Our loyal readers know that I’ve been on a bit of a kick lately when it comes to cleaning green. I ranted about it here, here, and here.

On Monday I was back at it again. This time with the lovely folks at The 10! Show in Philadelphia. It was really important to me to show everyone just how easy it is to make your own highly effective green cleaners using items you already have at home.

Watch me make some – they each literally take less than 1 minute to make. That’s way faster than running to the grocery store to buy something!

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If you’re thinking of climbing on to this DIY cleaning bandwagon (which I highly encourage), we have created some lovely labels for your spray bottles. All you have to do is download (for FREE) and print right from your own computer on to some Avery Labels. Get yours here.

Let me know what you think. Does this look do-able? Would you ever go DIY on the cleaner front? Why or why not?

Two weeks ago I had an opportunity to head to Chicago to visit the International Housewares Show, courtesy of the Hoover Vacuum team. I was excited to go for a lot of reasons, but mostly because of what it meant for readers of this blog.

As I’ve dug into this topic of organization for the past 3 years, I’ve gotten really clear on the two things that are essential for organizational success.

The first is “right-sizing” the problem. Too many people give up before they even start because they are too overwhelmed by the thought of what they need to do; so shortcuts are key. Our monthly challenges have grown out of this insight (if you haven’t signed up for April yet, there’s still time!).

The second is tools. We all need items that make the chore of organizing and cleaning up, well, less of a chore. And I knew that’s just the kind of thing I’d find at the Housewares Show.

So, on Monday, March 12th, I kissed my boys goodbye and headed to the airport. 36 hours later, I was back home (and in my car heading to Philadelphia for a segment on the 10! Show), my brain swimming.

It was a whirlwind trip, we crammed a lot into those 36 hours! Imagine the biggest airplane hangar you can. Now double it. THAT’S how big the show was. It was pretty amazing. But, by far, the most interesting things were happening inside the Hoover/Dirt Devil booth.

An All-Star Team Passionate About Battling Dirt

Not only did I get to spend some time with the folks that are actually responsible for dreaming up the latest and greatest Hoover and Dirt Devil products, but I also had the pleasure of getting to know three other lovely bloggers (that’s them in the picture with me), who regularly conduct in-depth reviews of lots of cool products. I definitely encourage you to check out their sites.
Jessica Matthews of Jabbering Jessie
Onica Cupido of The Mommy Factor
Anne McGowan of Deal Wise Mommy

I always love to meet the brains behind big operations, as it gives me a good sense for the quality of the organization (i.e. do the really care about their customers or is this just a big schill). The Hoover team was unabashedly in the former camp. Not only were they lovely people, I can honestly say they are downright passionate about dirt (and making machines that will get rid of it easily)! Each member of the team I spoke with had personally used every, single machine they offer and knew the ins-and-outs of each. Their eyes lit up when they spoke about product improvements and how they put them to use in their own homes.

What I Learned About Bags vs. Cyclonic Technology

I have to admit, that I was never 100% clear about the difference in efficacy between the new cyclonic vacuum technologies and bags. Except the cyclonic options negated the need for bags and generally made clean-up easier.

The patient Hoover team helped me understand the difference. Both options are good – so you can’t go wrong, but there is a difference.

Bagless vacuums, which use cyclonic technology, have a clear, hard plastic containers that capture the dirt and dust. When the container is full, all you have to do is simply remove the top or bottom cover to dump the dirt out. They win high marks for ease of use – and for the fact that you an actually see what you’re sucking up. I personally love that aspect of them as I need all the visual gratification I can get from doing the cleaning chores. On the downside, to keep the filters functioning at their highest capacity, you do have to clean them out and/or replace them, which can get expensive (a new filter can be $20+).

Bag vacuums use high-quality material in their bags to capture microscopic dust particles, so they are great options for people with allergies or other respiratory issues. While you do have to replace bags frequently, they are relatively cheap (roughly $3 each).

3 New Products You Need to Know About

1.The Hoover TwinTank™ Steam Mop

I officially lust after this product (price $129). It is ideal for the everyday cleaning of all hard floors including laminate, tile, hardwood, engineered hardwood, vinyl, and sealed stone. Unlike competitors that rely on steam alone, Hoover provides a proprietary 100% biodegradable formula cleaning solution that allows the Hoover® TwinTank™ Steam Mop to OUT CLEAN other steam mops. Bottom line: it takes what I love about the Swiffer Wet Jet (you can toss your old “regular” mop) and ditches what I don’t (using all those pads is environmentally wasteful). The Microfiber Pads (price $19.99) are machine washable and reusable so you save money over the long run.

