Tag: closet decluttering

Spring Cleaning Time!

Spring is here! It’s finally warm up. Now is the traditional season for fresh starts. For many, that means putting away winter clothes and giving your house a good spring cleaning.  Here are a few tips for making the annual ritual less stressful.

Start with a plan.  Make a list of the tasks that you want to accomplish. Assess which parts of the house you need to cover and figure out where you want to start.  Review the plan with family members and get their input on the cleaning goals too.

Do a little bit at a time.  You don’t have to do it all at once. Tackle one task from your list each day. Seeing results helps motivate you and makes spring cleaning feel less overwhelming.

woman cleaning up her home

Tackle the clutter first.  Getting rid of items you no longer need or want will help to free up space. Freeing up space also makes it easier to clean so the rest of the job goes smoothly. Tackling the clutter can also help reduce feelings of stress or anxiety. Spring cleaning is a good time to organize things and to get rid of unused clothing, furniture, and appliances.

Always dry clean your winter clothes before you put them away for the season. Particles left on your winter clothes can stain and set in after months of storage. During that time, moths may feast on the dirty fabric as well. You can also use a laundry delivery service for the heavier bed linens and comforters to save time and effort.

Don’t forget the medicine cabinet. Gather up any medications that have expired or are no longer needed, including both prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs. Having expired medication around not only clutters your cabinets, but can also be dangerous.  You don’t want to risk yourself or a loved one taking the wrong medication.  Your local pharmacy can help you refill prescriptions and restock over the counter medications as well as dispose of the expired ones properly.

Check the fridge and pantry for expired food items and throw them out. Again, freeing up space allows you to organize your food items and become a more efficient cook.

Spring cleaning is a great tradition. Make it a fun activity for the family and everyone can enjoy a cleaner and more organized home afterwards.

Easy Tips to De-Clutter and Organize Your Closet

Did you know that studies have shown that decluttering your home can actually reduce anxiety and depression, and ultimately fewer trips to the drug store for medications? It’s more than just appearance, getting rid of clutter and reorganizing storage spaces in your home can make you feel more relaxed and grounded. I know for me, my closets tend to get a little out of control after time. When I begin dreading opening the closet door, I know it’s time to declutter. So here are my favorite tips for organizing closets.

woman cleaning her closet

Start Trying on Those Clothes

The major culprit of bedroom closet clutter is clothing. Look, we all have piles of laundry in various states of cleanliness in our homes at some point, but how much of those clothes do you actually wear? Maybe it’s time for a fashion show! Start trying on those clothes and make piles of “Keep” “Donate” and “Storage”. There’s no shame in keeping clothes that no longer fit, but there’s no point keeping them in your closet. For the clothing that needs to be put in storage, I would take them to a dry cleaner near me first – it’s always important to clean before you store your clothes. And if there is too much clothing to take to the store yourself, use a laundry delivery service.

Dig Out Those Hidden Treasures

Cleaning out your closet always reveals those long lost forgotten items waiting to be made brand new again. Maybe that vintage dress hiding behind your winter coats just needs a quick trip to the local dry cleaner. Or maybe those faded jeans can be cut into summer shorts. Cleaning out your closet is a great way to make use of the items you already have that still have a lot of life left in them. Perhaps with some clever alterations, you can wear them again with pride.

Baskets and Hanging Storage

When it comes to closets, you can never have enough storage solutions. I like to use baskets on the closet floor to separate shoes, handbags, and belts and hanging storage containers for folded items like sweaters, sweatshirts and off-season clothes. Hanging storage containers made of cloth or canvas are inexpensive and easy to find. And they’re amazing for smaller and narrower closets. When it comes to baskets, you may even have some laying around somewhere that you’re not using, or they’re super easy to come by at flea markets and garage sales.

So remember, to lower those stress levels and turn your home back into a sanctuary, start decluttering those smaller spaces like closets and pantries. You might even end up having some fun and find a few treasures in the process.