Spring Cleaning - How to get rid of Sentimental Items

Yesterday was the first day of spring. For many this is the time for Spring Cleaning.

De-cluttering your space not only keeps your home safer and more organized, but it also allows room to bring good energy into your home.

I look forward to a good spring cleaning every year. Going through my home and tossing out what I no longer use, is not a problem for me. I live by the “one year rule” of tossing out any items I haven’t used or worn in a year. There is something very liberating about rummaging through old magazines, books, junk drawers, closets and pantries to get rid of items I no longer use.

The only items I do have a problem with parting with, are the sentimental ones. So many times we feel obligated to hold on to items we don’t use or even like in some cases, because we have placed a sentimental value on them.

• Your teenagers 4th grade art project

• A gift from your neighbor

 • Items from a deceased loved one

• Nik naks that have accumulated over time

• Souvenirs purchased on vacations

I’ve scoured the web and found 5 great tips to help you get rid of sentimental items:

1- Take a picture – This idea, from Making this Home, is to take a picture of the item you love so that you can have the memory of it, without actually having the item in your home.

2. Keep only what nourishes your soul- In this month’s issue of Whole Living Magazine, they suggest asking yourself “does this sentiment nourish your spirit?” If it does, then keep it otherwise free up the space for new energy to arrive.
Read more at Wholeliving.com: Embracing the Art of Decluttering

3. Understand the Sentimental Mind- This is a great blog post that offers 2 new mentalities to adopt to help get rid of items you no longer need or use. #1 Trust in Yourself and #2 Things want to be Used.

4. Only hold on to a few things- In this blog, Rachel suggests that keeping only a few items is what makes them more sentimental. She also offers specific advice for items people tend keep.

5. Keep only three boxes per family member- Blistree.com offers several tips on cleaning out sentimental items, one of them being; keeping only three boxes per family member. Giving yourself a limit allows you to determine what is really important to keep.

•  What are the sentimental items you keep in your home?
• If you have tips on how to get rid of sentimental items we would love to know! 

Happy Spring Cleaning!

  

The Gingerbread Man's Bathroom Renovations Revealed

Toilet- We provided the Gingerbread Man with a candy comfort height toilet. A comfort height toilet is higher than your average toilet making it more accessible for the Gingerbread Man and easier on his injured leg.

Vanity- For the vanity area, we gave Mr. and Mrs. Gingerbread Man his and hers sinks and mirrors. Each sink has roll under accessibility should either of them need a wheelchair in the future.  We also provided them with several storage drawers so their gum drops and candy canes can be properly stored and off of the countertop and floor.  The mirrors are lit from overhead for better visibility.

Shower- Mr. and Mrs. Gingerbread Man prefer showers to baths, so we removed their existing coffee mug tub and installed an accessible zero threshold shower. 

Shower Bench- We added a shower bench to assist when needed. This "sweet" bench by Great Grabz is mold and slip resistant and easy to clean. The textured licorice top provides a soft cushion for added comfort. We've also added a hand held shower that can reach to the shower bench so they can bathe while seated if needed.

Grab Bar- Great Grabz also provided a grab bar for the shower area from their delicious confections line. It's unique Wave design provides both safety and style for the Gingerbread's shower.


Now Mr. and Mrs. Gingerbread can begin the new year knowing that their bathroom is safer and will accommodate them for years to come.



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Mr. Gingerbread Man's Home Assessment

Gingerbread Man’s Home Assessment

It is important to do a home assessment before any bathroom remodel to make sure we are meeting all our client’s present and future needs. Asking questions and listening is the first step to any successful project.



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 Bathroom Entry 

• Is bathroom door handle easy to turn?
• Is entry to bathroom wide enough to roll-in to?
• Are there any barriers to entry?

 Floor

• Is there adequate space to move around the bathroom?
• Is the bathroom floor free from tripping hazards? 
• Are the floors easy to clean?
• Is there non-slip tile on the floor?
• Is the floor very cold?
• Is the shower or tub slippery?
• Does shower have a walk-in entry?
• Is there adequate drainage in the shower?

