Get your home ready for a proper spring refresh. A professional organizer shares 10 things to declutter before spring cleaning to make your space feel lighter, cleaner, and less stressful.
10 Sneaky Things Making Your Home Feel Messy (Even When It’s Clean)
There’s something about spring that feels good.
The air softens, the light appears brighter, and you suddenly want to scrub everything you own.
But before you reach for a sponge or an aerosol, there’s one step that helps above all others.
Decluttering.
If you skip it, you’ll just be moving piles around.
The thing is, clutter shields dust, mess, and stress. It keeps your home heavy.
And getting rid of unnecessary items makes cleaning much easier and more satisfying.
Here are 10 things a professional organizer says you should declutter before spring comes.
SEE ALSO: 26 Things Organized People Do & Don’t Do Before Noon
Don’t Start Spring Cleaning Until You Declutter These 10 Things
1. The Kitchen
Begin where traffic is the heaviest. Believe it or not, the kitchen is rife with space-consuming clutter that accumulates quickly.
So go through your fridge and freezer, and get honest about what you have in there.
Don’t forget the cupboards too.
Chuck anything expired, weird, or forgotten.
Wipe down the shelves quickly, and everything will feel new.
Move on to the pantry. Organize like things together and look at dates.
Work through all of those items left over from last fall.
Preparing a few dinners from leftovers will also clear you some space, and save you money at the same time!
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2. Cleaning Supplies
You can’t clean if your cleaning supplies are a mess.
Yank everything out from under sinks, laundry shelves, and storage bins.
Combine bottles that are less than half full, discard anything dried out or gumm,y and take stock of expiration dates.
Keep only what you really use and put it all back in an orderly, one-handy, space-saving compartment.
This makes your big spring clean so much easier and less irritating.
SEE ALSO: Five Things You Should Be Doing Daily (According to Marie Kondo)
3. Clothes You Are Done With
This one is easy. If you didn’t wear it last season, the chances are high that you never will.
Pull out your clothes so you can try on the pieces that have you apprehensive about.
If it doesn’t fit well or you don’t feel good in it, donate it.
Also, try to do the same for your winter stuff before putting it away.
If you never wore that chunky sweater or those boots all year, someone else would surely appreciate them more anyway.
A closet that is not full or bursting at its seams has a calming effect.
SEE ALSO: 100+ Helpful Ways That’ll Get You Seriously Organized
4. Bathroom Products
Look through every shelf, drawer, and makeup bag.
Sunscreen, lotion, makeup, and shampoo expire sooner than you may think.
When in doubt, err on the side of caution: If it smells bad or is an odd texture, toss it.
And yes, check your nail polish, hair spray, and skin care samples.
They do not last forever. Discard any that appear old or divided. It’s oddly liberating once you do this.
SEE ALSO: 15 Vintage Cleaning Tips (and Why Grandma Loved Them)
5. Paper Piles
Paper clutter seems to creep up around everyone.
Bills, mail, receipts, random notes, yep, those piles turn into mountains fast.
Go through everything and put it into three piles. Keep, shred, and toss.
Preserve what you need for taxes or personal records, shred what you don’t.
Then throw in a little tray for mail down the line so this doesn’t happen ever again.
SEE ALSO: 8 Habits of People With Really Clean Homes (That You Can Copy!)
6. Garage or Shed
Whenever you can, open the garage or shed door and start clearing it out.
Discard broken tools, dried-up fertilizer, and old plant pots.
Don’t throw away paint cans or chemicals in the garbage; instead, take them to your city’s disposal center.
When everything you keep works, that space slowly starts feeling useful again.
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7. Outdoor Gear
Before you get lost in dreams of that backyard barbecue, check out what you already have.
Patio chairs, cushions, and string lights are all worth checking. If something is broken or moldy, toss it.
Wipe down what you still feel you would use, and donate what you no longer love.
Your next spring self will thank you when that first warm day hits and your outdoor area is already prepped for it.
SEE ALSO: How to Make Your Home Smell Good: 42 Genius Ways That Work!
8. Medicine Cabinet
The allergy season is just around the corner.
Test your medications now, before you start sneezing.
Check the expiration dates for all of your medications and products, including allergy pills, nasal sprays, and eye drops.
Throw out what is old or expired.
AND reload the basics that you need before the pollen arrives.
It’s a minor issue, but you don’t want to deal with it when you’re already down.
SEE ALSO: 11 Genius Laundry Hacks That’ll Save Your Clothes
9. Indoor Plants
It’s okay to admit that some of your plants did not survive the winter.
Have a good look at them. If it is beyond saving, say goodbye and clear the space.
If you like the look of greenery but don’t want to deal with the upkeep, get some realistic faux plants instead.
They instantly brighten a room and will never fail you.
10. The Random Stuff
Everyone has a corner or drawer where things tend to collect.
The junk drawer, the hall basket, and the bathroom cabinet all became black holes.
Each day, focus on one area for ten minutes.
Keep what you use frequently, toss the rest, and place items where they actually belong.
It’s quick, simple, and gives you an instant clean feeling.
SEE ALSO: 14 Things to Declutter This Weekend Fast
Best Decluttering Tips to Help You Start
Keep a donation box out all month. Put it somewhere easy to see. Whenever you find something you no longer need, drop it in. Once it’s full, take it to a local donation center.
Do not buy storage containers yet. It is tempting to organize before you declutter, but wait until you know what you are keeping. You might find you need fewer bins than you thought.
Make it fun. Play music, light a candle, or turn it into a weekend ritual. The vibe makes a difference.
Ask yourself if you would buy it again. If the answer is no, that tells you everything you need to know.
Decluttering before spring does not imply perfection.
It’s about making room for the coming season and adopting a more relaxed attitude.
When you let go of things that no longer serve your needs, you’ll feel lighter and better prepared for what comes next.
Cleaning becomes easier, your home feels brighter, and you get a genuine sense of a new beginning.
This is what the start of spring is supposed to feel like and be about!
SEE ALSO: 15 Items You Must Declutter in Spring
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Author: Everything Abode
Welcome to Everything Abode, your daily inspiration for every activity at home!
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