When visiting my grandmother as a child, I frequently heard stories about how she cleaned her house every spring wearing her “old” high heels. Her home was located in a valley not far from a local steel mill, so this process mostly involved washing black soot from her walls, furniture, fabrics and floors. Needless to say, I will never achieve such a level of housekeeping perfection, but it has me wondering, “Should I be ‘Spring Cleaning?’” If so, in this day and age, what should that entail?
The truth is, many of us feel a need to refresh as the days lengthen and the air warms. We have a desire to shed the weight of winter, air out, and get things in order. If you are feeling this inclination, take advantage of it by tackling one or all of these projects to “lighten up” this spring.
1. Refresh your wardrobe
Many of us “switch out” our wardrobe when the weather changes. This is the perfect time to take a look at what you own and pass on those items that you no longer need or want. Don’t store items which are ripped, stained, or lack a mate (e.g., an unmatched glove). In addition, if you’ve been moving an item of clothing back and forth for a couple of seasons without wearing it, there is probably a reason. If it doesn’t fit, doesn’t flatter, you don’t love it, or it is out of style, donate it. If you are keeping it for sentimental reasons, move it to a “Memorabilia” box and get it out of your closet.
2. Work the weather-sensitive zones
Locations like garages, attics, sheds, and storage units frequently acquire a build-up of belongings during cold months. Because it is unpleasant to be in these intemperate locations, most of us simply “drop and dump” items inside. Spring provides ideal temperatures for entering these spaces and getting them back in order.
Walk around and return things to their proper locations, such as the correct shelf or the appropriate container. If you can, wipe off surfaces and sweep out these zones.
If you need help lifting, carrying, or reaching items, consider hiring assistance. This might be a college or high school student who can bring items down from a location such as a pull-down attic, or a professional organizer who can help you sort through accumulated belongings in the basement. You may also want to hire a junk hauler to finally cart away that unused treadmill or accumulated construction debris.
Have a look at everything you own. Purge items that are:
- Broken (which you realistically are not going to get fixed)
- Irrelevant to your current needs and lifestyle
- Damaged or decayed so as to no longer be useful
If you are holding onto an item “for the kids,” now is the time to text them some photos and ask them if they actually want it.
Set aside anything that requires specialized disposal, such as old paint, used motor oil, broken electronics, rechargeable batteries, etc. The next step will be to identify ways to dispose of them safely and appropriately. Many towns host a hazardous recycling day in the spring or summer, so find out when the nearest opportunity is and put the date on your calendar. Additionally, many municipalities offer recycling options year-round for specific items, so you may be able to shed them right away. Be aware that disposal of some items often requires a small fee, such as used tires, air conditioners, and old refrigerators.
If your space has never been organized, install some pegboard or other organizing product to keep things in order. Visit my Pinterest page for some ideas.
3. Lighten your load
Clear out your purse, backpack, or briefcase. Dump out the contents and shake the bag upside down over a trash can. Toss out any trash. Sort through loose paper and file what you need to keep. Return random items that have landed in your bag to their proper location. Look through your wallet and purge its contents as well.
For more tips on organizing your bag, click here.
4. Improve your view
We are generally better at adding to a bulletin board than we are at clearing it off. The start of a new season is a good time to take everything off and start over.
Get rid of old schedules, reminder notes, and anything out of date. Hang up new schedules, invitations, and reminder cards for spring & summer. If you’ve had the same photo(s) hanging up for awhile, consider putting up some new ones. Add a splash of your favorite color, a quote, a comic, or an image of a favorite getaway to inspire you.
A couple of tips for display boards:
- Always keep items within the “border” of the board, not hanging off the edges.
- Use two pins (one in each corner) so that objects hang straight and not at odd angles.
- Avoid overlapping pieces as this will make your board look cluttered and its contents hard to see.
5. Clear out your “scrambled” drawers.
Most people have a drawer or two where items go in but rarely come out. These quickly become jumbled, resulting in frustration it comes time to retrieve needed belongings.
Clearing drawers can be accomplished a little at a time, over the course of the spring season. Drawers make perfect little organizing tasks for rainy days and/or times when you don’t want to get involved in a big project.
Check out my video for how to organize a drawer for step-by-step tips on how to do this.
6. Freshen outdoor spaces
As summer approaches, you may find yourself wanting to spend more time outdoors. If you have outdoor spaces at your home, spring provides the perfect opportunity to get them ready for summer fun.
- Walk around your yard, patio, deck, porch, etc. and do a visual inspection. Note anything that is in need of special attention (e.g., broken, cracked, dirty, etc.) and make necessary repair plans.
- Clean areas that have been unused during winter (e.g., sweep, rake, wash, brush off, etc.)
- Inspect outdoor cooking equipment and refill seasonal supplies (e.g., propane for the grill, wood for the fire pit, etc.)
- Review summer recreational supplies to make sure they are in good shape and ready to use (e.g., swing sets, bicycles, toys, sand boxes, etc.) Discard any supplies that are no longer safe or usable. Donate any pieces that your family has outgrown or that you no longer wish to use.
- If you have a pool, schedule spring maintenance and water delivery.
- When the frost has passed (and maybe after the pollen is finished dropping yellow dust), bring out cushions, pillows, and decorative items.
