Never Clean Inside Your Refrigerator Again, Almost

July 20, 2011

This is especially helpful for elderly folks or people with physical limitations that prevents them from getting up and down from their knees, bending over for long periods of time, or have difficulty reaching.

Purchase plastic bins at the dollar store to line your frig shelves for holding food. I even have them in my freezer and vegetable drawers.  When a bin becomes dirty, pull it out and clean it when you do your dishes.  (I don’t suggest putting them in a dishwasher.)  If you really feel the need to pull everything out, the most you will probably need to do is DUST inside.

Seriously, I spent a whopping $5 total for the bins in the picture below.

Containers for the Refrigerator

I use reusable sandwich meat containers to line my door shelves for ketchup, mustard, pickle jars, salad dressings, etc.

Line the Doors

Not only does using bins and containers keep my refrigerator clean, the defined space they create prevents overflow, therefore my frig stays de-cluttered too!

All Content Copyright Barbara Nichols 2011

Easy Organizing & Backup for Data Files

May 15, 2011

Stress Free Data Files Backup

Lost application software can always be replaced.  Data files cannot.   I am a photographer and a writer and all of the data files I create, regardless of the file type; text documents, music files, photos, etc., are saved in their applicable folders within the one folder containing my name.

If you create your own data file folders, create a new folder somewhere on your C: drive,  and name the folder using your first or last  name.  As you begin creating new files and folders save them only in the folder with your name.  When it is time for your routine data files backup, (which you should do regularly just like changing the oil in your car, only more frequently) you have only one folder to back up.

This technique saves me time because  I can quickly zero in to the location of my data files versus having to search through my entire computer.

Regarding stress free data files backup, I have no worries that I have missed any data files to be backed up because they are all in one location. I am confident all of my irreplaceable data files will be backed up because I have only one location to designate when I run the back up.

Should you need to have any maintenance done on your computer by an expert, they (should) ask you where your data files are located so they don’t accidentally tamper them.  (If they don’t ask, be sure to tell them.)   You’ll feel confident they are protected because they are all in one location. And guess what, you will remember that location!

All content Copyright Barbara Nichols 2011

Related articles

• Ouch! (storagezilla.typepad.com)

Save Time, Money, or Both

August 10, 2011

Time and Money Saver-Keep tools in the location where they are most frequently used.

For the Bedroom: I keep laundry spot remover close at hand in my clothes closet for when I need to pre-treat a spot on my clothes (which should be done as soon as possible). With the spot remover handy, when I dis-robe I am assured I won’t forget to do it at a later time.  

Unless you shop for entertainment (see my article “Why Do You Want to Buy It?”) if the stain gets really set in due to lack of pre-treating, you’ll be spending big bucks to replace the “spot laden” piece of clothing.

May 8, 2011

Time Saver-Keep tools in the location where they are most frequently used.

Kitchen Example: I cook from scratch and I eat oatmeal every morning. I purchased a second, cheap set, of measuring cups and I keep the ½ cup-measuring cup (1 serving) right inside my cylinder of raw oatmeal. And because I live in a high humidity part of the country, I keep my brown sugar (what’s oatmeal without brown sugar?) not only in its plastic bag, but also in a plastic container with a lid that is just large enough to also hold a small measuring utensil inside. Wash and replace utensils as needed.

All Content Copyright Barbara Nichols 2011

Kitchen Tip

Save Time-Keep tools in the location where they are most frequently used. 

Kitchen Tip:  I cook from scratch and I eat oatmeal every morning. I purchased a second, cheap, set of measuring cups and I keep the ½ cup-measuring cup (1 serving) right inside my cylinder of raw oatmeal. And because I live in a high humidity part of the country, I keep my brown sugar (what’s oatmeal without brown sugar?) not only in its plastic bag, but also in a plastic container with a lid that is just large enough to hold a small measuring utensil right inside.  Wash and replace measuring utensils as needed.

All content Copyright Barbara Nichols 2011