Joel R.

Dear Joel,

OHMYGOODNESS I love this question! As I told Joel, I’ve had a project dealing with this exact (or exact-ish) problem in the works for close to a year! Sentimental paper clutter. It is the best, it is the worst, it is going to bury us alive. But no longer!

(Buckle up, Joel- and others: This is a roundabout way of answering your “what to do with old love letters” question, and ending the paper clutter whack-a-mole once and for all!)

I’ve been helping a few clients through this very issue- some for office pile-ups, some for kiddos’ art projects- but I decided to be real, come clean, and air out my own dirty li’l secret: I am sentimental as heck and moved into our current home with three gigantic storage boxes containing my personal paper trail from June of 1980 onwards.

So to show you how non-terrifying this process can be, I guinea-pigged myself. Over the course of a year, I filmed the process of scanning, sorting, recycling, rinsing, and repeating- all while watching five seasons of The Office in increments ranging from 20 minutes to an hour apiece. (Honestly, I probably could’ve gotten all of this done in a few weekends, but the setting up of the camera was the part that took the longest amount of time.)

Bonus points if you can see the kids, cats, and husband wandering through many, many of the decluttering sessions! Proving that a) there’s no “good” time to start, b) there’s no “bad” time to start, and c) I am never, ever alone. Now, your turn!

Gather……

…up every.last.bit.of.paperwork you can find. It’s like with any other decluttering project- you can’t begin until you know exactly the size of the beast you’re gonna slay. If you have to stack bins and baskets in the corner of the living room? So be it. Here’s what will NEVER work: Leaving the paper piles in various rooms, grabbing a fistful to “deal with” once every month or so. It’s Band-Aid time, people: We’re gonna rip it off, it’s gonna look gross, and then it’s gonna get better. (Promise.)

Decide…

…which items you need to keep a hard copy of, and which ones will be necessary/useful/nice to revisit in digital form. For my own forever storage, I kept physical items like handwritten notes from my kids, one or two cards like the ones with my Dad’s signature or my Nana’s request that I split halfsies of any casino wins, and artwork- theirs or mine!- that make me really, really happy to keep. (Pro tip: Trust your gut. You know the difference between something you need to hold in your hands and things that will create the same amount of fuzzies when seeing in a digital folder. Take Facebook memories, for example: That pic from 8 years ago? That ain’t your friend/baby/corn dog in real life, but I’m betting it still made you smile.)

Get …

…the right tools! I love my Epson portable scanner wand for slightly larger pieces of paper and anything I’d like to combine into a PDF, but lately I’ve been singing the praises of the good ol’ smartphone. Think about it: The resolutions we can now get on these cameras is pretty darned crisp! And did you know that the Notes app on iOS and the Dropbox app lets you scan and save within the opened app? Notes saves to your phone, and Dropbox immediately uploads to your personal storage. Clearing out anything with sensitive data? Make sure you have a shredder, a plan to drop a few bags off at a shredding service or, in a pinch, a plan to soak ’em all in water for a few hours. (And I always like to keep a list handy of how long to keep each kind of important document. Here, like this one!)

So…what to do with old love letters and these treasures NOW?

For a largely sentimental project like this, I just jumped in and sorted as I went. As I worked, I asked myself, is this a “forever” document? (Valentines from P.J., handprint artwork from my kids, my signed ‘Quantum Leap’ script?) If so, those (few!) documents went into a separate pile for that family member. Is it more a “my kids will love to see this when they’re doing Throwback Thursdays as adults?” Scan, baby, scan. The rest? (And you know what the rest is.) Recycle it, make it into a hat- whatever- just move it on out.

What about forever storage?

Depending on your desire to see these items on the regular (as well as any space constraints), here are some great options to store (and adore) your treasures:

Give each family member a scrapbook (or binder with plastic sheets!) to preserve those truly important items. If you keep it at a hard limit of one book apiece, it’s easier to make those hard choices. (Although, by this point in the game, you’ve probably realized how few things you truly need to have in your hands in order to appreciate.)

Take your favorite scans and create artwork or keepsake books for school years, vacation highlights, or whatever your newly decluttered heart desires.