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Spring is the season of new beginnings, the perfect time to start fresh with your space. Do you spring clean?
I keep my summer clothes in a suitcase, so I can go some place warm in the winter! And they are ready to swap out when the temperature allows.
I love “cleaning” outside- taking dead leaves off the budding daffs, that sort of thing.
I admire those folks that clean thoroughly at this time of year, but it’s not me. Maybe next year 😉
Cat Stravino recently posted…Love in España
My daughter keeps off-season clothes in a suitcase as well. It’s a great way to make the most of a small space – thanks for sharing this idea!
It’s so funny, as I read your wonderful suggestions for getting spring-ready, I found myself feeling excited and happy that one of my favorite seasons is approaching. And it also made me realize that when something is about to change, it’s helpful to prepare. Like you, I don’t have an official spring cleaning routine, but there are a few things I do this time of year. The clothing edit and switch is one. And once it’s a bit warmer, I’m looking forward to doing some outside clean-up. I can’t wait to get out the power washer, which is about one of the most fun pieces of equipment we own. 🙂
I can’t wait either! Someday, in my dream scenario, I’ll get a power washer. I still remember you using that to get the space ready for the wedding, and I fell in love then!
I love our updated version of Spring Cleaning! There are areas that still need a refresh seasonally and this is a great time to do that.
We are a bit behind you seasonally, but it is definitely in the air, and I can’t wait to get going!!
I handle “spring cleaning” by dividing my home into zones. Each month I reorganize and deep clean that one area. By the end of the year, I have touched everything in my home. In March, I work on my living room to brighten it for the spring and in April I do my bedroom where I will focus on my clothing.
Jonda Beattie recently posted…Organizing the Entertainment Center in 10 Minute Blocks
Wow, what a great system. This way, your home never falls completely apart, and you are constantly refreshing. Brilliant!
There is something about it. We did a big (premature before the snow) deep clean over the weekend. It felt great. And I do like to lighten the purse, let fresh air in, put the heavy wardrobe stuff downstairs, etc. Cut my hair! Anything!
Tamara recently posted…You Want to Make it Hard on Me
I love cutting your hair – that’s a great way to feel like you are having a fresh start. Cheers to you for diving in already. Now all we need is the warmer weather – come on, Spring!
Great reminder! It is a perfect time to plan where you want to declutter and organize this spring.
I agree that when the weather is cold, we drop stuff in the areas like the garage. I do this! Last month, we had one day of warm weather, and I took it as the queue to put away Christmas decor. =)
Sabrina Quairoli recently posted…15 Keepsake Items to Toss for a Stress-Free Home
I had a similar experience with things I had dropped in the garage. I went out on the warm day, opened the garage door to warm up the room, and ran around for a few minutes putting things away properly!
I love the suggestion to ask the kids whether they want things saved for them. Decluttering by giving away possessions can be great–IF it doesn’t create clutter in someone else’s home, too!
So true! I thought my kids would want a lot more than they did. Plus, one ended up pretty far away, so it wasn’t worth shipping it.
What a wonderful way to invite spring into your home and into your life. I have a habit of doing my big cleaning in December; it’s downtime for work, and I love the idea of facing a new year with less bulk and more space to invite other possibilities in. Your *real* spring cleaning is the same idea (and more traditional), and you’ve hit all of the magical elements that make the transition to spring create a lighter self and space!
Ah, but #4. You caught me. I tend to treat the front and visible side of my fridge as if it were my high school locker; no appointment cards, but funny clippings and magnets that visit but never leave. You’ve given me a spring-y challenge; change the view of the fridge!
Julie Bestry recently posted…Paper Doll Carries On About Everyday Carry: What’s In Your Bag?
I’d love to see a “before” and “after” of your fridge! You go, girl!
Oh yes!! My garage is needing love. While it is still a little too chilly to spend hours in there I have it on my agenda for the first warm days!!! Just taking the car for a car wash yesterday felt great! Love this time of year and your suggestions are spot on!!!
I’m tryin to get my husband interested in doing a little garage organizing. Fingers crossed! As you said, still too chilly, but it won’t be long now. The very thought is so happy to me. 🙂
Great advice. Closets, garages and sheds are prime spaces to declutter and organize this time of year. I think I’ll post some on social media about this! The weather is lovely and people want to spend some time outside, so why not be productive too.
I like that you also talked about smaller organizing projects, like a handbag or drawer. That’s a great way to get started.
A couple of more weeks and my energy will start to rise with the longer days and warmer air. Can’t wait to get out into my garage and start washing away the residue of winter!
I’ve heard stories of my grandmothers swapping out bedding and curtains for the seasons. I don’t do that, but I do like a good refresh and reset. I like your points under Improving your View. I’m going to tackle the bulletin boards at my job this week.
SARAH M SOBOLESKI recently posted…Sarah’s Monthly Musings
For some reason, tackling the bulletin board makes me incredibly happy. I think I just get used to seeing “old” things there, even photographs, so when I put something new up, it feels like a whole new room!
These are some great ideas on where to focus our efforts during “spring cleaning.” Happy spring!
Happy Spring to you! It feels so good to get organized at this time of year, right?