Happy Tuesday, friends!
Today, I sharing all the “T” things.
First up, it’s a TRAVEL TUESDAY all about Disney’s VIP Tours + it’s TIDYING UP TUESDAY!
A few years ago, I shared…
…this TIDYING UP TUESDAY POST all about quick and easy things to do around the house to make you feel a bit more “tidy” (without having to spend all day deep cleaning).
I don’t know about you, but my personality type is the kind where if the project seems too time consuming/complicated/long, I’ll just skip it. Often, I’ll look at a closet and think “I should organize that” but in my head, I know that’s like a two hour ordeal, so instead of conquering it (or conquering even a portion of it), I just shut the closet door and walk away. I don’t know about you, but I can get overwhelmed with big projects around the house.
THAT BEING SAID, I always feel SO GOOD when I “tidy” up something even if it’s small. Even the smallest little thing puts an extra pep in my step.
While I understand that some projects absolutely require a lot of time, I get satisfaction out of accomplishing some smaller things. I’m going to share FIVE THINGS I have tidied up recently. They were all crazy easy but left me crazy happy.
After I share mine, can you please share yours too?
Maybe you’ll motivate me to tidy up a bit more today too?
Here’s what I tidied up…
#1: MY MAKEUP DRAWER
This took me like five minutes and made such a big difference. I tossed expired products, broken items, empty things, and pieces I just know I’ll never need/use/wear (probably expired) as well. I also took my washcloth from that morning and wiped down the inside of my drawers too. Now, when I pull them open, it feels clean, tidy, and it’s easy to see exactly what I need.
#2: I CLEANED ALL OF MY MAKEUP BRUSHES
I always, always, always feel good about doing this and yet, I always, always, always put it off. I got a glass from the kitchen, filled it with hot water and then just used a face wash to wash each brush. I layed them out on a towel to dry a bit before standing them upright in my emptied glass cup until they were completely dry. I always get so grossed about how about gross my brushes get and yet, I put off cleaning them way too long. It’s never takes as long as I think it will, and I always feel good pulling out clean brushes.
#3: THE CONDIMENTS IN THE FRIDGE
Instead of taking the time to overhaul the entire fridge, I just focused on the door with all of the condiments. I feel like I live a pretty put together life until I pull out condiments that expired in 2023. Why, why, why, WHY don’t I do this more often?
#4: MY DESK DRAWER
I always think my office is really neat and tidy, but when I took a few minutes to actually open all three of my desk drawers and clean them out, I found checks in there with my former address. I moved out of that house 13 year ago. I didn’t even have this desk 13 years ago. It’s moments like this when I question everything about myself.
#5: I WASHED MY ROBE
This last thing was probably my favorite…I washed my robe. I wear my robe EVERY SINGLE MORNING while I do my quiet time and yet, I don’t remember to wash it nearly as often as I should. It’s extra soft and fluffy now and smells oh so good. I told myself it’s getting washed at least once a week now. It was too easy and made me too happy.
And those are FIVE THINGS I’VE CLEANED RECENTLY that were all easy, not overwhelming, and brought me a bit of joy.
I would LOVE to know if there are some things you’ve quickly and easily tidied up recently. Inspire me please! I do so much better with smaller, more manageable little tasks like this.
Alrighty, after you comment, don’t forget to check out today’s TRAVEL TUESDAY all about Disney’s VIP Tours!
Happy TUESDAY, friends! xx
Elspeth Mizner says
These are all such great areas to clean! I recently cleaned out my car and then my purse! It made such a difference!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Diane Moore says
I love to tidy and organize! I went through all my decorative plates, trays, vases, etc and donated what I haven’t used in the 2 1/2 years we’ve lived in this house.
I organized a basket of miscellaneous things in my bathroom closet, a small drawer in my kitchen hutch, a refresh of my pantry, and my sock basket (I know that won’t apply for you!).
Tidying & organizing energizes me for the more mundane cleaning chores and just plain makes me cheerful! 😁
Kim B says
I cleaned our bedroom dresser last week! I got rid of extra socks (as someone who wears socks maybe ten times a year, I have no business owning two dozen pairs!) and folded all the shirts so they are easy to see. It felt good!
