10 Spring Cleaning and Organizing Tips to Start Using Today!
STAND AND SORT: Open and sort your mail the minute you take it from the mailbox. Put all bills and personal correspondence (does anyone send that anymore?) in an IN BOX. Quickly decide which solicitations are worth further consideration… toss the others in the recycle bin. Flip through magazines and immediately rip out all articles of interest and store in a “TO READ LATER” binder. Throw the rest out.
CLOBBER CLUTTER! Whether it’s a drawer, closet, file box, or an entire room, do a quick 20-minute “Clutter Clobber!” Attack the problem with a vengeance. Remember, messy work and living areas not only clutter up your space, but also your mind. Commit to vanquishing this “enemy of productivity” in just 20 minutes. That’s short enough to not intimidate you, but long enough to make a major dent in any mess. Chances are 20 minutes will turn into 45, and you won’t want to stop until you’re finished! TIP: Read about Feng Shui (pronounced “fung schway”), the ancient Chinese art of uncluttered living. Practiced for thousands of years, it teaches about putting harmony and “flow” in your surroundings so its benefits will be realized in your mind.
LET THE SUN SHINE! Who says spring cleaning has to be a "dark" and gloomy chore? Open the windows, drapes, mini-blinds, curtains, and let in the fresh air and sun! You’ll avoid breathing harsh fumes from cleaning fluids and freshen the air in your entire house. Don’t stop there! Turn on your favorite upbeat music, set a timer, and challenge yourself to complete a room or area before the bell rings. Get the whole family involved! You’ll turn an otherwise boring task into a game and sail through the project in record time!
CLOTHES CLOSET CLEAN-OUT! Haven’t worn it in 12 months? Doesn’t fit? Don’t feel good wearing it? Don’t know why you bought it in the first place? Donate it so someone else can enjoy it… or dump it if it’s too worn to give away. Same goes for your kids’ clothes and toys! And don’t forget Fido… his old playthings can pile up too! Trash the worst of them so you never again have to kick them out of your way.
WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT! It’s the simplest of rules, but one that can transform the way you live. Here’s the guideline: ask yourself, “Do I need this?” If so, ask, “Do I need this NOW?” If not, ask, “Can I get another if and when I do need it?” If yes, throw it out, sell it on Ebay, or donate it… and never look back! You’ll be amazed how much useless junk you’ll toss, and 95% of it you’ll never need again.
TASK A DAY: No need to do tomorrow’s work today. Schedule your spring cleaning according to task: Monday for decluttering… Tuesday for dusting… Wednesday for vacuuming. You get the idea. Short on time? Break it down further by using this system per room.
HIRE A PRO: If you’re just so overwhelmed with spring cleaning that you’ll never get around to organizing, hire a professional cleaner… get the job done… and blast through the road blocks holding you back. For probably less than you think, you can get one person or a small crew in your home or office who will do in 2 hours what you’d need 4 hours (or more) to do yourself… and possibly not do as well. Do this regularly and, rather than scrubbing toilets, you’ll have more time for much more important (and enjoyable) things.
"A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING...and everything in its place!" What’s the anatomy of a mess? In most cases, it’s simply putting things where they don’t belong. Adopt the habit of not putting things down unless you’re putting them in a place designated for that item. Ask yourself, “Is this where this belongs?” If not, don’t let go! Designate a drawer for your keys… a place for magazines and mail… file boxes for documents… drawers for supplies… boxes for stationery… and things like closet organizers to expand general storage. Check out our wide selection of organizing boxes in our NEW April Catalog. You’ll find a big selection of exciting NEW desk, closet, stationery, CD, clothing organizers, and other storage solutions that not only keep your home and office tidy, but look great, too!
DELETE THE DIGITAL DUMPSTER! Is this what your computer has become? How many unused and unneeded files are collecting cobwebs, stealing space on your hard drive? Spend one hour going through folders and simply trash what you don’t need. This includes documents, applications, pictures, sound files, and miscellaneous compressed items you’ve downloaded and already installed. And if you haven’t done it recently, now’s a great time to do a complete backup of all irreplaceable files. There are plenty of software programs to help you with both of these tasks.
FILE DRAWER FLING! Ahhh the ultimate catch-all. The file box is where we not only put the important things, but all other papers that don’t have a home. Solution? Grab a wastebasket and start dumping. Keep those all-important financial records, but be ruthless with everything else. Apply the idea discussed in #5, above: if you’re not sure you need it, but you can easily replace it… DUMP IT!
