24 Mar 2012 Spring is about cleaning, purging and organizing
by Ashley Carson
When I pull into my driveway and see the daffodils poking up through the ground, I know I can’t put it off any longer. It’s spring, and unfortunately, that means spring cleaning.
To me, however, spring cleaning isn’t just about scrubbing baseboards (yeah right) and getting the dust balls out from under the furniture, it’s about organizing and purging!
Throughout the year, we stuff, stash, pile and hide (all with good intentions of course) without giving much consideration to the disaster area we are creating around us. Life keeps us busy. It’s important to remember that clutter happens to the best of us. That pile of old pictures I stuffed in the catch-all basket above my dryer last June is embarrassingly still there!
The key is that you just can’t let clutter get the best of you!
Every home is guilty of a cluttered junk drawer or two, but when a visitor thinks your utensil drawer is the junk drawer . . . it’s time to get serious about spring cleaning.
But take heart!
Here are a few steps to make this process a little less overwhelming and a lot more rewarding.
Make a list – The best way to get started is to organize your thoughts by making a list. Grab a pen and paper and go through each room one at a time. Don’t just sit on your couch and think about the rooms, actually spend time in each area thinking about what needs to be done, what you would like to change and what drawers or closets need to be organized.
Make sure to hang the list on your refrigerator or somewhere you will see it daily.
Host a party – I’ve found the best motivation for getting my house spruced up is to host a party. Whether it’s a wedding shower or just the girls over for Bunko, set a date and get to work!
Make sure you allot enough time before your party to get everything completed on your list. The last thing you want is to find yourself down to the wire and stressing out (this will only lead to more stuffing and stashing).
Baby steps – Remember: Rome wasn’t built in a day. Whether you take one room a week or one room a day, figure out what will work best for you and your schedule.
Another thing to consider is that some rooms might only take an hour while others might take days. When you start to feel overwhelmed, don’t give up! A drawer a day is better than nothing!
Keep/toss/donate – As you are going through your drawers and closets, keep these three categories in mind. A good rule of thumb is if you haven’t used or worn something for an entire year, it can be tossed or shared with someone else.
Make it fun – I think Snow White was on to something. Find your favorite music and turn up the volume. A good beat helps you clean faster and keeps you energized, and if you were to do a little dancing, that’d be OK, too!
Still not excited? Find a friend and work on your lists together!
Happy cleaning!
