Spring has finally sprung, and it’s time to get out and enjoy that beautiful weather, but before you do, now would be a good time to tidy up your home. Yes, it’s spring cleaning season! Time to hop to it, declutter, and organize. And now with that extra hour of daylight, you don’t have to ignore the garage or yard. But, where to start? Read on for inspiration!
- Less Stuff = Less Cleaning
You’ve already committed to tackling that huge mess in your garage, attic, basement or yard, but you’re feeling overwhelmed. The best thing to do is: reduce! Logic says if you have less stuff, you have less stuff to clean. So, start with separating the things you actually use from the things that you’d like to use (but never have.) Put them in a pile—we’ll get back to those things later. Now breathe, you just got through step one. Whew! - Out with the Old—Time to Renew
Time to get back to that “reduce” pile from step one. Take a little look-see to find out if you can reuse any of those items. Can that old dresser become a cute minibar? Or could that bike wheel become a cool outdoor spring decoration? Now, don’t just keep it because you think you might someday reuse it for that cool upcycle project. That’s how we got into this mess in the first place. But, if you truly know that you will give it a new life, do it! Otherwise, it stays in the pile. - It’s Better to Give Than Receive
We’ve all heard that message since we were kids. So evaluate which items you don’t need or aren’t going to use, and decide if they’ll be better off with someone else. Do you know someone that needs your extra coffee maker or that exercise machine you use as a clothes hanger? If you have the patience to sell your “get rid of” pile, try Craigslist, Wallapop, Offerup, Ebay, or any other selling app. If you just can’t stand that sight of it, donate it to Goodwill, post it on Freecycle, or give it to a friend. - Rejuvenate, Refresh, Recycle
Now that you’ve sorted, reduced, reused, donated, and sold your items, it’s time to find out what can be recycled. There are some obvious things that have been hanging around your home like papers, plastics and metals. But, don’t forget that old TV, VCR, computers, cell phones, batteries and paint. Find out where you can recycle those outdated gadgets. Not only is it illegal to throw them in the garbage, it’s very uncool. - Squeaky-Clean Spring
Your home is now clutter-free! But, there’s still a filmy layer of summer, fall, and winter covering your home, and since you made a vow to live a more sustainable lifestyle, you want to make sure you’re using more natural cleaning products. And as it turns out, you don’t necessarily need a different cleaning product for every job in the house. All you need are 10 ingredients, and they’re likely already hanging around your home. This infographic from Living Well Spending Less is the perfect cheat sheet to get you started.
Woo-hoo! You made it through another year’s spring cleaning session. Cue the applause! Now grab your glass of lemonade, kick up your feet, and bask in the spring sunshine of your accomplishment. You did something great for your home and the environment!