What do you think when you hear the phrase “spring cleaning”? Does it immediately conjure images of a harried housewife on all fours, scrubbing the baseboards? Or perhaps endless piles of seasonal clothing waiting to be transitioned out and in? Whatever comes to mind, let’s take it ONE step at a time, because progress doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to start! So here’s a few quick and dirty steps to make a big impact on your day-to-day.
Pick a junk drawer. Just ONE. How about the one in your kitchen? Yep, that one! It’s got pens, and papers, and hair ties, and gum, and sunglasses, and…apply our method — Assess what you’ve got, Sort and Consolidate, Purge or Donate, and Source (get some drawer organizers, or cardboard jewelry boxes work great too) and Store.
Overloaded pantry? Pick ONE shelf (if you don’t get to more, it’s OK, at least you got one done!) and throw out anything expired. If you haven’t touched some of the canned goods in over a year, donate to a food pantry. Old, half-eaten packages, toss. Once you’ve purged, wipe down that shelf and organize what’s left by type (ex. condiments) or use (i.e., dinners).
Pick One section of your closet — Example: short-sleeve shirts. If they’re not in their own section, put them together. If it’s too small/big, donate. If you haven’t worn it in a year, donate. If it’s pilling or has holes, toss.
Tupperware - In terms of plastic, pick ONE brand (i.e., Ziploc, Rubbermaid, etc.) and toss anything that isn’t that. A one-quart Rubbermaid top will not screw onto a one-quart Ziploc bottom. That is to say, they’re not all built equal, despite looking like a match. So take the guess-work (and clutter) out of it for you.
We could keep going, but these are four quick and dirty ways to get clean! And if four is too overwhelming right now, pick ONE!
