The Ultimate Spring Cleaning Checklist: Declutter, Store, and Refresh

As you gaze out your window early in the morning, you’re greeted with birds singing, flowers blooming, and cool, crisp air infused with the exquisite scent of rain.

Spring is here! 

A favorite time of year for many of us, spring is a time of rebirth, clearing out, and starting anew. 

You know what that means?

It’s time for spring cleaning! 

While the notion of it can be overwhelming, spring cleaning can be as simple or comprehensive as you’d like. Some view it as an opportunity to deep clean while others focus on decluttering. 

Regardless of which camp you’re in, you’re in the driver’s seat. In this article, we’ll look at the decluttering aspect. After all, it’s hard to deep clean when you have too much stuff everywhere. 

Not sure where to start? We’re here to help with a few tips to guide you along the way. 

Let’s give it a go, shall we?

The Plan

Before you begin, it’s helpful to create a strategy. Keep it simple, perhaps tackling one room—or even a corner of a room—at a time. You can even choose to handle a drawer or shelf at a time.

Gather trash bags or boxes, one each for gifting, donating/recycling, selling, and trash. 

Everything that you decide to keep remains in its place—at least for now.

The Rooms

While everyone’s homes and lifestyles are different, here are a few tips to consider room-by-room.

Kitchen: 

Comb through both the refrigerator and pantry, tossing all expired items, including spices. If you come across items that you’re certain won’t be used but haven’t expired yet, consider donating them to your local food bank.

Next, say goodbye to any unused or damaged gadgets, utensils, pots, pans, etc. 

Last, but definitely not least, take a look at your junk drawer. First, empty the contents and clean the drawer. Next, comb through the items and throw out everything that no longer holds a purpose (e.g., old receipts, pens that no longer work, etc.). Then categorize items: office (e.g., pens, scissors, envelopes, post-it notes, etc.), small tools (e.g., screwdrivers, eyeglass repair kit, etc.), and miscellaneous items (e.g., measuring tape, batteries, keys, etc.). Are any items better kept elsewhere for greater efficiency and space. Now, you can reorganize the contents. Consider small bins or baggies to group similar items. 

Living & Family Rooms and Bedrooms:

Time to reevaluate your style. As we move through life’s stages, our tastes and needs often shift. What you loved ten years ago, may no longer spark joy or be useful today.

Garage and Attic:

These spaces are often catchalls for everything that doesn’t have a clear “home.”

Tools everywhere? Perhaps you’re the owner of multiple, same-size Phillips head screwdrivers scattered in different areas? Just think—next time an urgent project arises, you’ll know exactly where to find the right tool for the job; and, you’ll save money by not purchasing duplicate tools. 

Tools aren’t the only fair game here. That said, we’ll dive deeper into this in the “storage unit” section below. 

Closets:

Trust your first instinct. If you eye a piece of clothing and feel meh, it’s time to part with it. If you’ve been waiting ten years to fit into an item, let it go. Whether you donate or share with friends, your clothing will help others, and that’s a gift to your heart as well. 

Digital Decluttering:

While this may seem an odd inclusion, our devices and brains are far too clogged with digital photos, mental to-do lists, a million emails you’ve been meaning to read, etc. Time to go through and organize or delete—don’t forget those apps and subscriptions.

Storage Options: Creating a More Organized Space 

Congratulations! You’ve made it through the challenge of deciding what stays and what goes.

Now, it’s time to figure out storage options for all those items you’ve decided to keep but don’t need on a daily basis.  

Sure, you’ve probably seen those immaculately organized designer closets or pantries on TikTok or Instagram. However, those solutions aren’t a one-size-fits-all, in style and budget. Let’s look at a few options that may work best for you. 

Storage Tubs:

While they tend to be bulky, storage tubs usually hold more items than other options. Consider opting for clear tubs to easily identify the contents. Purchasing tubs of the same brand and size will help with stacking and uniformity.

Baskets:

It may help to use the same size and style of basket throughout each room to streamline space while looking fantastic. Be sure to label the contents on the outside of the basket.

Closet and Bedroom Space Savers:

Particularly helpful in closet storage, vertical hanging organizers are wonderful for storing t-shirts, accessories, etc.

Cascading clothing hangers hold multiple pieces of clothing, either horizontally or vertically, maximizing closet space.

Don’t forget about that vital, untapped area under your bed. To create even more space, consider getting risers to elevate your bed, increasing valuable under-bed storage!

Storage Unit:

Do you prefer to rotate décor and furnishings as you usher seasons in and out? Need a place for bulky holiday décor or seasonal clothing, sports equipment and gear, or gardening tools?

Sounds like it’s time to rent a storage unit.

A storage unit is the perfect solution for items you don’t frequently reach for but have easy access to as needed. 

Whether you start small or jump headfirst into a massive project, celebrate your successes 

You’ve decluttered, organized, and refreshed your space. Bask in your more serene and peaceful environment. 

Your body and mind thank you.