October - laundry room 5S

The laundry room is a closet that is actually used quite a bit in my home, but does not receive a lot of attention.  I currently store cleaning supplies and rags, as well as bulk supplies on the shelves above my washer/dryer.

1. Sort

Pull out everything you are storing and confirm it is all still useful and it is in the best place for point of use.  

Example:  each bathroom (or at least upstairs and downstairs) can have its own cleaning supply caddy, to ensure the tools are available at the point of use. 

Old or broken cleaning tools may need to be thrown out, replaced or relegated to the garage for cleaning car tires. 

Once detergent bottles are empty, throw them out or recycle them. If you have detergent samples, use them or donate them.  Those little packets just clutter up the shelves.

2. Scrub

Wipe down the outside of your washer and dryer. You can clean the washer with commercial cleaners specified for cleaning the machine or running 2 cups of vinegar through a complete cycle on the hottest setting.

3. Set

Put like with like, at the point of use.  Use bins or caddies to separate functional items. 

Laundry items (detergent, fabric softener, stain remover) should be together within easy reach of the washer. 

Extra cleaning products and sponges/brushes can be stored, but do not need to be as accessible.  

4.  Standardize

Label any misc bins (dog supplies, light bulbs, etc).

Designate a space and or quantity of spare supplies (ex. 4 packs of toilet paper). Each satellite location should have a minimum quantity as well, so once you run out in this location, you should have time to buy more before you run out in each bathroom. 

5.  Sustain

Dust the washer and dryer with a towel before you clean towels.

Revisit the storage areas quarterly for worn cleaning tools and to ensure you are replenishing supplies as needed. 

5S to Childproof

First of all, there is no ultimate solution for child proofing. As children get older, they learn how to manipulate any devices you use. So it is a continuous process.

Now that my toddler is taller, he can get in drawers and reach counters that I had not anticipated. So how can I use these areas for functional storage, without risk of injury or damage?

1.  Make sure all knives, flames and sharp objects are well out of arms reach. Put them on shelves or as far back for the counter edge as possible. 

2.  Do not put out anything that you will be devastated if it broke. Accidents happen and kids throw things sometimes. I have had to rethink decorations and some of those antiques may stayed packed away until my kids are bigger.  Plenty of time to take them out at a future date.

3.  When you "set" items in place, think about accessibility for the user, as well as for children. Instead of putting scissors in the junk drawer, maybe you can create a "office tool" station that is on a high shelf your children can not reach. 

4.  Create a space that is ok for them to access. In the kitchen, their plates and utensils can be stored where they can help set the table. In the bathroom, the bath toys can be in a cabinet they can reach.  Maybe there are some snacks it is ok for them to reach and some you want them to be ask for.

5.  Get your kids involved.  Let them pick out what should be included in "their" spaces.  It gives them some ownership and control.

As with any 5S activity, it is a process. Kids will learn and grow, but they will also be more aware of breaking things and boundaries.  Continue to re-evaluate as your family develops.

September - 5S Garage

Time to put away the summer toys and start thinking about those holiday decorations.  What a great time to sort through the garage, before it gets to cold.

1. Sort - A seasonal sort of the garage is ideal so you can pare down the toys that got broken and pack up the ones you will save until next year.  For this area, I would recommend being prepared with empty bins and bags as you sort.  Items in the garage tend to be big, so the sooner you can get rid of it or packed up, the easier it is to move forward in the process.  

My biggest problem right now is empty boxes.  We have a bunch of flattened boxes from our last move.  We have been thinking about moving again, so we have been hanging onto these boxes for two years.  Currently they are lining our garage.  Alternately, we could stack full boxes on top of them on the shelves.  Realistically we need to decide if we really need all of them and get rid of some.  It is often easy to check Freecycle.com to get boxes from others that just moved.

2. Scrub - Time to clear cobwebs and sweep the floor.  Wipe down shelves, as appropriate.  Also wipe down equipment and toys before you pack them up.  It is easier to clean them now than when you are unpacking to actually use them.

3. Set - Really think about what boxes you are going to need when.  Rotate last season's boxes to the back and next season's to the front.  Right now, Holiday boxes should be easily accessible, since winter is coming up fast.
A couple of storage ideas I have seen (on Pinterest, etc):
- Putting skinny shelves in between the two car spaces (2-car garage).
- Wall hooks for bikes, tools and storage baskets.
- Wall baskets or bins for kids toys (balls, helmets, jump ropes, etc)
Remember to put like items together.  Separate tools and garden implements from the kids toy areas.  Don't want them messing with the wrong bins.

4.  Standardize - visuals
In a manufaturing shop, they typically create shadow boards for hanging tools and equipment, so they can see if something is missing.  You can do the same with your tools and garden implements.  
Labeling is the other option.  This is most important for bins and boxes that may not be obvious at a glance.  We all know how annoying it is to sort through multiple bins trying to find that one set of special occasion silverware.  

Inventory the seasonal bins and label on the outside, so you can quickly review them before unpacking.  This is a good task to do before you pack them up at the end of the season.  You can also note on the list what may be needed next year.

5.  Sustain - The easiest time to rotate and revisit your garage is with the seasons. 
Fall - pack away summer toys;  unpack Halloween and fall/winter tools (rakes, shovels, etc).
Winter - Pack Halloween deco and prep Thanksgiving and Christmas/Hannukah boxes.
Spring - Pack Holiday boxes (be sure to note what may be noted next year);  Prep Easter stuff and gardening tools.
Summer - Unpack all the summer toys (esp. swimming, camping and picnic stuff).

Any other ideas for garage organization?

August -5S the kids rooms

Time to prep for school and make room for all the new clothes and supplies you are stocking up on. 

1. Sort

Clothes - starting with the closet is the first thing for me. I try to pare down my son's wardrobe at the end of each season, since he usually starts to grow out of things by then. As we near the end of summer, separate any clothes he/she will not be able to wear next year.  Keep a pile of shorts and short sleeves they may be able to wear in the next few warm weeks or month (these should be the favorites).  

