Spring Cleaning – Room by Room
Did someone say, “Spring cleaning”? It’s that time of year! Open your windows, roll up your sleeves, and get to work! Spring is the perfect time to purge, pack up, or otherwise organize the clutter. Let’s look at the common types of clutter and how to banish it for good! Don’t procrastinate! Start now so that you won’t miss out on any more time with family and friends when the term “social distancing” is a phrase from the past.
Bedrooms
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Our bedrooms are supposed to be our sanctuaries. It’s a place you can go to rest and recharge. I don’t know about you, but I can hardly do that when everywhere I look I see an accumulation of STUFF!
Common pitfalls include clothing, reading material, sundries, and toys that make their way there throughout the day
Rule #1: Clutter in the bedroom is off-limits. This means clothing gets hung up or put away immediately after it comes out of the dryer – don’t let it pile up! Books, magazines, and other reading material can easily accumulate. To prevent this literary traffic jam, only keep the current book you are reading in your bedroom unless you think that a small stack of three to five books reflects your decorating style. Once you finish one book, swap it out for another, or switch to a Kindle or e-reader to preserve your limited space. If you subscribe to magazines or newspapers, implement a time limit to read them. If you don’t get to it within 30 days, they should be recycled or rehomed.
As for the random items that inevitably find their way to your bedroom, put them where they belong or get rid of them quickly. Don’t leave them there “for now,” because that could become indefinite. If children are depositing stuff in your room, let them know that their toys and artwork belong in their room and not yours. Better still, create a rotating display center for their special projects.
Closets
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Rule #2: Stow your seasonal stuff. While most of us on the East coast can still expect some cool days, it is safe to pack away the heavy winter clothing. Clear your closets of the bulky jackets, snow boots, scarves, gloves, and hats that make up your winter wardrobe. Now is also a good time to assess the rest of your closet. Do you have items that you haven’t worn for over six months? Are you guilty of saving items that no longer fit because you might be able to wear them someday? What about items that fit, but may not be in keeping with your current style? If any of those sounds like you, I am giving you permission to purge. If the garments are in good shape, check to see if any local organizations would accept them for donation, list them on your neighborhood Facebook marketplace, or partner with a retailer that specializes in second-hand clothing sales. ThredUp, Plato’s Closet, and Poshmark are just a few that will compensate you for your clothing and accessory donation - provided it meets their resale requirements.
Parents, this is the perfect opportunity to clear your children’s dressers of outgrown clothing. Consider packing individual sizes into storage containers and keeping them if you plan on adding to your family or gift them to a friend or relative that is expecting.
Hand-me-downs are an excellent way to be thrifty while still decking your children out in all of those cute little outfits!
Office
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Rule #3: Minimize the piles. I’ve already talked about cleaning and organizing your physical AND virtual desktop, but there are other areas in your home office that might need attention. If your job has you jotting down notes or printing sensitive documents, don’t let that pile-up! Instead, invest in a shredder and destroy it. Your information is safe, and your office will be clutter-free. It’s a win-win.
Living Room/Den/Family Room/Great Room
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Moving on to the Living Room or Den or Family Room or Great Room or whatever you want to call it. Do people still have dens? Whatever you call it, this room (potentially in the main area of your home) is not immune to clutter. Things have a way of creeping into the high-traffic spaces in our homes which is the last thing you want when trying to relax or entertain family and friends.
Rule #4: Now is the time to tame the beast, especially if you find yourself wading through children’s toys and clothes or have a knick-knack collection that has gotten out of hand. If you can’t banish the toys to another room entirely, consider storage options that keep them (mostly) out of sight. I’ve adopted a rule that I never go upstairs empty-handed. Each time I go, I take an item that was left downstairs and drop it off where it belongs. I find that this helps prevent me from feeling overwhelmed when I start cleaning. Some people find that a well-placed laundry basket can collect items that can go upstairs at the end of the day. Find an approach that works for your family and stick to it! It will make your life so much easier, I promise.
As for those knick-knacks and collectibles, I get it. You love something, and you want to surround yourself with it. You may even have well-meaning friends and relatives that contribute to your collection. The good news is, you don’t need to get rid of everything. A collection can be special by displaying a few treasured items; not to mention there is less to dust. Either pare down to a number that is more reasonable, or place the remainder in storage to rotate them periodically. It is important to remember that a hobby or collection should not overtake your home. The best way to honor your passion is to scale down and let it shine by giving it the spotlight it deserves.
Garage/Basement/Attic
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It’s easy to let these areas become a catchall for more stuff. After all, you aren’t keeping Christmas decorations out year-long, so they need to be stored. Unfortunately, it becomes too easy to shove everything in an attic, the garage, or your basement, and then forget about it. The problem is that you (or your family members) will be hit with the burden of clearing it out decades later. Do everyone a favor and tackle it now!
Particularly in a garage, investing in shelving can help you store the necessary items without them overtaking the space. This is where you can store your lawn/garden supplies, tools, sporting goods, and yes, those holiday decorations.
Rule #5: Announce the latest family rule - if it is not housed in a properly labeled, clear storage tote on a shelf, it does not belong in that area. Clear tubs save time and allow you to easily view items next year.
It is also a good idea to take stock of what you have and where it “lives” regularly. You can use this time to decide how often you really use your items and what can be purged.
How do you tackle your clutter? I want to hear from you! Leave a comment below, or email me.
Krista Kyte is a personal finance blogger and personal banker with over 18 years of experience in the financial industry. Krista is passionate about helping our members understand their financial situations. She writes tips that will help consumers reach and maintain financial security, and start living the life they’ve always wanted.
