“I would always recommend grouping like with like. It enables people to find items quickly. All tank tops together, all capri pants together in one area. Some people like to group items by sleeve length-and there are a few in the spring and summer seasons. I’ve even seen people use colour-coded hangers but I don’t recommend it-too time consuming!” —Stacey Agin Murray, professional organizer, Organized Artistry

Divide and conquer

“I’ve worked hands-on with so many clients and they all tell me the same thing: They tend to pull everything out of their closets and then they run out of time and they push it all back in, which makes it worse than it was to begin with. So my suggestion to them is to divide and conquer. On a Saturday morning do your shoes, at other times do your slacks. People have told me that breaking it up into smaller projects has changed their life.” —Mary Pankiewicz, professional organizer and author of Clutter-Free & Organized

Damp-proof storage

“If you are lucky enough to have a basement for storage, help keep your winter clothes dry by putting pieces of chalk into a small cloth bag that you can pack with the clothes you’re storing. The chalk will absorb all the moisture, keeping your clothes protected.” —Ann Bingley Gallops

Tidy up your top shelf

“Those who stack sweaters and T-shirts on shelves in their closets know it can become a jumbled mess, since stacks often fall over. For those clients I recommend the Slide N Stax Clothing Organizer. It is amazing because it is a plastic clear piece with sides and a bottom that fits on the top shelf and you can just bring that one piece down when you need something, instead of tipping over your stacked items.” —Beth Levin, professional organizer, Closet Queen

Dump your wire hangers

“When it comes to hangers, Joan Crawford and I are on the same page – no wire hangers, ever! They ruin clothes and are only meant to be temporary. I am a personal fan of ‘crystal hangers.’ They are great for hanging tops without causing those ‘shoulder bumpies’ that can ruin a perfectly good shirt. Many of my clients ask me about ‘huggable hangers’ sold on QVC or HSN. I think they’re good if you wear silk-ish kind of blouses or a lot of tank tops. They’re touted as a space saver because they’re so thin.” —Stacey Agin Murray

Personalize in a snap

“Use clear shoe boxes for hair accessories and lightweight scarves you’ll use throughout the spring and summer. You can even use a clear bin for small tank tops, shorts, etc. Take a Polaroid or cut out a magazine photo and tape it so you know what’s in the box. Those are fun and it will make getting to things so easy.” —Beth Levin

Turn store credit into cash on eBay

“Many stores won’t let you return for cash clothing you loved in the shop but never got around to wearing. However, they are likely to offer you store credit if you insist. So instead of letting unwanted clothes pile up in your closets, a better idea is to return them for store credit and then sell the store credit for cash on eBay. There’s a very vibrant market on eBay for store credit receipts and gift cards, which trade for very close to face value. I’ve seen $200 gift receipts from stores like Macy’s, Tiffany and Bloomingdale’s fetch $180, so you get most of your value back without having to find a buyer for your specific item or dealing with packing and shipping it.” —Dan Nissanoff, author of FutureShop

Short on Space?

“Look around your home for things that are going unused, that might be empty — like file drawers — and store things away in there. I have had a lot of clients that collect old suitcases and use them for storage — those don’t take up much room.” —Ann Bingley Gallops, professional organizer, The Organized Life

Hanger Trick

“Some of my clients love this tip: When you get out your spring clothes, put the hangers in backward on the rod but then when you wear a piece of clothing, hang it up facing the front. At the end of the season you’ll know what you’ve never worn.” —Mary Pankiewicz, professional organizer and author of Clutter-Free & Organized

Buff Up Your Closet

“Before you put your favourite spring things back into the closet, take the opportunity of having empty shelves to replace your shelf paper, vacuum the closet floor, and make the closet fresh and clean.” —Ann Bingley Gallops

Bag-and-Tie Overload?

“Purses on shelves tend to get messy. For those who have wall space in their closets, a great solution would be to purchase belt racks and hang them vertically instead of horizontally. That way, the bottoms of the purses don’t bunch up in the same place. This also works great for ties!” —Beth Levin

Flag It!

