Spring is typically the season to tackle deep-cleaning chores that we tend to put off or that need to be done only a few times a year, such as washing the windows, scrubbing the grout, and dusting cabinet tops, baseboards and ceiling fans. But decluttering also can be an important part of freshening up your home in springtime.
Here are 11 decluttering jobs to consider adding to your to-do list this spring. These are fairly low-lift — and don’t require a lot of decision-making — making them easy to incorporate into larger deep-cleaning efforts.
Boxes and bags
Shipping boxes you haven’t broken down or recycled, the bag of bags that just keeps growing, the reusable totes that you never reuse — they all take up a lot of space. Instead, put the empties to good use as part of your spring cleaning as trash receptacles for decluttering, for outdoor cleaning jobs, or for boxing and bagging up donations. Or just make this the time you finally recycle all those boxes and that unruly stash of paper grocery bags. Reusable bags that are wearing out, or that you don’t use, can be donated to food pantries and emergency shelters.
Cleaning supplies
Cleaning supplies can be a sneaky source of clutter, and maintaining an overly large collection of cleaning agents and tools makes it harder to get to the products you actually need. It can be hard to part with things you keep for those “just in case” moments, which is why spring cleaning is a good time to sort through them. If you don’t use them for any jobs on your list, “just in case” hasn’t happened, so donate or properly dispose of them.
Paper clutter
Paper clutter takes many forms — stacks of magazines and catalogues, piles of junk mail, information packets, user manuals and worksheets, to name a few. All that paper is a major source of visual clutter, as well as a magnet for dust, so add “deal with all the paper” to your spring-cleaning list in service of a less dusty and more serene-looking home.
Old sheets and towels
As part of spring cleaning, many people take time to launder bedding, such as comforters and pillows, that they wash infrequently. While those items are enjoying their seasonal bath, review your collection of sheets and towels, and donate worn ones or those you don’t use anymore. Extra bedding and towels take up a lot of storage space, and pet shelters in particular will be happy to take them off your hands.
Expired or almost empty beauty products
If deep cleaning the bathroom is on your to-do list this spring, kick things off with a sweep of your beauty products for empties, almost-empties or items you haven’t opened in ages. To cut down on waste, try these tips for getting every last drop of product out of those almost-empties.
Old candles, diffusers and other scented things
Candles and other home fragrance products can quickly turn from something that makes your home look, feel and smell lovely into dusty, unused clutter. If you’ve got an almost-finished candle hanging around, a plug-in or reed diffuser that has lost its scent, or room spray that you never spray, spring cleaning is a good time to say goodbye to those old friends. Thank them for their smelly service and make them a thing of your past.
Broken (or just plain bad) umbrellas
Umbrellas are so useful (and so easy to misplace) that it’s easy to end up with more than you reasonably need. To tame a collection, ask yourself which umbrella you always reach for — now you know your favorite. Next, identify the two, three or four others that you use as backup or offer to other people. Then get rid of any that are broken or terrible, and donate any remaining umbrellas that still work.
Damaged lawn, beach and pool equipment
If your spring-cleaning plans have you tackling such storage spaces as the attic, basement or garage, review your outdoor items — lawn games, beach chairs, pool floats — and get rid of or repair anything that is damaged. Are there items that are in good enough condition to be donated? If so, do that now so someone can enjoy them all summer long.
Unused or broken gardening equipment
Here’s one to add to your outdoor spring cleaning chores: Sort through gardening equipment and weed out (pun intended) anything broken, rusted or no longer useful. Your garden and the exterior appearance of your home will thank you for this relatively easy act of outdoor tidying.
Outdoor entertaining supplies
Free up storage space by paring down unruly collections of outdoor party supplies, including melamine or acrylic serving pieces, string lights and tiki torches, coolers and grilling equipment. As with other seasonal items, if you know you won’t use some or all of your outdoor entertaining supplies, donate them before summer arrives.
The freezer
Clean out your freezer to make room for items such as ice pops and extra bags of ice. Start by taking everything out and throwing away food that is expired, freezer-burned or that you simply won’t eat. Then, review what’s left and make a plan to consume anything that has lingered too long. Wipe the freezer interior with an all-purpose cleaner and return everything to its chilly home.
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