Cleaning Tips

With a display as pretty as this one (can you believe the frame is from IKEA?), you’ll always remember to hang your favorite hoops and studs side-by-side.

If your kid’s got a friendship bracelet habit (or if you love to craft) keep loose embroidery floss from turning into a gnarled pile by wrapping and securing it around clothespins.

Two smartly spaced coat hooks are all you need to hide your ironing board behind your laundry room door, and still gain easy access when it’s time to combat creases.

Tiny clothes mean a two-tiered system can be totally functional (no maxi dresses skimming the floor here!). Hang a second rod or place shelves in the lower half of the closet to make it work twice as hard.

Small magnets securely hold your nail clippers and hair pins, and keep even the easiest-to-lose objects in plain sight. Washi tape adds a five-second decorative touch.

Magnetic discs (meant for keeping a handyman’s nails and screws steady), are great for holding bobby pins, paper clips and other metallic bits and baubles. Find them at a hardware store and spray paint them your favorite hue.

Your handy planner might be filled with tidy to-do lists, but somehow receipts, mail, and other scraps always end up at the bottom your purse. Glue an envelope inside the cover of your go-to notebook to create a place you can hide loose papers that you need to keep.

If it irks you to constantly reach past your husband’s sweet relish to get to your favorite mustard, consider placing a lazy Susan on a fridge shelf. Then, each condiment (or favorite soda or yogurt!) is only a flick of the wrist away.

Store wicker, iron, and other yard furniture in the garage or shed to prevent weather damage.