Kelly Sites says
I LOVE a tidy. I just sat down at my desk at work and dumped my entire purse out and cleaned the inside of it, and went through every single thing. I de-hoarded my makeup pouch with 27 lip balms and lip glosses and got rid of the ones I don’t reach for. Cleaned out my wallet and went through every single thing in it. I feel amazing and accomplished at 7 a.m. now. 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
Yay!!! Thank YOU for sharing! I love this!
Ashley adams says
I love this post!!! Please share more tidy up tuesdays! Just this morning before I took the kids to the bus I tackled the floor of my pantry where bulk boxes had accumulated. I put the Rice Krispie treats and individual bags of veggie straws in the proper basket and got rid of the boxes taking up so much room on pantry floor! And another day I cleaned out my “lounge set/comfy clothes” drawer. There was entirely too much black and I could never find matching sets. Took maybe 30 minutes and now I have things to donate, can see what I own, and the drawer opens easily. Win!
Mix and Match Mama says
Win, win, win!!
Allison says
YES to these!! In the same realm as the robe, the wide elastic headband/towel thing I wear every single day over my hair when I wash my face and do my moisturizer, makeup, etc. Washing that! I barely remember but it gets soap and makeup and facial sprays and everything else on it, and it feels SO good when I remember to wash that dang headband. Amen to the condiments.
Katie Compton says
I recently tidied up my sock drawer! I realize this means nothing to you (no socks Shay!) but it brought me great joy. 😊
Also, I am in need of a new soft and fluffy robe… do you have a favorite you would recommend?
Mix and Match Mama says
I cannot relate, but I appreciate 😉 . THIS ROBE, THIS ROBE! I’ve shared my love for it for YEARS! https://shopstyle.it/l/cx9eh
Dana P says
I love to organize anything that I have multiples of! Yesterday I went through my nail polish and entryway miscellaneous drawers, as well as random things that had accumulated in our bedroom. It feels so good! I truly think it must be a pretty good hormone hit or something, because it ALWAYS feels so refreshing to clean. Now if only I could convince my kids of the same thing…
laura says
Link to your robe?? I like cleaning my stainless steel appliances—they always look so much better!
Mix and Match Mama says
I have talked about this robe for YEARS (over a decade?!). It’s absolutely amazing! It’s here: https://shopstyle.it/l/cx9eh
Susan F says
I have a dresser in my closet where I had apparently accumulated ALOT of stuff 😂 This past Saturday morning I had enough of looking at it. I put everything away and my closet feels bigger! Other areas I have cleaned include under my kitchen sink and a small closet in my laundry room. I found cleaning products I never used and got rid of them. Feels so good to have just what I use in those spaces.
Paula Hobbs says
I love these type of posts. It’s a sweet reminder to focus on the little things rather than tackling an entire room, etc. Thanks, Shay! Happy Tuesday, everyone!!
Patti Kelso says
I went thru my spices recently and I am embarrassed to say I think I threw out at least a third of them because they were expired!! Now my issue is that I keep forgetting to buy replacements for them – when I’m making dinner and don’t have the (very expired) spice I was using before, I remember – oh yea, I need to buy a new one. Eventually I’ll remember when I’m actually at the store 🤣
Mix and Match Mama says
I AM DOING THIS TODAY!! Great easy clean up, Patti!
Dana P says
What changed my life for this kind of thing was that I started adding a note in my phone! So if I noticed a spice I needed to replace while making dinner, I just made a quick bullet point list and added to it as I thought of it. So basic, but it has helped so much! I have running lists of all kinds of things of things now- nail polish colors I already have, books I want to read, perfumes I want to check out…it’s one of my favorite things now! 🙂
lee ann vicary says
My granddaughter was at my house eating chocolate covered frozen strawberries and watching a u tube video about how to draw and instead of wanting her big suitcase of pens, pencils, crayons and markers – she went to THAT DRAWER in the kitchen – you know which one I mean – everyone has one. She started pulling out pens, pencils, highlighters, markers, etc. and to no ones surprise some of them didn’t work. I got her to throw all of them out and only keep the working ones.
