Spring is the perfect time to purge your excess at home so you can make way for a spring deep clean. Determining where to start this process is the key to success. And what will you do once you have sorted your things into piles or bags? Consider some easy advice regarding ways to address your extra that help both you and others in need.
How Clean Is Clean Enough?
Spring cleaning can feel daunting if your goal is to have a truly spotless space. First, determine what being clean means to you. Do you need to remove clutter of large items you no longer use, like the bargain table that you’ve been meaning to refinish for four years? Does clean mean clearing out closets and cupboards? Or does clean mean rearranging furniture and washing down all the spots left untouched over the winter? Establish what your top priority is so you can get to work on projects that will produce results.
Purging Your Excess
Tackling your bedroom closet or your basement storage can feel overwhelming. Carve out time for the family to work together on the sorting, as more hands make light work. Gather up your children’s seasonal items that no longer fit and try selling items on swap sites for a little extra cash. It may be time for the couch passed down from Grandma Angie to find a new home. Set a time limit for sifting through your items so the purging feels manageable.
Spring Cleaning Checklist
For those of you who believe that clean means clearing away the dust and grime that settled over the months your home has been closed up, the checklist below provides simple tasks that quickly freshen up any space:
- Wash baseboards, windowsills and door frames.
- Dust blinds and clean window coverings.
- Wash windows inside and out.
- Dust overhead lights and replace light bulbs.
- Dust and/or vacuum light fixtures and lamp shades.
What and Where to Donate?
Local and regional charities collect and redistribute gently used donated items like house wares, furniture and clothing. Many charities won’t sell donated mattresses, but they will accept mattresses to reuse or they will recycle them for you. Places that typically accept mattresses are Habitat for Humanity, homeless shelters and most non-profits. It’s always best to call ahead to confirm what donations are allowed and what the organization’s drop off hours are. Don’t forget to ask for a donation document confirming the value of your contribution that you can use as a write off on taxes.
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