Spring Into Cleaning - A Guide for Decluttering
I really have no idea why I love to write cleaning blogs or why I enjoy cleaning. Recently I read Organizing For The Rest Of Us,100 Realistic Strategies to Keep Any House Under Control, by Dana K. White. An amazing light bulb went off in my head! Like, "I finally get it!!" I realized I don't have a cleaning problem--I love cleaning! I have a clutter problem.
De-cluttering can be such a huge ordeal that you don't know where to start. What I loved about this book was that I wasn't overwhelmed. The author is very practical and kind. I thought, "I can do this! Let's get started!"
In keeping with our theme "Spring Into" blogs this month, we wanted to help you "spring into cleaning." Like Rachel always says with decorating, "The first thing is to start with a clean slate." So let's begin this spring season off right with a clean, decluttered slate in our homes.
Since reading Dana's book, I've had a few epiphanies I'd like to share with you--let's call it a book review!
- De-clutter what you can see. So often I'll clean out drawers that no one else sees. I worked on those drawers for a long time with nothing to show for it! Instead, work on your entry way or another visible place to feel a sense of accomplishment.
- Stop moving your clutter from one place to another! This makes so much sense, but how often do we pick things up, only to put them in a "better place."
- Don't take everything out at once! Such marvelous advice for me since I usually open up a closet, dump it all out, and then feel overwhelmed with the mess I've made! It's better to take one item out at a time and decide to either keep or dump.
- Keep your emotions out of the process. Ask fact based questions to determine whether you need it or not. Yes, you wore that dress in 1986 to prom. Do you really still need it?? Just the facts, ma'am!
- Use black trash bags for items you're throwing away. This will keep you from seeing what's inside and changing your mind. If possible, use a box to put all your donations.
- Get rid of everything once you've bagged and boxed them up! If you don't do it quickly, someone will come in the room and profess their love for said items; then you're still stuck with them!
- Use containers. Believe it or not, a container can also be your closet or a room. Here's the deal, if items don't fit in a container, they've got to go!
By de-cluttering, your daily cleaning tasks will be easier and won't feel so cumbersome. Of course, this is just scratching the surface of the author's great tips. Stop by and see us and pick up the book for yourself!
Until next time, happy de-cluttering!
Joy
Hi Joy!
Love your decluttering epiphanies. I have read several related articles/books. From such research and from personal experience (years of it), my conclusion is: Keep it simple and quick; plan on frequent but small clearing projects. You are so right about where to start. Do NOT begin with drawers or items hidden from sight.
Thanks for writing such fun blogs.
Lynne
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