Refresh your space and your mindset with a spring cleanup
Some people seem to be born with the “clean gene”, and some people have to work a little harder to stay on top of tidying up. I fall into the second category – despite my best intentions, clutter seems to pile up on any flat surface in my house! Decluttering might sound intimidating or time consuming, but it doesn’t have to be. Sorting through your clutter will not only help you gain back valuable space in your home, but also may even help to reduce your stress levels! This is a great time of year to take refresh your home by taking control of your clutter and taking back your space – it’s time for a spring cleanup.
Decluttering 101
Clutter can take many forms in your home. You might think of clutter as piles of things like papers, toys, clothing – or all of the above! Clutter often piles up when items don’t have a permanent home, don’t get put away after they’ve been used, or don’t serve a purpose anymore.
When decluttering any area of your home, focus on organizing things into categories – keep, relocate, donate, recycle and discard.
- Keep items that you use regularly, and need to have easy access to in the space that they’re in.
- Relocate items that need to be kept, but either haven’t found a permanent place in your home, or need to be put away.
- Donate items that still have some life left, but are no longer needed, or could be used by someone else.
- Recycle items that can be diverted from the landfill. Check out your local recycling guidelines to determine what you can recycle, and where.
- Discard items that are at the end of their life cycle – broken, expired, damaged, or no longer necessary.
Four areas of your home to de-clutter this spring
Clothing/Closets
Decluttering your wardrobe can be one of the most liberating and satisfying areas of your home to tackle. Cleaning out your closet and taking inventory of the clothes you have can make your old wardrobe feel new again! This is a great time of year to clean out your closet – stash away your heavy winter clothes, and break out your spring and summer essentials!
Beyond asking the simple question of “does this still fit?”, think about whether items are in your closet because you actually enjoy wearing them regularly, or if they’re just taking up space. Store away items that are out of season or only worn occasionally. Donate items that still have some life left, but no longer fit or you no longer wear. Discard items that are damaged, or repurpose them – old t-shirts make great cleaning rags!
Once you’ve got you’ve sorted through everything, you should be left with your keep pile – all of the items you love and wear often. Now you’re ready to put things back, and enjoy your refreshed wardrobe!
Bathrooms
Clutter can easily fill up your bathroom if you don’t stay on top of it – and if you don’t have a lot of storage space to start with, decluttering is essential! The onset of warmer weather is the perfect time to declutter your bathroom and bring seasonal items like sunscreen to centre-stage.
Start by taking an inventory of items that are empty, or nearly empty. Downsize nearly empty products like lotion or haircare into travel-sized containers, or combine similar products into one container to save space without creating waste. Next, check for expired medications and personal care products. Some items like sunscreen can lose their protective properties after a certain period of time, so it’s important to take a look at labels!
Entry way
The excitement of the warm weather that spring brings often leads us forgoing our bulky winter coats in favour of lighter layers. However, since we live in Saskatchewan, the land of unpredictable temperatures, you may find yourself wearing a wind breaker one day, and bundling up in your parka the next day! This can cause our entry ways to quickly become cluttered with an assortment of clothing choices.
Once warm weather is firmly here to stay, take a good look at your entryway, and check to see if there are any items that could be stashed away for the season. Store away your seasonal items, donate things that are longer needed or no longer fit, discard broken or damaged items, and make way for spring!
Pantry & Refrigerator
Taking inventory of food items can not only help you free up space, but also help you make sure you’re not reaching for something that is expired. Get ready for summer cooking with a refreshed kitchen!
Start by sorting through your items and checking expiry dates. Discard items that are no longer safe to consume – and when possible, recycle the containers they came in. If you have dry goods that are not expired but you’d like to part with, consider donating them to a food pantry or shelter near you!
Items in cardboard boxes like granola bars or fruit snacks can take up a lot of real estate. Downsize multiple boxes into a clear container to give you more space, and also help you see how much of something you have left.
Ready to declutter the rest of your home?
Download the free Spring Wellness Guide to access our de-cluttering checklist to get started!
Meet the author
About Emily Wright | Emily is a Design Specialist at Saskatchewan Blue Cross, where she puts creative skills to work on the Marketing team. She’s passionate about photography, videography, and visual storytelling through design. Emily loves to spend her free time exploring Saskatchewan with her boyfriend and dogs, or cozied up on the couch with a good book.