“Place Post-it colored flags facing out on each piece of clothing in your closet. Take the Post-it off when you wear an item. At the end of spring/summer, you’ll be able to see what you wore and didn’t. You can then determine whether those items can be donated — you’ll get tax benefits — or consigned for money.” —Beth Levin, professional organizer, Closet Queen

Host a Clothing Swap

“Get together a group of friends to bring clothes they are not using and certainly don’t want to discard — someone’s going to want it! Have a little cocktail party and everyone gets new clothes without spending money … so it’s a win-win situation.” —Ann Bingley Gallops, professional organizer, The Organized Life

Miracle Space Savers

“I grew up in an apartment and we had to get creative with our winter clothing storage. One solution is to purchase Space Bags and then suck the air out of them. The clothes then take up much less space and can be placed under a bed, a couch, or on a high shelf. Also, some local dry cleaners will store winter clothes for people (as long as they’re dry cleaning them for you, too).” —Stacey Agin Murray, professional organizer, Organized Artistry

Mineral deposits can clog a showerhead and affect its pressure over time. To clean, fill a plastic bag with vinegar. Place the bag around the showerhead, submerging it in the liquid. Secure the bag to the neck of the showerhead with a twist tie and leave overnight. The vinegar will break down the buildup by morning.

Remove stains on pots and pans

If a batch of cookies left your baking sheet gunky, let a dryer sheet clean it overnight. Place the sheet on the pan and fill with warm water. Cleaning agents in the dryer sheet will help loosen stuck-on grime and stains. In the morning, easily wipe off with a sponge.

Polish stove grates

Cleaning greasy, food-splattered stove burners can be a tiresome chore. Before you go to bed, seal each burner in a large plastic bag with ¼ cup of ammonia. The overnight soak will make it easy to wipe off the surface with a sponge the following day.

Banish rust on tools

If your rusty tools have seen better days, fill a tray with Coca-Cola. Submerge the tools, allow to soak overnight, and scrub clean with a stiff brush in the morning. The soda’s phosphoric acid will help loosen the gunk.

Eliminate wet messes

If your sofa or carpet became the victim of an icky, wet mess (say, vomit or urine), mix a paste of baking soda and water to soak it up. Use a spoon to spread the paste over the soiled area. Allow to dry overnight, then vacuum in the morning.

Descale a kettle

Limescale can build up from calcium carbonate deposits in water, leading to an off-white, chalky deposit in your kettle. To clean, cut a lemon into large slices, place in the kettle, and add water. Bring to a boil, then take the kettle off the heat and leave overnight. The lemon’s citric acid will loosen the limescale. Toss the fruit and water mixture in the morning and rinse before using your newly cleaned kettle. Got other lemons lying around?

Clean bath toys

To make grubby rubber duckies, boats, and other bath toys new again, mix one gallon warm water with ¾ cup vinegar. Soak the toys overnight. Rinse thoroughly and allow to air dry.

Make diamonds sparkle

Quickly polish a diamond ring by filling a bottle cap with Windex. Soak the ring overnight and dry with a soft cloth in the morning to remove grime and add shine.

Remove red wine stains

If red wine marked up your favourite garment, sprinkle the stain with salt and cover with club soda. The salt absorbs the stain while the club soda’s carbonation and sodium helps lift it. Leave overnight before laundering.

Originally published as 9 Fast Tricks to Clean Your House While You Sleep on ReadersDigest.com. 

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1. Fill Your Dishwasher—But Not with Dishes

Got a minute? Go around to each room in your house and gather up items you probably never clean, such as plastic toys, hairbrushes, and even flip-flops. Believe it or not, all of these things are dishwasher safe. Just toss them in your trusty dishwasher and let it work its magic—no matter how busy you are.

Here are 11 brilliant cleaning shortcuts lazy people will appreciate.

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2. Spiff Up Your Space with a Lint Roller

Between soccer games, dance lessons, and PTA meetings, it’s tough to give our homes the deep clean they deserve. If you’re tight on time, take a lap around your home with a lint roller and run it over everything in sight. These handy gadgets can remove dirt and crumbs from couches, lamp shades, and any other hard-to-reach spots.

