Happy first day of spring! ✿ There’s still snow on the ground in NYC, but the sun is shining and I’m welcoming the new season with a level of joviality that might terrify normal folk. In lieu of a crafty DIY project this Wednesday, I’ve rounded up some tips for your DIY spring cleaning endeavors. I’ve been chipping away at “spring” cleaning all winter, but now we’re going hardcore.
10 Things To Do Before You Start Spring Cleaning
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1. Pick literally any book by Peter Walsh and read it. My favorites are Lighten Up and It’s All Too Much. These will fill your mind with the specific psychological triggers you’ll need while you’re de-cluttering.
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2. Watch a Hoarders marathon. I admit, this is a spring cleaning scare tactic. This series is about people who are in desperate need of professional help to clean out their homes. Some of them face health problems and eviction (and even jail time) because what started as a fabric collection turned into a monstrosity. If this doesn’t light the spring cleaning fire under your ass, nothing will.
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3. Invest in a large full-size mirror for your bedroom or wherever you get dressed. Install it next to your closet. Windex it and bless it with sage. This thing is going to be your best friend while you’re cleaning out your closet and trying on virtually every piece of clothing you own. Whatever doesn’t look/make you feel amazing is going out the door, violet!
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4. Make an upbeat playlist to keep you moving and motivated while you’re scrubbing, rearranging, and boxing-up donations. Doing this ahead of time ensures you don’t spend an hour making a playlist in iTunes on the first day of home detox.
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5. Speaking of detox, whip up a batch of non-toxic homemade cleaning products to use in place of the chemical horror show that is probably sitting under your sink right now. You can get on the google to find recipes and alternatives for various products, but start off with a simple homemade dish soap and this list of all-natural kitchen cleaners.
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6. Create a Pinterest board of ideal home environments. Don’t go nuts pinning 1000 images, keep it between 10-15 so you can focus. You’ll refer to them for inspiration to stay motivated once mop is in hand.
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7. Write down your goals. Do you want the bottom of your closets to be empty by the end of the week? Do you want to cut your holiday decor collection in half today? Do you want to prep a room for painting this month? Write it down and refer to it. And by the way, “I just want a ******* clean house” is not a goal. Be specific!
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8. Prep three bags or boxes for plowing through rooms and de-cluttering: ‘DONATE’, ‘KEEP’, and ‘LATER’. Be quick with these decisions. This is a classic method they use on every TV show involving house cleaning and it actually works.
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9. Use social accountability to your advantage. Let friends know you’re about to dive into some epic spring cleaning. Chances are they will be doing the same thing! They could be a good source of mutual support, or they might just stop by and haul away some of the stuff you don’t want anymore. One man’s trash…
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10. De-stress and rest up. Have a good night’s sleep and try to get out of your house for a full day (do something fun!) before you start your cleaning so you’ll approach it with a clear head and plenty of energy.
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Have a friend who needs some spring cleaning inspiration? Share this with them! And don’t forget to come follow me on twitter, facebook, and Instagram so we can share our domestic victories.
Enjoy the first day of spring and the entire season ahead!
