Clutter Control

Spring Cleaning is a wonderful annual event. With the rebirth of nature all around us we yearn to have a fresh start ourselves. Out with the old and in with the new. Well…how about just out with the old? No point in cutting the clutter around the house only to replace it with more clutter. Here is a great and easy way to tackle the clutter in your house this spring.

1. Attack one room at a time. Edit out anything that doesn’t need to be in there. Have a trash bag in the room and four bins. Label the bins: “Sell”, “Donate”, “Re-gift”, and “Storage”. Be discriminating and unsentimental. If you haven’t used or worn something in years, what’s the point of keeping it?

2. Take the “Donate” bin(s) immediately to your local thrift store or charity.

3. Plan a yard sale or list items from the “Sell” bin(s) online within a few days of finishing your Spring Cleaning. If you wait longer, the items will just collect dust and probably never leave the confines of your house.

4. Store the “Re-gift” bin(s) in a clean, safe place in your home that is easily accessible. Write a list of the contents and tape to the outside of the bin(s) to refer to when a special occasion arises.

5. Put away the “Storage” bin(s) in a space such as the attic or unused closet as soon as possible and write a list of the contents to tape to the outside of the bin(s).

Even though the term is “Spring Cleaning”, if you really want to keep your house in tip top shape, follow this advice each season!

Spring Cleaning Checklist

It’s almost that time! If you’re getting ready for some serious spring cleaning, we’ve found this great pdf checklist over at The Nest to help get all of the nooks and cranies. The bonus? This checklist comes with a point count based on how nasty the cleaning assignment is. Challenge family members to see who can make the most points - and then give that person a prize!

Here’s an example of the “Oh What a Pain” Tasks:

Clean oven.
Change batteries in smoke and carbon dioxide alarms.
Throw away rarely used or expired toiletries.
Clean gutters.
Clean upholstery.
Fertilize lawn.
Tune up lawn mower.