And my personal favorite: Give each family member a tiny flash drive with their scans, separated into folders dated for each year. (You can go as label-happy as you’d like, but I’ve found that a simpler system- allowing you to easily access special things from year to year- works the best.) And make sure to have a backup copy of these scans on an external hard drive- two, if you can- and keep one with your important papers, preferably in a fireproof lockbox. I mean, you just did all of this legwork- back that data up!

Still with me, Joel?

Hella long story kinda short, go through those keepsake boxes and give a good listen to what your brain and heart are telling you. THAT is what to do with old love letters (and other sentimental paper accumulation). Is this a farewell tour for your memorabilia? Any chance you might want to glance at these letters in your dusty twilight and think to yourself- MAN, I was awesome? And sometimes- just sometimes- the act of scanning special papers gives you the baby step of safely saying goodbye (or so long for now) to stuff in a guilt-free way, leaving you lighter for the journey.

This li’l bit o’ zen was free. Happy hiking down memory lane!

Any paper clutter-clearing tips to add?

Comment below!

The post Dear Tidyish: What to do with old love letters (and paper trails)? appeared first on Tidyish.

Friends, I am a champion doodler.

I’ve been this way since my Lisa Frank-happy days of TrapperKeeper unicorn sketches…and I’m showing no signs of slowing down into my *cough* late 30s. (If I had a knee poking through the rip in my stone-washed jeans at preschool pickup, you bet your pink pacifier I’d be jotting something profound in bubble lettering on it.)

To that end, I am very excited to be playing with the new Chameleon Fineliners and their multitude of mixy-matchy color options.

So many of my clients are currently either living that Bullet Journal life…or feeling a tad intimidated about how to get started. Guys, these Chameleon Fineliners are PERFECT for your bullet- and other- journaling needs.

Lemme break it down:

These teensies are fine point. How fine point? Like, Japanese precision 0.3mm metal clad tip. Like, you could draw a tattoo on your best friend during study hall and her Mama would think it was real. (#Nirvana4Eva)

Even though the ink flows smoothly and freely, it won’t bleed through most papers. (Because it’s hard to look like an adult when you’re taking project notes and your recent penning of a narwhal shows through a page. Even if you’re not sorry about it.)

But my biggest reason to be enamored of these rainbow beauties? They’ve got a patented dual ink system, meaning there’s ink in the pens as well as the caps. What does that mean for you? Oh, it means you can stick a blue pen into purple cap (and hold it there for a few seconds) and then write a lavender-hued love note…which will automatically flow back into its normal blue after a line or two making you look like a wizard (in love).

There’s no end to the designs and lists you can make more beautiful with these pens. I personally find that it’s way more fun to stay on track with paper lists and journals when I use satisfying writing implements. (People either get what you mean when you say “satisfying writing implements” or they don’t. Know how to look for your people, people.)

And best yet? Even if you fall off the BuJo wagon…

…You’ve got resources to ensure your grocery lists will be the cutest things that checkout boy has ever seen.

Are you one of my doodle people?

Comment below!

The post Chameleon Fineliners are note-passing-worthy, regardless of age appeared first on Tidyish.

Magazines. Look, either you’ve read them or they’re in a stack because you’re not gonna read them. Share these with collage-happy classrooms and carpool-bored parents alike. (But get them off your floor, please.)

Shopping bags. Why are these so hard to get rid of? Yes, they’re cute, and yes, they’re great for the environment, but there are only so many things we can tote around in a given week, you know? Keep seven of your favorite, donate the rest…and watch as three more enter your life this weekend.

Department store bags. This makes sense- to a point. After all, you probably spent enough money on something to warrant its own fancy bag…but unless you’re using these in the same capacity as a canvas tote (which you’re not, because= expensive product from store bag), recycle them, or start giving things away in them. (Maybe unread magazines to a pal?)

Pencils. Unless you’re actively proctoring an SAT exam in your living room while I type, I can guarantee that you’ve got too many pencils living at your house.

Half-empty shampoo bottles (…from those times you tried new products, didn’t super-duper like them, and proceeded to shove them in the back of your shower/bathroom closet/under-sink area).

Coffee mugs that a) you don’t know where they came from, b) you *do* know where they came from and it’s not a great memory, c) have chips or fading, d) you don’t absolutely love. Life is way too short for coffee mug ambivalence.

Towels with stains or frays. Unless you’ve got a slew of muddy puppies coming in out of the rain, share them with pet shelters! (And then take pictures, because #puppies and #kitties.)

