Monday, March 19, 2012
Spring cleaning: getting rid of junk
It's that time of year again. We're all pining for spring break and a pause from all the homework packets and baseball practices. A fruit smoothie on a beach in Tahiti sounds wonderful, doesn't it? Then again, I'll just be glad to sleep in for a few consecutive days. So you'll think this piece is about relaxation, but it's not.
This post is actually about some good old fashioned spring cleaning. Before we know it, we'll be chilling out on those tropical beaches (okay, maybe just San Diego... or maybe just Lake Perris). But spring flowers are almost here and in no time at all, we'll be in the grocery store buying bottles of sunscreen and Aloe.
So let's get disciplined now, while we're a bit more confined to the great indoors. You know, while we've got several hours of free-time since the kids are still in school.
Here are three simple tips to get started:
First, toss your garbage into the trash cans! This seems so obvious! But you know what I mean when I say we all store a lot of trash in our homes, right? Like, who needs their flat screen TV boxes when they're past the warranty now anyways? Or the coffee-maker packaging that's way beyond the return date as well?
Of course, recycle when possible! Most things can actually find their way into the dark blue bin rather than your brown one. And make sure to dispose of items responsibly, like electronics and old paint cans. Just call your local trash company for special pick-ups and drop-offs.
When my husband and I recently cleaned out our garage and laundry room, we threw away and recycled tons of items that we literally hadn't used in the last two to three years. I'm not exactly sure why we had saved so many old shoe boxes, probably just in case one of the kids needed them for an upcoming school project. But now, we can actually fit one of our cars into the garage; it's amazing!
Second, donate your junk! If you aren't using it anymore go ahead and bless it over to a friend or a neighbor. They might need that baby bouncer or those spicy Cuban cookbooks you haven't used for the last decade. And if you have too much stuff to dispense of individually, just visit Amvets.org or SalvationArmyUSA.org. You'll even get an awesome tax write-off for next April.
It doesn't hurt to simply place some of the bigger stuff out on your curb either. We put a plethora of items out on ours, from wooden chairs to bags of clothes and an old television. About fifteen minutes later, a guy drove by and shoved it all into his van. We were glad he wanted it and thankful we didn't have to haul it all back into the garage later that night.
Third, reorganize your stuff! Sometimes you just can't part with those beloved memories, like the cheer-leading ladder that you painted as a sophomore in high school or those old track cleats that won you the qualifying time for CIF prelims.
So go ahead and store them strategically, in a way that minimizes the chaos. Pack those items up in the attic or in the back of the coat closet (since you're not using them anyways). Or try rearranging stressful high traffic zones with shelves for books, baskets or bins for shoes and hats, and boxes for holiday decorations that only come out once a year.
I shoved a bunch of Christmas items into storage bins to free up some space in the laundry room. And since they're sealed, I know they will be snug and safe until December. Now I have more space for cleaning supplies and beach towels.
You'll experience three main benefits from de-cluttering your home. First, you'll feel more peaceful. I felt better about my whole house just knowing I'd gotten rid of so much junk in one day. Second, your altruism helps someone else out by donating items or you get to assist the environment by recycling. Third, you'll open up more space to display the stuff you actually use on a daily basis.
Keeping it real. Share your thoughts about de-cluttering your home. We'd love to hear from you.
This post is actually about some good old fashioned spring cleaning. Before we know it, we'll be chilling out on those tropical beaches (okay, maybe just San Diego... or maybe just Lake Perris). But spring flowers are almost here and in no time at all, we'll be in the grocery store buying bottles of sunscreen and Aloe.
So let's get disciplined now, while we're a bit more confined to the great indoors. You know, while we've got several hours of free-time since the kids are still in school.
Here are three simple tips to get started:
First, toss your garbage into the trash cans! This seems so obvious! But you know what I mean when I say we all store a lot of trash in our homes, right? Like, who needs their flat screen TV boxes when they're past the warranty now anyways? Or the coffee-maker packaging that's way beyond the return date as well?
Of course, recycle when possible! Most things can actually find their way into the dark blue bin rather than your brown one. And make sure to dispose of items responsibly, like electronics and old paint cans. Just call your local trash company for special pick-ups and drop-offs.
When my husband and I recently cleaned out our garage and laundry room, we threw away and recycled tons of items that we literally hadn't used in the last two to three years. I'm not exactly sure why we had saved so many old shoe boxes, probably just in case one of the kids needed them for an upcoming school project. But now, we can actually fit one of our cars into the garage; it's amazing!
Second, donate your junk! If you aren't using it anymore go ahead and bless it over to a friend or a neighbor. They might need that baby bouncer or those spicy Cuban cookbooks you haven't used for the last decade. And if you have too much stuff to dispense of individually, just visit Amvets.org or SalvationArmyUSA.org. You'll even get an awesome tax write-off for next April.
It doesn't hurt to simply place some of the bigger stuff out on your curb either. We put a plethora of items out on ours, from wooden chairs to bags of clothes and an old television. About fifteen minutes later, a guy drove by and shoved it all into his van. We were glad he wanted it and thankful we didn't have to haul it all back into the garage later that night.
Third, reorganize your stuff! Sometimes you just can't part with those beloved memories, like the cheer-leading ladder that you painted as a sophomore in high school or those old track cleats that won you the qualifying time for CIF prelims.
So go ahead and store them strategically, in a way that minimizes the chaos. Pack those items up in the attic or in the back of the coat closet (since you're not using them anyways). Or try rearranging stressful high traffic zones with shelves for books, baskets or bins for shoes and hats, and boxes for holiday decorations that only come out once a year.
I shoved a bunch of Christmas items into storage bins to free up some space in the laundry room. And since they're sealed, I know they will be snug and safe until December. Now I have more space for cleaning supplies and beach towels.
You'll experience three main benefits from de-cluttering your home. First, you'll feel more peaceful. I felt better about my whole house just knowing I'd gotten rid of so much junk in one day. Second, your altruism helps someone else out by donating items or you get to assist the environment by recycling. Third, you'll open up more space to display the stuff you actually use on a daily basis.
Keeping it real. Share your thoughts about de-cluttering your home. We'd love to hear from you.
Labels: donating, recycling, spring cleaning