Make sure you include the diaper bag or daycare stash. I usually have extra clothes in strategic locations and need to make sure they still fit. 

Re-evaluate the long pants and shirts to confirm they still fit, as we move into cooler weather.  Double check that you have enough coordinating outfits. 

Donate, sell or store (if you have younger children that may need them) anything that does not fit. This is the ideal time to trade in winter coats and holiday attire (including costumes) to used children/consignment shops. 

Toys - pull out all the toys and books.   Evaluate if they are still age appropriate. Depending on your child's age, involve them in the process to decide what items to give away or sell. 

Closet misc - I have used the upper shelves in my son's closet for storage of toys and books that he is not ready for yet. There is also a handful of baby items that I had not purged yet. Sort through it all and confirm what you want to keep for the future.

Changing table - I still have diapering to do, so I need to sort my changing table and make sure I have not cluttered it with items (such as old creams) that I no longer use. 

2. Scrub

Think spring cleaning. Get your kids involved to give them ownership of their space. 

Remember, everything should be pulled out of the room (except furniture) so you can get drawers and shelves clean. 

3. Set

Clothes - separate the clothes by season.  Put the summer clothes (that they will fit in next year) in a bin for storage. 

Some people organize by color. I usually organize by school clothes and play clothes. 

Toys- I have seen several other blog posts about rotating toys and games. I have also noticed that my son gets overwhelmed when he has too many toys out at once. So pack 3-4 boxes with a mix of toys, games and stuffed animals. Rotate one box out every week, to keep the choices interesting. You can even use the boxes as a toy box to put toys away daily. 

I have also tried this technique with seasonal decorations and activities. Every 3 months I bring out a fresh box of decorations and seasonal books and pack away the old. It gives the house a new feel to have changing decorations. Why wait until Christmas?

I have seen several ideas for corraling Stuffed animals, besides just a toy box.  Hanging nets seem to work well, positioned at child height. On Pinterest they have several ideas for "cages" that kids can pull stuffed animals out between slats, so they can reach the bottom and top of the pile. 

Future items -box up with a dated label

4.  Standardize

Clothes - I have not started it (my son does not care about picking out his clothes yet), but I love those days of the week organizers for clothes. It allows the children to be involved in outfit selection, but helps minimize the arguments in the morning getting dressed. At least that is what I assume. I will let you know when I get a pickier dresser. 

Start a household rule that something needs to go out when something new comes in. This could be clothes, shoes, toys or stuffed animals. This forces everyone to think about if a new item is worth getting rid of an old. 

5.  Sustain

Maintenance of the kids room is really a daily task. Kids should be involved in cleaning their rooms regularly. 

At least quarterly, you should work with your child to evaluate clothes and toys to see if there is anything they have grown out of or do not use anymore. This process sometimes entices them to use old toys again, so they may rediscover something. 

Any other ideas?

July - 5S the Pantry

My pantry is a set of cupboards near my kitchen. I use them for dry goods storage as well as non-daily appliances and reusable shopping bags. I have also started an emergency kit that I keep at the bottom. 

1. Sort

This is the fun part when you get to take everything out. 

Check dates and throw out expired food, vitamins, spices, etc. 

Start a donation pile for canned/dry goods that you never use. I know the intention was good when you bought them, but unless you decide to cook it this week, maybe it is better with someone else who needs it. 

If there are ingredients stored that you have been meaning to try, take the opportunity to plan a meal with them now. Leave them out and use them this week. 

If you store any appliances or extra kitchen gear, re evaluate if you still need them all. If you have not used them in over a year, it may be time to admit that you no longer need an espresso maker, etc. 

Misc-  I also store my reusable bags here, so I need to take them out and make sure they are all in good condition. It is easy enough to get new ones, so they should be tossed once they get holes. Luckily, that can be washed, if you use them regularly. 

2.  Scrub

Clean shelves and floor. If shelves tend to get sticky, use contac paper so they are easier to clean later. 

Wipe down appliances and wash, if you have not used recently. 

3. Set

Use bins for like items, especially those that do not stand up well on their own (soup, dry mixes, snacks). 

Store snacks and cereal at kid height, so they are easily accessible. 

Potato and onion storage

I have been having an awful time keeping potatoes and I do not have a cellar. Here are some tips I gleaned from the Internet: 

- Do not store potatoes with onions. 

- Potatoes do well when stored with an apple. 

- Potatoes should be stored dry. To help provide air circulation, put in a drawer or basket lined with newspapers. 

- Onions also need ventilation. They can be stored in a mesh bag or tied individually into stocking hose (check out this clever idea on Pinterest).

Move shopping bags to the car. Designate other uses for the bags (library books, etc). 

Wash shopping bags regularly (especially when used for dairy or meat).

4. Standardize

I have seen several suggestions for keeping an inventory list inside the pantry door. Take a count of your key consumables on a weekly basis. Designate a minimum quantity you want on hand before you buy more. 

Example:  minimum 4 cans diced tomatoes, 2 cans beans, 2 packets pasta. 

5.  Sustain

Since we all have items that we buy with great intentions, but get moved to the back of the cabinet, inspect your pantry monthly for any untried ingredients and try to make use of them. I have been attempting this with my freezer, as well. At the end of the month I pull out the meals or veggies I have stored up and plan meals around them. It saves money and keeps things in rotation. 

Your Emergency kit should be inspected quarterly to keep the water fresh and food within expiration. I will post more ideas on emergency kits in the future. 

June - 5S the office/study

For me, this means the desk, bookshelf and file cabinets where I work from home one or two days a week. 

1. Sort

Desk

Time to dump out the drawers and throw out the random trash that tends to clutter up. Get rid of old pens and other broken or unused supplies. You only really need a handful of pens, so consider donating the excess to a school or charity. 

File cabinet

The desk is probably the easy part;  sorting paperwork is much more daunting. Start by reviewing the recommendation for how long to keep documents. Then sort into general piles, like financial, health, work, personal, etc. (we can get more specific as we "Set" back in place). 

