There’s something about the spring season that entices you to throw open your windows, roll up your sleeves, and spruce up your nest. Making spring cleaning part of the season’s daily activity allows you to refresh your environment and make room for what’s to come. Imagine beginning your summer with a clean and tidy house and a sense that you’re totally on top of things.
The best first step to spring cleaning is decluttering—relieving yourself of all belongings that are no longer useful, loved, or needed—and clearing your home for a delightful fresh start.
It’s common to want to avoid this step. Decluttering can feel overwhelming and may bring up emotional angst. Letting go of things can feel risky or engender guilt. It’s a critical practice, however, in maintaining personal space. The key is to make it easy and even fun.
Before you empty an entire closet into the middle of the room or dump out a messy drawer, set the stage for your decluttering operation. It can be helpful to have on hand a few receptacles that will catch all that you decide to discard. Label each one “toss,” “donate,” and “recycle.”
Make sure each receptacle is big enough to hold plenty of stuff, sturdy enough to not buckle under the weight of its contents, and easy enough to carry out of your space when full. Having each one clearly labeled can make things easy for you and possibly entice anyone you share your space with to participate in the decluttering party.
To further set yourself up for success, open the windows if possible to let the fresh air in. Choose some energetic music or a motivating podcast or audiobook to listen to while you work. Set a timer for a manageable amount of time, like 20 minutes, and challenge yourself to work as fast as you can within that period of time. Gather simple dusting and cleaning supplies that you can quickly use to polish up each small space after it’s been decluttered.
Begin by choosing an area that doesn’t feel very overwhelming—a small space that you could easily go through and enjoy a quick win, like a small drawer or shelf. As you consider each item in that area, ask yourself the simple question, “Do I use, need, or love this item?” If the answer is yes, keep it; if no, deliver it to its proper receptacle. Set a rule that you’ll complete the single area you’re focused on before moving on to another area.
As the season progresses, stay consistent with keeping up a daily practice of spring cleaning. In the decluttering phase, each room might bring about particular considerations. Understanding what purpose you wish for each space in your home to fulfill can be helpful in making decisions about what should stay and what should go.
Bedroom
The bedroom should be a calming space that embodies peace, rest, and serenity. It’s where you begin and end each day and deserves care and attention. If this has become a catch-all place for unrelated clutter, it’s time to move out the unnecessary mess. Aim for clear surfaces, remove digital devices and chargers, stock the room with bedtime essentials, and remove anything that doesn’t serve the purpose of the space.
Kitchen
The kitchen, on the other hand, is a highly functional space that should support togetherness, creation, and nourishment. Tools should be easy to find and ready to use. Surfaces should be clean, clear, and ready to be worked upon. Items that aren’t kitchen-related shouldn’t be piled up here. Items that are worn out can be let go. As you work, it’s a good idea to keep a running list of items that need to be added or replaced.
Bathroom
The bathroom is the place you prepare and care for yourself. It should be an inspiring sanctuary that encourages you to be your absolute best. You want your bathroom tools to be clean, organized, and easily accessible. You want your linens to be fresh and surfaces to be clear. Anything that doesn’t belong there should go.
Closet
Each closet in your home functions best if it’s organized and not stuffed to the brim. Your closet should offer you a palette of options, whether that’s your coat closet, your linen closet, your clothing closet, or something else. Closets can become messy quickly if we’ve gotten in the habit of using them as catch-alls. Allow ample time for each closet declutter.
Living Room
The living room is a space that might be full of family memories. It should be a cozy space for gathering and relaxation. Go through the entire room, curating the items that best support what you want this area of your home to do for you and your family.
Our physical environment has a significant effect on our lives. Our space influences our inner state and also reflects what’s going on inside. It’s a cyclical relationship.
Spring cleaning your home each year is a delightful practice of refreshment. Your home is a reflection of who you are, where you’ve been, and what you aspire to be. Keep this in mind when choosing what to keep and what to let go and enjoy the renewed feeling you get as you declutter and spruce up your personal sanctuary. You might be surprised at how this impacts other aspects of your life.