Cords and chargers for electronics you haven’t owned since tiny backpacks were all the rage.

Kitchen utensils that you’ve never used, never liked, or never even realized were there until you/we took a good, hard look. (Why, tiny whisk, why.)

Throw pillows that don’t really do it for you anymore. (Here’s a low-stakes experiment: Remove two throw pillows from your couch and go about your day. Later on, check in with yourself and see if you missed them/if it doesn’t look just a li’l bit tidier without them, or if you had to remind yourself to even check back in. These are all “tells.”)

Sunscreen over a year old. (After the expiration date, it literally just becomes old, heavy moisturizer. Get rid of it!)

That pile of things in the corner of your kitchen that you keep meaning to fix. Especially since they’ve lived in that pile longer than anywhere else in your home.

Mismatched socks. (Hey, did you miss National Lost Sock Day yesterday? Yep, now you can grieve ’em and toss ’em- even a day late.)

Keep it going- what items are so easy to get rid of?

Comment below!

The post 13 things you can get rid of * right now appeared first on Tidyish.

Mistake #1: Buying the wrong size bins

Listen, I get it! If you think I’m gonna pass judgement on anyone who’s ever walked into The Container Store for one drawer organizer and left with a wholly matching (and ridiculously adorable) set of storage baskets, then you are incorrect, sister. There’s something so appealing about buying new bins at the onset of an organizing project! That said, it’s totally setting you up to fail. I know, I know, I know. I didn’t want this one to be true, either.

Here’s what to do instead:

Do the darned project first. (I know, I know, I know.) Get those piles sorted, do every last bit of your decluttering, and then measure (and measure again) for the correct storage options to use in your fresh & so clean clean spaces. Truth time: If you buy ’em first, you run the very real risk of shoving entirely too much stuff into a small bin (and causing another clutter pileup) or storing smaller items in a whopping bin, potentially losing them forever. Buy your baskets and bins last!

Mistake #2: Using the wrong material for your storage

Sounds bonkers, but this is an actual issue that comes up again and again! Sure, those soft-sided, cutely patterned bins are great for aesthetic appeal, but if you’re trying to shove a Costco-sized box of Cheez-Its (for- ahem- example) into a droopy container alongside cans of soup? MAYHEM.

Here’s what to do instead:

Hard, tall-sided storage containers are the best way to contain bulk food and household goods, while canvas and its buddies are good for linens, fuzzy toys, and things that don’t need to be squeezed or stacked on a shelf. Glass and clear plastic is best for stuff you need to see on the regular- and actually plan to keep sorted!

Mistake #3: Never, ever using labels

I get it. Sometimes over-labeling can be just as obnoxious and hard to maintain as having zero labels, but a happy middle-ground exists. (I promise it does.) Wide open baskets for shoes? No brainer. You don’t need a label. (You don’t.) But if a shared entryway requires the littlest members of the family to store (and find!) their own mittens- you’re gonna need to label. Same with playroom bins, same with next-size-up clothing, same with winter gear, and same with anything you can’t point to and immediately know its contents. (Looking at you, Tupperware of tea bags.)

Here’s what to do instead:

Worried you’re not the Pinterest-y, hand-written calligraphy type? No worries, Sharpies work for virtually everything, as does card stock secured with twine, as do peel-and-stick labels, as does that incredibly satisfying plastic label maker that’ll let you emboss everything from ribbon boxes to the dog’s face (but don’t).

Mistake #4: Asking way too much of your closet storage

Say it with me, friends: A walk-in closet is not a laundry chute. If you can’t reach the back of it, it’s not exactly “walk-in,” is it? Conversely, if you’ve got a tall, skinny closet and jam all of your squat, bulky storage into it, you’re setting yourself up for a quick trip to Tears City (Population: You).

Here’s what to do instead:

Use the space you’ve got wisely. Tall closets? Build up, pals. Keep as much off the floor as humanly possible! (Piles breed piles; they’re like crumbs attracting ants. Don’t let ’em even start.) If skinny and shallow is the name of your storage game (as opposed to a reality show contestant), find containers tailored to that size and space- and declutter accordingly.

Or, my personal favorite: Hit up your favorite organizer to do it for you. (Hey, I know one!)

The post 4 storage mistakes I don’t want you to make! appeared first on Tidyish.