Save recommendations:

Tax documents and annual financial summaries - save for 7 years

Retirement planning, tax returns - save forever

Expired cards, credit card and bank statements - Shred

Keep in mind what you can access online.  No need to keep paper copies when you have soft copies online. 

Bookcase

This is also a difficult area for me, because our family loves books. Regardless of the fact that my husband has an e-reader that he uses daily and we go to the library every week. My son has so many kids books, I have started rotating them every week, so he feels like he is getting fresh books regularly.  So I have to really consider if the books we have will be read again (or ever), or if they are better in someone else's hands. You can test this by rotating some of your own books out for a month to see if you miss them. I have also tried bringing books to my bedside to see if I would still be interested in reading them. If I start them, but tire quickly, I will put them in the donation pile. 

Keep in mind, the library is always a great place to borrow books if you decide to read it later. Most timeless classics are also free on e-readers. 

2. Scrub

Clean out drawers and shelves.  Wipe down the top of your desk and work areas. 

While empty, move furniture and clean behind, if possible. These areas are often hard to reach and do not get attention. 

3. Set

Desk

Decide what you really need at hand at your desk and keep it on the desk or top drawer. There are plenty of desk caddies out there, but the top of the desk can get cluttered quickly. 

At my work, we have an open office environment and we do not have assigned workspaces. Besides a keyboard and mouse, I keep most of my supplies in my laptop bag (pen, notebook, etc). This forces me to be extra savvy about what I really need. 

If there are generic supplies that you use every once in awhile (stapler, tape, etc), those can go in a drawer, out of the way. 

Our other challenge is that we have small children that like to explore drawers. We use child locks, but have not found an effective device for the desk drawers yet, so we sometimes need to get more creative about where we place supplies (in closets or on high shelves).

File cabinet

Find a system that works for you. I used to separate my financial documents in multiple files, but have started simplifying, since so much of it is online now. 

A couple recommendations from justorganizeyourstuff.com

Everyday file - current year records and frequently accessed.

Reference file - accessed when needed.

Important file - previous tax records (accessed infrequently). 

Vital file - vital documents, keep in a safe place. 

Bookcase

I have seen examples of artistically organized book shelves. Putting books of similar colors or heights together, looks more pleasing to the eye. You can also arrange keepsakes and knic knacks strategically with groups of books for aesthetic value. 

Like I have said before, do what works for you. I like to organize my books by genre (leadership, organizing, travel, cooking). I put the kids books on low shelves that they an reach. I put the special books high, where they can not reach. 

4.  Standardize

Paper clutter can build up fast, so plan a system for sorting the paper (mail, receipts, etc) as soon as it comes in. 

When paper comes in, consider:

Do you need this? (tax paperwork, reimbursements, bills - take action or file).

Will you use this? (Reference docs or articles - take action, file or scan).

Does it make you smile? (Kids artwork - frame or scan).

5.  Sustain

Target clearing your work space weekly. 

The filing system should be reviewed monthly and fully cleared out after tax time. 

Good luck and let me know if there are other ideas that work for you. 

May - 5S Bathroom

Bathroom cabinets are a place I tend to build up clutter. I start stockpiling soap, random bath gifts and those mini shampoo and lotions from the hotel. When it comes down to it, how much of it do you use?  Plus the bathroom counters can get cluttered quickly. 

1.Sort - take everything out of cabinets and drawers. 

Throw away old toothpaste missing caps, expired medicines, old nail files and dried out makeup.  

Organize like items together. 

- Are you really going to use all those mini soaps and samples?

I put all my samples and mini toiletries together to create a visitor stash for the spare bathroom. Anything extra and unopened can be donated. 

- evaluate your makeup and hair accessories.  Do you use all of the colors and styles, or is some of it outdated. Makeup has a shelf life. It is suggested you only use eye pencils and mascara for 3 months. Everything else is about a year. If you are not using it up in that time, you probably don't need it. 

Stick to the motto of "use it or lose it."

- do you use all the appliances (razors, hair prep, etc)?

2. Scrub - wipe down the drawers and cabinets with a little baking soda and water. That will cut down odors and should not react with chemicals you have stored there. 

3.  Set - put together bins of items you use daily. 

Like items (haircare, travel. Etc) should be with like items. 

I have one bin for my morning routine (moisturizer, deodorant, brush) and one for night (face wash, moisturizers, toothpaste, toothbrush, floss).  I have a separate bin/organizer for makeup.

In the medicine cabinet, put together kits for specific needs (first aid, cold, pain, stomach). 

Other kits can be created for specific purposes, like nail care, shaving, feminine hygiene, cleaning. 

I also pack travel kits with duplicates and/or smaller versions of my daily use items so I am ready to pack quickly. 

These do not need to be as accessible as daily items, but organized in a way that you can find them.  

Your bathroom counter can remain uncluttered, if you use your storage wisely. If you do not have room in the bathroom cabinets for some of the extra kits that I do not use daily (nailcare, travel bags), consider using hallway or closet storage.  Extra consumables (soap, shampoo, toothpaste) can also be stored in the hallway or even garage.  I try to put my daily bins under the sink, still accessible, but tucked out of sight. 

4.  Standardize - visual cues for your consumables

You should always have a minimum amount of toilet paper within reach of every toilet. My mother still likes to tell the story about the time my guest bathroom ran out of toilet paper. 

Now, when I pull the second to last roll out, I refill the cabinet with another four rolls. Not everyone in my family is that diligent, so I could mark those last two rolls, to remind them. I could also make a weekly toilet paper check part of my bathroom cleaning process (Sustainment). 

Similar minimums should be identified for soap, shampoo and other things you do not want to runout of. 

5.  Sustain - re-evaluate what you are actually using every 3months. Replace your mascara and eyeliner at the same time. 

Make sure counter clutter is reduced when you clean your bathroom.  This is my regularly reminder to get back on track. 

