Gwen’s Home & Self Care List

It’s easy to put off household chores that aren’t considered urgent, but slowly chipping away at them whenever you find some extra time will help you check them off your laundry list. These are the tasks I’m working on right now and the solutions I use to help get the job done better. I hope they inspire your own checklist, and I promise you’ll feel extra accomplished when they’re all complete.

Xo,
Gwen
Cofounder of The Laundress

1. Toss Expired Makeup, Toiletries and First Aid Supplies
“Makeup and skincare products aren’t immortal—after a while, the ingredients inside break down and bacteria builds up, rendering them inactive (and not the best for you to use). As a general rule of thumb, you should dispose of opened skincare products after a year. Cream-based makeup typically goes bad after six months, whereas powders should last you a year, max.”

2. Wipe Down Medicine Cabinet
“I don’t know about you, but leaky bottles tend to gunk up the inside of my medicine cabinet. Every few months, I like to take everything out and wipe down the shelves with our plant-based Surface Cleaner.”

3. Clean Makeup Brushes
“Makeup, oil, and dirt from your skin builds up on your brushes, so it’s key to clean them every week or so to prevent breakouts. I mix our Wool & Cashmere Shampoo with water and use the solution to clean them.” Find the tutorial here.

4. Marie Kondo The Closet + Start A Donation Box
“I’ll make it a point to clean out, edit, and organize my closet at least once per season. Seasonal items, like outerwear, ski gear, and holiday velvets, are stored in one of our protective cotton garment bags, which prevent yellowing and keep dust out. Damp basements and hot attics are the worst for storage—especially textiles—so make sure your space is always temperature controlled.”

5. Clean Fridge Surfaces + Toss Expired Items
“Your fridge can become a breeding ground for all kinds of icky stuff if you don’t clean it well and often. Now is a good time to remove everything, nix anything old or expired, and cleanse inside surfaces. I use this easy method. Also, don’t forget to wipe down highly-trafficked areas like fridge and freezer doors with a multipurpose cleaner like our Surface Cleaner.”

6. Straighten Up Pantry, Use Older Goods In Recipes + Organize Spices
“Check expiration dates and clear out anything that’s gone bad or use up things that are about to in recipes. For example, dried leafy herbs expire after 3 to 4 years and spices after 1 to 3 years; canned goods will last you anywhere from 1 to 4 years.” For pantry organizing solutions, click here.

7. Clean Out Junk Drawer
“Everyone has one and it’s easy for it to become a catch-all for all sorts of unnecessary stuff. Throw out anything you no longer need and pare down your pen collection (goodbye, dried out pens and random post-its!). Drawer organizers are a huge help here and prevent your things from getting buried.”

8. Go Through Paperwork, Tax Papers + Old Business Cards
“I organize my paperwork and tax documents by category, then file into separate labeled folders and place in our storage boxes so they’re easy to locate. I also go through my collection of recipe clippings and organize by meal or occasion.”