Top Tips for Projects Around the House

If you have a cat, and thus a litter box, use cheap plastic sandwich bags - the ones with the fold-over flap - to clean the cat box. Stick your hand in the bag, use it as a glove to pick up the clumps, turn it inside out, twist the open end shut and tie a knot. It's clean and keeps the garbage can from stinking up the house. The bags are cheap and you're far less likely to drop litter and chunks all over the floor as with a scoop.

If you start dishes while you're still cooking dinner, food won't have a chance to dry in the pan. By the time you're done with dinner, the dishes will be dry in the rack and you won't have a huge pile to shuffle around.

Baby wipes are cheap (buy the generic or store brand) and help you keep the cleanest bathroom around. Each time you're done with the toilet, shower, or sink, wipe it down with a baby wipe, toss, and you're done. Keeps toothpaste spittle from crusting up the faucet, keeps hair from clogging the drain, and keeps mold from growing under the toilet seat.

It isn't until times of great tragedy that most of us begin to think about emergency and disaster plans for our families. After hearing about the devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, many of us have used the last week to create supply kits and gather important information, just in case it really DOES "happen to me."

But what are you doing to plan for the continuity of your business in case something happens? It doesn't take a hurricane, tornado, or flood to destroy your business. Power outages, theft, illness, and mold cause problems for small business owners all over the world, every single day of the week.

Your small business is the lifeblood of your lifestyle. It defines how you will live, work, and care for your family. If your business is destroyed, it affects every other area of your life. Imagine not being able to keep up on your gas or electric bill because your business couldn't function. Imagine having to start all over with your business in another state, in an unfamiliar area. Prior planning won't always prevent problems, but it will help you get back on your feet faster.

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The fact is that no matter how careful you are, you will break jigsaw blades and dull drill bits. You can pick these up cheap at discount stores such as Northern Merchandise, Big Lots, local liquidators, and even Target. Don't forget #2 phillips screw driver bits!

The best hardware kit I ever bought cost four dollars. I've used the screws, nails, washers, and other accessories for numerous projects and I still have hundreds left. You can find these handy little kits everywhere. Stock up when you find them cheap at dollar stores and liquidators. Sure, you may never use most of the parts, but boy you will be happy when you do use the ones you get.

One of the problems with clutter is that it accumulates when things don't have a home. SOME things don't have a home by nature - that is, they're on the way OUT of the house. Video rentals, library books, gifts and things for other people, stuff to stash in the garage, etc., are all things that need to have a temporary home before they leave for their permanent home.

Try setting a basket or box near your main door for such goodies. If you have a spare drawer you can use that, or place a rolling box in the closet. If nothing else, a large tote bag on the wall. This will give the OUTgoing stuff a home without cluttering up your entryway.

I'm lucky in that I have a two car garage in which to keep my many simultaneously ongoing woodworking, painting, and misc building projects. One of the problems is that I use my freedom to leave things laying around, and today I almost used project parts for something other than their intended purpose...twice!! This would have left me high and dry on two major furniture projects.

When you're working on projects - whether it be refinishing a cabinet or a simple picture framing process, keep the parts together. Use plastic shoe boxes, crates, or freezer bags to keep the parts together. This will keep you from using your pegboard as an ottoman base or your drop-leaf craft armoire as a shelf brace!!

I bet you have your own great list of tips and tools for projects around the house, yard, or car. Did you know you can create your own free Squidoo lens to share them, AND earn money for yourself or a favorite charity? Get started today!