Counters

• Are counters at a comfortable height and depth for everyone that using the bathroom?
• Are counters free from clutter?
• Does counter top allow for seating?
• Are counters easy to clean?
• Do you have too much glare off the counter tops?

Bathtub/Shower

• Do you bath or shower?
• Is tub easy to get in and out of?
• How do you get in and out?
• Is tub easy to clean?
• Does tub drain effectively?
• Is there a grab bar on or near tub to assist with entry and exit?
• Is shower easy to get in and out of?
• Is there a handheld shower head?
• Is water valve easy to turn on?
• Do you have to get wet when you turn the water on?
• Do you ever have problems with getting scalded by the hot water?
• Is there enough room to safely maneuver in the shower?
• Do you have a light in the shower?
• Are there grab bars in and out of the shower for entry and exit?
• Is there a shower seat or bench needed?
• Are towels accessible outside of the shower
• Where do you keep your towels when you shower? 
• Are shower tiles easy to clean?

Electrical

• Does the bathroom stay humid long after you shower?
• Do you ever smell mold in the bathroom?
• Do you have adequate lighting at the sink?
• Are cords secured and out of the way?
• Are electrical outlets accessible?
• Are there enough outlets to safely plug in blow dryers, etc.?
  
  CLICK HERE to print out your own bathroom safety checklist.

Meet the Remodeler

Gingerbread Man has been a friend of the family since I was a child. When he called last week and said that he had injured his leg, I was more than happy to offer my remodeling services to help make his home safer and more accessible for his recovery and for the future.

As a Certified Aging in Place Specialists, I have worked on many homes needing remodeling due to accessibility issues. Even though Mr. Gingerbread Man is expected to make a full recovery, this incident opened his eyes to how limiting his home really is... particularly his bathroom. He is now looking to remodel his master bath so that it will be both beautiful and functional for the whole Gingerbread Family for years to come.



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An Accessbile Home for the Gingerbread Man

Holidays are a time of gathering and sharing, but this also the time that so many accidents occur. Unfortunately, over the Thanksgiving holiday Gingerbread Man suffered a terrible accident while at his vacation home in Naples, Florida.


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We have offered to remodel his home to make it completely accessible in time for Christmas. Be sure to check our blog and follow us on twitter for updates on the progress of this project and the carefully chosen universal design features and products.

We would love to hear your ideas on how to make Mr. Gingerbread Man’s home safer.

#8 of the Beloit College’s list of the mindset of incoming college class of 2014, is:

With increasing numbers of ramps, Braille signs, and handicapped parking spaces, the world has always been trying harder to accommodate people with disabilities.

Which makes me think of how much progress we have made with the creation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 20 years ago. I can’t help but to think of the mindset of students for the class of 2034.  

• They will likely know homes that are universally designed. 
• Multi-generational housing will be the norm. 
• Grab bars are likely a common item in all bathrooms.

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What do you hope for the mindset of the class of 2034?

5 Ways to Make Your Bathroom Accessible for Under $40

Here are 5 easy changes that you can do to make your bathroom more accessible - all under $40!

1. Add no slip bath mats - No slip bath mats help prevent falls both in and out of the shower. Falls can be lead to serious injury sometimes even resulting in death. Did you know... more than 10,000 people over the age of 65 die from fall related injuries annually?

2. Change existing door knobs into lever door handles. Round door knobs require finger strength and rotational dexterity to operate. Lever door handles can be opened with the arm or hand with less effort.

Watch this video for step-by-step instructions on how to install a lever door handle:

How to Remove & Replace/Install a Door Lever -- powered by eHow.com


3. Install Rocker Light Switch- Unlike toggle light switches, rocker switches are easier to operate and can be turned on or off with the arm or elbow.

4. Remove Clutter- Using shower caddies, above the toilet shelving, drawer dividers, robe and towel hooks and behind the door hangers are great for keeping items off of the floor in and out of the shower. Keeping a hamper in the bathroom also helps keep laundry from piling up on the floor.

5. Install a handheld shower head- Handheld shower heads are great for bathing whether you are in a seated or standing position. They are also great for bathing children or pets, to help minimize stress on the back.

Here is a video on how to install a handheld shower head: