Cleaning out the playroom just got easier

Your kids' toys can go from a dozen to a mountain in a little over a year. Birthdays, holidays, and just-because shopping adds to the massive accumulation of stuff. Now it's time to free yourself -- and your kids-- from all of the clutter.

Tackle the toys by category and put into piles the items your children don't play with anymore. Buy large organizing boxes or tubs. Put crafts in one tub and add a multipurpose label with a title such as Dymo 30334 compatible labels.

Anything that's good enough to donate should be sanitzed and carried off to the charity of choice. Better yet -- if you know someone in need ask them if they could use your gently used toys.

Tips for sanitizing toys:

• Soak them in a solution of bleach and water. Use 1 tablespoon of bleach for every gallon of water. Drain toys, rinse them well and let them dry overnight.

• Just need to sanitize a couple of toys? You can throw them in a pot of boiling water for a few minutes as if you were sanitizing bottles

• You can also throw toys in the dishwasher as long as the water temperature is above 120 degrees