People always ask us about Spring Cleaning, and I love the idea and energy of throwing open the windows and starting fresh with your house, reflecting all of the new life and beauty around us outside!
When I talk with people about Spring Cleaning, however, the first thing I want to tell them is that I am not a cleaning expert. I don't know 100 household uses for vinegar, but I do know a thing or two about organizing your closets, bathrooms, kitchens, and garages!
I also want to bust the myth that you "must" do some kind of major overhaul of your home in the spring, like there is some kind of rule about exactly what should be done. Every home is different and people live in different climates, and people have varying degrees of maintenance they do all year round. Certainly there are seasonal things to do that are smart, like switching out your sweaters for shorts. But if you do a good job keeping things clean most of the year, you don't "have to" break out the kneepads and scrub the floor, unless you want to. I always want people to feel comfortable doing what WORKS for them and not compare themselves to some unrealistic standard.
If you are feeling inspired by spring like so many people are, here are some questions about "Spring Cleaning" that you can think about as you approach your weekend, with some resources to help:
- What cleaning projects do you want to get done this spring? If you are inspired to do some major cleaning like baseboards, drapes, blinds, or comforters-- decide on it, schedule it in and get it done, coordinating with your family for the extra effort you'll need. For me, a must is cleaning my patio furniture so I can enjoy sitting outside. Our Clutter Diet members have access to our 26-page Household Systems & Routines Workbook that can help you plan all of your household tasks throughout the year! Read here to find out how to get access to this workbook for just $4.95 (UPDATE July 2011: We now offer the FREE 7-Day Quickstart which includes seven days of focused guidance from me plus an additional 7 days of full access and support!). For help with cleaning tips, please refer to Heloise at Good Housekeeping. Here is a great article with her 20 most popular household hints. (By the way, did you know I am writing a blog for Good Housekeeping now? See all my posts here.)
- What organizing projects do you want to get done? We suggest closets because of the seasonal swap-out of clothing, and we also think it's a great time to organize your garage, since it's not too hot outside yet. Your refrigerator and pantry might need some attention, and your bathroom cupboards probably need first aid items and sunscreen to be restocked. If you'd like some support to get these projects done, our expert team is available 7 days a week to consult with you in our member message boards!
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What is your disposal plan? When you do big projects, especially like garages or basements, you need to plan ahead a little, and you will probably need some help hauling away that old broken bulky stuff. Our friends at College Hunks Hauling are now our Preferred Hauling Partners, and you can save $30 when you mention Clutter Diet! They will haul your clutter away, take things to the dump, recycle everything they can, and they will even deliver your donations to Goodwill® for you. Read more about our special deal here and you can put in your zip code to find out if they serve your area. If you just need to find your nearest Goodwill donation center, go to http://locator.goodwill.org.
Enjoy your weekend, and enjoy your spring! What are your favorite Spring Cleaning tasks? Share in the comments!
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Part of my Spring Cleaning also includes the yard. Cutting down decorative grasses, raking left over fall leaves, etc. This year two of my neighbors and I are going in together to get a Bagster (large soft sided dumpster)a service our trash company has. You buy the Bagster at a home improvement store, fill it with your debris, then call the trash company and they pick it up. I could never fill one by myself, but with two neighbors teaming up it is worth it.
Posted by: Heather | April 08, 2011 at 06:06 PM
I've followed tips on clearing out the garage but how do I deal with the heavy metal items like hoses, pipes, calipers, rotors, radiators, transmissions, etc? It's mainly one person lift to heavy metal but but some have oil or at traces of oil which most junk places refuse to deal with. =/
Posted by: S.H. | April 08, 2011 at 08:04 PM
Our city has an annual Citywide Cleanup day, when you can take hard-to-get-rid-of items (paint, etc.) to a central location and they have people there to gather them. Might be worth looking into to see if your town does something similar, S.H., for the stuff with the oil on it.
Posted by: Joanna | April 09, 2011 at 12:04 AM
Hello from College Hunks Hauling!
One of the main differences between College Hunks Hauling and a service like Bagster is that we actually go in and remove the items from wherever they are currently (attic, basement, backyard, etc.) and do all the labor and loading to get it into the truck.
In addition, we DONATE, recycle or reuse over 60% of the items we remove. You never need to sort the items on our behalf, we will take them all and make sure they are handled in the most environmentally friendly manner available to us.
We also offer neighborhood discounts if you have a few neighbors who would like to schedule a group service.
We are often able to remove items such as hoses, pipes, calibers, etc. In most cases we are able to remove these items for you without any issues. If you give us a call or send me an email I can assist you in determining whether we would be able to service your specific needs.
In addition we are also able to provide paint drying and removal services while we are on site eliminating the need for you to load paint into your vehicle and transport it to a central location.
For more details on any of the services above or if you are facing a unique situation that you are unsure how to handle, please give us a call at 1-800-586-5872 or email service@1800junkusa.com and we will be more than happy to assist you. In many cases we will be able to provide you with a solution and service within 24-48 hours.
Posted by: Christopher Jackson | April 18, 2011 at 05:08 PM