February 2012 Home Organizing Checklist

Here is your February 2012 Home Organizing Checklist.

____ Feb 1 If you haven't already, set up a folder for collecting tax documents as they come in the mail. When it's time to prepare your taxes or take your documents to the accountant, you'll be ready to go.

____ Feb 2 Celebrate Groundhog Day by having a picnic on the floor with the kids while you watch 'GroundHog Day' (a 1993, family-friendly classic starring Bill Murray).

____ Feb 3 Order seed and landscaping catalogs now. Sketch out your plans for your garden and/or yard.

____ Feb 4 Observe 'National Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast' day. Yes...it's true and it happens every year on the first Saturday in February. Surprise your family with sundaes for breakfast. What a great way to beat the winter blahs.

____ Feb 5 If you're not a football fan, take advantage of the sparse crowds to shop at a usually packed mall, or to see a newly released movie without the crowds.

____ Feb 6 Get a jump-start on spring cleaning by cleaning out a kitchen drawer or cabinet while preparing dinner. Have a box or bag ready for anything you don't use and want to donate. Toss those orphaned storage container lids.

____ Feb 7 If you use an accountant or tax service to prepare your taxes, make an appointment now and start gathering your documents.

____ Feb 8 Clean out 5 file folders today. Be sure to shred any papers that contain personal information. Promise yourself to clean out 5 files every day until you're finished.

____ Feb 9 Check your family's toothbrushes for wear. The ADA recommends that you replace your toothbrush at least four times a year and every time you are sick.

____ Feb 10 Cold and flu season is still here. Inventory your supply of remedies. Toss outdated medicines.

Want tons of great ideas for getting organized at home and in the office? Check out my new books, Finally Organized,Finally Free for the Home and Finally Organized, Finally

Free for the Office. Now available in both print and digital PDF format. 

____ Feb 11 Make or purchase your Valentine's cards and/or gifts. If your children exchange valentines at school, help them get their cards ready.

____ Feb 12 Make a big pot of soup to enjoy today and one busy evening later this week. Homemade soup (or stew) is a winter pleasure that will warm your stomach and create amazing aromas in your home.

____ Feb 13 Observe National Clean out Your Computer day. Delete unused files, organize the rest into logical folders, and run the disk cleanup utilities built into your operating system. Clean the outside of the computer as well, along with the mouse and keyboard and monitor.

____ Feb 14 Happy Valentine's day! Pamper yourself with a candle-lit bath, a massage, or your favorite meal. Share your love with others by dropping off treats at a nursing home or women's shelter.

____ Feb 15 Check your linen closet. Donate clean, but worn, towels and sheets to your local shelter (animal shelters appreciate these as well) and plan to replace them by shopping the winter clearance sales happening now.

____ Feb 16 Check your family's winter coats. Wash dirty items, make necessary repairs, and identify pieces that no longer fit.

____ Feb 17 Gather up hats, gloves, mittens and scarves in your house. Wash any dirty items and repair (or replace) damaged pieces. Toss any single mittens or gloves and make a note to replace the set.

____ Feb 18 President's Day sales abound this weekend. Now is a great time to replace worn or outgrown winter clothing, along with sheets, towels and other household items.

____ Feb 19 Considering a solo or family vacation? Start planning it now. Think about your dream destination and go online for ideas.

____ Feb 20 Many schools and businesses are closed today in honor of Presidents day. If you have the day off, plan a fun activity with the kids, with friends - or solo.

Get all your papers organized once and for all, in an organized (find-anything-you-need-in-a-second) filing system. You'll be the envy of your friends! Discover: My Oh-So-Organized Filing System. 

____ Feb 21 Treat your family to pancakes for breakfast. Today is Fat Tuesday--the day before the beginning of Lent. In many countries it's tradition to eat pancakes on Fat Tuesday because all meat and dairy products were forbidden during Lent. Whether you are preparing to observe Lent or not, hot pancakes for breakfast will get you and your family off to a heart-warming start.

____ Feb 22 Brighten your home with signs of Spring. Force some tulip bulbs or daffodils--or buy them in bloom at your florist or grocery store.

____ Feb 23 Catch up with your laundry pile!

____ Feb 24 Consider putting a nesting box in your yard or garden. Setting up a nesting box in your yard can provide an essential nesting area for the members of many species of birds. It is also a great way to provide wildlife a place to raise young.

____ Feb 25 Walk through your house and yard and make a list of things that need to be repaired or replaced. If you rent your home, contact your landlord about making these repairs. If you own your home, prioritize the items on your list and start making plans for repairs or replacement.

Keeping on top of everything going on in your life is easy,

when you have the Get Organized Now! Easy Organizer. Now

available in both print and digital PDF format. 

____ Feb 26 Need work done in your home? Now is a good time to contact your handyman (or woman) to get a room painted or some repairs done. Many contractors have more time available now than they will in the spring.

____ Feb 27 Inventory your Spring wardrobe. Try on last year's clothing. Donate pieces that no longer fit and repair damaged items. Make a list of new pieces to look for in the coming weeks.

____ Feb 28 Inventory your refrigerator and freezer. Toss any outdated or freezer-burned items and make a note to replace them if needed.

____ Feb 29 Spring clean your oven if it needs it. Some ovens have an automatic cleaning cycle. If yours does not, try a low-odor spray that you can leave on overnight and wipe off in the morning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

by Maria Gracia - Get Organized Now!  FREE Idea-Pak and E-zine filled with tips, ideas, articles and more to help you organize your home, your office and your life at the Get Organized Now! Web site!