So, that is my best cleanup, reset of a space tip – we laughed about how many of them were dead and why I had them still and now it’s clean. I told her dad about it a few days later and he could not believe she had done it for me without a fight and when was I going to get him to go through their drawer.
Mix and Match Mama says
We have that drawer too!! I love that your sweet granddaughter cleaned it. I bet you smile every time you open that drawer now.
Natasha says
Shaking out the rug in the entry way. It gather so much stuff on it, looks messy, and takes about one minute to fix.
Putting away laundry — WHY DO I AVOID THIS LIKE THE PLAGUE!?!?!? Again, it instantly tidies a room and doesn’t take that long. And yet I never learn my lesson and do it immediately.
Mix and Match Mama says
YES and YES! I love both of these things so much!
Debbie Hibbert says
My PURSE! I have a terrible habit of tossing pretty much anything, and everything, into my purse. Receipts, loose change, straw papers, mail … you get the idea. It always surprises me much more organized I feel when I tidy up my purse, and it takes maybe 5-10 minutes!
Mix and Match Mama says
That’s a good one to clean regularly!! Yes, yes!
Faith Kapp says
Yes and yes! I love to clean out and organize! My house has gotten out of hand this past week between traveling, ice storm, snow storm, two dogs in and out in the bad weather and I’m about to tackle all the things! BTW I’m shocked you have a check from 13 years ago 😅 but it makes me feel better about myself.
Mix and Match Mama says
Me too! I think it’s because I just don’t write checks any more. Honestly? When do I ever write a check? I never even think about it!
Ranisa Brletich says
I had gotten out of the habit of cleaning the fridge out before grocery shopping. I am back at it. It seriously takes 10 minutes if it is a deep clean. Everything off a shelf. Wipe the shelf. Check expiration dates as you put it back it. Left overs-if you can’t remember when you had it and it doesn’t have a date with freezer tape-toss it.
Amy Owens says
I recently did the linen closet…took a little longer than 5 minutes but oh my word, the old crap I had stuffed in there! I threw out so many products! It makes me so happy when I open it now…I’m determined not to let it get cluttered again. In regards to closets, I’m the same way about closing the door and forgetting it because it seems too big of a job. I’ve found that if I say, today I’m going through sweatshirts (or whatever) I’m much more likely to do it. Just picking one thing at a time helps and before I know it, the closet looks so much better!
samantha carroll says
I love this! I was inspired by a blog post of yours in the past about doing tasks in short bursts of time….you also are the one who alerted me to the timer feature on my apple watch which I now use ALL the time!! Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to throw my robe into the washer LOL!
Mix and Match Mama says
I use it EVERY DAY to keep track of small activities!
Laura Holmes says
Ok I’ve been inspired! I’m going to do my makeup brushes and spice cabinet today. I love when I deep clean my computer keyboard and mouse also.
Mix and Match Mama says
When was the last time I cleaned my keyboard and mouse?!
Bren says
I typically get into a clean-out-organize mood post holidays and so far this year I have focused on the drawer where I keep my jewelry (was I really going to wear that neon orange watch from the 1990’s??!!) and then tackled my closet, bit by bit. I broke it down into sections “Today I’ll do shoes, next chance I have I’ll do short-sleeved shirts”, etc.
However! Laura! Thank you for the inspiration – literally typing on my keyboard right now and cannot remember the last time it got a good clean. Thank you, Laura and Shay!
Christine says
For the last month, I’ve been going through closets, drawers, and cabinets. I’ve been organizing, purging and giving to the Salvation Army and the Goodwill what I no longer want, use or need. It feels good.
Alyssa J says
Every time I wash the bath mats, the whole bathroom looks clean. Such an easy, but often overlooked, task.
Mix and Match Mama says
Another GREAT thing to clean that I always forget to clean!
Karah Stracener says
These are all great ideas. I always put off cleaning my makeup brushes as well, but when I do it I feel so much better. I like to clean out my fridge when I get home with my new groceries for the week. It takes me about 5 minutes. I am so glad you mention washing your robe. I am throwing mine in the wash when I get home after work.
