Organizing + Spring Cleaning

Can you feel it? Spring is in the air. With a change of temperature, we often look for a change of scenery. And that change can start at home. Before you break out the dust rags and deep cleaning tools, here are some basic things you can do beforehand to make things easier:

• Declutter decorations
• Remove superfluous toys
• Pare down kitchen items
• Eliminate unused clothes

There are so many organizing and decluttering methods, that you don’t need to feel bogged down on deciding which one is right for you. Whether you attempt Marie Kondo, Swedish Death Cleaning, or Cozy Minimalist style, the basic principle is that having fewer items makes it easier to clean.  

Do what is easiest and feels right for you and your space. Remember we all transition through seasons of life, and what might have worked before might not be working now. Also, remember that you don’t live on a TV show and give yourself time. It may take a few days, weeks or months until you can cycle through each room to give a thorough cleaning, but when you finish, it will have been worth your time and efforts. 

Don’t start on the hardest part (like an attic or garage), but rather pick a room that will give you instant gratification like a kitchen or living room. By choosing a common area to organize and clean, you can give yourself an immediate sense of satisfaction and a large return on your investment of time. 

The easiest and fastest way to get stuff out of the house is to donate. Oftentimes trying to sell our stuff or haggle over prices can cause more stress and slow down the process. Pick local charities like a women’s shelter or children’s home that can directly benefit from your donation. Keep a box or bin handy to make the process easy whenever you have small amounts of time to work on a room or area. 

Go through toys that are broken or unused as your child has outgrown them and deal with them accordingly. Streamline your wardrobe by storing seasonal items, and letting go of others that haven’t been worn in more than a year. Pare down decorations so you have less to clean, move, or dust. Once you’ve decluttered your spaces, you can easily clean your home! 

In addition to your regular cleaning, you can add one extra deep cleaning task-- such as cleaning an appliance, vacuuming behind/ under furniture, or even cleaning outdoor furniture or your family car--each time and you can methodically deep clean over time. 

A great way to add freshness to your spaces is to use linen spray-- on the couch, on your sheets, and even on towels. We have an easy, all-natural recipe that you can quickly make for yourself. You can source dispensers for the following recipes HERE and HERE.  You simply need these few ingredients: 

Linen Spray Recipe

• drops of your favorite essential oil
• splash of witch hazel 
• top off with distilled water

Another easy DIY you can easily mix up yourself is a laundry stain stick. Make a batch to keep handy to use as needed before washing.

Stain Stick Recipe:

• 1 Tbsp. peroxide
• 1 Tbsp. blue dawn dish soap
• 1 tsp. baking soda

Keep in mind these tasks are not duties to be dreaded, but rather jobs to be joyfully done with the end in mind. A calmer, cleaner, quieter space for the whole family to enjoy. Happy Cleaning!