Check out these fast tricks to clean your home while you sleep.

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3. De-Stink Your Furniture

There are some household odours that even a heavy dose of Febreze can’t kick. Instead, sprinkle baking soda onto smelly carpets, upholstered furniture, or mattresses, and then leave it while you make dinner or fold laundry. Vacuum it up after 15 minutes, and your home will feel (and smell!) fresher almost immediately.

Find out the unexpected health benefits of spring cleaning!

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4. Search Coat Pockets and Purses for Trash

You use your coats and purses every day, but they are probably one of the last things you regularly clean. While you’re sitting in traffic or waiting for the oven to preheat, toss out any gum wrappers, old receipts, and other junk that have piled up over the months.

These eight spring cleaning tips will make your life easier!

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5. Refold Clothes in a Messy Drawer

Reorganizing your entire dresser probably seems like a daunting chore. But if you break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks, you might be more likely to get it done. Start by choosing one cluttered drawer and refolding all of the clothes inside. It will only take a minute, but you’ll be one step closer to getting your home in tip-top shape.

You’ll want to steal these 16 expert-approved cleaning hacks!

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6. Move Winter Coats to Off-Season Storage

No need to display bulky outerwear year-round. If the weather has recently warmed up, corral your winter coats and move them out of sight. You can box them up and put them in the attic, or simply hang them in the back of your closet. Either way, you’ll be thankful to have extra space for your spring and summer wardrobe.

Canada’s top organizers reveal how to declutter every room of your home.

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7. Declog Your Showerhead

Has your shower’s water pressure seen better days? Here’s a handy hack: Fill a plastic bag with white vinegar, place it over the showerhead, and fasten it with a rubber band. Letting the bag soak overnight allows the vinegar to break down anything that blocks water flow. Your shower will work like new in no time (and you won’t have to lift a finger!)

Never, ever pour these 12 things down the drain!

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8. Clean Your Car’s Grimy Cup Holders

Say goodbye to the nasty layer of gunk inside your car’s cup holders. Months of soda spills and sweaty water bottles can be erased in one minute; just give each holder a quick scrub using Clorox wipes.

Automotive experts share 13 tips on how to keep your car clean.

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9. Toss That Unsightly Stack of Magazines and Newspapers

Not only is that huge pile of magazines gathering layers upon layers of dust, but it’s also a serious eyesore. As you take out the trash one night, bring the stack with you and toss it in the recycling bin. Trust us, your home will thank you.

Try more tips to organize every room in your house.

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10. Declutter Your Coffee Table

Another fast way to tidy up a messy space is to clean one central item in each room, such as your coffee table. You can stash remotes in a drawer, gather small items into a classy bowl, and neatly arrange the other decor.

Check out the six hidden strengths of being a messy person.

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11. Sanitize Your Gadgets

Bad news: Your toilet isn’t the germiest thing in your house—your smartphone is. In fact, a 2013 study found that tablets have up to 600 units per swab of staphylococcus (commonly known as staph) and phones have up to 140 units, on average. The typical toilet seat, by comparison, has less than 20 units. All the more reason to spend a minute scrubbing your gadgets with an alcohol wipe. And if you have a few more seconds, wipe down other electronics like your TV remote and computer mouse, too.

Don’t miss these 10 bathroom cleaning tips and tricks!

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12. Unsubscribe to Junk Emails

Spring cleaning calls for tidying up every aspect of your life, including your electronic one. Between meetings at work, quickly unsubscribe to any newsletters or junk mail that you have ignored for months. You will be way more productive once your inbox isn’t cluttered with spam.

Find out what to do when your phone falls in the toilet.

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13. Wash Your Silverware Tray

You probably wash your forks and spoons every day. As for the tray that holds them? Not so much. That little bin can get grimy, so take out the dishes and give it a scrub. If you’re really short on time, simply toss it in the dishwasher and run a hot, soapy cycle.

Check out the seven kitchen items that are surprisingly germs.

