Can you Spring Clean effectively without decluttering first? The answer is simple. NO!
Spring is about waking up, refreshing the old, and making space for the new. We celebrate Spring with bunnies and colourful eggs, both symbolizing abundant new life. It’s also not a coincidence that for us Christians, our celebration of Easter, Jesus’ death and resurrection takes place in the Spring paralleling the season of rebirth.
It’s the beginning of March and the days are already feeling a little longer and the sun shining a little brighter. I don’t know about you, but I’m already looking forward to opening the windows and the fresh smell of laundry that has been hung outside to dry.
The number one best way to Spring Clean your home effectively is to declutter first!
If you organize and pare down these things right now, you will not only be ready for spring, but you will feel lighter and more organized.
Paper
- Flyers
- Used envelopes
- Recipes you’ve cut out of magazines (you can take a picture and store them digitally)
- Old magazines
- Old tax paperwork (anything from 2017 and earlier can go)
- Appliance manuals (especially if you don’t own the appliance any longer, if you do most likely you can find it online)
Clothing
- Single socks
- Stained shirts
- Ripped underwear
- Hat’s, mitts and scarves you’ll never wear even in an emergency
- Winter clothing you still haven’t worn this winter, including jackets and sweaters
- That pair of jeans and shirt you were keeping for the next time you paint
Food
- Expired food items
- Old or stale spices and herbs
- Packaged food that’s getting close to the expiry date (donate it – there are people in your community who need it)
- That science project at the back of the fridge
Toiletries
- Empty bottles and containers
- Old make-up and nail polish
- Dingy towels and facecloths
- Expired medications
- Broken hairbrushes
- Products you don’t use
When organizing for myself and my clients, I like to keep extra products like bins etc. to a minimum. I also like to stay away from plastic whenever possible. However, chosen well, the right container can make all the difference to saving time and keeping things tidy. I reluctantly decided to use a clear plastic egg container in my fridge. Am I ever glad I did! For some reason everyone in my house devours eggs at an alarming rate. Weird I know. This container allows us all to see exactly how many eggs we have at any given time. They also don’t fall out or crack!
St. Patrick’s Day is coming up and I love celebrating my Irish heritage! One of my favourite things to eat growing up was Potato Bread, which is super simple to make. Potato bread is is also referred to as Irish Potato cakes or Farls. They are a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes, just by adding flour and butter!
This recipe is the way I make them, just like my Mom and Grandma: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/100506/irish-potato-farls/
