Spring is a time of cleansing. The Earth renews itself and sheds the last remnants of winter. It’s also the perfect time to cleanse your life of clutter, both physical and mental. Many people take advantage of the warmer weather to spend a weekend deep-cleaning their homes. Here are some tips for making that job easier:
- Plan ahead. Decide which rooms you want to tackle and when you have time to do the heavy lifting. Start small with one room at a time, or focus on one area of your home each day so that you don’t overwhelm yourself or flood your schedule. You don’t have to do everything in one day if that would be too much work. And remember: There’s no shame in asking for help!
- Start with the junk drawer. You know the one — it’s in the kitchen, and it’s stuffed full of stuff that doesn’t really belong anywhere else. Most people tend to avoid dealing with this drawer because it’s so overwhelming, but it’s actually the perfect place to start because there’s no right way to do it. Open it up, pull everything out and tackle that mess first. You’ll feel better once you’ve decluttered it!
- Clean from top to bottom. If you’re starting with the kitchen, wipe down appliances and counters before mopping floors; if you’re starting with bedrooms, move furniture first in order to vacuum properly. It’s important not to skip over any area of your home just because it’s difficult or time-consuming.
- Purge your closet. There are many different techniques you can use, but all of them have one thing in common: Less is more! If you haven’t worn something in a year, you probably don’t need it anymore. Be honest with yourself and get rid of anything you haven’t touched in ages. The one exception is formal wear; if you don’t need a tuxedo or evening gown very often, it may be worth hanging onto them even if they’re outdated.
