I don’t know about you, but I love Spring! I love being able to get outside with my boys and play. I love listening to the birds outside. I love opening up the window and letting the fresh air in. I even love spring cleaning! There is just something so refreshing about starting out the new season with a clean and organized house. I wanted to share with you some of the ways that I have been decluttering and getting rid of all the excess in my house!
Get Rid of Clutter
Last week I took a day off from work, sent my kids to daycare and invited my mom to come and help me organize my house. We went through my linen closet and my pantry and ended up with huge piles to either donate, sell or throw away.
I get so much satisfaction when I open the doors and see neatly lined shelves that consist of only the things that we actually need and use. I also recently edited down my home decor to include only items that I really love. Not only does my house look cleaner but I am really able to enjoy my favorite decorations because it is not competing with the clutter.
Control Toys
Right before Christmas I did a big toy purge. Anything that was broken or had missing piece went in the trash. Anything that the kids did not play with went into a donate or sell pile. Almost all of our toys are stored in bookshelves using canvas bins. I sort like toys items (cars, animals, superheros, etc.) into the same bin making clean-up so easy even my 3-year-old can do it.
A Closet Full of Clothes… Yet Nothing to Wear
How many times have you looked in your closet and thought to yourself “I have nothing to wear?” even though you have a full closet staring at you in the face. I know that used to happen to me all the time! Earlier this year I went through all the clothes in my closet with a critical eye. When was the last time I wore that dress? Would I even fit into those pants again? Do I really need 5 black t-shirts? Basically anything that I did not wear often, was in bad shape or was not a favorite was gone. It is so much easier to get dressed in the morning when I am looking only at the clothes I love and know I will wear.
Looks like I am well on my way to having enough items to have a garage sale this spring!
I go through toys, clothes etc twice a year and do the same thing you recommended. Throw, sell or give away!! Also as for as daily maintenance I never leave a room empty handed-there is always something that needs cleaned up!! There is usually always a child in my hand as well so sometimes it works and sometimes is doesn’t!!!
Great idea Bekah! I am with you…there is always something that needs putting away!
I do that, too–never leave a room empty-handed. I sometimes even employ the “never leave a room until it’s clean” tactic.
Thanks for spurring me on. I am feeling the need to deeply organize a few headache areas in my home! Including purging those toys! We have lots of little junky toys I just need to toss a bunch. What’s funny I feel like the boys play better with less toys and “stuff” around.
Toys are the worst! I can’t believe how many toys I got rid of and it didn’t even make a dent! I agree with you about them playing better with less stuf to choice from. I read something once that you could take away half of the toys that the average American child owned and then cut those in half again and that is about how many toys a kid needs. Very eye opening!
I totally agree, Jodi! I learned early on in motherhood that my kids would play better and longer with fewer things to choose from!
I like to rotate bins of toys. If they haven’t seen a toy for a month, it is like a new toy for them. We also try to teach our little ones that not everyone has toys, we all need to share, etc. and we let them pick toys to donate every couple months.
I have never rotated toy bins before but have heard great things from people who do. I think I might have to start trying that!
Spring cleaning always refreshes me! My house feels brand new after a trip to Goodwill.
Make sure the kiddos hit the dentist too – it’s like spring cleaning for their mouth!