The Curator independently decides what topics and products we feature.
asserted
we → decide → topics
When you purchase an item through our links, we may earn a commission.
uncertain
we → purchase → commission
September places an enormous focus on kids: new backpack, new shoes, stocked pencil case, done.
asserted
September → place → backpack
And once the kids go off to school (or even if you live in a kid-free home), September is still arguably the best month to restart their routines.
asserted
September → go → routines
Summer fun has come to an end, and we now gear up for the fall, cooler weather and before we know it – yup – the holidays.
asserted
we → come → it
So a little extra preparedness is definitely called for this month.
asserted
preparedness → call → month
Here are 5 resets that will make September (and beyond) feel calm, fresh, and organized.
asserted
September → make → ?
Run a Tablet Through Every Machine That Cleans Things
Your washing machine, dishwasher and coffee maker all push water through parts you cannot see or reach like the pump, the valve, the hoses and the seal.
asserted
you → run → pump
Residue, hard water minerals and biofilm build up in there, and the first sign is almost always smell: laundry that comes out not quite fresh, or a dishwasher that opens with a sour note.
asserted
that → build → note
Yes, you can wipe things down, but what about the parts you can’t see?
asserted
you → wipe → parts
Once it’s in, set the cycle and let the machine do the work.
asserted
machine → ’ → work
A must-have for keeping your espresso machine fresh and clean, this powder cleaner helps tackle buildup, while the descaler keeps things running smoothly.
asserted
descaler → have → things
It can also be used to soak metal filters.
asserted
It → use → filters
Paper calendars can be great…so long as somebody is standing in front of them with a pen and can keep track of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (etc!) people’s schedules, appointments, special events, and more.
asserted
somebody → stand → schedules
And really, has someone in your house gladly appointed themselves to be the calendar master and has agreed to data entry for everyone else, forever?
asserted
someone → appoint → everyone
Things are bound to be forgotten.
asserted
Things → bind → ?
There’s a really cool fix for this and it comes in the form of a digital calendar.
asserted
it → ’ → calendar
It syncs the phone calendars your family already uses onto one screen in the kitchen.
asserted
family → sync → kitchen
Nobody transcribes anything anymore.
asserted
Nobody → transcribe → anything
People absolutely rave about this system and how well it works!
asserted
it → rave → system
Someone books a dentist appointment from the parking lot, and it is on the wall before they get home.
asserted
they → book → wall
It also runs chore charts, which helps get everyone in the house back on track.
asserted
everyone → run → track
We spend weeks fussing over kids and their backpacks while our own gear ages badly.
asserted
gear → spend → kids
A soggy lunch bag that only works if you remember the ice pack, which you do not.
asserted
you → work → which
Then fix lunch with this super cool freezable lunch bag, which has the cooling gel built into the liner, so you fold the whole bag into the freezer overnight, and there is no ice pack to lose.
asserted
you → fix → freezer
Reset the Kitchen Zone That Makes or Breaks a Weeknight
Restarting weeknight dinners is overwhelming, especially if you are cooking out of your pantry again.
asserted
you → reset → pantry
Two questions: is it stocked, and is it full of loose sugar, flour, and crumbs from a summer of nobody paying attention to it?
asserted
it → stock → it
This one takes real work but it’s totally worth it.
asserted
it → take → work
Then decant anything living in a plastic or paper bag into airtight containers like these ones, which I’ve had for over a year now and am completely in love with.
asserted
I → decant → love
And if you’re feeling extra fancy, think about using a label maker to label these containers and wow, you’re thriving!
asserted
you → feel → containers
Full disclosure: I have a label maker, and when I use it, I really do feel better about my organizing jobs.
asserted
I → have → jobs
I can’t explain why; you’ll just have to try and see for yourself.
asserted
you → explain → yourself
Remember that you aren’t doing this to get a perfect Instagram or Pinterest pantry, you’re doing it so you can see exactly what you have and how much, so you stop buying a fourth bag of rice while running out of oats.
asserted
you → remember → oats
As you decant, restock and replace items, note what expired and what is missing and restock your pantry accordingly.
Beach towels, pool toys, and flip flops are still holding prime real estate in the linen closet will quickly become the space you need for jackets and boots.
Use bags rather than rigid bins.
asserted
you → decant → bins
I find them easier to carry around and they collapse to nothing when empty.
asserted
they → find → nothing
Plus, these have handles and backpack straps, which is especially handy when storage is down a flight of stairs.
asserted
storage → have → stairs
For bulky soft goods, vacuum compression bags come with a hand pump and shrink a stack of beach towels and summer clothes into to something that slides onto a storage shelf.
asserted
that → come → shelf