April - 5S dining room

Looks like I missed a couple months of posts, so I will play a little catch up. 

April I focused on 5S in the dining room. Part of that process was evaluating how to reduce waste, particularly with paper napkins and towels. 

There are two areas I am working on:
1. Napkins
Eating with a toddler can be messy business, but I am trying out cloth bibs for baby and cloth napkins for the rest of the family. I went shopping after the holidays and found some cheap placemat/napkin sets to use for everyday meals. Since it is just my husband and I, we do not go through them very quickly. 
I have a stack of washcloths that I use for wiping up baby and messes after meals and throw them in a wash pile each day. I have enough to last me a week. You can use baby washcloths, cloth diapers or rags. 


2. Paper towels
I used to lean on paper towels because they are easy. You can wipe up spills and throw them away without another thought. 
The trick to create an easy to use system with cloth, is to make rags and/or towels accessible and plentiful. I realized I had a lot of kitchen towels around that I never used. Once you clean up a spill, hang the towel in the laundry room to dry. I rarely have more than half a load at the end of the week. 

Next step for cutting waste in the kitchen/dining areas is reducing packaging. I buy a lot of high use dry goods in bulk at Club stores, but that usually comes with a lot of extra boxes. Granted, most of it is recyclable, but another option would be to bring my own containers and fill them at the bulk bins of the grocery store. I have not made any changes yet, just thinking about it. 

What waste reduction ideas do you use at home?

Waste in the Household

In honor of Earth Day, I have been thinking recently about the waste in my house and how to reduce it.

Lean principles are about reducing waste, in all forms. In a household, as in a plant, reducing waste means saving money.

So what types of waste can we look to reduce?

Utilities- utilities are some of the easiest areas to see the impact of waste reduction. Reducing your usage has a direct correlation to your bill.
electricity/gas
- think about devices that are left on when not in use. Lights, computers, etc. Turn them off when you leave the room.
- set your heat/cool temperatures and time appropriately. The house can be cooler at night and when no one is home.
- efficient appliances are an investment, but should help save money in the long run. Same goes for good double paned windows.
Water
- do not leave the water running while brushing your teeth or prepping for the shower.
- there are a lot of good low usage toilets out on the market now

Trash - as I hear of companies driving to zero waste, I have become more conscious of my own household waste. A majority of the waste in our house is packaging. Plastic bags and baggies as well as individual portioned containers. I have been trying to buy in bulk and split snacks and yogurt into reusable containers.
Recycling - obviously a better option than trash, but it is still waste and requires sorting and processing.
Extra stuff - only buy what you really need and use. Extra stuff is not only a waste of time, but clutters up your living space. Think about simplifying your living spaces (like 5S).

Time - this is the area that is sometimes hard to identify what the waste is and how to reduce it.
First step is identifying your priorities for your time (family, work, personal growth).
Then identify what to say "no" to.

When you realize you have been sucked into a time wasting activity (Facebook, net surfing, etc), try to replace it with something more important (to do list or interacting with real people/family).

Here's to new earth friendly habits!

5S- Living Room

I recently conducted a root cause analysis, using the 5 Whys, to identify some 5S opportunities in my living room.

1. Sort
Toys - we use our living room as a play area in the evening. My son just had a birthday, so we have a lot of new toys added to the collection as well. Sometimes the number of toys and puzzles is overwhelming and he can not focus on one game. What can we do to limit the toys?
A. Designate one weekend a month for donations. Pick a toy or game to donate, especially as they grow out of them.
B. pack toys away for specific occasions. Example: paint set that you get out on rainy days; ball and bat set that you take to the park;
C. Rotate toys in and out on a weekly or monthly basis (example: this week is trains, next week is shapes)
D. Create seasonal boxes that you open every 2-3 months. They can include seasonal books, toys and decorations. Before you open the new box, pack away last "seasons" items. This month I opened a Spring box, with Easter and St. Patrick's day decorations. It also had books about baby animals and duck toys, as well as plastic eggs. Now we can start practicing Easter egg hunts (which rarely gets old).

Furniture - it is a good idea to re-evaluate your room layout at least once a year. Change sometimes gives a fresh look and perspective.
Pillows are good for accessorizing, but think about how many blankets and pillows you really need in the room.

Decorations- this is obviously about personal style, but I have been trying a new seasonal approach to decorating and displaying items in the house. I have a lot of keepsake type decorations that I am not ready to get rid of, but can not be displayed at once. It is common to have several boxes of Christmas decorations, so why not seasonal boxes for the rest of the year?

Books- this is a hard one for me. We have a lot of books. Actually, I do not read as much anymore and my husband has an ereader, but we still have amassed a collection of favorite books over the years. Some of them are leadership books that I like to revisit every couple years. Some of them are technical books, that we may have used for reference early in our careers. Some of them are favorite fiction, that I want to share with our kids someday.
If you do not think you will reference or read a book again, get rid of it. There are many used bookstores that give you credit for used books. Remember, the library and the Internet are always available for reference in the future.
If you want to save books for the future, be realistic about quantity. Keep only your absolute favorites. The library will be available if you want to share the Narnia series someday.
As I sorted through our books, I also made the pledge to read more. There are several inspirational and fiction books that I keep meaning to read.

2. Scrub
Once you have mantels and bookshelves cleared, it is easier to clean and dust. Start at the top with dusting and wiping, then vacuum. Make sure to get under cushions and furniture as well. Who knows what else you will find under there.
Start the next steps when everything smells fresh and clean.

3. Set
I have been working on a vision for what I want my living room to look. It is the main room where we spend family time, so it needs to be functional, but I would also like it to be a calming sanctuary. Part of the calming effect should come from eliminating clutter, so I need to ensure that everything has a place and that it gets back in place regularly.

You can use shelves and entertainment centers for common items. Baskets or decorative boxes also work well. Try to limit what you keep in the room to items used daily. Non frequent items should be put into the closet or play room. See my idea above about rotating toys into the living room. Only one box at a time.