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14. Untangle Your Cords

Let’s be honest: No amount of fancy decor can hide that ugly, tangled ball of wires behind your TV or computer. Plus, it makes your space look sloppy. Take a minute to organize the cords, using some Velcro, zip-ties, or rubber bands to neatly wrap them up.

Here’s what you need to know about preventing 10 common hazards.

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15. Freshen Up a Smelly Sink

It’s time to face that funky odor coming from your kitchen sink. To banish the smell in seconds, simply place a few lemon peels into the drain, turn on the garbage disposal, and run cold water from the tap. Voila! No pricey plumber required.

Check out these 10 tips for cleaning your microwave, stovetop and oven!

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16. Dust a Fan

Your fan is a dust magnet—but don’t wait until you flip the switch to find out. Do a favor for your allergies by cleaning your fans before the weather gets too hot. And for a more efficient way to trap falling lint, try dusting each blade inside an old pillowcase.

Here are 12 tips for health-friendly spring cleaning.

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17. Wipe Down Door Handles and Light Switches

Think about how many grubby hands have touched your home’s door handles and light switches. Like it or not, the spots that we clean the least can carry thousands of germs. Spend a minute wiping down the door handles and light switches in one room. For a particularly greasy spot, a damp rag dipped in dishwashing soap should do the trick.

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18. Use a Tray to Store Odds and Ends

Tidying up a cluttered space doesn’t need to break the bank. Find a decorative tray at your local secondhand store, place it in a central area of your space, and fill it with random items that don’t already have a home, such as keys, sunglasses, or even mail.

Learn more genius decorating tips from Steven Sabados!

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19. Make Your Bed

Because your bed is the focal point of your bedroom, it will set the tone for the rest of the space, minimalist Joshua Becker writes in The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own. So take one minute to make your bed; your mom would be proud.

Lighten your load by ditching these nine items for a fresh start in your home.

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20. Create a Donation Spot

No need to hang on to a shirt that is too small or pants that are too big. Instead, carve out a small section in your home for storing items you plan to donate. It could be a bin, a shelf, or even a corner of a closet—anything that separates unwanted apparel until you can make a trip to Goodwill.

Plus: Where to Take Your Unwanted Household Items

Originally published as 20 Spring Cleaning Tasks You Can Do in 1 Minute or Less on ReadersDigest.com.

New Uses for Candy Canes: Make Candy Cane Vodka

Make your martini North Pole-style by mixing up some candy cane flavoured vodka. Just add a litre of vodka and seven crushed candy canes in a mason jar, shake, and store in your fridge for 48-hours. In a few days you’ll have a festive martini fit for Santa.

New Uses for Candy Canes: Make S’mores

Need a tasty Christmas dessert for your holiday party? Follow our irresistible Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Smores recipe, but sprinkle a tablespoon of crushed candy canes on the chocolate before melting. When the marshmallow, chocolate and candy canes mix, you’ll get a festive treat that’s sure to have your guests rocking around the Christmas tree.

New Uses for Candy Canes: Stir Sticks

Want to make your next beverage or hot chocolate extra-festive? Try a candy cane stir stick, and keep your beverages minty fresh all Christmas long.

New Uses for Candy Canes: Garnish Treats

Try adding crushed candy canes to vanilla ice cream, hot apple cider or warm cocoa for a fun Christmas twist.

New Uses for Candy Canes: Decorations

Candy canes aren’t just for decorating the tree! Take a clear vase or fish bowl, or even a Christmas stocking, and add in candy canes, a few pine cones and some mistletoe, and voila, you’ve got a brand new holiday centerpiece.

Outlet-free chargers

Smartphones and laptops will still work when the power is out—as long as you’re prepared. “The Internet can be surprisingly robust after an event, but keeping batteries charged is where most people break down,” says Steven J. Jensen, a member of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council and advisor of emergency management at California State University at Long Beach. Having a juiced-up portable battery or small generator will keep you in touch with loved ones and with any emergency updates.

Here are 11 phone battery myths you really have to stop believing.