We got to test the efficacy of this item by seeing if it would get crayon marks off of a wood floor. I tested it once using the regular steam setting and a second time using a little extra boost of the cleaning solution. Both worked extremely well. In the first instance, I had to rub the mop head over the crayon marks about 5 times to get it off completely. The second, it literally lifted off the first time I ran the mop over it. Amazing.

Here’s a cool video that shows it in action.

2. Hoover Cyclonic Upright Vacuums
Ever wonder how powerful the cyclonic technology is in your vacuum? I do.

I got to see first hand how powerful the Hoover Cyclonic technology really is via two pretty incredible demonstrations.

You really can actually stick the vacuum to a wall.

And it really will lift 150 pounds of weights.

If it can do that, imagine what it’s doing to the dirt on your floors.

3. Dirt Devil Whiskers

As you know, I am a big fan of delegating. What I love about this little Whiskers vacuum (price $169) is that it lets you do just that. It sweeps and vacuums tile, linoleum and wood flooring at the touch of a button. Simply place in an enclosed area, switch it on and you are now free to go tackle something else on your list besides vacuuming. It may not eliminate your need to vacuum entirely, but it will cut down on your need to do a big vacuum considerably.

So, that’s why when the team invited me to join the Hoover Insider program, I was thrilled to say yes. I’m excited about working with them over the coming year, sharing what I learn about their products here on the blog and of course offering some great giveaways to our buttoned up readers.

To learn more about Hoover products visit Hoover.com or connect on at Facebook.com/Hoover
To learn more about Dirt Devil products, visit DirtDevil.com or connect on Facebook/DirtDevil

Send Self-Destructing Notes with One Time Secret

Do you send passwords, login information, or other sensitive material via email? Are you really sure it’s going to stay private between you and the recipient? There are so many ways for that data to be compromised, it’s actually rather frightening. We’ve learned that the hard way here at Buttoned Up as we dealt with those nasty hackers back in October.

That’s why I got so excited when I came across this cool new program called One Time Secret. Enter your clandestine content in the site’s text box and with the click of a button you’ll generate a one-use-only link to your secret message.

Send the link to whomever you please; once it is opened and read, it disappears forever. If no one opens it within seven days, the link dies (your message along with it). For even more security, add a password that the recipient will need to know in order to access the self-destructing message.

Do you send sensitive intel over email? What do you think of this service?

Yesterday, Sarah was in Philadelphia on NBC’s The 10! Show sharing tips on what you need to have organized for any upcoming road trips. Take a peek at the video to see what you should have squared away before you hit the road.

Here’s Your Safety Checklist

• Check your tires. Properly inflated tires not only make the car safer to drive, but make your car 10% more efficient when it comes to gas.
• Make sure you have a pair of sunglasses handy – keep in middle storage compartment or glove compartment.
• Tool to break open the glass
• First Aid Kit with all the essentials
• Collision Kit in case of an accident
• Water in the trunk (at least a gallon)

Here’s a Checklist for Keeping Kids Entertained

• 100 calorie snack packs for the kids
• Trash bags for garbage
• Wipes
• CD/tape/Playlist of fun favorite songs
• Give older kids a travel journal right before you leave for the trip. Encourage them to write and draw whatever they see or hear that’s interesting to them.
• Let kids use your digital camera frequently (or if you have an old one handy, give them that to use throughout your trip). You might be surprised the new perspective they capture of the trip.
• Keep a list of classic games you can play if batteries/power fails and digital devices can’t be used: ABC Game, License Plates – letter or state game, Guess who I am, Twenty Questions

My wallet officially became embarrassing a few weeks ago, when I opened it up to pay for a coffee. Out spilled ATM receipts (showing my dismal balance), slips of motivational notes to myself (“Go to the gym today!”), my sister’s library card, and lots of coins, which dropped and rolled in all directions on the floor Picking them up, I noticed they were Mexican pesos. Don’t ask.

When your wallet starts bursting, it’s time to take a hard look at what you’re carrying around and why. So I reached out to my favorite personal finance guru, Carmen Wong Ulrich. Carmen, the author of the new book The Real Cost of Living: Making the Best Choices for You, Your Life, and Your Money gave me some great tips for taming my out-of-control wallet.

What do we really need in our wallets?

CWU: I would never leave home without legal ID, an ATM/debit card and at least one credit card. These days, with so much available online and with apps, there’s little reason to have a wallet jammed full of retail cards and loyalty cards and anything else—other than cute photos of our loved ones!

I recommend carrying at least two credit cards on a daily basis, and this is not including your debit card (though, if you don’t have a lot of credit, your debit may count as one). Why two? Because many places accept either Amex or MasterCard/Visa, not both.

As for retail loyalty cards, there are great apps that let you have them all in one place: your phone! Download loyalty card apps and chuck all that plastic.