I found some good ideas for arranging a bookcase (to stylishly display books, photos and keepsakes) here: http://www.sasinteriors.net/2012/02/how-to-achieve-a-well-styled-bookcase/

4. Standardize
What visuals can you put in place to help family members remember where to put things back. Labels, either with words or pictures, work well. Remotes are a good option to have color coded or in a specific basket.

The living room is also an ideal place for aesthetic visuals. If it is truly to be a family sanctuary and/or a place to entertain, it should have a color scheme and visuals that make you happy and relaxed. Display pillows and throws that support your color scheme. Otherwise put them in a basket or closet. Arrange the shelves by color or only display complimentary colors to your theme (see some of the ideas in the bookcase style link above).
I am still working on this, since I have a hard time focusing on details outside the functional.

5. Sustain
Since the living room is used daily, it should be picked up daily. Make it a habit of putting things away before going to be bed. It should be part of everyone's bedtime routine.

Weekly - dust shelves and vacuum/swiffer floors. (Remember, the less clutter you have, the easier this will be).

Monthly - vacuum couches, dust/wash blankets & pillows.

Quarterly - consider rotation of decorations/toys. Could be more frequent.

One last reminder, there is not enough space for things in the house you do not use, so Use it or Lose it.

Root Cause - 5 Whys of cluttered room

The idea of Root Cause Analysis is to drive to the root causes of your problems, so you can address and eliminate the sources, rather than bandaid symptoms of your problem. It's like getting rid of weeds...you have to get the roots out or the weed will grow back.

There are different methods/tools of root cause analysis, but my favorite is the 5 Whys.
The process always starts with a problem statement. The more specific the problem statement, the better.

Problem Statement example: The Living room is cluttered.

Then you ask "Why?" And list out potential reasons.

Why is the living room cluttered?
1. There is too much stuff in the room.
2. There is not enough space in the room.
3. There are items that do not belong in the room.
4. No one picks up anything in the room.

After creating a sufficient list, you break each of those reasons down even further by asking "Why?"
This process is repeated for at least 5 levels of "Why?" Or until you have listed your answers to a root cause.
You then review the potential root causes and test or validate if they are true or not. Once you confirm your main root causes, you put an action plan in place to eliminate or address those root causes.
Ideally, this process is done in a group so you get a variety of ideas and inputs. Doesn't it sound like a fun family activity?

Here is my attempt to flesh out my clutter problem:
Problem Statement example: The Living room is cluttered.

Why is the living room cluttered?
1. There is too much stuff in the room.
2. There is not enough space in the room.
3. There are items that do not belong in the room.
4. No one picks up anything in the room.

1. Why is there too much stuff in the room?
1a. We have too many toys.
1b. We have too many pictures.
1c. We have too many knick knacks
1d. We have too many books.
1aa. The root cause of most of these is that we are emotionally attached and we are afraid we need them someday.

2. Why is there not enough room?
2a. The house is too small.
2b. There is too much furniture in the room.
Neither of these is a viable root cause, at this time.

3. Why are there items that do not belong?
3a. Family members do not put things away.
3b. It is not clear what belongs in the room.
3c. There is extra storage space in the bookshelf.

3a. Why are Family Members not putting things away?
3aa. They do not know where they go?
3ab. They do not care about the clutter.
3ac. They do not understand the consequence of leaving things out.

3aa. Why do they not know where things go?
3aaa. There is not a designated location.
3aab. The items are not needed (extraneous).
3aac. The designated location is not marked.
3aad. The designated location is not logical to everyone.

In this example, I only got through 4 whys and have highlighted some key root causes for clutter in the living room. Based on this exercise, I can develop an action plan to work with my family to 5S the room.

Sustain - bedroom closet

It has been almost 20 days since I started simplifying my closet, how has it worked?

Even though I only have 33 items in my closet, I still have plenty of outfits to wear for over a week, without feeling like I am duplicating anything. I moved all my summer clothes to another closet and will most likely be rotating some short sleeves in soon, as it warms up.

Sustain: there are several key processes that are part of my daily/weekly routines in the bedroom.
Daily -
1. Make the bed
2. Clear all counters (we have bins in the bathroom cabinets for daily toiletries).
3. Put all dirty clothes in the hampers
4. Pick out clothes for next day

Weekly -
1. Laundry, including linens

So, the next step is to revisit the process quarterly and revise if needed.

Next area is the living room.

Use it or Lose it (Accessories)

When I am 5S-ing an area and trying to decide whether to keep something, I use the "use it or lose it" philosophy. If I own something, it should be useful and be used. It should be something I am proud to wear or display.

Sure, there are items you save for emergencies, but those should be planned and deliberate and have a specific location.
I am talking about items that tend to turn into clutter...product samples, free stuff, extras in colors you do not wear.

Now that I have minimized my closet to 33 items, I can see what colors I wear most. I used this pallet to sort my jewelry and scarves and identify items that do not match any of my favorite outfits.

1. Sort - first I cleared out my jewelry boxes (yes, multiple; I love jewelry, even though I do not wear it all).
2. Scrub - I dusted them and got rid of any trash or lost beads.
3. Set- I started by putting back my favorite pieces that match the newly organized outfits in the closet. In the bracelet section, I included the matching earrings.
Jewelry is also a great decoration. You may want to keep the pieces you love displayed prominently in your room. There are a ton of DIY ideas for hanging jewelry storage on Pinterest.
One of my favorites has strings across a picture frame to hang earrings and necklaces.
I also liked the idea of re-using pretty teacups to hold sets of jewelry.

4. Standardize - I tried to put each color in a unique drawer or location. I reviewed the outfits in the closet and made sure each color was represented in the jewelry.
Seasonal jewelry (holidays) I am keeping in a separate section, to rotate in 3 months.

The remainder of the jewelry I reviewed again. I chose a couple pieces to try wearing this week, to see if I want to keep them. If I am not proud to wear them, there is no use keeping them in rotation.