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Cordless radio

Gathering around the radio might seem like a thing of the past, but it could prove vital in an emergency situation. “It allows you to get in touch with what’s going on locally,” says Jensen. “That’s important to be able to make good decisions about what happens next.” You won’t miss any important messages warning you not to leave—or to get out fast. Make sure you have a battery-powered or hand-cranked radio so it can work when the power is out.

Learn how to manage these 10 everyday emergencies.

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Medications

“Sometimes, the way medications are dispersed now, we have just a very small supply available,” says Jensen. “In a disaster, it might be hard to replenish those supplies.” Talk to your doctor about writing a larger prescription so you have a couple weeks work on hand if you can’t reach the pharmacy.

These 17 common medication mistakes could be making you sick.

Lantern

Handheld flashlights are convenient to carry and store, but their beams won’t light up a room the way your lamps do. In addition to battery-powered flashlights, pick up a lantern, which can brighten up a larger amount of space.

Make sure you know these 20 fixes for life-threatening problems and daily hassles.

Batteries

If you’ve been using your phone as a flashlight and haven’t touched an actual torch in years, don’t be surprised if the batteries in your backups have worn out or corroded. A pack of extra batteries never hurts.

Just avoid these 13 things you should never do during a power outage.

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Nonperishable food

Stocking up on food is a no-brainer if you know you won’t be able to get to a grocery store, but you might be surprised by just how much food to keep on hand. The Red Cross recommends keeping two weeks worth of food available in case you’re unexpectedly stuck at home, or enough to last three days if you’re evacuating. You don’t just have to stick to sad cans of beans though. Get creative and stick with foods you actually want to eat. It’s surprising how much peanut butter or beef jerky could lift your spirits when you’re facing a crisis.

Pet food

Don’t forget your furry friends when you’re stocking up on food. Keep at least two weeks worth of dry food on hand so your pets can stay healthy and safe, but don’t bother shelling out on anything fancy. “It doesn’t have to be the highest standard, but if you can keep some food that’s going to keep pets healthy and vibrant, that’s good,” says Jensen.

Here are 10 secrets your dog’s tail is trying to tell you.

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Extra propane

If your home’s electricity or gas isn’t working, the oven and microwave could be out of the question—but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with cold meals. Keep extra propane on hand so you can fire up a BBQ or camping stove.

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Water

H2O seems like a given, but if anything goes wrong with your local water system, you’ll need to have backup. As a rule of thumb, make sure you have a gallon per person per day, ideally enough to last two weeks. If you don’t want to leave jugs of water sitting around all the time, fill clean, empty soda bottles or a large water dispenser when there’s a storm coming.

Cash

Don’t assume you can rely on plastic during an emergency. Card readers might not work, and ATMs could run out of money during a natural disaster, so keeping backup bills on hand could be a lifesaver. Talk to your family about how much you can afford to keep out of the bank and where the safest place in your home for it is.

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Tool kit

Even if you’re not used to making your own repairs, a toolbox could be a vital resource during an emergency situation. “It gives you a lot of latitude to be able to adapt and fix things and be somewhat independent if no help is available,” says Jensen. A basic toolkit with items such as a wrench, screwdrivers, and a hammer can help you fight back when your home and supplies are under stress.

No car mechanic should be without these 20 essential tools.

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Copies of important documents

It’s always a good idea to keep original copies of important documents like home ownership papers or insurance information, but keep a backup on hand too. “It’s surprising how important that can be,” says Jensen. Leave hard copies in a safe space (away from the originals), or save them digitally in a password-protected file in the cloud.

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First aid kit

“A well-stocked first aid kit is critically important,” says Jensen. The Red Cross recommends keeping bandages, an instant ice pack, antiseptic wipes, scissors, and more.

These are the items that should be in every first aid kit.

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Just-for-fun items

When you’re rushing to pack your bags for an evacuation, a few nonessentials can actually be some of the best things for your mental wellbeing. “We need to find ways of comforting ourselves,” says Jensen. “Relax and take some time to realize it’s going to be OK.” He suggests packing a book, a child’s favorite stuffed animal, or playing cards. Letting yourself relax a bit will help normalize the situation and take your mind off the stress.

Originally published as 14 Emergency Items to Always Have in Your House on ReadersDigest.com.