Conquer Spring Cleaning (and Organizing!)

Spring has sprung! Which means it’s officially time to start up your annual spring cleaning overhaul. Here are a 4 ideas to jump-start your efforts:

(1) Update your files.
We all have the looming April 15 tax deadline ahead of us. (At least the Americans do!) This is a great time to sort through not only your financial paperwork but also other documents in your files. Clear out the old stuff, back file what is necessary in storage, and shred whatever you don’t need to keep.

(2) Prep your house for spring rains.
Check your roof for curled, cracked or missing shingles. Inspect window and door seals to ensure they’ll keep out water. Clean out your sump pump, its drains, and its filters. Ensure gutters are clear, and that any downspouts and extenders are firmly attached. Keeping an organized home maintenance schedule will save you costly repairs down the road.

(3) Start spring cleaning!
Make a list of all that you need to do: take drapes to the cleaners, wash comforters and winter coats, etc. Depending on the length of the list, accomplish 1-3 items each week. By the time summer rolls around, you’ll be done cleaning and ready to enjoy the sunshine!

(4) Prep for garage sale season.
Purge a room a week throughout spring. As you are clearing out a room, take the things that you want to sell, tag each one with a price and then store in a central area for all sale items. This way, you will avoid rushing around the house a week before the garage sale, trying to figure out what to get rid of. And you’ll have already given everything a price, so you can avoid the late-night pricing session the night before the sale.

Remember: You don’t have to do ALL the above to make the most of springtime. Pick 1 – 2 and go from there! Either way, you’ll be a few steps closer to feeling balanced and organized.

Carmen Coker is a professional organizer who helps individuals find the motivation and know-how to get organized and stay organized. To learn how to save money, create more space, and manage your time through organization, claim your “FREE Tip Kit: 10+ Pages of Tips and Tools to Help You Get Organized — Finally!” at www.OrganizeClutterbugs.com

Image: Ben Woloszyn Photography