We are one month away from the start of spring and I can’t wait for the warm sun to melt away the cold. One of my favorite things to do to welcome the season right is spring cleaning and I don’t stop at just the closet. Much like Marie Kondo suggests in her book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, I like to get rid of anything that doesn’t bring me joy anymore. This is a great time to also help those less fortunate by donating those things to your favorite charity.
Here are 5 tips to get your place all spruced up by spring:
#1. Don’t overwhelm yourself – No matter if you have a studio apartment or a mansion, spring cleaning can feel overwhelming. It may feel like a lot to tackle, but I find the best advice is to break things down by room. I like to start with my bedroom because I know I need an entire day to go through my closet. Anything that I haven’t worn in awhile and is in good condition goes to my donation pile. Keep Marie’s tips in mind or you’ll end up keeping pieces you forgot you even owned because of memories or what you spent on the item. New seasons bring new styles and you want to make space for items that will make you happy.
#2. Don’t forget to deep clean – As you’re cleaning up each room, look beyond the superficial. This is a great time to deep clean rugs, curtains, and windows. When you get to the kitchen, clean out your pantry and your refrigerator. You might be surprised what you find in those places! You don’t need anything you didn’t enjoy or is expired. I take everything completely out and clean the inside. In both the kitchen and bathroom, I take the time to organize medicine cabinets and any storage that has makeup and beauty products. Just like your closet, you probably have expired items or things you never use. Get rid of it!
#3. Include the kids and family on the fun – No one likes to clean but it’s a great time to teach kids the importance of keeping their rooms tidy and getting rid of books and toys they no longer love. Give them boxes or bins so they can select their favorite things and give the rest away. Older kids and family members can go through the items in their spaces then convince them to help you finish the house! Bribery works for me, so I promise to buy everyone pizza or burgers at the end of a long day of cleaning.
#4. Safety first – Spring cleaning is a great time to ensure that all your smoke detectors are working properly and have fresh batteries. You’d be surprised how many people leave that beeping sound going because they don’t want to change the battery! Pick up some extra ones and keep them in a drawer. Not only is it dangerous, but not many pets are fond of that sound since they have such sensitive ears. Also, check the expiration date on your fire extinguishers and if you don’t have any at home, it’s a good time to invest in some.
#5. Don’t forget your wallet – Although this is a bit different to traditional cleaning, I like to ensure that I’m not overpaying on my monthly bills. No one has money to burn so it’s the perfect time to compare pricing on internet, cable, cell phone plans, fitness memberships, etc. I recently found that we could saving money by switching our phones to a family plan. Also, we were overpaying for cable. These days, who has time to watch an endless amount of channels? With the money you’re saving, you can save it for a nice trip or to update furniture in your house.
This is why I love the Marie Kondo way of cleaning because it really inspires me to invest our money in things or experiences that will make me happiest.
