Here in the Northern Hemisphere, spring is in full swing, bringing with it the time-honored tradition of spring cleaning. For some, the opportunity to finally release the old and welcome in the new can be exciting. Others may find it a daunting and downright unpleasant task. If you fall into this latter category, do not lose hope! One of the best ways to jump-start your spring cleaning is to ease into it with some “easy win” projects. By tackling small decluttering projects first, you gain momentum and feel a sense of accomplishment and confidence that can propel you forward into even bigger decluttering tasks.

Below, I’ve outlined 10 of my favorite projects to help you ease into your spring cleaning 🌸.

Part I: Decluttering by location

I typically discourage people from decluttering based on location (ie, coat closet, basement etc); doing so runs the risk of only dealing with a small portion of any category that you encounter, as you are likely to have more shoes/bags/books/etc elsewhere in the home. (And there’s nothing as disheartening as thinking you’ve just organized your entire library and the going downstairs to rediscover the 2 shelves full of books in your basement.) However, if you are dealing with small-enough spaces, this approach can work. Here are some of my favorite location-based projects:

1) Purse

We carry our purses everywhere, so they frequently become a dumping ground for everything we need throughout the day, such as pens, papers, receipts, makeup, and so on.

We’ve all had those panicked moments where we had to dump the entire contents of our purse on to the table in desperate search for your keys…it’s never a pretty sight, and it’s moments like these that highlight why regular purse purges are necessary :p  

To get started, go ahead and dump out everything - yes, everything - so you can see it all. Then, weed out the trash and any errant objects that really don’t belong in your purse long-term. Looking at what remains, assess if you need any small pouches to help organize the contents of your purse, or if it makes sense to rearrange what items go in which compartment. Now is also a good time to ask yourself if this purse is still the best one for your needs. Do you need something larger? Would a smaller purse actually help prevent clutter build up better? Confirm that the container you’re using is serving you well!

2) Car consoles

According to a AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety report, Americans spend an average of 17,600 minutes per year in their cars. That's the same as seven 40-hour workweeks each year. So if you’re not already thinking of your car as an extension of your home, you may want to start now!

One of the most quick-to-clutter areas of any car is the console - that compartment between the two front seats that becomes a catch-all for water bottles, sunglasses, charges, tissues, gloves, coins, papers, pens, and more.

Luckily this is a small area, so clearing it out of trash and items that “don’t belong” typically doesn’t take long. Start with the easy stuff - trash and items that you know don’t belong there. From there, deal with the other items by asking yourself if there is another place that you would look for them, or if the console really is the best home for them.

Pro tip: Try keeping a small trash can or bag in the car to reduce trash clutter. They even make ones just for the car!

3) Junk Drawer

We all have that one drawer in our house that seems to accumulate everything but the kitchen sink. To begin the junk drawer purge, take everything out and assess what you have. It may be helpful to do a quick sort: put pens and pencils together, rubber bands together, tools together, etc etc. With everything sorted into categories, it should be easiest to make decisions on what you want to keep and what is no longer usable and should be tossed To prevent clutter build up in the future, consider using drawer organizers dividers to keep items organized and in their designated places.

4) Fridge Door

This is the go-to spot for storing items that we use frequently or want to keep close at hand. This area, however, is easily cluttered with half-used condiments, jars of pickles, and other miscellaneous items that we forget about or no longer require. A cluttered fridge door means wasted valuable fridge real-estate, looks messy, and makes it difficult to quickly find what we need.

To tackle this area, empty the refrigerator door, group similar items together. Toss out anything that’s moldy or that you deem to be uncomfortably past its “best by” date. Foods that have passed their expiration or “use by” dates are typically considered a health risk to consume, so use your best judgment when it comes to keeping those.

Take note of any items that will be expiring soon and keep them highly accessible so you can use them up quickly. While the fridge door is empty, use this opportunity to give it a quick wipe-down and remove any mystery goo off that may have accumulated over time.

In my house we try to review the contents of our fridge on a monthly basis, which helps us stay aware of what we have and prevent food waste.

5) Nightstand

Our nightstands often become cluttered with books, water bottles, pens, toiletries and other items we need before bed. Start by removing everything from your nightstand and wiping it down. As always, start by removing trash and items that don’t need to live on or in your nightstand. Once you’ve pared down, consider adding a small tray or container to keep essential items organized.

Part II: Decluttering by Category

For these projects, prepare by gathering all of each category together. This might require going from room to room to collect your entire makeup collection, or checking the laundry for socks. It’s important to have the entire category in front of you so you can make informed decisions!

