A Spring Cleaning and Decluttering Guide

With more of us spending time at home once again, spring cleaning has come to the forefront of so many of our minds. Whether you’re cleaning and decluttering to move house or simply want to freshen the place up for yourself, I’ve provided some top tips to make it easier!

 

1. Break it down

Everything is better with a plan, and your spring cleaning is no exception. It doesn’t have to be completed in one day, in fact, it’s better to break it down and spread it out a little so you don’t get overwhelmed and end up quitting partway through.

The best method is to take it one room at a time and make a plan of what you want to tackle. Start small and work your way up, and if you find yourself getting stressed out, step back and take a break. Decluttering can be an emotional task and rushing it will only make things more difficult for you.

If you know that you’re prone to struggling with cleaning and decluttering, set yourself little goals and slowly work your way up. Tackle the cupboard under the stairs, or the junk drawer in the kitchen, and when you see the difference it will encourage you to move onto bigger areas!

I find it easiest to take EVERYTHING out of the cupboard/drawer you’re working with and then make a pile for bin, a pile for charity and a pile for keep. It always looks daunting when you see the pile of stuff, but seeing it slowly shrink is really rewarding.

   

2. Before and after photos

This is a great tip to track your progress, and especially if you’ve got a lot to work through it can be the reminder you need to keep you moving. These photos can be a full room, or a smaller section, but getting a before and after to compare will show you just how much you’ve achieved so far and help keep you motivated to continue.

Take a look at the before photo above, and compare it to this!

   

Much better.

 

3. Rule of 3

This tip is perfect for anyone who finds themselves cluttering surfaces without even realising it. Any flat surface in your home, whether it be a coffee table, a shelf, or a bookcase, should only have 3 items on it at one time (books don’t count in this, think ornaments and trinkets).

Following this rule will help maintain the work that you’ve done and reduce the chance of the clutter sneaking back into your home again. It’s also a motivator to get rid of other items when you know that you’ve got a limit to what you can have out, and this extra factor can help you be stricter on what you keep and what you throw away.

 

4. Set yourself rules

When you get started on a project like decluttering, especially if you tend to collect things and know you’ve got quite a lot to sort through, it can be really beneficial to put some limits in place to keep you focussed. This tip is especially helpful if you’ve got a lot of –

• Outdated paperwork
• Ornaments with little sentimental value
• More kitchen accessories than your household needs
• Clothing you no longer wear

If you’re prone to keeping hold of paperwork, you can start to keep virtual copies instead by scanning the documents and uploading them onto your computer. This way, they’re easily stored and can be accessed quickly if you need to. For ornaments, kitchen accessories and clothing, depending on the condition of them, you either donate them to charity, give them to friends or family members who will use them, or bin them if they’re no longer of any use.

 

5. Have someone help

Decluttering and spring cleaning can be a difficult task, especially with everything going on at the moment. What really helps you make progress is having some help and support to get things moving. Where possible, have someone you live with join in on the tasks at hand which will speed things up and have you feeling even more accomplished. If you don’t have someone that can help that lives with you, you can team up with a friend who is also looking to clean and motivate each other by sharing photos online together and challenges that you’ve overcome.

 

6. Give yourself time limits

For some homeowners, time is no issue, allowing you flexibility to take your cleaning and decluttering one day at a time until it’s all done – however, if you’re decluttering and cleaning to sell your house, setting yourself time limits will help you stay on track. If you’re wanting to sell your house fast, make a plan for each room and set yourself little rewards for each accomplishment to keep you motivated.

Decluttering and spring cleaning can seem like a daunting task, but with these tips you’ll be able to stay in control and achieve your goals!