Monday, September 15, 2014

The Best Piece of Advice...

This past weekend I packed my office, cleared out my kitchen pantry, and packed all my serving dishes and stemware. I've sorted my pots and pans and have set some aside to donate to Goodwill. (The stove at the new house has a ceramic cooktop, rather risky with big cast iron skillets). My new bed was delivered on Saturday, and I tested the tranquilizer I'll be using on my cat, Millie. I removed all the artwork and quilts from the walls. The house looks naked and sounds echo-y.  I won't move for another two weeks, and I have had it. Cardboard boxes line the walls of my dining room, living room and practically fill my sewing studio.The liquor is sitting on an end table in the living room because I haven't packed it yet. I had to move it to clean the cabinet where it was stored.

Take a break, you say. Sure, I'd love to watch a DVD, since TV is so crummy, but oops, my DVD collection is already packed.  Bake a batch of cookies.. Oh sorry, the baking supplies are packed too.

Argh! (And it isn't even Talk Like a Pirate Day yet! That's September 19th.)

As I pack I clean the shelf, closet, cabinet, drawer or bin. This reminds me of the best piece of cleaning advice I ever got, so absent anything quilt related to show you, I'm going to share it. Here it is:

If it fits, put it in the dishwasher.

Yeah, I know it sounds almost stupidly simple, but it's true and it works great. You know that glass ceiling fixture? The one in the kitchen that gets greasy and dusty? How about the glass globe in the porch light? The ones that collect dead bug bodies inside? They're almost impossible to clean by hand, but effortlessly simple when you stick 'em in the dishwasher. You know those stacking plastic file trays?  Into the dishwasher they go. Soap dishes, yup. 

Those magnetic plastic bins that hold paper, pens, files? (I use them for pot holders and most commonly used recipes.) Yep, stick 'em in the dishwasher. Plastic baskets used for storage?  Yup, those too. I have a storage thing that attaches to the wall in a workshop that has eight little tilt out plastic bins used for storing small things like screws and picture hooks.

It was filthy when I brought up from the basement, but it looks brand new after a trip through the dishwasher.

So give it a whirl! As you can see it works for me.

OK, back to the boxes...


5 comments:

Quiltdivajulie said...

Perhaps not quilts, but you just described one big part of your process ... MAKE IT WORK.

On moving day and the days after, you will be grateful you did all this prep work! Hang in there .....

Poppy Q said...

Another thing I did when I moved was to make sure all the plugs/extensions from the back of computers/tvs are all labelled and label the hole that they fit into as well (with whiteout or a sticker). As it can get confusing as it seems there are about 10 cords that have to plug into your tv nowdays.

Also - i packed a small suitcase with clothes for a few days and toiletries and essentials. Then it didn't matter how long it took me to sort out all the other stuff, I could take as long as I like.

love
Julie and poppy Q
xxx

Pat said...

And right along with Poppy Q's suggestion, pack your coffee pot, coffee mug, and whatever things you'll want right away in the kitchen in a separate box and label it!! I know you will be glad when this is over and done.
A friend of mine just got a new ceramic cooktop and has had to get rid of a lot of her old pans as they are not recommended for it. Oh, boy!!

felice said...

Good luck with your move. I have a cynical bit of moving advice for you. Anything that would break your heart to lose should go with you. My parents had a bad move years ago. My mother had a drawer full of jewelry which was mostly gifts from family for every imaginable holiday and birthday. The movers cleaned her out. Insurance did cover replacements to a degree but all those sentimental things are gone forever.

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

Wishing you well through this seemingly endless task. I love the DW tip, if it fits... brilliant!