5. Sustain - I may not be willing to part with all the remnants right now, so I will put them away and revisit in 3 months. Maybe a trend will spark a renewed love of abalone. Or maybe I will be ready to let them go.

Resolutions, Goals, and Priorities

What is the difference between resolutions and goals?
In my opinion, resolutions can be goals, but are usually not as clearly defined and often lacking an action plan. Without defining your goals and action plan, the resolution gets lost in your everyday life.

Goals
I have talked about SMART goals before. The SMART represents criteria to help define a clear goal:
Specific
Measurable
Actionable
Realistic
Time-Based

Once you define a goal that follows these criteria, you develop an action plan to support it. By breaking it down into small steps, you can steadfastly work towards achieving the larger goal.

During January, I followed a 30-day challenge for goal setting, by Chalene Johnson. The key takeaways I had from that experience are helping me build habits for consistent goal setting and progress.
1. Keep your key goal listed in an area that you will see it frequently (at the top of your to do list, on your screen saver, etc).
2. In addition to an overall to do list, keep a "Due Today" list of things that MUST get done. The list should include several small things from your Key Goal action plan. By keeping it short and simple, you should be consistently checking things off the list and feeling accomplished. By having a daily list, it forces you to review and re prioritize it every day, so it is top of mind.

To try it yourself, check out the free 30-day program at http://www.30daypush.com

Priorities
Theses are habits (creating and reviewing goals regularly and keeping to do lists), but there are still a limited number of hours to get things done in a day. Another new habit I am trying to maintain is doing the most important and impactful things first. I often get sucked into the mindset that I have to do everything ...and I have to do it well.
I have to keep reminding myself that i can not do everything, and there are some tasks that will not get much notice, regardless of the time I spend on them. I should be focusing on tasks that provide the greatest impact and benefit. If I want to be noticed at my job, I need to focus my energy on the projects that are the most visible or save the most money. I can not attend every meeting and get all my work done. I have to learn to say no. At home, I should spend time focused on my family, rather than trying to multitask too much.

It is not too late to start setting goals for the year and creating new habits. Don't we all want to make this year better than the last?

5S - Clothes Closet

This month (February) I am focusing on the bedroom. The area that collects the most clutter in my bedroom is the closet.

As I was researching some ideas for closet cleanup, I ran across a challenge called Project 333. It is a 3 month challenge to narrow your wardrobe to 33 items. The 33 items include shoes, jewelry and accessories (scarves, etc). It does not include undergarments, workout clothes and lounging clothes (that you do not wear out and about). The intent is to simplify your wardrobe to what you really love. Sounds like the perfect project to clean out your closet.

But first, lets follow the 5S system...

1. Sort
Time to get realistic about what you want to keep in your closet. You can pull out what you definitely do not want, but I like to pull everything out and then decide what to put back in.
- create a donation pile for anything that you do not ever wear or are ready to get rid of.
- separate seasonal items and put them in a bin or suitcase for later in the year.
- for project 333, you should pick out what you want to wear over the next 3 months. Everything else should be packed in a bin and not accessed until the end of the challenge. You can decide at that point if you want to keep it or not. This challenge lends itself to really thinking hard about if you really "need" things.
I do not know if I am ready to include jewelry in my 33 items, so I will try to focus on the clothing items and leave accessories for next time.

2. Scrub
While everything is out of the closet, dust shelves and corners, as well as vacuum.

3. Set
I have heard of several suggestions for how to organize closets.
1. By function (pants, blouses, dresses)
2. By color (red blouses, etc)
3. Working mom shortcut - I usually identify and separate the outfits I will wear to work for the week. This gives me one less thing to worry about in the morning.
Once you have your wardrobe narrowed down to 33 pieces, it should be easier to see it all.

4. Standardize
What kind of tagging can you do to make sure items get back in the right place?
- I have seen some DIY tags for the hanging bar, to designate what goes where.
- I will be labeling my clothes hampers for lights and darks. Lets see if my husband notices.

5. Sustain
I will check back in later this month to let you know how my Project 333 is going.

5S Under the sink

I have to admit, this is the area I am least looking forward to organizing. I am not a big fan of cleaning. I do dishes and laundry regularly, but only because they have to get done. Everything else tends to get procrastinated, just like my 5S of under the sink.

1. Sort
Start by throwing out any trash, old sponges and useless items.

Evaluate what has been stored under the sink and evaluating if that is the best location.
I have another storage area for cleaning products, so I will only keep regular kitchen items under the sink. Tools I use infrequently, I can put in the general area to keep the sink uncluttered.

Also evaluate the sink area. Do you use all the brushes and sponges? Are some getting old and worn and ready for replacement?
I sometimes use old kitchen sponges to clean car tires or other dirty jobs. If you want to save old sponges for other work, then move them to an appropriate area for that (like a car wash kit in the garage).

Once everything is cleared out, it is ready to clean.
While it is empty, it is also a good time to inspect for leaks or rust. If your under sink cabinet is too crammed, you do not always notice when there is a problem, another reason to de-clutter this area.

2. Scrub

3. Set
After clearing and cleaning, we are ready to Set items back under the sink.

If you decide to keep some cleaning supplies, corral them in a bin or bucket. I have also seen shelves or bars to hang the handles of spray bottles on the cupboard door. Make sure the items you use daily are easily accessible in the front.

I store the garbage under the sink, to protect it from our toddler. He likes to drop his toys in bins and I am not excited about digging them out. This takes up space, but keeps it out of sight. Make sure you buy a bin that is sized appropriately.
I will also be adding a mini recycling bin under the sink. The plan is to capture cans and bottles after use, but to dump it daily, so that the pile does not build up too much.

4. Standardize
What do you need to label and make more visual under the sink?

First, I think it is critical to be able to see if you have a leak. Hopefully, in the process of de-cluttering, you have room to see the piping.

You can label where things go. You can also label bins (like cleaning supplies). I plan to label which supplies are for which purpose (counters vs stove top).

