The first day of spring is only a few days away and by now, if you’re anything like me, your 
social media feeds are full of tips, tricks, and charts for spring cleaning and decluttering. I, for one, LOVE spring cleaning. Decluttering, organizing, and cleaning are all things I find relaxing, invigorating, and, yes, fun. I know not everyone feels this way, but at least a bit of spring cleaning is usually necessary. Time to wipe away the dust of winter, open those windows, and declutter those closets!
Over the years, after reading many, many articles and social media posts about spring cleaning, I’ve narrowed down my favorite ways to go about it so it doesn’t overwhelm me. Through this process, spring cleaning is a refreshing and energizing time of year for me!
Declutter to Simplify
Decluttering and simplifying your spaces is a simple, yet very effective, way to instantly feel like you have more space and less stuff. And just like the emergence of spring, it can refresh and invigorate your mind and home. Yet, decluttering your entire house can seem just a bit daunting. So take it day by day, one space at a time. One of my favorite accounts to follow in terms of decluttering and simplifying is Emily Ley. Her book, A Simplified Life, has helped me take control of my spaces and taught me how to simplify, so in general, we just have less stuff!
Everyone Loves a Good Checklist
One of my professors in college always said, “Work smarter, not harder.” So look around and find those resources. There is no shortage of checklists on Instagram or blog posts that focus on cleaning, organizing, and decorating. Some of my new favorites for cleaning are Clean Mama and Petite and Neat. Search Pinterest or Instagram or Google and find a checklist that works for you! Print it out (laminate it if you’re feeling fancy) and get to work! Somehow when it’s all broken down for you step by step, it doesn’t seem so daunting.
Organize One Drawer at a Time
For me, part of spring cleaning is organizing! I wouldn’t say I am fanatical about organizing but I do love a good organized drawer or cabinet with my label maker. In a way, organizing is just a natural part of spring cleaning. If organizing isn’t a natural thing for you, look for a pain point in your house and just find a system that works in that one specific area.
Again, one step at a time! Last year, we had a cabinet by our front door that was just a pile of all my kids’ activity supplies. Soccer uniforms, dance shoes, it all just spilled out when the cabinet opened. So I got a few baskets, grabbed my glue gun, and organized that cabinet. A year later, and it’s still working perfectly! Starting with one difficult area can change your daily life and quite possibly motivate you to organize something else.
Favorite Organizing Social Media Accounts
My Personal Organizing & Cleaning Tips
Extracurricular Activities & Socks: Each child has their things in designated bins. We also keep all their socks in this same cabinet, makings it SO much easier in the morning when they can just grab a pair as they head out the door.
Hair & Teeth Supply Drawers: In our kitchen, we have a drawer dedicated to hair and tooth brushing supplies. That way, once they are downstairs for the morning (especially on school days), they don’t have to go back up and likely get lost and not brush their teeth and hair.
All Natural Stainless Steel Refrigerator Cleaner: We put a good deal over convenience and bought a stainless steel fridge that did not have a fingerprint protective coat on it. After a few months of crazy fingerprints, I was over it! I try to reduce the use of chemicals as much as I can, so I didn’t want to use the popular stainless steel wipes. Enter Petite & Neat and her all-natural cleaner. It involves vinegar and olive oil. It is so effective and long lasting! Find her on Instagram and check out her highlight all about it.
What are your favorite tips for spring cleaning?
