Five Tips for a Successful Spring Clean

It’s hard not to feel overwhelmed when you think of spring cleaning. All the decisions about what to throw away, give away and keep can derail you before you even start cleaning!

But don’t let the clutter win! Follow these five simple tips and you’ll be on your way to that great feeling of accomplishment when you finish a task like spring cleaning:

1. Focus on one area at a time. People who multitask are less efficient than those who focus on one project at a time. Pick one room to start the process. Begin a keep, a throw away and donate pile to start. If you can’t decide on an item ask yourself, when did I last use this? Do I like it? If I keep this, what will I get rid of to make room for it?
2. Get serious about getting rid of stuff. Stop worrying about if you will ever need to use an item one day and don’t feel bad if you are giving/throwing it away. The less stuff you have cluttering your space, the sooner you can enjoy a more streamlined life.
3. Organize what’s left. Once you are done decluttering your home, you can begin organizing the items you have left. Make sure you organize your items in a way that works for you and your family. That means…
4. Find a place for every item. One reason stuff begins to clutter your table tops, counters, desks and floors is because there isn’t a designated spot for that item. Begin storing items in the room where they are used so that they are easy to put away and then group like items together. Items that you use more often should be in a convenient location. By designating a home for every item in your household you have a better chance of containing clutter permanently.
5. Gather your cleaning tools. Now that everything is in its place, you are ready to tackle cleaning (or take advantage of Sappari’s cleaning services!). But before you dive in, take a moment to gather all the materials you need: rags, cleaning products, scouring pads, etc. Ideally keep them all together in a portable container you can take from room to room instead of racing back and forth to collect supplies.

You’re off to a great start – but here is one final tip to help you keep it that way:

Be conscious of the stuff you bring home. Just because you are offered a free t-shirt or coffee mug doesn’t mean you have to take it. Remember to ask yourself, do I really need this? Where will I put it? Don’t just bring stuff home that you won’t use or really need and look for ways to block unwanted clutter from crossing your threshold.

Feel rejuvenated this spring and stay focused on living with less -- less clutter that is!