6 Spring Organizing Tips to Declutter Your Home
Spring – it is spring, even though many areas around the country have had late snowfalls and extended ski seasons - is the perfect time to declutter and organize your home. You are likely already dealing with spring cleaning, and if nothing else, you’re forced to find the kids’ summer clothes and bathing suits, have a look at your own spring and summer wardrobe, and change out décor and flannel sheets. Depending on where you live, you might even be breaking out fans and making sure the air conditioners are ready for the coming summer heat.
So spring organizing is great idea, but where do you start? We’ve put together six spring organizing tips, that will walk you quickly through each room in your house and inspire you to declutter, organize, and welcome warm weather. The result? A stress-free living space, purged of unwanted items and a load of donations you can take to your local goodwill.
Getting Started with Spring Organizing
Before diving into your spring cleaning and organizing project, it’s important to think about what you want to accomplish versus what time you have available to work on it. Some people love to make lists, others prefer to walk through the space and take mental note of the priorities. Whatever your method, start by setting realistic goals for each room, and prioritize which room you want to start with. This will help you stay focused, whether your spring organizing is a day project or something you work on all month.
Declutter One Room at a Time
When you start spring cleaning and organizing, it’s best to focus on one room or space at a time. If you don’t you can end up with more chaos than you started with. It also ensures that if something comes up, you’ve at least been able to complete the space you’re focused on, even if other rooms must wait. And, the sense of accomplishment you feel by finishing can be the motivation you need to tackle the next project.
Sort Your Stuff Logically
As you work through each space, decluttering is usually the first step. The best approach is to sort the stuff into keep, sell, and throw away. As you sort through everything, get comfortable with throwing away things you don’t use and others can’t – whether it’s clothing with stains or broken, cracked dishes, just send them to trash or recycling. As you sort through everything, sort it into it’s appropriate category. The “keep” pile will require another go-through as you decide where to store the things you keep. Some of the stuff belongs in the room you’re decluttering, and some of it does not. A laundry basket is a great place to put the stuff you want to keep but need to take to another room. When you’re done decluttering, you can just grab the basket and make a tour through the house depositing items where they belong.
A Word about Donations
Donating items to charity can help you and your community. But it’s important not to use charity as a way to get rid of trash. It takes time and resources away from the people they serve. If it’s something that’s not usable, put it in the trash pile. If you’re cleaning out your pantry or your bathroom, double-check expiration dates and only donate items that are still in code.
Find a Home for Everything
One of the most important steps in decluttering your home is to create a designated space for everything. This means finding a specific spot for each item in your home, whether it’s a bookshelf for your books or a drawer for your socks. When everything has a place, it’s easier to keep your home organized and clutter-free. Consider investing in storage solutions like bins, baskets, and shelves to help you create these designated spaces. One of the storage items we love to use is an over the door shoe storage bag. They’re not just for shoes – use one in the coat closet to hold things like sunblock and gloves. Use one in the kids’ playroom for small toys. They are great for laundry rooms, too.
Bonus Tip for Spring Organizing
This is a busy time of year for most families. Don’t bite off more than you can chew and don’t be too hard on yourself if you choose to spend a day enjoying the sun with your kids rather than clean and organize. It will get done, eventually.