Can you believe it’s already that time of year? Spring cleaning season can be a fresh start for cleaner, more organized habits. Whether you’re tidying up your home, reorganizing with storage accessories, or redesigning for a fresh look, there are plenty of aspects of your home and your habits with some room for improvement. If you’re looking to simplify your life this spring by getting more clean and organized, we have just the tips for you.
1. Declutter
The first step in becoming more organized is to eliminate clutter. This means getting rid of any unnecessary or unused items that are taking up space in your home. Some examples include any old masks that have been sitting around, beauty products you rarely use, or any old furniture that makes your space feel tight.
Don’t forget that just because these items aren’t working for you, doesn’t mean they can’t be used by someone else. Take advantage of donation centers and always repurpose before disposing. Reducing clutter will give you additional storage space for the items you truly care about. You’ll also have a cleaner space because less clutter means you’ll have less dust.
If you’re like most people, chances are you have accumulated many books over the years. But what do you do with all of them? How do you keep them organized and easy to find when you want to reread or recommend them to a friend? The task can seem daunting, but with a few creative and practical ideas, you can turn your cluttered bookshelves and scattered stacks into stylish, organized displays. And it can be fun, too.
Check out the recent Redfin article we were featured in: 37 Book Organization Ideas: The Ultimate Expert Guide | Redfin
2. Reorganize with Storage Accessories
Now that you have all your necessary items, you can take full advantage of storage accessories to maximize your space. When it comes to storage accessories, your options are seemingly endless. meori’s large folding storage boxes are portable, multi-purpose, and functional for both inside and outside of your home. Plus, when they’re not in use, you can fold and store them out of sight and out of mind.
Aside from folding storage boxes, you might incorporate some desk or shelf organizers into your home office storage. Or, set up a collection of simple storage bins in your playroom or crafting space. Here are a few additional storage accessories that could optimize your home:
3. Rightsize
For those who haven’t heard of rightsizing, know that it could be just the solution to your cleaning and organizational problems. You may have heard of downsizing to a smaller space or upsizing to a bigger house. Rightsizing is the process of fully understanding how you use the space in your house and shifting to a different home in order to ensure you’re utilizing each room to its fullest potential.
Though this will often call for moving to a smaller space (downsizing), at other times, it simply means that you’re moving to a new home with comparable square footage that better suits your lifestyle. Seeing how you prequalify for a home loan will help you understand if moving to the right size home this spring is both affordable and practical for your situation.
Your crowded space might also be a temporary dilemma (e.g., relatives are staying with you for a few days or weeks), where moving may not be necessary. That said, you might be able to make your space functional by deeming it multi-purpose. Combining your garage with your home workout space, your home office with your crafting workspace, or making your finished basement a playroom for your kids can guarantee you’re optimizing each room of your home.
4. Improve Indoor Air Quality
The quality of your indoor air is a major factor contributing to the overall cleanliness of your home this spring. Poor indoor air quality can heighten the typical allergic reactions that we see around this time of year. Dust buildup and unpleasant odors can cause increased coughing and sneezing, worsened asthma, dry skin, and headaches.
To improve indoor air quality and to combat these symptoms, routinely wipe down surfaces to remove harmful dust and bacteria. Invest in an air purifier to gather some of the particles that agitate any allergic reactions. Regularly vacuuming carpets to remove dust, along with washing bed sheets and pillowcases and changing air filters will also cut down on dust and allergen buildup.
It might also be helpful to let the fresh air in. After the long winter months, your home could benefit from some clean air to push out the stale air. Not to mention, getting some fresh air has positive effects on your overall mood, digestive system, and potentially your immune system.
5. Create a Spring Cleaning Checklist
Spring cleaning encompasses so many chores. With the number of spaces and places in your home, where do you begin? The easiest way to decide is to make a list of spots you want to clean–and there’s nothing more satisfying than checking items off of an old-school to-do list.
While the list may be long, don’t be afraid to get your family involved to help lighten the load.Tackle your spring cleaning checklist room by room–this will ensure that you’re not moving onto another room before it’s complete. Prioritize high traffic rooms first, like the living room, kitchen, and bathrooms, or any rooms that you’ve neglected over the winter months. Now that the weather is warmer and you’ll spend more time outdoors, higher priority items might also include your backyard, landscaping, or your patio furniture.
Every room will consist of typically forgotten spots and surfaces when it comes to deep cleaning–don’t forget to scrub down these overlooked locations:
- Walls
- Below furniture
- Indoor plants
- Inside drawers
- Light switches
- Chairs
- Banisters
When you’re cleaning, try to keep the chemicals you’re using to a minimum. Going green when you clean is not only better for your health and your environmental impact, but utilizing multi-surface cleaners made out of natural ingredients can cut down on cluttered cleaning supply closets as well.
If cleaning and organizing are at the top of your to-do list this spring, you’re not alone! Use this warmer weather as an opportunity to deep clean your house, cut out the clutter, and maximize your living space.
Looking for more ideas? Check out all our blog posts on home organization and storage here.
