Spring Cleaning and Organizing

I guess by now most of you have either started thinking about spring cleaning or have actually started the process. I’ve done a little of both. I went through the winter clothes to get rid of the items that won’t fit next year, I’ve given away some toys that are no longer used, and I’ve “thought” about tackling the closets. In my house, with 4 kids, it seems like I am always performing “spring cleaning”. I have a corner at the end of a hallway where I store all of the items that I need to get rid of. As soon as I remove the items and take them to various charities or give them to friends and neighbors, the corner is full of “stuff” again. As I go through bedrooms, closets, utility room and the shed, I continue to find unused items that somebody else may need or want. Sometimes I don’t even know where the stuff came from.

I’ve learned through reading various magazine articles and information that people posted on blogs and such that there are some good ideas for cleaning out areas of your home where things seem to collect. The following is a tip that I have tried and I like the best.

First, you tackle one area or room at a time. Generally there is some areas in your home where “things” seem to collect -- a desk, the kitchen, the dining room table, a closet, etc. It’s best to start with one area so you can complete the process before moving on to another area. You will need three fairly large plastic bins labeled – 1) KEEP, 2) GIVE TO CHARITY, and 3) PUT AWAY.

Second, start in the area you have chosen and put every item into one of the three bins. The items you put in the KEEP bin should only be those items you plan to keep in the area you are cleaning. These should be items that you use on a regular basis. The items that you place in the PUT AWAY bin should be items that you need to keep but you don’t use them regularly. Items that are placed in the CHARITY bin are those that you don’t need and never plan to use again. These can also be items that you have not used in several months.

Lastly, for the items you put in the CHARITY bin, take those and put them in a plastic trash bag or boxes and immediately put them in your car to deliver to your favorite charity organization. Next, go through the items you placed in the PUT AWAY bin and neatly pack them in places where you can access them when they are needed. Make sure you don’t pack up items that you will need in the future in a box and place it in an attack under items. This will defeat your purpose and you may end up purchasing similar items unnecessarily. Take all of the items in the KEEP bin and put them back in the location where you will need them. Some may go back in the are you are cleaning while others may need to be put back in other rooms.

If you follow this simple process for every area that needs to be organized or clean, you will accomplish what you set out to do and it the end result is very satisfying.