How will you know when you need to replenish supplies? Will you have a min/max system? I just ran out of my main dish soap. I happen to have a small back up bottle, but I will put dish soap on my shopping list.
How many spare sponges do you want? You can put a note on the second to last one to remind you to buy more.

Color coding is also a good visual. If you use your own bottles, you can have a different color for each area or cleaning purpose. You can get sponges to match.
Example: blue for bathroom, green for kitchen.
OR blue for disinfectant/bleach and green for natural or general cleaning.

The key is to try out a method that makes it easier to know where things go and when they need to be replaced.

Kitchen - Sustain

Sustain is always the most difficult because it involves forming new habits. I have heard it takes 21 days to create a habit, so if we started on New Years, it should be getting easier.

Counter
You must get in a routine of clearing the counter every day and putting things away. I usually do this after I wash the dishes. Although I have not created a formal "command center," I have bins for both my husband and myself. At the end of the day I move anything left on the counter into these bins.
Although I started this process on my own, I have noticed others in my family putting things away more often. I also clear the living room of toys and books every night and now my toddler puts his cars away in the right bin...most of the time.
There are going to be days that slip. On the weekends, I am a little more lax about getting dishes done and counter cleared, but I make sure to get it done the next day.

I have mentioned that 5S is an iterative process. Part of Sustain is to evaluate how it is working. There have been a couple of instances that my husband could not find something or I forgot where I put the measuring cups. I made a mental note of that and am evaluating if I want to make adjustments.
The intent of this process is to create a place for everything at the point of use. If you can not find something, it is either in the wrong place or not labeled well enough (or you just need to get in the habit of looking in the new location). Re-evaluate your area after at least 21 days.

Another big key of Sustain is to develop a regular checklist of when to clean, inspect and revisit the area. I will be using the Real Simple app to create my checklists. I have one for weekly and monthly cleaning.
On a daily basis, I have a set routine:
- wash dishes
- clear counter
- wipe counter and sink
- prep lunches for the next day.

I am also updating my calendar (electronically and/or paper) to include an annual 5S and deep clean once a year (in January), as well as some quarterly reminders (like changing water filters).

In the end, you should waste less time looking for things and putting things away, because everything has a place and everyone helps put it back in its place.

5S Kitchen storage

1. Sort
Sorting is always the most cathartic step for me. It is when you allow yourself (or force yourself) to let go.

When tackling the kitchen counters, I had to address some of the cabinets and drawers as well. I found that there were things I kept on the counter because I did not think there was room anywhere else, so I would suggest emptying all your cabinets first.

1. Empty the drawers and cabinets.
Take stock of what you have.
2. If you have multiples, choose do donate some.
When sorting my utility drawers, I decided some of my extra utensils and devices could be used camping, so I added them to our camping box in the garage.
3. Throw away anything that is broken.
4. Add to the donation pile anything that you do not use.
5. Identify and separate things that you use every day (pans, tools, plates), what you use infrequently (special tools), and what you use once a year.

Once everything is clear, it can be cleaned.

2. Scrub
The cupboards and drawers should not be that dirty, so an annual wipe down should be sufficient. RealSimple.com suggests using a microfiber cloth and mild cleaner.
Use a hand vac to eliminate any crumbs.

Counters can be cleaned similarly. I usually use a disinfectant on my counters and sink daily, especially after preparing meat or fish.

Once the storage areas are clean and fresh, it is time to figure out what goes back where.

3. Set
When putting things back, think about where you use them and how often you use them.

Daily items should be stored near the point of use. Consider putting them on the counter, or most accessible drawers/cabinets. I put the big appliances that I use every day on the counter (coffee maker, toaster oven, hot water heater). Other items, like the crockpot I put in a low cabinet with other pots. I usually get it out the night before I use it, so it reminds me I need to put everything in it in the morning.

Special tools should be grouped with other like items (baking, BBQ, etc) and put on high or low shelves. Lighter things are easier to lift on high shelves. Heavier pots and pans are easier to place below.

With a toddler in the house, most of our cabinets have child locks, except for a couple drawers. Even so, I put all the knives and sharp objects on the back of the counter or in a high cabinet that he can not reach. I left one cabinet he can access with some extra plastic cups and wooden spoons.

Remember, 5S is a continuous and iterative process, so if it does not work at first, you can always move things around. The key is that everything has a designated location, so you know where to put it back.

4. Standardize
What kind of visuals do you need to make sure items are placed back in the right area?

If you are using bins for keeping related items together ( like baking items), you can put labels on those bins.

If you have a fancy coffee maker that you (or your husband) does not know how to work, you can post directions on an index card on the machine or in the box of coffee tools.

If you want to get really fancy, you can label locations for the items on the counter or mark the zones with different patterns of contac paper.

I have stated before that I am more concerned with function than aesthetics. Even so, I like to have some flowers or a plant on the counter. My husband just got me a hyacinth that should bloom for awhile, as long as I remember to keep putting water in it.

For now, I am going to evaluate the locations of my counters and cabinets before I do any more labeling.

The final step is the never ending Sustain.

Spice storage

Organizing my spices has been the most frustrating task so far this month. In the past I had enough room to line up the spices in alphabetical order in a cabinet. I like the alphabetical organization because it helps me find those seldom used spices quickly. But in our current house, I do not have as much space and my spices are all jumbled together, so here is some things I tried.

1. Sort
RealSimple.com recommends the following guidelines "whole spices are good for 3 years, ground spices for 2 years."
There are only a few spices I use frequently, but I do not want to discard all of the others so I have a little flexibility for new recipes. I threw out any I never remember using, or looked too old. I will re-evaluate after I get everything put together.

2. Scrub - quick swipe with a damp cloth.

3. Set
Here are some ideas I have seen around the web:
- put 12 most used spices in a drawer where you cook. Lay sideways or in a jar holder with easy to see labels. Store spice related gadgets in the same drawer (teaspoons, zester, etc) (RealSimple.com)
- use magnetic spice containers and attach to side of fridge or install a metal strip above the stove.
- use lazy Susan for spices, either in the cabinet or on the counter.
- make DIY spice rack on the back of the pantry door (not usually close to the cooking area, so recommend for spices that are not used regularly).