6) Socks

We've all got drawers full of mismatched, worn-out, or otherwise useless socks. It's time to clean out those drawers and throw out those old socks! Decluttering your socks can help you free up space while also benefiting others in need. Donate socks in good condition, and send all your mate-less or holey socks to fabric recycling (available at popular stores like Zara and H&M). You can also repurpose old socks as a cleaning or dusting tool, a DIY hair tie, or a pet toy.

7) Makeup

Did you know that makeup has expiration dates? Yep, it’s true! And if you think about it, it makes sense. We’re putting applicators and brushes onto our faces over and over, picking up oils and bacteria. Over time, bacteria can build up in our makeup. The quality degrades, and it’s simply not a great idea to continue smuushing it into our skin. You may find that not all your makeup products have expiration dates, but those that do will look like a little open jar with a number on it (see photo).

The number indicates how many months after opening that the product will last. Once you know to look for this icon, you’ll start seeing it everywhere.

And yet, a recent survey by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons found that nearly 60% of women hold onto makeup longer than recommended. 

To purge your cosmetics collection, start by gathering all your makeup in one place (it often ends up spread over a few locations). Discard products that are expired, dried out, or simply not in use anymore. If you’re not sure when you opened something, you can go off of this guide to makeup expiration periods. Don't hold onto products that you know you'll never use; instead, focus on what works for you and what you enjoy using. Wrap up by assessing if you’d benefit from a different way of organizing your makeup in the future.

8) Bags 

Women frequently own multiple handbags and purses for various outfits and occasions. Like any fashion accessory, bags run the risk of piling up and becoming a disorganized collection that takes up a lot of space in the closet.

If you feel like your bag collection has gotten out of control, this could be a great place to start your spring decluttering. For each bag, consider the following questions:

1. Do the bag reflect your current style, colors, and preferences?

2. What the bag’s weakest element? Are the straps wearing out? Is it too small/too big for your needs? Is the zipper broken? Does this keep you from actually using the bag? 

3. Do you use this bag or is it arguably more of a sentimental item?

4. Would someone else get more use from this bag than you?

Hopefully this will help you identify which bags are no longer in sync with your needs and style. But what should you do with the bags you no longer need or want?

Many organizations accept used bag donations to distribute to those in need or to used in fundraising efforts. One of those organizations is Dress for Success, a non-profit that provides women with professional attire and career development services. They accept gently used handbags, totes, and briefcases as donations to help women in their programs feel confident and empowered. 

9) Weather gear

Especially if you have a large household, it’s easy for weather accessories to pile up. Umbrellas, gloves, scarves, hats, sunglasses, rain coats… somehow these items seem to multiply as we inevitably buy new ones when we’re caught unprepared for extreme weather. So take this opportunity to review what you have and ensure that a) everything is in working order (we all have that one broken umbrella), b) that you still like and use the ones you have, and c) that you have space to functionally store all of them (learn about functional vs physical storage capacity here>>).

10) Chargers and Cords

One of the most common things I see when helping people declutter is a box full of “mystery cords.” We live in a tech-driven world, so it's easy to accumulate a lot of chargers and cords for various devices. With each new device comes a new charger, and soon, you may find yourself with a cluttered mess of cords  that you no longer need. 

Gather all your cords and start sorting them. Chances are you have several of the same type, and many that go to devices you no longer use or even own. Determine which ones you need, and discard the rest. To responsibly dispose of the rejects, look for companies that safely dispose of electronic waste (e-waste) and recycle components. Apple has a recycling program that accepts all Apple products, and any reusable components are refurbished and used in new products. And stores like Staples and Best Buy will take all sorts of e-waste, including those old cords and chargers. 

Lastly, spend a little time organizing the cords that do make the cut. My favorite way to do this is to use small plastic hair ties to keep them wrapped up so it’s easy to retrieve them when needed. For extra organizing brownie points, use a label maker or some tape to label your cords so you know exactly what devices they go to!

* * *

In conclusion, spring cleaning doesn't have to be an overwhelming task. If you break it down into small projects, you can make it much more manageable - and maybe even fun!. Pick one of these easy-win decluttering projects, set a timer for 10, 20 or 30 minutes, and just start.

You'll be amazed at how much better you'll feel once you've cleared out the clutter. 

Take it one step at a time and enjoy the process! Rome wasn’t created in a day so don’t expect your home to be decluttered overnight. Have patience with yourself and stay focused on your vision for your home as a clear, clutter-free sanctuary. You CAN do this.

And remember that if you ever get stuck or overwhelmed, it’s ok to ask for help. This is my personal mantra this year, and I’m constantly reminding myself that it’s perfectly acceptable to call in reinforcements or reach out to those with more experience or expertise than me. 

Happy spring cleaning! 

xo,

Joanie