Leslie S says
I’ve started keeping plastic grocery bags for trash, a swiffer for the dash and wipes for all the things in my car – while sitting in carpool once a week I do a quick clean/purge so my car doesn’t get so yucky. It’s amazing to me how much dust, trash, random smudge and SO many extra straws! accumulate from driving kids and their friends to all the things. Makes me feel more put together when I’m not driving a rolling dumpster lol (then I just run a quick vac across the floor at the car wash or at home and I’m good to go!)
Sheaffer says
Isn’t it amazing how little time it often takes to tidy up a drawer or small space? AND IT MAKES YOU FEEL SO ACCOMPLISHED!!!
Nikki says
I tried on every. single. pair of jeans in my bottom drawer this morning. Washed the ones that I know I won’t be wearing anymore so I can give them away. That felt like such an accomplishment!
Mix and Match Mama says
GREAT IDEA!!
Sue says
I had a closet that was one hot mess and it was on my list to clean out for…five years, maybe more. One day I walked by that closet and I realized just how much it depressed me even though no one could see the mess – but I knew it was there. That was immediately followed by the thought, “Well, what are you going to do about it?” That got me started. It was such a big, overwhelming project that I knew I couldn’t attack the whole thing at once or I would have never started the project. So, it took me about five weeks to clean out/redo the closet – I did a little bit at a time (more on Saturday mornings, and a little bit one or two nights on the weekdays). There was ordering (hangers, a rack, collapsible cabinet, etc.), going through clothes (and other things), many trips to Goodwill. Once it was done, I FELT SO DARN GOOD (for a couple of months, when I walked by the closet, I would just open the door and gaze at the beauty of the closet)! And because of that, then I cleaned out the garage!
Kay says
Under my bathroom sink! I’m in New England, so some of our older homes have smaller/cramped storage. Under my sink I had a two tier plastic shelf situation (you can picture it!) with allll kinds of dry shampoo, hair mist, root cover up, etc. It was all lined up neatly on the top shelf but every time I reached in, I knocked over six bottles on my way to grab one.
Then inspiration struck (at HomeGoods) and I bought a circular, spinning, two tier caddy. Guess what, all of my bottles fit neatly on it AND, I can just spin it around until I come to the bottle I need and grab it. It is UH-mazing. And seriously probably shaved four minutes (of re-standing knocked over bottles) off each of my mornings!
I love this post-thanks for sharing.xo
Mix and Match Mama says
I totally need a circular, spinning thing too! I also most certainly need to clean out under my sink too.
Cara says
I wash my make up brushes while I’m in the shower. Maybe I’m weird? Maybe I’m a genius? Love reading your blog every morning!!
Tiffany M says
I recently cleaned out the towel drawer in my kitchen. Made the whole kitchen feel better!
PS: I just ordered a new robe! Thanks for the rec.
Nicole says
I always think of you with these two things: 1. Just set the timer for 5 mins and do a task, tidy up a space. And 2. Don’t leave things to come back to, finish it right when you’re doing it.
Shay!! Are you doing anything for the Super Bowl? We are hosting *all* the things this weekend, Saturday small group (apps), Sunday morning brunch (breakfast food) and the game with more apps. I like to keep things healthier, but not boring – what would you do, make? What would Andrew eat? 😜😂 Thanks!!
Mix and Match Mama says
We are not doing anything for the super bowl this year. In fact, it’s not on our radar. Andrew is going on a church trip, and I think Smith is going to be watching with friends. It just took a backseat this year at our house.
Becky says
If you really want to go deeper, follow Joshua Becker. He has a book The More of Less and a new book coming out Uncluttered Faith. I’ve taken his online courses addressing Decluttering and it’s amazing. I have been in the school of Decluttering for 10 years now and it’s amazing how things sneak in your home that’s not necessary and how cleansing it feels to declutter. I love Marie Kondo books too and all hygge! And I especially love you and followed since 2012! Extraordinary and Amazing is the Shull family!
Mix and Match Mama says
Looking him up right now! Thank YOU for the rec!
Nova says
I love this post! It’s inspiring. I recently cleaned out a bathroom cabinet with my 4 year old daughter. We took everything out, wiped out down, she organized things into categories and put it back. It took about an hour but wow, now I have 2 whole empty shelves and everything is organized and it is motivating me to do more!!
Mix and Match Mama says
It IS so motivating!