Random question: I have old photos that smell bad. (Dad smoked and there’s just that “old smell.”) What do you think? Do you have any ideas for my dilemma? -Jill S.

Dear Jill,

First off- I’ve wanted to be an advice columnist since I read my very first Dear Abby in the mid-80s. (So, uh, thank you.) And hoo boy, do I definitely have ideas for you! There are so many great products on the market for removing cigarette smoke and other bad odors (my recent write-up of the fantastic Hello Freshies comes to mind), but if you’re feeling a li’l DIYish, try these on for size:

Baking Soda. (What doesn’t baking soda do?) Place an open box of baking soda inside a large plastic bag alongside the photos laid flat- a sealable gallon bag works well, but so does a garbage bag knotted up if you’ve got a bunch of photos to work with. Give it a couple of days to remove any bad smells- longer if necessary!

Dryer sheets. Same plastic bag deal, but sub in any unscented dryer sheets (although scented would definitely get the job done faster!), and layer in the photos. I like this method for removing cigarette smoke a ton because of its foolproof/spillproof nature, and you’ve got nothing to lose by leaving them in a day or two more if needed.

Charcoal briquettes. Charcoal is a powerhouse odor-eater, and I highly recommend this for bigger photo/paper/book de-smoking. Get yourself a plastic bin with a tightly fitting lid, toss in a few charcoal briquettes, and layer the photos with a few newspaper pages. A bigger job like this might take the better part of a week, but charcoal definitely eats smoke (and burgers) for breakfast.

Kitty litter. Depending on your level of squeamish, (totally unused) kitty litter works in a pinch. Think about it: Those things were literally invented to absorb odor! Place a thin amount of the stuff in a sealable box and layer the photos, picture-side up. Seal that box and instruct any resident cats to go elsewhere, you guys.

Good luck, Jill, and many sweet-smelling photos to you!

Got a question for Tidyish?

Comment below!

The post Dear Tidyish: Removing cigarette smoke from old photos? appeared first on Tidyish.

*****

It’s no secret that I really, really love small cleaning gadgets and tools. And one of the grossest- and probably least sanitized- things in our daily lives is the smartphone. (When’s the last time you really cleaned the dang thing? …I’ll wait.)

May I introduce my new excellent friend HÄNS? Oh, you’re gonna like him. The HÄNS Swipe-Clean is a tiny li’l miracle cleaner in your pocket. With its innovative two-sided design, here’s what I like best about this small guy:

The HÄNS Swipe-Free:

…Actually fits in your purse or pocket or glove box or anywhere you’ve happened to reach while thinking “Gosh, do I have anything with which to wipe off this unnamed crud from the screen I rest against my face?

…Is satisfying to use! Pop off the cap on the top end and gently scrub the device screen with the wet applicator, re-cap the top and open the bottom for a fun squeegee session, and live out your service station windshield-wiping dreams. (Bonus points for symmetrical wipe lines.)

…Is reusable, refillable, and eco-friendly! Extra cleaning solution (sold separately) can be added to the applicator side, and the microfiber end is re-foldable, re-tuckable, and entirely washable! (Fun fact: Did you know that, when used with cleaning solutions, microfiber cloths have been shown to pick up 99.99% of germs? Whole lotta germs, right there.)

Oh, and this is for my germaphobes out there: The cleaning side is loaded with antimicrobial powers (and nano ions!!), yet it’s still free from harsh chemicals!

Because I love you guys, I created a short video wherein I thoroughly sanitize my iPhone with the HÄNS Swipe-Clean…

(…And then I thoroughly cleaned the iPad with which I shot the video because= follow through.)

Quick poll: When’s the last time you wiped down your phone?

(Zero judgement.) Comment below!

The post The HÄNS Swipe-Clean keeps your stuff germ-free! appeared first on Tidyish.

Tidy tip #1: Feather your nest

Crisp new sheets, softly scented pillowcases, and a fluffy comforter tucked snugly across the bed- heavenly, right? (Right.) It’s a little startling how transformative a freshly made bed is for your mood and the general feel of the room. (Maybe it’s because you know that bedtime- whenever the heck that’ll be- will feel a little more purposeful and luxurious?) So make your bed! And make it like a magazine is gonna come feature it on their cover.