My wallet is full of ATM receipts. Should we even print them?

CWU: Nah, save the trees! Paper ATM receipts are remnants of a time when we didn’t bank online. Today, you can go straight from the ATM to seeing a record of the transaction on your phone or at home. It’s VERY rare for something to go wrong at the ATM but it can happen. So, always count how much money you’ve actually received vs. what you asked for and—should that not add up—head directly to a teller or make sure you get a receipt and check your balance. But, assuming the amount matches and everything looks right on screen, no need for a paper receipt.

How is your wallet organized?

CWU: Last year, I resolved to fix my overstuffed wallet! I did this by buying one of those hard-backed folding-envelope style wallets, which only allow a certain number of cards as well as cash and change. It means I have to dump out change and receipts on a regular basis or I can’t close my wallet! I highly recommend it for anyone who keeps receipts like I do for reimbursement or tax deductions.

What about you? Is your wallet super organized or jammed full? Any tips for paring down what you carry around?

10 Storage Ideas

Though the look of a pedestal sink is sleek and modern, you might find that you’re sacrificing a good amount of much needed storage space in exchange for style. There are different ways to have the best of both worlds though, as we found out when researching how to make a pedestal sink enhance instead of hinder your bathroom storage.

A curtain to match the décor in your bathroom might be just the trick to turn the space around the base of your sink into extra room for your items. {via www.athome24.com]

Installing a medicine cabinet above your sink is an easy way to add some extra storage, without taking up floor space. {via projects.ajc.com}

A unique rack design keeps your towels handy right where you need them the most. {via www.everyfaucet.com}

Decorative and stylish, a cabinet fitted to go over your toilet can make use of space in an unexpected place. {via luxuryhousingtrends.com}

A wrap-around rack might be just the trick to keeping your loose bathroom products in order. {via www.bednbathgallery.com}

A slim set of stylish shelves can add a good amount of room for towels, plants, tissues, and anything else you might have. {via www.decorpad.com}

Choosing a style with extra space on the sides leaves room for soap, mouthwash, etc. and a place to hang extra racks off of. {via www.faucetdirect.com }

Mounting a shelf/rack combo is a simple fix. {via www.actureans.com}

If you’re a DYI type of person, modifying an old table to fit around your sink can be an interesting way to give yourself some more space. {via tlc.howstuffworks.com}

An elegant shelf above the sink makes a place for your beauty products without overwhelming the wall space. {via jkhomestead.blogspot.com}

The possibilities are endless. Don’t look at the sink as something to work around and “deal with” when it comes to organizing your items, but rather something to play off of and use to express your own creativity and taste.

23 Ways to Work Smarter in Fifteen Minutes or Less

No matter how you slice it or dice it, there are only 24 hours in a day. But if you’re like the majority of Americans out there, you still hope against hope that somehow the productivity fairies will bestow you with an additional hour or two one of these days. While you wait, we suggest you focus on getting more productive in the hours you do have. How many times have you caught yourself thinking, “Well, I just have five minutes, so it’s not worth doing X, Y or Z?” Make use of those short windows of time and you’ll suddenly feel like you’ve been handed extra-long days.

Sitting in the doctor’s office? Skip the magazines and do one of the following. Got ten minutes before your next meeting? Cross one of these off your list. You’ll be delighted at what you can do in small windows of time.

Here are 23 ways you can work smarter in short bursts to maximize your time:

1. Make a to-do list.

What you write down gets done.

2. Keep a reading file and catch up on articles.

Consider this: you are bombarded with more information in a typical day than someone in 1900 was during their entire lifetime. It’s impossible to get to it all. But if you keep a file of things you want to read eventually, you’ll have something productive to do whenever you find yourself waiting.

3. Clean up your inbox.

The average person gets 99 emails a day. If you’re the kind who holds on to them and have hundreds, or even thousands, in your inbox, use those random blocks of five minutes to set up folders and clean it out.

4. Keep a running phone call list and return calls.

Keep a small log with you or on your desk at all times to keep track.

5. Pay bills.

If you haven’t already signed up for e-statements and electronic bill payments, take a few minutes to do that too.

6. Track your budget.

Download a free budget tracking form – visit www.getbuttonedup.com and click on tools and giveaways. Keep it in your to-do notebook and write down where you’ve spent your money when you have a few minutes to spare.

7. Order gifts for your gift closet.

Head over to a site like www.GiftHero.com and stock up on gifts you can stash away in your gift closet for later use. Their gift finders make it a cinch.

8. Make a list of doctors appointments.

Do you let years pass between appointments? Stop. The next time you find yourself twiddling your thumbs, call and make check-up appointments, even if they’re six-months out. Ask the receptionist to email a confirmation.

