De-Cluttering for Spring
1. Start with a plan. Make a list of projects you want to complete during the year and prioritize them. You don’t have to do everything in February; pace yourself so you won’t feel overwhelmed.
2. Take three simple steps. Every organization project starts with three basic steps:
v purge the items you no longer want or need
v analyze what’s left to determine how you use it
v measure the space you have to figure out what will fit where.
When you’re organizing, use a three-box system: keep, discard, and don’t know. When you’re finished, seal the don’t know box and put it away. If you haven’t opened it in a year, you don’t really need whatever is in there. Throw it away without looking inside.
3. Clean out the closets. Get everyone in your household involved by competing for the “cleanest closet” award. When organizing a closet, frequency of use is an important consideration. Things you
reach for at least once a week should be stored at a height between your shoulders and your knees. Lowe’s or Home Depot has a variety of closet organizers to handle hanging garments, shoes, sweaters, and all types of accessories.
4. De-clutter the kitchen. The kitchen is often a catch-all for clutter. Review what’s on your counters and move small appliances and cookware you use most often to easy-to-reach cabinets. Look for a Lazy Susan type Corner Unit that’s perfect for maximizing your corner cabinet storage space.
5. Tidy up the bathrooms. Clean out all the drawers and cabinets by tossing out expired products and items you haven’t used in at least a year. Then sort your products in a drawer organizer.
6. Make laundry day a breeze. Keep a plastic shoe box in the laundry room to store items you find such as lipstick, buttons and money. Set up a three-basket hamper system in your closet or bathroom
so you can sort your clothes the moment you take them off, making laundry day that much easier.
7. Organize your home office. Customizable closet systems aren’t just for bedroom closets. Check out selection of shelves, drawers and hanging storage for your home office closet at your local hardware store or online. Lightweight storage bins are great for files you use often and come in decorative
canvas, metal, wood and plastic styles.
8. Don’t forget the basement and garage. Oil drips, grass clippings and tracked-in mud make basements and garages a challenge to keep clean and organized. The best way to organize these areas is to create “zones” and keep the tools and products you need in their respective zones, such as lawn care (mower, tools, potting soil), car care (antifreeze, oil, car wax), sports equipment/toys, and general
hardware/tools.
Still need more space? Call us and we will help you find that perfect move up home.