Got a few more minutes? Steal the “good pillows” you give to guests and swap ’em in for yours (and then buy new guest pillows!), remove any kids’ toys, pet accouterments, and late-night snack evidence from a 5-foot radius, and then make sure that every last blanket and fluffy object on the bed does exactly what it’s supposed to do. (Read: Thrill you down to your toes and all of the way back up to your sleepy head.)

Tidy tip #2: Line ’em up

This one takes a sec longer, but is pivotal for feel-good flow: Make sure your every day plates and glasses are in the right cabinet. Seems silly, because why wouldn’t they be? But if you think about it, most items in your kitchen live where they do because of a split-second Moving Day decision. Take a moment and really look at the hows and whys of your kitchen use. Shouldn’t the mugs be closer to your coffee pot? Dishes where you plate up the food? Line up the glasses you reach most often for right in the front of your most accessible cabinet (and maybe hit your 8 glasses of hydration a day).

Got a few more minutes? Weed out anything that has chips or hairline cracks, things that don’t quite fit your aesthetic or lifestyle, and the pieces that never get any love- yep, even if they’re part of a set.

Tidy tip #3: Hit the showers

What’s the best thing about being at a spa? (Besides the massages, helpful staff, and zen-like silence?) The luxuriously pared-down bathroom space. You can fake it at home! Start by taking everything out of your shower. Yep. Everything. Yep- those too. Unless you’re already really, really good at this game, you probably have a few types of shampoo and conditioner, sample sizes of rando products, razors, loofahs that’ve seen less germy days, and stalwart (and tired) li’l slivers of soap. Everybody out! The only items that go back in are daily use toiletries that you actually like. Toss anything old and grimy, and aim to keep the bottles to a minimum. Things you use less than once a week? Those can take up real estate in a mirrored cabinet or bathroom drawer.

Got a few more minutes? Scrub (or at least spray) the shower with white vinegar, wipe down the shelves and bottles, and make sure the shower head is flowing freely. (If not, white vinegar can help you out there, too!) Final step: Spritz your favorite essential oil in the shower or mix it in with all of that vinegar. Feelin’ zen yet?

What’s your fave spot to tidy for instant impact?

Comment below!

The post Tidy these spots and lift your mood! appeared first on Tidyish.

I seriously love winter- at least the nesting and snuggling parts. The lingering smells of all that togetherness? Um, I could do without those. Here are 3 current faves to eliminate the stinky- and get back to the good- stuff.

There are many things to love about eucalyptus branches; for starters, they’re probably the most natural of all natural air fresheners. Plus, these hardy stems make even the blackest thumbs among us look like we’re a-ok with plant life. They’re a great- and beyond easy- way to freshen up tiny spaces, too. (And at under 5 bucks a bunch at places like Trader Joe’s, they’re cost effective!) Stick some in a skinny vase on a bathroom shelf and enjoy the natural deodorizing- and when the leaves start to wilt in a few weeks? Dry ’em out, bundle ’em up, and hang ’em from your shower rod. Boom- you’re now in a spa.

You know how some spaces just smell old? Before you invest in a truckload of incense, try placing a small, high-sided bowl of white vinegar anywhere you need to de-must. This is perfect for old bureaus, attic corners, even closets. (Just, ah, make sure to let people know you’re doing this to avoid the ol’ “why did I kick over a bowl full of vinegar” scenario.) Not a fan of having your home smell like salad dressing? Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Lemongrass and I are having a real love affair over here and I don’t care who knows it.

And you know I’ve got one ready-made, cutie pie solution for you, too! Have you heard of Hello Freshies? These bamboo charcoal air purifying bags are completely chemical-free, non-toxic, and wholly effective. So how do they work? Place your bags in direct sunlight for two hours to “activate” the powerhouse Moso bamboo charcoal, then use these li’l guys in closets, dressers, bathrooms, refrigerators, gym bags, cars- you name it. (They even make a tiny version for inside shoes and boots!) I love that they reduce mildew, too, and can help keep airborne allergens at bay. Recharge them in sunlight once a month and they’ll keep going strong for 2 years! (Natural air fresheners that are a) powerhouses and b) require very little time or attention? I’m in love.) And when you’ve used up every last bit of odor-fighting awesomeness, these eco-friendly household helpers can be cut open and added directly to your soil. Veggie gardens love charcoal!

It’ll be springtime soon enough, pals. Until then…happy fresh air hibernation to us all!

Do you have a tried-and-true indoor scent saver?

Comment below!

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