I tried using bins to separate the spices into logical groups (herbs, peppers, Asian spices, sweet/baking spices). It still seems cluttered and I have to take the whole bin out to find a specific spice, so we will see how it goes.

4. Standardize
- matching glass containers are more aesthetic and allow you to see when to refill.
- suggest labeling date opened, for some of the slow moving spices (which for me is most of them)

I am still working on this. I have a hodge podge of containers and brands and I am hesitant to standardize containers for the ones I do not use often enough. I will label the old ones and standardize as I phase those out.

5. Sustain
I will re evaluate the spice set up at the end of the month and add to my quarterly pantry date check.

Time-Motion Study - kitchen

You may have heard of the "kitchen triangle." It is the basis of most kitchen design.

Wikipedia
"kitchen work triangle: the three main functions in a kitchen are storage, preparation, and cooking...and the places for these functions should be arranged in the kitchen in such a way that work at one place does not interfere with work at another place, the distance between these places is not unnecessarily large, and no obstacles are in the way. A natural arrangement is a triangle, with the refrigerator, the sink, and the stove at a vertex each."

What I like about "the kitchen work triangle" is the science of efficiency. Some Industrial Engineers design work areas or processes to be more efficient, by reducing time and effort to complete tasks. Location of tools are a key part of that equation. So it sounds like kitchens should be designed this way as well. To make it easier to move between the three areas you use most in your kitchen.

If I were to do a Time and Motion Study in my kitchen, what wasted time and energy would I find?
My kitchen is a little cramped and my stove is right next to the fridge, which is not ideal. I do use the counter in between the stove and sink to prep, which gives me easy access to all 3 key areas.

Are all my daily use items within this triangle (between the fridge, stove and sink)?
Knives, cutting board, bowls, measuring utensils, spices, oil, pans, cups, plates...yes!
My silverware, on the other hand, is outside the triangle, but there is no good alternative in my current kitchen. Add that to the list of changes i would make i the kitchen.

The"kitchen triangle" is good to keep in mind when designating your "point of use" of daily/common items.

5S the Fridge

1. Sort
I started out Sorting and clearing out my fridge before we went on vacation over the holidays. I was trying to use up all the perishable items, so it was a good time to get it as empty as possible.

First I targeted dairy products. Those are usually easy, since they have dates on them and they smell bad when they are past their prime.

Next I took a look at the sauces. Many of them I have only used once in the past year. I store them in the door, so unless a recipe specifically calls for them, they can be forgotten. I cleared out some and made note of others so I can use them in recipes.

Eggs - There is a best by date on eggs, but I do not use them frequently enough, so i need to look for recipes (like frittatas) so I can keep rotating them.

Surprisingly, I found some interesting things in the freezer. Since we buy a lot of bulk frozen veggies and fruit, smaller items have been forgotten about. Although food lasts longer in the freezer, it does not last forever, so dating frozen food will be part of my Sustainment going forward.

Finally, take a look at the outside of the fridge. Reducing the magnets and posts on the outside will make it look more presentable and organized. I am all about function, so I have been using my fridge as a "Command Center." I post my meal plan, shopping list, notes to my husband, as well as extra magnets on the fridge. I am now removing them and will work on a separate "Command Center" location in another part of the dining room/kitchen.

2. Scrub
Scrubbing is pretty self explanatory. It is a good idea to empty and clean your fridge once a year.

Annual Cleaning ideas from Martha Stewart (www.marthastewart.com):

Defrost refrigerator and wash shelves at room temperature.
Use a baking soda solution to clean inside refrigerator (2 tablespoons baking soda to 1 quart water). Regular cleaning products can leave a chemical odor that may be absorbed by food (Yuck!).

Clean outside of fridge ,especially handles.
Check door seals and replace as needed.
Replace filter and note when it should be changed next.

3. Set
There are a lot of organizing websites and blogs that go all out in the fridge. They use containers and labels and it looks fabulous, but no matter what you decide to do, it needs to be functional and sustainable for you.

Think about the things you use most (milk, juice, etc) and make them easily accessible on the main shelf.
Put like items together, so you can grab them together. You can use a bin or just designate a shelf in the door (example: sandwich spreads and condiments, dressings, snacks).

I sectioned off my freezer so that meats are on the bottom, then frozen veggies, then quick meals (single serve lunches) and frozen fruit and sweet stuff on top.

Here are some suggestions for storage locations within the fridge (from Healthy Chiquita blog):
- Separate fruits, vegetables and meats in different drawers, so there is no contamination.
- Put meat on the bottom shelf, to prevent it dripping and contaminating other food (I have started putting my thawing meat in another container, because the packaging sometimes leaks).
- Store milk and other perishables in the main part of the fridge where it stays colder. The door tends to get warmer than the rest of the fridge and should be used for items at less risk of spoilage.

4. Standardize

Standardizing is about the visuals. You want others in the family to be able to know where things are and put things back in the correct place.

1. Labeling areas or bins
If locations are not obvious, you can use labels for the designated areas and storage bins.
You can also use lines to separate areas in the fridge. Thin drafting tape usually works well. I am considering using this method for the lunch shelf, to separate each family members designated area.

2. Dating for proper rotation (First in, First out)
After shopping, you should put newer items in the back and the oldest items in front.
For items in the freezer, it is a good idea to date them so you can use the oldest first.
Throw out leftovers after 4 days.

3. Min/max - when to buy more.
For certain items that are staples or you buy in bulk, you can use a min/max system to trigger when you should replenish and buy more.
Max refers to the maximum number of items you ever have on hand.
Min is the minimum number you have on hand when you want to be buy more.
Example: When we get down to 2 half gallons of milk (min), we buy another 6 half gallons at Costco (we have a growing boy; Just wait until he is a teenager). Our max is 8 half gallons.