Now that we’ve made it through the winter and are enjoying Spring, lots of people start thinking about cleaning. Every year when the weather starts to get warmer, we all get a little more motivated to clean out the garage or organize our pantry. If you only look at the big picture though, it can seem a bit overwhelming. When it comes to getting organized, you have to take it step-by-step and this is especially true if you, like many of us, wait until spring to really get the ball rolling. Lucky for you, we’ve got some tips that’ll hopefully make things a little easier for your 2019 spring cleaning.
The first step in getting starting on spring cleaning is to create a plan. Without a plan you will likely get overwhelmed and quit halfway through, leaving your house only half clean and still not where you want it to be. Taking the time to grab a pen and paper, sit down, and write out everything you want to get done will help you see exactly what you need to do. Is spring cleaning the garage important to you? Do you want to organize your closets? No matter how many things are on your list, write them all down. This way you can see what needs to be done and be able to form a plan from there.
Arguably one of the most important parts of spring cleaning is focusing on one room at a time. If you are trying to clean the kitchen and the garage at the same time, you aren’t able to put all of your energy into each room, which will in turn cause the quality of your work to decrease. Plus, who says you have to get it all done in one weekend? Spread out your cleaning schedule over a few weeks and tackle one room per weekend.
Organizing your mudroom can seem tedious, but as one of the first places you and guests likely walk into, it can really set the tone for the rest of the house. If you don’t already have some, consider putting lockers into the area complete with a storage bench or cubbies that baskets can fit into. These can provide extra storage for coats, backpacks, shoes, hats, gloves, and more.
Spring cleaning the garage might look like a daunting task to many, especially if they’ve got a lot of work to do. One of the best things to do for the garage is to go through all of your seasonal items and get rid of things you no longer need. Donate gently used items or toss out things that are broken. Once you’re done with that, you’ll be able to decide how much storage you need and where to begin. Consider putting cabinets in your garage or wire shelving to provide ventilation for dirtier items.
The pantry is something that may often get overlooked during spring cleaning. It seems like such a small place, that you aren’t worried about it at the moment. It’s important to take some time and go through your dry goods or small appliances you keep in there and throw things out, as needed. Having a clean pantry can make your kitchen feel more organized.
Oh, the dreaded closet clean-out. Organizing your closets can be overwhelming, but rewarding all the same. This might even require a day to itself. Take some time to go through your clothes, linens, or shoes and decide what you want to keep, donate, or throw out. This will give you a good start in the organization process and help you reevaluate if you need to update your closet storage or not.
When the whole family is involved, things can move along a lot quicker. If you have young kids, make a game out of helping clean to get them more excited. Even if you’ve got reluctant workers, one more set of hands is better than none. Put on some music and get to work!
Last, but certainly not least, after you’ve got all of your spring cleaning done it’s time to reevaluate your cleaning habits altogether. If you are someone who tends to deep clean and organize once a year around this time, you might want to reconsider. Having better cleaning habits throughout the year will cut down on cleaning overall. Now everyone’s situation is different, but creating a plan or schedule and sticking to it throughout the year will likely be extremely beneficial to you and your family. Plus, it will alleviate stress and keep clutter and messes to a minimum.
If you’re ready to tackle the never-ending battle to limited storage, look no further. Harkraft can help you create the most efficient storage solutions for your home and get you on your way to a stress-free, organized home. With spring right around the corner, there’s no better time to do it than right now. Contact us today to get started on your 2019 spring cleaning!
