How to Soften a Bag of Hard Sugar

January 23, 2014 by Tracy

My stockpile currently holds 6 bags of sugar – in addition to other types of baking supplies and food. As I store my stockpile in our garage, the bags of sugar get hard.

Finding that adding moisture to the air in our microwave makes cleaning easy, I decided to try adding the bag of sugar within that same atmosphere.

If I were a student, then this experiment would probably be my science fair project.

Instead of How to Soften a Bag of Hard Sugar, my hypothesis would be Adding Moisture in the Air will Soften a Bag of Hard Sugar. Since my experiment worked, I am glad to report the results.

How to Soften a Bag of Hard Sugar

1. Fill a glass measuring cup with 2 cups of water.

2. Heat the water in the microwave for 5 minutes.

3. Let rest for 2 minutes as the steam fills the microwave’s interior.

4. Open the bag of sugar from the top.

5. Quickly open the microwave door and insert the opened bag of sugar.

6. Close the microwave door.

7. Heat the sugar and water for 1 minute.

8. Let rest for 1-2 minutes as the steam softens the sugar.

9. Remove the bag of sugar and feel the softness by squeezing the bag.

10. If the bag is still hard, repeat steps 7-9.

More than Just a Bag of Sugar

In addition to bags of sugar and brown sugar, this method also works to soften bread. We add moisture to our microwave before heating leftover pizza, breadsticks, corn bread, and biscuits. With the added moisture, the bread perks up and is soft to eat.

Though no science fair projects are on our horizon, I still enjoy experimenting to finding solutions to issues around our home. Solving the dilemma of how to soften a bag of hard sugar frees me from worrying about the sugar getting hard in the garage.

Without worry, I am better able to use time wisely keeping up with other tasks, like laundry. 😉 Happy experimenting!

Question: What experiments have you tried?

Organization: Kitchen Cabinets

January 22, 2014 by Tracy

Sickness looms in my household. As the only healthy one, I am doing my best to isolate myself while running drinks upstairs, keeping food available, and continuing the loads of laundry.

While I was digging in a bottom kitchen cabinet for another water bottle, I was getting frustrated because the lids were all over the place.

I just needed one bottle with a matching lid. But I guess that was too much to desire because I ended up unloading the cabinet to find one. Since I already had part of the cabinet unloaded, I just decided to organize this cabinet again.

The last time I organized it was back in 2011, and we have added a *few* items to this cabinet. We also have two children in school, so we have increased sandwich containers and water bottles.

Bottom Kitchen Cabinet

As I unloaded the cabinet, I matched the lids with the bottles and containers. Trashing a cracked pitcher, 2 extra bottles, a spare lid, and a plastic container, I placed as many smaller water bottles on the top shelf that would fit.

The larger containers rested on the bottom of the cabinet, and I stacked the tea pitchers. I had a few extra small water bottles, so I needed to rearrange the upper kitchen cabinet that housed more bottles for school.

Upper Kitchen Cabinet

Reaching only the bottom two shelves of this cabinet without getting a step ladder, chair, or stool, I concentrated on these two shelves. I combined the stacks of cups on the second shelf which took less than a minute.

On the bottom shelf, I matched the lids with the bottles, added the straws to the sippy cups, and stacked the water bottles.

In using time wisely, I took about 10 minutes to organize two kitchen cabinets which will save me time later in finding a matching bottle and lid. Though I took a few minutes to get on track, no sickie was left stranded without a drink in the creation of this organization project. 😉 Happy organizing!

Question: What small project are you organizing that will save you time later?

Organizing: Kitchen Drawers – Part 2 of 2

January 2, 2012 by Tracy

Guess I left you hanging on my kitchen drawer organization project. Sorry about that. 🙁 Since some of my favorite posts did not make the Top 10 List of 2011, I chose to include a preview day which trumped this second posting of this short series.

Though you had my steps to get from chaos to order, I know you are waiting for the before and after pictures. Yes, my house is lived in, gets dirty and disorderly, but it gets cleaned and organized.

If you are dealing with out-of-control clutter, then take it one room at a time. Work a little each week on one section of that room. Your progress might be slow, but don’t give up or get distracted. Just concentrate on brightening that corner. You will gain momentum as you make progress. Just carve out 15 minutes a week and go.

Drawer #3

On the day I organized drawers 1 and 2, I also cleaned out drawers 3 and 4. This third drawer houses utensils that are necessary, but not used daily.

Before Organizing After Organizing

As the resident “junk” drawer with Box Top labels, Kraft Singles wrappers, and other small miscellaneous items, I began whipping this drawer into shape by:

1. Pulling out all the utensils and putting them on the counter

2. Sorting the items into piles

3. Wiping out the drawer

4. Replacing the drawer liner

5. Placing similar items together in the drawer

6. Giving each utensil a home

7. Putting away the remaining items that did not belong in this drawer

8. Examining the organized and now clutter-free kitchen drawer

Drawer #4

This drawer is in a row of three drawers. The first two drawers were clean, organized, and working well. However, this bottom drawer was crammed full and needed decluttering.