9. Go for a walk to clear your head.

It’s amazing the difference a five or ten-minute stroll can make.

10. Sort through your snail mail.

You’ll get over 850 pieces of junk mail this year alone. 95% of it is junk. You can zip through a big stack in 3 minutes.

11. Organize your gift cards.

Get a wallet like Buttoned Up’s GiftCard.log that enables you to keep track of the cards you have and the amount/expiration date on each one.

12. Make maintenance appointments for your car.

When was your last oil change? Is your inspection date coming due soon? Don’t wait until it is too late or your car breaks down.

13. Make a list of the things that bug you at home (loose drawers, missing handles) and a shopping list of what you need to fix them.

Then the next time you’re out and about, grab what you need from the hardware store so you can deal with them once and for all.

14. Tackle the junk drawer.

Everyone has at least one. Set the egg timer for five minutes and go to town on it. Be ruthless about tossing the junk.

15. Organize take-out menus.

Grab a folder or binder from your home office if you have one to spare and use that to keep them contained. If you don’t have one, keep them together with a clip or rubber band.

16. Order prints of digital photos.

Organizing photos can seem like a massive job. Rather than stressing about putting together a perfect album or scrapbook, just order prints of a few great ones.

17. Order frames to display the prints you just ordered.

They don’t have to be “perfect” or expensive.

18. Research a vacation or project.

19. Water the plants.

70% of business and professional people use a “to do” list on a regular basis to administer their “have to’s”.

20. Make birthday list and set up e-cards.

70% of business and professional people use a “to do” list on a regular basis to administer their “have to’s”.

21. Make a cheat sheet of fun things to do or places to go on rainy days.

22. Pick up five things and put them in their correct spots.

Pick a room, any room and take this small step. The bigger the items, the greater the impact.

23. Do something thoughtful for someone else!

Send a random email letting them know how much you care, call them or just stop by and give a hug. Your day will get a whole lot brighter too.

Look at all YOU can accomplish in just a couple of minutes! What else could you do? What do YOU do when you have those wee moments of extra, unscheduled, time? Let us know! We always appreciate any tips!

4>Get Buttoned Up With Alicia Rockmore
by Leanne of Resources

We’re featuring Alicia Rockmore of Get Buttoned Up today and we totally love that she says she’s the self-proclaimed organizational maniac! We’re a little on the maniacally organized side ourselves .
Alicia is a pro at juggling her busy career and home life and she’s an expert at everything to do with organization. Her friends and family describe her as over-the-top organized and call on her to help them get their lives “Buttoned Up” and pulled together. This includes everything from organizing closets to managing financial information to planning a family reunion! She’s detail-oriented and list-driven and never misses a thing . . . not even through 11 moves in 16 years of marriage! She notes, “Being organized allows me to get much more. I have learned that when I handle even just the few critical things in my life, I feel so much more relaxed. Being organized does not have to be hard. As a matter of fact, it can be fun.”

Don’t think so? Well, at Buttoned Up, Alicia helps crazy-busy women get sanely and successfully organized through advice, tips, products and her blog. And it is fun!

Alicia’s tips:
1. Plan for the worst and hope for the best, especially with money.

2. Prioritize what’s most important and do that first.

3. Don’t give up.

Find Alicia on Twitter and Facebook and grab the full interview here.

What do you struggle with in terms of organization?

Photo Credit: lisaclarke on Flickr

We received this inquiry from Wilmington, NC!

I cannot print life doc after I’ve entered the information. The
information appears on the page but not the ‘question’ printer says
‘outside margins’..what can I do to print the page in its entirety
location: wilmington nc

Answer:
You may need to select the option “reduce to printer margins” when you are in the Printer Dialog Box. But it sounds like you just need to load the pages from your binder into your printer! You need to load your printer with the Life.doc pages that came with the binder – your information will print on those pages. The background of the forms you complete using your CD ROM will NOT print out and are not meant to print out.

If you still have a problem, please EMAIL us at info@getbuttonedup.com and we’ll take additional steps to help you out!

Thanks for contact Buttoned Up!

As I mentioned in this TV segment, Hooks are the unsung heros of organization.

They’re the perfect tool for all of the imperfect souls out there with a tendency to drop things when they land.
It’s easy to find options that will go with any decor. I did a little searching on Etsy and found a bunch – most under $100.

There's rustic

Beachy

Mod

Hooks are also marvelous tools for helping kids organize costumes, aprons, coats…and lots more

Love these owls from MapleShade Kids

And I'm drooling over this fire truck coat rack!

Hooks add a bit of decorative flair to any room – or to any door for that matter – and won’t cost you a pretty penny. I’ve linked each of the photos directly to the Etsy sellers so you can see how reasonable they are.

What are you waiting for? Go get hooked!