Tricks of the Trade

One of my new blogging partners, Aimee, from The Mommy Trade has a weekly segment that she has entitled "Tricks of the Trade". She gives great tips for everything from organizing, cleaning, shopping, etc. She has graciously agreed to share her tips with ClipperGirl readers. This is her post from last Tuesday, January 5:

The new year is finally here! Are you starting the get the feeling like you want to do some spring cleaning? I know that I am! I haven’t jumped into it yet but I thought I’d share with you a list of to-do’s that are good to do at the start each new year. Hopefully this will help you get things in order for the new year!

» Change the batteries in your: Fire Alarm, Alarm clock, emergency flashlight
» Check/replace air filter in your furnace/ac
» Schedule your annual medical checkup
» Schedule your annual dental cleaning
» Throw out expired items: Rx, food in your refrigerator /pantry
» Check first aid kit and family medicine cabinet. Inspect use-by dates and remove all out of date medications. Check for any regularly used medications that are likely to run out in the near future and restock.
» Clean out your closets and give away anything you haven’t used/worn this year:
Are there any items that haven’t been worn over the past 12 months? If the item has been overlooked because it needs repairs or cleaning, take care of this. If it no longer fits or no longer appeals, consider donating it to a charity or otherwise disposing of it. Remove all items from shelves and the floor of the wardrobes and vacuum out thoroughly to remove dust or any pests.
» Transfer all special events to this year’s calendar (B-days, Anniversaries, etc.)
» Balance your checkbook & get your papers in order for taxes!
» Archive/backup computer files – pictures, banking files, etc.
» Check children’s shoes to ensure that they are still in good condition and fit well. Children don’t always let their parents know when shoes are starting to get too tight, and it is important for good development for children to be wearing shoes that fit well.
» Sort through children’s toys, removing any broken or damaged toys. This is often a good opportunity to clear out small toys that seem to collect, such as those that are given with fast-food chain children’s meals. If you child has a lot of new toys consider boxing up some of the old ones to bring out again in a few months.(Did this on Christmas to make room for all the new stuff)
» Flip or turn mattresses. Standard mattresses can be flipped over or turned 180 degrees to help improve mattress longevity and comfort. This is also a good opportunity to vacuum the mattress to reduce dust and dust mite build-up.
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I will be featuring Tricks of the Trade each week on Tuesday. Be sure to stop by Aimee's and say hello.