Before Organizing After Organizing

Once again I followed the above eight steps and removed lots of excess and unused items from this drawer. When I replaced the needed items back in the drawer, I was left with room for all the straws, Box Tops labels, and Kraft Singles wrappers. 🙂

Leftover Items from Drawer #3 for Drawer #4

The rest of the items were donated, trashed, or put away, i.e., the extra hand towels placed with the linens in my half bathroom downstairs.

Leftover items from Drawer #4

When all the extra items from these drawers were removed and the remaining items neatly organized in the drawers, I could easily find the utensil needed. No longer did I need to sift through the cutter. As I spent less than an hour to organize these four drawers, I rid our home of clutter while using time wisely. Now, I am ready to tackle more clutter in my home. Welcome January and 2012!

Question: What household organizational project are you choosing to start this week? Please add your answer to the comments.

Organizing: Kitchen Drawers – Part 1 of 2

December 12, 2011 by Tracy

As I went to my kitchen drawer for a cooking utensil and found a cluttered mess, I knew it was time for an organized makeover. After months of stashing unused or unknown items in my kitchen drawers, my valuable kitchen space was getting used by odds and ends. No more. I declared – time to take back my kitchen and rid these drawers of clutter.

Kitchen Drawer #1 - Before

Drawer #1

This drawer houses many of my spatulas, spoons, ladles, pizza cutters, and other kitchen utensils. Instead of all the similar items grouped together, all the utensils were just stashed in the drawer. After moving the items around to find the one utensil I needed, it was time to begin the reorganization.

Pull out all the bulky utensils and put on the counter
Sort the items into piles
Wipe out drawer
Replace the drawer liner
Place similar items together in the drawer
Give each utensil a home
Put away the remaining items
Enjoy the organized and now clutter-free kitchen drawer

Drawer #2

Kitchen drawer #2 - Before organizing

Once I began organizing one cabinet, the momentum began and I tackled a second drawer as well. This drawer was more of a mess. I still had all the plastic utensils from soccer season which was in (ahem) May. These drawers were overdue for a good reorganizing.

Once again I followed the above eight steps, and removed lots of excess and unused items from this drawer. When I replaced the needed items back in the drawer, I was left with all these other items to put away, trash, or donate.

When all the extra items had been removed and the remaining items neatly organized in the drawers, I felt much better. I could see all the items without sorting through the clutter to find that serving utensil.

Kitchen Drawer #1 - After organizing

Kitchen drawer #2 - After organizing

The results were worth taking fifteen minutes to organize. In using time wisely, taking a few minutes to organize one drawer, cabinet, or shelf will give you momentum as you seek to start, continue, or keep your home organized.

Question: What household organizational project is on your agenda? Please add your answer to the comments.

Maintaining: Kitchen Cleanup – Part 3 of 3

June 13, 2011 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Free Range Stock (Adamophoto)

Keeping the kitchen clean is an on-going task. Having a routine in place after each meal helps to keep me organized. I go on auto-pilot as I complete the routine and end with clean surfaces and rinsed-off dishes.

The after-breakfast routine was covered in Part 1, with the after-lunch routine shared in Part 2, and today, I will complete this 3-part series with my after-dinner routine. By the end of the dinner routine, my goal is to have a clean kitchen which will await me at breakfast the next morning.

Dinner Routine:

Clear off the table. My two older children ask to be excused and then take their dishes to the kitchen. I have a designated spot for their dirty dishes: on the counter by the sink. My children will then help clear off easy items while Paul and I clear off the rest of the table.
Wipe down the table.
Put away any leftover food.
Rinse each dirty item and place it in the left-hand side of the sink.
Unload the dishwasher. If the dishes are clean, then put away the clean dishes.
Load the dishwasher. Add all the rinsed-off dirty dishes from the left-hand side of the sink into the dishwasher. If the dishwasher is full, then run the dishwasher.
Clean all the countertops.
Spray the kitchen sink and wipe it clean.

The routine is basically the same as my after lunch routine. Having similar routines keeps me on-task and helps me to use my time wisely. Though this routine works for me, it may not work for you. I share my routine to inspire you to find a system that meets your needs where you are. By finding a routine and sticking to it, you can arrive home or enter your kitchen without being met with a To-Do pile of dirty dishes. If you struggle with a messy kitchen, then try adjusting one part of your current routine until you find a system that helps you stay organized as you spend your time wisely. Wishing you time spent wisely creating a kitchen routine that fits your schedule.